Hello family,
This one will be very short cause for whatever reason my head is
killing me and this stupid computer screen is making it ten times
worse haha.
Its been an awesome week!!!
I went on exchanges with my Zone Leader Elder Bale yesterday and he is
just so dang cool. He is just a great friend now, i love serving with
him, and he is actually from Glendale! So not to far from home!
We went to the Temple today! Its so hard to believe that it has
already been three months since I was at the Portland Temple, its
really wierd haha. The Columbia River Temple is breathtaking on the
inside despite how small it is. At one point the Celestial Room had
only missionaries in it...I looked around and just felt incredible. I
had asked to feel the Spirt even stronger and I looked up and saw 20
so missionaries all sitting around the room lost in thought and in the
Spirit, I love the Temple! Mesa will be the first place I go when I
get home, I miss that building almost more than anything else.
So that story I told about Sally last week...we went and we taught her
mom, little brother, and nephew...they are so golden its not even
funny!!!
This one I think God just wants us to sit in on, cause we dont have to
do much haha. They have been reading the Book Of Mormon, they
absolutly LOVE Church, Jacob is already talking about being a
missionary hahaha! The Lord truly does give us those He has prepared
when we work hard. Linda, Jacob, and Joseph...they already even SOUND
Mormon!
We are baptizing Josh on Sunday, and we are so excited! He is so
ready!!! He finally told his mom and brother to shove it haha. He told
them he knew it was true and that he was ready and it didnt matter
what they said cause he was getting baptized hahaha! So I am definetly
stoked for that one.
And Wes ill probably end up back in Vancouver at somepoint so ill find
Elder Browning for you, and I agree with Wes about the time
change...it soooo lame! Everyone here was so surprised that AZ doesnt
do it, and then they thought about it and said that we are the only
smart state haha. It gets dark at like 4 or 5, its ridiculous!!!
Before I end this very short update i want to let you all know I love
you, there was times back home where I was flat out an idiot haha. But
thankyou for everything you ever did for me, because its helped to get
me where I am at now, and its a place I love.
I know this is Christ's Church, that this is His doctrine I am
teaching, and that immeasurable blessings come from doing what He
wants us to do. He knows us, so let Him direct us!!! Elder M. Russell
Ballard said that a funny thing happens when we try to place our feet
in Christ's footsteps, one day we look up and realize that His path
has led us directly to the throne of God.
I love you all, have a wonderful week!!!
Elder Dutson
P.S. I cant believe Courtney is MARRIED! I JUST left! Congrats cousin
i love you both :)
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Week # 18
Hey there family,
It sounds to me like everything is going 100 mph over there, I bet the Temple with Court was awesome! Milton-Freewater is just as cold as ever haha, although today actaully feels pretty good. I dont know if the cold is the culprit but I have been having pretty bad headaches the past couple weeks. I think I am just so used to the sun trying to kill me that now that its backed off my body is freaking out.But other than that its great over here! We have a teaching pool of like 16 people! And we find new people every week! A couple weeks ago we were at the church building trying to talk to Bishop but there was a 17 or 18 year old girl there with her 20 or so year old boyfriend. Stephanie was waiting to talk to the Bishop and so when she went it we started to talk to the guy. His name is Tavis and he isnt a member, awesome awesome guy. Stephanie might have Pancreatic Cancer and so they were over there to see if they could get some help. We talked to him and he said that he was up for us coming over sometime and sharing a little bit with him. So last night we went over, Elder Fowlke had the idea the night before, so we went over and it was just Tavis and Stephanie there, his parent were out of town. Her parent live in Bend Oregon and she lives there with his family. So they invited us in and we talked for a bit and then we taught Tavis the Restoration. Stephanie was a huuuuge help. We asked what she though of Joseph Smith, and she being quite inactive, this was a big gamble haha. But she said she believed that he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ, I was just like 'phew' haha. She really helped with the lesson and helped him to understand it all. Tavis's ancestors are all Roman Catholic so he said he wants to look into that as well, but he thought everything we taught was very "interesting" and he said he felt very peacful about it. He said he would read and pray, as we left we knew what Stephanie and Tavis would be talking about for the next little while. It was just a great lesson.
