January 19, 2014

Dearest Family,

So good to hear from you all, sounds like everyone is doing well, especially Dave at BYUI! That's exciting. This time has been so great at Cauayan, it's almost been a week! Unbelievable.



Elder Doane eager to
work in Cauayan!!!



Right when i got to Cauayan I just went in the house searching for our names we had prepared for baptism. I didn't see many, and could tell we had some work to do! My new comp. is Elder Perez, he's so great! He's been in the field almost a year now, he's from Cavete Philippines. The first thing i said to him was, "Elder, I don't expect anything from you except exact obedience." And good thing, that was his same expectation for me. The first few days we had to work in Cauayan really does testify that exact obedience brings miracles. We found 27 new investigators last week, and 21 of them who we are preparing for baptism in the next coming months! The branch members are so nice, and so loving. Our branch president, President, Himaya, is amazing! He's the most humble person i've met, and when i met him for the first time i was so excited i almost jumped on him. But I'm so excited to work with him. President Lopez says he sent me down here to really sustain the work, and to keep it from falling, because that's what it was looking like a couple of weeks ago. With looking at last week's key indicators, I'm sure the Lord will keep this area solid and help it to grow through Elder Perez and I.

We had a baptism last week too! Sister Albesa, she is so amazing. At first she would never listen to missionaries, but then she said she was just so touched by the Spirit that the old missionaries brought into her home, and she could not deny it. Her husband and son came to see the baptism as well, and they loved it. They will also be baptized in the coming months!

I was studying in 3 Nephi 9 last week, and the Savior said, "O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?... Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life." Here the Savior is inviting me, as His servant, to repent and come unto Him. He is asking me to return unto Him! Meaning, I literally need to turn myself 180 degrees, and come back to Him. I must become converted to His Gospel, changing my ways to fit in with His, and He will heal me. Then He promises.. Elder Doane, if you will come unto me, ye shall have eternal life. What does eternal life mean to me?

Eternal means never ending, or it could even mean, 'weekly'. Life? What is life for me in the mission? Well I know that my missionary purpose is my heart. And life is measured by the 'heartbeat' of a person. So life is my 'heart beat'. Meaning He will give me a weekly heartbeat here in my mission. Centered to my purpose is baptism, and every time I have a baptism, my heart beats.

The Savior is literally promising me here weekly baptisms, if I will repent and come unto Him. I need to drink that part of the bitter cup, and He will work through me as His servant, to keep a 'steady heartbeat' all the way throughout my mission! I know these things are from God my dear family, I know He will qualify me to do this work as i qualify myself! We may ask ourselves, what is our 'heartbeat'? Is it worldly things that we're relying on to live? Is it money? Is it work? Or is it our Savior Jesus Christ, who promises to give us milk and honey without price.

I know this church is true! Every time someone tells me it isn't it only makes my testimony stronger. I love you family!

Elder Doane


A BIG ELDER, under a BIG TREE, with an even BIGGER HEART!!! 



January 12, 2014

Dearest Family,

Thanks for all the emails! Sounds like you're all excited to see some football here in the future, that's great. Yes President Lopez was actually the reason why I got the desire to play, he really made me realize the blessings the Lord's given me and how I haven't been using it to the best of it's ability. That's fine about telling people i don't mind! Thanks for the email of Coach Tidwell, i will contact him soon here about what i need to do. I hope i won't have to come home a transfer early. I'm okay on money dad no worries, sorry i just had to spend some to get some things i needed like pants and what not. So good to hear that you're all doing well! Especially with you mom and dad sharing the Gospel! And Demi as well! The temple is such a great opportunity to share the Gospel, so great! I also emailed Sister Angela from BYU about registration, she'll be helping me out. Thanks so much for the help and support!

