Return to Sumter

This week was good! It was very eventful! We went on a couple exchanges this week.

 Tuesday we went to Sumter for their DDM and then did exchanges with them. I went with Elder Maxwell to Sumter which was way fun! I was trained in Sumter a little over a year ago so it was way cool and super weird to be back there. Even for a day. We had a couple lessons with some people they are working with which was way good. And we got to see a few people I met when I was there which was awesome. 

Wednesday we reexchanged and I came back to Florence. And Elder Leuluai and I did some finding and such which was good. Then we had a couple meetings in Wednesday night that went well. Thursday we exchanges with the assistants. And I went to the West Columbia ysa with Elder holmstead which was fun! It was super weird to talk to people my age. But it was cool. And we went to the office to do some stuff and I got to see some people from my district when I was in Newberry which was way fun! And we printed some stuff off haha. The in Friday we exchanged back. And got all the transfer news! Transfers is this Wednesday, so the assistants called us and told us everyone in the Zone getting transferred so we could tell them. Me and Elder Leuluai are both staying! Which I am excited for haha. 

Saturday we did some service in the morning and then went to hartsville for DDM which went really well! And we carved pumpkins after. And then we spent the rest of the day calling people for transfers. Sunday was great! We have stake conference this upcoming Sunday so this Sunday was fast Sunday. And after church we had a break the fast with some great southern cooking. Nothing like some good chicken bog. Overall it was a great week! 

“It's like a new pair of underwear, at first they're restrictive but then after a while they become a part of you”

Elder Dowell

Exchanging and ReExchanging

This week was good! Monday we had a pretty low key pday. Just kind of hung out and went around town. Then we went up to Surfside Monday night and spent the night so that we could go to their DDM the next day and go in exchanges. And for exchanges I was in surfside with Elder Edginton which was Tuesday really fun! We got to talk to quite a few people and I went to their ward council meeting which was good. And then Wednesday morning we reexchange and I came back to Florence with Elder Leuluai which is nice. We did a little bit of finding and then were in and out of meetings all Wednesday night which was good.Thursday was great! We went to do some service in the morning. We helped bag food for less fortunate kids which was good. And then went to the restore and helped sort stuff and organize and such. Then in the afternoon/evening we got to go and see a few people we had been trying to contact. 

We did weekly planned in the morning and got a pretty good schedule for the upcoming week. Then we did some finding in the afternoon and went on splits that night. We had a few different things we had to get done so I went with one member and Elder Leuluai went with another. And it was great! The member I went with is super awesome. We went to visit a less active member who has been wanting to go to the temple so we went and had an awesome lesson with him about the priesthood and what he needs to be doing kind of. I also got to know the member a little better which is always nice. It is such a blessing to have such wonderful ward members who care about the missionaries.  Friday we went to Darlington to contact some referrals in the morning and were able to get a few return appointments set up which was awesome. We actually met a former investigator who had previously been in date to be baptized but ran into some health issues and she invited us back to visit with her which is awesome. Then we spent a little time planning out upcoming exchanges. We have 2 a week for a couple weeks which will be crazy, but fun. 

Sunday was awesome. We went to church and then after church we had lunch with a less active member who is awesome. And his son said he wants to come out teaching with us so that is always great! Then we saw some members and wrapped up the day collecting numbers and making phone calls. Overall great week! I am so blessed to have a knowledge of the restored gospel in my life! The knowledge that because of Christ, there are no ending. Only eternal beginnings. I love you all and miss you so much! Have a great week!

You two go together like tuna fish and lamb”

Elder Dowell

Disciplined Discipleship

ello everyone!

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This week was great! Tuesday we did some finding in the boonies. Knocked on a handful of doors and talked to a few people which was good. Tuesday night we played some basketball which was refreshing as always. Wednesday we went to the manna house and helped. The manna house is a soup kitchen and we went for the lunch and helped hand out food. Which was way awesome! We got to meet a lot of people and help a lot of people! Then we spent a sizable chunk of time at the library with the sisters planning zone conference which was Thursday. And we rounded out Wednesday night with ward coordination meeting. 

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Thursday we had zone conference. And we started off by having car inspections. Everyone gave us their keys and we checked to make sure they were clean. Then we had the mission doctor talk to us about flu shots. Which we received. And president Turner gave a training on member missionary work which was awesome! It is amazing to see the miracles that come from working with members. We really are assigned to help them with their missionary work and not the other way around. 

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Then the assistants gave a training on “disciplined discipleship” which was awesome! They basically talked about letting our love for Christ govern our actions. Jurist like the scriptures say “if he love me keep my commandments”. When we truly love Christ we understand what it is he did for us, and why it is he wants us to repent. And that is when we are able to feel his love strongly in our lives and share it consistently with others. Then weave a training with the sisters about technology usage. Because now everyone has Facebook and smartphones. So we talked about why we have it and a little about how we use it. Which was way cool. Then after zone conference I went to hartsville on exchanges for Friday which was cool! I love going on exchanges. Other people have super good insights and different strengths that I can learn from. So it was way fun. Then Saturday we did some weekly planning. And the sisters had a baptism! So we got to go see that and help with the set up and everything. Sunday was great as always. I love being able to take the sacrament every week and renew the covenants I have made. Overall it was a great week! I love you and miss you all tons! Have a great week!

“Can of corn. Can of corn and I’ll be fine”