Lessons with Superheros & Don't Eat Pete!

Heya everyone!

Monday I told you about the bike ride and how grueling was ... Just kidding I loved it!  In the evening we had a great lesson with L about the restoration of the church. The DVD flopped out on us .. seems like I can't trust technology lol.

Tuesday - the most exciting part of Tuesday was the lesson that we had with Alexandra. She is doing a lot better now and is so strong with all of the troubles that seem to come her way. We brought the stake patriarch to the lesson with us and it was great that he said that no matter what happened that the ward would be there to support and uphold her. I can see that he meant it because I felt the spirit as he testified that God loves each one of us.

Wednesday we had district meeting where we watched some motivational videos and the general message was that everything that is worth something or is desirable is hard to get but valuable beyond comparison. Just think ... gold, diamonds, jewels and all of the treasures of the earth have taken time, pressure and effort to create them and they take that much more effort to harvest them. The point is that something definitely might not be easy but it is entirely worth all of the effort to attain it! In the evening we had a great tea and visit with the George family. We went over there at 7:30 and before we knew it time was passed!! It was great to have a conversation about how life's ultimate blessings are received after faithful diligence and work to the goals that we set for ourselves. After tea the Elders Quarum president drove us home in his new BMW and let me say .. I liked it! Work for one in the future possibly!?!

Thursday was a good day. During the morning Elder Simon and I went and got new watches and mine said "no fear". I read 2 Timothy 1:7 and it made me think that I have the opportunity for a wonderful future ONLY if I live life in the present, appreciate the past and have goals for the future! I can't live in the past because the world will pass me by and I will stay the same. Change is scary sometimes but always necessary. The gospel isn't one one of being happy where you are at and sitting on your bum! Its one of service, work and dedication to the Lord to help him achieve the goals he has for his children. If we let him, we can and will be marvelous tools in His hands and reach our ultimate exaltation! My thoughts every now and again during the day had passed to the thoughts of my wonderful mother. I am so grateful to have a mother like mine. I feel so blessed to be able to have such a wonderful family who cares for and supports me no matter the mistakes I make because they love me. I feel blessed and thank Heavenly Father every day for the knowledge that my family is eternal. During the day my companion and I worked on finding new investigators through our former's sheets and we got two return appointments this week! In the evening we had tea at the D family's house and they made us homemade fish and chips YUM! And then we had a great lesson with Alexandra again and we were able to have the spirit guide us as to what to say and do in her behalf. I know that the Lord blesses those who study with knowledge returning again to them in the moments they need it.

Friday was a PARTY! I can't believe that it has been a year that I have been in England on my mission! Time has flown by and it feels so weird! It made me think about the type of missionary I want to be for the next year and has made me understand more that I have to work harder and magnify myself so that the Lord can work with me to help me become the man that he desires me to be. I know that the Lord can only help me to become something great if I let him. Fear and doubt are the opposite of faith and if I am scared of the future how I am supposed to have the moral authority to invite people to have faith? How am I supposed to help people understand something unknown until you experience it unless I know what I am talking about! It doesn't make sense so from this point forward I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE WITH FAITH! I may slip up every now and again but I have a determination to be better and to improve daily!

Saturday was the day that I was looking forward to all week. I was so excited to be able to just have fun! So in the morning we took some time to get ready and to re-evaluate what the spirit is guiding us to teach all of our investigators. We felt confident that the Lord was with us so we departed into the unknown world (lol). We had a pizza lunch with Rob & Jackie and just had a great chat with them about going back to the basics. We talked about how we have to build ourselves upon correct principles so that we would be able to help ourselves grow right! We talked about how the decisions that we make affect our families and how we have to make the correct ones to bless them. We talked about Helaman 5:12 and how when we make the right decisions the Lord will stand with us and always will be there to protect us and life is up! After our lessons with them we had a great couple of hours with the Royal Evitt family and George. The main reason that I was excited for this lesson was because of the way that we were teaching it ... with SUPERHEROS!!! We brought my Kinder egg superhero team and got little Mikey who is seven to choose who each one of us were. I was Ironman, Elder Koojiman was Hulk, Beth was Thor and mom was Venom hahaha.  So we taught the plan of salvation with a great discussion on why we feel it is so important and then we had pizza for tea! More pizza lol! I also brought over my onzies and was going to take a picture with little Mikey in our matching Hulk onzies but he didn't want to :(  That's ok, maybe some other time lol.

