I'm pretty awesome at chess... I guess.

"Doing the Lord's will, not mine" is something that I learn over and over again while on my mission. The Lord has a perfect plan and mine is definitely not perfect. All I can do is be the best tool for him to use when he needs me. I mentioned Gloria in the last e-mail. Well, we had one appointment with her the following week (which I also mentioned) and we also had a member coming with us. I give her a call before and she wasn't home. Of course. But we were able to set up another appointment the following day. Again, she wasn't home. So we set up another appointment on Saturday.

The third try we went to her apartment to contact her. As we were walking to her building I saw another lady walking and felt a strong impression to talk to her. However, I really wanted to try Gloria one time to see if she was there and if she wasn't I wanted to talk to that lady. Well, Gloria wasn't home. Surprise! I was determined. We went outside and I saw her sitting among some chairs by herself. We went and talked to her. She mentioned she was waiting for someone but we could talk to her for a bit. As I was sharing to her about eternal families another lady walks out. Her name was Rose. She pointed to her building and said, "If you ever want to talk I live in A1." and when I asked her if there was a specific time we could come by she said, "No, I'm home pretty much all the time... Except Sundays... usually I try to go to church but I am not sure where yet." I was so happy! They didn't have time today but we are going to stop by this next Tuesday to visit with her. So our plan was to visit with Gloria but Heavenly Father's plan was for us to meet Rose.

And just a funny thing I've noticed is that we are really attracted to the older generation of investigators. I use to not really enjoy them (of course except for my grandparents) but I have a huge love for them now. Probably because of that wonderful women named Patti Nell!(:

Now on to the most exciting event. THANKSGIVING! Everybody say Yeah! We had a packed Thanksgiving so I'll just start in the best place. Breakfast! We were invited to have cinnamon rolls with the Strum family. It seriously was the best way to start out a Thanksgiving. We then had District meeting. Right after we headed to Patti to give her some company while she waited for her daughter. We then went from there to the Thomas's for that wonderful thing we call Thanksgiving Dinner. It was really fun and we had a great time with them playing some awesome games and stuff. You know the drill. We then cruised over to Sister Schrader to enjoy that big family Thanksgiving. Of course she fed us pie and I was stuffed already. But I was so grateful for her. It made me miss my big crazy family Thanksgiving.

The last stop was to the Shirley's where we made gingerbread houses. I made a barn WITH a horse! Unfortunately I didn't bring my camera hook up so pictures will have to wait till next week. It was there where Brother Shirley started to ask a lot of questions about our missionary work. I really didn't think twice about it. That was our journey on Thankgiving. But it really didn't stop there. The Friday night after Thanksgiving we were invited to the Busho family to help decorate their tree. We also had hot chocolate, fudge, and pie there as well. It made celebrating my 6 month mark pretty awesome.

You know what was even more awesome? The fact that my wonderful nephew Joshua had his first birthday on my 6 Month mark! So just thought I would give a shout out to him! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSHUA! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

Okay a few more things. We had a lot of changes happen in the Fort Lupton ward yesterday. Bishop Gagon's counselors were released and we got some new ones. Brother Shirley became our new Ward Mission Leader. And everything clicked. I now understand why he was asking all those question Thursday night. He is going to be an awesome Ward Mission Leader which we really needed. I've been here awhile I can tell. I felt sad when some of those men were released. But I know great men were called to fill in those positions.

And now for an explanation of my title. I like chess I just thought I was bad at it, till I played Elder Gallegos and totally creamed him. But then I thought it was just beginners luck. Till I played him again at his instance. Creamed him twice. He now asks for another try. I'm not sure if I want to risk it. Haha. I guess we'll see how it goes.

Okay Sorry for the rush! I love you guys so much! Hope everyone is well and that you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving. I know I did.

Stay Sweet, and you know, Don't Do Drugs.

Hermana Durfee

Birthday One Day the Flu the Next

Hey wonderful people! Thanks for all of the birthday wishes and for all of your support! Its been a pretty awesome week!

First off, transfers happened yet again!!! Guess who is staying in Fort Lupton for her fourth transfer! Yep this girl! :D I feel really lucky. However, Giron one of my companions, my favorite so far was transferred to the Monte Vista ward. Not sure if you remember but that's the ward I was in during my first tri-companionship. She isn't very far, in fact she wasn't moved our of our zone so I am not to devastated. I was really happy that I was staying but I also was dragging my feet a little because that would mean I was with Sister Mortensen by myself again. Then I read a scripture in Alma 8. This was during the time Alma, the prophet, was trying to preach to the people in Ammonihah. He was rejected and cast out. As he was traveling to a different city an angel appeared to him and told him to return to the city of Ammonihah. Then in verse 18 it says, "Now it came to pass that after Alma had received his message from the angel of the Lord he returned speedily to the land of Ammonihah. And he entered the city by another way, yea, by the way which is on the south of the city Ammonihah." Alma had just been cast out but what does he do when the Lord tells him to go back? He goes back speedily! That scripture said to me that I also need to do what the Lord asks speedily. Never hesitating or dragging my feet. So I'm going to take this next transfer with a boost! Nothing can bring me down(:

This week was also Stake Conference. (A larger meeting where a bunch of congregations/wards meet together.) Elder Teh from the 70's came and spoke to us. The adult meeting was all about member missionary work. It was so good! And I can't wait to be in the member's shoes again. Its pretty easy for a missionary to do missionary work. Then the Sunday meeting our stake was split. We are now apart of the Brighton Stake. President Johnson's, who was the stake president for the Denver North Stake and who is now the stake president for the Brighton Stake, wife bore her testimony and something that she said was, "Dont be sad that the stake is splitting and you won't see your friends. Be happy that the work is progressing enough that we had to split the stake." Such a true statement! 

That day, Sunday the 10th, was also my birthday! Yes, I am now 21 and am now legal! XD Actually I don't feel 21 I think I was just beginning to feel 20. The Friday before the elders in our ward, Elder Gallegos and Bryan, used shaving cream and wrote Happy B-Day on our car. Then Saturday Sister Earl and Southern, my sister training leaders, took me out to lunch. Then the big day happened! :D I was in the hall and I see my Zone Leaders and my District Leader heading my way. It looked like they were apart of an army charging for the enemy! Not kidding! They gave me a huge bag of candy (not sure what I am going to do with it) and then sang Happy Birthday to me. Then we had dinner with the Larsens. It was so awesome! They made homemade Chinese food, got me a birthday hat and present, and of course cake and ice cream! I felt pretty special! And though I was away from the family I felt like I was apart of theirs for that moment. 

Monday was p-day but also transfer day. I was unloading the trunk of our car when I notice a car stop and I hear a HEY! I turned to look and see my wonderful cousin Lindsay (who is really a sister to me)! I about cried when she hopped out of the car and gave me a hug! She gave me wonderful homemade brownies and wanted to take me out to lunch and spoil me. Of course that's exactly what she did! We dropped off Sister Giron but because I was so happy that my cousin was there it was easier then it would have been. After Lindsay took Sister Mortensen and I out to lunch, to Kohl's where she bought me clothes, and then to Target where she bought our groceries. See spoiled! We then sang Happy Birthday at home and ate brownies before she left. I was so blessed!

