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 

Week 59 - Random Pics

My mission Dad (right), my mission Son (left), and Kali the Photo Bomber.

Last pday was a blast! Went swimming in the corn pool!

The Man, The Myth, The Legend...Justin.

Plate # 5

Me, My Comp and the Assistants (our adopted Companions)

Week 58 - A Living Church

Bonjour!

Last week I mentioned some changes that were announced in General Conference, which I am super pumped for. Implentation of those changes will happen over the next few months, and I'm excited to see how the Saints benefit. The Nampa South Stake, the stake I serve in, decided to jump on board with the change idea though, and made a new ward yesterday! The new ward took pieces from a couple of our other wards, so there was some expected crying and sadness as people were moved out of the ward they've attended for so many years. But to me, it all testifies that this is a living, breathing church. There's a living, breathing God that leads it!

This week we had many opportunities to minister to missionaries and to people the missionaries are teaching. I've given more priesthood blessings this week than ever before, which is a great feeling. We did a couple of exchanges with some Elders that have some tough stuff going on in their lives. I feel blessed to be in a position to provide some comfort and love in times like that.

We also had MLC this week, which is my favorite meeting! About 6 months ago, I suggested to the MLC that we could pray as a mission at a predetermined time every night for our monthly baptismal goal. The goal that month was 32, so the whole mission prayed at 9:32 every night for our goal. We've continued doing that every night for the past 6 months, and it's been really unifying. This month, we've decided to take it a step further. We're now inviting every member in our mission boundaries to pray with us too! So that's probably around fifty thousand people (rough estimate) all praying for one purpose! It gets me pretty excited. I'd like to extend that invitation to anyone that's still reading at this point. Our mission goal this month is 25 baptisms. I know prayer works!

Love, 

Elder Doyle

Most Sunday nights we visit with a bunch of youth from church and any friends they want to invite!

Last night I ended up doing a little unplanned concert!