It was a week!

Things were pretty slow this week. A lot of people were out of town.

Monday- We surrendered a few hours of P-Day to help a referral move in. We were able to teach her and her mom a little bit. The mom works at an apartment complex in Raleigh and some missionaries live there so she's talked to missionaries before.

Tuesday- We learned how to do family history work, which was super exciting. Brother and Sister Fox just returned from their mission at the family history center in Salt Lake.

Wednesday- We spent a lot of time doing service. We helped a lady change her flat tire, then we went to this place called My Sister's Attic. It's a non profit organization that sells donated furniture and other items.

Thursday- I learned today that I apparently can play "God Speed the Right" on the piano which was pretty cool. I just turned to it and started playing and viola. I guess that's the Lord magnifying my talents. We committed our investigator Sister Hunt to a church tour and to attend a baptism.

Friday- We had exchanges. I was with Elder Coy. We had a full day planned, then pretty much everything fell through. We went onto the ECU campus to help the students moving in. Whoever we helped, we gave them a card with the YSA information on it. It was a really cool experience. We had a lesson with Brother Kukahiko. We talked about the family proclamation and committed his wife  (non member) to reading it. Brother Kukahiko told us that 6 months ago, he never would have thought that he would have missionaries in his home. You never know who the Lord is preparing.

Saturday- President and Sister Baker came and inspected the apartment. They shared a quick thought and then moved on to the next. We had committed three people to do a church tour that night and not one of them showed up. It was very disappointing, but we were undeterred. We visited our investigator Brother Johnson. He wants to be the one to teach his family. In order for us to gain a better understanding, Elder Terril related the situation to ham and it made me so hungry haha.

Sunday- There was a priesthood stake conference meeting on missionary work. It was very inspired. They had all of the brethren write down someone that they would have in their home for a lesson from us. I saw a brother who had just recently moved in write down like, 5 names. It was awesome.

This is the last week of the transfer. The last 6 weeks have just flown by. We will be getting transfer calls on Saturday (dum, dum, dum). Also, we will be getting a new address starting on the 8th of September. We're moving to a new apartment, but the Spanish Elders are staying in the apartment we have right now. I'll try to get the address for next week. Have a blessed week one and all.

Elder Dumont

Loving the BBQ

Real Carolina Q

First Baptism!!!!!!!!

David Swierzynski is officially a member of the Lord's church!!!!!

Monday- All of the Elders in Greenville (us, the Spanish, and the 1st ward Elders) had dinner at the stake president's house. He is a really good guy. He has the biggest southern draw ever. After dinner, we went and visited Sister Hunt. She reminds me so much of my dear Grandma Duffin. I just about broke out into tears.

Tuesday- We had to go on an exchange with the Spanish cause we had two lessons at the exact same time. Elder Seastrand and I taught Dave about the Baptismal covenant. Elder Terril and Elder Coy taught Brother Kukohiko. It was a pretty crazy night.

Wednesday- We got new flooring in the apartment today! The downside is that we had to stay near the apartment to help them move stuff. We weren't really able to do much. We did get to visit a couple of investigators and contact a referrel, but that was pretty much it.

Thursday- We visited Kent Newcome. He's been really discouraged lately, cause he has trouble comprehending scripture. We volunteered to call him each morning, and read and explain a scripture with him. He really appreciated that.

Friday- We had our planned exchange. I, once again, was with Elder Seastrand. We had a really awesome day. We met with Dave again and talked about enduring to the end. We visited Brother Kukohiko and had a really powerful lesson with him. He's really making progress and has a really strong desire to change for his children. Our last stop of the night was to our investigator Derrick Johnson. He wasn't his usual talkative self. He's going through a really tough time right now. We talked a lot about faith. He says he can tell that we our servants of our Heavenly Father through the spirit. We gave him a priesthood blessing. We made a quick stop at McDonald's. While we were there, I talked with this guy about the church. He said that I was the second guy that day to talk to him about the church. 

Saturday- Dave's Baptism!!!!! He was so excited. Elder Terril and I gave the talks for him. Bishop Finlayson baptized him. When he came up out of the water, he raised his fist in the air and shouted "I did it!!" hahahahahaha He cracks me up. It was such a wonderful experience to see him change. From the get go he wanted to be baptized. He was super prepared. The gospel has made him a much happier guy.

Dave with Elder Terril and Elder Dumont

       

Sunday- Dave got confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was all smiles today. That night, we went and visited Kent again. He wanted us to listen to a song that he says describes his life. Afterwards, I felt prompted to open up to the Parable of the Prodigal Son. After we read it, he asked me "How did you know?" He had been on the phone with his son seconds before we came to his door. He said that the Parable really related to his situation with his son. He really opened up to us. I love him so much. He is such a great guy.

Being a missionary is by far the greatest thing I've ever done in my life. I love watching people become happier because of my efforts in bringing them the gospel. There is no possible way to describe the joy that I felt when David was baptized. This really is the kingdom of God on Earth. Joseph Smith was called of God to bring forth his kingdom. The world has been blessed because of the humble and faithful prayer of a 14 year old farm boy living in little old Palmyra, New York. This gospel is a gospel of love, just as our Heavenly Father is a God of love. I love all of you. Thanks for reading through my ridiculously long post. haha I'll try to keep it shorter next time, but probably not. Keep the faith, and the Lord will pour out his blessings upon you.