However, not 10 minutes after she left I began to feel sick, really sick. I was talking to Sister Small, the member we live with, telling her I hadn't puked since I was like 11. Well totally jinxed myself because not even 20 minutes later I threw up. Well, there goes our plans for that night. Then those wonderful elders came over and gave me a blessing while I laid on the couch with a fever and chills. It was nice to have them over I seemed to forget that I was even sick. I then was extremely grateful that I wasn't transferred. What if I was puking the first day with a new companion in a new area! But because I was still in that area Bishop Gagon and his wife brought me ginger ale and crackers. Even though it was a pretty awful night I was grateful for the people I had around me. Let me tell you people, puking is the worst thing on this planet! (okay totally an exaggeration) but pretty darn close to that! However, I was able to get a little bit of sleep and have enough energy to email. Though, even now, I can feel my body draining and am excited to go home and sleep some more. The worst part is I really want to go out and work but know I can't frustrates me! But I'll keep in mind that the Lord knows me best and I was supposed to get the flu last night. 

So I'll rest a little bit more today and maybe later tonight we can get a lesson in or two. 

I love you guys so much! Say an extra prayer for me okay? 

Stay Sweet and Don't Do Drugs!

Hermana Durfee

It Was A Twenty One Lessons Sort Of Week

Yeah, yeah! 21 lessons! We worked so hard these past weeks to reach the mission goal of 20 lessons and finally the had work paid off! There is a scripture in Mosiah 2:24 and it reads, "24 And secondly, he doth arequire that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bblessyou; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?" As we have been working had he blessed us immediately even though it was small but this week the blessing was large! :D This is the first time ever that I have been able to hit 20 lessons and I wouldn't necessarily say that I am  proud of myself but I am sure pretty happy! :D We also had Judy, Sister Pierce and the Fullerton family show up for church this week! Its been really great ESPECIALLY with Judy. She had us over for breakfast on Thursday, which was divine, and then had us all over last night for dinner. The food was so excelent! Her husband Ray joined us for and he even said, "Maybe you'll see me at church one of these days" He is just as amazing as she is! This week would be the third week she has come to church. It makes me extremely exciting!

This week has been pretty exciting! Last p-day we carved pumpkins at Sister Simcox, a member in our ward. She is from Brazil and made us some really good cheese bread. It was a blast! This p-day we are going to learn how to decorate cakes! So excited!

On Thursday you would not believe what we did! We had district meeting outside... in the cold! There was a funeral (a HUGE funeral) at the church so we had district meeting in the backyard of the Zone Leader's place. I have pictures but didn't bring my hookup so I'll have to send them next week. It was crazy and so cold! Even though it was slightly not very enjoyable, I will never ever experience that again. You do some crazy things on a mission!

On Friday we taught Mary, one of our new investigators. We brought Patti with us, which was a great idea, she totally rocked that lesson! I did ask her to be baptized which the outcome was pretty humorous! She is a very out spoken old lady. She pretty much told me that asking that was the wrong thing to do. However, she did say that she still wants us to visit her. just some of the things she says make me chuckle. She says all the time, "I love my Jesus." And when Patti closed the prayer by saying, "In Jesus name, Amen." Mary said, "See she loves Jesus too!" She really is a sweet lady, however Patti will always be my number one! I love that lady like she is my grandmother!

Then on Saturday we had the ward Trunk or Treat! It was huge! So many people were there, a lot of people I didn't even know. Jonathan, a punky 17 year old just in case I haven't mentioned before, came! He turned to me and said, "I'm going outside." I asked him why and he just repeated himself. The spirit immediately told me he was going outside for a smoke. I grabbed my companions and I knew we had to stop him. It hurts to know that you can't change people. What really changes them is THEIR choice to change and the Atonement of our Savior. I think Jonathan lacks the will to change. He is so young, has so much potential, but knowing he doesn't really want to reach that potential is heartbreaking to me. I only can try my best to show him how important the Gospel is and maybe that desire will grow. However, despite that, the Trunk or Treat was great! The elders were the judges for the chili and us sisters were the judges for the trunks. It was really fun! I am also excited for Halloween. We have to stop proselyting around 6 because President Toombs doesn't want us out on Halloween night. Its like a mini vacation! Ticket To Ride All Night Long! haha

We had a weird experience on Sunday. We, the five missionaries, teach Gospel Principles, but since there was no one really to attend our class we just canceled and attended Gospel Doctrine. Everyone waited a good 5 minutes then the Sunday School President comes to the front of the class and says, "Well we don't have a teacher and I have to much respect for this class to make something up on the spot so you guys get a break. Have a good day." and leaves. Everyone was shocked. Then someone says, "We have 5 missionaries. They can teach!" And so we taught Gospel Doctrine. We taught about forgiveness. And I shared how my mommy is the perfect example of forgiveness. She truly is! I hope to be like her and forgive like my mom does.(:

Okay I probably should go(: I hope all of you are having a great Monday! Love you guys so much!

Stay Sweet, and Don't Do Drugs!(:

Hermana Durfee

A Ticket To Ride

Gosh, guys this week has been really great! We definetly had some bumps in the road, but I am just truly grateful for this transfer and for Sister Giron who helps make it fun and laughs with me. Laughter has always been the best medicine for me. Not only am I having fun but the work has been really progressing! Plus I have the best parents in the world who support me and love me and well... spoil me. This week I got a package from my mommy who sent me the winter clothes that I needed. (Really nice boots, really nice coat, three maxi skirts, wonderful gloves, and a new camera {My camera was stolen about 2 transfers ago}) There are some perks about being in the states so close to home.

The work is going really great! We got three new investigators last week. One through tracting. Her name is Mary she about Patti's age. She wasn't going to let us in, using the excuse that she just had her teeth pulled and that she didn't want to talk much. She was about to shut the door when I asked if it would be okay if we just share a blessing on her home. She let us in and then ended up talking for the whole hour we were there! haha The second investigator is a less actives' son. His name is Manuel. He is about 23 and pretty good looking if I do say so myself. He has some self esteem issues. He works out a ton and well... wants to be a stripper. -.- So that lesson we taught a little bit about the Word of Wisdom and a little bit about the Law of Chasity. I don't want him to think that we are there to lecture him. We truly just want to help him be his best self. Well his less-active mom and him came to church! Which was awesome because it was also the primary program. The third new investigator was a referral from a member. Her name is Rachel Jojola. Her husband is a less-active and they are living in his parent's home who are currently serving a mission in Tahiti. She is awesome and when we asked her if she would like to take the lessons she was totally on board. I am kind of weary about the husband. He probably wont stop her but from what we can tell wont support her. 

On Friday Sister Mortensen got really sick. (I don't think she has a very good immune system). That day I was truly grateful to have another companion. We had to stay home all day but because I had Giron I wasn't lonely. We played Phase 10 (which I lost), Monopoly (which I also lost) and two games of A Ticket To Ride (Won the first one, lost the second). We had a blast! Now, don't go thinking we weren't being obedient. Sister Mortensen slept all day and all night. However, Giron and I are now addicted to A Ticket To Ride and we play it whenever we might have a little bit of free time. If you haven't ever played it before do it! I love it! 

