HELLO EVERYONE!
I am so happy to be here before you all. P.S. We are in our club house and they have music on. . TORTURE! For reals. Like all the good songs are playing! Rascal Flatts, Zach Brown Band, The Band Perry! O MY LANTA! There is nothing I can do about it. Moving all I just wanted to you all to know what I am dealing with right now! Ha-ha
HAPPY PRESIDENT'S DAY!
There is so much to report on and not enough time to give it all you!
This past week was amazing! There were so many miracles and so much fun stuff that I hope my little fingers can type fast enough to give you my week here in Daytona. First off, Friday night we had dinner at a member's house. I saw this young family on Sunday. I thought "I know them!" but I didn't get to talk to them. They fed us, as I introduced myself to the wife, she goes "Are you Bradley's sister!!" NO WAY! I do "know" this family. Ha-ha The girl and guy went to high school with you Bradley. Heidi Spilker and her hubby don’t know his first name, but his last name is Atkin. Yup. Callie Spilker and Zach Spilkers older sister is in the ward I am serving in! Ha-ha SMALL WORLD! Zach Spilker and his family will be here this week for the Daytona 500 races. I am hoping they can take some stuff home to you all for me. It would save me money. It was so fun to be in there home.
(Brad Paisley great song)
Thursday Morning I received a phone call from my former zone leaders. Elder Spilsbury/Lewis (I go home with both of them) they were calling to tell me that in the Spanish ward was having a baptism. And this guy INSISTED on me giving a talk at his baptism. So they got permission from the AP's to have me come and speak per his special request. What! SO COOL! The brief story of this guy. Uncle Rene- We found him in Lake Mary back in October. We taught him a few times, but then told us that he would understand more if it was in Spanish. Therefore we passed him on. But the Spanish elders could never get a hold of, but we always did. One Sunday in November we stopped by to see the family. Uncle Rene was outside working on his car, with his son Rene. We talked to both of them for a little bit. We left and that was that. Come to find out a week later that Uncle Rene was in a BAD car accident. As we learned that I remembered seeing earlier that week that same car and the front end was all black. . That made since now. We called the family that we were teaching that he was living with to see what had happened and how he was doing. (Taylor Swift! UGH!!) We stayed in contact and updated. We learned that 10 min after we left that Sunday, Uncles Rene was under the car when his son started it. The car ignited and Uncle Rene got caught on fire. We were the first ones to go see Uncle Rene when we came home from the hospital. That was when the Elders finally were able to get in a teach him. He was baptized this past Sunday. I was able to talk on Baptism. So special. The hardest thing ever because it was IN SPANISH! Yes I got the gift and gave it all in Spanish. . Kevin! Ha-ha just kidding it made it hard from me to speak because I had an interpreter. Uncle Rene is still healing from the burns, but he was able to be baptized! It was incredible! Uncle Rene did get up and bare his testimony in Spanish, until he was talking directly to me, then he spoke in English! What a great experience! We did have a little struggle. After I got off the phone with Elder Spilsbury we got right to work to find a member to drive us an hour to the baptism. We called EVERYONE that we knew would and could. All no's. We were even to call him back to tell him to get a backup speaker just in case no one was able to drive us. That night we went out and contact a former gator. This former gator has a neighbor that ALWAYS says hi to us when we go. After we were done talking to the guy. We looked at each other and at the same time said "let us go meet the neighbor" So we walked over there, knocked on the door. The guy’s wife answered. Before she came outside she said to her husband "I will handle this!" o boy! We told her that we were there just to meet them since her husband was so nice all the time. He then came out and we talked. We learned that she was raised in the church; her family is still very much active. He is not a member- well they are both not members but SO COOL! She asked if we needed help with anything. . Yes! We dared ask for a ride to Orlando for the baptism. She was more than happy! So Vanessa took us to Orlando and that gave us 2 hours to get to know her and her story! Needless to say she is our "Mormon friend" ha-ha but we like them so much and they want us back over to their house! So cool and definitely heaven sent and inspired!
We are teaching a guy named Mike. He is the member referral from a guy Southern Cali. Mike asks so many questions! We feel his mind is all over the place because he wants to know EVERYTHING all the one time! We are relying on the spirit so we don’t mess this up!! This past week we also were able to go visit Jeanette's dad! The spirit was as incredible as we were teaching them and sharing testimony with him and his girlfriend! We received special permission to continue going over there and teaching them. We hope they are as open as we saw and felt. We know they felt God's love as well. We can't wait to go back! (Treble- more info needed. When is your dad's birthday?)
The area is stellar! We are struggling with getting our gators to church. I have to remember that when we teach the doctrine and principles and invite, it is up to the person to act. We have the faith that more will come as we teach to their needs.
Cecil and Rose is a couple that we have seen a few times. They know that Joseph Smith is a prophet. We are trying to listen to the spirit as to what they need since they know. We are trying to get them to see that they need to act on the knowledge they have. Jake Williams came to church. It was so cool! And Carrie is ready to be baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday! The Lord is blessing this area and this ward so much!
Sister Lima and I are wonderful. I love working with her. She has a great attitude, so positive and uplifting. We are helping each other be better! It is wonderful working with her!
I love this work! I know that the Lord is behind it all! We have so much to be grateful for. I have so much to be grateful for!
I LOVE you all so much and hope that you have a fun President's Day and A GREAT WEEK!
One year Mark! Feb 16 2012
Sister Shannon Durr
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