Car Accident

Afton, I don't remember that... sorry. But does that mean that you've started watching the Walking dead?

Cora, I can tell you it's definitely not the first time for watching Star Wars altogether, it's pretty fun though. The new Star Wars should be good. I have been good, and i've been enjoying it here. IT's been getting colder, but nonetheless, it's been a good week, and a crazy one at moments. 

Kirkham, It's going in Canada, that's how it's going. The weather is getting colder so that's not fun, but we actually got in a wreck this week, so that was definitely different from the norm. Good luck on fixing that bike. Was that one mine? If I remember she should be to short to ride it. Oh well, get it fixed and use it up. It's a good one, and it should last a while. 

Mom, The snow stuck around over night, and that's about it. Wish it stayed for longer, but at the same time, i'm glad it didn't because we would have had problems pretty quickly. 

I don't know really of any Amanda that went to school with me. Maybe I do, and i'm just forgetting. 

I am very much looking forward to the package, but it's not here yet, so i'll let you know when it gets here. 

You probably saw what I said to Kirkham and you're probably wondering what wreck I got into? Well, the other day Elder Bate and I were coming back from Stewiacke, and we were driving on the old highway. AS we came around a bend in the road, there was an intersection, and at that intersection was a girl who was considering pulling out on the highway. She would be pulling left and we were planning on going straight. I was driving by the way. There was a line of cars that had stopped to let the girl onto the highway, but I didn't notice that they had stopped. This intersection was immediately after the bend by the way, and the speed limit was 80 KMPH, and that's how fast I was driving. Anyways, the girl goes to pull out, and she had looked our direction before we had come around the bend, so she had no idea we were coming. She starts to slowly pull out, like most drivers do here, but she is going too slow, and then she looks and sees us coming down the highway, and freezes up. ( SHe had only had her license for about a month at this point and had no idea what to do.) we're lass than 50 yards from the intersection, and I go to swerve into the other lane, but there's a line of cars stopped, so I slam on the brakes, but the wheels aren't getting grip, and are sliding, so I try not to T-bone the other car, and barely avoid hitting the line up of cars, but slam into the front of the other car, instantly blowing our tire, bending our rim, snapping the drive-shaft, steering arm, and sway bar, and doing a bunch of other damage to the front passenger side of the car. When the car stops, I immediately jumped out of the car, where some lady that saw it all go down is yelling profanities at the other driver, and I assume that her car was hit, so I ask her if she's okay, and she says yes, and spouts a few more things off. I have no idea what I said or motion to her, but she stops, gets in her car and drives off after finding out that my companion is calling the police. I run over to the girl, and she's fine, but her front end on her car is all smashed up, but she is un-injured thankfully. The Crash was unavoidable, because of ditches on the side of the roads, as well as multiple cars. I was not responsible for the crash, and no one was injured aside from some minor bruising. Both cars had to be towed off scene. Now we are driving a big red van, and my companion is driving until everything is sorted out and they allow me to drive again. 

A crazy experience, but it was a good reminder that the Lord is constantly protecting his servants. If the wheel well had broken through, then Elder Bate would have had a broken ankle, foot, and maybe even worse. If the tires had regained traction with the way I had the wheel turned, we would have definitely rolled. The Lord works in mysterious ways, and I'm glad i'm on his side. 

THat's all for this week. thanks for the love and support you show for me. 

Love You, Elder Dooley

p.s. here's some pictures: (having technical difficulties. Will post pictures later)

Here's the girls car: VW Golf

Another of her car

Me on the phone with 911 reporting the accident, this is after I had walked around the car, but didn't realize the extent of the damage. 

On the brighter side here's me stuck in the mud on P-day... No boots were lost in the making of this photo

New Comp

Dear family, I will start by addressing those who emailed me.

Dear Grandma Jewel,

I had no idea that I am the first great-grandchild to go on a mission. I hope that you are doing well, and that you have the spirit of youth with you! I love you  and I have a question for you. Are there any stories that you have or that your parents had that I can write down? In the mission we are doing family history booklets, and a part of them is to keep track of stories from your ancestors. Whatever you have will be great! I love you Grandma!

