July 28, 2013

Thank you for all your emails! It sounds like you're all doing well and staying busy, that's so awesome. Yes i would love to see a family picture! Even if the ones that catherine took that one time before Dave left on his mission, i would just really love to have a family picture! Jessica is coming here?! That's so exciting. I was so stoked when i saw in your emails that she has been assigned here in Bacolod. I'm so happy for her! Will definitely try to get in contact with her to give her some heads ups about our mission. How exciting!

This last week was so tiring. Every night kneeling down for prayer i just feel like i'm gonna fall asleep while i'm praying. But it was so great! I got to go on exchanges with the Assistants to the President, such a wonderful experience. I really learned about the importance of the Doctrine of Christ, and inviting investigators to be baptized in the very first lesson we have with them, testifying to them of the simple truths of being cleansed from their sins through this sacred ordinance that has been restored in full through the restoration. I worked with Elder Mifflin, he's from Utah, a great Elder! We also had a missionary fireside last week, which was a miracle! If i have time I'll send some pictures, but ah it was such a miracle. We had been planning for this since June, and we made so many preparations and stuff, we set a goal to have 65 people there. We spent so much time setting up, inviting people, all that kind of stuff! It was so much fun for me, because I was really able to apply my talents i acquired from student council. I felt like I was back again planning some party in student council! But it was so cool, the decorations looked great, and we had 60 people attend. Even though it was 5 short, Elder Borromeo and I were so satisfied with the Spirit that we felt and the joy we saw in everyones faces who attended. They told us usually the firesides in that ward in the past had attendances of like 15, maybe 20. But it just goes to show that 'you get what you go for'. It really testifies about agency, and the power God has given us to do anything which is expedient in Him. We also had 4 couple missionaries come! It was so awesome. One of them sang with me and Elder Borromeo 'I Believe in Christ' and one gave a talk that was so powerful about the Book of Mormon. The fireside was entitled, "The Book of Mormon- What? When? Why?" There was also a little girl named Mohonri, 10 years old, who gave an awesome talk on the Book of Mormon! She reminded me a lot of Demi, she's so awesome!

I also got to have an interview with President Lopez this last week. It was so amazing. I feel like whenever i step into his office and talk with him, i'm literally in a conversation with the Lord. He really loves you mom and dad, and thanks you for your support you've given to the Lords work here in Philippines Bacolod Mission. I asked him about what I should do coming home, whether to go straight to BYU or to stay back in AZ for a while. He said right after that, " I think you should go back to BYU, that's too great of an opportunity you don't want to miss." So that's what I'll be doing when I come back! I also talked to him about teaching in the Provo MTC when i got back, and he said its a very competitive field, but that he would make sure that I don't have a hard time getting in to teach there. So that's what I'm planning on! I'm so grateful for that interview i had with him, those plans about coming home had been bothering me for a while, now they're all settled out so i don't have to worry about them! Dad if you could email coach robinson at BYU, and our athletic director, i think her name is Jessica Mullen, just give them an update about me, and if there's anything we need to do before next year to get me all registered? THanks so much.

I know this church is true family! It's the same church Jesus Christ established from before, and has not changed and will not change no matter where we are. The Book of Mormon is proof of this church, and proof that God is a God of miracles, and our Loving Heavenly Father. I love you family, keep clinging to the rod of iron through your dilligent study of the Book of Mormon every day.

Elder Doane

July 21, 2013

Hello fam!

Thanks so much for all your emails, I love hearing stories and stuff they really give me a good laugh. Tell Devon I love him, and I'm sure he'll come back even skinnier than he is from his mission. Haha. But no dad I'm all good, I'll let you know if i need somethin thanks so much! 

This last week was just, i don't know i don't have words for it. It's been like a roller coaster here this last transfer in Manapla, with areas we're going to, members we're working with, trying to switch things around that have happened in the past, we've been so busy and so challenged this transfer! But I just want to tell you about a miracle that happened this last week.

Sister Merlie Arcano is one of our investigators, who is just on fire. And the reason is, she loves the Book of Mormon. She says she can not live a day without reading the Book of Mormon, and she's currently in Helaman with her reading right now. Every lesson we have with her is just so powerful, its like Heavenly Father has already revealed the restored Gospel to her through her own personal study rather than we having to teach it to her. This last saturday the 20th of July was her scheduled baptism. But her husband has been having some serious health problems, and they were extremely concerned with him. The last visit we had with them she said she was going to take brother to the hospital, and she was scared it might disturb her baptism on saturday because no one else could stay with brother. But she said, "I will be there Elders, i won't let anything stop me."