Sunday was a great day! The best part was that our investigator George bore his testimony!!! He is doing so great and I absolutely enjoyed his testimony.  He said that he thinks that the church is true and that he can see himself being a part of something so great! After church we went and saw Allen, one of our investigators that we had lost contact with for a while. He is doing alright. We just sat there and listened to him talk about his life. Lets just say that it makes me so grateful to have my standards that I was raised with and this wonderful gospel in my life! It has saved me from making some decisions that wouldn't just impact me for the moment but for my entire life. I am so happy to have a testimony of change. It is possible to change and be the people that we are meant to become. After that we had a good lesson with brother Land and Emily and we just talked about how important it is to study. We can't find answers unless we study and search for them!

Now for yesterday! We had a very different and interesting p-day! Sorry that I didn't write yesterday but we had an emergency. Sunday night Alexandra texted us at 12:30 and said that she needed to talk to us. Then when I saw the text it was early in the morning so I left to call after 10:00. She then called us and asked if we could see her and talk to her so we set it up to see her at 2:00 in the afternoon. For the next hour we were looking up scriptures on finding strength and faith in the Lord to help her. Then we cleaned up the flat (don't be surprised but I mopped lol) After that we had a quick lunch of cheesecake and meat sandwiches. Then we got some quick groceries and went to meet up with Alexandra. We met her at the park to be able to talk to her. Then for the next two hours we just listened to her and there is great news. She still wants to be baptized and she says ASAP. So we are expecting in the next few weeks one of the biggest miracle sof my mission. Heavenly Father truly answers prayers. After that we rode on a bus with her to the Royal Evitt's home for FHE. We showed up way early so Elder Koojiman and I went to a park and played on a flying fox! We were doing that for about 20 mins and then it started to POUR! When we had finally made it back to their house we were SOAKED! Luckily we put some p-day clothes in our bags! So we got changed and had a wonderful tea! It was so delicious! Then we watched the Prophets of the Restoration video on their projector screen. That was great! We just sat there in silence and let the spirit to work within George & Alexandra. I know that they felt the spirit because I definitely did! I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. After the video we played Don't Eat Pete! Haha its a game in which you try to eat all of the candies before you eat the one that is Pete. During it we started to make the game a little more interesting by putting English mustard and chili seeds on the candies. It was so gross! It tasted like rotten soap! (I don't know what that tastes like but I am assuming it is as horrible as what I tasted!) Then when we were full of sugar and laughter Brother Royal Evitt drove us home! I was so grateful for that because it was chucking it down!

So that's my week! Until next week!
Love you all
Elder Dotschkat

Yesterday was one of the top five p-days of my mission!

Hey everyone, sorry for the delay of email. It was bank holiday yesterday and all of the libraries were closed that we email at. So we had a great p-day yesterday! Went on a 21 mile mountain bike trip and do I ever have saddle pains! Hahahaha Its been a while but probably top 5 best p-days of the mission!

So this past week was great!

Monday we got some fun in the sun!  We once again played football at Greenhead Park in Huddersfield and then after that went window shopping for a bit.  I'm looking to possibly get myself another watch! 

Tuesday was pretty great!  We did some more service! Then is started to pour and I can't leave a job half done so I kept going, every now and again returning to the bon fire that we started to get warmer. Then the Dove family fed us another wonderful meal, she used to own a café so its great eating there! After that we went home to shower and half way through we get a call saying that we were late for tea! AHHHHHH!!!!  We were told that it was later and the member eventually came to get us and said to make sure that it did not happen again.  That was good and then in the evening at young mens I cut my ring finger wide open!  The young women freaked out at the blood but that's alright, no need for stitches and I am all better now :)

Wednesday morning at 3:00 we were all wide awake and started exercising jokingly and after about 10 seconds, regretted our decision, laughed a lot and went back to sleep. We had zone conference that day where the President gave us back the chapels for p-days .....yipppe.....(sarcasm) I like to enjoy England and where I am at rather than watch movies.  I have time to do that at home later! (That's coming way too fast btw!)  After ZC we had tea at a members home who collects really old things and is a very talented painter and sculptor of sorts. We are going to go back and take some pictures because he's got Roman Centurian things, African and Egyptian artifacts and even some stuff from Nephrite era! Pretty cool huh?! Then we had an emergency lesson with Alexandra and her baptism is postponed till further notice now.

The best thing on Thursday was the tea appointment that we had with the Shire family. They are a great young couple, both teachers and really fun! We talked about the latest music and movies that have come out and how weird the world is sometimes. They showed us this Eurovision music contest thing which was really weird. If you have a chance, look it up because I don't know how to explain it lol.