Well the work in Bacolod 3rd Ward is just on fire, we have baptisms lined up through March, and the Lord is really providing people to us as we continue to stay humble. He really taught Elder Sablan and I a big lesson of prioritizing things this last weekend, and we learned a lot from it. I've just grown so close to this ward as i've been here for 6 months, love the members and especially all the converts here. We had a meeting with President today, and i'll be transferring out to Sipalay Zone, Cauayan Branch! It's the farthest area in the mission from Bacolod, out by the beaches and stuff. I won't be serving as an assistant anymore, but i just told President thank you so much for the opportunity to serve so close to him, he has truly influenced my life in an eternal way. He said he has a special assignment for me out there to sustain the work, and bring back unity into the ward members and leaders, and i know the best way to do that is through baptizing! I have big goals and visions for this area, and i'm so excited to work. I know I need to approach this humbly and prayerfully, and I really pray that the Lord will work through us over there in Cauayan. I'll be heading out there Wednesday, so i'm way excited! I won't be able to see Sister Judd, but I told the Elders to say hi for me :) I'm sure i'll see her before I head out!

Being this far in my mission, i've gone through so many things, different experiences and trials that have stretched me, and it's just a miracle coming this far. I remember Nephi in the 1st chapter of the Book of Mormon says, 'I will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen.' I truly testify to this. Throughout my mission i've made so many mistakes, and i know i'm not the most skilled missionary in the world, but through His infinite mercy He hath seen it fit to snatch me from an everlasting hell, and to use me as His instrument in bringing about this great work in these last days. It's so amazing to be a part of the Lord 'setting his hand a second time' in gathering His sheep and bringing them into the fold. Whenever I read Moroni 7:33, it just pushes me and tells me, I can do anything. And I know it's true through experience. So this upcoming week, when i come to Cauayan, I know I can achieve Our Vision in that area, through my faith in Jesus Christ. My companion will play a key role in that as well, I know i have so much to learn from him! My companions are the only reason i've had success in my mission, and I know each and every one of them were prepared by the Lord for me to be able to work with them. Family just always remember that through faith in Jesus Christ, we can do anything. We need not doubt our potential, as long as something persuades us to do good, we should go for it, petal to the metal. I know this work is God's work! And He qualifies whom He calls. I love you all!

Elder Doane

January 5, 2014

Family!

Thank you so much for all the emails! I can't tell you all how happy i am for Davis getting to BYUI, he's just gonna love it there! The Lord really has something in store for Him there. So great as well he's with Colton. Wow things sounded really busy there for a second, that's good that the kids were able to have a good time off school for a while. That's something i want to do a lot when i get home, is spend a lot more time with you family! We gotta go somewhere or do something, and just us! That's something I've gained a desire for here in the mission, to spend more time with you as my family because before I was always never home. Sorry I've been spending money dad, i'm trying to keep it down i'm just getting some things i need like pants and other things so i don't have to get a package sent here again, they cost so much. But i'm all good now! One of the members here is making up some pants for me, they're cheap too! Just let me know my balance that'd be great.




New Years Baptism of Paula & Desire,
they're both cousins! 

 

Well this last week was so fantastic. The work is just progressing so much, Elder Sablan is such a blessing to me on my mission at this time. We had a new years baptism! It was so great, Sister Paula and Desire, they're both cousins. We also got to give a training about The Role of the Holy Ghost in Conversion at our trainers follow up training, it was so fantastic. I get to learn so much more through giving trainings, i really have a testimony that the Lord works through imperfect people to accomplish His purposes. I got to have an interview with President last week, as we had some transfers to deal with in the mission, it was such a sacred and uplifting experience. I told him, "President, anytime i get to have a one on one with you I treat it as if I'm having a one on one with the Lord." He just understands his calling so deeply, and lives according to that understanding. Such a powerful and dedicated servant of the Lord. He thanked me for my service as his assistant, and let me know that the time is close for me to be transferred, he says the area i'll be going to is a hard area, that really needs a turning around. I'm so excited! I want to testify to all people that it's not the area where your assigned, but it depends on the missionaries on how successful they will become.



