Call home for England Mothers Day

I got a FREE guitar!

Hello Everyone!

So this week was another week of good progress and great growth! I am thankful to note that I am still alive and the weather is warming up! Also I cannot believe how fast the time seems to be going!!!! WHERE IS MY LIFE RUNNING TO? Anyways, so this past Monday was another resting P-day and it was really good to work out and to rest a while. In the evening we went and saw a brother that races motorcycles and has a son in the military. Funniest thing for an umbrella holder, a used tank shell casing! I will get a picture soon lol

Tuesday we had a great day! It started off pretty great as well because the day before a brother in the ward phoned us saying that he found a guitar in his house and asked if I wanted it. So of course as you do, you say yes! And I was thinking that he wanted to sell it to me but now its proven that he just wanted to give it to me for FREE! Pretty sweet price I must say and life is looking up from here! It needs a little TLC but hey, ITS A FREE GUITAR! I won't complain lol. So the entire Tuesday was spent going to people's houses and knocking to offer service with summer coming up and people needing their yard work done :) Sadly no takers but we just had a great day of laughter and just great memories. Elder D and I feel like brothers now and I look forward to traveling to South Africa one day :)

Wednesday was great as well because the members here once again took care of me. I have recently ripped the stitching out of my crotch on my trousers on three different sets and the lovely sister offered to mend them. Needless to say, my answer was yes and I really appreciated her offer. I just simply don' thane the spare time to sew. Anyways, Wednesday's day of work was a lot like Tuesday just in a different place and it was a place that we will return to because we enjoyed the people there.

Thursday I had a meeting in Newcastle and it was great to receive some great revelation and to know the exact direction that the Lord would desire to take me in!

Gah!!! I'M OUTTA TIME!

Well lets just say that I am happy, healthier and having a great time!
Will fill you in more next week.
Love Elder Dotschkat

Car trouble won't get us down

Hello Everyone!

So this week has been one of learning and definitely one of hopeful progress into refining myself into who God wants me to be.

I'm at a loss of where to start with my explanation. Lets just start at the beginning of the week I guess ... thats whats only logical lol.  So to remind everyone, last Monday was transfer calls and Elder Dickson and I are both staying together in Ashington for another six weeks.  Then Tuesday was P-day and was a great preparation day. Elder Dickson slept whilst I worked out and listened to talks by general authorities. In the evening we saw Tony and had a great time just once more discussing the gospel and all of the blessings of living the gospel joyfully. We are now currently re-teaching him everything so that we can help him with his next step which is the priesthood.

Wednesday was super crazy but a great day full of revelation and what I believe to be the hand of Heavenly Father. So it was transfer and I was meant to go to the transfer meeting in Leeds and go on the bus but one thing and another (me first getting dog poo on my shoe and then on my suit!) happened and I ended up issuing the transfer bus and traveled down with another senior couple even though I told people not to leave without me ... note to self, when you ask something to be done, make sure you get a response! So anyways, the drive down was phenomenal time full of revelation, encouragement, answers and the spirit. I have had a few questions lately for things in my life and as we drove I confided in the senior couple my hopes, ambitions, dreams, desires, fears and plans for my mission and what I got to get done after it. We then discussed the ambitions and goals that I have and how they are achievable and definitely will make me stretch into becoming who God wants me to be. So as we were driving we ended up having car trouble and had to wait to get road side assistance. During that time, the couple told me of their history and why they were so happy. They gave the advice to immediately plan for a senior mission later in life and to work for everything that I desire. They proceeded to tell me of their life experiences and what they learned about themselves as they were going through life. AS we discussed this and many other things we deduced that a few important elements in learning from the trials of life are that:
1. God will NEVER give you more than you can handle and he will always provide a way to overcome the obstacles of life (1 Ne 3:7)
2. To always take a step back and to look at the bigger picture so that you can make educated decision based upon the  needs of you and your family.
3. To always trust that the Lord knows best and that if he asked you to do something that it will always be for your benefit.

So then after nearly 90 minutes of waiting for assistance to come and save us from the roadside and the man actually giving us assistance, we got back into the car and headed on our trip again. WE FINALLY MADE IT TO LEEDS - WHEW! but the meeting was finished hahahahahahaha. At least we made it there and luckily we called people to tell them of our situation. Anyways, we stretched our legs for a bit and then we returned up the road to march north again.

