Put your trust in the Lord

Hello all! 

Its me again! I hope you have had a great week full of learning and fun because I have! 

Even though some days are harder than others, I enjoy this work! Thank you for supporting me in this :)

Don't have much time so it might be a little short so I'm going to tell you all what I learned this week.

Monday - The tender mercies from Heavenly Father are everywhere, we must look for them and appreciate each one individually. 

Tuesday - We must do all we can do, trust in the Lord and give our all to him.

Wednesday - I want to be the man that is trust worthy, responsible and an example of a righteous priesthood holder for my children.

Thursday - The scriptures and family prayer are what we need to base our families off of. "A home that is founded upon righteous principals will be a place of refuge and safety" - Preach My Gospel

Friday- We need to be honest and open with people. We must let them know how we feel and why we feel that way. If we do this we will help them learn, grow and become their full potential. 

Saturday - "I fear not what man can do because perfect love casteth out all fear."- Book of Mormon. 

Sunday - Enduring to the end is not just pushing through your trials, it is persevering through them trusting in God, with an attitude of optimism and a brightness of hope. 

So yeah. That is what I learned this week through the missionary life :) I am really working hard to be effective with every moment and not just "going through" trials but loving and learning in each one of them. I am grateful for trials because they make me into the man that I want to be and that the Lord wants me to be. I can feel his spirit in my life abundantly and I strive to keep it with me every moment of every day. The best part of being a missionary is those little moments when you can feel Heavenly Fathers love for those around you. When you put your trust in the lord and ask him for help, he shows his abundant mercy and love. The biggest thing that has stood out to me this week is how much we truly need Heavenly Father in our lives. We need to always be praying for His help and thanking Him for everything that he gives us. I thank him EVERYDAY for you and what you mean in my life, you have helped me get to this point in my life and if it wasn't for you I wouldn't be here. Thank you for your support and confidence in me. I love you. Always remember that. 

Well I must dash!  I hope you all have a wonderful week where you can see how Heavenly Father loves you because HE DOES!   Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love each one of you no matter what.  And so do I.

You are in my prayers,

With love,

Elder Dotschkat

Study your Scriptures & Feast upon the Words

Well hello everybody! It is your favorite Elder again! haha....just kidding....well...I will let you all decide ;P Anyways, you all are probably keen to hear about my week! 

Monday evening Elder Ivins and I went to a family in the ward for their family home evening. They are memorizing an Article of Faith each month and so we helped them with that. It was so fun and the brownies that Sister Brown made were divine! They were so good :) In competition with a few of the women's back home!  The most profound thing that stuck out to me was that I want to hold family home evening every week with my future family and raise my future children in the gospel.

wait a minute......I already told you all about this in last weeks letter! haha :P woops....okay ...well then ... uhhh... I will start with...Wednesday! 

Wednesday - The most profound thing that I learned Wednesday was that when life seems rough and we are getting really nowhere we must look for those little miracles and tender mercies that Heavenly Father gives us. This came to me in the day because well guess what? It rained all day! I guess that just goes to show that sometimes stereotypes are true. Apparently I am extremely polite and the stereotypical Canadian man. IDK....I live with Americans. 

Thursday - The biggest thing that stuck out to me was that this is the Lord's work and we cannot do anything by ourselves. We need him to direct us and guide our thoughts actions and words. Sometimes we get too caught up in ouselves and we just need to slow down and let the Lord do his work. We need to let him help us, we need to let him comfort us, we need HIM. 

Friday - Well....now this was different! The most profound things that stood out to me were:

1 - Endure in Patience

2 - We need the spirit 

3 - Suck it up princess

I know this really isn't what people are expecting to hear from me but that's what I learnt! Friday was a tough day. Rained, cold, I wasn't feeling that well and noone was listening. Missionary work at its finest! I am not gonna lie or even fluff it up, it was hard but now that I look at it, I'm glad it was hard. I wouldn't want it any other way! Wanna know why? Its because in the end it is good for me and will make me a better man and I LOVE IT!!!

Saturday - I prayed really hard Saturday morning to have a better day and saw a miracle! IT WAS THE SAME WEATHER, THE SAME SITUATION AND THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES AGAIN!!! and guess what? I LOVED IT!  I had a far better day! I know that the spirit will bless us in mysterious ways and Heavenly Father may not answer exactly how we want but he will always hear and answer our prayers!

Sunday - The most profound thing that stood out to me was that when we truly study our scriptures and FEAST upon the words of Christ, we will ALWAYS find what we are looking for. Sometimes we may not be looking for it, but we will need it later. 