So we were still faithful that the baptism would go through. We went saturday, set up the room, filled the font, and were so excited for Sister Arcano to make this sacred covenant with her Heavenly Father. After we set up, we went over to her house to check how she was, because we hadn't seen her in a few days, and she wasn't home. Her daughter was there, and told us that brother is in terrible condition and sister arcano was the only one watching over him. She said she was so sorry, but the baptism would not go through for that day.\

Walking away from that, I had no idea what to feel. We had been working so hard, trying to give it all we had in every aspect of our work, and yet another thing fell through? We went back to the church, and talked about what we could do. It was about 1pm, and the baptism was supposed to be at 3pm. Sister was 2 hours away in Bacolod watching over brother, and we didn't know whether to take it all down, or leave it. So we got down and prayed to Heavenly Father and really asked for guidance. After our prayers and scripture reading, we felt that everything would work out, somehow, whether the baptism fell through or not.

3 and 330pm came around, and not even one member besides the speakers showed up, neither did Sister Arcano. So we decided to take everything down, and just reschedule for next week. But the thing is, we were okay with it. The Spirit of the Lord really comforted us and just said not to worry. So we went back home to finish our studies and proselyte for the rest of the day. Until around 530pm, the phone buzzed, and i got a text that said.. "Elder, ari di c sister.. gusto ya magpabunyag sbng.. dali na kay gahulat sya." Which means, "Elders sister is here, and she wants to be baptized. Hurry and get over here because she's waiting on you." We jumped up from our study tables, and hurried over to the church, and found Sister Arcano there, crying with her face in her hands. There was also 2 or 3 members, sitting right next to her comforting her and really 'mourning with those that mourn' like in Mosiah 18. When we sat down and talked with her, she told us about her crazy day, with brothers condition being terrible, with no one else there to watch over him. She called brothers siblings, and told them they needed to get over to bacolod because she was going to be baptized that day, and right when they got there, she booked it to Manapla. There was so much traffic, and she said she really felt like something was trying to stop her from being baptized that day.

So we set  up the baptism again, sister got in her baptismal suit, and she was baptized on july 20th, 6pm. As the baptism was going on, I was in tears, could not believe with my mortal eyes what was happening. I saw a miracle as a consequence of the faith of one of Heavenly Fathers' daughters, and her choosing to act and not be acted upon. As she shared her testimony, she said she knew that this is where she needed to be, she knew the Book of Mormon is true, and she prays that she can bring her whole family into the church.

God is a God of miracles. I testify of that, because i witnessed it on Saturday. I know He loves us all, because He speaks to us through His prophets in these latter days. And He will prepare a way for us to keep the commandments. Don't believe me? Ask Sister Merlie Arcano.

I love you family. I pray for you every night. Keep holding to the rod of iron, the words of our beloved prophets.

Elder Doane

July 14,2013

Hey family,

Thank you for your emails, it sounds like you all had a good time over in Cali. 115? That sounds scorching! I don't know how I'm going to bear that, I'm so used to rain here in the Phillies I'll probably die back there at home! But I'm glad you all had a good time. Sounds like the Dave Dem and Drake are all staying busy as well even if it's summer, that's good. Haha moms letters are so awesome! Does she know she's typing in all caps every email? Haha, but I really love them, thanks so much mom for your inspiring words. I don't need anything, doing well! I'm good on shoes, I actually got some from a previous missionary who went home, I use them for my dress shoes on sundays. Its a real blessing from the Lord!

Wow the work is so challenging/rewarding. This really is God's work you know, His work and His glory! We are really trying to work through the members here in Manapla, we really have a great hope that through the Book of Mormon we can soften their hearts to help them have a desire to share the Gospel. We have seen many successes with it so far, we received one really solid referral last week that has great potential to be baptized! Her name is Michelle, she's 18, and she's a studying secretary in college. She's very learned as well. The first lesson we taught her we just really focused on how to begin teaching in Preach My Gospel, asking her questions and listening to what's important to her life. The Spirit was so present in that lesson. As she shared her feelings with us, we took what she said and testified of Gospel truths she highlighted, and just added on to what she knew with the message of the Restoration, especially focusing on the Book of Mormon. She said she is so excited to learn and understand more about the Book of Mormon, she also has a less active cousin he said she is going to return back to the church too just to help Michelle gain a testimony. How cool no? Heavenly Father really does prepare ways for His children to come back to Him.