Also this week, we have really focused on talking with everyone...EVERYONE haha. And if anything it has taught me that not everyone is scared of us haha, some people will actually stop and talk...some people haha.
And on Sunday there was a lady who came in to Sacrament with her daughter, her mom, and her nephews. We had no clue who this lady was, if she was a member or not, no clue. But she was singing the hymns so that was a good indicator haha, and then she got up to give her testimony... She said that missionaries had stopped by her garage sale in July and talked to her, she wasnt interested at all, and she even through away the card they gave her haha. She was going through some very tough things at that time and she said even just before coming outside she had been crying. A week or so later they moved to Idaho...not a good place for running from the Mormon's ;) As they were driving she was listening to the radio and it was talking about God, and His plan and all kinds of other things and she just loved it! And then she found out it was an LDS station HA! So they got to Idaho and allllll of her neighbors were members of course, she finally started to take the discussions and she, her daughter, and her husband were all baptized September 17th!!! The missionaries that talked to her first...were Elder Fowlke and Elder Bale!!! Elder Fowlke was just sitting there completly dumbfounded hahahaha! She said you never know who's life you will change just by opening your mouth. It was so awesome!!!
Wonderful week, and we have interviews with President Greer tomorrow and a half Mission Conference on Friday so this week will be even better!!!
Annnnnd we go to the Temple next Tuesday, I really cannot wait, 3 months is far to long to wait to go.
I cant believe I have already been out for 4 months...the time really does fly. One day we will look back and wish we had done some things a little differently, my mission will not be one of those. There is nothing quite like it, helping people come closer to their Father in Heaven...and coming closer to Him myself as a wonderful result.
Have a fantastic week family, enjoy the wedding, I expect pictures! Speaking of which, alot of the pictures I am sending this week are very old so hold on as I catch up with sending them haha.
Love,
Elder Dutson
It sounds to me like everything is going 100 mph over there, I bet the Temple with Court was awesome! Milton-Freewater is just as cold as ever haha, although today actaully feels pretty good. I dont know if the cold is the culprit but I have been having pretty bad headaches the past couple weeks. I think I am just so used to the sun trying to kill me that now that its backed off my body is freaking out.But other than that its great over here! We have a teaching pool of like 16 people! And we find new people every week! A couple weeks ago we were at the church building trying to talk to Bishop but there was a 17 or 18 year old girl there with her 20 or so year old boyfriend. Stephanie was waiting to talk to the Bishop and so when she went it we started to talk to the guy. His name is Tavis and he isnt a member, awesome awesome guy. Stephanie might have Pancreatic Cancer and so they were over there to see if they could get some help. We talked to him and he said that he was up for us coming over sometime and sharing a little bit with him. So last night we went over, Elder Fowlke had the idea the night before, so we went over and it was just Tavis and Stephanie there, his parent were out of town. Her parent live in Bend Oregon and she lives there with his family. So they invited us in and we talked for a bit and then we taught Tavis the Restoration. Stephanie was a huuuuge help. We asked what she though of Joseph Smith, and she being quite inactive, this was a big gamble haha. But she said she believed that he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ, I was just like 'phew' haha. She really helped with the lesson and helped him to understand it all. Tavis's ancestors are all Roman Catholic so he said he wants to look into that as well, but he thought everything we taught was very "interesting" and he said he felt very peacful about it. He said he would read and pray, as we left we knew what Stephanie and Tavis would be talking about for the next little while. It was just a great lesson.
Also this week, we have really focused on talking with everyone...EVERYONE haha. And if anything it has taught me that not everyone is scared of us haha, some people will actually stop and talk...some people haha.
And on Sunday there was a lady who came in to Sacrament with her daughter, her mom, and her nephews. We had no clue who this lady was, if she was a member or not, no clue. But she was singing the hymns so that was a good indicator haha, and then she got up to give her testimony... She said that missionaries had stopped by her garage sale in July and talked to her, she wasnt interested at all, and she even through away the card they gave her haha. She was going through some very tough things at that time and she said even just before coming outside she had been crying. A week or so later they moved to Idaho...not a good place for running from the Mormon's ;) As they were driving she was listening to the radio and it was talking about God, and His plan and all kinds of other things and she just loved it! And then she found out it was an LDS station HA! So they got to Idaho and allllll of her neighbors were members of course, she finally started to take the discussions and she, her daughter, and her husband were all baptized September 17th!!! The missionaries that talked to her first...were Elder Fowlke and Elder Bale!!! Elder Fowlke was just sitting there completly dumbfounded hahahaha! She said you never know who's life you will change just by opening your mouth. It was so awesome!!!