Sunday we had Judy Schrader show up (Twice in a row(:) to church! And like I mentioned before we also had Manuel and Maria come! I was so happy! And of course Patti was there! She is so awesome! She gave me a pin about 3 weeks ago. A horse pin. I always have it on my jacket and last week I lost that jacket. I wasn't really worried about the jacket I was only worried about the pin that was on the jacket. Don't worry I found it(: She is going to feed all 5 of us on Wednesday! So excited! 

We then went to dinner on to the Bell's Sunday night. We had a wonderful soup that Brother Bell made for us. And a friend that is staying with them for a little bit made us fried oreos!! Oh my gosh! They were so good! The bad news about this dinner is that Sister Mortensen (who seriously should live in a bubble) had an allergic reaction to something in the soup. The left side of her face totally swelled up. So we had to go home again. What I find really awesome is that we were only able to work about 5 1/2 days and we got 16 lessons! If we had all 7 days to work we probably could have done 20! 

I am really having a great time!(: Sister Giron and I really have hit it off! I don't know how many times I say to her, "Don't leave me okay?" (Transfers will be upon us faster then you know). 

But hey, I want you guys to know that I am always thinking about you! If you need any prayers let me know, its all I can do really. 

Stay Sweet and Don't Do Drugs. 

Hermana Durfee

 

PSS. PICTURES (finally right?) 

Picture 1: Is of our living space down in the basement of a members home. 

Picture 2: Giron did my hair and makeup which equals pretty me. haha

Picture 3: This is last transfer during mission tour. That is my zone(: The BEST ZONE EVA!

 

10 Things You Never Knew About Sea Anemones

I really have had a good week this week. It had a rough start but I am really having fun. Actually I think this is the first week I have actually enjoyed myself! I've been praying for a week like this for a long time now.

I finally can say that I have a companion that I really like. Hermana Giron is awesome! (Granted she still struggles with some obedient issues) She's so fun and loving and just all together really nice to have around. The Lord is truly wonderful! Always sending me the things I need when I need them. I really need to get a camera so that I can send you some pictures! The work keeps going and you know, we still don't really have a solid investigator but we do have some solid less-actives that we are working with. The members here are working with us as well and even though there are a lot of mouths to feed they are still willing to feed us(: (That is kind of my challenge for you, feed the missionaries! We really really appreciate it!) 

There are only a few difficult situations that we have/had to work with. One is working with Elders... that are on bikes. They are great and hard working but like mentioned before, are on bikes! Our ward is huge boundaries wise! (Bigger then the ward at home) And we, as the sisters, don't have enough miles to work just the north part. It might seem simple to split it North and South but when you have miles to look out for it makes it more complicated. The other is moving! We moved out of our home and lived at the Smiths home for a week and then on Saturday we moved into our official home of the Smalls. We were really spoiled at the Smiths (there were two bath rooms and plenty of arm space). In the Smalls we live in a more humble home. We live in the basement with green tarps as our walls. (again I need to take pictures!) And we share a bathroom with the two teenage girls. However, I am grateful to have a bed and a warm place to live. So really I can't complain. 

It was Sister Mortensen's birthday this week. And I must say we made sure it was a good one!  That morning we did a scavenger hunt where she found little presents and cards that Sister Giron gave her. The day before I had called our dinner and told Sister Redd that it will be her birthday and asked if we could have cake. When we went to dinner two other families were there as well. So we had ourselves a mini party! :D They even go her a gift and a card! When we got home (we were still at the smiths) Sister Smith had a cake for us as well! Man I was really full after that day! Today I plan on getting her a sketch book(: I think it went really well! 

AAH! Out of time! But hey, remind me to tell you about the lessons we have had with Brother Reed and his family (the family that was going through a divorce). And about General Conference! :D 

Keep being amazing! Don't Do Drugs and Stay Sweet! 

Love Hermana Durfee

Careful What You Wish For

How true that statement is. And again I want to apologize for the short e-mail. For those of you who don't know, my Grandma Durfee died on Saturday. I've cried a lot this past hour or so, so I am not in the mood to write a lot. There are a few things that are hard while on a mission. One being that life and... death still happens. I want to be there at the funeral on Friday, however, I know the Lord needs me here serving the people of Colorado and that this experience is supposed to strengthen me some how.(:

Transfers happened! I prayed and prayed to stay and low and behold! I stayed!... Sister Mortensen and I also got another companion! Yeah... another trio! My favorite! XD Her name is Hermana Giron (its spanish so its pronounced Hi-ron). I really like her so far! The only thing that really bothers me is :/ she is not really obedient and I can't say much because I am the junior companion and she's been out a year and a month. I am not sure what to do about that difficult situation. We also have to split the area again. The other set of sisters (together) have been moved to a ward called Buckley in Aurora. Now we have two brand new elders. The poor souls. Hopefully we can help them in anyway we can. It makes things a little complicated especially with members feeding us. Thats 5 mouths to feed and two of them are boys. I hope everything works out!

I am so sorry for this e-mail. I will try next week to write a better one. This is really short. 

I love you all so much!

Stay Sweet and Don't Do Drugs

Hermana Durfee

Rain, Rain, Rain, Nothing but rain.

So Monday... Around the afternoon, I got sick, like stomach sick. I didn't actually throw up but it got pretty close to that point. I really wanted to go out and work but Sister Mortensen insisted that we go home so that I could sleep some and feel better. I finally gave in, but as we started planning for the next day and all we could put in were zeros to our numbers I felt even worse. But I got some extra sleep that night and the following day I felt completly better. We were also able to teach 5 lessons and make up for lost time on Monday. I knew that coming home was the right decision because the Lord blessed me and us the next day.

Monday is when the rain started but it was just a short down pour and we didn't think much of it. Then Tuesday in the evening the rain came again, a lot of rain, like a LOT of rain. We were driving to visit the Reed family, a part member/less-active family. There is this one street on the side of their house that turns into a river when it pours like it was. We might have been having to much fun. As we were slowly driving in this river we passed a red car and a man about late 20's early 30's was driving. As we passed he looks at me with this huge grin on his face. He too was having to much fun. I clearly was having a blast and well... missed the house so we had to go back. As we got back into the river I saw the same red car and was given the same crazy grin. I still laugh when I think about his face/smile. 

Wednesday was what we call a Mission Tour. Its when a member of the seventy comes and gives the missionaries a training. I believe his name was Elder Corbridge. It was a real eye opener. And I played the piano for a special musical number. I was just glad that I was the pianist for the singers. But now I can say that I've played for a member of the seventy!(: (I also should mention that it was still raining)

Come Thursday the rain still hadn't stopped. In fact we were supposed to have zone meeting but two sets of sisters couldn't get out of their house because of the flooding so it was canceled! We were really blessed to be warm and dry. You should look at some pictures of the flooding its pretty crazy. Some less-actives turned on the news and we were able to catch a few peaks of what was happening. 

Now for the best part of the week. The sisters in my district, The Riverdale sisters, and Fort Lupton 1 and 2 were able to attend the Sound of Music play that the Brighton community was putting on. The first counselor in the Fort Lupton ward (my ward in case you forgot) lead the orchestra and there were a few other members not just from my ward but the Brighton ward and Riverdale ward who were either actors or managers. We were also able to have Pati attend! She loved it soo much! It was fantastic! And President Toombs really spoiled us by giving us permission to attend. I leaned over to Sister Hanshaw (who seriously is my best friend here on my mission) and said, "If you want to be successful and make a lot of money in a play/performance have a few Mormons in the production. Because you are going to have a ton of other Mormons come support them." There were a lot of member support!(: Its so awesome! And I was so lucky! 

