September 29th

This week we had transfers and Elder Vlasco left and went to Evesham B so he will be able to see my old area. I'm happy for him. I was hoping he would stay with me but it will be good for him. I will miss him. My new Companion is Elder Kennedy he has been out about 9 months and is from Canada I like him. I got to go to the mission home and say goodbye to some Elders and Sisters. It felt weird to think I may never see some of them again. It feels like it is just another transfer in the mission, not my last.

I got a call from Elder Chantry in Bridged. He said he was having breakfast with a member and he said that Elder Chantry and I were the best 2 elders that ward has had in the last 4 years. It felt good to hear that. I really do miss that ward and would do anything to go back.

We have a new ward mission leader in the Sheldon ward. I don't know him very well but it should be good for the Sheldon ward. I have some ideas and things I want to try so it should be a good week.

Miss you all and love you!!
Love Elder Doty

**  Still no photos...

September 22nd - Transfer Calls

Tonight we have dodge night. And this is the last one that I will care about. Because the next one will say Elder Doty is getting transferred to Seattle Washington.

I don't have a lot of time so I will try and make this short and sweet.

We have a good lesson with Andrew our returning member about the priesthood. He is excited about it and has spoken to some members about going on a mission. I don't know if he can do a full time one because of his age but maybe a mini mission. So good news with him

I had a good 21st birthday. I went over to a member's house and had curry. That's the closest thing to Mexican food. I also had cake and pie. It was a good day.

Shout out to my good friends in Bridged - Jamie and Jess who both got married this week in Somerset England!! I'm happy for you guys!!

We had Stake conference so we got to see President. He came up to us and made it sound like I am going to stay with Elder Velasco which I hope I do. He told us I have to get him ready to train. Which he pretty much is he just needs to lead a bit more but he is shy because his English is not the best but it is getting better.

I have go to run but miss you guys and love you!

Update: 

Elder Velasco is leaving me and I'm getting a new comp I don't know where he is from.  And Velasco is going to my old area Evesham B. So he will see some members that I know like the Goddards and others. I think it will be a good change for him. He was happy with me but didn't like the area here so he needs the change. I'm looking forward to this last transfer. I'm excited to go home and see everyone again.

The DL played a joke on me saying I was whitewashing president with an AP who just got dropped....it was not funny but everone else thought it was.

Have a good week!! love you all!!

September 15th

This week we had Zone meeting. It might have been one of the best ones I have ever had.  It was very funny and I felt the spirit very strongly. It was about the Book of Mormon and I was asked to give some training on how the Book of Mormon helps us resolve concerns. I used The promise that is given at the end of the book. That if you read, pray and really want to know anyone can know that the book of Mormon is true. And if the book of Mormon is true, then Joseph Smith is a prophet, the church is true and so on.

Our washing machine is broken so we were unable to wash our clothes this week until we get a call from the Elders in Solihull.  So we took us stuff down there and did splits with the DL and washed our clothes.

We are working with a less active member who was baptized by elder Chantry in another area. He came to church this week and plans to keep coming and wants to get the priesthood and start being active in church again. Also a family we have dinner with every week that is not active said they are going to make a few changes in their life. One of them being coming to church on Sundays.

It was a good week I miss you all and look forward to seeing you guys soon.

Love Elder Doty

 

**  David isn't able to download any photos on the computers in this area.  Sad!

September 8th - The Walk In

On Sunday we had 3 walk ins to church. That never happens. One of them was a homeless man. He even went up and bore his testimony. I don't really know what he said... something about hitting someone and Hitler. It was pretty good. He said he felt very welcome and plans to come next week. Along with a Hungarian lady who we believe is a media referral we got a few days ago.

This week we were going by a less active as it was his birthday and it turns out he was baptized by Elder Chantry my last comp. He said he would like to come back to church and is going to meet with the bishop this week!

We also had zone conference this week and Elder Bowen of the 70 came and spoke. He did a good job and if it is your last zone conference they ask you to give your departing testimony. I spoke about the change that I felt I had made and said it was because my trainer and I came up with "Nike"..."Just do it". When you get a feeling you should do something...just do it. It was a bitter sweet moment to give my departing testimony. It has been a journey for sure.  I have learned so much I can't really say everything I want to in 2-3 minutes.

Not a bad week for being sick in the flat for most of it. I'm looking forward to feeling better and having another awesome week.

Love Elder Doty

September 1st

This week I went on an exchange with my district leader Elder Nielsen. He was one of my companions in Worcester. It was amazing to see how he has grown over the last 6 months. He is a completely different person. Amazing how in just a few months a person can change so much.

I had a chat with someone on the street.  He said something that I thought I was pretty funny. He said all churches are the same and that we need to go to the root of the tree and make a church there. I said "so maybe a church that Jesus Christ set up?" he said "Yes that would be it." I then told him that this was that church and showed him my tag the says Elder Doty The church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints. He looked at me and just walked away and would not listen to me. I got a chuckle out of that.

Been sick over the weekend. Last night was rough with only a few hours of sleep. I think sometimes we aren't grateful for when we do have a healthy body.

miss you all and love you

Love Elder Doty

PS I can't get the pictures to work on this computer will try again next week.

August 26th

Hello everyone I'm sure you have all heard I'm back in England and I have left Wales. It's good to be back in England it's alot different from Wales. Like over here you don't have to pay for a plastic bag when you are shopping. There are many others.

We have one investigator who is making progress and things are going well with him. We also have been getting alot of media referrals. We just got one that shows alot of promise. From what we understand in the text that the church sends us, she is from Hungary and wants to learn more about the church. It shows that the church is growing though out the whole world!

Hope you are all doing well. No pictures this week do to the computer not working. I will have to show you guys next week my visit to Aston Villa FC park!!

August 18th

I have left Wales :( and am very sad to leave that place.  I will miss it dearly. But I'm back in England.

The area I'm in is a place called Sheldon, but we cover the south area which is Acock's Green. It's  a bike, bus and walk area. It's the HOOD with lots of different races.  I'm exicited to be able talk to people and be able to understand them without a huge valley accent, but now I have the Birmingham accent. If you wanna hear it it's on youtube.

My new Companion is Elder Velsaco.  He is 23 and from the Philippines. He has about 8 months left in the mission. He is so funny.  I have a hard time understanding him because english is his second language.  He loves the UK and the USA and he is always positive which is great. Elder Nowak my Polish companion back in Bridgend taught me what it's like to always be happy. It's something I learned from him and hope to apply it to the rest of my life. And having elder Velsaco helps me continue to do that.

We have one investigator right now who shows promise. a few other leads that might turn out good.

Here are some photos of me leaving Wales and getting Elder Velsaco. I'm excited for this new chance to learn and grow and I have finally made it into Birmingham!

(Photos are not working for some reason... we aren't able to actually see them.)

Love Elder Doty