When the Smoke Clears

This week was... nah it is just too impossible to use one word to describe in an entire week of ups and downs. Overall we some amazing big steps being taken. Our main focus at this point in time is Wayne.
     He has been taught everything, come to church multiple times and has read the Book of Mormon more then most preparing missionaries. He is awesome. This past tuesday we did what we call the stop smoking workshop. Our mission has a specific 15 step program that we teach to help smokers quit. As we began talking with him, his wife Sarah came and began to listen in. She typically would say hello and then go back upstairs. Turns out that she wants to quit smoking too! We taught it and committed them and shared a short lesson. It was so great. I cannot believe a one hour lesson like that can just wipe away any negative experiences that week. We visited the next day to see how it was all going. Sarah had gone and bought all the supplies she needed, while Wayne still hadn't. They are both doing okay quitting, but it is really going to be a long battle. In the long run I know it will all be worth it. We started teaching Sarah too and she came to church yesterday, has begun reading the Book of Mormon and even watched Waynes Restoration DVD. I am sure she will follow in the footsteps or even possibly lead out in being baptized with Wayne.
 
       There were definitely some long difficult days this week too. Two lessons with die hard baptists. They not so graciously attempted to correct our misguided ways. The benefit of having those lessons, is actually experiencing opposition in all things. It is such an empty feeling when the Spirit isn't in a conversation about the gospel. I also did two baptismal interviews this week for some other Elders in our district. One was with a 10 year old ADHD kid, and it was amazingly funny. I couldn't contain my laughter as he displayed his excitement! If only everyone had that kind of desire and enthusiasm to literally run from room to room jumping up and down exclaiming how excited he was to be baptized! I also had a second interview with someone who was supposed to be baptized a few months back, but their spouse tragically died just 2 hours before the actual ordinance. That was entirely different kind of excitement. Wayne was able to attend that baptism and could really feel the peace there.
 
     . 
We visited Debbie and her husband to drop off a Bible and Book of Mormon for them. It was a nice visit and we invited her husband to church again. And he came! And he stayed all 3 hours! We were pretty amped about it all. Thats about it from me. I sure love ya. Elder Dumke
 
This is Elder Brown from East High.



General Conference 10/3/11

Dear One and All -
 
What a fantastic General Conference session! Saturday we watched both sessions at members homes. It was like being back in SLC or PC minus the hootnanny? pancakes and strawberry topping. My favorite talks had to be by Whitney Clayton on Daniel interpreting the Dream, Carl B. Cook on looking up and President Eyring in Priesthood session talking about pushing a little more. They applied to me personally (even having the dreams).It is amazing the difference conference makes when you go in with a heart full of faith that the Lord's chosen servants will answer your prayers. This years did that more than ever. Sunday we went to the Stake Center to watch it. As we waited for it to begin a less active member walked in. It was a less active we had tracted into a couple weeks back and had been periodically visiting. She came to church last week for the first time in 15 years and this week she brought her non member husband to conference. It was such a blessing to see them there and really feeling the spirit.
 
We had the opportunity to help someone paint this week as well. It was referral from a ward member to help them paint one room and then teach them. As it turned out, when they found out we could help they decided they wanted the whole house painted! We started with one room, priming and painting. She is a neat, nice and lost lady. I really know we can help her.
 
Yesterday I turned 8 months old, still just a babe. I did come to realize the number of turning points I have already had. It seems like as each month clicks away I feel like, "wow this is the pivot of my mission." Nope, I believe this really is 'one eternal round' with each day a new point to turn on. I am so grateful for General Conference to refresh and renew all of our senses to greatness of this gospel.
 
Love ya
Elder Dumke

Week 1

Hey eh?
 
Well this week I got a new companion and he is pretty sweet. His name is Elder Mitchell Maxwell from Mcgrawth, Alberta, Canada. He was a big time hockey player before his mission and gave it up to come out. He is really a hard worker and we have a lot of fun together. I am really glad to be where I am at. This week we decided to really exercise our faith. We dropped 2 people we had been teaching, even though we really liked them and we had good discussions, they ultimately had no desire. It is hard to shave down an already small teaching pool. We were confident the Lord would provide, and he did. We were able to find 2 more solid families to begin teaching.
 
