Farewell Hull & Hello Sunderland

Hello one and all! 
Sooooo many changes and learning this week!!!!! WOW!

So guess what!?!  I'm moving!!! I'm going to the Sunderland University Area. I am training again, only halfway through this time and I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve more! President called me to be the District Leader. 

Monday I went shopping all P-day with Elder Ivins and it was so much fun!!!!! hahahah....its not what we normally do and so it was just great, got new shoes!!! They look pretty good! Then I went on exchange with Elder Coombs (Edmonton boy). 

On Tuesday Elder Coombs and I went finding all day, by some potentials, one girl is from Ottowa but we never met her. We also went to Pizza Hut buffet for lunch and almost ate them out of house and home ! HAHAHHAHAHA! So GREAT! And then on our finding we went through this really old graveyard! It was so cool! 1805 was the oldest gravestone that I remember. The biggest thing I learned that day was that we need to have patience, charity and love for those around us. 

We had Zone Conference on Wednesday in Huddersfield.  We were up at 5:22 and on a bus for 2 hours. It was great! President talked to us about the power of love and how when we rely on charity, Heavenly Father will help us. We watched these two inspirational videos. (I can't remember which ones so remind me to find the name)

Then on Thursday Elder Ivins and I went to Bransholme. We went finding.  We talked to some people that were not interested but planted seeds!!!!!! WOOOT!!!! In the evening we saw P and J, they gave me an invite to their wedding :)  They are such a wonderful couple! She is growing a testimony!!! SOOOOOO SOLID!!!! After that we had volleyball!!!! I can jump over the net!!!! :D 

On Friday we did something different! We put our names into the funeral homes around our flat as grief counselors :) 

Stake conference was on Saturday and it was so was great! The members are super pumped about missionary work now and we got refferals!!!!!! :D

The President had a fireside on Sunday.  He is so funny.  We were so excited because we had 224 people there too!  

Anyways, sorry so short !

But just remeber! 

Proverbs 3 5-6- TRUST IN GOD!!!

Elder Dotschkat

Note from Mom:

So, as noted in his letter above Elder Dotschkat has been transferred.  In the message he sent with his new address he said that he's trying hard to focus on the here and now and has felt just a little sad to say goodbye to everyone.  He's really grown to love the people in Hull, they mean so much to him and all he wants is for them to be happy.  He's growing a lot and thinks we're going to be so surprised to talk to him because he's so comfortable with who he is - he's different (I cannot wait for that Christmas phone call :)  He also said that he's really sticking to his guns now and is not letting anyone push him around, not even the drunks (not sure what that means but I have faith he's ok).  

Anyone wanting to send letters or packages for Christmas can send them directly to his flat address.  The mission home wants the letters and packages to go there so they ensure that the missionaries receive them in time for Christmas.  If you want his address, let me know (email, call or PM on Facebook).  I am unable to publish his actual address on the internet due to safety issues (as per the missionary department regulations) but am more than willing to share it with everyone. Any packages and mail sent to the mission home (the old address) prior to this will still get to him and possibly in time for Christmas too as they have zone conference the week before Christmas, this is just in hopes that all the missionaries get something from home in time.

Thanks for supporting our Elder.  It means so much.

M

Jared Sims & I

Moroni 8:16

So this week was pretty good :) 

We are finally seeing progress in the ward here :) 

Well there always has been, just more so now :) 

WE GOT A REFERRAL THAT TURNED INTO AN INVESTIGATOR!!!! :D

I'm happy:) This has been what we have been waiting for in the past little while :) I can see why Elder Ivins and I had gone through this time without "strong and progressing" investigators. 

On Monday it was P-Day and we watched Tarzan and I loved it! I sang to every song! Just so good! Hahaha...secretly I love watching Disney movies just for the music. Well....not so secret now :P.....Whatever.

Tuesday - We had our referral! Her name is Sarah. She is 28 I think and very intelligent. She is an "atheist" but believes that something is there. So she is doing SO GOOD! 

Wednesday - We had district meeting and I got shot in the butt with a needle nerf dart at lunch.

