Facebook post 09/29/2015

From Transfer Meeting and Teaching Today with Our Shawnee Branch Missionaries.

E-mail 09/28/2015

Hi everyone!

So not a lot happened this week so I will talk about some of the highlights.

Monday I made cookies and did a puzzle, and let my mind turn off for a couple of hours.

Tuesday we started doing a weekly bible study that we, the missionaries, are teaching so that's going to be lots of fun!

Wednesday was a lot of biking and people missing appointments, but so go's the mission life.

Thursday we had an awesome district meeting and had a district lunch, 10 missionaries! I got pictures!

Friday, so this past week Elder Wallace has been having bad coughs and it's been keeping him up late at night, (it doesn't bother me, after learning to stay asleep with a crying baby in the room, I can sleep through coughing.)  We finally called Sister Brough and I described what I could and she told us what to do, so I am taking what I learned from Mom and being merciless in making sure he does what he is supposed to do! Thanks Mom for loving me enough to make sure I got better, even with all of my complaining ;)

Saturday, we saw the two appointments we had set up, then we followed the doctors orders and he rested for the rest of the day. Oh almost forgot, we got transfer news, I am staying here and Elder Wallace is being transferred to South Jordan YSA.

Sunday we had an awesome testimony meeting, and then we had dinner with Elder and Sister Bailey, (mission office couple) then they took us to a monthly fireside for recent converts and investigators, and the wierd thing was that we were taking an investigator and he was in the car and then at the last moment he gets out of the car and go's back inside... ya we are going to find out what happened.  The fireside was awesome, it was the first one I've been to, and I'm really glad I was there!  Elder Koenig was there with one of the investigators that we've been working with, and she went up and told everyone that she's getting baptized! and after the meeting she asked me to give a talk at her baptism.  I just need to get permission from President Brough and I'll be back in E-town!  I'm so happy!

Love y'all!
Elder Durrant
Great Kentucky Louisville Mission

Quote of the week:
"The greatest compliment that can be earned here in this life is to be known as a covenant keeper."
-Elder Russell M. Nelson

Back row left to right: Elder Sharp, Elder Waite, Elder Matelau, Elder

Wallace, Elder Seymore, Elder Butler, Elder Durrant

Front row left to right: Elder Langford, Elder Bennett, Elder Stedman 

Our District lunch

This is a picture that Elder Wallace took 

at the beginning of the transfer, 

well trying to kill himself.

E-mail 09/21/2015

Hello everyone! It's Me! Your favorite missionary in Kentucky!

This week has been full of up and down, but that's all part of the job.

Tuesday, we went and talked with a guy who's wife is a member. She wasn't there so we didn't give a lesson, but he shared stories with us about what he used to do, Live Action Roll Play, with real armor that they made, but they had sticks instead of sharp pointy things.  Someone could get killed with those!   So it's hundreds of nerds hitting each other with sticks, sounds like something fun to watch, and Adam would fit right in ;) Then that night we took one of our investigators to a baptism, and she loved it!

Wednesday, we taught a couple that we ran into last week ( The Adams).  She is a member, but hasn't been in 15 some odd years, so we are teaching both of them, and I had to restrain myself from making a joke about the Adams family (snap snap) he he he ;)

Thursday, we had district meeting, and the Zone Leaders gave us a ride, and we went past some road work, (it's impossible to escape) and we made a funny little video as we passed, that I will send to you when I can, it's so funny when missionaries act like gangsters!

Friday, we had dinner with the Dunn's (the family where the dad does the LARP) and it was fun.  We had really good shepherds pie, and we got to know them a little more which led us to talking about what he used to do, all the way to spiders. So yes it was a fun talk.

Saturday, we had a lot planned, but we ended up doing a lot of biking, and I now know what it feels like to get dumped over text.  Our best investigator dropped us, and we haven't been able to get in contact with her, but don't worry, we'll get her back!

Sunday was good, after church we went out with a member and was able to get a lot done.  In the space of 24 hours, we went from 1 baptismal date to no dates to 2, and we should be getting more so.

The quote for the week is from President Hinckley.

"No other work reaches so close to divinity as does the nurturing of the sons and daughters of God."

(President Gordon B. Hinckley, "Stand Strong against the Wiles of the World", October 1995.)

Love

Elder Durrant

Great Kentucky Louisville Mission

This is how we roll!

E-mail 09/14/2015

Monday was an interesting day; well first it was Elder Wallace's B-day and he's Mom sent some decorations and stuff for it, so we put those things up for her, otherwise Elder Wallace wouldn't have put them up, but it was fun.  We then went to the bus to go to the library, and we realized that it was closed, so we took the bus up to the mission office that's why the time was weird.  We stayed around there for a little while with the senior office mission couples, the Assistants, our Zone leaders, and then later our District leader showed up, so it was like we were having a district party with everyone except two of our Elders, it was fun!

