March 30, 2015

So this week was a very eventful week! So Monday: when we got done emailing we had to hurry get something to eat then we had to run up to Campton and pour Cement with a member we did that until 5 so for 4 hours we poured concrete. Then we a very needed lesson to this girl we have been teaching. 

Tuesday: so today we taught a really good lesson and set a baptismal date with this guy that is super interested in the gospel but is afraid of change. Then we went back up to Campton and finished pouring concrete for the same member and we did that until about 4 so from 11 to 4. but we got it all finished and it was right before it started to rain!! then we went and tried to see the boys mom we almost baptized but she changed his mind and she wasn't home. so then we went and saw some less actives. then we went and taught the same girl we saw on Monday. 

Wednesday: So today we taught a super awesome lesson about the Plan of Salvation to this other girl we are teaching. and it went super good. We brought up baptism and she said she really wants to get baptized but she didn't know when so we told her to pray about it and said when we come back next week we will ask you what you have decided. Then we went with the Carters down to these less actives that live about an hour from Beattyville. Then when we got back in town we went by this girl we have been teaching and had another great lesson with her about temples and about baptisms for the dead. then we went and taught this guy that is super cool about the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Then we went to go see this couple we found the other week and they weren't home so I got the prompting to go see this girl I found with my last companion I had here and we went and saw the back up we had for that couple and he wasn't there so I again got the prompting to go see that girl... So when we got in the car Elder Gough looked at me and said well now what? I was like well I've got the feeling to go see this girl so we drove over there and her husband has been pushing us away for the past 9 weeks and so we got to her apartment and I went to knock then got the prompting to not knock. And so I turned and looked to my right and saw two girls talking and one of them was the lady I had came to see. so I decided I was gonna let her walk to the door and we would talk but I got the prompting to walk over there and start talking to her. So we walked over to her and as we started talking to told us of all the stuck her husband had been doing and how he has been pushing us away but she really wants to meet but it can't be with him. so we talked and answered some of her questions and said a prayer with her and she was like why did you come by today? I said well I felt like you needed me. then she started to cry and she said  I really do I have been praying for a week for you to come back and I said well here I am I know our Heavenly Father has sent me here to you for a reason. and her husband stepped out and saw us and she got all nervous and then we finished talking gave  her another Book of Mormon because he threw the other one we gave them away. She said to come back tomorrow and he would be gone so we said we could bring the Carters with us so we can come into your house she said okay she said to call first so then we also asked us to bless her home. then we left. 

Thursday: So today we went to District meeting the first one for the whole transfer!! then we ate at this Chinese buffet it was super good!!! I had a church of God Preacher come up to me and compliment us for our hard work and asked some questions. then we went home and we went and visited this awesome less active family with the Carters that the guy has cut off his leg with a brush hog hooked to his tractor and he is a character! 

Friday:  We got up and did weekly planning after studies. then we went and had a good lesson with a couple with a member. Then we had to bust it back to Beattyville and taught a good lesson with the boy we almost baptized but didn't cause of his mom his mom was there and she watched the prophet of the restoration. She was zoned it so I hope she learned a lot from it! Then we went and taught a good lesson with the girl we have been teaching and she is making a lot of progression! :) I'm excited for her! 

So the lady that I was prompted to go see Wednesday we had an appointment scheduled today I called her she didn't answer but we went anyways and took the Carters. and when we got there I got the prompting to tell the Carters to stay in the truck until we knew she was home alone. We knocked on the door and we knew as soon as the door opened we got the feeling she wasn't home and it was him home and it was him.... Then he said hang on guys he was on the phone. then she pulled up in her friends car and he started storming out and said today isn't a good day boys! and ran over to her and ripped her kid's easter out of her hands and ran inside the house and told us to get the out of here! so we went and talked to her and she was crying and she asked us to pray with her and then she said I still want you to come and say a blessing on my house... so she said hold on and we sat outside and Sister Carter the Whole time had a scared looked on her face And so we sat outside her door and waited for her to  talk to her husband and she said okay and he yelled you can't hide behind the bible for too long! and we said the prayer and then we left and said to call before we come back.. and we went back to the carters truck and sister carter was like I thought i watched you guys walk into your death. WE looked at each other and was like nah we knew we would be okay I was praying and Sister CArter was praying and Elder Carter just laughed about it. then we went to see this family we found the other day and the wife was walking out and she said hey he is mad and is threatening me and so i need to just get out and today wouldn't be good so she said give me a call and i'll figure out a way to meet you... so we had two mad husbands with in the same hour. the Carter's looked at us and was like well today was a bad day... lol 

Saturday: Saturday we went and tried to find people today! and had some finds. I got my hair cut! then we tried the one girl again she was crying when she called back after I called and she didn't answer.... then we went to see this other awesome girl we found the other day and when we got there we stepped out of the car and her husband stepped out of the house and just said good bye guys we aren't interested (he wasn't) and said have a good day bye then shut the door before either of us said one word. then we knocked some doors and we had this one baptist that was like well do you guys wanna waste your time here? or just leave so we talked about the B.O.M. and he was against another book he quoted the dang revelations scripture and then he said have a good day. then we went and knocked doors and then ate dinner and then we went and saw some less actives. 