Elder Doane & Elder Sablan, at their last baptism baptism together!
Doane said, "I hope this picture shows how much
I love Elder Sablan"! 



I also asked him some advice about preparing to come home, and I won't tell you everything we talked about, but can I just say I know he represented the Lord in those short 10 minutes. After talking with President and spending much time praying, I've decided i'm going to play football for BYU when i get home. I know it's the will of the Lord for me. He's blessed me with this gigantic body, and this athletic ability, and i haven't been using it to it's full potential! But I plan to play when i get home, and my main goal is to make it to the NFL. I know when you hear that right now you're going to think i'm crazy, but I know I can do it. My testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is too strong for me to not make that as my goal, because I know I can magnify my calling and be a light to others if I were to make it somewhere like that in life. Think of all the people I could influence and help to receive the Gospel! President Lopez said, "Elder Doane, if you want to help establish the Lord's kingdom, you need to work outside His kingdom and bring people in!" That struck my heart, and knew that this is where the Lord wants me to go in order to bring forth His marvelous works and wonders!

You're probably struck in awe right now, I was too before, but now I'm just too excited to go where the Lord wants me to go. I know revelation is true family, and the Lord will guide us in our path if we are humble, willing to submit to His will! I love you all so much, and love this Gospel!

Elder Doane

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

December 23, 2013

Hey you family!

I'll keep this one short because I'll be talking to you tomorrow! I will be on 11am probably my time. I'll check Eric Levie's account to make sure it works good today. Alright! I'm excited to talk to you all! Get any questions you have ready! I'll get some stories ready too. We can only talk for 30 minutes family, please don't put my obedience at risk and take us over that limit. But thank you all so much, especially for the extra money it helps whenever i have needs. I just broke my shoes again today haha, i'll figure something out though! 

This christmas season is so special, and we are not wasting this time! We are not staying home, but we're out in their houses teaching and sharing this restored Gospel with everyone. Christmas eve and Christmas are our best days for proselyting, and its been such a miracle to have a baptism earlier today (christmas eve) and tomorrow! (christmas) I just bear my testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, that we need to become like a child, submissive to His will so that we can receive the blessings of that great and everlasting sacrifice. The Lord has enabled my companion and I to do miracles in this area, and i wish i could tell you all of them but i know we will have forever to tell stories and things. To keep it short, do you remember when i told you Elder Peralta and I taught 50 lessons with a member present a few weeks ago? The Lord really taught me about stretching and overcoming my flesh that week. Well last week we exercised our faith, and taught 70 lessons with a member present. 

Some people will say, those are just numbers, numbers aren't important. But to those i say, numbers are extremely important in this church. Numbers is how the Lord can say He is 'hastening' His work. Numbers is how they baptized in the many books in the Book of Mormon. Think, behind those 70 lessons, there are children of God behind each of them. Heavenly Father is really trying to teach us our full potential here in the mission, and if we keep being humble I know we can reach that. The Lord really humbled me many times last week, and i'm so thankful for that humbling because even though it hurts, its for my good. 

Our stake President here talked about 2 kinds of pain. 1- the pain of discipline. Or 2, the pain of regret. Depends on us what we will choose. But for me and my house, we will suffer the pain of discipline so the Lord's work and glory may continue! 

I've never been more happy in my life family, especially during this Christmas season! Please try to share the Gospel during this time, go about doing good, find referrals for the missionaries, even if 1! I promise you if you pray for opportunities the Lord will put you in their path or them in yours! The joy of sharing this Gospel, and inviting people, is just indescribable! Please family and friends, do it! I know the Lord will help us overcome our weaknesses as we have a sincere desire to share His restored Gospel. I love you all so much! Tomorrow's the big day!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Love,

Elder Doane

PS- some christmas pictures we took at a members homes! The Dy family! They got us new ties as well for Christmas, if you could write them a thank you note that would be awesome! (I figured you would like the 3rd one)

December 15, 2013

Hello Dearest family!