 We visited Wayne this week and he was sick in bed. Just the night before me and Elder Maxwell were talking, saying how much easier it would be if all people could just suddenly stop smoking. As we began talking with him, he said he had gone to ER for COPD and was recommended to stop smoking by his doctor. Now he didn't stop completely, but he has drastically reduced his intake and we are helping him quit completely this week. I really feel that he is one of the people I am still in Roanoke for. We also visited another individual who has met with missionaries for over 20 years. We had only visited him twice over the last few months, because he said he would only get baptized when he moves to Utah. Well as we were driving home from church yesterday, I had the strong impression to stop by on him. So we turned around to go see him. He let us in and told us that he had an interesting week. He said that he had died this past week! He had a heart attack and was out for a while. He is doing fine now, but he wanted a blessing. During all the time of meeting with members and elders he had never had blessing, but knew he needed one. Afterwards he told us that he knew he hadn't accomplished his purpose in life yet. We talked about what that entailed and we are planning to meet again with him this week. Pretty crazy health week.
 
Last night we also visit Clara. We hadn't seen her in a few weeks and wanted to stop by. She said she didn't have her Book of Mormon, because her step dad was always reading it! We assumed that she hadn't read any during that time, come to find out she had read a good portion of "what is and how do you say Ahlma?" It was sweet! She loves it too. We also taught Greg twice this week.
 
A really great week. I love my comp and I am really enjoying soaking it all in. Sorry I have no time!
 
Love ya
Elder Dumke

Back to Back 9/20/11

Whoa
 
What a shocking and surprising week. Last tuesday we had to go get our tire fixed because it was leaking a little air. When we took it in we found out that we needed 4 new tires and it wouldn't be just a quick fix. Instead of waiting 3 to 4 hours at the tire repair, we decided to begin walking. We were really far from where we had planned, but we felt confident when we prayed about our plans the prior night. As we began walking the busy Electric Ave (seriously that is what it is called), we didn't get more than a few hundred yards when a brand new 2011 Mercedes Diesel pulled up along side us. It turned out to be a less active member that hadn't been to church in over 20 years. He gave us a ride to our destination and we talked for just about an hour. He had been through some rough things with Alcohol and Drugs, but he was now clean and wanted to really start turning his life around towards God. What a perfect opportunity! He invited us to come to his house soon and meet with him. I never cease to be amazed by "God's perfect timing."
 
Wednesday I went up to Charleston, WV. I tell you what, I thought Virginia was green. The beautiful, deep, lush hollers and the hills speckled with shades of red and yellow as the trees begin to turn. It was a very nice drive and an inspiring conference. There were about 60 missionaries there and two teachers who tour around the world speaking to different missions. They focused a lot on finding the elect, those that are truly searching for the gospel. It was a great and full day.
 
We also had the opportunity to do some service for a ward member. After we helped them out we were driving back for lunch and we decided to drop by on an investigator who kept putting us off for one reason or another. We arrived in our service clothes and showed them we were serious about helping. We mowed and edged their lawn for them and were able to set up an appointment for the following day. That lesson went well too. They are meeting with JWs though too. So as we knocked on their door, we waited for them to come. When they opened the door the Jehovahs Witnesses walked out and we walked in. To break the awkwardness of the situation, we began with, "So what did you talk about, we want to be sure not to do the same lesson!" Everyone laughed. After the lesson we taught Greg Fink at the church. He hadn't set foot in a church for 15 years and was nervous to do it for the first time on a Sunday, so we took him on a tour. And even played basketball for 20 minutes or so. The Spirit was so strong as we taught in the chapel. While we tried to explain the 3 degrees of glory, he was a bit confused with all the terminology. So I related it right back to basketball. "The Celestial Kingdom is like a 3 point shot. It takes more devotion and practice to make a 3 pointer, but when you make it your reward is greater. Where as it isn't as hard to make a jump shot with in the arc (terrestrial) which is only 2 points. The telestial is like a free throw anyone can make it, there isn't any defense, but it is just 1 point." It helped him a lot and it was a fun way to teach it.
 
We had another lesson with him last night, just outside his house. As we talked about faith in Alma 32 we heard a few growls/ screeches. He told us they had had some bobcats the last few nights they could hear in the trees. It was not comforting. As we continued talking a little bobcat kitten strutted up about 4 feet from us. He was about the size of 1 liter bottle (sorry for the weird comparison). As soon as I saw it I looked at Greg and asked "does that mean the mama isn't too far off?" Then from behind his truck comes this bobcat with two more kittens. Nobody moved. Nobody spoke. They watched us for a bit then scampered off. It was crazy though. One of the kittens was all black and the the other was kind of brown, but it had the spots. We found out that the bobcats had been inbreeding with house cats! We heard stories of people picking up stray "house cats" come to find out they are half bobcat! It was an eventful evening.
 
Saturday night we got a call that let us know that one of us would be leaving, but we weren't allowed to know which one until Monday night. I have been here 4 and half months so I just figured it would be me. We both thought it was me, until President Pitt called me Monday. He asked me if I would train again... He said that usually they gave trainers a break, but they want me to train a certain Elder that is coming in. I was overwhelmed and shocked. This means that I will be staying in Roanoke for another 3 months because of the 12 week training program the church introduced. I am excited and nervous. I was definitely, definitely not expecting to train again. Pray for the new elder.
 
