Weak by Week 1/9/12

Ni how -
 
It feels like just yesterday I sent my last email. I cannot believe how fast the weeks have been going. Well Happy Birthday to me. Thanks for the birthday wishes and gifts. It was a great first birthday in the field. I was woke up at 12:01 to party poppers exploding in my room because the assistants woke up to welcome me into my 20th year. A few hours later we woke up at 5:45 to drive with President and Sister Pitt in the brand new GMC to parkersburg an hour and a half away for a zone meeting. It was nice because between interviews and and meetings I was with them all day. What a treat! We came to find out that they spend some time up on Hebgen lake because one of their sons married a Covey. Pretty sweet connection and basically the number one thing to get me trunkie, talking about family in Montana. Between it all we had about an hour and half of proselyting and we were able to teach two lessons with members present and they were awesome. One is coming to dinner with a member this week and the other shared her rough past with us and we had a powerful lesson on the atonement. The night ended with dinner with the Assistants. It was a great time!
 
The last few weeks we have also been teaching a brother in jail. He is pretty amazing. He has read the entire quad multiple times as well all the teachings of the prophets and the pearl of great price institute instructors manual. When he was 16 he was tracted into and now he is 28 and knows a ton! The only reason he wasn't baptized in the past was because of smoking. He is now clean and is planning to be there when he gets out. The weird thing is is that he looks almost identical to Mason Waite. Its crazy.
 
In general we had just a really blessed week. We have been struggling to find new investigators that will stick, so the last two sundays we have been fasting to find a family to teach. To find the family that the Lord has been preparing to hear the gospel. After concluding our fast yesterday we tried a follow up with this lady. She was excited to see us and invited us in. She had been flipping a bit through the Book of Mormon and is very interested in learning. She was very positive as we taught of the Restoration. She has a 9 year old and 15 year old daughter and both her and her husband are doctors. I am certain this is the family we have been fasting to find. What an incredible miracle.
 
Well I love ya and hope things are going well!
 
Much Love,
 
Elder Dumke!

Happy New Year 1/2/12

Well Happy New Year Everyone.
 
It has been a crazy busy week. I haven't really had anytime to email the past two weeks and the library has been closed. I am actually using President's office computer so my time is limited. Know that I am doing well and the work is really coming along! Our area and the zone have really been doing well and have seen miracles daily. I love this work. Quick story was on saturday we had an appointment with the Stanley family and they unfortunately bailed on us. We had a member with us so we tried a few potential investigators we had found earlier that week. As we drove near there was a moving truck so we parked and offered to help. For once they took us up on it. In the process we ended up having a discussion about the Restoration of the Gospel she asked many questions and was very inquisitive about us and what we did. As we shared that there was a prophet on the earth today she grew even more intrigued. By the end, we asked her if we could come back and share more with her. She agreed and we left her with a Book of Mormon. The moment she held the book for the first time in her hands she began to weep. The Spirit illuminated with in her. She explained she has been searching for religion and she woke up this morning having no idea how she would be able to all her stuff in one day. It seems her prayers was answered together.
 
I was on two exchanges this week as well. One was to Beckley, WV. We walked to the hospital where one of their investigators had broken her ankle in 3 places. She needed surgery and was in alot of pain. She asked us if we could give her a blessing. She cried as my temporary companion blessed that her pain would subside and she would feel of her Heavenly Fathers love. We later found out that her pain completely ceased and she didn't take any more medicine and was able to sleep as she waited for surgery. It was a very humbling and amazing experience.
 
I am doing really well and hope you are too. I know this gospel is true and I have never had more of burning testimony of it. I sure love yall
 
Much Love
Elder Dumke

Merry Christmas!

12/19/11

Can you believe it is Christmas time!? I am so excited for this holiday. It is kinda tough jumping into all of this right in the midst of the holidays, but I always love a struggle. We had an awesome day at church yesterday where the Relief Society gave each of us a bag of gifts, but only after we sang a Christmas song accapella for them. Thankfully there were 6 elders. yes, 6 elders in our ward. It is completely opposite from the 1 set covering two wards in Roanoke. One of the areas they just opened this transfer. We are looking forward to a lot of growth in the ward in the coming months. The teaching pool is different. We found 3 new investigators this week, which was sweet and much needed. I would like to tell you about one of the amazing families we found.
 
