Dodge Night - April 14th

Whenever it is transfer call night it's called "dodge night" and tonight we get the call for the transfers!! I'm really hoping I get to stay here in Bridgend with Elder Moore.  I'm not ready for a change yet.

This week they made us start looking at a new place to live since we do live about 20 feet from a night club and Friday and Saturday night I don't get much sleep because it's so loud. But the last few weeks we have been getting sleeping pills and we take some and pass out before it gets too loud. So far no luck and any good flats.

We had Zone meeting this week, so I was able to see a few elders and get some photos with them. The zone meeting was pretty good it was all about getting investigators to learn and grow, so the basics of reading your scriptures, saying your prayers and going to church. It was pretty good, and I'm not the biggest fan of meetings.

We did service for Jay's Grandma and Grandpa (Brother and Sister Smallman) they are so funny!! We just pulled a whole bunch of English ivy out of the ground and saw Brother Smallman's prized collection of cactus. They were both so funny. We also set up a little game plan of how to get their grandson Jay to Church.

On Saturday we went to Jemmina's Place (an animal rescue shelter) to help with some animals,  It was alot of fun and we also got to go to their fund raiser party deal. I felt so out of place. A member here is the founder of Jemmina's Place so guess what I get to do on Tuesday.  I get to help "fix" a pony. Yes I will be helping de-nut the pony. I think I'm going to pass out. I didn't even sleep last night.

On Sunday church was crazy!! Like no one came and it was fast and testimony meeting - oh boy it was crazy! We had everything: one girl went up and  she is from Utah but just visiting here for a few months.  Someone called her out to go up and bear testimony so she went up and said the " For some reason I always seem to fit in with the weirdos, so I seem to fit in perfectly with this ward." I was happy we didn't have any investigators at church. But I'm not going to lie it was pretty funny. We also got to go to this member's house and they have crazy swords. So I got load of pictures with them.

I'm really hoping I stay here in Bridgend with Elder Moore. I will let you guys know on Tuesday.

 

UPDATE APRIL 15th: 

So Elder Moore is leaving.  I'm way sad but I'm getting an Elder Harris. It's his last 5 weeks in the mission so I'm "killing" another missionary. This is like the 5th one or something like that. But I'm happy I get to stay here in Bridgend so everything happens for a reason.  AND I didn't cut off any pony's nuts because we were super busy packing and stuff.

April 7th

This week was so much fun! I got to play touch rugby on Monday. I was so sore the rest of the week from it. I guess I'm bit out of shape. But today I'm going back into Cardiff to play football with the zone. So my Liverpool jersey will be making its way out.

Good news we been talking to Jay's moms and she gave us the ok to teach him and if he wants to be baptised. Jay already said he wants to get baptised so we just need to teach him. It's hard getting a hold of him because he is only 11 almost 12 so he doesn't have a phone or anything and lives about 8 miles away from us.

The big story of the week was general conference. I was able to see Saturday afternoon the priesthood and Sunday morning. I know they tell you not to pick favorites but Elder Ballard took it for me. I love that guy. Maybe it's just because in his book "Our Search For Happiness" (great book) he talks about on his mission walking by a river in Nottingham. Well guess who was able to walk by the same river in Nottingham...me!

Also the animal rescue place has found a house now and we are going to help him fix it up once they get the keys. Many prayers went to them and God answered them!!

 Miss you all very much, Love Elder Doty

 

Also our investigator Gavin took us to the sand dunes very close to his house.

At the sand dunes they flim loads of movies here, like doctor who and stuff. Gavin named a whole bunch but i forgot them.

 

I also forgot to say that Jay lives next to a beach so we made a little side tour to see it.

 The photos are of elder Moore and me.  We got to visit a castle this week and I took loads of pictures and videos. So much fun!

 

March 31

On Sunday it was the UK's mothers day so Happy Mothers Day!!

This week I felt like a poor man. Each week we get a bus pass and bus around because our area is huge!! But because it was the end of the month we didn't have any money to get that bus pass so we had to do lots of walking and working around in our little city. But this week we have funds so bus pass here we come.