Dear Afton,

Tell everyone that I am cold at times, and freezing, but I am trying to fully immerse myself in the work of Heavenly Father, and that brings comfort to me, and It will bring blessings. In other words, I am working for the Lord, and when you're working for the Lord, how can you not be doing good? I like my new companion, he is not annoying whatsoever, and is easy to get along with! Also, we had a new investigator earlier this week, but then she dropped us :( I appreciate your Scriptures!

Dear Kirkham,

The only bit of advice I have for you regarding Prom is to mak sure that you are having a good time. I expect pictures, especially because you almost would never wear suits before. Also, If mom and dad allow, I dare you to grow out your hair the entire time I am gone. (except facial hair, keep that down). Also, right now you must always be mission minded. In a few years you could be out here, and remember to not do anything that you'll regret later.

Dear Cora,

It's not too cold here to lock the car. We almost always lock the car to stay safe. Also, if it's -40 outside, then we'd have to worry about our car freezing, otherwise it should be fine. Keep on learning, and I miss you sssssssssssssssssSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo Much, but you'll have to keeping missing me for 22 more months :)

Dear everyone,

The mission has been good to me. My first companion went home, I got my next companion Elder Cox, and I stayed in the same area. Elder Cox is from Mapleton, Utah which is about 15 minutes away from the MTC. I am not the designated driver anymore, but that's just because my companion can drive.

It hasn't been too cold, and we've been working as hard as we can. We had another storm yesterday, and because of it, church was cancelled. We got a new investigator this week, but then we lost her :( She says she's not quite ready for the commitment, but we'll keep trying to work on her. Other than that I don't have much news. I'm trying my best to stop gaining weight, and the mission has an exercise program where if i'm really determined, I should lose weight, and maybe gain muscle, but probably not.

I still haven't gotten those pictures you sent, but I will for sure let you know when I do. The maritimes are a fun place to be, and I definitely am loving my mission so far. I really want to go to Newfoundland, but maybe I'll end up there someday. Well, that's all I have for now. Congratulations on the play mom, and I hope everyone is doing amazing! Gotta go and do missionary work!(well, after food and a few other things, it is p-day after all).


Love you all,
Elder Dooley

Record Snowfall

Answers to your questions:
1. My companion's name is Elder Bodine and he's from Yuma Arizona. This is his last transfer in the field then he's going home at the end of it.
2. Our apartment is good sized, and it's just my companion and I. The apartment is just a bit smaller than the Naniloa Loop house.
3.I'd have to say that the area I'm serving in currently is a suburban urban mix, but it mostly depends on the city we're in for the day. Some people have accents but not too harsh, and usually fairly easy to understand. I have no idea how close I am to the ocean, because of the hilly terrain and all that, but supposedly it's around 50 miles away. The lakes and rivers are all frozen solid with at least a foot and a half of snow in places.
4. My clothes are holding up pretty well so far. I got a nice coat, and am still looking for boots. Just to let you know, One of the suit pants came undone at the some in the MTC. after closer inspection i discovered that only on the one pair, the thread had been replaced halfway through the seam, and hadn't been tied off. My companion in the MTC noticed, and the repair wasn't too hard, so I did it by hand. Also, Cuffed pants were a mistake. I've had to walk through deeper snow with them on, and they just collect it like non other. I think i'm going to try to find a seamstress to switch them to straight on the bottom.
5. All day, we do what we can to find new investigators. We go through old former records, and tract, and give service. We just do what we can to get people to talk to us.

So, just to let you know, the snowbanks at the church are around 8 feet in height, pretty sick really. Supposedly in the past 3 weeks, the maritimes have had around 173 centimeters of snow, which is a record for canada apparently. From St. John, (the next area closest to us), they've had to declare a state of emergency, and have shipped out about 14,000 loads of snow, and I don't mean small trucks, I mean semis loaded up as high as they can with snow (it's just water). We've only taught a few lessons this week, but most that have been set up have fallen through, but I know that as long as we're trying our hardest, we'll find some investigators. Well that's all I have for now. I have no big questions for you, so just keep them coming.

Here's some pictures: