Welcome back to the weekly update from the Mission of Elder Doman here
in the F.O.M! It's been a wild week that's been all over of the place. This
week has been one of the most out-of-the-ordinary weeks yet. I didn't
learn what it meant to participate in a lot of meetings until this
past week. 8! 8 meetings took place this week that we were a part of.
It took up a lot of time, but we were able to apply a lot of
information given to us and are excited to see what comes from it.
Monday night we had make it or break it lesson with Sherry. She hadn't
talked to her husband yet... It's sad and we don't want to discontinue
teaching her, but it might need to happen. We gave her one final
chance this week to let him know or else the cord may need to be cut
for a while. It's the final countdown!
Tuesday was fun! We always start with some service for Sister Santana
and brother Van Buren Tuesday Mornings. This time, after working in
what feels like the Amazon Jungle, we had a really spiritual lesson
with each of them. We talked about the doctrine behind the sacrament
and why it is important. Normally, they both put up a pretty big front
and don't like to open up! This lesson they both actually ended up
bearing testimony of how attending church and partaking of the
Sacrament has helped them in their lives. It was relieving to see the
softer side of each of them finally come out!
Tuesday afternoon, Elder Chidester had a doctors appointment down in
Winter Park! This was what we call a "tender mercy." It was really
sentimental driving through the streets of my old area and having some
good mems come flowing in. Winter Park will always be one of my
favorite areas full of good times! Everything went well at the
doctors, and Tuesday night we hit the hardwood again and played some
Elders Quorum basketball to finish off the night. This time we had 3
members and 11 non members in attendance (basically the NBA, right?)
Wednesday was like a going three rounds with Muhammed Ali. The day
started off with Elder Chidester and I giving a little training,
before a training, before another training.
Round #1
- This first meeting might have been my favorite. It was a big
discussion with the Leaders in the Zone on how we can apply what we
learned from Elder Maynes last week and we can create a culture of it
in the Zone.
Round #2
- The church has started an initiative called "JustServe." It is
starting to roll out pretty quickly down here in the Southern United
States. This meeting was all about how we can utilize this program in
our missionary efforts and what are responsibility is.
Round #3
- There was a World Wide Missionary Training Broadcast Wednesday
afternoon, and it was great. It was pretty cool to think that every
missionary serving around the world was watching that, or will watch
that when they wake up in the morning. There were a couple Apostles
and General Authorities who trained pretty simply on how we can become
better missionaries (working with the spirit, becoming more effective
finders, working with members, etc...) We were trained in pretty basic
topics, but I still learned a lot on how to personally become a more
efficient missionary.
We rushed to go and see a few of the people we are working with before
heading to the Eustis Ward weekly Book of Mormon class. Before we knew
it, the clock showed 8:30 and the day was over. Bang, bang.
Elder Chidester and I are feeling like we are getting to know the
country back roads of Florida pretty well as we made the trek to the
Sumterville District Meeting again, this time without a GPS or any
directions. When we arrived back in Eustis, we had been shorted
another day as we only had two hours to work with before the Stake's
Missionary Correlation Meeting that takes place every four months.
When we were about to leave our apartment, we got a phone call from
the missionaries in the neighboring Ward and we were needed for an
emergency lesson. After that lesson, we were racing against the clock
to get to the meeting in time. We sat in our seats right as the final
note of the prelude music was being played and we figured there had to
have been someone watching over and directing our day. This was a
pretty cool meeting because it gave the missionaries in the Stake/Zone
an opportunity to share concerns and different ideas we had on how the
missionaries and members can begin working closer together! Good vibes
filled the air as we were driving home with the clock hitting 9:30 as
we pulled into the driveway to finish up the night.
Friday! We got busy pretty quickly on Friday as we squished a lot of
the weeks appointments to this day. A cool miracle we saw was with a
guy named Jim! He dad has been a less active member for a long time so
we thought we'd stop by and try to start meeting with him. Jim was
just standing outside, doing his thing when we pulled up. Let me tell
ya, there hasn't been anybody more down to talk to a couple of
missionaries than this guy. He has two kids, 32 years old, and is
going to get married next month. He wants to "change things up," and
"make things right with the Lord." Thank the Heavens. We found a live
one!! We gave him a Book of Mormon and told him we'd be back tomorrow.
We talked with a couple other of our key investigators Friday and
overall had a pretty solid day! We finished the night by going on the
exchange grind with the Elders in the Leesburg Ward.
The missionary I was with for the day ended up getting sick and needed
to rest for most of the day. We tried going out and proselyting, but
Elder Reshke was sick as a dog. I felt pretty bad for him. There are
probably 7 out of the 30 missionaries in the zone that are sick right
now! It's been sooo cold recently. I don't remember it being anywhere
near this cold last year! feels like I'm walking into the fruit
section in Costco each time I go outside!! On a good note, I was able
to catch up with my studies Saturday! We were able to take some
pictures with the wonderful wildlife of Leesburg, Florida though. :)
Jim came to church on Sunday and is just eating up the gospel. He
brought his Book of Mormon with him and the pamphlet we handed him
too. He wasn't sure he needed it but he made sure to tell us he didn't
want to not be prepared if he was called on! What a stud.
It's been a really busy week, but it's also been a very good week.
Meetings are sometimes long, and I may have looked like a bobble head
trying to stay awake in a couple, but I feel like I have learned a lot
and I'm excited to continue implementing these things. This week I
learned to have fun and do your best to enjoy life no matter what
circumstance you may be in. Whether it's filling up your weekly
schedule with meetings, or working your tail off doing something else,
I know that God wants us to be happy. He cares about and loves each
one of us individually. Thanks again for all of the support I'm
receiving. You're the best
With Love,
- Elder Doman
2 Nephi 26:24
"He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he
loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may
draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall
not partake of his salvation."
1-3: Florida is awesome
3-6: A photoshoot with a cow #leesburg
7: Bro. Vanburen is the man!
Friends and Family,
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