THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR ALL THE GIFTS!

Hello Everyone!

Not going to lie, I am all emailed out! LOL and tired out! LOL  Doing good though! Actually I'm doing REALLY good! haha I have had a great Christmas season and past little while of work and fun on my mission! I feel so blessed to have made so many great memories in the past week and feel the love of those people that I know that care about me and have helped me so much in the past and support me now!

So this past Monday was pretty good! It was a shortened P-day because we get so much time off from proselyting in the next two week period between Christmas and New Years. With the time that we had we were able to get me a hair cut and get our gifts for our secret santa within the district that happened on Wednesday! I was looking forward to Wednesday so much! It was a great time to have so much fun giving other people the joy of Christmas! After that we made time to go and work with the people that we keep seeing lately! That night we had a miracle! We simply asked our investigator Peter who is getting baptized on the 10th of January if there was anyone that he knew that would need this message and the help of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Then he listed off nine people that he thought would be willing and open to listening to the message! Most referrals in one day that I have received on my mission! I will keep you posted with the progress that these people make!

So Tuesday was a great time to be able to go and work and be able to spend the day serving the Lord and looking for His children that he has a desire to return to him and to know how to return to Him. Then in the evening we had a good time with a member just having a great tea with them. She made a drink that is non-alcoholic called Ginger Wine! It was sooooooo delicious and had a fire that burned your throat. It was great. Warmed me right up!

Wednesday was the day that I was looking forward to the past little bit! In DDM we had the gift exchange and I made an oreo chocolate cake and if I can say so myself it was so delicious! So fro the DDM we were blessed to have the spirit there and be able to enjoy the Christmas spirit of giving and laughter. After DDM we were able to go over to the B's house and give them a Christmas present with some other members an then we were able to feel relaxed when we finally made it home because we went right to sleep (I told Elder D that if we go to sleep sooner that Santa would come quicker lol)

Thursday was a wonderful Christmas Day full of joy, laughter and smiles. Thank you to all those who have sent me and my companion something. It truly made both of our Christmas full of joy and smiles. I loved the candy, socks and many other unique and wonderful gifts that I have received. THANK YOU! After that we were blessed to spend more time with another family within the ward. This lovely couple has adopted most of the missionaries that enter within their doors and it was great to have them take care of us just as they would their own sons. So they fed us a great meal of Christmas and it was so delicious. Then after that we were sent to another family's home and were blessed to spend so much time with them. They were great to us and the night was full of laughter and great memories! Now overall I don't know what it is but the members might think that we stink because we got so much smelling things (Axe body spray etc) It was great and we truly appreciate it :)

So Boxing Day was really great because we were able to go and experience it in England but there was seriously not a soul in sight so that was nice to go and enjoy the sales pretty much by ourselves. Then we were picked up by some members (because the busses were shut down) and we played games and laughed at their house all day! 

Saturday and Sunday were good and we were impressed to go and spend some quality time with the less actives in the area. It was just a blur of a weekend but I truly enjoyed it!

Anyways, time has run out but I'll talk to you next week!

Love you all

Sincerely,

Elder Dotschkat

PS - Have a Happy New Year!

My epic oreo chocolate cake

The rugby jersey that I got from a dear friend in my last area

The CTR ring that my mom sent to me

Its been really cold here lately and I think this toque will come in really handy

CHECK THIS OUT! A present from the Relief Society sisters at home and they sent one for my companion too!!!

The amazing Christmas stockings

Everyone knows how much I love Reese peanut butter cups lol

My engraved wallet

Christmas dinner. So nice to be with "family"

Merry Christmas

Heya Everyone!

Hope you are all having a great time during these wonderful CHRISTMAS holidays! I know that the people that I am around everyday are enjoying it but we are trying to help them enjoy it for the right reasons and to remember the spirit of Christmas. Its all fine with the gifts and tinsel and carols and stuff but whats the point unless we strengthen our faith and the faith of others in our Savior Jesus Christ. To me Christmas time is not about the gifts but more of service and making the world a better place because you were there. Its about spending time with those things that matter most, family especially! And thats the message that we bear on our hearts daily and testify of those around us that are seeking for the truth and to all nations, tongues and kindred around! So thats my testimony of Christmas to EVERYONE!

So this past week was really good! I truly enjoyed every minute of it and all the great people that I was able to associate with this past week! On Monday we went to Newcastle to meet with other missionaries to practice the song "Homeless" by Michael McLean from his Christmas CD the Forgotten Carols. But alas my hopes were slightly dashed because people were unable to make it to practice so was had to call an audible and changed the song at the last minute. We ended up deciding to sing "O Come All Ye Faithful" in parts. It was really good (if I can say so myself).

Tuesday was the Christmas party full of laughter and fun! We started traveling EARLY and then we ended up making it there just before it started. I have realized how in the sticks we are! its pretty funny! So at the party we played silly fun games and I learned how to throw a card into a melon properly. Then we had our taken show. It was really good. It takes a lot for people to get up in front of a group of their peers and show off what God has given them. Its even more so when they do it solo. Well done to all those who participated.

