So, this week has been lots of tracting. Found a few people, but nothing too promising yet. Looks like this week will be more tracting... maybe. We got a call today from the Zone Heads, and they said that transfers would be a day early (today instead of tomorrow) because of icy roads. They also said that our cars may be grounded tomorrow because of ice. If that happens, then we have to stay inside and cancel our appointments, because we cannot get to them. The only thing that will still allow us to go to our appointments is if we can have a member pick us up and have him take us to our appointments.
My transfer prediction was 1/2 right. I am still here, and so is my companion. I thought he was getting transferred. However, I was made District Leader, so I predicted correct there. This district only has us and one other companionship, which are Spanish missionaries. So I may not get to do any baptismal interviews, because I don't know ANY Spanish. It's taken me 9 months just to understand the English out here. And I still don't get it. When asking for directions, I was once told to go "two farsee's." Took me a while to figure out what a "farsee" was. Also, they've taken "fixin'" to a whole new level. They've gone from "fixing" to "fixin'" to, and I'm not kidding, "fi'in." This guy told me he didn't have time, because he was "fi'in' ta go ta wurk." HA! Also, when you cross the Texas border, "oil" turns into "ull." One more crazy thing I heard, was what sounded like..."I'll fie be fer a minna w'll swimma dipper." I still haven't figured that one out.
Well, that's it for me. Thanks for the emails to all of you who have sent me emails! (not Ben, Brad, Brandon, or Shelissa. Ya, ya'll got beat by Nate.)
BYE!!
-Elder Duffin 4
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
24 January 2011
This week we mostly did tracting. Only got 2 new investigators, so that means this upcoming week will be filled with more tracting. We really need new investigators. We can't baptize if there isn't anyone to teach!
My training went well. I don't think I offended anyone, so I would say that it was a success.
Other than that, nothing really eventful happened.
Also, transfers are coming up this weekend, so just in case if you had any thoughts about sending a package, DONT! I may or may not receive it. So next week, I'll let you know if I stay or leave.
Our district consists of 2 companionships, including me. Thats only 4 missionaries. It's a small district. The district leader is going home this transfer, and his companion has been in the area for 6 months, so I believe that that area is going to be white-washed. Also, I am predicting that my companion will be transferred as well, and that I will be made the district leader for these areas, and that I will be made a trainer. AAAHHH!!
Next week I'll let you know how completely off I was on this transfer prediction.
POINTS!!
I ran out the door and did not add up points for written letters or packages. Thus, I only have e-mail totals.
EMAIL TOTALS
1. Dad........273
2. Mom......196
3. Ben........105
4. Brad........49
5. Al............35
6. Brandon...14
6. Shelissa..14
7. Nate.........7
Now, since I did not take time to add up points for written letters/packages, (my bad for being lazy) overall point totals are not given. However, I have a sure knowledge of how the ranks would look had I totalled(did I spell that right? Is that even a word?) the points for everything. Therefore, the final ranks are....
FINAL RANKS
1. Mom
2. Dad
3. Ben
4. Brandon
4. Shelissa
5. Brad
6. Al
7. Nate
WINNER'S PRIZE IS: whatever I happen to see at some store in some area and decide to send home at some time. It will go to the winner.
Thats all for me. Hope ya'll have a great week!
-Elder Duffin 4
My training went well. I don't think I offended anyone, so I would say that it was a success.
Other than that, nothing really eventful happened.
Also, transfers are coming up this weekend, so just in case if you had any thoughts about sending a package, DONT! I may or may not receive it. So next week, I'll let you know if I stay or leave.
Our district consists of 2 companionships, including me. Thats only 4 missionaries. It's a small district. The district leader is going home this transfer, and his companion has been in the area for 6 months, so I believe that that area is going to be white-washed. Also, I am predicting that my companion will be transferred as well, and that I will be made the district leader for these areas, and that I will be made a trainer. AAAHHH!!
Next week I'll let you know how completely off I was on this transfer prediction.
POINTS!!
I ran out the door and did not add up points for written letters or packages. Thus, I only have e-mail totals.
EMAIL TOTALS
1. Dad........273
2. Mom......196
3. Ben........105
4. Brad........49
5. Al............35
6. Brandon...14
6. Shelissa..14
7. Nate.........7
Now, since I did not take time to add up points for written letters/packages, (my bad for being lazy) overall point totals are not given. However, I have a sure knowledge of how the ranks would look had I totalled(did I spell that right? Is that even a word?) the points for everything. Therefore, the final ranks are....
FINAL RANKS
1. Mom
2. Dad
3. Ben
4. Brandon
4. Shelissa
5. Brad
6. Al
7. Nate
WINNER'S PRIZE IS: whatever I happen to see at some store in some area and decide to send home at some time. It will go to the winner.
Thats all for me. Hope ya'll have a great week!
-Elder Duffin 4
17 January 2011
So, this week I got to give a 1/2 hour training in District Meeting, and this Friday is Specialized Training and I get to give another training. Specialized Training is where the zones over a designated area meet and we get trained by the President, his wife, the Assistants, and maybe a couple others. My trainer is in one of the other surrounding zones and he will be at this meeting so I will have the opportunity to train my trainer, hehe!
Been doing some teaching. Lots of finding. There's a few of our investigators who do honestly want to come to church, but Satan tries hard not to let that happen. One of our investigators had to take their child to the hospital on Sunday morning (thankfully nothing serious happened, the kid is doing fine). It seems like when people really start to progress that Satan works harder and harder to fight against everything we do. GRRRRR!!!!!
Thanks for the care package mom! I got it last Monday just after we finished emailing. Thermal Garments = amazing!
The snow has melted. =(
Thats about all for this week. I'll let you know how the training went. And I'll maybe probably I guess kinda haveta sorta have points maybe next week.
Last year's mission baptismal goal..........950
Actual Baptisms....................................807
This year's misson baptismal goal is......1000
BYE!!!!
-ELDER DUFFIN 3
Been doing some teaching. Lots of finding. There's a few of our investigators who do honestly want to come to church, but Satan tries hard not to let that happen. One of our investigators had to take their child to the hospital on Sunday morning (thankfully nothing serious happened, the kid is doing fine). It seems like when people really start to progress that Satan works harder and harder to fight against everything we do. GRRRRR!!!!!
Thanks for the care package mom! I got it last Monday just after we finished emailing. Thermal Garments = amazing!
The snow has melted. =(
Thats about all for this week. I'll let you know how the training went. And I'll maybe probably I guess kinda haveta sorta have points maybe next week.
Last year's mission baptismal goal..........950
Actual Baptisms....................................807
This year's misson baptismal goal is......1000
BYE!!!!
-ELDER DUFFIN 3
10 January 2011
Almost all of our appointments bombed this week, but we were still able to teach a few people. We also had to drop a few because they weren't progressing. On the bright side, we found 2 families that seem promising, and a young couple. I am excited about the young couple because they aren't going to any church right now (they won't get anti'ed by a preacher) and they don't have very many friends in this area (they won't get anti'ed by friends). Yay!
The guy we had a baptismal date for is no longer progressing. He felt the Spirit. He recognized it. However, he wants a big sign to happen. He won't accept a spiritual witness. He said he wants to hear an audible voice or something greater to happen before he gets baptized, and he won't accept anything until that happens. So, for now, he is just ignoring the Spirit entirely. DUMB!! We're going to keep working with him and hopefully he'll begin to understand how God works.
It snowed here! It was very wet snow, and it turned to slush real quick. Also, the President said for all missionaries to park their cars from Sunday to 12:00 today. AAAAHHHH!!!! He said "I know that most of you are from Utah and know how to handle driving in the snow, but here in Texas, nobody else does." Therefore, to avoid having some crazy Texan driving into us, we were not allowed to go outside. We had to stay inside our apartments. The only exception was for getting a ride to take us to church.
The other missionaries in our district, in Greenville Ward, only had 2 hours of church. They're church ended early because of the snow. So, how much did it snow?.......barely 4 inches. And most of it has melted already. Ha!
Here's one silly anti-Mormon comment I ran into: "Mormons seal their wives within the walls of their temples." lol? anti is so dumb.
To answer the question, What is my companion like?
Remember the missionary from "The Best Two Years?" I'm talking about the missionary with the thick glasses and a chess set. Thats my companion! He's a great missionary. Very humble and very sincere.
A.D.D. MOMENT:I heard something neat from a talk I was listening to by Some Guy(I don't remember his name), but anywaySSSS here's what he said.
"If you can't answer three questions intelligently and truthfully, you have, in great measure, wasted your life." (by Some Guy, emphasis added)
Think about what the three questions might be. If I don't forget about it, then I'll let you know what the questions are next week.
Speaking of forgetting, I forgot to add up points this week. My bad. I'll try again next time.
Thats all!!!! BYEEEEE!!
