Doug Jones: A Joyful Man

Not much has really been happening here. It's been a good week, nothing to complain about, but nothing really to tell you about either. The days are already beginning to get a bit colder. From what I've heard, we're supposed to get a harder winter than the last, Hopefully it's not as long though. I just hope we get a nice fall as well. From what I've heard, that's the best time to be out here. Yesterday we went out to Tatamagouche, which is about an hour away from here. We visited several members out there. One member is currently in the hospital out there. His name is Doug Jones, and he's 74. He's been in the hospital for most of the time I've been here, but he is such a great guy. He only has one leg now, although he may lose his other due to an infection in his heel. He's mostly blind, but that doesn't stop him from working with stone and making clocks, and belt buckles, as well as making bread. Yesterday while we were visiting he was actually joking about losing his "one good leg". He'll be in the hospital for another 3 months, but nonetheless, he is very faithful, and is willing to accept anything that the Lord sends his way. He's such a joyful man, with such extraordinary outlook and faith in his life. I hope that as I go through trials in life that I can be accepting as he is, and always try to brighten other's days on my darkest one's.
That's all I have for this week, and I look forward to hearing from you! Love you!
Elder Dooley

Leonida's Baptism

The baptism went great! Leonida was very excited, Elder Belmonte baptized her, and I confirmed her in sacrament yesterday. For this next transfer, both Elder Belmonte and I are staying here in Truro, and There's going to be another set of Elders coming in as well. Nothing else has really been happening this week. I have been thinking however more about the exact purpose of serving a mission. Some missionaries go through there 2 whole years without getting a single baptism, and maybe teaching very few lessons. If the whole purpose of serving a mission was just to go out and baptize everyone we could, then there wouldn't be non-baptizing missions. Baptisms are a side effect of missions, and if you baptize someone then you have brought someone to the fold  and have only begun their true conversion process. Missions are ultimately to convert the missionary. To build up their testimony, to teach them skills they will need throughout life, and to ultimately be willing to do the Lord's will. Mission success should not ever be measured in number of baptisms achieved, or number of lessons taught, rather, mission success should be based off of what someone learns overall, and how the mission changes their life. I hope that I will be able to show that my mission was successful and played a role in my conversion.

I'll check for any names that i've found that need baptisms done for Afton and Cora and send them your way. I love to here from you guys, and stay strong! Love you!

Elder Dooley

Service is Playing Games

AFton, Have fun with learning that song. I can't remember it, but i'm sure it's a good one!

Cora, guess what, we're having a baptism on your Birthday! Our investigator wanted to move her baptism to this Saturday just in case either me or my companion gets transferred. I'll see if I can find something cool, although i'm not sure how soon it'll get to you. It'll get there eventually.

Kirkham, Work can be tough, and when nothing is changing, I can definitely understand how tough it can be. Do what you want to do, and  stick to it! Before you sell the iPod, make sure that you have all the music on the computer. If not all of it is there, then I think Dad knows how to move it from iPod to computer, or just find the steps on YouTube. And you don't have to sell it if you don't want to. Work hard!

mom, It's been fairly muggy here, but i'm enjoying it because I can breathe in it! Transfer letters are next week, so i'll let you know then where i'll be going, or if i'm staying. Leonida is the investigator we had on date and she wanted to move her baptism to this Saturday! She wanted to move it just in case either my companion or I got transferred. The service we did this week was helping out the permanent care facility this week at Victoria Park, and pushing people around in wheelchairs, and playing games. We also loaded up a large trailer with wood and other debris from our investigators yard. She's prepping to try to sell her house, and wants to make sure it's ready to move into with little work. Other than that, not a lot has been happening here. Just good 'ol mission work. It's great to hear how you all are doing, and I love you all!

Filipino Investigator

I don't really feel like writing today, but i will anyways, so I might not make much sense. Everything here is going pretty well, the weather is constantly switching around from rain and sun, but it's nice. Most of the service we've been doing recently has been painting and yardwork. It's got to be done while the weather is nice. The colder weather is supposed to be coming back soon unfortunately, but I suppose nice weather doesn't last forever in some areas of the world. We've had very few lessons, and most of the lessons we've been having are with less actives. We had a less active at church yesterday who apparently hasn't been coming for years. It was great to see them come out for what they could, now we just need the Less actives we've been working on to come out. Leonida, our Filipino investigator is still working towards her baptismal date on September 5th which is right after transfers. She seems pretty solid, and has received her answer that this is the church for her. Hopefully she stays around. That's about all I have for this week. I love hearing from you, and wish you the best on this stromy week! Love you!
Elder Dooley

Hit a Deer

I watched the videos like you said, and the only advice I have for being a seminary teacher is to totally immerse the students in the doctrine. Especially if your covering the Pearl of Great Price or any of the deeper stuff. Don't get too deep though, just enough though to make them think. Also have fun with it, and do games every now and then, as well as stuff for passing off scriptures. Seminary is constantly growing more and more important. Overall, as long as it is a spiritual experience that can be looked upon throughout the day, it should be good. Just keep the students interested, try to stop them from sleeping, ( maybe take away chairs), just keep them interested.
Nothing much really happened this week, other than yesterday I hit a deer, ( oh deer), There was no damage done, and the deer ran away, presumably unharmed, without showing any signs of what had happened. My companion spotted it just before it ran into the road, so I was almost stopped when we hit it. It looked more like it lost it's balance when the car hit it because it stumbled a few steps, then slid, then it rolled around on someones lawn on it's own, Popped up, then ran of in the other direction. It was an interesting experience. Other than that, I think i'm going to try to make some jam today and i'll let you know how that goes. That's all for this week, Stay safe, and have fun,
Love, Elder Dooley