Love,

Elder Dumont

Greatest Weekend Ever!!!

To get to the weekend, ya'll are going to have to read through the weekdays as well.

Monday- A member of the ward, Brother Warren, took us to go see one of his coworkers and help her move some stuff from the attic to her room. They are both professors at ECU. Her name is Carol Greene. She loves the Osmonds. We had to give a quick lesson so we could make it home on time. We set a return appointment and she's excited to have us back.

Tuesday- We did deep cleaning. That was pretty much it. We did do a lesson with Dave. During our lesson, Bishop Finlayson pulled Elder Terril out (I was with another member, don't worry) and introduced him to a guy named Derrick Johnson. He just randomly showed up at the church. We set an appointment up with him.

Elder Turtle

Wednesday- We met with a less active named Brother Kukohiko. The lesson with him was awesome. The Spirit was so strong. He said he wanted to keep meeting with us. We'll eventually pass him off to his home teachers.

Thursday- We spent some time down in Ayden (about 20 minutes south of Greenville). A kind woman didn't want to talk to us, but she gave us a couple of water bottles. We weren't 20 feet from her house when a mailman randomly drove up to us and gave us a Fuze berry drink. Super awesome. We met a few less actives and then had dinner at a member's home.

Friday- Now the good stuff can begin. We had another lesson with Dave. We are kind of rushing through the lessons cause he had to have his interview on Saturday if he wanted to meet his date. We've only been teaching him for a few weeks. This is awesome. We ate dinner at the Robinson's, a part-member family. Sister Robinson is the member. She invited a boy named Khylique, who we've been trying to meet with for a few weeks. We had a really awesome lesson. Half of it was focused on Khylique, and the other half was on Boris Robinson (the husband). Both of them really felt the Spirit. 

Saturday- David passed his Baptismal Interview!!!! He's super excited for it. We met up with Derrick Johnson that night. What a lesson!!! The Spirit was so strong. He's an awesome guy. When we told him what he would do if the priesthood keys were back on the Earth, he started dancing. When we got to the first vision, I looked him dead in the eyes. He looked like he was hit with a ton of bricks. Elder Terril, Brother Rice, and I bore our testimonies over and over. He wants us to come back and share this message with his family. THE SPIRIT IS THE TEACHER.

Sunday- A lot of the people that we had been working with were there at church. It felt really good to see how much of an impact we have made on people. David is getting really excited for his baptism. We gave a lot of blessings today. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to give Priesthood blessings. They are such a testimony builder for everyone involved.

You may think that this is weird, but I decided to not write in my journal one night and the Spirit rebuked me pretty hardcore. Heavenly Father must have a purpose for my journal. I love you all to bits. Never lose faith in our Heavenly Father. Whenever you are going through sore trials always remember that these trials will ultimately be for your good. "For all flesh is in my hands. Be still, and know that I am God." (D&C 101:16) Keep the faith.

Con amor,

Elder Dumont

Elder Dumont loves you all

Yes it's true. I really do love you all.

Tuesday- We had a super spiritual lesson with one of our investigators that we were going to drop. He kept telling us that he felt that the Heavenly Father was guiding him to be baptized is our church. He loves when we come over cause he can feel the Spirit.

Wednesday- We had our usual Wednesday lunch. This Mexican restaurant called La Ribera. They do a deal called Quesadilla Wednesday. We have seriously gone there that past 6 weeks. I think it's pretty ridiculous but Elder Terril is persistant. We helped a couple of people move (as in two different moves) that night, so that took up our entire evening.

Thursday- Miracle!!! We went out with one of the members, who I've never been out before. We were going to visit an investigator named Kelly, but for the life of us, we could not find the address. We pulled over and asked God that if is was his will for us to go there, to help us find the address. We still couldn't find it. We decided to visit another investigator named Sister Hunt (We can't remember her first name haha we're terrible). I have no doubt that we needed to visit her. We helped her move a few weeks ago. That's what got us in. She had lived across from the missionaries for 8 years, but always turned them away. She is super prepared. The member bore a super powerful testimony. The Spirit was there the entire lesson!!!

Friday- Another miracle. We went and taught a Member lesson. At the end of it, we asked for referrels. The wife mentioned her friend who had showed some interest before. While we were discussing a follow up lesson, they were checking their schedules. The only day that we could possibly come back was on Wednesday. Lo and behold, they get a text from her friend asking if they were off work on Wednesday!!! We set up a lesson inside of their home for Wednesday.

Saturday- We saw a pretty radical sink hole on the way to a less active's house. 

Sunday- Testimony meeting was awesome!!!!! We had two of our investigators there who are having a hard time with keeping the Sabbath Day holy. Every testimony that was shared was super spiritual. Elder Terril and I bore our testimonies. That was the first time both of us bore testimony during fast Sunday. During priesthood meeting, the Elders and High Priest were combined. The lesson was on member missionary work. They mentioned Elder Ballard's talk in which he suggests that members invite someone to talk to the missionaries in their home quarterly. I felt very strongly that as the ward starts implementing this plan, they will take off. 

This week is going to be super busy for us. We have a dinner appointment scheduled for everyday until next Thursday. This ward is awesome. I love you all and wish for God's graces to fall upon you.

Nos Vemos,

Elder Dumont