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