Sharing doctrine

This week was alright. Definitely the hardest do far. We had an interesting experience early on in the week (Tuesday I think) that threw me of for the whole week. We had an appointment with a member and it was pretty standard. We had seen them a few times and they are super fun and awesome. They shared some doctrine with us that was different. the whole time they were talking I was confused and didn't feel the spirit. It was pretty scary stuff and he was reading from a document that he said we weren't ready to see. Afterwards I was very uncomfortable and didn't  know what to do. I prayed a good bit and thought about what was said. I decided it would be best to go back to the things I know to be true. And I know Heavenly Father loves me and each and every one of us. When I thought about that my heart was filled with comfort and joy and everything sorted itself out. I can testify without a shred of doubt in my being that Heavenly Father loves me. It is a love so powerful that I cannot describe it. And all he wants is for all of us to be happy. 

When I thought about that all was made well and I felt the Spirit come back to be with us. Other than that we had an excommunicated member get baptized! He had such a strong testimony and was so ready to come back. I am glad I was able to witness it. I was also introduces to the best fast food fried chicken I have ever had. Golden Chick. If you ever see one go there and get chicken tender meal with fried okra and a yeast roll.

I love you all and miss you a lot!

"First I'll turn him into a flea. Then I'll put that flea in a box. Then I'll put that box in a bigger box. And I'll mail it to myself. Then when it arrives I'll smash it with a hammer! Or to save on postage, I'll just poison him with this!"

Fun Exchanges

This week was good! No major complaints! Our driving companion is a terrible driver though which can be scary. I went on exchanges with the Zone Leaders which was pretty fun! I was up in Florence with Elder Holt for a day and it was different. Elder Holt is awesome! He is super chill and funny but knows when to be serious which is the goal! 

 

We biked 20 miles while I was up there and the Lord sent a very clear message to me. I need to get back in shape haha. I also had my first real door contact which was awesome! We were knocking around a neighborhood when I got back to Sumter and a good amount of people were not coming to the door. Elder Jackson said "alright Elder Dowell It's your turn. Pick the next house and no one else is gonna say anything". Which was pretty freaky. But I knocked and she answered and sure enough he didn't say anything. So I introduced us and told here we had a message and asked if she wanted to hear it and she said maybe but we caught her on a bad day so I set a return appointment for later this week! It was super fun. Other than that I think I am getting pretty well adjusted and better at teaching! I am so grateful for loving friends and family I have and the support they provide!

Good scriptures from this week:

Alma chapter 5

Spencer W. Kimball's teaching of the president's chapter 1.

Love Elder Dowell (2)

"A flute with no hole is not a flute

A doughnut with no hole is a danish"

Haircut #1

Dad note~ Marshall's picture shows his first missionary haircut, done by himself - RD

Who did you touch this week?
This week I think I helped some inactive. We went over to their house and helped the, put up drywall and they said they intended to come to church but had a sour taste in their mouths from the last time they
went so we talked about how we think it has changed cuz it had been like 20 years. Then they came to church! They said they really enjoyed it and what we said helped!

What surprised you?
It is surprising to see how many inactive there are. There are about 200 active members and our inactive list is about 800. So we are doing our best to help them come back.

Tell us about something we would never see..
There are some pretty crazy ghetto sleds haha, the most common is a lifted Dodge Charger with massive rims and wheels. Some of them are pretty cool but some are just weird haha

Do your surroundings feel sanitary?
For the most part. There are some areas where I just feel like I need to constantly be washing my hands but it's overall clean

What is your shower like these days? It is good! A lot like our one downstairs, pretty nice and the hot
water is really good

 What have you learned from your companions?
I have learned it is super important to have lots of fun and know when to get serious. As long as you know when to be serious it is good to let loose a little.