On Friday we had a day set up for tracting. We chose a neighborhood set on hill to go knock doors in. When we got there, we immediately knew we had to be somewhere else. We flipped the car around and lo and behold there was a string of about 15 houses you could only view from the neighborhood we were in. We knocked each of those doors. There right next to each other, but you had to go up and down about 40 stairs for each individual house. As we approached this one house, a 17 year old kid came out and asked what we were doing. We explained and went and got his mom. Sally came out and invited us in. She explained that her husband had been put in jail for domestic violence and she got her son out of juvi this morning. She bore her testimony to us that she knew God had sent us there. The Spirit was very strong as they talked about their needs and beliefs. The Holy Ghost really guided the conversation. Even her 17 year old son, with a pant leg rolled up as his jail penned swastika tattoo She has a good good heart, as all the people of West Virginia do. We are excited about them.
 
 My comp is Elder Wiederholt from Beaverton, Oregon. He has been out about 15 months and we get along well. Charleston is a whole new world. We live four houses from the Capitol building with has this massive gold dome. It literally fills up our whole study window. It is a beautiful view. We are right across the river from University of Charleston in Downtown. Seriously look up our apartment on Google earth. Zone leader has its challenges and new responsibilities too. We have 15 areas within our zone - the biggest in the mission. I am still trying to figure it all out. This much I must say, I love teaching and tracting much more than managing.
 
I am so grateful for this holiday to remind us of all we have. We have so much to give and so much knowledge to receive. I would invite you to open your hearts during this time of year and let this be a week of spiritual gifts. I love you very much and can't wait to talk at 3:45 my time.
 
Love,
Elder Dumke
1622 Virginia St Apt B
Charleston WV 25311

Christmas in Dub V

Christine, who was baptized two days after I left Roanoke.
12/13/11
Merry Merry Everybody!
 
I cannot believe it is Christmas time already! Believe it or not it is 60 degrees today, it just doesn't feel like Christmas when you are raking leaves in a short sleeve T - shirt. Is what it is.
 
Things are going really well here. Last week has literally been, my last week... in VA. Monday night I got a call about 5:30 pm from the assistants saying they wanted me in Charleston tomorrow, meaning I would have to go to Blacksburg that night. So I ran and got my suits which I ironically dropped both of them off at the dry cleaners ( I even said as I dropped them off the first time, "hopefully we don't have any surprise meeting this week") Well I got them and left for Blacksburg an hour and half later. Spent the night with the Virginia Tech elders (Elder Brady, my trainer) and then went to Charleston for Zone Leader Council. Partway through the meeting President Pitt said, "Sister Pitt has asked if we should tell you elders who are not Zone leaders (there were 3 of us) why you are here. I will tell you the same thing Elder Scott told me, 'if you didn't know why your here, you probably aren't qualified enough to be here." Long story short turns out I am going to be a Zone leader in Charleston! I cannot wait. It is exactly where I wanted to go. I can't wait to be serving in the HQ of the mission. We will be living with the assistants too.
 
This sunday was a bitter sweet experience. We had 5 investigators at church and it was perfect service for them all. The really cool thing though was that 3 of the families we reactivated over the past 6 months brought non member friends or family to church. Their testimony is really growing and they beginning to share it!
 
Yesterday we helped Danny Robinson, remodel his kitchen some more. We weren't super helpful, considering our lack of construction knowledge, but it was a good fellowshipping and learning opportunity. He shared some more of his stories from over in Iraq. He doesn't understand the gospel completely, but he knows that is what is going to help raise his kids up right. We also helped Christine with a few things cleaning up the house. She has MS and is in motorized wheelchair and can't get a whole lot done. Her son Josh is a member and we have been teaching her for the last 6 weeks. She is getting baptized this Friday! She had a brutal upbringing but made some really incredible changes . I am sad I won't be there for her baptism.
 
One of the people that came to church was our good friend Wayne Hewett. He hadn't come the last 4 weeks and had really lost momentum towards baptism and wanting to meet. We went over last week to talk about it with him and explained that we are guides leading him to Christ, we can't walk carry him there, only lead him. And we can't lead if no one is following. And asked if he was still willing and interested in making changes in his life. He said yes. Apparently the visual worked for him, because the moment he sat down next to me in church, "Ya gotta have someone to folla." He has more metaphors and catchy phrases then anyone I know and teaching him in his own language, I guess is what works.