Well thats all folks 

love you all

Sincerely 

Elder Dotschkat

Never Give Up. Never Lose Hope. Let Light Shine

Hello everyone! Sorry its so late. It was transfers this week and we didn't have time yesterday so I am here now and that's what matters! Haha

This week has been one of a lot of learning and testing experiences and so if I seem like I a rambling on...its because I am. Haha. I'm loving every minute of the mission though :) Gotta keep positive right? First of all, I want to tell Josh, keep your chin up buddy :) I promise that you will see some field time :) I had somewhat the same experience in rugby and so I know how it feels. Work hard, play hard and FIGHT HARDER! Love ya bud :) 

So to everyone else! This week was a true learning curve for both Elder Ivins and I. Let me explain. 

Monday - So the biggest thing that I learnt on Monday was that when you forgive someone or what they have done wrong, the love of God fills you :) So all day I was pondering the messages in the talks during conference and it touched my heart to realize that when you forgive someone for what they have done wrong the love of God fills you. Just thinking about it right now makes me feel like a burden is taken off of my shoulders. "I will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive ALL men " - Idk the reference :P 

Tuesday - It really stood out to me that we are accountable to the Lord for our time here on earth and how we utilize our time so we MUST make EVERY MOMENT COUNT! Our lives here on earth have been given to us as a gift and we must utilize the time that we have to work for the Savior. We must tell everyone we know that Jesus Christ lives and that we can all find peace and joy. This message that we have to share with the world is so important that we have a DUTY and RESPONSIBILITY to share it! 

Wednesday - The most profound thing that stuck out to me in my mind was that no matter the circumstances, we MUST remember what we stand for and who we are. We must NEVER GIVE UP. "There are times in our lives that seem dark and dreary, but these are the times that the light at the end of the tunnel will shine the brightest"- Me. Haha. Just made that up on the spot. :P Anyways though, life is hard sometimes. Trust me. I meet so many people with so many different problems and the one thing that they all have in common is they cover up the light at the end of their tunnel. We must let it shine. We must let it glow. How are we supposed to be guided and see all the beauty of life if there is no light? NEVER GIVE UP. NEVER LOSE HOPE. LET THE LIGHT SHINE. 

Thursday - The biggest change in my life this day was in the morning when I learnt what true charity was. I learnt that "charity never faileth" and if you are upset with someone, SERVE THEM! So in the morning I learnt what it meant to have true charity for your fellow man and how the love of Christ will fill you. Elder Ivins and I had a disagreement the night earlier and we were just not seeing eye to eye. In the morning as I was in the shower, he made me Bacon and Eggs :) and then while he was in the shower I made him some delicious toast (I know it sounds gross but try it! Philadelphia cream cheese and....NUTELLA!!!!) and a nice thing to drink (pineapple orange juice ) . I learned that no matter what you circumstances are, if you are upset with them, serve them!!!

Friday - I learned on Friday that we MUST always be evaluating and re-evaluating ourselves so that we can grow into our full potential and become who we are meant to be. Well we had to take a survey for the mission just to see how we were doing and so because of this it made me think ask if I was doing my best and everything that I could do to serve God. I thought about and pondered on this topic all day and realized that there is always more that we can be doing to serve God. So yeah. Do your best. If you don't know what your best is, imagine serving someone you love and how much effort you would put into making them happy. There is your start point :)  

Saturday- I learned that we must love and enjoy all of those people around us. When we are in the service of our fellow beings, the love that you have for them will show.  Saturday was different for me because well...our teaching pool has been struggling for a while and so to help us, our Zone Leaders, District Leader and his companion came and went on a blitz with us to build it. It truly made me feel loved and cared for because I was struggling trying to help Elder Ivins keep positive and a happy outlook on missionary work but because of this blitz we have 3 new investigators! If we are doing our best, Heavenly Father will hear and answer our prayers :) 

Sunday - The thing that stood out to me the most was even though we have our own fears and cautions, we must trust other people in life. During Sunday I was reading the story of Job in the Bible and it amazed me how much he trusted in God. He had all manner of afflictions and torment upon him and his family and yet he did not speak ill of the Lord. We as mortal human beings are imperfect, but if we put our trust in the Savior we can become the people that we are meant to be. We can achieve our full potential. We can do ANYTHING that we set our mind to.

Monday - Transfers day, I am staying in Hull with Elder Ivins (crossing fingers until after Christmas as well :D ). We evaluated how this past six weeks have gone and what we want to do better. We realized that there are so many things that we can do better but we can only accomplish all of these goals with help from the Lord. This is such a common fact in life because no matter what we do by our own means, we will always fall short. We must trust in the Savoir so that we can achieve the goals that we have set for ourselves. When we trust in God and plead for his help, he will raise us and help us exceed our goals. 