So for my spiritual though/last note of this e-mail, I just want to testify to you how important following the Spirit is! Saturday night after dinner we of course went to work. As we drove by a less-actives home to visit I saw all the lights out and didn't feel quite right about knocking so we went to one of the backups. I still couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off but we went and knocked on another less-actives door anyways. I wasn't surprised when no one answered. As we got back into the car, I shared my concern with Sister Mortensen. I told her I felt like we should go home that we weren't safe this night. She said she felt the same thing. So reluctantly we went home. It wasn't until we had entered our home did the feeling of uneasiness leave me. Now, I'll never know what would have happened if we had stayed, in fact I don't know if I ever want to know. However, I do know this, I am so grateful for the guidance of the Spirit. Listen for it and then when you hear it HEED it! 

I love you all so so much! Keep working hard, stay sweet, and keep of the drugs!(:

Hermana Durfee

Turtles and Fish

So its been a wonderful week! The 31st of August we met with our Stake President and he extended the challenge "Every lesson be a member present lesson." Now, we're not going to knock on a door and be like, "Well we can't teach you a lesson because we don't have a member present so can we come back later?" But for all followup lessons we need to have a member and let me tell you... It's been amazing! For example, we had Sister Baldwin at a lesson with our Investigator Eve. Eve again went off on a soapbox and was talking about the government and the world and speculations she talked for a good 10 minutes and all the while I am trying to interrupt her without being rude and trying to think what I should say to get back on to topic. Well, Sister Baldwin was able to jump in and say, "Well that is why we have a prophet today." I almost wanted to do a fist pump because it was so perfect. There was also another miracle. We have been teaching this part-member family. In fact that was the Fulertons (in the e-mail before). This week we brought a male member and Jim, Christine's husband joined the lesson. We were able to pull him from the former investigator pile and add him to the active investigator pile.

I can tell you it's been pretty amazing! So instead of extending a challenge at the end of my e-mail I am going to do it at the beginning. My wonderful family and friends, I want you to call your missionaries and offer to go with them to lessons. They will be wonderfully surprised. You can then tell them that Sister Durfee in Colorado told you to and they will understand. Will you do that? (I am just imagining you all saying yes.) Okay you promised! I know you will see miracles. Here's a wonderful analogy my stake president, President Johnson shared with us. There was a church well-fare farm the grew grapes. Now, when harvesting grapes you can't use a machine because you'll squish them so it has to be done by hand. The youth of that stake would have the opportunity to do so every summer. Each time harvesting came around there would be less and less youth because it was hard work in hot heat. Then the farm got a new manager and he tried something different. He invited the youth into a big barn and there they ate hot bread and grape jelly with grape juice. The youth saw the fruit of their labor and come the next summer there were more youth and they enjoyed the harvest. President Johnson wants all of his members with grape jelly on their faces and all over the front of their shirts. Now, I want you guys to enjoy the grape jelly. Go out and do missionary work with those missionaries. 

On Wednesday my companion and I went on exchanges with our sister-training leaders. I went with Sister Burnett to work her area and Sister Earl came to our area to work it with Sister Mortensen. It was really awesome to work a new area and work with different people. Then on Thursday we had Sister Johnson (from our ward) come to lessons with us... well sort of. No one was home or no one would answer their door. Before we headed out Sister Johnson warned us that the Bronco's game was on and that she wouldn't be surprised if no one came to the door... She was right... or she cursed us. Its hard during times like that to not get discouraged, but I really try to look at it positively. (It's so hard! haha) 

Now to explain the title. Two weeks ago we were heading to Barr Lake for our usual service when we saw a box turtle trying to cross the road. We stopped and I hopped out and helped it get across. We felt proud saving a turtle that day. Well, our animal saving skill were needed this Saturday. We were picking up trash along the shore and might have picked up a few dead fish hear and there when we saw a fish that was struggling to breath. It was still slightly in the water (about ankle deep). Sister Burnett (and almost all the other sisters) yelled, "Elder Lyberrt! Save the fish! I can't watch it die!" Elder Lyberrt was slightly reluctant because his shoes/socks would get wet. But he went out there anyway and I went out there to help him. He reached down to pick up the fish when it started going psycho. And... Well Elder Lyberrt screamed. Hahaha man it was so funny. We did end up saving the fish... kind of. Because right after Elder Lyberrt tossed it into deep water, it swam right back on to the shore. We came to the conclusion that it was suicidal. Elder Lyberrt was slightly upset that he did all that (and suffered a heart attack) for a suicidal fish. 

I love you guys so so much! Keep your heads up, stay sweet and Don't Do Drugs(: 

Hermana Durfee

I'm a beast at capture the flag

So I'll start of with the bad news... Alex, the one I talked about last email, dropped us. The definition of the word "Dropped" means he asked us not to teach the lessons to him. In a way... I was determined to visit with him. We tried to catch him on Sunday. He wasn't home. So we went back on Monday and he finally answered the door. He had a lot of questions so we answered them but he kept saying over and over, "Guys, I just don't believe that there is just one true church. I mean, "the church" is you and I, our faith in Christ."
I couldn't stop thinking about what Alex wanted from us. So, I asked him. "Alex, do you still want us to visit you? Because our purpose is to invite others to come unto christ and to this gospel."
He responded, "Guys, I think I am good. Someone else needs your message." I told him that he should still try to read the Book of Mormon and text us if he had any questions. He said okay, we closed with a prayer and that was it.

