Better week for Brock!! He's feeling good and bouncing back!

This is a picture of the poster and Abby and Britt made Brock this week, he's going to love it!!

One thing Brock told me this week that I thought was kind of crazy was, “To be honest I kind of miss it. It would/will honestly be a little weird being able to sit and do nothing for a little bit. It's been a little while! Out here it seems like I haven't sat down and just thought for a really, really long

time. The workload is hard and there is a ton to do, but the results are irreplaceable. There isn't a greater joy I've felt before than when I'm out here on my mission.”  I’m so proud of him for being able to see what’s important in life!

Friends and Family,

Howdy Ya'll! Hahahah haven't said that in a while. It's been a really

good week here in Daytona Beach! Vroom vroom! We really picked it up

and had a much better week! It was exciting to see the zone buckle up

and have some fun while doing it! Elder Crismon and I are really just

loving life. We get along really well and have had a lot of good

conversations about the work, football, football and more football.

Hopefully by the end of the time we have serving together, he'll be

persuaded to come down and play some ball! We've been trying to really

get to know the missionaries and what they like. Doing this, we've

just had a good bond and strengthened the trust throughout the zone.

This morning we had a Beach P-Day with one of the districts! It was

way fun to go to the beach earlier this morning, and play some sand

volleyball! The weather was perfect, and it just felt nice to reward

ourselves with a fun beach morning!

This week Elder Crismon and I really tried to used our time

effectively and stay positive. When we showed up to Brandi's Monday

night, she told us she was moving out to NY with her family the next

morning so that was tough. It was hard to see her and her family pack

up and move right before baptism.... One of the most discouraging things

that's happened on my mission. We were pretty discouraged after a tough

week with the Zone along with it. On the way home, we got a call from the

Lawhorn family of 15 saying they were no longer interested, and they

didn't want us to stop by anymore... Boom goes the dynamite. Needless

to say, we had a rough start to the week.

We went home and tried to think of a plan of action to take, we

decided to pray and fast for some divine intervention, some

confidence, and some encouragement. As we were getting ready for bed,

good ol "grandpa" gave us a call just to make us laugh. Pretty cool

how that happened. We woke up the next morning feeling positive and

ready to go to work! We were excited to go find some new people and

have some new peeps in our teaching pool! After diligent work and

definitely some help from The One above, we are stoked for these new

people to teach. One being this guy named Corey who was a media

referral! He requested a bible, but we were able to help him recognize

that the Book of Mormon was another book from God as well! At first he

put up a front like Alabama's offensive line. Nothing was getting past

him... Other than the spirit!! He opened up and was ready for us to

come back when we needed to leave! What a miracle.

Most of our other Investigators are in quite a pit right now... We are

still taking baby steps, but we are climbing up a grand-staircase. We

will get there one day! It's pretty funny how the fundamentals are

always stressed and needed to be focused on, and I’ve learned it more

on my mission than anywhere else!

Well, I hit my 15-month mark this past week! It really was just like

another day. I remember when I hit my first couple month marks and it

felt like years. Now, time is just going crazy and picking up too

quickly. When I've lost myself in the work, I've been happier,

smarter, and just an all around better testimony. Thanks for all the

support I received this week particularly. You're the best!

Godspeed,

-Elder Doman

It looks like Brock and Elder Crismon like to goof off!!  It's so good for them to be able to chill and have fun together.

Titanic?????? Weird.

Speaking at the tri-zone conference!

This is a picture of "grandpa."  Brock absolutely loves him!  Not only does he take them out to dinner a couple of times a week, he also buys them groceries sometimes.  I was lucky enough to talk to grandpa on the phone this week.  He called me because Brock asked him to call because needed some more money in his account to buy a new suit jacket.  Grandpa and I talked for a long time, he loves to talk.  He let me know how special he thinks Brock is, he said he's not a regular kid, "there's just something about him that makes him special."  Then he told me I couldn't let him play football when he gets home because he doesn't want him to get injured!!!  It was a great conversation and I loved every second of it.  It helped me feel closer to Brock.  I love having "grandpa" there to take care of Brock while he's Daytona.

An old picture, that's his last companion, but this is the first time he sent it to me.

Friends and Family,

It's been a great start of the month of September! The weather is

starting to cool off a little bit, but the missionary work is still a

hot topic! Hahah I love thinking of cheesy ways to start off emails

and other subject lines. Elder Crismon and I are working hard and are

seeing the fruits from it! We've been trying to work more with Zone to

help them catch the fire as well!

The week started off with a bang. Tuesday we had zone Conference and

I was given the opportunity to give a training in from of half the

mission and the mission presidency. It was definitely one of the more

stressful things I've done, but it was also really fun. The topic was

"Choose to have exceedingly great faith in the work." It was

definitely something I needed as I was shaking in my boots before the

training started. But, once I stood up in front of the 105

missionaries all the fear went away. It was pretty cool! It reminded

me of the days back in high school football.

We had some rough news with our investigator named Brandie who will

most likely be moving at the end of the month. We are working with her

and trying to decide where it would be best for her to be baptized. Of

course, we feel like she should be baptized here, but it might be

better for her to be baptized where she will be living for the next

little while! It's pretty intense. We are on the edge of our seats!

In the DeLand Zone we've seen some complacency happening. We hit a

good stretch there for a little bit, and now we are seeing it plateau.

