Week 65 - Week two; Light Your Community!

Howdy Partners!

It has been an exhausting week but a good one! I think we had at least 3 hours of meetings every weekday, which for some reason wipes me out more than 3 hours of running around. But it makes for some high quality sleep at night!

The whole week feels like a blur, but here's a couple highlights that I can remember. I was able to interview 3 people for baptism (one of my favorite things to do EVER), and then see 3 other people actually get baptized! I got to go to the temple with a recent convert for her first time at 5 in the morning! I thought we'd be the only ones crazy enough to be there that early, but I've actually never seen so many people there! We did an awesome service project in town placing scarfs for homeless people. And to top the week off, Elder Hillyer and I have spent every free second of our time caroling to people! It's nice to be able to use the gifts God gives us.

Hopefully you remember the Light The World Initiative I've mentioned in past posts! This week's invitation is to find ways to be a light to your community! Love ya!

Sincerely, 

Elder Doylex (the nickname a fellow missionary gave me while talking in his sleep) 

 

Crashing the Nampa West District Council

My wonderful district (aka the best district ever)

Sneak peak at our much anticipated Christmas card

Totally awesome service project in downtown Nampa!!!

 

Week 64 - Light the World Time!

Hello wonderful people!

This past week has been super duper awesome and super duper spiritual! We were able to have really amazing lessons with almost every person that we regularly teach, which hasn't happened in awhile, especially with the holidays. Having such amazing spiritual experiences so often is exhausting but invigorating at the same time! Somehow I've felt like I could pass out for a few days and yet go run a marathon at the same time. But that's missionary life for ya!

On Tuesday, we were able to go to the temple as a district with our own ancestors' names. We had the chance to do every ordinance in the temple, which ended up being a good 6 or 7 hour trip for our group. But let me tell ya, there is no where else I'd rather spend 6 or 7 hours! And very few people I'd rather spend that time with. The love I feel for my fellow missionaries is seriously too much for my body to contain sometimes! So it often will leak out in very enthusiastic handshakes, unanticipated happy tears, etc. Anyway, Tuesday was a stellar day!

The rest of the week was filled with great discussions with both members of the church and non-members! Saturday was the official start of Light the World as well as the Worldwide Day of Service! If you haven't checked out lighttheworld.org yet, go do it! I'm a firsthand witness that service to others will bring you more joy than you thought possible!

Holy guacamole, I could keep going on and on about random things, but I gotta go! The Church is true. But more importantly, the Gospel is true! It makes us happy and leads us back to God. And the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds the fulness of that Gospel. God loves ya. I love ya. Happy December.

Sincerely, 

Elder Doyle 

The dudes

Seriously some of the best friends I've had in my whole life

The first snow of the season! 

My super duper ultra lightning district (plus a few guests)!

Week 63 - Happy Thanksgiving!

Dinner number 5 on Thanksgiving!

Both Keller and Jeremy made the decision to be baptized!

Decided to dress up like old men for absolutely no reason last pday!

Week 63 - 3 Days Till My Big Performance!

Happy Thanksgiving week everyone! 

This is just an awesome time of year and I'm loving it here in Nampa! So far we've got at least 5 meals lined up for Thanksgiving Day, and we very well might get a few more. So I'm preparing my stomach, exercising my jaw, etc. for the big day! 

It's been such an awesome week! With transfers going on this week, we had enough errands to run that we barely had time to do normal proselyting. But we saw miracle after miracle in which God made sure that the little amount of time we had became super productive! Here's a quick story: We were driving at about 8 at night, and we saw a family doing some yard work in the dark. I had talked to them in the past, and they weren't interested in talking to us, so I silenced any promptings to stop and ask if we could help. Luckily my companion is awesome, so he spoke up and we ended up pulling over to help. And they were super friendly!!! We helped out for about half an hour, and we now have another appointment to go over this week! It's such a blessing that God gives me companions that can make up for my shortcomings and mkae sure the work gets done right! 

Well I'm short on time, but I'd invite you all to think about what you're grateful. Easy request, I know. But once you've figured out what you're grateful for, then figure out what you're going to do to SHOW what you're grateful for. Does God know you're grateful for those things? Do the people around you know that you're grateful for them? Thanksgiving has two parts - thanks and GIVING.

Love ya,

Elder Doyle

Week 62 - Oh Canada!