Here are Wayne and Sarah:
 
Last night we had Empty Nesters again. It was a ton of fun listening to live Christmas music from a Banjo, a guitar, two lap harps and two bass. The room was packed and we had quite a few non members come. They found out I was leaving and the night ended singing God be with you till we meet again. It was a very nice send off. I have really grown to love the people here. As I am sure I will in Charleston. I sure love yall and hope you have a very Merry Christmas!\
 
Much Love
Elder Dumke

Faith vs. Expectations

What is happening family - 12/5/11
 
I sure love hearin from yall and I cannot wait, cannot even wait, to chat on Christmas. This week was so great. I have done a lot of pondering on faith. The church and gospel teach us the principle of doing all you can do and relying on faith to fill in for our gaps, at least thats what I thought. I have come to realize the importance of remaining calm and trusting as you do WITH faith. Tuesday we had a beautiful Zone Conference. I love President Pitt. He really helped me personally and did an unbelievable in depth explanation of the Atonement. I know he was called of God.
 
Wednesday we went out with a member to see all the single sisters we have had to teach on the porch or just tracted into. It went great. This one girl Brittney we gave a book of mormon to, answered the door and came out. She said she was feeding her baby and asked if we could get her phone number and come back. She also said, "I have been reading that book you gave me, and I answered all your questions." I was stunned, surprised and overwhelmed with Joy. The member looks her and says, "Looks like you just made Elder Dumke's day!" I was so on Cloud 9, as we went back to the car and strayed off and tried getting in the wrong car. They busted up laughing, I did too. We then went to Janelle, who tracted into a few weeks ago. She was glad we brought a member with us, because she wanted us to come in and teach. We talked with her for a while and found out her husband had actually thrown out her Book of Mormon, yet she was determined to learn. We don't want to get in the middle of a marriage, but she wants the gospel in her and her daughters life. She was supposed to come to church this week; but if I were betting man I would say her husband prevented her from doing so. She is sweet though.
 
Thursday we taught Greg Fink. He nearly cancelled on us because he said he lit a fire in his wood stove and he couldn't leave his house with the fire going. Yeah right am I going to let the flames of Satan keep us from meeting with him. We picked up some chairs from the church and taught Greg with a Less active member we reactivated a few months ago outside. We taught outdoors because Greg picked up a stray pit bull from dog fights and we couldn't go inside with it. It went really well with him. We also taught Racha and Samia the plan of Salvation in a members home. It was a lot to cover in a short amount of time, but they enjoyed it and came to church again this week.
 
Friday we stopped by to see Mike because he wasn't returning our calls and he always does. We went to go see him he answered the door and his wife began yelling, "Mike! NO! NO! You can't it isn't good. Mike No!" She obviously knew it was us and it wasn't just about as apparent that she had been deleting our messages. He welcomed us in for about 20 seconds, but we showed ourselves out to avoid any spousal disputation. All I can say is Tori, Don't get married, It will limit your spiritual progression....
 

Because it was Elder Maxwell's birthday this week I kept a few things from him. We have any meals planned for Fri or Saturday. I secretly called up his favorite families and we ate well at Ichiban (like Bansai) and Abuelos. Seriously spoiled this weekend. It was a really good ending to a sweet week.

We were able to reach all but 1 of our goals. We finished the lessons with one investigator and we are just waiting for approval from the bishop for her to get baptized. Kind of a messy situation, but we are really excited for her.
 
It was a great week. I am grateful to be in Cave Spring and I couldn't ask for a better companion. Love you! and Merry Merry Christmas!
 
Elder Dumke
 
Hope you got a chance to watch the Christmas Devotional! It was awesome!

Post Thanksgiving

Happy Monday one and all 11/28/11
 
We are now officially on the path to Christmas. I cannot  believe how quickly everyone got there lights up out here. Last night we even helped some people put some up. In suit pants and all we hopped up on the roof and helped a less active family put their lights up. They claimed it to be a Christmas miracle. Just when they felt it wasn't worth it to put up the lights and it was causing more contention than creating Christmas Spirit, we showed up. It was a lot of fun to be able to help them pull the ox out of the mire ;).
 