Thursday was my birthday. Thank you to all those people who made it such a special day for me :) It was truly appreciated. The biggest lesson I learned that day was first - distance is better than resistance and second, obedience is better than sacrifice. In the evening we spent some time with a wonderful family and we just had a great time of fun and laughter there. The father of the house has offered to take a day off work and to take me and Elder D to a guitar shop. COOL!

Friday was good we went to an area that we normally don't go to and we went finding all day. Man that was heavy! I found a few nice shops and apparently the best fish and chips shop is somewhere around there .. definitely returning to that spot!

Saturday we went finding all day again and went out by the sea. MAN WAS IT COLD! We saw a pretty cool statue and thought that it was some unfortunate couple that got stuck out in the sea and I was laughing so hard and then Elder Dickson told me that it was statue and boy I felt silly!

Sunday was a great day. We had church and Peter passed the sacrament for the first time. It was such a wonderful moment on my mission to see a person progress to their Father in Heaven so much more. I know that this is the work of God an that he will always be there to help us:)

Well I must run! Once again, thank you for all the birthday wishes. Love you all!
Have a good one!
Elder Dotschkat

Newbiggen Couple (see why I thought they were stranded people - they look real)

Happy Birthday to Me!

Hey Guys!
This week was great!

Monday was Party P-day! We went to Newcastle to watch the Superbowl. It was super fun and makes me look forward to playing sports again soon :)

Tuesday we worked HARD! We went finding all day and had some great fun doing it! The greatest person we met us ... actually I can't remember because we met a lot of really great people. They all come from miners (Ashington was the biggest mining village in the world at one point) and so they have a rich history of hard work and labour.

Wednesday was zone conference/road trip to Leeds. At zone conference we had a great time listening to the speakers and watching Meet the Mormons. Phenomenal video and I would recommend it to anyone - religious or not! It was such a great time and I am thankful for such an uplifting message. Then President Pilkington talked about how we mustn't lose our nerve or blink, we must keep our eyes focussed on our goals! So that was really great.

Thursday morning was spent in Newcastle and I got some great news about my body health. In the evening we went to the BOM class with Tony and Peter and it was a great time to listen to the senior missionaries teach us about the BOM.

Friday was great because I had a miracle experience. We were on the bus ride home and the spirit told me to talk to this one man. I then talked to him and gave him a L2 pamphlet with our number and left it at that. Later in the evening we received a call from this lady who was his sister telling us that she had been praying to God for a sign or for help that she wants to meet us!!! So that was really great.

Saturday was a wonderful day because we were able to see our Brother Tony get baptized.

Sunday we learned about having an attitude of gratitude and how it helps us be content with what we have rather than who we are.

Yesterday was the calls and Elder Dickson and I are staying together another six weeks.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes! Happy birthday to all my family and friends that have happened in the past few months/weeks. I'm sorry if I hadn't said it earlier, so many of you and I have a terrible memory for it but HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  I will definitely make sure that Thursday is special. We are actually really busy Thursday so I will definitely enjoy it :) I'm looking forward to having tea with some members.

Love
Elder Dotschkat

Being Bold will Bless Your Life & Others

So we had a fantastic week of learning how to truly rely and pray with real intent for the spirit to be with us. Also with how being bold will not only bless your life but the lives of others :)  I know that God answers prayers and I also realize and understand what real intent means. It means giving everything to God, your thoughts, your desires, the very fibre of your being and then trusting that he will answer in his own way and in his own time. Then we must be willing and ready to submit to the will of the Lord to trust that he knows best and that his miracles and purposes will come to pass.

This past week's miracles were with two of our "eternigators". Simply we were bold and lovingly explained the reason why they needed to and how we can help them repent and get answers from God.