Wonderful week, and we have interviews with President Greer tomorrow and a half Mission Conference on Friday so this week will be even better!!!
Annnnnd we go to the Temple next Tuesday, I really cannot wait, 3 months is far to long to wait to go.
I cant believe I have already been out for 4 months...the time really does fly. One day we will look back and wish we had done some things a little differently, my mission will not be one of those. There is nothing quite like it, helping people come closer to their Father in Heaven...and coming closer to Him myself as a wonderful result.
Have a fantastic week family, enjoy the wedding, I expect pictures! Speaking of which, alot of the pictures I am sending this week are very old so hold on as I catch up with sending them haha.
Love,
Elder Dutson
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Week # 17
Hello there everyone!
So ya...I am in Oregon, its verrrry cold, and apparently its supposed to snow this week...so its only going to get colder. But the past two weeks here have been awesome. I got here on Wednesday the 19, and the very next day, at 6:32 AM we got a call from Bishop Wells, saying that Braden Harwood wanted to get baptized on Sunday...I thought 'well alright I like this area' haha. Braden is 17 and has been taught since about July. His dad is an inactive member since he was a teenage I think. Braden only didnt get baptized sooner because his mom didnt want him to rush into it. So I only met him once before the baptism...but I am counting it! Thats 2!!! ;) Also Braden's cousin Josh Jensen has been taught for the last few months as well, this past week we set a baptismal date with him for the 19th of November! Awesome guy, he is 22 I think, and his mom is an inactive member as well. We are hoping that their example will set of a chain reaction in their familys. Wonderful people though :) Yesterday we had a first lesson with a man named Christopher Tucker, he is a black man from Florida and is incedibly humble, just a super nice dude. He is dating a girl named Lisa who we are going to start teaching as well. At any rate we taught him about the Restoration and we asked him how he felt, he said that he felt good...and that while we were talking he felt a peaceful feeling. So we explained that that was the Spirit and that it was telling him that what we were teaching him was true. The Spirt was very very strong, and then Elder Fowlke explained baptism and why it is essential...and now he is on date to be baptized on the 26th! First lesson with him! It was so dang cool! It was one of those lessons that Return Missionaries tell you about, it was so cool!
So as you can see there are some pretty good things going on right now in Milton-Freewater. We find new people to teach every week and its awesome. We work with a lot of less active members of the Church and that is one of my favorite things about being out here. There are some wonderful people just waiting to be invited back!
Well family, I hope that the week goes well for everyone, break a leg with the wedding! Im stoked for Courtney to go through the Temple!!! That is our goal for everyone! Its the holiday season and missionaries just lovvvve a full mailbox ;)
Love you all,
So ya...I am in Oregon, its verrrry cold, and apparently its supposed to snow this week...so its only going to get colder. But the past two weeks here have been awesome. I got here on Wednesday the 19, and the very next day, at 6:32 AM we got a call from Bishop Wells, saying that Braden Harwood wanted to get baptized on Sunday...I thought 'well alright I like this area' haha. Braden is 17 and has been taught since about July. His dad is an inactive member since he was a teenage I think. Braden only didnt get baptized sooner because his mom didnt want him to rush into it. So I only met him once before the baptism...but I am counting it! Thats 2!!! ;) Also Braden's cousin Josh Jensen has been taught for the last few months as well, this past week we set a baptismal date with him for the 19th of November! Awesome guy, he is 22 I think, and his mom is an inactive member as well. We are hoping that their example will set of a chain reaction in their familys. Wonderful people though :) Yesterday we had a first lesson with a man named Christopher Tucker, he is a black man from Florida and is incedibly humble, just a super nice dude. He is dating a girl named Lisa who we are going to start teaching as well. At any rate we taught him about the Restoration and we asked him how he felt, he said that he felt good...and that while we were talking he felt a peaceful feeling. So we explained that that was the Spirit and that it was telling him that what we were teaching him was true. The Spirt was very very strong, and then Elder Fowlke explained baptism and why it is essential...and now he is on date to be baptized on the 26th! First lesson with him! It was so dang cool! It was one of those lessons that Return Missionaries tell you about, it was so cool!
