welcome home elder JD doyle!

Weekly Update 08-22-11

As of right now, it hasn't quite hit me to accept the fact that i am going to be home on Friday. Oh by the way the computer that i am using it's shift button is broken and it only works when it wants to, so please bear with me. My mission has been the most real experience that i have ever had in my life, i know that this work is real and true it is truly the work of the Lord.  i am going to miss the people here in NYC the most, i have truly grown to love the people here so much.

My experiences that I have had here have shaped me and molded my life from being a boy to now being a man, a man built upon the teachings of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. I look forward to sharing my mission experiences with each of you when i return. I am going to miss some of the people that I have been recently been teaching, it looks like this next month we are going to be having about 5 baptisms, so that will be great to hear about, but sad that I wont be able to see.

I look forward to seeing the family at the airport and there may be some people that I have come to love on my mission such as some recent converts that have moved to Utah after they joined the church, one of them will be Josh and Lenni Vargas, they are such a wonderful young married couple that i love so much, they will be friends of mine forever. i am sure that i will be nervous with the whole coming home thing probably the day of or the night before I leave. i will see some of you on the 26th, and some later on, but I do look forward to seeing all of you.  i really don't have much to write this week, as i know I left a promise that I would, but i have a lot to say when i get home and I can tell you the stories instead of typing it. I love you all! see you this week. Invite whoever you want to my homecoming that will be this coming Sunday!

 

 Love Elder JD Doyle

Weekly Update 08-15-11

I am truly touched by the spirit in my life and filled with so much gratitude to my Father in Heaven. He has truly poured out blessings upon me in my life as I have been a missionary for these past 2 years. I know that this change that has taken place in my life will continue to carry forward as I press on in my life always observing the commandments of God and living them. The joy that I have experienced these 2 years are inexplicable, but are feelings that I hope to posses in my heart eternally. Also these 2 years have brought much heartache, sadness, pain, and sorrow. It is something that is expected as I am here laboring for the salvation of souls. My joy is full, I know that I will be home next week and it is a bit crazy to me, but as my mission president has told me this past week. He said that the Lord has given him the sacred opportunity to look into my heart and he knows and is certain that I am ready to make the next step in my life. Hearing him say that filled me with an increase of hope for my future. I know that I am ready for this next step. The foundation of my life has been built, and it has been built strong upon the rock of my savior Jesus Christ.

I look forward to seeing your familiar faces. I know that it will bring great feelings into my heart when I meet my family at the airport. The only thing is that I am not going to be able to see my best friend in the world, my great brother Tyler, I love you bro! I know that he is still embarking in a great work, and in some ways I am sad that I am about out of time doing this work 24/7. I have made some great friends here in NYC, and have brought souls unto Christ. That alone makes it worth it even if it was one soul that I have brought unto Him, but my joy is immensely filled as I have brought many unto him through repentance and baptism. I really don't have much time, but I love you all. I will try to make my next weeks a bit better. Right now I am at a Chinese place and it is all in Chinese so I cant tell how much time I have left.

 

LOVE YOU ALL!!             Elder JD Doyle

Weekly Update 08-08-11

I truly dont have much time for todays update, but I will do my best. Lately has been truly a rewarding experience for me I have been reflecting upon the many miracles that I have been a partaker of throughout my mission. This week has helped me with that as I had my departing Mission Home stay with President and Sister Nelson and the missionaries that I came out with. I love the people here so much that is one thing that I am sad about, that I have truly come to love the people here soooo much and now I have to leave them soon.

I will not miss the loud noise that NYC brings, I wont miss the heartaches that come into my heart when people just wont accept the gospel and we have to let them be. I have noticed the ones who are the hardest to love on my mission have been the ones that have needed it the most. I never would have thought that my mission would have been such a battle, but it has been one that I am willing to fight any time because of the joy that it brings. Despite all of this I will remember all of the many people that I have taught. This weekend I was able to attend a baptism of Shaneeza Dass, Kevin and Melissa's mom from Jamaica, she told me that she misses me the most and she thanked me for the blessing that the gospel has brought into her life, but I told her to thank God. I talked to her husband Andrew, he told me that he was going to be getting baptized, but he needs some time. The family is almost complete, when I was in Jamaica we baptized Kevin and later we baptized Melissa, now the Mother is baptized and soon to be the father. The great reward will be when they are all sealed in the temple and become an eternal family. 

I will always remember these people here, I will miss the NY Pizza, I will miss making friends with the homies on the streets, I will miss declaring the sacred gospel message all day everyday, I will miss the diversity found here in NYC, I will miss spending time with my companions. I can go on and on, but most importantly my mission has changed me it is a miracle. I know that I am not the person who I once was.

As of right now for the work here in Flushing, the family that I was supposed to baptize just left to Florida for the rest of this month and they will be back in September so, I will just have to hear about the news when I get back to UT. We still have a few others that we are working with, but I am going to just keep my faith and keep working hard and I know that the Lord will make up the rest, but most importantly I will be happy as I am working my hardest. My studies have been my favorite part lately I have been loving the spirit that comes as I diligently seek the scriptures.

Well I am like out of time for this week now and I have to go. I love you all!!!

 

Elder JD Doyle

Weekly update 08-01-11

Everyone here has been constantly reminding me that I am going home from the members to the missionaries, I always feel sick whenever I hear about it. It is just so hard for me to let this full time service come to an end real soon. It has been an eternal blessing in my life, I know that I have changed so much as a person. The spirit will continually be my influence in my life in all things that I do. I really dont have that much time to e-mail today, but I am going to finish strong.

Elder Munday and I are loving our time that we have to serve together, I seriously love him so much. This week I have eaten a ton of fun stuff like Jelly fish, snail, and octopus. I love that about Flushing. The members are throwing a going away party for me on the 22nd, I am happy to see their appreciation for me as I have served here. I am staying in the mission home tomorrow night because the first group of missionaries are going home on Wednesday, so I am doing all of my departing stuff early. Well I am out of time I love you all. See you all soon!

Elder JD DOYLE

Weekly Update 7-25-11

This past week has been a big week of reflection and satisfaction from the Spirit of the Lord that has carried into my heart with feelings of love, joy, peace, and pure happiness. This past week we had our departing temple trip in which we usually don't have those until the end of the transfer right before we go home, but the temple is going to be closed for cleaning. As we were within the temple with President Nelson, he told our group that we have all served honorable missions. It was weird hearing those words, because I went into the temple more pondering about these next 5 weeks that I have left.

I am so happy to be back in Flushing, and to be received by the members with such great love, they seem to be so happy and grateful to have me back. I love the work here so much. I was able to go to the temple for baptisms for the dead with my recent convert from Egypt Abdel Wahab Ahmed Muhammad Ahamed known as Bob Tut. He is doing so well it was so great to see him here staying strong in the church, and was blessing the sacrament. It was also great to hear and see Anita Ngo my other recent convert fulfilling her calling as Secretary of the Relief Society. They are both doing so well, I love them so much. This is truly some of the greatest joys that I have ever felt in my life to see the Spirit of the Lord enter into ones life and change them forever.

Right now my companion and I teach so very powerfully together there is something very special about our companionship, at transfer meeting Elder Doxey (one of the assistants to the president) pulled me aside and said if there is any companionship in the mission that was inspired it was yours. It felt great to hear that, I have not only seen that in the way we teach together, but he is good friends with Jake Cooper, and he knows Tyler, my little bro. They have hung out quite a few times. He would have never thought in his life that he would be companions on his mission with Tylers older Bro. We have a lot of fun together, and are excited to do the work. We both feel that we have been prepared in our lives spiritually to now be companions on our missions at this point in our lives. He is currently on his 3rd transfer and still has a lot of time left, but it is my desire to teach him everything that I know about the work to help him be the best missionary that he possibly can become in these next 2 years.