Well folks, today is transfer day! And although I'm staying here in South Nampa, I'm getting a new companion! Elder Mumford (my companion for this last transfer) is heading up to North Meridian, which is where I served from March until July, so I'm pumped for him. And my new companion is Elder Hillyer! We're already pretty great friends, so I couldn't be more excited. Plus he's from Canada (hence the title of this email). One big change is that they're giving 2 of our 5 wards to a new set of sister missionaries, so our workload will be shrunk a little bit. But that just means we can focus more on the people that need us, so again, I'm excited.

We've had some super cool miracles this week and met a lot of new people. Here's one quick story: Kaitlyn has some major health issues, and doesn't get to do a lot of normal 16 year old girl things. Her dad joined the Church a long time ago but hasn't gone to church in years. But the young women in the ward decided to invite Kaitlyn to their youth group activity on Wednesday night, and she had a blast. The young women really rallied around her and made her feel loved. So what happened Sunday morning at church? In comes Kaitlyn, and her dad who hasn't been to church in years, and her mom, who now wants to be baptized. Inviting Kaitlyn to a little activity wasn't a huge deal, but it's going to end up having eternal repercussions.

Love you all and hope you have a great week!

Sincerely, 

Elder Doyle

The Kuna District (largest district in the mission)

Nampa West District last hoorah

The Mission Committee (otherwise known as the Mission CoLITtee). Love these people like family

Got to baptize and confirm these two lovely ladies! They, their dad, and their brother all took that awesome step!

Week 61 - Fall is Bringing Chili Weather!

Happy November!

We've officially dropped below freezing a few times here in Idaho, which means we have to scrape the ice off the windshield sometimes in the morning. But then I remember that most missionaries in the mission and in the world don't even have a car! #blessed

The ward chili cook off on Halloween night, which I hyped up in last week's email, did not disappoint. Elder Mumford and I had the great honor of judging about 35 chilis, which I'll admit all tasted the same by the end. But we were somehow able to trick our taste buds into thinking that one of them tasted different and better than the others. 

The work is going really well here! We've been teaching quite a few families, which is one of my favorite things on a mission. There's nothing like seeing a whole family progress in the Gospel. We also have been teaching a lot of youth! The Stringhams, one of the awesome families in our wards, has started doing a "Meet the Missionaries" night, where they invite all the youth from church, as well as all their friends, to come for dinner and a little message from the missionaries! It's tons of fun, and we usually end up doing a talent show at the end, which gives me an opportunity to sing a little bit. 

Sorry this email isn't rich in detail, but I hope you all have a stupendous week!

Love,

Elder Doyle

Week 60 - Happy Halloween!

Tree of Life Pumpkin Carving

Never have I ever been so excited for Halloween! And no it's not for the candy or for the costumes or anything shallow like that. My reason is much more fulfilling! I'm so extremely excited because... Elder Mumford and I are judging a chili cook off on Halloween night! And if you know me well at all, you know that I couldn't ask for a better thing to do on Halloween.

This week, although it contained no chili cook offs, was AMAZING! 5 miracles I want to share:

1. We got a referral from a returning member for her friend, and he wants to be baptized! And what makes it even cooler is that his first name is just his last name spelled backwards (pretty sure I can't put his full name in here due to data privacy laws, but just know that's he's awesome).

2. One of my favorite little people, Kali, got baptized! Weird to think I met her almost a full year ago. I'm getting old!

3. We're cruising down the road in our sparkly clean red minivan (we take good care of her) and we see a lady raking leaves in her front yard. Both my companion and I think about stopping to help, but don't say anything. We visit some people, then drive by again. Same thing happens. We visit some more people. The third time, the Holy Ghost finally slaps me hard enough that I stop the van and we offer to help. Miracle part A) she takes a picture of the nice boys helping her rake her leaves and sends it to her friends. Part B) she asks us to help carry some pumpkins, then gives us water. Part C) she asks if we have some time to talk with her, then proceeds to tell us that our church is true. Part D) brings out her own copy of the Book of Mormon and shows us that she's read up to the beginning of 3rd Nephi. WHAAAAAAAT? I was literally looking around to see if there were cameras filming this because it was all fake. But no cameras in sight!

4) Justin Stringer, who I was sad to say goodbye to last month in Weiser, got baptized! So many people showed up it was standing room only. That's what I like to see!

5) Another one that just blew my mind. We get a referral from a member of one of our wards for a family. The dad is a returning member, the wife and kids are not members of the Church. So we knock on their door last night, and the wife answers. Before we can say anything, she says "I was just about to call you guys! I want to know what I have to do to join your Church." Holy guacamole! God prepares people! Missionary work is all about being a good person, doing what's right, and being willing to act. And God will place people in your path!

I love my mission. I love you! Have a fantastic week.

Sincerely, 

Elder Doyle