Friday we got rained out all day! That was great! The best part of the day was the ward activity in the evening. They auctioned off some cakes and guess who they bought them for?!?!? I'M GONNA GET SO FAT!!!!! :S lol whatever.

Saturday's best part was our lesson and lunch with George and the Royal Evat family in the afternoon. Just was fun! Nothing really more to say.

Church was alright.  I got caught up in my journal a bit. Kinda falling behind. (20 days - my mom's going to kill me! )

Well that's my week...Don't have too much more time so I will say goodbye now!

Have a great week everyone!

Love you!
Elder Dotschkat

We rode along the canal in the mud taking pictures as I go

Almost to the top!

Panoramic view

The crew! We were all dead at the end of the day! We had a great BBQ afterwards

Pictures from the bike trip

The crew! We were all dead at the end of the day! Had a great BBQ afterwards!

Skype call home

Looks like he's so happy!  Loved having a nice chat with this young man.

Just hanging with my bro!

Teaching, Teaching, Baptisms and Service!

Heya everybody! So this week was super exciting!

Monday it rained! Woot!

For p-day we went to a park to play football but it rained so we got soaked and ended up going home. In the mean time between home and waiting 2 hours for the next train we went window shopping. I have got a lot of clothes from Elder Simon so I don't really need anything but it was fun to go anyways! Then when we got home, I cooked my burritos and had a nap after a warm bath! haha - that was great! Then in the evening we went to a family that they just got back from Disneyworld! :D I saw so many great pictures and it brought back many wonderful memories with those people I love. I have grown to appreciate how blessed my life is lately and how fortunate I am to have the support that I do. Thank you all for what you do :) It means a lot! :)

So Tuesday was crazy because we were going to teach at someones house and they were gone but we didn't have the key so I was frantically making calls to fix the problem and in the end it was all good. We found another key :) Then somehow the rest of the day we stayed busy until the evening when we had a great lesson with Alexandra. We gave her a tour of the chapel with her catholic family and got everything sorted for the baptism! She asked me to baptize her this weekend so I am nervous but excitied at the same time! WIsh me luck! 

Then on Wednesday we had DDM. We talked about strength and having faith in ones self. Due to my study on it I feel much more confident about who I am and what I stand for! I KNOW that the Lord is with me and that he sends angels to bear us up in the times we need the strength the most :) So after DDM, Elder Simon and I went on exchange and we just had so much fun!!!! Took a nap and then worked hard! Noone was really open so we went and just had a great time laughing. He showed me this secret mall that reminds me so much of home and we might go there one p-day lol.  Hopefully we will cause it has a TGIFridays! SOOOOOOOOOOOOO expensive though lol Then we had tea with the Stephenson's family and they were so wonderful, they take care of us so much and he reminds me a lot of my Papa Robb. I think that they would get along. After that he drove us to Rob and Jackie's house and we have a great Q&A lesson. They are doing fantastic and their son's are joining in now as well!

Thursday the ENTIRE flat was sick! We all just woke up and felt like death! I had a FU doctor appointment to go to and he says that my finger is fine now, it will take time for the nail to grow back but it will in time. After that we came back to the flat and slept for lunch and then went to a member from Africa to paint her fence! I wrote my name in their fence so they will never forget me!  lol After that we had a very good evening in which we got mixed up when tea was and were a little late :S But they forgave us and said to not do it again :P Then we had another great Q&A lesson with Alexandra at the Royal Evitt family's home. After the lesson we had a great visit with their family and I feel honoured for the trust that they have given me. Brother Royal Evitt drove us home and we sang Frozen the entire way back! lol.

Friday was a normal planning session and then in the evening we went to visit a member that President Pilkington is friends with. We had a very nice tea with them and talked about angels, Ether 12 and faith. Then in the evening he drove us to the Royal Evitt family's home again for a lesson with George (the bf of their daughter). He is so funny! He thinks everything is true and desires to be baptized when he finds out that it is. Then Brother Royal Evitt drove us home with the same music and singing! hahahaha lol

Saturday we gave service for 5 hours! My muscles hurt and I had dirt caked on, I threw 20 slugs, got baby spiders all over me and had so much fun!!!!!!!!! Then in the evening we watched the Prophet Joseph Smith movie with Lynn....technical difficulties occurred but got through them lol

Sunday I was asked to give a talk on how the Priesthood has helped me prepare for a mission. We had six investigators at church. I got to talk to my wonderful family and was able to just be me :)  I love life!

