November 23, 2015

This week was super amazing! It was a very spiritual week! I would like for all of you to know that God lives and he answers our prayers, when hey are offered in faith! We must do all things with faith! And I know that Christ suffered all things for us!

Monday: so today we had a very productive preparation day! We did some tracting! Tracting in a trio is a lot of fun! So one funny story from it we walked up to a door and Elder Bartok accidentally stumbled into a flour pot and an alarm started going off! Haha we all jumped and looked across the street and there was a house like 2 street over so it wasn't us! Haha

Tuesday: we saw a less active member I have gotten him from 2 packs of smokes a day to 1 pack now! He is trying! He is his old guy and is super funny! We are helping him to work towards getting the priesthood! And we always play a game of trouble with him! It makes his whole day! But to top off the visit elder Duncan stepped in his dogs turds in his kitchen! Haha but then we went out trying people to see and to set up appointments with. We also went out with one of our members brother brown! He is the best! We went home teaching with him!

I get a good laugh everytime I'm with him! Hen we had a good lesson with one of their investigators, it was pretty good he had a lot of questions. Then we went on splits, I went with a member of the bishopric and we saw a recent converts non member wife and had a good lesson with her, then we met with my companions and we met with one of my investigators in that same apartment complex and we had a good reading from the Book of Mormon with her! Then we ended the night with our baptism candidate brother Matt turner! Him and his wife pheodra with the bishop Faulstick there! They are awesome! Bishop Faulstick is awesome to teach with! He has a strong testimony! Had some great laughs then went home.

Wednesday: we woke up it was dumping rain! But we did some area book updating, then we had district meeting! It was great! But Matt had his baptismal interview after district meeting, and we also had a lesson with another girl at the same time, so we used our trio powers! And I went with elder Duncan to the lesson and elder Bartok went with our district leader to matts interview. We had a great lesson, then we went to matts and picked up Bartok and the district Lester and his companion. And dropped them off, then we went and tried some people, then we ended the night with the Hardins they are this super solid recent convert family! They are the best! They had a friend there to learn as well! So tonight I got this phone call from an inactive member and he asked if we could help move him Thursday, we accepted!

Thursday: we got up we helped that member move! He fed us lunch! He is sue or cool! A retired police officer, had some great laughs! But the coolest thing is when we got there he gave me an old restoration pamphlet that the missionaries used to teach with! He said my ancestors founded this area for missionary work! So I will have to look into that! Then we met with one of their investigators and tracted some more, then had dinner at a members she is awesome! Then we went on splits again! I went with Reece barker, he is awesome! He got off his mission a year ago from gauna, we had a great lesson!

While the other two went with brother morry and they saw a less active member, then I went and saw Matt with Reece and had another great lesson! He is the best! Then I tried some potentials with reece, then we went home.

Friday: we woke up did some studying! Then we saw brother Bill linne!

We continued talking to him about quitting smoking! Then played some trouble, then we weekly planned! Weekly planning is so long when you do it for 2 Separate areas in one! I'm basically managing my area by myself, it's fun! Then we went and had another great lesson with Matt!

Told him the time brother kasteler will be there to pick him up tomorrow for his baptism! Then we went ate dinner at the Mathis's They are awesome! Then we went saw a recent convert Teresa nall, she's super awesome! Then we ended the night at the Hardins! They are the best! They are so strong! Love them!

Saturday: today was awesome! So we got up studied, then we went and helped the Mathis's do service! Butchered some chickens! Haha then we ate lunch with them at fantastic four burgers! Then we went and met brother kasteler at the church had correlation, then we filled up the baptismal font, he went picked up Matt and we had a wonderful baptismal service! I had the privilege of baptizing him! He is awesome! Very spiritual! Then the zone leaders, gave us a training on how to help my investigators that are struggling with committing to.

Wing baptized. Then we had dinner at dales! And Karen a recent convert made us pumpkins pies! Then we met with Carmen and had one of the most spiritual lessons I've ever had! Thanks to the inspired training the zone leaders gave us earlier, we were able to read her Mosiah 18:

8-10. Which is the qualifications for baptism, she said yes to all those questions, then I read her the baptismal interview questions she said yes to all of those, then we asked her to pray right now if this is what God wants you to do and when he wants you to do it, she said no, but we pushed alittle bit more, and she said her prayer, asked very direct questions, and the spirit was so strong! She looked up at me and goes he says I need to stop delaying it and get it done! So we reset her date with her then for next Saturday! And we told her she still needed to come to church one more time! So she said she'd be there if we helped her pack and move Monday.