Sunday: We had church!! and I gave the opening Prayer for sacrament and then we had lunch after church we had to give the combined priesthood/reliefsociety lesson on preparing for conference. then we had a good lesson with this one gator we have. then we had dinner with the carters. after seeing this one girl and saw why she didn't come to church. 

Love,

 Elder Durfee 

March 23, 2015

So this week was a really awesome week! Monday: we got to go and teach this one girl that we have been teaching for a while now and it went pretty good, we taught the Law of Chastity. 

Tuesday: we had a good lesson with this other Investigator we have and taught the plan of salvation! Then we came home and ate lunch. then we went up to Campton and tracted. then we had to bust our butts home to go bowling with the youth for a youth activity that Elder Carter put together. It was a lot of fun!! we had more people to that than we did to church!! It was good to see the youth be able to come together and get acquainted with one another! 

Wednesday: we had MOrmon.org time! and then we went and taught this lady well read from the B.O.M. because we hadn't been able to meet with her for quite some time due to all the crazy weather we've had. Then we went and did service at the Habitat for Humanity! Then we went and saw the Carters and they took us to a members house that is in the most secluded area and has the best view ever! and had dinner. Then we went and saw this girl that is coming along super well! 

Thursday: WE went and walked to happy top trying to find people to teach and didn't have much success... but we went and Taught a good lesson we bore our testimonies on the gospel and on all of the things that we have been teaching her!! Then we went and ate dinner. 

Friday: We got up studies. and did weekly planning and had a good session! then we went and taught a good lesson at a members home and then the carters met us at that members home and took us to Owingsville for interviews with President Brough! I love President Brough! I know I have him as my Mission President for a reason! Then we ate dinner on the way home, and got home at 9 so we went to bed. that trip was an all day deal! 

Saturday: We got up and had a good lesson with this other Investigator we have got and then went to the church for another lesson the guy didn't show up so we walked around main street trying to find more people. didn't find a single person interested... Then we went and tried to find a lady couldn't find her so we tracted her street. no one was interested. got yelled at by a preacher for preaching false doctrine. then we went home and ate dinner. and then we Saw this girl we have been teaching for a while and we set a baptismal date with her!!! It was the most spiritual lesson we have had due to the fact that we usually have all of her cousins her aunt and grandma and everyone else in there, this time it was just us and it was very spiritual and so I asked inspired question after inspired question about baptism. first: have you prayed about it? she said yes second: how did you feel? she said funny. third we testified that was the spirit. telling her it was true we told here what the holy ghost does. then I asked another inspired question: why do you wanna be baptized? she sat there for 20 minutes it felt like. she started laughing at her little bro climbing on us. I said don't pay attention to him after she told him to get off. I said he is our problem he is all over us. I wanna here what you think and feel. and after sitting there for a while, I told her no one is here to judge you, I want the truth and nothing but, and so she said i can't tell you, i  said the only reason we are here is for you. not us this has nothing to do with us. and then we said ill write it down so you can read it. then she just finally said it. and she was about to say I know it's stupid reason. and before she could say stupid I cut her off and said that is the best reason any one could have!!! she said she wanted to be baptized so that when her friends did something against her beliefs or what the LDS church believes that she could say no and have a reason why behind the no..... It was very strong!!! and so we set a baptismal date right then! and she agreed! and I know I was send to Beattyville to find her and bring her to the gospel!! I'm glad i get to be a missionary in the GKLM!!!! (Great Kentucky Louisville Mission)!!!! 

Sunday: we had church and we had some gators come to church! and then we went with a member to a sisters (widowed old sickly) house so he could look at her plumbing then we went and saw this family I found on an exchange the other week that we've had a hard time getting in with and had a very good lesson. the wife was one step ahead with her questions. every point we had to talk on she had a question about it right before we talked about it!!! I had never had that happen before! It was super spiritual! I know I was meant to find them!! Then we had a good dinner with the Caters Sister Carter is an amazing cook!!! then we went and saw the girl we just set a date with then we went and taught the Plan of Salvation with this guy who his whole family is a member but him and set a bap date with him! 

This week was super amazing!!! the spirit was super strong!! I love you all! and hope you all remember who you are!! you are all Children of our Heavenly Father!! 