Thanksgiving was a blast throughout the week we got invited to more Thanksgivings and ended up having 4 turkey dinners! Between Elder Maxwell and I we gained exactly 12 pounds in one day! Unfortunately I have already lost my share. My favorite was at the Nervo's home. They aren't in our ward but her daughter and son in law the Vanderhoevens are one of my favorite families and they invited us over. Their son Oliver Thompson is actually serving in the Ogden, Utah mission. Funny how we just switched missions like that.
 
Teaching was a little bit slow this week with all the Holiday festivities and majority of the people leaving town. We had an awesome lesson with Mike Holland. A member at church asked us to go out with this week if we had lessons. That hardly happens. Turns out we were teaching Mike the night he could come out. Also turns out that they have a very good mutual friend. That friend actually took Mike to church once back in high school. The lesson went well and we explained the restoration. He said he was going hunting friday morn and he would take the Book of Mormon with him to read and pray. He said there is a connection you get with God in nature, especially in the woods. We hadn't talked to him about the sacred grove or anything yet! It was perfect and we said to be sure to watch the restoration DVD before going out. He agreed.
 
Wayne was a bit frustrating this week. He wasn't able to meet because of Thanksgiving, but we talked to him on the phone throughout the week. We literally talked to him an hour before church, and he said 'Elder I am shaved, I am clean there ain't no reason I won't be able to go. 9 am cottonhill.' Well he didn't come, in fact no one came. It was the first time in months we haven't had a visitor with us.We have a good week planned and are looking forward. This saturday is Elder Maxwell's birthday. Turning 21. Sure love ya!
 
Elder Dumke
 

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Turkey Week - 11/21/11
 
We were very blessed this past week to be able to travel to Charleston and hear from an Apsotle. Elder Anderson visited the mission on Saturday and spoke to us. He began by shaking each one of our hands and asking our names. It was an experience in and of itself. He had nothing particular to speak on, just answered questions and gave us straight counsel from the Lord. It was incredible in 90 minutes he was able to address the entire mission, but speak to each individual missionary's concerns. It was sweet. He spoke a a lot about not comparing yourself to others (ha at least that is what it seemed like to me), just comparing you to you. He said, "Can you imagine me comparing myself Dallin H. Oakes or Elder Boyd K Packer? I grew up reading some of their books on doctrine. Ask yourself instead am I growing in love for my savior? Am I growing in knowledge in the scriptures?" It was, as it seems it always is, about constantly striving to make YOU better. There many other things he said, that I needed to hear.
 
On Tuesday we followed up with someone we tracted into the week prior. When we showed up we weren't able to go in because she was home alone, but we taught on her front porch. She said that she had been searching for a church, after she was publicly chastized at her husbands southern baptist church for wearing make up. She knew that that wasn't what Christ would have done. Her name is Janelle. She is 23 and has a one year old daughter. They weren't able to come to church this week and working with her husband will be a battle, but she has really been prepared by the Lord.
 
Wednesday we went to see Mike Holland. He was raised baptist and married Catholic and has 3 young daughters. I sent you package this week with the video card. I will let you watch that story. Oh man! That has most of the weeks dealings. Sunday however was great! One of our investigators brought their friend from church. Now this is complicated, but it was funny. In Priesthood meeting before church we talked about the possibility of Janelle being at church. And one of the quorum leaders began asking if she was the kind of baptist you know that wears straw hats and such. We explained she wasn't Mennonite or anything, but just to watch for a thin 23 year old. Well when Sacrament meeting began our investigator brought her Mennonite aunt unexpectedly and she sat right beside me. It was neat to have her at church, but the priesthood was really confused who it was. We ended up having to fill in for two classes as well. Teachers didn't show up and so we were asked to go and teach. Sweet, I guess I need to continue to brush up on my Old Testament.
 
Another good week here in Roanoke, now that I am fairly certain I am leaving in a few weeks, I really do not want to go! Hope you have a fantastic Thanksgiving without me. ;)
 
Love,
Elder Dumke
 
PS - Last P Day we went downtown and explored the "big city of our mission." It was less than thrilling, but a lot of fun. One is on a train bridge that goes right thru the middle of the city and the other is at the St. Andrews Catholic Cathedral of Roanoke.