Sunday: we got up, we started off getting investigators to church with rides, the girl we had the lesson with Saturday night, texted me this morning and said I'm not coming to church didn't get enough sleep I had nightmares all night. So our hearts sank! So we headed to her apartment complex and got Austin a recent convert in dales car cause he is giving a talk, and we knocked on her door, and she answered and said I'm not going, so elder Duncan said let's say a prayer right now, I looked a t him and said will you say it? And he went yeah, so he said one of the most heartfelt prayers ever! And the spirit was super strong and we looked at each other like can you feel this? Can she feel this? And she went I'm not going to church but I'll see you at the fireside tonigh, so we mopped to dales down stairs and she called me like 1 minute after being in dales and said hey I'm coming to church! Tell my ride I'm gonna need her! So I got her ride coming and the spirit was so strong! Then we had a great church service and Austin had a great talk on gratitude and trials, he is missing a leg so he had some great personal experiences, then we had a great rest of church, and so then we tried to see some people after church, then we had dinner at the moreys, with the Hardins! And then we hussled to the fireside! We had 13 people there just from our areas! It was awesome!

The fireside was super amazing! Then we came home!

This week taught me that if you do all things in faith and if what you do is focused on what his will is, all things are possible! And my scripture I pondered went well with this! D&C 8:10, which says "

remember that without faith you can do nothing, therefore ask in faith, trifle not with these things, d not ask for that which you ought not." So I know if we do all things in faith they will happen!

My scripture to ponderiz this week is D&C 18:10

I hope you all have a great week! I love you all and miss you a ton!

Keep asking in faith and doing in faith and the lord will bless you!

November 16, 2015

Monday: so elder butler and me had a great last day together! We went played ball with e zone leaders and ate dinner at chick fillet with Dale and Bryce barker, then we met with our baptismal date that is happening this Saturday! Then we came home and he finished packing.

Tuesday: we woke up elder butler put finishing touches on his packing, then we waited for brother neidiffer to get to our apartment and for my two new companions to get here. Then we went our separate ways! But we had a super effective day! We saw a less active in my area, and a lesson with one of our other baptismal dates! We also had a very rough first lesson as a trio with one of their investigators, but we made it through!

Wednesday: we had district meeting!! But then we had a super awesome lesson with this lady elder butler and I contacted on the street, and she is super awesome! Had a very powerful lesson 1 with her and set up an appointment for this coming Wednesday! Then we tried some people in my area and had an appointment fall through then had a great lesson with one of our other baptismal dates in my area, all the baptismal dates are in my area! Then we went tracting in the other area, then the assistants to the president stopped by and gave us a bed frame! I love them! Elders steadman from Mississippi! And elder Waite from Nevada!

 So elder Waite knows McKay Mcgoon! But then we had a chicken and dumpling cook off at a members between her son in law and her son, they were both very good! Hardest decision I've ever made! Then we ended night with some lessons with one of my baptismal dates, and a recent convert Austin!

Thursday: we had weekly planning! Was super long with 2 areas! But was super effective! Then we had a super lesson with the baptismal date that's happening is Saturday! Then we went on splits after some finding in their area, I went with Dale to another one of my baptismal dates, was a super powerful lesson I had with him! Taught the whole lesson with myself and the spirit! Then we had dinner at a members!

Potato soup!

Friday: we went saw bill linne! He is so funny! Had a great lesson with him! And played trouble with him! He is this awesome less active!

But we are working on him! Then we went with a member got a couch and some other furniture for the baptismal date that is happening Saturday! And we also was fed by a recent convert her home made egg are amazing! Then we finished weekly planning! Then we saw some referrals! Then ate a t the Mathis's for dinner! They are awesome!

Cooked this chicken casserole! Then hey asked us to help them butcher some chickens for them next week! Looking forward to that! Then we had a super aweome lesson with this recent converts husband!! It was amazing! He is super interested! But has so,e bad ptsd! Wow! But our teaching as a trio is getting better! Oh we drove past the reformed church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! It was weird!

Saturday: we did some Mormon.org time after studies, then we racked leaves at a members blanches! Then we went and shared mountain of the lord video with brother Lucas! He is awesome, he is going to the temple soon!! I'm excited for him! Then we tried some appointments that fell through! Then we met brother kasteller at dales apartment complex he picked us up we went and got a king size mattress for our baptismal date! They were excited! I'm excited for them! Then we had salmon patties at dales for dinner with Karen a recent convert! Then we had a great lesson with two baptismal dates! They are super awesome! She's been taught everything just needs to come to church!

And her husband is needing to get work moved then we taught another baptismal date and we read from the Book of Mormon and are trying to help her with her understanding! She is coming along and is getting excited for her baptism in December!

Sunday: today was very eventful! Super crazy! So we got up got ready went to ward council, then we were sitting at church and the guy who is getting baptized this coming Saturday didn't get picked up! So me and brother kasteller left leaving behind my two companions and we went to pick them up, well his wife is feeling sick! So we went back to church and got there just after the sacrament! :( so I sat with Dale and brother kasteller, and he told me he would come get me out of preisthood and we would take sacrament in the next wards sacrament. So we went and had a great gospel principles class! Then we started preisthood, set up for members to go out with us on splits! And then we had elders quorum! And brother kasteller came got me we watched three confirmations in that ward and partook of the sacraments! Then we finished preisthood, then we came home and we had our studies because ward council starts at 7:30! Then we tried my referrals and had some awesome success trying them! It was amazing! Got some return appointments! Then we went tracting! Tracting in a trio is so much fun! Had some weird excuses,  one 50 year old guy told us sorry but I don't talk to strangers! Haha but then we had dinner at the whites am turkey dinner! He had some super funny stories from his mission! He is the best! Then we hurried to our lesson with the baptismal date for this Saturday had a great lesson on temples! Had some awesome laughs!