The first investigator named T has been scheduled multiple times by missionaries in the past but has never reached his date. He always thought very reply about the gospel and missed the surface understanding. Multiple times he would have questions and concerns arise and we didn't brush them under the carpet but we either responded "we don't know right now but how about you give us some time and study it yourself and the next time we meet we can talk about it" or it was something like a surface concern that had something underneath it we would simply respond and make him think by saying "does this matter in the grand scheme of things and to your salvation?"  Many times he had questions about Chinese rumours of church history and we had to make him realize that all the prophets and apostles are men and when they make mistakes or bad judgements, it is because they make the mistakes of men (Book of Mormon title page).  This church is perfect ran by imperfect people and we must help our investigators see that church is a "sanctuary for sinners" not a "spa for saints"

So multiple times he would have concerns come up that we were scabs above the original wound, they were simply a covering over top of fissure within our should and we would patiently and with love try our best to dig deep into the heart and find what their real concern was. Then we helped him realize that he has already received the answer by the spirit working with him to come to church, to read, to study, and ponder and pray.

Sometimes as missionaries we just have a hope that people get the classic answers that come out of the scriptures so then we can say "you see now, we are right because it is in the scriptures", but we must truly be in tune with the spirit and remember that God will give the answers to our people in a way that they will recognize and that if we humble ourselves we can be a tool in his hands

Miracles truly happen if we are willing to sacrifice for them and have faith that God will help us. We were then able to see miracles because we have the power and moral authority to call down the hosts of heaven to help us out and finally, his concerns were resolved and he said "I believe". Brother T is being baptized this Saturday February 21st and and taking his first step on his path to return to his father. YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FRIENDS CAN TOO! Anyone who you desire to come to Christ can and will, if you will be obedient and put yourself as a tool in the Lord's hands

D&C 100:1-8

1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, my friends [insert your names here], your families are well; they are in mine hands, and I will do with them as seemeth me good; for in me there is all power.

2 Therefore, follow me, and listen to the counsel which i give unto you

3 Behold, and lo, I have much people in this place, in the regions round about; and an effectual door shall be opened in the regions round about in this [prepared] land.

4. Therefore, I, the Lord, have suffered you to come unto this place; for thus it was expedient in me or the salvation of souls.

5 Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men;

6 For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say.

7 But a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall declare whatsoever thing ye declare in my name, in solemnity of heart, in the spirit of meekness, in all things.

8 And I give unto you this promise, that inasmuch as ye do this the Holy Ghost shall be shed forth in bearing record unto all things whatsoever ye shall say.

We repeated his with another investigator of our last night (Sunday February 15) and for months he has refused to pray. He simply would say that he couldn't force it but that it must come from him. We then also used our resources of the pamphlets and showed him how he was right that prayer must come from the heart and he humbled himself and prayed. It was a marvellous experience in which we knew that he was taking to his father.

Many times in our lives we may be downtrodden or discouraged but I have faith, and I would dare to say knowledge, God as my witness, that if we work just a little harder and take it day by day at a time in our missions will be a wonderful experience where we will be able to see miracles and the mercy of God in our lives. We will feel his love and be able to help others feel his love as well. If we are simply obedient, willing to humble ourselves to obtain the spirit, let go of our fears and trust that God's will eventually will come to pass, we will have the moral authority and the rights to call down the angels and the miracles of heaven.

All it takes to have miracles in your heart and your faith. Ether 12:6  And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

Sincerely,

Elder Zachary Lee Dotschkat

I can't seem to figure out why time is flying so fast!

Hi Everyone it is I ... Elder Dotschkat!

So we've had a pretty good week, not much earth shattering things happened but some simple sweet things helped us out through the week.

So Monday we spent the day in Newcastle and it was great fun going to all the suit shops and looking at them! This one shop we went to though I nearly swallowed my tongue. There were suits that were like $5000!! CRAZY! (good suits though hahaha)

Tuesday was pretty good. We were just running around trying to get a lot done in the little time that we had. I have really been trying to push myself to work hard and leave everything in the field. I want to be able to look at my mission and say that I was a servant of the Lord for the two years and I did my best to serve him.

Wednesday was pretty good. We spent most of the day in Newcastle for a doctor appointment for Elder Dickson and great news ... he's ok! (I thought he was be he desired a second opinion lol)  In the evening we just had a great time seeing Brother Peter Conn again and letting him know that the Lord loves him. He is such a humble man and is truly a worthy son of God. We watched the Mountain of the Lord DVD with him and talked about his next steps towards our Heavenly Father.