I really have a testimony of asking questions and listening. Lots of times we have things we want to teach, we're so excited to just let it out of our mouths and expect everyone to listen to us. But first, we must show others how much we care about them, by asking questions, and listening, really finding out whats important to them first, and then out of pure love, we can take those Gospel truths that they are already familiar with from the pre existence, and add unto them with our unique message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must teach others the way Christ did, through love. That is the way we will build our house on that rock, the sure foundation of our Redeemer who is Christ. If we stick to our own knowledge and wisdom, we will surely fall, just like the foolish man who built his house upon the sand. Primary songs are the best huh? They really do testify of eternal truths. Well family I know the Book of Mormon is true. I have seen it's power, and am still witnessing it to this day. As it changes my life, and the lives of others, I'm gaining a stronger testimony of it every single day, and through that, I'm gaining a greater testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and through that, I'm gaining a greater testimony of our church, the one and only true church upon this earth. How blessed are we! Keep the work going family, pray for opportunities to share the Gospel, and they will be given unto you. Give referrals to the missionaries! They need you! The Lord needs you. I love you so much, thank you so much for all your love and support, you guys are the best family i could ever ask for.

Elder Doane 

June 30, 2013

Family!

Thank you so much for all the birthday wishes. It was so great, we spent the whole day out serving people and teaching the Gospel, I could not ask for a better way to spend a birthday rather than being in the service of the Lord. Sounds like you're all doing so well! I'm so happy for Dave being able to go to Idaho, and Drake going on a date, and Demi sounds like she's doing so well with her Book of Mormon reading, I know that's going to bless her life so much. Mom and dad, thank you for sharing that with me about you two making a goal to go to the temple once a month, I can not tell you how happy that made me when i saw that. I know that through doing that, and being reminded of your covenants, you will draw nearer to the Holy Ghost and the Spirit will be more abundant in our home! I can not believe Colton is home, it sounds like he's already an apostle, which does not surprise me at all. Will you tell him i love him for me? I haven't gotten an email from him yet, I'm sure he's just way busy saying hi to everyone that loves him. He's really served an honorable and full time mission, He really set the example for our group of friends.

The mission is just too great. Last week we had zone conference, President Lopez just shared some wonderful things that really changed my mission. We also got to watch the worldwide training that the church had, what an amazing and uplifting video no? Have you gotten to watch it yet? If not please do, it really counsels us on how to keep our baptismal covenants through being a witness of God at all times and all things and all places. Seriously, please watch it if you haven't gotten the chance. I really learned a lot from it, especially about the importance of going about doing good. I never really gave that very much credit in the first year of my mission. Of course I looked for opportunities to help people with unplanned acts of service, but i never really searched, and prayed for opportunities to serve others and really represent Christ's name. But last week I learned the power of going about doing good, especially as a representative of the Lord, and how powerful it is! The Lord will place those in our path who are being prepared to receive the Gospel if we really pray, and search for opportunities to go about doing good. That can be through service, our words, what we wear, everything about us! We are a peculiar people you know. The Lord will go before us, as long as we are being obedient, and prepare those people to notice our actions, even our words, and be influenced to recieve the restored Gospel. I know this is true! Don't believe me? Try it. I promise you, you will feel SO happy after you notice those people that the Lord is preparing for us. That happened numerous times last week, as the Lord put people in my path to help in small and simple ways. And it's made my mission 50x better, as i've repented and become more like the Savior.

We're really focusing on the power of the Book of Mormon here in punta salong. We only have like 5 or 6 real active members in our area, and we're trying to establish a group out here. So we're actually focusing on strengthening the leaders in the main ward through the Book of Mormon, then through that they will be more inspired and have a great desire to help in Punta Salong. It says in Preach My Gospel that as we gain a greater understanding of the Atonement we will gain a greater desire to share the Gospel, and I believe that is true, so we are trying to strengthen others understanding by encouraging them to study and feast upon the words of Christ, which are in the Book of Mormon. We actually shared that to one of the high council men in the stake in our meeting with him on sunday, he was so impressed and uplifted through that as well, and said that's what they will implement into the stake in order to strengthen the leaders as well. I just have such a strong testimony of this work. The Restoration of the Gospel is so real. The Book of Mormon is evidence of it, that we can read, ponder, and pray to find out the truth. Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. Our loving Heavenly Father is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and is a God of Miracles. How blessed are we to know all this? If we could study in the Book of Mormon every day, we would be reminded of all these great doctrines and restored truths in our church, and would be more inspired and motivated to go about doing good. Preaching the Gospel, and when necessary, using words. I love you all family! And Colton, I respect that.