 

This week I was able to see lots of castles but I forgot my camera at a members house so I don't have any pictures with me... sorry. Also today I'm going to Cardiff so I only have a little bit of time to send emails off so sorry this is way short.

Our investigator Gavin didn't come to church this week but we are seeing him later today and are going to teach him the word of wisdom.   He loves his coffee and doesn't really want to give it up so keep us in your prayers for today.

Love and miss you all

 

March 24th

March 22nd was a great day - Maybe the best day of my mission.  The Goddards from Evesham went to the London temple and were sealed as a family!! Also that was my 16 month mark...I'm a old man out here.   

Wales is still great! I love this place! I still can't really understand anyone but I just act like I do, I'm getting really good at that. Things are just so nice.  Elder Moore has been here a long time so he knows almost everything about the area so it's very laid back.  No getting lost just work and that's something I can do. I don't have to worry about all the other little stuff.

Some news with our Investigator Gavin and Rob. They live at this home which is an animal rescue shelter with a member. They have so many cats, dogs, rabbits and all kinds of things from a pig to a Raven and all kinds of things even huge snakes (sorry dad). But anyways they were given a 2 months heads up to move out. The landlord lady wants the house so workers for this church of England can live there and work at the church. So they have been stressed out of their minds. They have to find a place for themselves and also a place for all the animals to live. They are looking for a barn or something so the animals can continue to live with them but if they don't find a place for them or the animals they will have to put the animals to sleep. So a very stressful thing for them and that has kinda put there progress on investigating the church really slow. So pray for a blessing or something good to happen.

Still working with a few less actives they are kinda slow as well. People seem to think they have all the time in the world sometimes.

I got a few pictures:  A sign I saw at a curch that made me laugh

 the tower looking thing is where the welsh Rugby team plays

 

and a selfie of elder moore and me

 

March 17th - Wales Baby!

I just love Wales!  It's so nice over here.  I can't understand the people much but they are just great.

I've only got 10 mins. left so I'm rushing a bit. But this was a good week.  We had elder Texira of the 70 come for a visit.  It's good stuff. We found out we are the highest baptizing mission in Europe so that was pretty cool.

 

The members here feed us every day. I'm getting at least one meal a day sometimes two a day.  It feels like I'm in Utah and the members just love me. We are working with a lot of less actives and getting them back to church and a few investigators. I got an email from elder Durrant. Marcus and Susan Caven who we taught in Coventry are making plans to go to the temple in June/ July time to be sealed as a family!!

Love you all so much,

Love Elder Doty

March 10th - I Asked For More and They Gave Me Moore!

I have been sent away to Wales!! I'm in a new area called Bridgend with Elder Moore. Elder Moore has been out just 6 weeks longer than me. So i'ts nice to have someone who knows what they are doing...well kinda, we both don't really know what we are doing but we are getting along great!

Bridgend is awesome and I love it here. The ward is SO nice. People just came up to us and gave us food and we have a dinner almost every night. It's so nice and we have a lot of less actives that are trying to come back and we have investigators. On Sunday a 11 year old boy of one of the less actives came to church. He went to high priests and our ward mission leader was in there and told us this long story.  To sum it up the 11 year old boy's name is Jay and he wants to become a member of the church and be baptized!  So we plan to work with him this week.

Tuesday was such a sad day. I said goodbye to my good friend elder Taylor (Caleb) and he took off to go home. His mission is over I got to spend a lot of time with him the last 6 weeks and I'm very sad to see him go. He does plan on coming back to see the Goddards be sealed as a family on march 22nd.

So Wales... it has a lot of hills and I don't really understand the people at all. They say the hint is the just focus really hard on what they are saying and you will then understand them... wish it was that easy but some people on the street I have no idea what they are even saying. Most people don't speak Welsh, just English but their accent is really hard to understand. There are loads of castles here as well so I get to see a lot of old stuff. Also we are along the coast so you know what that means... I get to see the ocean. I was able to grab fish and chips along the coastline.  

Hope you all are doing well. miss you all so much!!