I was given permission by President Nelson to go to Melissa Dass' surprise B-day party, her mom really wanted me to be there because I was her first missionary, and I baptized her. She is amazing, her and Kevin have completely changed. There was a lot of members from the ward at their home with all of the missionaries in the Jamaica area, it was great to be there and to see them. I had to say bye for now,  but I will have to see them when I make a trip back out to NYC in the hopefully near future. I will miss all of these wonderful people here, but I will do my best to stay in touch with all of them throughout my life.

I know that this church is true, I know it. I am so grateful to know these things, I know that there are many people that are hungering for the truth, and know not where to find it. I have found many people on my mission who are as them, but I am continually seeking to find those who have been prepared in their lives to receive and accept the fullness of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that Christ is my savior that his very drops of blood was spilt for me, and for all of us. I truly feel his love in my life so powerfully and I have changed forever, and will never be the man who I was when I left on my mission, but continually strive on this uphill progression to enter in the presence of my Loving Father in Heaven. I love you all and wish you all the best!

 

Elder JD Doyle

Weekly Update 7-18-2011

I am almost out of time for today, but let me give you all a quick update about what has been going on here. Well For me, I received a phone call from President Nelson, he told me that the Lord needs me to go back to Flushing. I know that President Nelson is truly an inspired person of the Lord, that His work is being directed through Him directly to my mission president. When he said that I felt the Spirit strongly, so I am going back to my old area "China Town" here I come. I get to go back to Bob Tut, Anita, and Samantha three of my recent converts whom I love so much. My new companion is going to be Elder Munday, he has a strong british accent, he is from England, but now lives in Utah, his dad is an Area Seventy. I am excited to serve with him he is just finishing up his second transfer so he has a lot of learning to do still, but I know that I will learn a lot from him as well and we can really help each other out a lot. I am going to be a single Zone Leader, so I am going to be the only Zone Leader; Meaning that my companion will not be a zone leader.

My time here in Midwood was short, but I was truly able to get close to a lot of people in the short time that I had here in the area. Last night I had a famous Hatian dish that is called Legume, I am sure that Elder Tyler Doyle knows what I am talkin about, it is some good stuff. I will miss a lot of the people here, but I know this is what the Lord wants me to do is to go back to Flushing.

This morning we woke up early with the zone and went to Coney Island to watch the sunrise and play ultimate Frisbee on the beach. It was a blast... We had fun.

Well I love you all here are some pics for you all as well...

Elder JD DOYLE

Weekly Update 07-11-11

> I have truly been filled with blessings from on high as I have been
> striving diligently to bring His gospel message to the world here in
> NYC. My heart has changed in so many ways. I will reflect back on the
> experiences that I have had here for the rest of my life.
> This past week Manolita was confirmmed, it is so great to know that
> she has entered onto the path that the Lord desires of her to travel
> for the rest of her life. I am going to be a little sad if I am going
> to be leaving this area already, because my companion and I are both
> going home next transfer, but it is looking as if I am going to be
> staying here in the area and getting a new companion. I will know
> everything at the end of this week. I am thinking that I am going to
> get the companion that I have been wanting to serve with forever,
> Elder Kinikini. He is the man, him and I have such a great passion for
> the Lords work and we have the same style of how we do the work. We
> will see how all of that works out.
> Today we went to the Statue of Liberty and to Ellis Island, it was fun
> going with the Zone to go check out Lady Liberty. We took a lot of fun
> pictures, and we had a blast. I would send you some of the pictures
> but I left my USB, so I will have to send them to you next week.
> I am still loving every moment of doing the Lords work, it is a work
> where great power is found, a work that has nothing to do with myself
> but all to do with others and with His children. I am loving NYC, it
> is going to be a special place that I will have in my heart for the
> rest of my life. I have learned to love His children, love is what
> generates the most power in this work. Love is why I came on my
> mission in the first place, it was because I have a great love for the
> Lord. It is through His love that I am able to stand here and bare
> witness of the Living Christ. That He lives, that He has called a
> prophet Joseph Smith to assist in the great work to restore His true
> living gospel in its fullness back to the earth. I know that Christ
> truly guides and leads His church here on the earth, I know that He
> has called me through a living prophet to come here to NYC to be a
> missionary. The Book of Mormon is true, I know that if anyone reads
> the pages therein with a desire to act, by applying the principals
> taught in the Book of Mormon to their lives that they will know
> through the great love and power of God that these things are true. I
> invite all to read and they can find out on their own from the most
> Powerful Being himself if the Book of Mormon is true. It is true and I
> know it, I am happy to share it and eternally grateful for the sacred
> experiences that I have had as I have been here on my mission. I will
> hold them dear forever. I love you all, remember the Lord and His
> work, you are all a part of it!
>
> Elder JD Doyle

Weekly Update 07-04-11

Today is going to be a short update for you all, because today I am going to go hit some golf balls at the driving range. It has been such a great week for us here in Brooklyn, Yesterday Manolita Chenet was baptized. She has been taught by a lot of missionaries in the past, my second week here we invited her to be baptized and she accepted, and we helped her to prepare herself to be baptized. She is from Haiti, and has made a lot of great changes in her life to enter in to the covenant of baptism. 

This past week I had interviews with my President Nelson, and when I sat down with him, he straight up told me that we don't have to talk about missionary work today, because he knows that I am going to work hard and finish my mission strong. It was great to see the trust that my mission president has in me. He said that we need to talk about what I need to do when I get home he told me to show him my schedule for my classes at BYU Idaho. He gave me some great pointers. I absolutely love President Nelson, he has spent a lot of quality time with me as I have been here. I know that I will stay in touch with him throughout my life. I have had a lot of General Authorities come to our mission and they have all said that we are so very blessed to have President Nelson as a mission president and that he is among the very best of all mission presidents. I believe that to be true, the mission has completely changed from when I first came out here until now. 

I know that this is the time that the Lord has prepared for me to serve a mission, it truly makes so much sense to me, as now I am coming to the end of my mission. As for now I commit myself to work my hardest to the end of my mission, I am not sure what is going to happen with transfers and all, but who knows I might go somewhere else for my last transfer who knows? 

Well.... I love you all so much. I am grateful for the knowledge that I have of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, it has changed my life eternally and I look forward to sharing it for the rest of my life.  Have a great week!

ELDER JD DOYLE

Weekly Update 06-27-2011

My dear family and friends, this work will never stop until our Father says His work is done. This work is truly incredible. This week we had 3 Investigators at church. This next Sunday one of those 3 will be being baptized, she has been meeting with missionaries for about 3 years. Her name is Manolita, she is from Haiti, she is great and she knows that this is the right decision for her to make in her life.

There were two ladies that I "fearlessed" at the beginning of the transfer who both came to church yesterday for the first time. Laura is also from Haiti, she has a lot of great questions about her salvation. She called us this past week and told us that she received an answer that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. We also had Aileen, she is from Jamaica, I was able to introduce her to a lot of great members at church. She absolutely loved church yesterday. She is excited to learn more, she told me that she feels at home when she was at church. The spirit is truly working within our investigators.

I really am almost out of time, I am currently at a members work using his computers that he has in his office, so I just don't want to be a burden to him. I love it here in Midwood Brooklyn, it is full of Haitian people, I know that I have said that before but it just makes me think of my little bro Tyler it motivates me so much. Well... I love you all so much have a great week and always remember who you are and the great things that the Lord has blessed each of you with in your lives.

 

                   Elder JD DOYLE

Weekly Update 06-21-11

All of my good friends and family, I am indeed grateful to share some wonderful experiences with you all. The Lords work here in this part of the world is expanding as my companion and I are working with all that we can offer to the Lord. We have been striving to fully consecrate our hearts to the Lord in fulfilling our missionary purposes. We have been blessed with an abundance of His spirit as we have been teaching his children and as we work together throughout each day.

Monday is normally our P-day, but yesterday we had a mission conference and we had 2 General Authorities come and speak to the mission. We have Elders Gong and Christensen from the Quorum of the Seventy come and speak to us. I was called on to give the opening prayer, it was a great honor to have that special privilege to do so and to get up and pray unto our Father in our behalf. I was nervous when I was called on to pray, but as I pondered about our Savior Jesus Christ I was filled with faith and was able to express my heartfelt feelings to Him.  The conference was great, I learned a lot from these chosen servants of the Lord.

Here in Brooklyn I am continually growing so much as an individual, I am also grateful for the much prayers that have been offered by each of you in my behalf, I feel the influence of the Spirit daily in my life as a missionary. I know that he guides and directs us in this work. These are the best 2 years of my life, but I know that even the best years are what lay ahead of me.

We are working with a lot of great people, we continually seek for the Lords guiding hand in helping us bring others unto him. I know that this guidance can be given to all who have the desire to bring His gospel message into others lives. As we act on the promptings of the Holy Spirit we are then able to be living witnesses of His love and power to bless the lives of His precious children whom he loves incomprehensibly. It is my invitation to all that have obtained this sacred knowledge of the Lord to share it with all whom we know have not yet received the divine witness from our Loving Father in Heaven. This Gospel is true and I know it, it has changed me and this change will continually occur throughout the rest of my life as I build my life upon his Gospel.

I want to wish you all a belated Happy Fathers Day, and Dani I hope you got my card that I sent you Happy B-day I love you so much!

As for now it is my turn to depart for this time being, but until next week remember the Lord your savior, and find a way to come even closer unto him than you are now, it is not out of your reach because His hand is stretched out always towards each of you, He is quietly whispering unto all to "Come" and he will set you free from all burdens and sorrows that we all may be facing. Bye for now!

 

Elder JD Doyle

Weekly Update 06-13-11

     I am indeed grateful to have this sacred opportunity to serve amongst such great of people who have been truly humbled by their life experiences. Here in Midwood Brooklyn I am sharing the gospel with pretty much only Hatian people. So I have to make sure that Tyler comes out here with me when he gets home from his mission. I get sad when I cant share the gospel with these people because they speak Creole/French. I do try my best though and I keep talking to them as long as I can before they just walk away but I always make sure that I give them a card just in case.

     Right now I live with the ASL missionaries, one of them is deaf, he is such a cool guy he can speak great and he also reads lips very well, so I can communicate anything to him and he will understand and respond. The ASL missionaries are so great, I love them so much they are fun to have as "Pad Mates." This week we found 7 new investigators as we went out and I fearlessed seriously every person that I could possibly talk to. We had some great meetings with people, we invited 3 people to be baptized and 1 of them accepted and will be baptized on July 3rd. The other two are going to pray to know if the 17th of July is a good day for them. We will continue to work with these great people and continue to find and teach these people. I am here to declare the gospel with boldness and strive to take every opportunity that I possibly have to share the gospel. I love talking to everyone, it brings so much joy into my heart.

     Last night I had my first Dinner Appt. with a Hatian family. Bro.... The food was sooo good, I am sure that you are loving the food in your mission. The ward that I am serving in consists of 90% Haitians. They are going to be starting a Creole program here in the mission this next transfer the church is now training missionaries in the MTC to learn Creole, and we are getting a new missionary next transfer. He will most likely be in my zone.

     My companion Elder Yancuba is awesome, he is a fun missionary to serve around he is originally from Africa and lived there for 13 years of his life. He is a funny Elder with a lot of love and care for the work. He has been wanting to be my companion from the begining of our missions. We have seriously been working so hard, we came out together and are both coming to the end of our missions and we have the sincere desire to sprint to the finish giving the Lord all of our hearts in helping His children come to the knowledge of the truthfulness of this restored gospel.

     Ok so now I am going to announce to all of you, I havent said anything regarding this matter, but I am going to be attending BYU Idaho this fall when I get home. I am going to be home from my mission on August 26th and I will be starting school on September 9th. I am excited for my future and the rest of my mission, I know that I am going to work my very best and finish strong. I am looking forward to this next week and very excited to see some great success and miracles here in Midwood, I know that there will be miracles here as I give my heart to the Lord in all that I do.

     I love you all and hope you all have a great week. Oh and I am also grateful as Tyler was for the wonderful map from the Doyle family with the kind words of encouragement and love that have been shared. Keep up the good work that you all are doing and always remember your savior Jesus Christ.

 

                          Elder JD Doyle

Weekly Update 6-6-2011

Hello everyone, It is now time for me to head out to another area. I am sad that I have to say goodbye to all of these wonderful people, I absolutely love the people here in Jamaica Queens. At the same time I am excited and filled with faith for what lies ahead of me. I have been filled with a great brightness of hope for this last part of my mission. I am satisfied for the great effort and hard work that Elder Yau and I put into the work this last transfer that we've shared together. We worked as if we had no time to waste, it feels great to be able to say with complete honesty that I have done my very best throughout my entire mission.

It is amazing that I am leaving because this past week, I felt the Spirit whisper to me that the work that I was sent here to do has been fulfilled and my purpose here has been completed, not only with the people that I've been called to teach, but also with the missionaries that I've been called to serve.

I am going to be serving with Elder Yancuba as my companion he is originally from Africa and now is from Chicago, he is a missionary that I came out with. I am excited to serve with him I know that we will work well together. He is an exciting person to be around and full of love. I am going to miss Elder Yau, I learned a lot from him, but I must do what the Lord has called me to do.

I hope that you all enjoy the pictures that I sent. I loved the children here in Jamaica they were so fun. I am going to miss the Haitian family at the end, I taught the Older daughter and they will be friends forever, I sent his wife a French copy of the book of Mormon in the mail, and she has now read almost the whole book, she is going to be baptized when she comes here at the end of the month. Well I am running short on time and I have to start packing up to move tomorrow, and tonight I am going to go out with the new missionaries to go out to fearless people on Jamaica Ave. I love you all and I am sorry that this weeks update isn't all that great.

Love Elder JD Doyle

Weekly Update 6-2-2011

Well everyone, today is my P-Day because we went to the Mets game, I am out of time for e-mailing so they are kicking me out of the mission office. I will talk to you all on Monday, I love you all so much the Mets game was great the Mets beat the Pirates 9-8. We got tickets from a member so we had 24th Row seats it was fun. I love you all so much! OH and I caught a shirt, ha ha ha. That is just my luck. I wish I had more time. OH yeah I will talk to you more about it on Monday, but I am out of Jamaica I got a phone call from President Nelson and he wants me to do to Midwood, Brooklyn for my last area. I have served in all of the Haitian areas now so now my little bro can come and speak to all of the Haitian people that I've met on my mission. I look forward to going to Midwood, I know that I am going to love it there. I only have 12 weeks left, Holy cow! That is crazy, I just barely thought of that. Well I have to go I love you all.

Weekly Update 05-23-11

     My good friends and family, it is an honor for me each week to have this opportunity to share with you a portion of the miraculous life-changing experiences that are found in this marvelous work as I am here serving the Lord with all of my heart. Some of the experiences are some that I love to share, and others are very personal between the Lord and I, where one day I may share some of these experiences if the Lord permits me to do so at some point in life. It is my prayer that you all may be able to feel of the significance and the need that we all have to share the gospel with everyone. I know that I have been called to serve as full-time missionary for 2 years, but when I was called I know that I was called to serve forever. I will soon one day be released from the mantle of a full-time missionary, but I will serve forever. I may leave the field but not the missionary will not leave me.

     Today I am short on the time that I have to type up this e-mail to you all. The work here is moving forward, the Lord is watchful of His children as he is for each of you. It is amazing how our role as missionaries comes into play in others lives. I love to hear of the great work going on in Orlando with Elder Tyler Doyle, my best friend in the world, and the great work that is happening all around me.

     I am not sure if you all heard about the "end of the world" that was supposed to happen, but it was a big deal here in NYC. The "End of the World" was on May 21st, well I am still here alive and spreading the gospel into the lives of my good brothers and sisters here in NYC. There were people that have taken this false prophecy serious some have sold their houses and spent a lot of their money on advertising this false prophecy. It was great because on Saturday the 21st we got all of the missionaries in our zone to go out to Jamaica ave and set up a table and talk to everyone that passes by on the street, there are too many people that we didn't have time to talk to every one, but it was fun. I love this work and there is nothing greater than this. I have to go now, I love you all!

 

 

           Elder JD Doyle

Fwd: Weekly Update 05-16-11

     The miracles that are found in this work are incredible. We have been blessed through the hands of the Lord placing His prepared children on our path. This past week as we were going forth to visit a less active member, we saw these two young ladies sitting out on the stoop of a house. Whenever I am walking and I see people I will go talk to them to invite them to listen to our message. As my companion at the time was Elder Moore(we were on exchanges) we went and talk to these ladies. As we were talking to them I noticed that one of them was intently listening to what we were saying and very interested in the message we share. As we were talking to them the gal who seemed interested said that her mom was now home and she pulled up in her car and was about to walk into her house across the street. I was quick to run over there and talk to her about what we do as missionaries. I was able to get her to listen to us and allow us to come and teach her and her family. We went over to their house yesterday to meet with them. They are all excited to listen to more of the message that we share. I know that this gospel will bring a great change into the life of their family.

     We are still working with Shaneeza she has a baptism date set for the 29th of this month, this week it was her Birthday and she invited us over for dinner and we taught her about the Word of Wisdom, we haven't taught her that before and we knew that she drank coffee. This week she called us and was excited to tell us that she hasn't drank any coffee after she has been drinking it for her entire life since she was a little girl. It is great to see what power the Lord can give when one is willing and wanting to make a change. We are excited for that wonderful family to continue on the path of righteous living for the rest of their lives.

     I am grateful for this time that the Lord has blessed me with in my life to have this opportunity to come and serve His children. This is a time that I will treasure for the rest of my life, and reflect back on the experiences that I've had forever. I have had so many life changing experiences. I know that the Lord has taught me much in how to be a better person. I was able to learn a lot of patience here in the mission field. That was definitely something that I have struggled with throughout my life, but now seems to be one of my strengths. I really am just about out of time and I don't have much left to say for this week. I do love all of you and am grateful to have each of you be a part of my life. One more thing that I would like to mention is that I am the absolute worse writer ever when it comes to writing letters, I sincerely ask for each of your forgiveness with my lack of effort put into writing letters. Please forgive! I love you all and have a wonderful week.

Elder JD DOYLE

Weekly Update 5-09-11

My dear family and friends, it is my sincere prayer that you may all be able to feel the Lords love today as you read this update for this week. My desires for you all to feel this way is that you may feel a portion of the love that has filled my soul. I know that I have been called to declare His gospel message to the world, and I feel that I have felt the power that has been given by Him to me, power of which is not known among man(D&C 24:12). This power comes as we open our mouths not knowing beforehand the things that we shall say, but by putting our trust in Him to carry this message into the hearts of the Lords precious children. 

This past week I have had many opportunities to open my mouth and to declare the truth unto others of my brothers and sisters, now they may not all have accepted the things that I have shared, but I strongly believe that I have helped them come closer unto Christ. It is amazing, as I have been here on my mission I have taught and baptized people who have met with the missionaries or had encounters with members of the church in the past. Yet these people who have opened there mouths to speak to these people in the past have no idea the impact that they have made on these individuals who have now decided to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized into His true and living church. It is my invitation to you all to seek for missionary opportunities to share His gospel. It is my promise to you that you all may be able to feel this power of which is not known among man(D&C 24:12), but only by those who seek to declare his gospel with intentions to help them come unto Him. As I have opened my mouth to declare this truth to others I am not always aware of how many will act upon the words that I share with them. It is my hope with everyone that I talk to that they may be able to one day come to this understanding through the Spirit of God, that these things are true. 

About a month and a half ago, I invited a member to share the gospel with one of her friends and she did. I was able to hear her get up and bare her testimony that she acted upon the words that my companion and I shared with her, to share the gospel with her friend, which has now lead to her friend being baptized, it is incredible the way the Lord works. Who would have ever thought that that my companion and I inviting her to share the gospel with her friend would have lead to her friend being baptized in Brooklyn. That is a miracle in itself. This is a work of miracles and of blessings. Miracles are awaiting each of us as we choose to share the Lords gospel with our friends and helping them experience the joy that we all feel!

This past week we had another baptism, Melissa Dass was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. We also invited her wonderful Mother to prepare herself to be baptized on the 29th of this month. She has accepted the invitation and is going to prepare herself to be baptized on that very day. I am happy for her and her inner commitment to follow the Lords example, and to keep His commandments. I am so happy to be a missionary, coming on a mission has changed the course of the rest of my life and many windows of opportunity have been opened to me in which I will pursue and continue to declare the Lords Gospel for the rest of my life and hopefully even beyond the veil throughout the eternities. I love this work and I love you all! Have a great week!

Elder JD Doyle

Weekly Update 05-02-11

This past week has truly been a defining moment in my life. I am so grateful for my new companion Elder Yau. Elder Yau is from Hong Kong, he has been in the Chinese program for his entire mission, he now has 2 transfers left. He has been a leader in the Chinese program for the past while in the mission, and now he has been put in the English program for the first time. The work here is a lot different from what he is used to. I am learning a lot from him, he has taught me a lot about the importance of goal setting and fulfilling the goals that we set as a companionship and with our individual selves. I have developed a deeper understanding of the importance of setting goals and reaching our goals that we set. As I was getting ready this morning I was pondering the thought in my mind of how much better I would have done on my mission if I would have known these things that have now come to me with conviction from the Spirit. As that thought came to my mind the Spirit was quick to reveal to me that I am only ready to receive the spiritual knowledge of things that I am spiritually ready to receive. I was not spiritually ready to receive the knowledge that I now have received. I was able to learn a lot from this meaningful experience that I had. This knowledge that I now have I want to share with all of the missionaries in our Zone, and with everyone. I talked to President Nelson about it this morning in his office, and we both had a great talk about it and president wants me to talk about it tomorrow in ZLC (Zone Leader Counsel) with all of the Zone Leaders.

Last week I was asked to speak to all of the Leaders in the mission about "Fearlessing", as I prepared my talk that I was assigned to give I know that I received revelation in behalf of "Fearlessing." Fearlessing is what we call going up to people on the street, train, bus, in the store, or wherever we may be; opening our mouths to share the Lords Gospel message with others. As I spoke I know that I was moved upon by the Spirit my message was carried into the hearts of the Leaders in the mission. President Nelson now wants me to give that same talk to all of the missionaries. I will just have to wait and see how it all works out, but I am excited about the missionary work here.

This past week we had Bettina and Kevin confirmed in church. We also had a miracle this week, we went to the Dass families home and Melissa said that she wants to be baptized. So she is going to be baptized on this coming Saturday. We are working with a lot of great people.

I am excited to call home this coming Sunday to speak to my wonderful family.

I dont have much time left, so I have to get going, I love you all and I hope that you all have a great week.

 

     LOVE ELDER JD DOYLE 

Weekly Update 04-25-11

I don't have much time to e-mail this week so let me give you all a quick update. This past week has been a remarkable one, we had 2 baptisms. Bettina Audain and Kevin Dass they are both amazing. We are excited and Kevin's family is still learning so we are hoping for the best and having the opportunity to baptize the rest of the family.

Transfer calls came and I am going to be staying here in Jamaica, and my new companion is Elder Yau, he is from China. I don't really know him very well, but I will get to know him as we serve together for these next 6 weeks, I will officially be his companion tomorrow. I am excited about the great things that are in store for us in the future. 