As I got into the car my heart hurt. Just like it would if I had left my family to serve a 18 month mission. I was so surprised. Here I didn't even know Alex very well but I felt the hurt knowing most likely I wouldn't be seeing him again, and that I couldn't help him take those steps to return to our Heavenly Father. I am so amazed at the love I feel for my investigators, less-actives, and members. I love them like they are my family. I mean in reality they are my brothers and sisters but I love them like that. I pray that Alex will feel that stirring in his heart and call the missionaries when he is ready.
On Thursday, I gave the District Training. Here I am, only a transfer in the mission field and I am training people who only have a few months till they are done. Needless to say, I tried to follow the Spirit and I was told that I did a great job. So there ya go! haha That day I also hit my 3 month mark. I am so old ;D haha
So question, if you were at a church building and you saw that a watermelon patch was growing in the bushes and you discovered that there was a large ripe watermelon there... would you pick it? Because that totally happened to me... and I didn't pick it. Now I wish I had because I haven't had lunch yet. haha
We were able to put in our numbers that we have a new investigator! YES! It was an less-active/part member family. The dad isn't a member. In fact Scott (the dad) likes to play off that he doesn't like us. I know that is a total lie only because one time when Sister Espinosa and I were walking by (we weren't even going to visit) he invited us in. He listens to the lessons and participates as well. Last week we challenged them to pray everyday. Only Scott kept the commitment. We haven't officially started teaching him lesson 1 but I have high hopes for him.
Ya know, I have learned that if we endure our trials God will bless us even more. Here I was dropped by an investigator and it really hurt but he decided to bless me with something better. We are teaching a less-active family named the Fulertons. Most of them want to come back to church but the mom works. So if Sister Fulerton doesn't go, no one goes. We hadn't visited with them for awhile and last week I felt the impression to stop by. Sister Fulerton and her mom, Sister Campbell were just getting out of the car. We asked if we could share a message and they said yes. We found out that she had lost her job about 2 weeks ago and had just come home from a biopsy. There was a possibility she could have cancer and she would know the results in 3 days. We centered our message on there is opposition in all things. She cried, I cried, not everyone cried but pretty close. I prayed everyday that the test results would come back negative and on Saturday we stopped by to find out what happened. They were negative! I could tell that Sister Campbell and Sister Fulerton felt so blessed. We asked them to come to church on Sunday.... AND THEY DID! Gah my heart slightly broken from Alex mended right then. Especially when they go up and bare there testimony mentioning the sister missionaries show up right when you need them. Sometimes missions are SOOO worth it... haha most of the time I should say.
Now Monday. First HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROSAMUND! I can't believe you are 11 now! I would like to take this time to say, "Everyone! Stop growing up on me! Can't everyone put their lives on hold while I am on a mission???" hahaha Kidding of course. However, if you can then by all means do ;)
I wasn't able to email yesterday because the libraries are closed on Labor Day so that gave us extra time to do other stuff... like another P-Day filled with Capture the Flag with flour! YES! It was sooo much fun, especially because this was with MY zone. We played four rounds and each time I was on the winning team. I might say that it was because of me that we won and most of that would be true because its a team effort haha. The coolest part was that the last 2 rounds my team had 6 players and the other team had 10! (totally not fair but when you have Samoan elders they tend to stick together haha) And we still won! No big deal! I might be a beast at capture the flag. Haha
I love you guys so so so much! Hope that everything is going great! Remember to keep me in your prayers, Stay Sweet and Don't Do Drugs and it will be a good week! (Especially if you keep me in your prayers. Your week will be amazing! hahaha)
Love,
Hermana Durfee

The Miracle of Prayer!

The miracle of prayer

 

 

So before I tell you the story behind the title I will start with what happened last Monday. 

Monday was crazy. I packed, we cleaned the house, and did studies all before we were at the church for transfers. My new companion came around 3 o'clock and I was ready to go back to Fort Lupton unpack and enjoy some of my p-day. However, we didn't have our car yet. So we waited, talked to the Denver North Zone leaders, waited, talked, played basketball in a skirt, waited, talked and finally 5:45 rolled around and we received the key to our car. Turns out our car was there the whole time we just didn't have the key (Which came when the AP's came to the church). I might have been slightly frustrated but for some odd reason that was meant to happened. I really have learned and relearned to put my trust in the Lord. We also weren't able to fit any lessons in. -sigh- Numbers are the worst!

Now a little about my companion. "Short story or Long story?" She says that every time someone asks her where she's from. I won't share all the 100 places she's been but she is recently from Tuscon Arizona. Oh Tuscon... ;D And no, her dad isn't in the military. He's an accountant. She's 21 and has been out on her mission for 6 months. She is my followup trainer and the senior companion. However, most of the time I play the role of the senior companion. I don't mind only because I've learned so much and because of the responsibility that I now have I seem to have more of a desire to work harder. And well my family know's my personality. I like to be in charge. In fact Sister Mortensen asked me, "Do like to take charge? Because I don't like it at all." Of course I didn't admit it but... yes, yes I do! haha She suffers from hardcore depression that she has to take medicine for so that is kind of hard to deal with. Well and not just that but it also effects our lessons. However, she is really trying her best and I hope to help her in anyway. I'll make this companionship work just like I did the last one! :D

When transfers happened our zone received about 8 new missionaries. Two companionship were swept in (meaning that both companions are new to the area). My district had 4 companionships and now has 6! On Tuesday the whole zone turned up to do service and well... the old ladies at this quilt place were slightly overwhelmed. So overwhelmed that a lot of us were kicked out. I can now say that there was a time in my life that someone didn't want me to preform service. Luckily we had another place to do service at. 

Wednesday... I woke up at 4:15 in the morning... to go to the temple(: AAAAHH! I was so excited! To go to the temple at least. Now, waking u[ at 4:15 not so much. It was so great to go to the temple after not being there for 7 weeks! After the temple we did studies, visited a less-active and went to dinner. Man, Wednesday was interesting. haha. Right after dinner... well I couldn't find the car key. (I am the driver. For some reason my comp can't). I was in such a panic mode. Sister Smith, the member who fed us, and her little daughter tried to help us find it. We still couldn't and so we of course decided to pray. Her little girl wanted to give the prayer. It was so sweet and I was convinced that we would find it right after. We didn't. Then Sister Smith felt like I should go back to the less-actives home to find it. (We walked to Sister Smith's home from there). I was in disbelief that it was there but we made the quick walk over there. I went up to the porch and there on the porch bench where we gave our quick message was the key. I was so shocked. We went back to Sister Smith's home and showed her that we got it. Her daughter is 4 I believe was so excited! Sister Smith asked her what we should do next and she said, "A Thankful Prayer! Can I say it?" Again the spirit was so strong! And again I was amazed at how the Lord blessed us through this little girl's prayers. 

Alex (one of the flaky investigators that I mentioned last time) texted us on Friday and said that he had watched the Restoration movie we gave him and had also visited Mormon.org and that he thought it was beautiful and amazing! He also mentioned that he wasn't sure he was ready to give up coffee haha. I told him not to worry about it because that was another lesson at a different time. I was so excited! We set up an appointment for the next day at 3 because we had a service project to be at from 11-2. We were there right on time and... he wasn't home. Because I have been playing the role of senior companion I have been so frustrated and disappointing in our lesson count. Its actually been a hard week numbers wise. All we have is 2 flaky investigators. However, something that I am really proud of is that we are working a lot with less-actives. We had about 8 lessons with less-active families this week! I found myself getting discouraged... but the Lord blessed me with the comfort I needed. 

Gah! Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are so amazing! Most of the lessons we taught we shared a scripture. 2 Nephi 25:26 "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." We shared how ever thing is centered on Christ and how he should be the base of our testimonies. The spirit just seems so strong in each of those lessons as we centered the lesson on our wonderful Savior! Guys, He is every thing. We could not be more grateful for what he has done for us! That is just part of my testimony about my Savior, Jesus Christ.

I love you guys so much! Be brave, work hard, stay sweet, and of course don't do drugs!

Love,

Hermana Durfee

One Transfer Down, One New Companion, And ONE BAPTISM!!!! :D

Of course I will always start with the beginning of my week. Unless you guys would prefer me to do in backwards. Just let me know. ;)

Monday was a really fun P-Day. After I e-mailed you all we headed to a park where the Denver North Zone was playing capture the flag. Found out that they were using flour balls to do the tagging. It was so much fun... Flour might have been everywhere which includes me. haha. One elder totally got my face (accident of course). When we were done we all went back to the cars to take pictures and a water fight broke out... Think about it. Flour and Water... pretty much it turns into glue. It was all in my hair... -sigh- It was a lot of fun however it didn't end until 5 and we had dinner at 5:30 with a member from the Monte Vista ward. Now, we were thinking about canceling with them (because the elders would be there) and go home to take showers but the dinner was with Hispanics. They are more offended if you cancel on them then if you show up all covered in flour. So we went to dinner looking like that. Turns out that was where we were needed. The sister there is in a really hard marriage. She really wants to go to the temple but isn't able to because she doesn't have a ride. We shared a nice message with her. I shared my testimony in Spanish and then Sister Espinosa gave a special prayer for her. The spirit was so strong and tears might have been involved. So despite being all covered in flour and it glued to our hair the Spirit was so strong and we all knew we were supposed to be there.