Tuesday - It stood out to me that sometimes we need to take ourselves out of a situation, analyze the problem and try to understand the other persons point of view. Last night during planning for the day Elder Ivins and I were having a disagreement and not seeing eye to eye again.  I thought about it for a minute and the situation that we were in and realized that sometimes you just need to step back and try to understand what the other person is trying to say. Once I did that, we both calmed down and were both trying to understand one another. If you are having a difficult time with someone, take a step back, a few breaths and listen.

Well that's all folks! That was my week.

Once again, sorry for the lateness and confusion. 

Have a good week! You are all in my prayers because I love you all! 

May Heavenly Father bless and watch over you

Regards

Elder Dotschkat

If we do our best, we need not stress!

Hello everyone. First of all I just want to thank you for all of your prayers and your love. I do need it sometimes to get me through the days and I know that Heavenly Father sends his blessings to those who ask. You are all in my prayers and I truly do love you all. I am so grateful for the support that you show me while I am out here. I love you. This week has been such a one of faith building and strengthening especially with conference.

So I kind of missed a few days on telling you what was most profound to me and I promised that I would tell you everyday and I keep my promises. So on Saturday the most profound thing that I learned that day was that if we trust in Heavenly Father that everything will turn out the way that it is meant to be. On Sunday it was just a reaffirmation to me about how much I want to be a father. To be a parent is the most sacred and special "job" that we can have on this earth in this life. This stood out to me while the primary was giving their presentation and while I was looking at their parents faces. I want to have that same joy. I know without a doubt that I want to be a father and help some of Heavenly Fathers special children return home to him. 

Monday - We had P-day, played some Gator-ball (mix of all sports), watched some movies and wrote letters like every P-day :P It was really fun! That evening Elder Kruse and I were on exchange in my area and we got lost :P haha. it was quite funny...you think that I would know it all by now but I guess that I just have to keep learning. :P We all do. Thats why we are here , right? So the most profound thing that stood out to me that day was that if we do our best, we need not stress. Give yourself a break, things will turn out the way that they are meant to be. 

Tuesday - The miracle of that day was just how much I am changing and growing into the man that not only do my family and loved ones want me to be but the man that the Lord wants me to be. I am standing for truth and righteousness and proclaiming that we have a loving Father in Heaven to the world. I love every moment that I have to share this with those around me. The most profound thing that stood out to me that day was that we MUST be bold in our testimonies and our desires because that is what truly makes us who and what we are. We are children of God, children of Truth and children of Light. We must stand up and rise above the world. Don't let it get you down. Rise above the blues, reach up for help and the Lord will lift you up. 

Wednesday - The most profound thing that stood out to me that day was in district meeting. We were talking about virtue and knowledge. These two Christ-like attributes are life long journeys and they are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven and the atonement. We must repent and make changes in our lives to become our full potential. To virtuous is a life long travel, when you fall down you MUST NOT give up. Keep going. Keep trying. Look forward to the future with faith. The Lord is there to help you and carry you. He will help you. While we were in district meeting I also finally felt a sense of belonging. I know that I am a missionary in the England Leeds Mission and there are many more like me but now I feel like I belong more than I did before. Sometimes the Lord will bless you with things you didn't even know you needed. 

Thursday - The most profound thing that stood out to me that day was if you ask for specific things, God will give you specific answers or blessings. It may not be in the way or time that you want it but He will give you what you need. This is truly a sobering thought that an all powerful, all knowing being will take time just to answer our prayers. He loves you. He knows you. Rely on Him. 

Friday - The most profound thing that stood out to me that day was that we need to read our Patriarchal Blessings often! They are specific blessings from God to YOU! They are so amazing and it just makes sense that we should read them as often as possible. They will answer your questions, give you comfort and advice. Listen to the counsel that it gives you and you will know where to go, what to do and what will help you in your life. I find so much strength from reading mine and I know that you will all find the same from reading yours. 

Saturday - The most profound thing that stood out to me that day was just the humbling idea that I am just a tool in the Lords hands, like the prophets in the Book of Mormon I glory not in myself but in my Saviour and my God. He knows and loves each one of us and this is his work. We must be humble in our circumstances but if we have faith, He will help us because he loves us. 

Sunday - Well all I want to say is that a prayer that I have had for a long time in my heart and in my mind was finally answered during conference. I feel like a burden is lifted like a new man. I know what to do and take strength from KNOWING that Heavenly Father KNOWS and loves EACH ONE OF US! HE KNOWS YOU! HE LOVES YOU!  Look to him for strength. He will guide you in life and if you trust in Him, you will be where you are meant to be. You will be with the people that you are meant to be with. You will become the person that you are meant to become. 

Well that's all folks! haha....Yeah! That was my amazing week! 

I have grown so much! I love it!

I love this work! 

I love my Savior! 

I love my Father in Heaven!

I love my family!

I love you! 

I love the gospel!

Sincerely with love! 

Elder Dotschkat