We have a busy week ahead of us, we are going to be moving to a new place, because of the Sister Missionaries getting moved out of their place because of those creepy guys trying to get into their apartment. I am sad that I have to move because I love the place that I am living at right now, it is a house above the Senior Couples, and they are always taking good care of us. 

I wish I had more time to talk, but I just don't. I love you all and the Church is true.

Love Elder JD Doyle

Weekly Update 04-18-11

Hello to all of my wonderful family members and friends. Well another week has gone by and a lot more has happened in my life as a missionary. It is amazing how much can happen in one week. This week has brought much happiness into my life in which I know that I have been lifted higher than I was before. It is a continual process and I am being lifted higher and higher as each day goes by.

I will start with the crazy events that occurred this past week. This past week on Tuesday night I got a call from the sister missionaries in my zone asking for help. They said that there has been some guys that have been trying to get into their apartment for the prior 3 days before they called me. They called me after 2 of the sisters were at home and the other sisters were away, and the 2 guys got inside of their building and knocked at their apartment door. They were trying to open the door and get inside of their room, but they went and turned off all of the lights and hid inside one of the bedrooms. They were all so terrified, so my companion and I went over to their house and I was able to get in touch with President Nelson and he advised me stay there until the Police showed up and had me ask certain questions to the Police. The following morning I got a phone call from Elder Brownell, he is in charge of all the apartments in the mission. He is one of my good buddies, and a wonderful senior couple missionary. He said that we have to get the sisters out of their apartment today as directed from President Nelson. On that day we had a lot of great appointments scheduled and for some reason every single one called and canceled on us. So we took the day helping the sisters move into another apartment. It was comforting to know that they are safe now and that nothing is going to happen to them. Some guys here in NYC are just crazy.

Now it is time to share with you all the remarkable events that have occurred. Bettina is for sure going to be baptized on this coming Sunday, she is solid and is certain that she is going to be baptized. Now for Kevin and Melissa, Kevin is looking great, but his older sister Melissa is starting to question, but she tells us that she knows the Book of Mormon is true, she is just nervous to make this commitment. We are praying for her, but Kevin says that he is pretty sure that he is going to be baptized this coming Sunday, so we will just have to see how it all works out. Things change, so we cant be certain about anything. I know that the Lords will will be done. It will be a great opportunity to have those three be baptized on Easter Sunday.

This past week on Saturday we had a wonderful lesson with a lady, her name is Jamel, she is awesome. We invited her to be baptized on May 8th, on Mothers day. She accepted and she is going to prepare herself to be baptized on that day. We are also working with a lot of other people whom are near ready for baptism. We are hoping for the best, we constantly stand in need of the Lords help and guidance at all times.

This week is transfer calls, I am thinking that I am going to be the one staying and that Elder Hunter is going to be the one leaving, we will just have to wait and see, but there is only one other option to where they could send me to be a Zone Leader and there are a few options to where they could send Elder Hunter, so that is why we are thinking that he is going to be the one leaving and that I am going to be the one staying. I hope that I get to stay here and to continue working with these wonderful people. I am known to stay in areas for a long time so I hope that can carry on. I am sad that Elder Hunter and I have to split up soon, we have had so many great experiences that we have to share together throughout the rest of our lives. We worked hard and we helped a lot of people come closer to their Savior Jesus Christ. We both learned a lot from each other, and I know that we will continue to learn a lot from each other as we are currently planning on being roommates at college.

I love you all and I want you all to know and feel of the great power that one can feel when we share the gospel with others. Remember to seek for opportunities to share the gospel with those around you, and when the moment comes for you to open your mouth to share the gospel you will be filled with power that is great, "And I will give unto him strength such as is not known among men." Is what the Lord promises us in D&C 24:12 as we open our mouths to share the gospel. Power that is not known among men is truly something that I feel that I have experienced as I have diligently declared the restored gospel to the Lords precious children here in NYC. I love sharing the gospel and I know that it is some thing that I will do for the rest of my life because I know it is true, and I am planning on sharing the gospel throughout the eternities. I love you all, it is my prayer that you all may be watched over and guided throughout your life.

 

Love Elder JD Doyle

Weekly Update 04-11-11

The Lord truly loves His children. I am grateful to be a personal witness of His great love that He has for all of His children. This week He has blessed us and the lives of those whom we are working with. We have a lot of great success in the near future. We have Betina who is from Haiti. She was actually caught in the big earthquake that they had there about a year and a half ago. She was in school and the school fell on top of her, and she was stuck under the rubble for many hours, she has scars on her arms from the destruction. We now have been teaching a great family, we invited them to be baptized on Saturday, they said that they want their children to be baptized. We will continue to work with the parents and are hoping that we can baptize the children and the parents on Easter Sunday. That will be a big day for us, with Betina and the Dass family all being baptized on that special day.

Right now we have a lot of great people that we are working with and are hoping that we can have a lot of great baptisms in the near future. This transfer is coming to a close and I feel strong that I am going to be staying here in Jamaica. We still have 2  weeks left in this transfer so yeah. The work is moving and we are motivated to do well.

It is now coming to my last stretch on my mission, I will definitely sprint to the finish and work my very hardest, I know that this is what it takes to receive spiritual power in this work and there are great miracles that will follow. I am excited to work hard, and I feel an increase of motivation that I haven't felt for the past 2 transfers, maybe it is because I have been studying every morning at 5:30 AM the past 2 transfers because I had to take a test for college. I am now finished and it feels great. I know that I did well and my future college education is all planned out. 

I have to get going now. I love you all and I hope the best for each of you.

Elder JD Doyle

Weekly Update 04-04-11

    This weekend has been an incredible one for me personally, it is my prayer that most of you if not all of you feel the same, as the influence of the Spirit was powerfully carried into my heart as I intently listened to the words of counsel that has been given to the world. I can truly say with honesty of heart that I now know my Savior Jesus Christ even better than before. I now know of the true importance of seeking an eternal companion and not procrastinating taking one of the Lords chosen daughters to His house and there be sealed for time and all eternity. This is my desire and I know it is in the near future.

    We had a lot of investigators come and attend conference this past weekend and I know that they all felt the spirit in a special way as they each have expressed their gratitude towards us by inviting them to attend. Our work is definitely on an uphill rise as our teaching pool is growing and as we are continually striving to work harder and do better day after day. I know this is my calling to share His gospel with the Lord for as long as I live. This church is true, and I will declare that His church has been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Anyone can know this as they specifically pray in faith to our Loving Father about His restored church. 

     I cannot and will not hide the things that I know, this is the truth and the joy that enters into ones life as they apply the teachings to their life that is found in the fullness/restored Gospel. This same joy is what I desire for all to experience and that is why I am here doing this sacred work.

     I cant believe that I have sent a letter out every week of my mission. I look forward to doing this every week. This week is going to be a short one. I love you all and I pray that you all may be able to reflect again on the inspired heaven sent messages that were given this past weekend. 

Love, Elder JD Doyle

Weekly Update 03-28-11

There is a very special opportunity that we all have to partake of this coming weekend. The Prophet of the Lord is going to speak to the world. I am so grateful and I look forward to hear from these inspired chosen servants of the Lord. I am a little sad that this is the last time that I am going to hear from these prophets of God while I am on my mission. It has all gone by so quickly. I am saddened, but at the same time I have a lot of faith and confidence for my future. 

As I have been praying a lot my faith is in the Lord and His will and none else. I know that he has a distinct individual plan for me and it is my will to follow His plan. I know that it is my calling to share the Gospel throughout the rest of my life. I feel that I have found such great power and love in this gospel that I am obligated to share it with the world and all ears that can hear my voice that speak my language. I will declare the truth with boldness and with power. This church is true brothers and sisters, I absolutely love it that I have come to this sure knowledge and sure understanding, yet I take no credit for it, but give my full thanks to the Lord for him revealing these truths to me with such great power. I have received the convincing evidence from the Lord that this is His church. 