Then we watched a great British Christmas comedy called the Nativity. I think the main character is also the main character playing in the Hobbit series (the posters came out this past week and it looks sweet. Marathon in a few months ... yes!)

Wednesday we had a great meeting in Newcastle about setting goals, giving all of our efforts and then achieving them! The biggest thing that stood out to me was the quote I came up with ... "Challenges and trials are put into ur lives to push us to our absolute limits. Its at the edge of comfort and fear that faith must come into our lives. We must jump off the cliff and then and only then is when we learn to fly. If we merely stay in the nest and give up, that is when our trial seat us down and they will keep us there if we let them. We must be harder and fight as lions during life to succeed! Challenges are only impossible if you give up, and if you give up, you will Never grow, profess and be better!"

Thursday was a day full of service with a great couple of people that are in the ward. We were scraping off wall paper all day and had so much fun coin git and enjoying some Christmas music. For lunch the sisters made us some really good fajitas.

Friday was crazy! So much so that it passed in a flash and all that I can remember is going to this members home and watching Joy to the World with her. It was great to be able to bring the Christmas spirit into her home and into her life. She loves Christmas because she gets to spend time with her family and I don't blame her! Once again, I restate that Christmas is ALL ABOUT FAMILY AND CHRIST! Let us not forget the CHRIST in Christmas.

Saturday was pretty busy too! We travelled a long time to get to Sunderland to watch the Christmas truce program that has been put on! Its a wonderful reminder for those who have sacrificed and those who still sacrifice. My heart goes to those courageous men and women who have fought for the wonderful freedoms that we enjoy now. Please, this Christmas season, stop and think of the things to be grateful for and if you know someone that has served in any aspect of any wars, thank them because without their or their family's sacrifice you nor I would be here today to be able to enjoy what we have and do.

Well, I hope and pray that you all have a wonderful Christmas season full of joy, peace, laughter and full of the love of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Sincerely,
Elder Zachary Lee Dotschkat

We ate Chicken Stuffed Haggis

Hello Everybody!

WOW This week has absolutely just flown by! I can't believe where the time is going! Pretty much speeding up nearly every week ... this last weekend was seriously a blur (a good blur though it had many colours)

So Monday was pretty good! I was the mould killer in the flat! I seriously used the entire hour to clean the mould out of our bedroom! (I have pics but won't send them home because they are almost horrifying hahahaha) Then we spent the rest of the day relaxing. I made my burritos (haven't done them in a while) then napped for a bit! In the evening we went over to this members house for a while and just hungout and got to know him. His newly wed wife was not there so we had a guys chat. Talked about his mission, got some advice and then talked about what to help out the ward with.

Tuesday was pretty good as well. We went around the chapel and invited EVERYONE (and I mean EVERYONE) to the upcoming branch carol service! Pretty good response from the people so we are hoping that there will be many people that attend!

Wednesday was COLD! The wind nearly knocked me over! We went and knocked around the chapel again (a lot of doors) and we kept inviting people to the activity. In the evening we were very blessed to have a delicious tea at a members him. It was chicken stuffed haggis and it was delicious. I have thought about how much I talk about food lately and its kind of funny!

Thursday was pretty alright, we were running around like chickens with our heads cut off and were doing it so much that we got lost for 45 minutes. We had to have a member come and get us so that we knew where to go and where we were (I have no bearings where I am at with no mountains around me lol). In the evening we had a great time at this other members home and had kebab with them for tea! Pretty fun. Then I played with their grandchildren and we just and a really good time getting to know them and how we can help. We are returning to their home this Thursday to help them paint their house! Yay SERVICE :D

Friday was pretty good. If you have been reading my blog for a while you must know by now that Friday makes weekly planning days. So I got my peanuts, my drink and we just bunkered down and got stuck in! Pretty good session but we were drained at the end and it didn't help that we had to go and help out at the chapel to set it up for the barn dance that evening. The barn dance was great. We had so much fun laughing and talking and watching people dance (we can't, not because we are physically unable but because we are missionaries and don't want to show people up with our dancing skills lol)

Saturday was pretty good! Took everything down in the morning from the dance as we pumped some Christmas hymns throughout the AP system. It was like a cathedral with the music that we put on. It was all opera like hahaha! Then in the evening we had a great time at our investigators home that is getting baptized on January 10th. I forgot to mention that we scheduled him this week :D

Sunday was a great day. I enjoyed listening to the talks in church and taking the sacrament. I am currently reading Believing in Christ by Stephen E Robson and its a great book to understand the atonement and the forgiveness process :) After church we were blessed to have a great tea appointment with people of the ward and their daughter invited us over for Christmas Day dinner :) We are very excited to go and spend time with their wonderful family.