Thank you so much for your emails, it's comforting to know that the Lord is blessing you while i'm in His service. Demi's experience about her friends' siblings being baptized is a miracle! I'm sure that's something she will not forget for the rest of her life. I'm doing well don't need anything, i'll just withdraw some money to get some more pants done, and a few other small things but thanks so much for that extra money it helps a lot. I barely have anything else left in my suitcase, i don't know i guess it's just what happens when you go on the mission! Your stuff just kind of disappears. I'll probably just come home with a Book of Mormon in my hand and nothing else, haha! But i'm doing great, i'm sure i won't need another package up until the day i come back!

Family, last week was another miraculous experience laboring in the Lord's vineyard. There are so many things i could share with you but i'll be selective! Last week at our Mission Leadership Council i gave a training on Humility, which was such a great learning experience. I based it off of 1 Nephi 2:15, when Lehi dwells in a tent, and related it to us as missionaries leaving everything to dwell in a tent for 2 years or 18 months. Lots of us missionaries are bringing things to the mission field that don't need to be here, like family, friends, memories of the past, etc. But it was such a spiritually uplifting experience, and the missionaries said they were so inspired to more live the higher law of consecration. I encourage you family to read sometime D&C 31, and think about the blessings you have received and will yet receive for supporting me in the mission! I know the Lord will 'prepare a place for you' as my family! I showed them a picture of all of you at the temple, and bore my testimony that the Lord has kept care of all of you as i've tried my best to serve Him!

We were in our zone training on wednesday, wherein the zone leaders and sister training leaders give the trainings they received in MLC to their entire zone. It was such a great meeting, and the Spirit was so strong as they presented the trainings with love. Then, as the clock was approaching 12pm (the time the meeting needed to end), I was moved upon by the Spirit to leave. I could tell the way the meeting was going that it was not going to end by 12, so i didn't want to get up and cause a scene, but the Spirit was nagging at me to get up and leave. So I turned to Elder Sablan and said, "Elder, i feel like we need to go." Then he said let's go, and we got up and left. Walking away i wasn't sure why we left, and i was hoping we didn't disturb the meeting, because they were still in the process of training.

Then we went to go eat lunch, i knew why we left. A man came up and sat next to us and said "Hello elders!" We started talking to him asking how he knew us as elders, and told us he was a long time member, but he went less active this last year. He said no missionaries had visited or talked to him, and he missed the church a lot. Elder and I just testified to him that he's welcome in the church, and the Lord is just waiting on him to come back so he can receive the blessings of the Restored Gospel again. As we continually talked to him, he said, "Alright elders, it's my goal to get to the temple before i turn 60." We were so happy for him. We got his information, told him we would have the missionaries come by and visit him, and we went on our way. Elder Sablan then turned to me and said, "It was God that told you to leave that meeting, so that we could meet His son at that restaurant. I felt the Spirit so strong and it really let me know that we did the right thing.

Later that day, one missionary texted us and told us how rude it was to leave that meeting so early, and that we needed to apologize to them for disrupting the meeting in such a rude way. I was blown away by the text, and the adversary was using it as a tool to get me down the whole day, but we replied back to the missionaries and said that we were sorry if we made any disturbance, or disrupted the training in any way, but we would never apologize for following a prompting.

After we talked with the other missionaries and things they understood, and said it was so great that we followed that prompting to go and meet that man.

I really learned something from this experience family, never miss a prompting. Always follow it! Even if you're doubting whether it's just you, or if it's from God. I promise you, if it's something that is good, praiseworthy, or virtuous, it is from God! We need not worry what man may think, or what it may look like to other people, we only need to consider what the Lord wants. He will help us through the power of the Holy Ghost to follow these promptings and feel the Holy Spirit of Promise as we respond to the still small voice that prompts us to move. I know the Gift of the Holy Ghost is real family! It is such a gift that is essential for us to make it back to Heavenly Father's kingdom at the last days! And we need to follow His still small voice in order to be the Lords instrument in carrying about His work on earth! I know that 'through our repentance, and humility' (3 Nephi 4:33) we can do all things through the Lord's enabling power of His Atonement. I love you family! Always be agents to act and not objects to be acted upon!