This week was really good. Again our numbers are really small but! we were able to catch some really flaky investigators! One is Alex the other is Eve. Both have really great potential. They love their Heavenly Father and love the bible. We just have to catch them and this week we did(:

Now for the best part! Pati(: Oh man I love that women! We had one last lesson with her on Friday before the baptism on Saturday. We invited a young pre-mission boy (who is going to Brazil) to baptize her. He was really excited (His mom might have cried when we mentioned it to her). He came to the visit with us. We all just shared our testimonies about our Savior Jesus Christ. It was so fantastic! And again tears were involved(: The next day Patricia Nell was baptized. It was really nerve racking only because Pati is really fragile (being 77) and needs a walker to walk. Tyler Shaffer (the pre-mission boy) is kind of small and skinny only a little taller then me XD. However, on the first try she went all the way under and it was good! YES! Oh man, I can't be happier! Seriously, if she is the only person I baptize then who cares! I sure don't!(: Of course I will continue to work hard and get more baptisms but that is how happy I am! Then on Sunday she was confirmed a member of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints. She said those days were the happiest days of her entire life and she is so happy to have a family again! What a sweetheart!

Saturday night we had what is called Transfer Doctrine. The entire zone gets together and we all figure out what is happening to us on Monday for the next transfer. I found out that I was staying in Fort Lupton but I would be getting a new companion named Sister Mortensen. I was really excited but nervous at that same time. Then the missionaries that were leaving the zone shared their powerful testimonies. It was so good! I now have a new Zone leader (a long with the old one, there are always two) and I have a new District Leader. Tears were also involved here as well... a lot of crying this week. 

Now, I have to go... we have to run to dinner but! I will tell you all about my new companion and transfer day(: Stay Sweet and Don't Do Drugs!

Love you guys!

Hermana Durfee!

Let's use Goats to Mow the Lawn

(So slightly panic attack... I can't find my camera and I know I brought it... :/ so no pictures this week even though I had some prepared. Hopefully I'll find it soon... really soon!)

I am not kidding. And let me tell you how much of a fail that was. The library that I have emailed at this week and last week really tried using goats to mow the lawn. They used about 100 goats in a pin and moved the pin every hour or so. They said it was easier then mowing the lawn, probably cheaper too. HOWEVER, you should now see the grass... the goats ate everything and the lawn is totally brown! It makes me laugh! I wonder really how effective they thought that would be. Whatever the case may be I sure enjoyed it!

So Monday is P-Day. It supposed to be kind of a day off however we are always so busy that I can never really sneak in the nap that I am hoping to get each P-Day. -sigh- 

On Tuesday we had Zone Conference. A total of three zones got together and learn alot! At this moment, I happen to be in two zones which means when they do pictures I am in two pictures. I am kind of special. I was originally in the Brighton Zone and when we were ETed we moved into the Denver North Zone. The first time we met with the Denver North Zone the Zone leaders said, "Welcome to Zion." I corrected them saying because I use to live in Zion, Zion is where ever I am.  It pretty funny. If I had to choose between the two zones I would definetly say that Brighton is the best plus my Zone leaders are Black and Canadian! Cant get any cooler then that right? 

On Wednesday I was able to enjoy my first smores of the summer. Yes, I know summer is almost over. In fact, people are starting school here! Gosh... Its crazy to think about it and a little sad just because I wasn't really able to enjoy it. Anyways we invited some potential investigators over to a members house next door to enjoy some smores with us. We also had a less-active named Jose. (I love Jose!) (And of course not in that kind of way). It was nice, my hair smelled like smoke but I really enjoyed it.

That same night we met up with a bunch of other sister missionaries to do what is called exchanges. I was with Sister Earl and we worked the Fort Lupton area. It also was a really good day! A REALLY good day! It might be because I was able to have a nice break from my companions but we won't get into that. The rest of the next day Sister Earl and I were companions. We went to this place called The House of Smoke. There I tried buffalo!! It was actually really good! I really wanted to buy some elk jerky which they sell there and possibly send it home but you don't really have the money for that kind of stuff while on a mission. Like I said before it was a really nice day... a really needed day.

We also had a ward BBQ on Friday. We were able to have Jonathan (a less-active) and Patricia of course! Jonathan really needs someone to fellowship him. He doesn't really have any friends in the church. I introduced him to another boy about his age. Conversation wasn't really clicking until I remembered that both of them were gamers. I brought up the topic and zoom there it went. ;) I am kind of good sometimes! Man... I kind of miss my little Nintendo 64. I just remind myself it was a easy sacrifice that I had to make. 

The biggest thing this week is PATRICIA IS GETTING BAPTIZED!!! I am so so excited! In Alma 26:30 (In The Book Of Mormon) it says, "And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some." I don't care how many people I baptise on my mission. If I can be the means of saving just a few souls my joy will be full! 

I love my Savior! I am learning to put my trust in him during this hard time. Not only that but to do so cheerfully and with patience! I hope you guys are all having a great week! 

Remember to Stay Sweet, and Don't Do Drugs!

Hermana Durfee

They call it being ETed

Before I explain the title I just want to share the experience on Monday right after I emailed you guys. We went to go pump air into our tires. While Sister Espinosa was struggling with it for a bit a man who was sitting on the ground with his back against the gas station asked her if she needed any help. We politely said no. After we were finished we decided to give him a Book of Mormon. Turns out he was a homeless man. He told us that his wife kicked him out but he knew he wasn't a good husband. He also had a huge gash on his arm. I wanted to take him to the hospital and get him stitches but alas we can't. We sacrificed some of our P-Day and sat down to listen to him. He shared this insight that we have to experience the lows in order to experience the highs. That is so true! Before we left I gave him a few bucks and the Book of Mormon in hopes that maybe his life will be changed because of that money and mostly because of that wonderful book the Book of Mormon.

Now! Later that night (this is still last Monday by the way), we got a voice-mail from President Toombs (my mission president) saying that he wanted to talk to us and to call him ASAP. We did and that's when I found out that both my companion and I were being ETed, or in other words Emergency Transferred. He said that we still would be covering the Fort Lupton ward but also the Monte Vista ward. We would also be getting an additional companion. One of the Monte Vista sisters was heading home on Wednesday because of medical reasons. The other sister would make our companionship a trio. Sister Espinosa was super excited but me not so much. I was really overwhelmed. Here I am, only 4 weeks into my mission and I am already being ETed. I told President Toombs that I would do what he asked because I know he follows the Spirit and that his direction comes from my Heavenly Father. I really have learned to put my trust in him. He told us he would call tomorrow to give us the details and let us know if we were moving out of our house into the other missionaries or if she was moving into ours. We said goodbye and I prayed to my Heavenly Father for comfort and the ability to sleep and not stressed. He blessed me and I slept soundly. 