Tuesday, we helped the non-profit organization again, and thankfully there were only five steps down to take the really heavy stuff. Now this is something that I have been trying to figure out all week, why Elder Wallace and I keep getting asked to help move really heavy things, when we have a 390 lbs Tongan missionary, that can bench 412 lbs and squat 800 lbs at our disposal? Go figure! Then after that we got to help with the Bishops storehouse truck, that's always fun, and I actually broke a sweat.  It's so weird having it drip off of you!

Wednesday, would never end, our appointments fell through so we got our weekly planning done.

Thursday, we went on an exchange and I went up with Elder Butler to his area, and we had a really cool experience.  My goal for the exchange was to work on answering questions that people have using the Book of Mormon.  The first person we were able to talk with, we were able to share a scripture that brought her to tears, and she told us that she really needed that, so that was very inspiring. Then that night, us and the Assistants helped a member move a table that the top was a big glass piece that was, no joke, 300-350 lbs.  Again, where was our Tongan Elder when we need him?  We were able to do it with only a few pinched fingers, then the member fed us, so all was good.

Friday, we had Zone Meeting, which is always fun! What's extra cool is that there are four other missionaries in the zone that came out with me.

Saturday was full of work, and we were able to meet some more members.

Sunday, Church was great, Elder Seymore gave a talk about not getting offended and stop going to church. Then after church they had a pot luck that they have once a month, and it was really good :)   We then went and taught a guy that calls us his "homeys".  It was a really good lesson, but about half way through we got interrupted, and we weren't able to finish.  We rescheduled for Tuesday, then our next appointment fell through so we were able to go help a member move.  That was interesting, especially when we moved the piano, again where is the Tongan?  But we got everything taken care of.

Monday, we went to the Louisville Slugger Museum, which was a lot of fun.  When we got there we ran into a member that works there and so we got a tour for free, and I got lots of pictures that I will send as soon as I can.

Love
Elder Durrant
Great Kentucky Louisville Mission

E-mail 09/05/2015

Well howdy! (That's about how long the rest of the letter will be)

Tuesday, we did A LOT of driving, and went to parts of our area that we don't normally see. In the evening we saw some of our investigators and tried to teach them, but they were kind of distracted, oh well, ya win some, ya loose some. Next time it will be better.

Wednesday, we taught one of our investigators, and he was actually really interesting in what we were sharing. He did have some weird questions, but he wanted to learn! Later we had 50¢ corn dogs from sonic, they were pretty good.

Thursday, we had our weekly planing, and that was the most exciting thing of the day.

Friday, we had district meeting. It is weird traveling for an hour, and going into a different time zone to get to district meeting, I've gotten so used to it being less then twenty minutes away at the most. But the seiner couple drive us to it so it's fun doing that.

Saturday, we helped our friend out at his shop, and it was good that we showed up because he was having a bad day, so with the help we gave and everything, he was all smiles by the time we left. We also got transfer news, Elder Long and I are staying together, and our district is going from 4 sets of Elders, 1 set of Hermana's, and the seiner couple. Now it will be 2 sets of Elders, the seiner couple, and 3 set of Sisters/ Hermana's. Wow.

Sunday, we had a good sacrament meeting, and the other classes were good too.

Sorry for the short letter, but that's about it for this week.

Love y'all

Elder Durrant

Great Kentucky Louisville Mission

E-mail 09/07/2015

Hey y'all's!

This has been a long week. Monday, we didn't do too much but I did finish something that I had put off doing.  Now I just need to figure out how to do the next step. 

Tuesday, we went and helped this non-profit organization move furniture, and most of the people that helped were older, so Elder Wallace and I were the only ones that could move most of the heavy stuff, so that's always fun, especially when we take it up a long flight of stairs.  Then the rest of the day was regular mission work. 

Wednesday, we mowed our lawn because we weren't able to do it Monday, then that night we had interviews which is always awesome! Even-though this is my second one, I loved it.

Thursday, we keep setting up appointments and everyone keeps falling through, so we are going to use some advice President gave us and guilt trip everyone! This way they feel guilty for skipping out on learning about their salvation.  But it was cool, we were getting ready to go to an appointment on the other side of our area when this member called us and said he was just getting out of class and wanted to come out with us.  So we met up with him and spent the hottest part of the day in his nice air conditioned car, even though we didn't have a real lessen with anyone. 

Friday, was like the rest of the week, lots and lots of work and little to show for it right now, plus weekly planning. 

Saturday we got kidnapped by the Assistants and went out of the mission!  Then we went back in.  So this is what happened, a guy that Elder Wallace taught about 18 months ago in Greenville, Kentucky, was getting baptized and he asked if Elder Wallace could baptize him.  We then went around and saw people that he knew. 

Sunday, church was great, though our best investigator didn't show up, and later we found out why.  Her phone was in her car and then her car was stolen, so she was a having a very bad day, so we did what we do best, we taught her gospel principles and made her feel better.  Then that night, the four Elders ate at the Carbine's (the senior couple office missionaries) house and had a wonderful dinner.  Then we spent the rest of the night visiting people with Bro. Carr, an awesome member who loves going out with missionaries all over the place.

