Monday, April 19, 2010

Hello everyone, I want you all to know that transfers went great, and I know that right now I am where I know that I am supposed to be. Right now I am serving in Brooklyn in the most “hood” as others would say in our whole mission area, it is a town called East New York. My companion is the person that I would probably want to be companions with more than anyone right now, it is my companion from the MTC Elder Thieme. I am in a zone with only Elders because it is a rough area to live, with a lot of shootings and robberies so they don’t let any of the sister missionaries serve here. So I am serving in the “Man Zone” is what they call it. Right now we don’t have anyone committed with a baptismal date, but we should find a few this week. Usually when Missionaries serve here in East New York, one of the companions are usually Black (I hope that doesn’t sound racist, that is just how it is). So I am here with a white companion, but we haven’t had any troubles yet. I feel that I connect with these people a lot better than I ever have connected with any other group of people here on my mission.Here in East New York when we do “Train Shouts” people are a lot more receptive, I feel like I am serving where the Lord has prepared the hearts of many that are now ready to receive the message and apply the teachings to their lives. People here are a lot more humble compared to my last area. I was so excited when I got called to serve here in East New York, I was pumped. Right now I am serving in a Branch, so there aren’t as many members that attend church on Sundays. The branch that I attend there are like 5 white people (which I find that to be really neat). We don’t get food as much from the members here, but I think that is good, it gives us more time to work with our investigators and more time to find people to teach, but I spend more time cooking, but that should be a good thing.This past week we started teaching this gal in a home with a lot of people that live within the home, so Elder Thieme and I invited everyone to come and listen to our message. We now are teaching 4 people in the home that are progressing their way to baptism. So we are hoping to have a few baptismal commits at the end of this week. I think that we are going to have a lot of success this transfer considering that I don’t have any extra responsibilities such as training or other leadership positions in the mission. Elder Thieme and I we are a POWER HOUSE companionship, we both work hard and we work great together considering that we came out on the mission together. Him and I are great friends and we have such a great desire to work diligently and obedient as we are embarking in this great work of the Lord. On Sunday the younger gal that Elder De Ogny and I were teaching got baptized, so I am thankful that I was able to get him a baptism at the beginning of his mission that always feels good. I know that I am absolutely going to love this area and that I should have a lot of great success here. It is a fun area!I know that there is nowhere else that I would rather be than right here where I am right now serving the Lord with my full energy of heart here in NYC. When all is said and done after this life we will all come to a greater understanding that there is no greater purpose in life than to preach the gospel. So keep that in mind and let us all live by example and we will begin to see the great blessings that we can be to help others return to live to our Father in Heaven. We are all here on Earth right now on our own personal journey through life, but this gospel isn’t only for us it is for everyone so we need to help bring the peace and happiness that comes from it into others lives. Thank you all for your support. I am working on catching up on my letters I am way behind I haven’t written anyone for like 3 weeks. So I am sorry I love you all. ELDER DOYLE

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Hey everyone, I only have 10 min left on the computer, I received a few long e-mails from members of my family. And oh is it so good to hear from them. I know that my family is the most important people to me in my life.

So this week transfer calls came, and yes I am leaving. I am going to a new area in the mission. I am hoping to go to somewhere in Brooklyn. I love NYC. Well today is going to consist of packing and getting all ready for tomorrow to meet my new companion and enter my new home, and meet my people of my new ward family somewhere else here in the mission.

I have said bye to a lot of people that I have learned to love so much. I am sad about it, I am hoping to be able to stay in contact with these people throughout my life. This morning after we did our laundry, a member in a ward took us to the gym and to a way nice Brazilian Steakhouse, All you can eat. OHHH!!! It was so good.

Well I am going to end it right here and I am sorry I am so bad, but next week and the next little bit I am sure that I will have a lot to say. SO yeah, Keep in touch everyone!