Anyways, miracles are happening, angels are ministering, God is working and so are His missionaries!
Love Elder Dotschkat

Another South African companion

Hello everyone!

I've moved north again. If you want my actual address message my mom and she'll give it to you.

So now all that business sis out of the way I will tell you about the last bit of the great past few days that I have experienced here in Ashington ward (actually its a branch but I call it a ward because it definitely has the strength of one!)

So in the past few days I have met a lot of people and have had a load of chances to bear my testimony to people and invite them to follow Christ in their lives more and let me first of all start off by telling you guys that I love it! I love my mission and all that it entails, the good and the bad times! The happy and the sad times and the times that I get to rhyme lol! I'm still funny ... or at least I think so lol

So I have a great new companion called Elder Dickson. He is from Port Elizabeth SOUTH AFRICA! (maybe in a few years I will travel and visit my companions from there :D) Anyways he's is a great guy and probably the greatest thing about hi is his humility. Like I know a lot of humble people but wow this guy is 26 and only has one purpose while he is out here and that is to serve the Lord and make England a better place because he was here. He has been on his mission and we will hit his year mark together so we are going to party! He's got a big testimony and a bigger heart! (thought it can't keep him warm in this cold lol)

The area that I am in now has A LOT of potential and Elder Dickson and I look forward to harvesting all of the potential that the Lord sent us to meet here. I have gained a stronger testimony and I know that "there are no such things as coincidences, thats just a name that God uses to stay anonymous!"

Anyways my time has run out! Expect castle pics in the coming weeks!
I love the Lord, I love my mission, and I know its changing me for the better!
Regards
Elder Dotschkat

I've been transferred

Hey Everyone!

So I'm being transferred again to Ashington, its up by Newcastle (address to the flat will follow in the coming week). So this letter is going to be short and simple.

I love my Savior. He lives and loves each one of us no matter who we are, what we have done or what we are currently doing.

The best experience that I had this week was learning about the strength of unity.
The first one is about wolves.
"For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and for the strength of the wolf is the pack"

It makes me realize that no matter where you go, as long as you are serving the Lord, the rest of the people who are serving the Lord will always be with you and willing to lift you. I have seen and gained a testimony of this so many times in my life and am truly grateful for the trails to teach me about the strength of faith in Christ and faith in oneself. People are always willing and ready to help, we simply need to ask.

The other thing that stood out to me this past weekend was strength of wire cable. I know that it sounds quite weird but it makes a whole bunch of sense. The reason why construction workers use wire cable instead of chains is because the chain is only as strong as the weakest link and the cable is as strong as all the individual wires working together towards a common purpose and common goal. They wrap themselves around and protect each other and take the strain of the opposite force as a whole group, working together and equally balancing the load that they carry.

The third one is about the body. The Savior actually talked about this in the scriptures and I found it very important to know and realize. Each part of the body is unique, different in purpose and individual strength. Each part has its own role to play in keeping the being healthy, strong, safe and working. The eyes are to see, the ears are to hear, the fingers to feel and the heart to keep it all alive. BUT each of these sensory responses keep the body safe and alive just as simply as the heart does. There was moment this week that I was curious how it would be to be blind and how much I relied on my vision and so I closed my eyes for a while and tried to do the same simple tasks and walk in the same direction that I knew that I was meant to go. After only a few short seconds, I realized that I had lost my way and that I was going way off track of where I was meant to be and where safety was. I thought about all of the beautiful and wondrous things that I have seen and all o fate joys that I feel when I see all of Gods beautiful wonders. I am thankful for my eyes for they give me a life that I love!

Then I pondered what life would be like without my hearing and all of those things that I would miss out on. The sounds of the birds, the laughter of children, the voices of those people I love and music which strengthens the heart and soothes the soul. I realized that without hearing, I would not be able to pay attention to my surroundings and probably would accidentally put myself into a dangerous situation. I could no longer have those memories associated two music or actually enjoy the peace and silence because I would always experience it and know no better. I am thankful for my ears for they give me the life that I love!

Then I thought about touch and how vital it is in showing and expressing human emotion. The embrace of a loved one is the fire that can melt any sadness, any pain, and anger or malice and negative feeling that the adversary tries to plant into our hearts. Our mission President told us of an experience where what problems were int he past, they were melted away with a single hug of forgiveness and love. As he told us this story I pondered in my heart the thought of embracing those that I love and then the moments that I have felt that i have been embraced by the loving arms of our Father in Heaven. I had one of those moments this past weekend and let me just say that it was wonderful to feel that He knows who I am and that He loves me no matter what I have done in my past. He desires me to look to the future with faith! I know that our Father in Heaven has these feelings towards all the children of God no matter race, religion, creed, or country. HE LOVES US ALL!

He loves and knows YOU!

These are the things that I have learned this week and that I hold very dear to my heart.
I hope and pray that the Lord will strengthen my testimony and that I can be His voice this coming week once more!
You are in my prayers
Love
Elder Dotschkat