This week I encourage each of you to ponder what it is that you may question about the church or whatever it may be, as you pray with sincerity I know that as you listen to the words of counsel that will be given this weekend that your questions will be answered. I am running low on time. So I have to get going soon. I love each of you so much, as I say that every week, but it is true and my love for all of you is real. 

     ELDER JD DOYLE  

Weekly Update 03-14-11

     Hello everyone, once again I am going to be short  this week. I want you all to know that the Lord is truly watchful for his children here in this part of the Lord. Our work is starting to progress further. Yesterday we baptized Rickyna, she is an 11 year old daughter of a Less Active, but now active member of the Church. This weekend was a miracle we got a media referral Aida Lee, requesting a free Bible. I gave her a call the next day and she said that she wanted six Bibles. We set up an appointment with her for this past Saturday. As we knocked on the door I felt such a great feeling enter into my heart and I was filled with a powerful amount of comfort. Troy (her husband) came to the door, and he was very sincere about welcoming us into his home. We sat down with both of them and talked to them about the Bible, and then about the Book of Mormon, they were so very interested and understood that the Lord had children in other places of the world such as here in the ancient Americas. They are interested in learning more about the message that we share, we explained that not everything can be learned all at once. They are hungering to know more, we are so excited to teach them, we have another appointment set up to teach their family this week. They have 4 children and 3 of them are over the age of 8. 

     The work here is amazing, I love New York City, and I know that this is one of my callings that I have been called to for the rest of my life, I will continue to be a missionary forever. This is the least that I can do, and the Lord has truly showed forth his power unto me in a remarkable way as I have been here on my mission. I have changed and have seen others change through power that is not of me but of God alone. I know that I have been called to a great work, and I know that each of us that have come to the knowledge of the truth have the same responsibility to share the things that they know with everyone that they possibly can. This is the truth and I know it, and I know that the Lord will give me the power and ability to share it with others for the rest of my life. 

     This is all that I can do today. I love you all! My time is short and I really don't have much time left here, and I look forward to seeing each of you when I return!

 

     Elder JD Doyle 

Weekly Update 03-07-11

     Hello everyone, I really don't have much time today, but I do want to take the time to talk a little bit about having an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ that came and spoke to us missionaries this weekend. We had Elder Neil L. Anderson, Ronald A. Rasband President of the seventy, and 1st counselor of the Presiding Bishopric Bishop Edgely all of them came and spoke to us. The Spirit was so strong. My experience was amazing. When Elder Anderson got up and spoke to the mission he asked a few questions he asked what will make your missions a sacred time in your life that you can remember for the rest of your life.  and I raised my hand and he called on me to speak and I spoke out to the mission and I said that our missions will be a measured based upon how much we are willing to sacrifice ourselves for this sacred work, and based upon that same sacrifice it will be followed by much miracles and blessings in the work. I said something like that, he then looked down at my name tag and spoke about what I have said and mentioned that what I have said is true, and he testified of the things that I said, It just felt so great to hear him speak and to have been moved upon by the spirit to share those words that the Spirit of the Lord put into my heart.

     This weekend we are supposed to have a baptism on Sunday for Rickyna Martin. We are happy for her and working on her. She is a daughter of a less active member, who has now been coming to church for the last 4 out of 5 weeks. So yeah that is great for her and their family. Well I need to go home and get ready. We were playing basketball all day. So yeah I have to go now. I love you all and I am so grateful for this work. This is the greatest time of my life. I am so happy to be here. 

    Well I have to go now. Love Elder JD DOYLE

Weekly Update 2-28-11

     Ok so today I really dont have much time at all so I have to hurry as fast as I can. Bro, I am with you on that one I absolutely love the Haitian food. It is amazing, and I hope that one day you all can have the opportunity to try it sometime, it is my favorite.  This week has been great for us. We are still working on building a stronger teaching pool. It has been a little rough, when we came into the area there wasnt much going so this transfer has been a time of building the teaching pool and getting in with the members. So yeah... We have one person  that is close to being baptized her name is Rikyna, she is a young lady who is a daughter of a member, she is 11 years old. So we are hoping that we can get her baptized in this next little bit. She is great, but her mom is the hold back right now, so we have switched our focus over to working with the mom better. 

     So this weekend we are going to have Neil L. Anderson come and speak to us, we are so excited. I know that he will give us powerful words of counsel that will be heaven sent. I love this, we are also going to be hearing from Elder Rasband President of the Seventy. Well I really have to go now I know this kinda stinks a bit, but I have to go. I love you all so much! 

Elder JD Doyle 

Weekly Update 02-21-11

    Hello everyone... Wow, I know that you have heard this a lot from me, but wow time flies when you are doing the Lords work. I am so happy right now, I truly am. I know that I am a new man, and a different person. This great change is still occurring within myself, and I am amazed to have recognized all of the weaknesses that I once had before I came out on my mission and now amazed to see how I have been able to overcome these weaknesses, yet I know that I still have weaknesses and I am imperfect, but I am still working on them, and praying for the faith to overcome them.
    I had a great week, but I do feel that we are still struggling a bit with getting in with the members, us being the newer guys in the ward, no one really knows us. We are doing a great job with working with a few members. Like the axillary leaders as well as the Bishopric. So that is a good sign for us. Bishop Urbanowski is such an amazing guy he is from Germany. He has been a bishop for the last 6 years and before that he was a branch president, he is funny he said that it is the same calling with a different name. He came here on a boat in which he built when he was in Germany and he sailed it across the waters here to America. He talked to us about his family history work and he and he has gone all of the way back to Adam and Eve, He finished his family history it is amazing how he found all of this information. Now I am interested in family history work, and I know that my sister has been doing a great job on it.
    This next week we are going to have Neil A. Anderson of the Quorum of the twelve apostles come speak to our mission. We are all so excited to hear from him. It is going to be so great. It is such a privilege. Well I am seriously about out of time and I have to get going now. We are going to get ready and get some stuff done. I love the Caribbean people here the food is great, it is ghetto, but not near as ghetto of where I once was in Brooklyn. Well I have to end this now. I have to go. Love you all!

Elder JD Doyle

Weekly Update 02-14-11

     Happy Valentines Day everyone, well since I cant have a Valentine out here on my mission, I just want you to all know and feel the love that I have for each of you my heart goes out to all of you as we are all continuing to grow throughout our lives and wherever we find ourselves. This weeks weekly update is going to be a short one. As you can see it is past my time to be e-mailing, and my P-day is over, but I am here with President Nelson and he wants me to e-mail my family because today was a busy day for us. 

     The highlight of this week was on Monday night I got a phone call from Bob Tut telling me that he just got done meeting with President Nelson and that he is going to be baptized on Sunday and that I have to come to his baptism. So yep, I sure enough was able to show up to his baptism yesterday and give him a big hug. I know that I am going to stay in contact with him throughout my life. I love that man so much, he has such a powerful spirituality about him. I know that he is going to bring a lot of others to the truth and knowledge of the restored gospel one day. 

     This week we had a "zone street sweep" it is when we get our whole zone together and set up a table with free DVD's and Books on the busy road of Jamaica Ave. We get there contact information and bring them the item that they request and try to share the restored gospel with them. Rony is a guy that I talked to from Haiti, he showed up to church yesterday, his family lives in Florida and they are Haitian, So I might have a referral for you BRO. He is a great guy we gave him a French Book of Mormon. We are meeting with him on Friday. Well we have to get going now I am sorry I wish I had more time. I have to go now BYE!!!  