Love,

 Elder Durfee 

March 16, 2015

Monday we went and did some tracting after shopping and emailing and tried finding all the people that we could. Tuesday: we did mormon.org time then we went and got into contact all the people we had appointments with when all of this bad weather hit us with all the rain.

Wednesday: we did service at the habitat for humanity and had the chance to build something instead of tearing apart pallets! We built what is gonna be like a toy box for a little kid. then we wend up and spent some time up in Campton finding and meeting some really awesome people. then we came back down to Beattyville. and we taught this one girl we have been teaching for a while Autumn she is starting to progress super well and we taught her how to read out of the Book of Mormon and find answers for herself from it. 

Thursday: we we some JW's (Jehovah Witnesses) come knock on our door and it was the funniest thing ever! because when we answered the door the first thing out of her mouth was oh... you live here?... Then we went and had a good lesson with this guy we found the other day and after three days he had read 14 chapters from the BOM!! He is excited to keep learning more! Then came home and weekly planned. Then we went out 399 and helped strengthen the relationships with the little active members we have that we can go inside their home. Then the Carter's fed us dinner. 

Friday: we had Zone meeting in Lexington! and I learned so much! It wasn't as hard as I thought it was gonna be adapting to a different zone. Because we got swapped to a different zone to fit with the stake boundries. Then we went on exchanges and I got to come to Beattyville with Elder Jacobsen and I love this Elder!!! He is a super strong missionary!! We went and read from the B.O.M. with less actives and had some lessons with Part member famlies and we found some super awesome people!! One of which is this family that the mom is a dry drug user for over 5 years now and wants to continue doing the things our Heavenly Father wants and they both have had a hard life! 

Saturday: We got to go through a tunnel!! Well we got up and did some tracting in the rain!!! Then we  almost got attacked by some dogs but the owner came to our rescue! Then we went and was gonna tract a street but it isn't a street just a dead end of two feet that has a street sign.. so we tracted a different street and then we realized we was gonna be late to exchange back so we got back to car and gpsed the place the District leader wanted to meet and and we got to go through the Red River Gorge and the Red River Gorge tunnel!! it was super sketchy but awesome at the same time!! Then we came home and checked up on these investigators we have got where the wife just got done with surgery for Breast cancer and she is feeling better and they are doing a lot better now!! Then we went and saw the teenage girl we have been teaching and we taught her the Word of Wisdom. and she said she would start going with out coffee. 

Sunday: we had church and Autumn came! and it was a good Sunday for her to come because it was the first time the girl near her age had come in four weeks. then we went and saw a less active after lunch after church. then we went and saw this investigator we have that has had some super bad health issues... then we had dinner with the carters. it was super good she said it was a new recipe but man was it good! :) then we went to this other less active couple that lives way out in the Hallow!! (Holler) and I'm glad we got to chat with her at least she said her husband was having some flu issues... and it was 65 degrees today!!! 

Love,

 Elder Durfee 

March 9, 2015

So Monday: we went and hung with the Carters, cause there isn't a lot for missionaries to do in Beattyville. Then we went and had a lesson where we had to drop a guy because he just isn't showing any interest and hasn't been keeping our commitments. Then we went and Saw Our baptismal date where we had all of the confusing stuff with which parent had custody but he decided he didn't know enough to be baptized and we read out of the Book of Mormon with him. Tuesday: we took the Carters out to one of our appointments and the lady wasn't home so we went and tried a less active with them that ignored us.. Then we had lunch, then we went and talked with this other Investigator he have been having trouble getting in contact with him, and he was outside and he said that they were just getting ready to leave for Florida for a couple weeks. Then we went and tried a few others that weren't answering probably asleep, tried a member and a less active that were asleep, then we went and had a good conversation with two other Less active members. Then we went and saw another Less active couple. Wednesday: we went up to Campton with the Caputo's and it was pouring rain! It Rained all day! and we had all Sorts of Flood Warnings! Then we came back to Beattyville and saw this girl that we have been teaching and we talked about baptism and what she has been thinking about it. she hadn't so we read from the Book of Mormon.  Thursday: we were supposed to have District meeting but the mission Shut down the Cars for the day due to all the snow we got today but we had flooding in our main street! It was crazy how much water we had pooled up! Friday: we Tried these investigators but the husband has shut us out! So we went and Saw our Baptism date that fell through and read out of the Book of Mormon with him. Then we had Dinner with the Carters. A long with a bunch of Tracting today. Saturday: we did Weekly Planning due to all of the confusion with what was going on with the weather. then we went back up to Campton and tired a bunch of people they have come in contact with in the past, and none were home, but while we were walking down the road Talking with people and knocking doors we met this super cool family!!! That are interested in Family History. Then we went and was gonna see this less active we were supposed to see the other day when we were restricted from our car and we also ran into another girl that we have been trying to get into contact with that is a less active, so That was a good deal! Then we went and had another lesson with the girl that we have been asking and talking about baptism and she said that she has been thinking a lot about baptism and said that she thinks she would like to be baptized! and she said but i don't know what to do now and we were like well keep praying and reading the Book of Mormon and the next step is to come to church! and re-invited here to Church.  Then after the lesson we had parked at a less active house that is off the oil instead of in a hole where she lives and we went in and talked with him and finally met his two grandsons that we have been trying to meet for the past month! Sunday: we had church and on the second Sundays of every month Beattyville Branch has a pot luck right after church so we stayed and had some super awesome food! Then we went and tried some people that have potential but none were home. but we did catch one and she said that we can't meet her at home so we would have to call her and set up a time during her lunch time to have a lesson with her. Then we hurried and talked about the restoration Pamphlet that we had left with him and he had read the whole thing and was interested to learn more and he apologized for not reading the Book of Mormon yet! so we will see the next time we meet with him how the reading is going! Then we had Dinner with the Carters. I love Sisters Carter Cooking!! 