-Elder Duffin 4
The guy we had a baptismal date for is no longer progressing. He felt the Spirit. He recognized it. However, he wants a big sign to happen. He won't accept a spiritual witness. He said he wants to hear an audible voice or something greater to happen before he gets baptized, and he won't accept anything until that happens. So, for now, he is just ignoring the Spirit entirely. DUMB!! We're going to keep working with him and hopefully he'll begin to understand how God works.
It snowed here! It was very wet snow, and it turned to slush real quick. Also, the President said for all missionaries to park their cars from Sunday to 12:00 today. AAAAHHHH!!!! He said "I know that most of you are from Utah and know how to handle driving in the snow, but here in Texas, nobody else does." Therefore, to avoid having some crazy Texan driving into us, we were not allowed to go outside. We had to stay inside our apartments. The only exception was for getting a ride to take us to church.
The other missionaries in our district, in Greenville Ward, only had 2 hours of church. They're church ended early because of the snow. So, how much did it snow?.......barely 4 inches. And most of it has melted already. Ha!
Here's one silly anti-Mormon comment I ran into: "Mormons seal their wives within the walls of their temples." lol? anti is so dumb.
To answer the question, What is my companion like?
Remember the missionary from "The Best Two Years?" I'm talking about the missionary with the thick glasses and a chess set. Thats my companion! He's a great missionary. Very humble and very sincere.
A.D.D. MOMENT:I heard something neat from a talk I was listening to by Some Guy(I don't remember his name), but anywaySSSS here's what he said.
"If you can't answer three questions intelligently and truthfully, you have, in great measure, wasted your life." (by Some Guy, emphasis added)
Think about what the three questions might be. If I don't forget about it, then I'll let you know what the questions are next week.
Speaking of forgetting, I forgot to add up points this week. My bad. I'll try again next time.
Thats all!!!! BYEEEEE!!
-Elder Duffin 4
03 January 2011
I feel like sending this awesome quote to you people. If you haven't been dilligently studying your scriptures, then I hope you feel bad after reading this quote. If you have been, then GREAT!! High five!!
"It is a paradox that men will gladly devote time every day for many years to learn a science or an art; yet will expect to win a knowledge of the gospel, which comprehends all sciences and arts, through perfunctory glances at books or occasional listening to sermons. The gospel should be studied more intensively than any school or college subject. They who pass opinion on the gospel without having given intimate and careful study are NOT lovers of truth, and their opinions are worthless."
-Elder Widtsoe
By the way Brandon, the word "perfunctory" means "casual." Your welcome.
"It is a paradox that men will gladly devote time every day for many years to learn a science or an art; yet will expect to win a knowledge of the gospel, which comprehends all sciences and arts, through perfunctory glances at books or occasional listening to sermons. The gospel should be studied more intensively than any school or college subject. They who pass opinion on the gospel without having given intimate and careful study are NOT lovers of truth, and their opinions are worthless."
-Elder Widtsoe
By the way Brandon, the word "perfunctory" means "casual." Your welcome.
03 January 2011
So this last week I went on an exchange with the other missionaries in our district (they're Spanish missionaries, so I didn't understand any of their appointments) and while on the exchange I got sick. The next morning I was feeling really ill, I had a fever, so I called the mission president's wife (Sister Smith handles all the medical stuff and tells us what to do to get feeling better) and she said that I was not allowed to leave the apartment until Friday. AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! If you have ever been confined to your apartment while on a mission, then you know how antsy you get, and how absolutely boring it is. I almost got through the entire Book of Mormon. I was able to complete a Rubik's cube in 1 minute 20 seconds. I also got a headache from beating my head against the wall.
We were SOOOO glad to get out of the apartment on Friday.
We set a baptismal date with a guy for Jan. 15. We got him to quit smoking, so things are looking good.
The school mascot for the town of Bonham are the Fighting Purple Warriors. HA!
That's all. Next week I'll have all the points added for the year of 2010.
BYE!!
-Elder Duffin 4
We were SOOOO glad to get out of the apartment on Friday.
We set a baptismal date with a guy for Jan. 15. We got him to quit smoking, so things are looking good.
The school mascot for the town of Bonham are the Fighting Purple Warriors. HA!
That's all. Next week I'll have all the points added for the year of 2010.
BYE!!
-Elder Duffin 4
27 December 2010
I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I just talked to ya'll so I don't really have much to say for this week. Our mission baptized 804 people this year. That is an average of 8 baptisms per companionship. Thats it for me. Bye!
-Elder Duffin 4
-Elder Duffin 4
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