So that's my week

Love you all

Elder Dotschkat

Yard work at a member's house (that's me and my companion the Flying Dutchman on the far right)

Me and Elder Simon

Captain Canuck and the Flying Dutchman

Well hello everyone! Time is flying by pretty fast! I hope it is for you as well :) But all I have to say is enjoy every moment and let Gods purposes come to pass.

So this past week was pretty crazy and hectic but wonderful at the same time. My companion Elder Shurtliff got called to train in Shefflield and so he is gone now and my new companion is Elder Kooijman from the Netherlands. He is a very happy and proud dutch man! He loves Vikings and pirates and funny stuff like that. He is a very good young man. He lost his father 2 days into the MTC and was prepared to lose him because of health and he is still out here. He is a great strength of faith to me to see him grow and learn for the almost 6 months that he has been out. Last week was his birthday and we celebrated it with French toast, eggs and bacon! And then cake at a member's home :)

To sum up last week in a word. Change. I have realized that to be the man that I desire to become I need to humble myself and change so that the Lord can do his work to my heart. I have realized that I need to give all of my fears and desires to the Lord and trust in him and his promises. I need to increase my faith, courage and belief in myself and the Lord. There are times in our lives that we can see a wall that is blocking our path of progression and we don't know what other side has in store for us but we hope and have faith that they will be good and desirous blessings in which god has for us.

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.

This scripture touches my mind and heart to the point that it is near a constant thought. I have seen that ONLY through the trial of our faith will we grow and be nurtured into becoming the person that God desires. All I can say is it will take work but eventually it will be attainable :)

So last week we had a few pretty big things happen. We finished the service that we had started and that lady is now happy that her garden is in that state that it is. I must say that it looks pretty great.  I got sick and tried to work through it and boy, that was difficult and funny at times.  This week we didn't get lost too bad but one time when we got off a bus we were yelled at and persecuted by a few guys. They just told us that we are going to hell and that there was no Jesus Christ. We stood our ground and boldly testified that there is a Jesus Christ and that he loves all of us. We told them that they were entitled to their opinion but that when it comes to pushing down other peoples views they could shut up. We turned and walked away and they were yelling at us as we did and we just kept going not looking back.

3 nephi 12: 10-12

 10 And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 11 And blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake;
 12 For ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.

Yup...I think this sums it up. Hahahaha true doctrine!

Well anyways, I don't know what else to say about last week. I might just have to lay a beat down and have my inner Captain Canuck defend truth and justice! LOL  Then my sidekick the Flying Dutchman will demolish all of our foes and justice will be served!

Love you all
Have a great week!
Elder Dotschkat

Letter to the sisters of the ward and my life :)

This letter was included with my Mothers Day letter and Elder Dotschkat asked me to post it on the blog. 

On this special day set apart to celebrate motherhood and womanhood I wanted to send home a letter to each of you and thank you personally for all that you have done and continue to do. i want to thank you for all of your support and help in getting me to this stage of my life. I wish I could send each of you a letter of this heartfelt gratefulness towards you but sadly my time constraint is something that I must learn to do the best I can with what I have.
So here is a letter to the women of my life as a whole but the words are to each of you personally.

On this special day I want to thank you for all that you have done and keep doing. You each have played and continue to play an influential role in my life and the lives of others. Your examples of Christ-like charity, giving of your time and talents for the benefit of others so freely is one thing that I personally admire and appreciate and will always remember. Thank you for doing that you do because each of you play a special part within the church and within the lives of those around you.

Just as Elder Geoffry R. Hollad said "The work of a [woman] is hard, too often unheralded work, please know that it is worth it then, now and forever." I want to tell you that all you do and continue to do is appreciated and thanks enough can never truly be given. Each person that has experienced the light of Christ through your wonderful examples is eternally grateful because in some degree, you have changed their life forever for the better.

Thank you for all of the time and effort that you have willingly sacrificed so that others may simply just have a better day or that they may be happy. These small acts of care and love are the ones most appreciated and close to the hearts of whom you've influenced. Just by your example and willingness to serve, you have performed miracles in the lives of those you have touched.

I will always be grateful to each of you in how you have touched my life and changed it for the better, thank you. I leave you with my testimony that I know that the church is true. I know that Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ and that they live and love each one of us. I know that the power of prayer is real and that we can speak with our Father in Heaven anytime that we need to , anytime we desire, we can speak to him at any time and He will speak to us. That is a promise that He gives because He loves us and is proud of us. I know that families can be forever and that in God's family we will always find a true and everlasting happiness. 

These things I know and say in the sacred name of our loving Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Sincerely with love,
Elder Zachary Lee Dotschkat