Love, 

Elder Durfee 

March 2, 2015

Monday: we had a fun day with the Carter's on Preparation day! Then a good lesson with these two teenager investigators we have. Tuesday: we went to the bottom of our area and visited this Less active Family that hasn't had any contact with the church in over a year. we were the first contact in over a year.... but they are super awesome!! I know that by following the promptings of the spirit that I was led to find them and to help them back to activity and I felt that I was sent to Beattyville for them! I recognized the whole family!! Super Spiritual! I'm glad we got the opportunity to meet them! Then we went and had a couple lesson with a few other Investigators but seems how they are so far away and haven't had any "Mormon" contact in over a year and have been isolated due to the fact that all the families down there are other religions and they are the only Mormons within like 2 hours or so.... Wednesday: we went up to Campton and had Brother Caputo this awesome member that is related to Al Capone! He is a little on the crazy side but I love him to death!!! then we went and Visited this less active family that is a dis functional family. But they are a super cool family! I feel sorry for all of the things those kids have had to go through. Then we went and visited these two teenagers and the boy wasn't there so we talked with the girl and helped to better understand what she is reading. Thursday: we had Zone Meeting Finally!! after it being canceled two times! Then we exchanged with our district leader so I went to London for last part of Thursday and most of Friday. so Thursday afternoon we went and visited this Recent convert she is super cool! with this member who is awesome!! and we rode in his jeep! I had to ride in the back and it was all sorts of rigged up.. Friday: we ran around knocking doors and we did 12 week for Elder Peck, I love Elder Peck. but everything we had planned fell through just a day of failed plans. But I had high hopes because our district leader was supposed to be interviewing our Baptismal date for Saturday!! but when we met up with them to exchange back they said he didn't get interviewed and that they ran around trying to find him and so they called his grandma that he lives with and he answered then his mom quickly took the phone from him and said hey I changed my mind he isn't old enough to get baptized.... then hung up on them after saying I hope no hard feelings... So it was super sad to see that happen. Saturday: we went and saw this other Investigating family. they are super awesome!!! So as you could guess no baptism today.. but we went and visited the Frost Family again with the Carter's and they said they were coming to church and they explained all that has happened here in that past 2-3 years... then we went home and I haven't been feeling good I've had a horrible head ache for the past 4 days that just won't go away! so I had to lay down. And this night was Transfer call night so it was the night to see if I was going to get Transferred to a different area but I'm not! I'm staying in Beattyville for another 6 weeks I'm excited!!! But how ever they did realign the boundaries of the mission so they moved us into another zone which put us in another district so that will be fun getting to know a bunch of new missionaries without having to leave the area! Sunday: we had Church!!! we still had investigator come to church his whole family is Baptized except him and his mom and now he lives with his wife and his kid so we will get him baptized and his wife he really wants to be baptized and married in the temple! Then we had the Carter's take us out to this less active family in a Hollow!! he is now living with his girlfriend and her kid.... so we will have to work with that.. but then we went tracting this street and I know we were sent to this street to meet this single mother! It couldn't of been any better perfect timing than what we had! then we went and tried a couple other women but neither were home. So then we went and at dinner with the Carters! Lasagna! It was super good! I love Sister Carters cooking! and I love their stories of their cabin and their time share in mexico and their houseboat they were splitting with a few other families.  Then we went and visited those teenagers and the girl is really progressing but the boy had for some reason halted we will be getting to the bottom of that one! well this week was full of excitement! 

Love,

 Elder Durfee