Week 45 - Happy Early Pioneer Day!

Howdy folks!

It's interesting to see my life, and my mission in particular, kind of go in phases. In some areas I've served, I focus a lot on visiting and strengthening members of the church. In others, we focus a lot on helping the other missionaries. Here in Weiser, we're doing the good old nitty gritty missionary work! We walk the streets and talk to everybody and it feels good! We did some walking last night and met a bunch of new people! And we only got sworn at once! Elders Nicholas and Washburn are great companions, and I can tell this is going to end up being one of my favorite areas in my mission. 

In district meeting and throughout the week, we've talked a lot about the roles and gifts of the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit. It's so important that God has a way to speak to our hearts and minds, and I testify that if we listen to those thoughts and feelings, we'll be happier. We'll be more successful. And we'll be more of what God wants us to be. I've also really enjoyed studying the Holy Ghost's role as a sanctifier, and would invite anybody to do some studying on that subject as well. 

Sorry this email is short! Love you all!

Sincerely,

Elder Doyle

Blessed to serve with such awesome guys!

This is my new ride! Haha jk! But I'm totally taking him up on his offer to go dune bugging in it after my mission! 

Week 44 - It's already been over a week??

Well folks, time is flying by here in Weiser! It feels like I just got here yesterday but it's already been over a week! I'm so blessed to be serving here though! A little bit about the area: I cover about 10 little farm towns which all attend one of 5 different wards (or congregations). It takes over two hours to drive from one end of my area to the other, and most of it is just hills and hills of dead grass. I sure do miss trees. But it's beautiful in it's own way! The people here are so humble, and since the towns are so small, everyone in the town knows everybody else! We drive a truck (which I am enjoying very much). His name is Tyrone and he is currently very dirty from all the gravel roads we drive on.

My companions, Elders Nicholas and Washburn, are awesome! They're from Arizona and New Mexico respectively, and they're great missionaries! 

 

Selfies happen often when you're in the car for hours and hours everyday

 

There's a lot of potential in this area and I'm excited to be here. It always blows me away to see what miracles can happen when you humble yourself and do what God wants you to do. That goes for missionaries as well as all you normal people haha! God can make some amazing things happen when you realize that His plans are better than yours. Just last night, we were heading back to the church when both Elder Washburn and I had an address pop into our heads. Although we never found the address we were looking for, we met a ton of new people while searching! And we would have never found them if we had gone to the church! Thanks for all the prayers, but don't forget to pray for opportunities to share what you know with others!

Love ya,

Elder Doyle

 

 

Crazy wildfire right outside Weiser!

Week 43 - "Carl Wheeeeezer" (Jimmy Neutron reference)

Well folks, I'm on the move again!

This morning I was transferred to Weiser Idaho, a small town close to the Oregon border. I now cover 5 wards in 3 towns (Weiser, Cambridge, and Council), which makes it one of the largest areas in the mission. And I've upgraded from Monica the minivan to a new truck! I'm going to miss the Meridian/Eagle area I've been serving in for the last 4 and a half months so much. The people there are family. But I know that Weiser is where I need to be now, and I'm excited to serve and learn from the people here!

Something I've been thinking about lately is why some of the best people go through some of the hardest things. I've been able to make and teach some of my best friends while here on my mission. They have amazing testimonies and exude Christlike love. But they're put through so much! I've also thought about why missionary work isn't a piece of cake. We're doing the Lord's will and teaching the truth, right? So why aren't people just lining up to talk to the missionaries? I listened to an old talk from Elder Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and I loved what he said. I can't quote it exactly, but he narrows his answer to questions like mine down to this: Salvation was never a cheap experience. When we wonder why we or loved ones are going through difficult trials, we have to remember that the one perfect Person, the only one deserving of a trial-free life, went through the greatest agony and pain of us all. So when you go through trials, or when you wonder why missionary work isn't easy, realize that you're standing shoulder to shoulder with the greatest life this world has ever seen. 

Thank you for your prayers! I testify that God is real and that he loves us!

Sincerely,

Elder Doyle

 

The best YSA Ward ever! Right after a hard fought softball game

 

 

Families like the Foutz's make transferring so hard!

The three amigos! (codenames: Buckwheat, Lonestar, and Delilah)

Week 42 - Ordinances are the BEST!

Happy Early 4th of July everyone!

It's been a superb week and I surprisingly took quite a few pictures, so I'll use them to help lay the week out for you. 