LOVE ELDER DOYLE


Monday, April 5, 2010

I hope that each of you had a wonderful Easter Sunday yesterday. It really was such a special day for me personally to truly ponder the life of Christ and what he has done for me, but what made this weekend so much better for me was the opportunity that I had to listen to all of the sessions of the 180th Annual General Conference. I know that a large portion of the talks were on families and Parents teaching and raising their children so that they may be able to develop their own persona testimonies of the truth and divinity of the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his restored church. What a blessing it is to know that we have a true and living prophet in the world today that loves us and desires to help us on our journey through life. I know that this life is full of many hardships, I know that those hard times are what will end up to be the most valuable developing moments in our lives. What a blessing it is to have the knowledge of Gods plan for us. I truly love each of you so much and I want all of you to one day be exalted on high and receive the gift of eternal life.
My focuses have changed so much in this past month, my mind, actions, and desires are on nothing else besides to be fully focused on this work and on the important purpose that God has sent me here to fulfill. One thing that helps me through all of this is by allowing and directing my thoughts towards the Savior. I know that he is the only individual that can deliver us from any pain or heartache.
This week I am most likely going to start packing up and moving to my next area. I know that I have told you this before, but President Nelson hinted to me last time I talked with him that the Lord needs me somewhere else. So we will have to see what happens next. I am hoping that I get to serve in Brooklyn next, but who knows maybe I will go further out in Long Island and be in a car area. I hear that the work in a car area is completely different than being in the city. Well I only have one more week with Elder DeOgny, it has been a blessing to serve with him. He is going to be baptizing a young gal the Sunday after I leave her name is Tarrin. I am happy for him, and thankful to help him get a baptism.
My weekly updates have been kind of lame lately I know, but I feel like when I first got out here I was able to talk about a lot more because I was new to the city, but now this is my home and this is where I belong for now. Time really does fly by so fast I dont know if it is going by as fast for you all, but seriously time is one thing that I dont have enough of on my mission. I feel like I need more time to get the things done that I need to. I have learned that it is more effective when I am smart with my time.
Now that General Conference is over we dont have to where our suits anymore until next Conference. That is how we do it here in this mission is we where our suit coats from fall conference to spring conference, then when spring conference comes we get to take them off. So I am excited to take off the suit coat and go back to the short sleeves again.
Well I want you all to know that I love you all so much. I know that true power is shown unto us as we sincerely pray with real intent, and having faith and love for our Father in Heaven. Pray always get on your knees more often and pray to him. I love you all I will talk to ya'll next week.

Love Elder Doyle
Hey guys! Sorry I forgot to post last weeks post... I guess it's better later than never right? -Ashley

03-29-10
Hey everyone I am sorry that last week was a short and horrible weekly update. So lets hope and pray that this one can be a lot better. First off as I am sitting here I have been reflecting back on my life and came to a realization of the times that I have had in my life and I am thankful for all of them, even the bad ones. Why? Because those hard times where what changed me into a complete different person. I know that everyone has certain challenges and hard things that they have to deal with in there life, but they need to be thankful for those times, because if they put there full trust in the Lord they will become the person that they truly desire to be. I know that through my experiences that I have had in my life it has brought me to come on a mission to share the blessings that come from the gospel with others. Yesterday I got up to bear my testimony to everyone in the ward that I have learned to love so much and to learn so much from these past 7 months. I got up to establish that this is going to be my last time being able to stand in front of them to bear my testimony. As I was standing there sharing my testimony on missionary work I gained a better understanding that when all is said and done there truly is no greater cause in life than to preach the Gospel to others. I know that I have gained a knowledge and a greater understanding of Gods plan for me through my faith and trust in him.

This past week John Rivera my last baptism, he recently found a job. That is so good for him, Josh and Lenni my two best friends moved out of the ward to go to Harlem, I am sad but I love them so much and we will be keeping in touch through out our life. This past week We ran into a man who was past out drunk in front of our church and his girlfriend was crying and we felt that this guy needed help. So I went to the neighbors houses to try to find this guy some water and we kept running back and forth to the neighbors and giving him water to help him. He called us the next day and recognized us as representatives of Jesus Christ and thanked us for all that we did for him. It really felt good to help this guy out.

I cant believe it but I am actually almost out of time again. Whoops. Sorry! Just real quick I want to remind all of you to watch General Conference this weekend. I am so excited to hear these words of counsel that I am going to be receiving from the prophet and apostles. So remember to write down some questions and to pray about them that they may be answered through the mouths of the Prophets and Apostles. I know that you will find the answers to all your questions. I cant believe that I have been in this same area for 2 day light savings and 2 General Conferences that is crazy. But I really do have to go now. Please forgive me. I know I am horrible. I just wish I had more time. I love you all and I am thankful for all of you to read my updates, most importantly for your support.

Love Elder Doyle