     LOVE ELDER JD DOYLE

Weekly Update 02-07-11

     It has been a crazy week for us here in Jamaica! Living the life! So we were off to a somewhat of a rough start. My companion Elder Hunter was not feeling well at all this whole week. He all of a sudden had this huge infection in his mouth and he had canker sours all up in his mouth everywhere, and his gums were swollen as can be. You would have had to see it in order to fully understand, but it is seriously crazy. Something that I have never heard of before. He has herpes in his mouth. It has been a bit rough for him. As he was not feeling well I was making phone calls and getting appointments set up so that we can meet the wonderful people that we are going to be working with. The work here is so great in Jamaica, we have seen miracles already in which I will talk about in a bit. Getting blinded into an area is a lot of work, we got sent here knowing no one. It is kinda fun, because we just call people up and set up appointments, it is great being the new missionaries in town. 

     The highlight of my week and one of the highlights of my mission was that we had a General Authority come and speak to the Zone Leaders and also to the mission. It was so great to be able to have the opportunity to get to know him on a personal level. Elder Pearson is such a wonderful servant of the Lord and I look up to him in a lot of ways. The night that he came and spoke to us he told my companion for me to give him a blessing, and it was so great to give my companion a blessing.

     That same night when we got home after meeting with Elder Pearson, my companion was in major pain and we had to get some help. Luckily we live in the same house as the Mission Nurse, which she takes very good care of Elder Hunter and I, they even bought us some groceries. SHHHHH! No telling anyone about that, we keep that as our little secret. Anyways.... We went to the Emergency Room late that night and we got to the hospital at about 11 PM at night and we didnt get home until 5 AM the next morning, yeah... It was hard for us. We were so tired that morning, and we had to make it over to the Mission Office because Elder Pearson spoke to the entire mission. It was so great, but we were so tired.

     Now I am sure that you are all wondering about the miracles that we had that I began to talk to you about. Well... This Sunday church was so great. I happen to got transferred into an area where my recent converts the Bradford's moved. They havent been going to church as much lately and I went and saw them my first night here. I was able to talk to them and sure enough they showed up to church. It was testimony meeting and my companion and I both got up to share our testimonies. After we shared our testimonies everyone got up and was talking about the testimonies that we shared, it was so great. Sister Bradford then got up to share her testimony and talked about how the missionaries brought her back to church in East New York and baptized her 2 sons. She then said that, that missionary is here today Elder Doyle. It was a good first Sunday here. There was a guy that came up to me after sacrament meeting and told me that he has seen me before and he feels like he has met me before, but he doesnt know where. He has some children that arent members of the church. He said that he knows that I have to teach his daughters about the gospel, and the missionaries here have been trying to teach them for a long time. It was a miracle. Also another guy brought his friend to church and he isnt even a member in this ward, but his friend lives here in Jamaica. He introduced us to his friend and we are going to start teaching him. He seems so ready to accept the gospel. I know that there are going to be a lot of great things that are going to happen for us in the near future. It has only just begun. I now have to get going I love you all, I am completely out of time. I miss you all. I wish I had more time to talk, but I dont. LOVE YOU ALL!

Elder JD Doyle

Weekly Update 01-31-11

     Hello to all of my good friends there in Utah, and wherever else you all may be in the world. I am currently filled with an increased love for each of you. This week has been a great week for us here in Flushing Queens. This has been a week of: more snow, miracles, baptisms, transfer calls, and a personal change of heart. I absolutely love the joy that is found here in this gospel, this gospel is real and I know it because I feel it and the way I feel is a way that I just cant explain. I am filled with an ever increasing feeling of peace, that has bough a great change upon me. I feel that I always talk about change, but change is now my greatest passion. I love change. Change is traveling across Brooklyn on the Q56 bus in a suit, tie, and scratched nametag knowing that after a life of failures, I would not fail God. Change is seeing people like John Rivera give up lifelong addictions once having heard about the Restored Gospel. Change is the Atonement.
I measure my life by seeing the dark change to light through the Atonement. Nothing impassions me more than working to help others change. While knocking the streets of Queens, the greatest change I've witnessed is my own. I am not the man I once was, and I am eternally grateful for that.

     This week we were supposed to have 2 baptisms with Anita and with Bob Tut, well Anita was baptised and she is so great she is going to be such a strong member throughout the rest of her life and I know it. As for Bob Tut, we weren't able to baptize him because it would be against the Church Policy to baptize him, because he is currently here on a tourist visa, and he is not a legal resident here in this country. The reason why is because he is a former Muslim from Egypt and if they found out that he became converted to the church they would kill him and his family. He was so sad when I mentioned to him that he couldn't be baptized this pas Sunday, when I told him the news he looked me in the eyes, and said with his Egyptian accent,"So there will be no baptise on Sunday?" I told him no, and I explained why. He is such a strong person that I deeply love and look up to him in so many ways I know that he will be a future leader in this church, when we teach him he always shares words of counsel with us that I know are inspired by the spirit and I am moved every time I hear him speak about the truthfulness of this true church. He is going to continue to be faithful. He says that when he gets baptized he will be baptized in the presence of Thomas S. Monson. He is so funny, his testimony is so strong. He has only a little bit left in the Book of Mormon and then he is finished. He says that he will get married here and then he will be able to be baptized. He knows that he has found the truth. He was able to give the opening prayer at Anitas Baptism. He is such a good guy.

     As for transfers I am going to be transferred to Jamaica Queens, I am going to be living it up in Jamaica. I am being "blinded" into Jamaica, which means that my companion and I are both getting transferred into Jamaica at the same time without ever having served there before. I am going to be a Zone Leader there as well, my companion is going to be my District Leader from the MTC, I now have to train him as a Zone Leader. President Nelson says that this is where the Lord needs me and he has called me like 5 times this week to talk to me about going there and about the work that is laying ahead of me. I am so excited to go to Jamaica, but I am sad that I have to say bye to these great people that I have been working with. I love them so much. I know that this is where the Lord has called me to be is in Jamaica. Oh, I am also going to have a car there in Jamaica, it is actually the only car in the city. So I am kinda excited about that since I havent driven for like 17 months. I am also going to be the designated driver. So yeah that is what is going to be happening tomorrow, I am moving on over to Jamaica. I am excited about my new companion. I know that we will work very well together.

    So today I am going to be saying bye to some people and also I am going to be packing up all my stuff for the rest of the day today. Leaving this area is kinda sad for me because I havent been here for that long, but that is how it normally is for the Zone Leaders here, they usually aren't in an area for more than 3 transfers. I am sad to leave Bob Tut, he is like my best friend, I love him so so so much. I hope that some of you have the opportunity to meet him one day. I am now about out of time and I have to sign out. Again, I love you all so much thanks for everything!

 

         ELDER JD DOYLE

 

Weekly Update 01-24-11

     First off, I want you all to know and feel that the outcome of the rest of my life and many others have completely changed because of my wise decision to come and serve a mission. There is truly no greater work than this. I pray that today you all may be able to feel a portion of the Spirit that has filled my heart and continually guided me through out my life. As I reflect there have been times in my life when I felt that I was all alone, but I now know that I was never alone and that the Lord has been guiding my steps the entire way, regardless of the things that I went through. I know that I had to learn from these things that I have experienced. I also know that this applies to all of you and all of us (everyone).

     This week coming we have 2 baptisms ahead of us. We are going to have the baptism of Anita Ang on Saturday the 29th and we are also going to have the baptism of Bob Tut on Sunday the 30th. They are two individuals that I feel are seriously going to be some of the most powerful converts that I have had my entire mission. Not that I am comparing them, but they are dedicated to be devoted members for the rest of their lives. We are so excited to have had the opportunity to work with them.

     This week I was with a missionary in my zone Elder Cheng. I had to go with him to the Doctors office, because he was bitten by a poisonous spider or something. His leg was huge, and when we got to the doctor, he said that he haves to go into surgery immediately. So I thought that this one hour doctors appointment never would have turned into an all day thing. I had the opportunity to stand in the room when the surgery was performed, it was disgusting, watching the scaple stab into his leg. It was funny though. He is doing well, but man we have to watch out for those poisonous bugs here.