The next day it almost seemed like that call never happened. We were waiting patiently for President Toombs to call us back but nothing. I almost thought that he had made another decision but then he finally called us around 3 pm to let us know that we would be moving into another house and we needed to be there at 8:30 in the morning. We packed and cleaned that night and then moved the following morning.

Wednesday... well... it was rough. The new sister is named Hermana Moreno and she is Latino as well. All three of our personality don't really mesh. We fought a lot the first day and the next... and I would say the next to but by that time it has gotten better. Hermana Moreno isn't very obedient and Sister Espinosa becomes a little more bossy and pushy when she's around. Then there is poor me. I get caught in the middle. There have also been times where Sister Espinosa and Moreno talk Spanish for the purpose of me not listening. Don't worry I brought this all up during companionship inventory and we are trying to work it out. I was reading another missionary's e-mail and he was not really liking his companion. But he mentioned that we were put with those certain companions to learn something even if that means patience and loving someone you don't really want to. I have learned this week to really put my trust in my Heavenly Father. That probably should have been my title and will most likely be my spiritual thought. Haha

Saturday was a decent day. We were doing weekly planning and I looked outside and said out loud, "Kind of looks like tornado weather." Sister Moreno mentioned that she thought outside look funny. But I didn't think twice about it. We were talking to the elders (who have dinner with us when we are covering the Monte Vista area every other day.) and they had said there was a tornado near Greeley (North of us). Later we headed up north towards Brighton for a baptism that the other set of sisters in the Fort Lupton ward were having. While we were driving (I was the driver) We ran into a huge rain storm. Like the ones we have in Missouri where you can really see anything even with your wippers going as fast as they can. It was awesome and reminded me of home. Pretty sure it was a small bit of the tornado weather. Sister Moreno was really scared but I went slow and we made it to the baptism all in one piece!

The baptism was really great! His name was Dean Cole. He really has changed his life to become a member of this church. He stop drinking and smoking and is really excited to turn his life around. It was a great experience and there is pictures! Sister Espinosa and Sister Earl were the ones who found him before I came in. Sister Earl and Hanshaw were his missionaries but I still was able to get to know him pretty well. He bore his testimony on Sunday and that too was really powerful. The hardest part in the conversion process is enduring to the end and staying on that straight and narrow path. I pray that he has a solid foundation and that he will continue to progress!(:

We all need a solid foundation. I put my trust in the Lord and lean on him all the time! Especially during this hard time during my mission! Just remember me in your prayers. Maybe write me a letter or two and I'll be good to go(: 

I also want to thank Brother Kesler for the print that he gave me! I got it on Friday and really needed it. It was one of those days(:

Thanks everyone for your prayers and support! I love you all! Stay Sweet and Don't Do Drugs!(:

Hermana Durfee

PS. PICTURES!

Picture 1: Is of the wonderful tornado weather that we drove into on Saturday.

Picture 2: My comp and I with Dean at his baptism

Picture 3: Is my trio companionship. Hopefully this works out right? ;D

I've perfected my Knock!! And some insights to what is happening at the Durfee house hold.

Ok, so let me tell you a secret, that won't be a secret anymore after I tell you, bahhaha! :) The Durfee sisters are very much best friends with each other. We love each other very much. I am saying this because we are able to do amazing things because of each other. That is my secret!! I also have another secret sometimes we fight with each other!! Betcha didn't know that! :D haha! But in my opinion all best friends fight sometimes, right? If they didn't they wouldn't be best friends. My sisters and I are best friends!! :D I love them very much!! I would die for them.  Ok, I am off my soap box now.

 Which leads me to say that we sang a Japanese lullaby on Saturday for a talent show that our church was doing. We did it kind of last minute too. It was quite amazing. We learned the song on the road trip that took Sharlee to the MTC. The song is called Forusato (sp.?) Anyways, we also had a girls night on Friday painting our finger nails, and toe nails while watching Pirates of the Caribbean. We, as a sisterhood love doing stuff together, and we are, and will be forever friends. I think that we have become so close because of how we grew up together. Our parents raised us, of course, and my mother always explains to us how she wants us to be friends with each other. She tells us this because she knows that if we are friends with each other than when times are hard we can rely on one another. So with this being said, I have learned from my mother that family is forever, and will be the number one thing that one takes from this life. I will leave you with this, until Shar's next letter!!  -Josie

Shar's letter-

I actually might not be kidding when I say I've perfected my knock... but luckily I am. Maybe not for long though right? From my experience on a mission we as missionaries find entertainment in the weirdest things.

 

Its been an amazing week! OH! I should start with the beginning right? Yeah I think so too. It was actually last Monday. Unfortunately Preparation-Day isn't a full day of amazing luxury, it comes to a quick end at 6 pm. By that time we should be out working, knocking, walking, driving, etc. We headed out to make an appointment that the other sisters had set up and gave us because the investigator was on our side of the town, but we forgot the address that they gave us and couldn't find it. We felt awful but decided that it was best to go visit a less-active. We were visiting this less-active (a young teenage boy) we have at a very VERY poor trailer park. Mostly Hispanics live there. (In fact pretty sure we met the only white person just a few days ago) The thing that I don't get really is that we will see super nice new Cameros/other fancy cars and then they live in these very run down trailers. Its really very sad. ANYWHO! We taught Jonathan (the boy) and then hopped into the car to again look for the missed appointment because the sisters called us and gave us the actual address. As we were driving we get a call. It was in Spanish so I didn't understand all of it but, It was a lady, Lupe, calling and asking to have the lessons! She got our phone number from Jonathan! How cool is that?! And then... well we forgot the address again. We stopped at a house, Sister Espinosa said we would knock at this house and ask if they knew a Robin. We said a prayer (we always say a pray before a lesson) and a lady walked out of that house. It happened to be ROBIN!! She's golden (meaning really accepting of the gospel). We have an appointment with her tonight so I'll let you know how that is. But how amazing is the Lord eh?! I kind of needed a day like that because the Sunday before we had knocked on doors and were rejected again and again.

 

The next day was just another spiritual high! We taught Pattie, (bless her heart), and she told us that she's been having doubts lately about her decision to be baptized. We were sharing with her how there is opposition in all things... At least we were trying to share. The phone kept ringing (Like 3 times during that lesson) and! As I was reading about the opposition that Joseph Smith experienced before he had the first vision. You know that really intense scary part. (and if you don't know what I am talking about, get a Book of Mormon, preferably from missionaries ;) and then read Joseph Smith History and the very back). <----Thats me doing missionary work even in this e-mail. But like I was saying before we were sharing that part, talking about a real being from the unseen world, then we get a knock at the door. We might have jumped. It was another interruption! Satan really didn't want us to share that message with Pattie! But we kept going and soon the Spirit took over and we bore testimony. I cried, Sister Espinosa cried, and Pattie cried. Us and the Spirit: 1 Satan: Forever 0! It was a great victory! :D

 

Knocking on doors has become more and more easy the more I do it!(: There was actually a day where I enjoyed it! Crazy huh? I thought so too! But that might be because the weather was kind to us. Who knows!