Love,

Elder Doane

June 23, 2013

Hey family!

Well last week I was transferred to another area within our same zone, Manapla B. I actually still live in the same apartment i just had to move study tables haha. But now I and Elder Borromeo are together as a zone leader companionship. It's funny, this is my 3rd area within the Cadiz zone! But it's been great. We have great visions for this area, the first day we sat down and just talked about what we wanted to see happen, and what more we could do to establish the Lords Kingdom here.

This area is actually in a part of Manapla City, out by the ocean. Right now we're trying to set up a group, as in, like we don't have a group, ward, branch or anything yet. We're just attending with the Manapla ward 2 sundays of the month, and the other 2 we hold out in Punta Salong (the part close to the beach) in a class room of an elementary school. Last sunday (my first sunday) we had 18 of us at church! We started late, and at first i was really worried that the sacrament meeting was just going to be cancelled. But people showed up, and a member of the Manapla bishopric presided over the meeting, my companion conducted it. Even though we were just a small group, gathered in an elementary school class, and really hot outside, I felt the Spirit so strong. Right when we opened up with singing the Spirt of God, the Holy Spirit of Promise really confirmed to each and every one of us that what we were doing was right. We also had 2 investigators at church! One is Brother Richer, he'll actually be baptized this saturday, and his wife just returned from being less active for a really long time. He's so great, has such a strong testimony and desire to follow Jesus Christ. And the other is sister Arcano, she just has such a strong testimony in the Book of Mormon. She says whenever she reads it she just feels the Spirit talking to her and telling her what she needs to do. The first time the missionaries actually came to her she said she wouldn't come to church, or be baptized, she was really not interested. But now she has a baptismal date for July 20th, and she was the first one to church yesterday, even before me and Elder!

It just showed me how powerful the Book of Mormon is. That's really what we're trying to focus on here in Punta Salong, every investigator, member, or person we talk to, it's all focused on the Book of Mormon. In Preach My Gospel it talks about how the Book of Mormon is our foundation of our testimony. Why? Because it testifies of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer, and if we read that 

book we will draw nearer to God than by any other book. Also it says in the introduction, that the Book of Mormon is a record of God's dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas.. and something I realized here on the mission, is this is my chance to be an instrument, or a witness of God's dealings with the people of the Philippines Bacolod Mission. How wonderful no? 

So we're really gonna keep giving it our all here in Punta Salong, as we're really trying to be instruments in the Lords hands in building up the church here. Finding, teaching, and baptizing! I love you family. I hope you're all doing great! Until next week.

Elder Doane

PS- remember to read the Book of Mormon, every single day. And really counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, through personal prayer to Him every day. I know it will bless our lives!

June 16, 2013

FAMILY! 

You're in Cali? Haha surprise surprise! Promise me we'll go when i get back ah? That's way fun though, i was dying laughing at Drake's story about going to the 'swamp meet' and getting his foot burnt. Hahaha, poor kid. But thank you all for the emails, i love hearing from each and everyone of you so much. Tell the fam in Cali I love them too!

This last week was fantastic. The Baptism of Wemphrey, Thessa, and Ayejane was amazing! Elder Iloa and I sang Ako Anak sang Dios! Which is I am a Child of God in Ilonggo. :) It was so awesome. Wemphrey and Thessah said they both want to serve missions when they grow up. And Ayejane's mom who was less active before returned now! Ayejane is so awesome too, she reads the Book of Mormon every day, and shares with us what she learned when we teach her. Thessah is the really little one in the picture, she's 8 years old but it looks like she's 5! When she came into the water it went up to her neck! It was so adorable.

Caduhaan is really doing great! Our baptisms fell through for June 22 and 29, it was pretty heart breaking because of the situations, but it's okay because Heavenly Father will work out His plan for them to be baptized. Sister Tessi will be baptized on July 6th! We can really see the Gospel making changes in the lives of their family. Her husband is Brother Winston, a really strong member. They both said that lately as they've been coming to church, reading in the Book of Mormon, and listening to our lessons they've noticed they dont fight as much as a couple, the Spirits in their home, and they're really feeling Heavenly Father's love in their lives. How powerful no? The Gospel truly does bless families. That's why when the time comes for me to have a family i will establish it on the rock of my Redeemer who is Christ, because i've seen the fruits of doing so!

Elder Iloa and I get along so well, he's for sure my favorite companion. We eat like horses. But somehow we're both losing weight still? It's probably because of how much we walk haha. But I've really just been so happy lately. I mean there are days and times when I'm just going nuts, trying to figure out our schedule and things that we need to do, but it's so wonderful, because none of it is for myself! Everything I'm doing here is for other people, specifically the Filippino people, and I love them so much! Caduhaan has  been my favorite area, just like i said last time. I've learned so much about the work, the restored Gospel, and about myself. I'm really learning how to trust in the Lord. Thanks mom and dad, for raising me up in the true church that Jesus Christ Himself established and continues to run until this day. I know this church is true, it was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. We can know that's true through reading and praying about the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Which i have done! And now i can say i know it's true. I love you family. Keep clinging to the rod by studying the scriptures every day.

Elder Doane

June 2, 2013

 Ang akon pinalanggang pamilya:)

My beloved family!

It was so good to hear from all of you in your emails! I can't believe the wards getting split, that's crazy! I hope all our friends stay in and stuff, but wherever it goes its the Lords will. Wow I'm so happy for Demi that she got to go to girls camp, what a sweet opportunity. I'm so glad she liked the letter to, i love her so much! Drakes email just had me laughing again, he's too funny. Dad thanks so much for yours too, I'll be good on my bday! I'll be happier than ever spreading the Gospel. Maybe the Lord will send me a birthday gift of a new family to teach :) No worries about that thing, i love hearing the news and stuff back home, and thanks for understanding! But the boxes are so great! We're still downing the sour punch kids, tootsie rolls, etc. I love the ties, i wear them all the time. All my ties are officially blue, purple, and gray! So thank you so much!

This tansfer is just the busiest time of my mission. We have mission leaders trainings, zone trainings, I'm Elder 'Iloa's follow up trainer, we have SO many investigators we are teaching right now, and so much more! This time is going by faster than ever. And it's such a blessing!! You all know how i love to stay busy with things, the Lord has really answered my prayer to help me stay focused on my purpose as a missionary. Whenever I lay down to go to bed i find myself thinking about all those we are teaching, and what more we can do for them. I really am starting to 'lose myself' here! It's so great too! The Lord keeps showing His tender mercies to us here in Caduhaan, finding, teaching, and baptizing! We have 3 baptisms coming up on june 15th, one on june 22nd, and hopefully on the following as well! Our investigators are so great, they are really building a strong foundation on the Book of Mormon!

One of our investigators, Sister Tessi, is on fire. Back then she had been taught my missionaries, but she got tired of it because they would stay long, and came a lot of times in one week. Her husband is a super strong member, and her daughter as well. Well she let us teach her again, starting last month, and ever since then she's been so great! The first time we taught her, it was like a 7 minute lesson, but right when the Spirit came into the room, Elder and I left, so that we could let the Spirit stay with her and do the teaching. Ever since then, every lesson we have with her is so powerful, the Spirit is so strong. Back then she didn't want to be baptized, but now she wants to so bad so her family can be complete in the church, and so she can promise her Heavenly Father that she will follow Jesus Christ. Her testimony is so strong! We had a date for her on July 6, and last lesson as we were leaving, she began to cry. The Spirit was just so strong, Then she said to me, Elder Doane, I hope you're here when i get baptized, because i want you to baptize me. I was so grateful for that, just to know that she trusted me and would want me to baptize her. So we've been talking with her husband and we might be moving her date to the 15th of june because she's so ready! We had july 9 set because she was pregnant and worried about her child thats due on the 22nd of june. But now that's not a worry for her at all, and she wants to be baptized as soon as she can! How miraculous huh? I have such a testimony that exact obedience brings miracles. When I got here in caduhaan i thought it had no potential really. Just sugar cane everywhere, no city parts. But through our exact obedience the Lord has really showed us the potential here in this area, and our potential as missionaries. IM SO HAPPY! :) I love you family, and thanks so much for everything you do!

Love,

ELder Doane