This week was good! Great spiritual experiences! The first one was in a lesson with a less active. We were trying to decide what to teach and I suggested the video 'like a broken vessel' which is a talk Elder Holland gave. I thought it was weird because the video was centered on depression and our investigator seemed fine. But we decided to show it and I had a scripture to go with it them about halfway through the video a different scripture (John 3:16) popped into my head and I decided to share that one instead. So after the video I shared it and
we talked about how the Lord loves all of us so much. And because he loves us he gave us the atonement and because of the atonement Jesus knows perfectly how to help us. When I was saying it, it seemed so irrelevant but I felt like I should just keep talking. Then afterward he told us he had been struggling with anger and depression since he was a teenager and it was exactly what he needed. It was awesome and I'm so grateful I was able to be there when the Lord gave him that lesson. We also put an investigator on date to be baptized! He has been being taught since before I got here and I guess he has always just had a problem with commitment to baptism. But earlier this week I guess he just had an awakening. So he called us and said he wanted to get married and be baptized. So we went and talked to him and he plans to be baptized on Saturday! Immediately after that we left and we're going to try this older inactive gentleman. We pulled up to the house and it was sketchy country house and we also,t thought we should just leave but we felt like we should at least knock. So we walked up a long eerie driveway and knocked and a super nice 80 year man invited us in and said we were just in time for supper. His 50 year old son was there and said when he was at the store he had a feeling to buy ,ore food than usual and he didn't know why but there plenty for all of us! It was hands down the best fried chicken I've ever had and after we ate they asked what time church started and said they were fixin to come back but didn't know what time! It was awesome!

This week I have been reading a lot of conference talks and the ones
that would recommend reading are:
Like a broken vessel
Laborers in the vineyard
Dare to stand alone
The cost- and blessings- of discipleship

I love you all and miss you so much!
Elder Dowell (2)



'Where did you get a hand grenade?'
'I don't know.'

Chillin with Wayne

This week was good! Relatively uneventful. We went to a less active members house and hung sheet rock which was pretty fun. Then we sat down and had a lesson with them and they were at church Sunday!
That was fun! I also met quite possibly the chilliest old southern guy. His name is Wayne and we went over to his 'barn'. It was like a garage that he tricked out with an eating area and a music spot. I guess he has like actual bands come and play and invites people over and everything. He also fed us good. We had barbecue chicken and rice with beans and okra. That was pretty awesome. I had my first exchange with the district leader on Tuesday also! It was different. We went out teaching with a member and the investigators didn't seem to interested. Then we did some biking and it was rough haha. My area is just a car so it was my first time. It was pretty hot and I was very sweaty. 

Some good scriptures from this week:

Psalm 42, the Lord is always with us. 

Alma 31! That one was emailed to me and it was awesome and very uplifting! 

I love everyone and miss you all a ton! Love Elder Dowell


"I'll have a Bloody Mary and a steak sandwich and a... Steak sandwich."

Finally in SC

Week 1 in the field!! Pretty good! I have 2 trainers. Elder Droese
hailing from Ontario, Canada and Elder Jackson of Orem, Utah. The
former embarking on his 24th month of service and the latter on his
23rd so I will be sending them both home haha. 

Overall good week! Big things: my first lesson was a pretty good prank. We went to an
"investigators" house and taught the restoration. They asked all the
super hard questions and my trainers deferred to me to answer. Then at
the end of a very hard hour I found it was the ward clerk and his
family haha. It was pretty fun. 


We have been doing a lot of service.
Helping people moving and paint and things like that. We had a few
lesson that were fun and did some inspired knocking. Shoutout to all
those girls who rejected me! They are making this a lot easier haha.

Only really nuts thing that happened was we got flashed. We went out
to Turbeville which is like the edge of our area and no one ever
visits. We parked the car and decided to start walking. Then on the
way back to the car someone said "hey guys!" When we turned there was
a girl hanging out of her window exposing herself. They proceeded to
drive off and we didn't see them again. We just laughed and talked
about how she needed to learn the gospel. 

I have found a lot of strength this week in Alma 26: 11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not
boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is
full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.
12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak;
therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for
in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles
we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name
forever.

I love everyone and as you so much!!
Elder Dowell(2)

"It looks like average joes is forfeiting the championship match."
"That's a bold strategy Cotton. Let's see if it pays off for them."