Picture 1

Since Rebekah was baptized last weekend, she's now able to do baptisms in the temple! And we were able to go with her on Tuesday! The Spirit in the temple is always amazing and I love being there with the people I love.

 

 

 

 

Picture 2

Ashley was baptized! That girl's faith blows my mind and I'm so proud of her for all she's done to get to this point. Her confirmation was Sunday and holy guacamole, she was beaming!

 

 

 

Picture 3

The mission committee! I don't know if I've mentioned this group before, but we meet once a week to discuss solutions to problems our mission faces. I love these people.

 

 

Thanks for your prayers and birthday wishes this past week. I love you all and I love the Lord!

Sincerely, 

Elder Doyle

Week 41 - We Went To The Dark Side (outside the mission boundaries!!!)

Happy Monday!

Holy guacamole friends it has been one of the best weekends ever!!! The rest of the week was good, but the last 3 days have been AWESOME! Okay so on Friday I got special permission from President Sorensen to get a ride up to Idaho City to sing at our stake's youth conference. 

Selfie time in Idaho city!

First off, that youth conference looked so legit! They did full scale battles between Nephites and Lamanites, built ancient cities, and recreated the Tree of Life. Super cool. 

Coolest youth conference ever!

Plus I love the youth here! There some of my favorite people. I sang at the devotional, which was okay. But the drive and scenery were possibly my favorite part!

Beautiful scenery from the Boise mission

On Saturday, I got to baptize one of my best friends, Rebekah! She's been through so much, and it was such a blessing to be a part of such an important moment in her life.

The squad (Reid, Rebekah, Me, and Zach)

Rebekah and her missionaries at the baptism!

And after the baptism, it just got better and better. Rebekah has a hard time sleeping. She's been through a lot and she rarely gets more than a couple hours of sleep a night. But on Saturday night, after she was baptized, Rebekah slept for 9 hours straight. No waking up in the middle of the night. No nightmares. For the first time she can remember. I testify of the reality of miracles, and that God blesses us when we follow His commandments. And to top it all off, she got confirmed yesterday and received the gift of the Holy Ghost! I can't explain how happy these things make me!

Love you all and thanks for your prayers!

Sincerely,

Elder Doyle

Week 40 - 'Tis The Season for Baptisms

Gooday mates!

It's been another good one here in Idaho! I don't have much time, but here's a quick summary! Ashley is doing great, and we were able to introduce her to the missionaries that will be taking over her teaching and baptism, since she doesn't actually live in our area. But she'll still be baptized in a couple weeks which will be awesome! Rebekah is getting baptized this Saturday in our YSA ward and it's gonna be LIT! She's awesome and the ward is awesome and we're doing a BBQ afterward! Food makes awesome things awesomer. 

We were also able to do a lot of service this week, which always puts me in a good mood! I've also been able to do quite a few musical numbers in this area, which I always thought was fun, but never knew was making a difference for anybody. But this week I've been able to hear a few experiences from various people, and it's strengthened my testimony that God gives us each talents for a reason, and He wants us to use them! Don't be afraid to use what God has given you to bless the lives of others!

Happy belated Father's Day!

Love,

Elder Doyle

A stunning shot capturing a wild Reid and Doyle

No companionship study is complete without a selfie session.

Week 39 - Missionary Work is AWESOME

Hola friends and family!

It has been a week for the record books! Instead of talking about some of the experiences, let me introduce you to some of the people that have made this week spectacular.

Josh is a stud. He showed up at church about a month ago wanting to change his life around. We're still working out some legal problems before he can get baptized, but wow he's changed so much! His testimony is so strong, and he brings friends to church now and invites them to meet the missionaries! 

Ashley is a powerhouse. Family kicked her out of the house when they found she had a copy of the Book of Mormon, but she decided to keep coming to church and investigating. This week, when we asked if she would be baptized, she basically jumped out of her chair and yelled yes! And at sacrament meeting, when a speaker mentioned having only one piercing in each ear, Ashley started taking earrings out. Right there in sacrament meeting. 

Rebekah is a trooper. She's been through more than almost anyone I know. She's another one that got kicked out of her family when she started investigating the church. She reads the scriptures night and day while filling out scripture study manuals. She'll be baptized next weekend!

Love,

Elder Doyle

Zone Conference squad

Reid's favorite hobby

Our Asian feast, complete with fried balls of creamed octopus on the right.