So as you can see there are some pretty good things going on right now in Milton-Freewater. We find new people to teach every week and its awesome. We work with a lot of less active members of the Church and that is one of my favorite things about being out here. There are some wonderful people just waiting to be invited back!
Well family, I hope that the week goes well for everyone, break a leg with the wedding! Im stoked for Courtney to go through the Temple!!! That is our goal for everyone! Its the holiday season and missionaries just lovvvve a full mailbox ;)
Love you all,
Elder Dutson
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Week # 16
Hey there everyone!
Sorry but todays email is going to be very short, i have about 2 minutes haha. Anyone who emailed me I will email you back next week :)
I am in Milton Freewater Oregon, just a few miles south of the Washington state line, its a pretty small town but we have a lot of work!
My new comp is Elder Fowlke, he actually came out with Elder Roundy. Super awesome missionary, ive already learned quite a bit from him. Just in this last week we have found 5 or 6 new people to teach, baptized a 17 year old kid named Braden. ( I will elaborate on how that happened next week) As well as last night a guy named Josh Jensen set a baptismal date with us!
So all is well, anyone who is sending packages, remember to send them priority, and just send them to the Mission Office, its the Gage address. Im not totally sure what my new address is off the top of my head haha.
We have talked to some pretty wonderful people as we find them on the street and knock on their doors. Its amazing how many GOOD people there are! But with the good there are also some not so nice ones haha.
This is an incredible opportunity I have to be out here doing this, i am as I have heard it put, sitting in on salvation. I get to take part in blessing someone elses life!
The Church is true everyone, old news I know, but why not say it again.
I love you all and pray for you all as well, have a wonderful week!
Elder Dutson
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Week # 15
Hey family,
I hope everyones week has been good, crazy that another week is gone. Yesterday was the start of my 3rd tranfer....geeeeze.
And guess what? Getting transfered haha. All the way from Vancouver, to the complete other side of the mission. To Walla Walla, I am going to freeeeeeeze. Ill miss the rain, its so beautiful here!
I truly will miss this place, i have met incredible people and had some amazing experiences.
I said goodbye to Jeff and Korri yesterday...that was a tough one. It hadnt really hit me that I was leaving untill that point. They are such incredible people, and they have so much faith!!!
Jeff is sincere in every question he asks and the Spirt is always working on him. I swear at some point he will be a mission president!
And Korri is just wonderful, and brilliant. She lets the the Spirit tell her the truth and then she acts on it very very quickly.
I was so blessed to be able to take part in this amazing step for this family. And I know with my whole heart that they will be a part of my life for, at the very least, the rest of it haha.
Chris is getting baptized in Decmeber sometime, as soon as Daniel, his best friend, gets home from the Marines. He is an incredible kid, he believes it all and he studys his face off. He knows 90 percent of everything we try and teach him haha.
Life is just wonderful! Someone asked me in a letter if i feel like I am missing out on life, or if im living the life...nothing beats this!
There will be plently of time for everything else in about 20 months or so haha.
Yes missionary work is hard...its hard as crap! But the reward far outweighs ANY sacrifice along the way. Thats the way all the Gospel is, He is going to test you, but the blessing are just waiting. And as soon as you pass that test, the floodgates open!
I will definetly miss the missionarys here. My comp Elder Roundy is just a stud, i really hope I get to work with him again. Elder Metz and Elder Packham, awesome missionaries and just so much fun to be around.
Well off to Walla Walla, if anyone is planning on sending any packages or letters, send them to the Mission Office( 8656 W. Gage Blvd, #205 Kennewick, WA 99336.
Love you all and hope you have an awesome week!!!
Read your scriptures!
Love,
Elder Dutson
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