Thursday-  Learned more of what type of man I need to be through the example of others.

Friday - Took a nap at lunch so I appreciate sleep so much now because I am SHATTERED at the end of the day

Saturday - Miracles happen! A member gave us two more names of people they want us to work with

Sunday- The family is the single most important thing of this earth, Treasure EVERY MOMENT that you have with them. LOVE IS TRULY SPELT :T-I-M-E !

Some answers to mom's questions:

Mom: Did you receive the packages that I sent.  I sent one from the states with Sister Allen and I sent another one from Canada.  Elder D: I received the box that Sister Allen sent. You will want to send Christmas Packages by the end of the month so that they get here in time. I know that you love me and I appreciate every one of them :) 

Mom: So how is the work?  Elder D: The work is good, it is FINALLY moving forward in the ward. Got me stubbornness and bluntness and now that I have set fire to the members bums they are getting stuff done. :P 

Mom: Are you doing a lot of service?  Elder D: Not really much service anymore. We are always offering to help.

Mom: Are you still getting fed?  Elder D: Yes we are getting fed :P But feeding ourselves more often now because we had to split up tea appointments. Having take out quite a bit but not hungry at all. 

Mom: Do I need to order some food and have it delivered to your flat? Elder D: I will tell you if we need one. We also have members that will feed us in emergency.

Mom: Do you know what you're doing for Christmas? Elder D: I don't know anything about Christmas yet.  Next week are transfers.  We are going to Skype.

Mom: Are you warm enough? Do you need boots and did you get a jacket yet? Elder D: I am warm enough.  I just got new meeting shoes, and a jacket :) I look like a million bucks!  I'm going to get a new grey suit from here because they are CHEAP!  I don't know about boots yet. I will tell you if I do. 

So yeah! Those are the highlights of my week other than the ordinary threatening, yelling in my face, doors slammed, and being falsely accused as Jehovahs witnesses. Hahahahahha. I love it because there is also happiness, joy, peace, beauty, laughter, miracles, the spirit and heavenly fathers tender mercies in my life every day :) 

If you want to know what where I'm living looks like, go on google earth street view :) 

Transfers are next week so I will then know where I will be for Christmas! :) 

Love you all 

Moroni 8 :16 - " I fear not what man can do for perfect love casteth out all fear" 

Elder Dotschkat

Lest We Forget

Well Hello Everyone. First of all I want to say you are all amazing :)
I never really noticed how each one of you mean to me until I have been out here and let me tell you that I love you all! Each of you! You mean so much to me. :)

Well this week I am  going to change my letter up just a tad. I am going to say the things that really stood out to me, not each day though. Maybe if I have time.

So the two things that really stood out to me were quotes that I heard. With remembrance day being today, we had sacrament on it and it was wonderful. I am truly filled with gratitude towards every person that has, are and will serve in any military in the world. I know its quite
a lot of general statements but these men and woman have sacrificed so much so that we are able to have the freedoms we do. We remember those that make these sacrifices once a year but I feel that we need to remember them everyday. Not only them but their families who have and still sacrifice in the name of freedom. It makes me think of a
scripture, " Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." - John 15 :13.

We must honor these people. Please take a moment to remember those who have sacrificed.
Listen to this : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kX_3y3u5Uo

And read this :
             Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
     Between the crosses, row on row,
  That mark our place; and in the sky
  The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
  Loved and were loved, and now we lie
        In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
  The torch; be yours to hold it high.
  If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
        In Flanders fields.

A quote that was said in sacrament that really touched me was that these people gave their today so that we could have our tomorrow.