And their one dog can untie shoes! Haha sebull and Delilah! Awesome names! Then we had a great lesson with another one of our baptismal dates! She's so funny! But then we played a trick on Dale! By hiding in his apartment! Haha after listening to one of our other baptismal dates sing in the hallways!

This week was super awesome! The trio Larry, mo, and curly are getting the hang of teaching together! Haha the three stooges! Well I know that this church is true! And that this gospel truly changes lives, and that as we focus on the small things that we have been commanded as it says in D&C 82:10 we will be blessed! So we must do the small things in order to do the big things! Reading, praying and going to church, or as Mosiah 2:22 puts it: " he has promised you that if he would keep his commandments he should prosper in the land, and he never doth vary from that which he hath said, therefore if he do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you!

The scripture I'm ponderizing this week is: D&C 8: 10 " remember that without faith you can do nothing, therefore ask in faith. Trifle not with these things, do not ask for that which you ought not.

I love this gospel I love the mission! I know that as we focus on the small things and exercise faith all is possible.

Love,

 Elder Durfee

November 9, 2015

This week was super crazy, so we were biking around all the time and teaching a lot of people, we have so much going on right now! I'm loving it here in new Albany! We have so many people here that are preparing for baptism. But the craziest news came on Saturday, we were at stake conference and it was transfer calls, we hadn't received a call all day! It was nerve racking! But we went home and we thought we were clear fro transfers but at 9:30 ish pm we got a call from our district leader and said that elder butler will be getting transferred Tuesday! And that they are combining the areas! So I am going to be in a trio with the car elders. Elders Bartok from Canada! And elder Duncan, we are in a car! It is because there was a lack of missionaries coming out.... So I will be in a trio for 5 weeks because this transfer is shorter because it's right before Christmas! So this next 5 weeks are gonna be good I'm taking over the area all by myself and then we will be working their area as well! And trying to work two areas! It's going to be super busy and craz! I'm excited! And our investigators that we have right now are the best! I have seen this gospel truly change their lives!

Sincerely Elder Durfee,

This week I learned that as we use the atonement we can do anything, so the scripture I am going to ponder this week seems how we were challenged to do so in conference and I challenge all of you to do so as well, mine is D&C 82:10. I love you all and miss you all.

November 2, 2015

This week was filled with a bunch of ups and downs, we spent a lot of our time finding new people to teach! We did a lot of biking around! On Wednesday we helped one of our members sons finish moving into his new house/trailer. it was super fun! lives in a Hollow!!! Then we met with most of our Baptismal dates. They are super awesome!!! I love the people in this area!! they are Hilarious!! 

Thursday we were able to meet with our baptismal dates, they crack me up. Friday was a lot of fun! We had the Trunk or Treat ward party with a chili cook off! it was some good chili!!! we also spent time with our members. Saturday we were out biking until 4, then we had a lesson with this investigator with a Baptismal date and we had one of the recent converts there and one of our other investigators that all live in the same apartment complex! and the investigator we weren't teaching said I know you're drinking and pulled the bottle of vodka and then the cat fight began all three of the girls were just having it out and Elder Butler and me just sat there awkwardly... so we finally got the recent convert to calm down, she left room, and the other investigator started having an anxiety attack and she left, so we talked with the investigator and she was not doing well... it was sad to see what alcohol does to peoples brains. but then we ate dinner with a member in the same complex and then we hung with some investigators in that complex because we had to stop proselyting after 6 due to trick or treaters. Then ended the day with Missionary correlation with our ward mission leader. 

Sunday was a very spiritual meeting! there were a lot of great testimonies bore! I learned so much from the spirit in sacrament and also in the classes. Then we ate lunch with a member and her three boys, then we went and spent time with our assistant ward mission leader, then the ward mission leader picked us up and they fed us dinner! Then met with one of our investigators with a baptismal date the one that moved from homeless to an apartment. they are super awesome! they quite smoking so they were a little irritable today! yeah it was interesting! and their one dog untied my shoe!!! hahaha 

But overall this week I learned how necessary the restoration of the gospel was! from The law of chastity up to the word of wisdom! the word of wisdom was way necessary with all of the addiction that comes from it! it is crazy watching those addictions control peoples lives! I'm grateful for the Book of Mormon and for Joseph Smith in restoring Christs one true church and for Thomas Monson in leading and directing our church today! I love the power of prayer and for all the strength we receive from it. 

I love ya'll and miss ya'll! have a great week!! 

Love,

  Elder Durfee