Love you all!
Elder Durrant

Great Kentucky Louisville Mission             

Front: Elder Durrant, Elder Wallace
Middle: Elder Ottoson, Elder Clayson
Back: Elder Butikufer, Elder Langford, and Elder Bennett

E-mail 08/31/2015

What an amazing two weeks!
First off, sorry everyone for not sending a family letter last week.

Tuesday the 18th, was transfers, and I was put into a threeship with
Elder Johnson and Elder Wallace, in one of the suburbs of Louisville.
I have know seen the outside of Church Hill Downs. Then, get this,
the area was split in two so there are two other missionaries
covering the second part. They are living in our apartment until
the mission gets approval from the church for their apartment, so as
you can imagine it gets interesting around here; especially with only
one key to the apartment.

Wednesday the 19th, Me and Elder Wallace are new to the area, so Elder
Johnson is showing us around. He has an amazing memory; Elder Wallace
calls him his walking computer.  We really just spent most of the
day seeing some people and getting to know the area.

Thursday the 20th we had district meeting, and we had to have the Zone
Leaders pick up all 5 of us because they have a mini van, that was
fun. This is a very unique district, there are the 3 Elders in my
group, the 2 Elders in the new area, the District Leader and his
companion, the companion being one of the Elders that came out with
me, our Zone Leaders, one of them being my first district leader so
that's cool, and the 2 Assistants to the President. Yes, I would
say that this is an awesome district. Then after the meeting we went
over to the office, because it's right next door to the church
building we had the meeting at and we finally got our bus passes.  It
will make travel so much better.

Friday the 21st, we had our weekly planning, then got to see people
and teach them, and got to know the area more.

Saturday the 22nd, we went to a house to go see someone that the other
elders talked with and sent us there info. Well, the person we went to
see wasn't there but we ended up teaching the other people that lived
there and it went amazingly well. Just as we were finishing
up, the guy that we originally went to see showed up and so we left each one of
them with a Book of Mormon .

Sunday the 23rd we had church at 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. It's just
a branch right now, but it could easily get turned into a ward. Then I
really can't remember what else we did that night but talk with people
on the side walk.

Monday the 24th, We had run out of Book of Mormons, so we had asked
the assistants to bring us some boxes of them. When they came we
had them give us a ride to the store and back. We spent a lot
of time cleaning the place and mowing the lawn.  YES we have a lawn!
That is one of the little things I didn't think I would miss. We
finally made it to the library to email, and that is why I didn't have
time to send a family letter last week.

Tuesday the 25th, we went over to a place to help them with some
heavy lifting of furniture that they take to people that need it.  It was a lot of fun doing that and then our ride left us so we walked 2-3 miles and then got on a bus the last 3 miles. Got home, got something to eat, changed into our white shirts and ties headed over to the church and helped with the Bishops Storehouse truck, then went to work for the rest of the day.

Wednesday the 26th, Nothing out of the ordinary happened.

Thursday the 27th, we had district meeting and this time we had the
assistants pick us up, but right before we left one of the other
Elders needed to get back into the apartment so Elder Wallace threw
the keys to him.  They landed on the roof, so I got video of them
getting it off; it was so funny!  After the meeting we had an exchange where Elder Wallace went with our District leader, Elder
Butler, who was Elder Wallace's MTC companion, and Elder Sharp came
with me and Elder Johnson. That was cool and the the other 2 Elders
finally moved out. It's not like I didn't like them but it's nice
having a lot more room.  We then had our coordination meeting with the
branch mission leader Brother Roy and his wife at the church. He made us dinner and it was good, but I still haven't had anything that beats your cooking Mom! ;) We spent the rest of the evening seeing people with the Roy's.

Friday the 28th, President Brough came at 6:30 a.m. to get Elder
Johnson because he was being reassigned and we will miss him.  Elder Sharp and I took the bus to go meet up with Elder Butler and
Elder Wallace. We ended up getting a free tour of the U. of L.
Campus because the bus had to take a detour. After all of that we had
weekly planning when we got back. Then biked all the way to the
other end of our area to have dinner with some members, the Schmucks. It's pronounced Schmook, like book.  He and his parents are
from Austria and his wife is from Utah.
Saturday the 29th was trying to see a lot of people that weren't home.
And then I got something in my back tire that flattened it even with
the slime. We were blessed and ran into someone that is a private
investigator.  He just gave me a whole new tube. That was awesome.

Sunday the 30th we went to go see some members that we didn't know,
and one of them ended up feeding us hamburgers that were very good!

Love you all! Talk with you next week!
Elder Durrant
Great Kentucky Louisville Mission

Sister Roy, Elder Durrant, Elder Johnson 

Elder Durrant , Elder Johnson 

Elder Sharp, Elder Matelau , Elder Seymore 

Brother and Sister Roy out with the Missionaries at Brother and Sister Payne's