 

On Wednesday we went to go contact Lupe, the girl in the paragraph before that called us. She wasn't home but her son, Eduardo, was. He's golden as well. Really open and excited to learn more! We went to visit Eduardo the next day and to see if we could talk to Lupe this time. His little sister answered and said he was in the shower but her mom was just over "there" talking to some of her friends. The end of this story is that Lupe thought we were Jehovah Witnesses and that's why she called >.< but was still willing to listen to our message. We haven't gone back but hopefully she's just as golden as her son.

 

Saturday we had a baptism of Sam, the eight year old girl I talked about in the last email. Don't remember?... I asked her stuff dog to be baptized. Got it now? haha It went really well! She wasn't scared at all! And it gave our district an opportunity to ask investigators with a baptism date to come see how it will be done! Sister Espinosa and I had one, and of course that was Pattie. The other sisters had one and then one of the sets of elders had one as well! It was pretty amazing! And Sam did missionary work by inviting some family that weren't members to the baptism!(: Plus there was cake so that was great! haha

 

One last story (because it really has been a great week). Two weeks ago we talked to a man (who lives in that poor trailer park). We were able to share a message and give him a Book of Mormon. In fact he was the man that I gave the Spanish Book of Mormon too. The one I said like three lines to? Well, we had been trying to get an appointment with him, (his name is Santiago by the way) for a long time. I first thought there was potential but we would show up and he wouldn't be home. Then on Saturday night we actually had a lesson with him! Yeah! And then he said his wife wants to listen too so we scheduled an appointment for next day (Sunday). That lesson was... amazing (I use that word a lot sorry)! The spirit was so strong and both of them are golden! The wife's name is Lupe so hopefully in the future I can help you distinguish it from the other mentioned Lupe. Lupe (Santiago's wife) shared a hard trial she had to go through and the spirit was so strong. She was crying and even Santiago cried! We walked away from that lesson just skipping with joy! (Seriously)

 

Overall we have had a really great week. We only taught 15 lessons (Our goal is 20 a week) but We have now 4 amazing new investigators! The Lord really does bless us!

 

Okay so now I have a challenge for my family and other members who might read. If we are asking the Lord for missionary work he really will provide. He has placed those people around us for a reason! So watch this video and then pray for a person you can touch this week! I will follow up with you next week! http://bcove.me/vw9x3n2x (Just in case that link didnt work http://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/members-and-missionaries?cid=HPL2P09W02044&lang=eng) In fact look at this website its kind of awesome! :D

 

Love you guys so much! Keep smiling and remember, Don't Do Drugs and Stay Sweet!

 

Hermana Durfee!

 

Oh and Pictures! (Not much this week sorry).

Picture 1: It was a really wet day! And Pioneer Day! Look how white I look to my companion

Picture 2: Colorado's sky really is beautiful!

I asked a stuffed animal to be baptized

So I guess I'll start with the title as my first crazy story. Its not a lie, I really did ask a stuff animal to be baptized! There is a 8 year old girl, named Sam, in our ward who is having a hard time deciding to be baptized for a few reasons. One she is afraid to put her head under water. The last time she went swimming she got a crazy ear infection from the water. Now she's terrified. We decided to visit her and help her with her new decision of being baptized. The other reason is she is very VERY shy. We were having problems talking to her because she doesn't like people talking to her face. Not only that but her younger brother is noisy and distracting. During one of those distracting moments she had gone to her room to introduce me to her Build-A-Bear dog named Bo. I soon figured that if I taught Bo the lesson she would listen and then answer like she was Bo. So in that way I taught the dog Bo the first lesson and the importance of baptism. I then asked Bo if he would follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized. I then turned to her, "Will Bo be baptized?"

"Yes."

"Will you be baptized Sam?"

"Yes!" It was weird but at least we got through to her. The next time we visited her, her mom informed us she went to the pool and practiced dunking her head under water. I then again had to teach Bo a lesson. Who cares, its effective.(:

We have been really working hard on Less-Actives. The first family is the Ross family. The mom is kind of loco but the Dad is really receptive and the kids really want to go back to church. The other is a man named Ricky. During our visit with him we were able to have a nice lesson. He did mention, however, that Moroni was so cool that he might get a tattoo of him... I didn't understand how that even seemed slightly right to him. hahaha WELL! This past Sunday, both the Ross family and Ricky came to church. Not only that but Ricky has been listening to the Book of Mormon daily! I understand that its the Spirit that is working on them but I can't help but feel like Ammon, a prophet in the Book of Mormon, when he says, "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.” (Alma 26:12) I am just glad that I can be that instrument for the Spirit to work through.

Service this week was fun and interesting. We have done several projects through out the week. My favorite was when we made sleeping bags out of old blankets and sheets for those who live on the streets. The one we did on Saturday... well wasn't as fun. We found ourselves in the middle of nowhere chopping off the heads of a weed called a thistle. The flower/head part is where the seeds spread and so to keep the weed contained you get rid of the seeds. The sun was so hot and I was pretty convinced that I was being fried. However, I endured and the Lord, being the amazing person he is, blessed so I wasn't burnt to a crisp. 

The hardest thing that my companion and I are going through right now is that we have to split the area between an other set of sisters. We find ourselves with a ton of investigators at first and then they come to us saying the original split isn't working because they are using a lot of miles on their car. So we try again and now find ourselves with hardly any less-actives and investigators. We are trying really hard to be Christlike but that's hard because well... we are human. But that is the whole purpose for us on earth, to overcome those weaknesses of the flesh. We continue to pray to our Heavenly Father for guidance in this decision. Hopefully we can find an answer that will be good for everyone!

Another thing that I am not liking very much is tracting. I find that my fear for calling is about the same when it comes to knocking on doors. Again and again I find myself having to really rely on the Lord for his help. 

One thing that I love about Colorado is that everyone here owns a dog! And if not a dog they have a cat! Instead of being cooped up in the MTC and being super animal deprived, every person we meet with has some kind of animal I can pet! In fact our top progressing investigator, Pattie, has three cats! I can"t help but think of how awesome that is only because she is 77 and totally a cat lady. 

Speaking of Pattie! She has a baptism on the 17th of August and I am so excited for her! Like I said above, she is our top progressing, which means she's keeping all the commitments we leave her and is getting really close to baptism! She has the sweetest spirit! I said this to my companion, "If I only baptize Pattie while I am on my mission then I will be a happy girl." That is how powerful she is! She is even trying to get her daughter to take the lessons. Look! She's being a missionary and she isn't even a member yet!

My District Leader here is named Elder Hoyt. Now you might not have heard of him but maybe you have. The only reason I say this is because he played on the BYU football team. He is like 6'7 and actually pretty amazing! He feels the Spirit so strongly and is really just a big teddy bear! Its so nice to have a person to talk BYU too, Especially because you have a companion who is a UofU fan! haha

Okay, since I already left you a spiritual thought in a few paragraphs above I'll just sign off! Don't stop being amazing guys! Keep the lord in mind! And Don't Do Drugs!(:

Love Hermana Durfee

Picture 1: Is of the beautiful sky in Colorado after a storm(:

Picture 2: Just a buffalo in the middle of nowhere!

Picture 3: Just some awesome Minion cupcakes that someone made for us!