Elder Doane

December 8, 2013

Hey Family!

This last week just flew by. Elder Sablan and I were SUPER busy going on exchanges down on the south part of the mission, it was so great though, we worked so hard out there! Yeah that picture makes me look really thin huh? I don't feel very thin though! Last week i weighed in at 258! THe first time i've been under 260 since freshman year! Haha. Sorry i took so much money out of the account, my shoes got destroyed in the mountains we were working in, you wouldn't believe, like the entire sole just ripped completely off and i was still working with them, it was such an adventure! So on friday on our way back i went at got some new shoes, they got a Payless Shoes here at this mall, and they got 13s! So it was a miracle. Okay I will let Elder Peralta know. Thanks so much for the shirts and stuff, it was perfect timing you sent those. Sounds like thanksgiving was good! Glad to hear the family is doing well. I know the Lord is blessing and taking care of you all as i focus completely on the work here.

Well where to start! We worked in the mountains last week, and i mean mountains! Like what i used to call a rough hike in boy scouts is a regular day of work in some of the zone leaders areas here, it was amazing! Such a great time. But i was so touched and edified through the exchanges we had. We worked in Kabankalan, Binalbagan, and Mangapsang. I can just testify family, that exact obedience brings miracles.

In every exchange before we started i opened up the Doctrine and Covenants to section 4:5, and shared with the missionary that Heavenly Father had a 'work' prepared for us that day, and having faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to His glory, would 'qualify' us for that work that He had in store for us! It was so amazing the Spirit we felt, and the amazing Christlike Attributes i saw in these missionaries. Elder McBride, who looks a ton like Drake, is one of the most happiest and patient missionaries i've met, wherever he goes he is just so happy and isn't shy around anyone. Elder Borgolthaus has changed so much on his mission since the time i knew him a year ago, he's so humble, and the Lord is really revealing special things to him in his mission because of him softening his heart, it was amazing to get to work with him. Elder Garner really gave up a lot to come out on his mission, and we both learned and testified that the Holy Ghost will guide and lead us to those people being prepared to hear the Gospel. I could share with you tons of experiences, but i'll save some for after the mission so we have some things to talk about.

One short one i'd like to share though, last week when i worked with Elder Garner, i had high hopes for our day of work. Their area was just mountains, nothing else. So as we discussed what we wanted to see in the days work, set expectations, and headed out, i really kept a prayer in my heart that Heavenly Father would help qualify us for that 'work' that He had laid out for us that day. We got dropped off at this corner by a jeep, and waited for the next one, then i looked across the street and saw this sister, probably in her mid 20's, working a small store she had. I had a feeling we should go talk to her, so we did. I went and bought some candy from her store, and began to talk to her, her name was Maryjoy. She was very nice and noble, she was very open to talking with us. Then i said 'Well Sister Joy while we're waiting for our next jeep can we share a short message with you?" "sure!" she replied. Then we prayed and after asking her a few questions about her life and her religion, we began to testify about the Restored Gospel, and she began to cry, and told us, 'I'm just really confused. And i'm so worried about my old family members who passed away if they don't have a chance anymore.' I knew from that moment she was being prepared by Heavenly Father for the Gospel! We gave her a pamphlet and a Book of Mormon, and set a return appointment to come back, she also committed to be baptized.

Walking away from that Elder Garner and I couldn't speak, we didn't know what to say to each other. But we both knew that through obedience to God's commandments, and having faith hope charity and love, with an eye single to His glory, Heavenly Father qualified us for meeting His daughter Joy that day. How amazing.