December 29, 2013

Dearest Family,

Sounds like you all had a great Christmas! It was so good to see you all too, I know the time was short but I was for surely blessed because of our obedience to the time guidelines. Thanks for all the emails it's always good and brings a smile to hear what's going on back home.



Sister Nieva's Christmas Day Baptism! I can't think of a better
Christmas Gift! Elder Doane sang "Oh Holy Night," at the baptism!
He says when he sings he has such a loud voice, it reminds him of his
dad Brother Linn Doane and makes him laugh 



Yes the Christmas baptism was amazing!! Sister Nieva's tesimony is so strong, and i have such a strong testimony that Heavenly Father will guide us to their path, or them into ours as long as we are humble. I also sang Holy Night at the service! There was a lot of people there, i'm really getting in to singing now, it's funny because i have such a loud voice, it reminds me of dad whenever i sing and makes me laugh.

Last week i found out i was being temporarily transferred to the other assistants area, Ma-ao, for a while, which we are opening as of now! At first i was like, what am i going to do in Ma-ao?! But when Elder Peralta and I got there, we just got to work! I fell in love with the area and the people the very second i got there, and we found over 30 investigators in 2 days. We didn't have a meeting house yet, so we had to invite our investigators to come to Bago City sunday, but it was just too far and none of them made it. So Sunday we just went all over looking for a meeting house, and miraculously, we found one! So we've goaled to have 31 investigators at church this Sunday, we got lots of work to do! The Bago 1st ward is so amazing, Bishop Bedoja is the most humble person i've ever met! I love him so much, and the members are SO supportive of us opening up Ma-ao! On Sunday in ward council, Bishop was like, 'Alright now we'll discuss our ward mission plan.. Elder Peralta and Elder Doane, go ahead!' So we basically stood up and trained and set up a ward mission plan, and the ward was just so excited! It was really amazing, i just feel this fire about to burst open in Ma-ao, and it's such a blessing to be a part of it.

I want to keep this short because i have somethings i need to work on, but i was studying in 3 Nephi 5 today, and pondering why the Book of Mormon was named 'Mormon'. I then read in verses 12-13 that Mormon was the land wherein the church was established by the hand of Alma after the time of their transgression. Then i realized, Mormon really does mean- the establishment of the church. I think about the beloved prophet Joseph Smith, and his translating the Book of Mormon by the power of God, it just adds to my testimony that being a Mormon means i'm a member of His restored church in these latter days. The Book of Mormon is the keystone of the Restoration of the Gospel, and through it we can come to know where the Lord's church is today. To be a Mormon means to be a "disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Having been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life." It's not just a name! It's a sacred way of living. We must be the light to our neighbors, friends, and family, because we are members of His church! We must always be honoring our baptismal covenants by always standing as witnesses of God, and when necessary, using words. I know that they will recognize us as His representatives, and will be able to help them back to their eternal home. Always read and live the scriptures, that's the only way we can make it to the tree of life! I love you family. Let's make this new year a chance to repent and draw nearer to God!

Elder Doane