March 31, 2013

Hey family!

Welp we got pulled out of Victorias last week! Got moved to Caduha-an, we're white washing here too! Crazy huh? Haha. But Elder Pineda and I are still companions and the Zone Leaders here in Cadiz zone, Victorias is actually in the same zone as ours. Last week was great though, it's so much fun white washing because you have no idea what you're doing, I've really learned a lot about agency lately, and learning to be one who acts and is not acted upon. We've found some pretty solid investigators, and the branch is great. Even though there's less than 100 active members, they are all so willing to work and help the missionary efforts. Especially our branch President! President Lapid, he's so humble and great. The stake president is in our branch as well, so we're excited about that.

We're really focusing on the Book of Mormon here in Caduha-an, trying to get the entire branch reading and studying in the Book. We had an amazing experience with one brother. We asked President what members of the branch we needed to focus on for re activation, and he told us to help his son, who is a returned missionary who has been less active for years. The first time we visited over there, we shared the Book of Mormon with him, and gave him a reading chart too to check off as he goes. The second time we came back, he was almost done with 1 nephi 1, and he shared with us all the things he learned. He also said he was so happy to be reading in the Book of Mormon again, because he had been studying in other books than the Book of Mormon the last couple of years, and he also came to church for the first time in a long time on sunday. I have such a testimony of the power of the Book of Mormon. I know its true, because i've seen its effect on the lives of others, and especially mine. That Book changed my life! I'm so happy youre reading as a family too, keep up the awesome work fam :) I'll keep working hard, and eating rice. I love you all so much.

Elder Doane

March 24, 2013

Wow hey fam sorry don't got too much time left! But hey this last week was great, Genalyn's baptism was amazing and was way spiritual! Her mom attended too, even though she's way strong catholic, but we have hopes for her as well! I've been focusing a lot of the work on the Book of Mormon, and i testify of it's power! We're really trying to strengthen our investigators testimonies in the Book of Mormon to give them that foundation to increase faith in Christ and properly live the Gospel. I testify that this Gospel is true! Because I've seen the power of it in my life and others! I'm so happy! The mission is great! I'll keep workin and workin, the time is just flying. Transffers are this week, i'll probably be staying here! Anyways, love you all!

Elder Doane

March 10, 2013

Family! Hey don't got too much time, gotta prepare for our training wednesday at our zone conference. But this last week was tight, tons of miracles have been brought about in the work. Thanks so much for the emails! Wow so good to hear from Dave, sure sounds like he's doing great. Demi's throwin the shot? I wish i could coach her, I'll totally be into it when i get back. Get her in the weight room! Drakey boy had me crackin up again with his email, love that kid so much. I'm sure he'll do great at his talk on sunday! That's so cool! Please do record it. Devon's going to spain? Wow another qfl speaking spanish, that's so cool though i'm so happy for him! Mom sounds like she's doing well too, i'm so happy that you're all doing so well it makes me so happy.

This last week was amazing. Sister Zipp's baptism was great! She reminds me so much of Demi it's hilarious. I love her so much! You see her in the picture? She's wayy smart too. The area is doing well, Elder and I are really trying to break false traditions that have been left in this area by other missionaries, it's way hard but we're really working at it. Lots of misssionaries have came through here and been disobedient and all that, but Elder Pineda and I are staying exactly obedient and doing all we can to change the members perspective on the missionaries. I love this work so much. I'm doing great, just so happy all the time and constantly learning more about the gospel. I love this work so much, i'm never going to leave it. I love you so much family, i'lll send more next week.

Elder Doane

March 3, 2013

Hey Fam!

Thanks for all the emails, I don't have as much time so I can't send you all individual ones. Haha drake and demi crack me up. Hows momma doin? I love the email she sent me last week. Yeah dad will you please tell my coaches I love them? Coach Jackson, that's way cool that he's Demi's throws coach. I love Coach Hathcock! Football was probably the best decision I made my senior year, that was a blast. I'll never forget that guy, what a great coach he is. Sounds like Dave is staying busy with work, good for him He snagged that airport job! What an answer to prayer. Haha I love hearing stories about Drake doing funny stuff, I just crack up here in this computer shop where we email. Hey dad have you been in contact with Bishop Bills at all from my BYU Ward? If you could contact him and let him know I love him that'd be awesome. I think his name is Jeff Bills. I could not have asked for a greater bishop in that BYU Ward, he really played a big role in preparing me for a mission. Way good to hear Devon is gettin' his call soon, I can't wait to hear! That'd be tight if he got sent here to the Phillies. Tell dave to shoot me an email next week so I can hear from him!

The work here is the busiest its ever been in my whole mission! Haha, every night we come home I am just soooo tired. I remember always reading Colton's letters about how tired they were and now I totally understand. We had exchanges this last week with the Fabica Elders, and I kid you not their area is like going on a father's and sons hiking trip. There were certain parts when we were woking that I was breathing way hard because I was out of breath! Also there were some parts where I thought I was gonna die when we were jumping over rivers and crossing bridges. It's nothing like America here, and I love it. That's why we're so tired when we come home haha. The shoes are holding up! I've been using the ones grandma sent me, the tie ups. The other ones got some pretty sweet holes in them, so i'll probably get them repaired or something. I don't know I feel like we should be using hardcore boots or something here haha. But I seriously have fallen in love with this area, I love the people in our ward and those we teach so much. Ziphineah will be baptized on Saturday! She passed her interview, and her less active mother just returned yesterday too, what a miracle! Yesterday she asked me to baptize her, so i will definitely send pictures to you guys next week. She reminds me so much of Demi! It's so funny. She's 11 years old, and wayyyyy smart! I'm way excited for her. We also have a baptism on the 23rd coming up as well. We're really trying to make our area a model area for the zone, so we gotta get more baptisms! Oh yeah this week there were 2 gigantic spiders in our apartment, like gigantic! The biggest ive ever seen. all 4 o us in the apartment were running around screaming like girls trying to shoot the things with permatrin, it was hilarious. Elder Pineda and I are really doing great, he's such an amazing Elder. So humble and diligent. Today for pday we're gonna go to this sweet resturaunt, at least it looks sweet we have no idea if it's any good. I wanna get some pants made soon, theres a lady in the ward whos pro at that, so i might be withdrawing some money. Anyways! I'm really having a good time here, just so happy all the time no matter what. I'm leaning how to rely on the Lord more, and just feel like i'm gonna be a missionary for the rest of my life. I am just so thankful to be brought up in this true church you know? It's our duty to share this Gospel. And I'm fulfilling my duty. I love you guys so much! I hope you all have a great week.

Love,

Elder Doane