Sure Love ya,
Elder Dumke
 
 
 

Sharing is Caring

Hey yall -
 
What a blessed week.  We decided to meet with the head of each auxillary and find out how we could assist them. With a massive list of people to see, we stayed busy. One of the neat people we met was a descendent of Joseph Smith (nephew of George Albert Smith or something) . He is not for the church anymore and hasn't allowed anyone to speak with him and his wife in years. We decided to try and found that they were friendly to us. They even invited us back for another visit.
 
We also taught Greg Fink. When we arrived he had the hood of his truck open and worried look on his face. When we got up to talking to him he told us he was loosing power up hills and something was wrong with the intake. We helped take it all off and clean it up diagnose and fix. The whole time praying that we could repair this and have a short lesson with him. We fired up the truck and it was all back to normal. The Lord has really helped figure out his machines for his higher purpose. I love visiting with him because you can just see you much Heavenly Father loves him.
 
We also had Zone meeting on Friday. It was about gaining and retaining a testimony using 1 Nephi 2:16 - 20. Each step is outlined verse at a time. Having faith, then sharing with believers, sharing with non - believers and keeping the commandments to retain. Take a look at it. I came to the realization, that I held too many of my spiritual experiences 'sacred' when really I feel I was just being selfish. The Lord often gives us these experiences to share. When we only with-hold, how can he continue to give? As I shared my thoughts with my companion we felt inspired to stop by someone we met over 2 months ago and hadn't seen since. We knocked on her door and no answer. As we started writing out a post it note to leave on the door. Her kids came home from school and she came rushing out the door to greet them. We watched her show love for each one individually as they came into her arms. She let them go inside and apologized that she hadn't heard us knock at the door, she was doing laundry. She said she had just 5 minutes. We shared the importance of families and that God has provided a way for families to be eternal. She explained that she had lost two children over the past 10 years and she became fed up with churches after the pastor required her ten times at his church and 250 dollars from her grandmother as a repayment for him conducting a funeral service. She hooked on to everything we said and was definitely interested. It was a beautiful exchange.
 
So many great things happened this week and many difficult things as well. But I know that God has his hand in each situation, especially in the heat of the moment. I love you all so much.
 
Much Love,
Elder Dumke
 
PS P day is tuesday next week. Transfers... and this wednesday I am going up to Charleston for a training meeting. My first time since I got here.
 

Baptimos

Hola -
 
Happy Labor Day! I will cut straight to the chase ( I am at a members house and very short on time). Our mission has begun to push for member work and let me tell you it is hard. When you are used to knocking doors for hours each day and actually talking  to dozens of people it is difficult to change. It has sort of slowed down the work. This past week we taught just a few lessons on the weekdays, but as we kept the faith we had a strong weekend. On Saturday we extended 3 baptismal commitments. Wayne was one of those! He chose the date of October 30th. He went 10 days without a drink and had 1 beer but has gone another 7 days without a drop. He is doing very well. That night we also saw Greg. We weren't planning on seeing him, but he called us and asked us to come. We said we would be there immediately. He told us he had got in a fight with his Dad and was ready to turn his life around. He needed to change and this experience had humbled him enough to realize the importance of it. We spent the night cheering him up and setting goals. He plans to be baptized October 8th.
 
I went on exchanges with Salem this past week as well. They are on bikes... We biked alot alot. It made me recognize the importance of planning. As we were riding back home it began to mist, then drizzle, then rain, then pour, then flood, then hail! It was a hilariously painful experience. I have never been so wet in my life! The hail stones were the size of foosballs. Needless to say I was grateful to come back to a vehicle.

One of the benefits of being district leader is having the great opportunity to interview a candidate for baptism. The downtown Elders had been referred to this humble man from Mexico City, named Alfredo. He listened, believed and acted on everything they said. In the interview there was a member translating for us, but the Spirit was so strong. I am so grateful that I could be part of it. He was baptized last night.
 
After the baptism we decided to try two followups. One was someone who had been meeting with the missionaries a year ago. We knocked on his door and we talked for a brief while about boy scouts. He is the scout master in his methodist church and was impressed that both my companion and I were eagle scouts. As we transitioned to the gospel he said he couldn't talk right now, but he wanted us back. He said just talking with us "just tickled him, it just tickled him right inside." What an amazing feeling - a burning in the bosom or a tickle inside ha!
 
I love you so much! I am so excited to see the change that has occurred here! And am so thankful for the new friends I have made!
 
Much Love,
Elder Dumke