We've worked a lot this week trying to help them continue moving

forward, and growing week by week. We've adapted the saying "you vs.

yesterday" through out the zone, and we hope it motivates the

missionaries to personally improve each and every day.

MIRACLE ALERT: Friday night there was a ward activity at the church,

and the LAWHORNS came out to it! It was so funny to see their children

come in the door one by one for about 30 seconds straight, then to see

mom and dad follow in after. They loved the activity, and their kids

did too! They were able to make a lot of friends, and good fellowship.

Their kids were running around in the gym laughing and having a good

time. It helped me understand why Christ said, "become as little

children" In Matthew chapter 18. Just full of Joy!

Another miracle we saw was Sunday night, we had an awkward 45 minutes until we had to be in our apartment. We were unsure what to do, and we're in a pretty sketchy part of our area. We wanted to use our time really effectively, but we just didn't know what to do exactly with an appointment that just fell through. We were about to just go tracting when we got a phone call from an unknown number! We answered and it was from a recent convert named Evelyn who was baptized in May. She said she's been out of town for the past 4 months living with her cousin in Switzerland. She said she has been really missing the gospel in her life, and wants to meet up with the missionaries again. She said she had some free time, and could meet tonight. We went over and she had 3 friends over who weren't members, but we're interested in learning more about the gospel! It was awesome!

Thanks again for all the support I've received this last 15 months of

my life. I've looked back and thought about all the letters, packages

and emails sent my way. THANK YOU! Have a great week!

-Elder Doman

Alma 34:8-10

8 And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

 9 For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made.

 10 For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.

Brock's most successful teaching week so far!

Brock told me today that tomorrow he has to give a talk to 100 missionaries as well as his mission president and wife at a tri-zone conference, he’s very nervous about it.  I’m sure he’ll do a great job!  He also said that this past week was probably his most successful one as far as teaching the gospel.  He taught more people this week than any other on his mission.  That was pretty good to hear.  He’s working so hard, it’s so good to see him be successful.

Friends and Family,

We've had a really good week here in Daytona Beach! The work is

beginning to pick up in the DeLand Zone, and we are pumped to see the

results come into play. Elder Crismon and I have been having a great

time! We have been blessed with a lot of new brothers and sisters to

talk to about the restored gospel! They have been growing in the

gospel slowly but surely (hence the subject line.) it's fun to see as

missionaries the small daily growth happening, but it's also hard not

to want them to do more and progress faster and faster!

So this week we tried to recognize the Lord's hand in the small and

simple tasks done each day. By doing this, there were a lot of times

when we both took a step back for a minute, and saw so many different

blessings. One of them in particular was with the Returning Member

Billy I've talked about. We have worked with him for a little over a

month now and this last weekend he bore his testimony for the first

time in 12 years. Pretty inspirational. Billy said, "I've been both in

the Gospel, and out of it. And I can promise you brothers and sisters

my life has never been better when I am 100% devoted to the gospel."

What an awesome miracle.

Our investigator Brandi told us that she might be moving towards the

end of the month so that was a little bit rough to hear because of how

solid she is. She wants to be baptized in this Ward before she moves,

but we will see what happens! The Lawhorn family of 15 is doing okay,

their kids are excited and ready to come to church, we are just

working on the leaders of the home now. It's basically like teaching a

beehive with all the kids running everywhere. It's pretty crazy, but

we're just focusing on the baby steps of the gospel for now!

Elder Crismon and I are having a blast serving together. We've really

tried to have a good time and laugh a lot! I don't think I've laughed

this much my whole mission! I'm trying to convince him to come down to

Dixie State and walk on to the Football team, but I guess we can say

it's a work in progress.

This week has been a little crazy! We've been really busy with helping

out other missionaries, preparing trainings for Zone Conference this

upcoming week, and making sure our area up is up to par. I have to say

this has been the most successful week of my mission and it's come

from serving others. I've definitely learned and have a strong

testimony of when we serve others, Heavenly Father will bless us in

return. This week in particular we saw an awesome example of this. We

went and did a blitz for an area in the mission after a district

meeting. We spend a lot of time finding in that area to help it see

some growth. It was a hot humid day and we weren't loving it. After

persevering the heat and feeling somewhat accomplished, we decided to

head back to Daytona Beach. On the way back, we stopped at a gas

station to fill up and we talked with a guy that looked just like Will

Ferrel. We were both trying so hard not to laugh when talking to him,

but he ended up being genuinely interested in the gospel! We referred

him to the area and we hope to hear about it soon! Little miracles

that that definitely keep me going.

Well, September is here and we are somehow approaching the fall

season. I love this time of year where we can have a solid "run" and

"kickoff" the last bit of the year well! Thanks again for all the

support and prayers sent out here to the F.O.M!

Much Love,

-Elder Doman

 

They were pretty excited to find Utah Road!!!

D&C 127:2

And as for the perils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me, as the envy and wrath of man have been my common lot all the days of my life; and for what cause it seems mysterious, unless I was ordained from before the foundation of the world for some good end, or bad, as you may choose to call it. Judge ye for yourselves. God knoweth all these things, whether it be good or bad. But nevertheless, deep water is what I am wont to swim in. It all has become a second nature to me; and I feel, like Paul, to glory in tribulation; for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth; for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies, for the Lord God hath spoken it.