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!

Lookin like a Fool with my Spanish on the Ground?

So a little update about what is happening at home!!! :) Brought to you by me, Josie Durfee!! We haven't been up to much lately. Although I can say this, this whole summer has been full of my family, which I have mentioned that before. But I know this, I am so grateful for that because I am heading off to the big big world in September, haha (just a little town in Idaho, really, but still!!) I am going to be on my own. I have had the opportunity to get very close to my mom, dad, and sisters. Usually people say that they are going to go see a movie with their friends over the weekend. Well, let me tell you I saw a movie with my family!! :) We celebrated my dad's birthday this last Saturday. We went to Chile's for dinner, did a little thrift store shopping, and then went to Despicable Me 2!! And can I just say that, that movie was the funniest movie that I have seen in a very long time!! It was very cute!! I recommend that whoever reads this should go see it!! :D Anyways, so I just want you to take this little thought from me before you hear from Shar, it is that family is never to be taken for granted 'cause your friends will come and go, but the one thing that will be forever constant is your family. They will be there for you always. And I know that we all have different kinds of families, but that does not matter!! Anyways enough about me, let's hear from my wonderful sis~

 

 

These pictures are older but I thought that they would add some variety to the blog!! ~ Josie

 

Shar's letter:

 

Okay,

 

So I am going to start this off with the paragraph of the email before so I can finish telling you about my first day and then on to my first week!

After we arrived we then proceeded with a ton of different information stations about driving, service, manners, referrals, etc. I was so tired and I had a hard time staying awake. I also got to eat really food! I was so excited and it tasted so good! around 5ish, I think, I met my companion. Her name is Hermana Espinosa and she is a native Spanish speaker. She lived in Mexico for all her life and about 5 years ago moved to Utah. She's 19 so that's a little weird in fact she'll turn 20 in October and then right after that I'll turn 21. But besides that she's great! The more I get to know her the more I love her. While we do companionship study during we talk in all Spanish  I can understand most but again where I struggle is speaking. I know if I continue to work hard the Lord will help me.

We had more meetings and dinner which lasted a long while. We didn't get home until 9:30 and then we did planning. I wasn't able to unpack hahaha actually I just finished unpacking today. I can now say that I am officially moved in! 

Okay so what I'll do now is tell you about some awesome stories of my first week in Colorado. I was assigned to the Fort Lupton ward. Its a pretty big area and there are a ton of horses and farm land around, reminds me a little be of home. There are quite a bit of Spanish speakers here but not a ward. So I attend an English ward. Now on my companion doesn't really like trackting (sp?) but what we do instead and specially after the Missionary Broadcast is we focus on members and in-actives. However, she wanted me to knock on some doors. My first and second door were pretty normal. Normal meaning the first one talked to us but said he wasn't interested and the second one the parents weren't home but gave us a time to come back. The third door was actually a referral  We knocked and I began to say, "Hi I'm Hermana Durfee and this is Hermana Espinosa. We are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Lat....." They shut the door. And the crazy thing was I wasn't devastated. I might have laughed. I honestly hope we do some more door knocking. Though what we are doing right now is super effective. 

I have been able to give away 5 Book of Mormons! 2 Spanish ones and 3 English. Haha one of the spanish ones went like this. Sister Espinosa was talking and then handed me the Book of Mormon. I was so nervous. I turned to the man and said, "Es El Libro de Mormon. Es central a nuestra iglesia. Es por usted." Yep that was pretty much it. Hermana Espinosa was laughing so hard after that and I was because well... I defiantly need to work on my Spanish. (For those who don't know what I said, "This is the Book of Mormon. It is central to our church. Its for you." hahaha oh man. I laugh even now. 

One of my favorite parts is interacting with the kids. One of our investigators, Eve, has two kids, one is 5 and the other 7, and while we were visiting her they just loved us... aka me. ;) During the lesson they wouldn't stay quite so I tried to find something in my bag that would entertain them. Of course all i had in there were journals, a spanish Book of Mormon, my planner and the white bible (the missionary rules). I gave them the Spanish Book of Mormon and the girl asked, "Is this a bible?" I told her it was in a way. After that anything that I pulled out of my bag was a bible. It was so cute! Another time was we were trackting in a poor trailer park where mostly Hispanics live. As we were teaching someone we contacted (The same one I gave the spanish BOM in the story above) he had two little girls. They kept handing me flowers they picked. I loved them. And right after that we ran into another little girl, who was about 8. She said to us, "Who are you?" 

I said, "Well we are missionaries!" 

"Do you want to get my mom." 

"For what?"

"To teach the people!" I think my heart died with happiness right there. Curfew was already upon us, but we quickly walked to her trailer to get her address number and told her we would be back. We went to contact her yesterday but there was a huge baby shower going on so we just walked passed. But we will definitely return.

I love having dinners with the members. That's mostly where we try to get referrals. That is one thing I want to challenge my family. If the missionaries ask for referrals try to think of some names. Missionary work would move along much faster if members were helping us with finding. I have had some crazy dinners though. One was with the Ramirez family. It wasn't that crazy but she has two goats and she milks them! I was reminded of you, Mom, and Betty, our cow. She also had like a cream cheese that we ate with crackers. (also a reminder of home). If there is anyway you could send me some milk let me know! ;) Another crazy dinner story was with the Greenlands. They are less active and we are trying to get them to come to church but she works and he babysits while the kids take naps. I have actually heard that excuse, "One o'clock church is during our baby's nap." more then once. The only reason why it was weird because she said that when she was investigating the church... demons were attacking her. Now, I believe there is opposition in all things and I also believe that, Satan is real and so are his followers, but she said she was getting burned and scratched during these episodes... I don't know what to think.

Speaking of weird and slightly scary, we were looking for less actives and we knocked on a door that we thought was a member. We heard voices and thought someone was home and waited for them to get the door... nothing... so we knocked again. Then at that moment someone came and looked through the slit of the side window. We could only see her eyes. Hermana Espinosa said she was shaking her head and it looked like she was saying something. Hermana Espinosa thought she wanted us to go to the side window so we do but nothing. Did I mention that the house was completely dark? Then we heard the same voices again but still now one opened the door.... So we left. I hope we never have to go back!

What we do here in my mission is a lot of service. I love it! Wednesday we work at the food bank in Fort Lupton, and then on Friday we work at a lake called Barr Lake. Saturday was Lake Appreciation day, supposedly, and we went back to the lake. They were getting rid of some sort of tree along the canal. It was hard work. As they were cutting down trees our job as missionaries was to drag the large branches up a hill to the wood chipper. It was hard and really hot but totally worth it! I am really glad we do a lot of service. During this service we aren't supposed to preach the gospel but if they ask we can set up another time with them. 

Okay I have one more story before I have to go and it will tie into my spiritual thought. Again we were looking for less actives and we went to the house of Nathaniel Buelo. It was late so we were a little worried but he answered the door. We asked him if we could share a message and he shared with us that he was born in Utah, had grown up Mormon but decided that it wasn't for him. He didn't want us to share a message with him and asked us to not come back. I was so sad and baffled. I wondered how people can loose their testimonies. I wondered how Nathaniel lost his. Now, for the spiritual part. Please for those of you who do have a testimony. Don't loose it. Keep the basic commandments of God and really endure to the end. I can testify that if you continue to do the right thing and follow Jesus Christ the blessing will pour like rain! I have received so much because of this gospel! 

I love you all! Hope everything is going great! Don't do drugs and stay sweet!

Hermana Durfee