     I really don't have much time to write today. But I am grateful for the small time that I do have to write you all. There has been a lot of miracles that we have encountered over these past weeks as Elder Swain and I have been together, I absolutely love my companion so much. We are both learning so much from each other as we have been serving together. The work is great, and I am not sure how much time I have left to serve here in China town but this could very well be my last week here in China town. I will find out about transfers this week, but I am happy to go wherever the Lord calls me, I just hope that He might give me one more transfer here in this area. We will just have to wait and see.  I love you all so much thanks again for everything.

 

              Elder JD Doyle

Weekly Update 01-17-11 (read This one)

This week has been filled with opportunities and experiences that I will never forget. This week we have truly seen the Lords hand in this sacred work, His work. The Lord has blessed the lives of our investigators tremendously and has poured His Spirit upon them to witness to them the truthfulness with such great power that has now changed there lives forever, and also the outcome of their eternal salvation.
     One instance this week is with one of our main focuses when it comes to investigators. It is Bob Tut, I believe that I have told you a little bit about him last week, but not much. He is a man from Egypt, he has only been here for a few months and he is such an amazing person. Let me tell you a bit about his background first. He has been raised Muslim and had no Christian background or any belief about Jesus Christ being our Savior. He was willing to learn more and to read the Book of Mormom. Last week he received a copy of the Book of Mormon in Arabic, when we met with him on this past Monday he had already read 200 pages from the book. He sincerely explained to us that he knows that this book is true and that he was raised Muslim, but now that he has read the Book of Mormon, he no longer accepts his religion, and that he wants to be part of this church, the true church is the words he used. So he is going to be baptized on the 30th of this month. He is such a solid guy, he said that everyone in Egypt needs to know about this book.
     We are still working with Anita, and she got involved with some anti-Mormon material on the Internet that her friend told her to look up, and it was hard on her. We went and met with her and told her that the things that she read are not true, and that all concerns and answers that she needs are found in the Book of Mormon. She is progressing very well and we had a great experience with her this weekend. We decided to fast together with her, she was so willing to do it with us, and we shared our testimonies with her about the powerful influence of the Spirit that we will receive as we fast. So that is what we did, and on Sunday as she was fasting the lesson in Relief Society was on fasting, and she got up and shared with the entire Relief Society that she was currently fasting and that the Lord is blessing her at that very moment from it. She now feel that most of her doubts has been resolved and that she feels the spirit that has came to her through fasting.
     On Saturday the Relief Society had a lunch activity for the missionaries and their investigators so that they can get to know the missionaries better and their investigators. It was such a great experience for all of us in attendance. We had a lot of investigators that came. The ward here has changed so much within these few months that I have been here. There has been an ever increasing desire that has grown within the hearts of the people in the ward to work with the missionaries and to get to know their investigators. Anita is being fellowshipped so well she now has so many friends and is loving her church experience here. As for Bob, we don't really have to worry about him, he already has so many friends he just goes and talks to everyone. He is the man.
     We have been serving the ward and have changed our focus to the members and to serve them and much fruits have came from this great act. We are here to serve the people and to strengthen the saints. I love this work so much and I never want to leave, I know that there is only a small season left for me to serve here and to do this exact work as a full time missionary, I only get one shot and it is a shot that I am willing to fully give my heart to the Lord and to eliminate all distractions. As I have done that miracles have happened around me and within me. I have experienced such a mighty change all around and in every way, my path is clear when I comes to where to travel. The path is straight, and I am grateful for the road that lies ahead.  Thank you all for being patient with me, I am horrible at writing and I will strive to make it up to you all one day. Love you all!
 
     Elder JD Doyle 

Weekly Update 01-10-11

     Hey everyone I am so grateful for this time that I have to give a quick Update on the work here in NYC, it has been a week with a lot of mixed feelings, but most importantly another week of learning and growing as a missionary and as an individual. I truly feel like I have been so deeply blessed for having this experience to be here on a mission. My heart is extremely full of gratitude to our Loving Father in Heaven whom is always watchful of us and knows what is best for each of us.

     This week we went to Anitas home and I ate some chicken feet and duck feet, it wasnt too bad, but the fact that I was eating a foot, just wasnt very appealing to me. I luckily was with Elder Durr on exchanges when we went over there because he finished my scraps when she wasnt looking, I was thankful for that. It is just a complete different culture from where we come from. Our meeting with Anita went so great and she seemed so excited and ready for her baptism on this coming Sunday the 16th. Last night as I was doing follow up with my companion Anita called and said that she doesnt think that she is going to be ready to be baptized on the 16th. I asked her what it is that makes her feel that she is not ready. She explained that when she becomes a member of the church she wants to be a devoted member of the church. I then told her right then to get on her knees and ask God if the church is true, and then to call us back. My comp and I both dropped our knees to the floor and poured out our hearts to the Lord that she will know what to do. Right when we said Amen she called and said that she feels good about the church, but she still doesnt think that she is going to be ready this Sunday, she said that she loves the church and that she is going to continue to come to church every Sunday. Right now my faith and trust is in the Lord in her behalf, I know that the Lord has such a great love for her, and I am so blessed to have this opportunity to work with such a special person who loves the Lord so much and who is trying so hard to do what is right.

     This week I was on Exchanges with Elder Gregory, this is his first transfer out here on his mission, he came with me in my teaching pool, and we had an important meeting with Eduardo and Oscar they are two brothers. Their Uncle is a member of the church and he brought them to church and wants us to teach them. We taught them a powerful message and then invited them to be baptized, they accepted to be baptized on the 23rd of this month. We are so excited for them, and hope that the Lord will help us in this great work. One thing that the Lord can never do is take away ones agency. I know that each of these people that we have been blessed with to teach have the opportunity to make their own choices to accept the Gospel and to live the principals taught in it and apply it to their lives, or to reject the sacred message that we have to share with the world.

     Our teaching pool is continuing to grow so much and I am excited about that. Bob Tutt is a man that came to church yesterday for the first time and he loved it so much, we are meeting with him tonight and planning on inviting him to be baptized as well. I have seen a lot of great things happen in these past few weeks, and I know that the Lord is being watchful of His children and are preparing them to listen to our message that we have to change that will change the out come of their eternal salvation if they allow us to. I am now out of time and have to go, I am sorry that my last few updates have been week, but I am doing my best. I love you all!

 

Elder JD Doyle

Weekly Update 01-03-10

     Well as for the snow it is just about completely melted so that is a good thing, I just don't like the New York snow, I hope that all of the snow that we are supposed to get can be dumped in Utah. This week has been such a great week for us. We currently have 10 investigators that we are meeting with, this week a lot of our investigators were out of town so we had some extra time to find some new ones and we took that extra time that we were given and used it as guided and directed by the Spirit and we now have a lot of people to work with, our teaching pool is solid. I am surprised for how well the work is moving a long here in our teaching pool because I am in a complete China Town, with no English people. We definitely have some great miracles that are lying ahead of us. I am so grateful how the Lord has blessed the hearts and lives of the people that we are teaching and for blessing the lives of us missionaries to have some great people to teach. 

     This week we had such a great and rewarding meeting with Anita, she is preparing herself to be baptized on the 16th of this month. She is highly motivated to do all that she can to prepare herself for that day. She is such a wonderful lady, I love her so much. She definitely takes care of us missionaries she always feeds us and we try to take care of her as well. It is such a blessing to have the opportunity to serve her and to watch her life completely change from the blessings that come through the Gospel.

     As for me I am so happy to be where I am today, as I have reflected on my life and look forward to what lies ahead of me as we approach this new year, I know that there are great things ahead, and I know that is the same for each of you. It is time to not look back but to look ahead with an increase of faith relying fully upon the Lord and he will be our personal guide in our lives that our purposes will all be fulfilled, meaning the exact purpose in which the Lord has sent us forth to go forth and fulfill in this life. 

     I am completely out of time so I have to get going. I love you all I know this week is short and lame, but I am doing so great and I am happy for the great times that are lying ahead. Happy New Years everyone!