Lest we Forget

The other main thing that stood out to me this week was when we were visiting with a member in the ward. They are a young couple, both converts and have two wonderful boys. I knew that the spirit was within their home as soon as I walked into their door. I could just
feel the love and serenity within those walls. Their little boy is 3 and I was amazed at how tame he was. Just a wonderful quiet little kid who takes the world in his own way. I played legos with him for a little bit as we talked to his parents and then he just turned to his dad and said that he wanted to go to bed. Then he just cleaned up his toys and left for bed. I was truly very impressed, there was no arguing or crying or yelling or ANYTHING! I want my home to be the same. These little children are in their parents hands not to be ruled over and dictated to but rather guided and helped through the trials of life. I have seen so many wonderful examples of parenting and I love each one in their own ways. I must say that to be honest, I have really started to miss you. My family is so important to me and I pray for you each night. ALL OF YOU. Individually. I know Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers still and always will because he loves us. I asked them how they had their son so.....responsible and they told me that they based their parenting of this quote.

"There should be no yelling in the home unless there is a fire " - President David O. Mackay.

I was amazed . It makes sense and this is how I want to parent. I want my children to know their limits and to make their own decisions and know that they can always talk to me about their problems. I want them to know that I love them. Family is the most important thing in this world. It is the only thing that will give you true joy. Always remember that.

Well I hope that you all enjoyed this letter home this week. I know that I enjoy reading each of yours :) I love you all. Until next week just remember this,

I love you

Elder Dotschkat

Sunset in England

Coming in from the snow

Gui Fawkes day - a bonfire night celebrating the initial attack on parliment by Gui Fawkes who didn't believe in the current political party that was in power. English people are crazy and just burn random stuff to celebrate the night while they light off fireworks. Elder Putnam standing in front of a burned out couch.

He will ALWAYS fulfill His promises to us.

Well hello! Has this week gone fast or what!?!  Like wow! I can't believe how fast time is going! Like the weeks are starting to feel like days! ( well.....almost:P) 

This week was one truly filled with miracles! I have seen Heavenly Father's hand in my life every day this week. I can feel him guiding me in what I do and how I act. I can feel his spirit comfort me to the point that I don't even know that times are rough. The weather here is starting to get CRAZY!!! I love it! Like P-day was almost cancelled last week because of the storm! 

So on Monday the most profound thing that l learned was that we need to just take life day-by-day, trusting in God and the future will turn out the way that it is meant to become! Also it stuck out to me that no matter how many times you have the spirit testify to you of something, your testimony will grow every time thereafter! 

On Tuesday I learned that I will fight for what I want. Well I didn't really learn this but it made me realize how determined I am to get what I want. Nothing will stop me, I will fight for what I want till the day I die. This is only possible if we rely on God and Jesus Christ. We can have whatever we want as long as we trust in God and do what is right .

On Wednesday we had district meeting in which we discussed becoming our full potential and it made me realize that we can only become our full potential if we trust in God and follow the teaching of Jesus Christ. He is our perfect example and if we follow him, we will become who we are meant to be and we will end up where we are meant to go. I hope that makes sense....can't tell if my grammar is bad there but yeah! That's what stuck out to me that day! 

On Thursday it was a day full of miracles and so because it was it stood out to me that miracles do and will happen, we just need to have faith. The things that we desire in our hearts that are righteous, they will happen as long as we do our part. Life has its ups and downs but if we go through the downs, trusting in God that He will fulfill his promises, then we will be so much better in the long run. 

On Friday the main thing that struck me was that we need to set goals that will make us stretch, then we need to work as hard as we can for them and the Lord will bless us. If we have faith in the promises that the Lord makes to us and do our part, he is bound eternally by his promises. Miracles WILL happen, He will ALWAYS fulfill the promises that he makes to us. 

On Saturday the main thing that stuck out to me was that we need to show that we love people more. The Savior did everything out of love for those around him, he is our elder brother and loves each of us so much that he has set a way for us to be able to return to our heavenly home. We need to lift those who are struggling, we need to help those who are in trouble. We need to follow our Saviors example, that is where true joy is found.

On Sunday the biggest thing that stood out to me was that when we have righteous desires, Heavenly Father will pour out his spirit upon us in our time of need. I learned this during our lesson with Jenine through the spirit. Heavenly Father is willing to teach us, we must be willing to learn. 

Well thats all Folks! 

Hope you are well! 

Take care! 

Love you dearly

You are in my prayers!

Elder Dotschkat