Thursday was good. We went finding all day and had a great time! We saw some deer too. Friday was planning day and we had a great time talking about all the important people that we are working with. Highlight of the day was the tea appointment with a RM and his new wife :) We had some great laughs and made great memories there. Then the weekend was good. I had to give a talk again on Sunday (they must like the sounds of my voice). I look forward to always teaching people what I have learned and share it with them :)

Well I must go I can't seem to find why time is going so quick but hey ... just do your best while it is the day.
Have a great week everyone.
Love you all!
Elder Dotschkat

PS - the hymn that inspired me this week was How Firm a Foundation #85

Farewell sweet Sister Carlin

Hello Everybody

Well this week was definitely one where I think that I have learned to rely on the Lord for my support and for refining who I am into who I can be and to fulfill the desires that I have for those people that I love. It has also been a week that could have been fairly emotional but I have felt the comfort and reassurance of the Holy Ghost in my life :)  I thank my Savior and my Heavenly Father for the "Other Comforter" - see St. John 14:14-18.

So this past Monday we once again just had a relaxing P-day ... didn't do much. Just went home and wrote letters and slept and read scriptures :) Just took some time for our bodies to recuperate. Elder Dickson's favourite scripture is Mosiah 4:27
27 And see that all things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.

So as you can tell, he loves to rest, take life at an easy pace and then get the work done with energy to spare ...sometimes our work ethics butt heads cause I like to work hard and play harder leaving everything on the field. He is teaching me how to relax though!

Tuesday we had some great teaching appointments all day that we explained who we are and what we stand for. It was funny because we had one of our 80 year old male investigators give us a bunch of situations to react to and teach him and it was hilarious to see him act so funny. That truly made my day!

Wednesday was a shock to the system by the end of the day. We had a great day Wednesday we made a list of people that the district wanted to pray for and to keep in mind during our fasts this Sunday and it was great to see everyone rally around and support one another. I know that if we do our part that the Lord will bless us in abundance through our obedience to his commandments and his will. So in the evening we had a pretty big shock. This past Christmas we were very blessed to spend quality time with a wonderful family and we found out that this past Wednesday Heavenly Father called this wonderful daughter home. Sister Gladys Carlin was a truly wonderful lady who was determined to serve God and His children, she was an inspiration to many and a true friend to all who met her. You will truly be missed but always remembered in our smiles, laughter and hearts with the wonderful memories that all have shared with you :)

Thursday was alright. We were kind of in a daze with everything that had gone on but through the grace of Heavenly Father and the comfort of the Holy Spirit we rallied ourselves together so that we would be able to accomplish the Lord's work for that day. Just had to take it one step at a time and trust that God will sort everything out. We went over to the H family's house once more and spent some time with them talking about how the Lord will comfort us in our trials and raise us to a higher view. See Mosiah 24:13-14, Alma 31:38, 36:3, 38:5 and Ether 12:6. We then were able to have the spirit touch each of our hearts and we knew that it was time to go. In the evening we had a great tea appointment and discussion of future hopes and dreams with the R family and we were able to determine that if we simply trust in God and His promises that everything will turn out the way that it is meant to be. God has a plan for each of us and we will find our place if we truly search and follow his will.

Friday was finding all day in the cold .. enough said! It is pretty cold here being so close to the north sea and what is even crazier is that people go swimming an surfing in it. Anyways, lets just say it is very cold!

Saturday was a very busy day and it was great to see the hand of the Lord in our travels because he simply led us catch all of the buses that we needed to be on time! I have grown to hate with a vengeance even the thought of being late ... Like I would rather be 15 minutes early to something rather than have everyone rubber-necking at you when you come in late. So that was a blessing that we caught every bus that we needed to. Then we went finding all day and that was pretty good. Did not have much success but we were able to learn to be determined and persevere even though we don't see the blessings yet. Yup learning loads here! Got to be soothing I'm eating I think lol.

Sunday was a pretty good day. Testimony meeting was a time that we truly reflected upon what we have gained as a testimony and what God is giving us with each day of our lives. There were many people that talked about the plan of salvation and a few tears shed but I realized something ... I love these people here. They are truly wonderful and I am thankful that I can share this special time that I have to serve the Lord with them.

Well I must run but before I do, know this ...
I know God lives and loves us.
I know that we have a wonderful Savior who knows everything that we go through and if we simply rely on him we can conquer anything in our path.
I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.
I know that the Priesthood is the power of God to bless his children.
And I know that families can be together forever.

I love you guys.
Have a great week.
Love
Elder Dotschkat