Growing Spiritually

Things are going alright in Durham.  This week we biked a lot and found two new investigators.  We are figuring out the bus system slowly but surely, it is sometimes a headache to get from one place to another by bus.

I saw Duke University for the first time this week, but unfortunately I did not have my camera.  The whole campus looks like a castle, even the hospital (which is huge) has turrets on it.  It is one nice university but I would hate to see the tuition on it.

I can't believe Matt is home and that school is starting up today!  Does that mean I have been out the longest in the ward on a mission?  Thank you for the shirts they will come in handy!  That should be about all that I need!

I like that thought (Learning through Life's Trials) because, I'm like most other missionaries, in that the mission is the hardest thing I ever done.  But because missions are tough, it forces missionaries to grow spiritually.  I think people may grow the most on their missions than at any other time.

I love and I will email you again next week.

Love,

Elder Lakey

20th Birthday in Durham

Thanks for the birthday presents, it was just what I needed!!  I did not tell any members it was my birthday, so nobody really knew about it.

Work was rather slow this week.  The ward had us go find some less actives this week and none of them were interested in returning.  We do have some investigators, but they are progressing very slowly, so we don't have much to work with yet.  

I have been enjoying Durham the ward reminds me of Jacksonville.  There is lot of young families in the ward and they feed us well.

  

I am figuring out Durham, the GPS is my best friend, I have literally put hundreds of active, less active, potential and former investigators on it.  We will start using the buses this week.

Jonathan should be fine at school, he will just need a week or two.  I was nervous myself but there is nothing to be nervous of.

That is crazy that Matt Clough is home, they say that even in America, Spanish speaking missions are very different than English ones.

As a missionary the highs are really high and the lows are really low, but our part of the vineyard is geared towards us.  Harrison just got his first baptism on his mission and it was someone from one of his past areas. He was so excited for it.  Only he understands how that feels to work so hard with her for her to get baptized.

I too want my mission to go slow.

I love you and I will email again next week.

Love,

Elder Lakey

Enjoying Durham

This week has been a good one. I have really been enjoying Durham a lot and I like Elder Evans as well.  I think one of the reasons I enjoy Durham so much is that Durham is a research town most of the ward is either connected to Duke University or the Research Triangle.  Many of the members are students at Duke and are studying a lot of the things I enjoy learning about.

The work has been rather slow due to fact neither me or Elder Evans know much about the area yet, it is also difficult to get around because Durham is a rather spread out city, but we are planning on experimenting with the bus system here.  We live in an apartment complex that is own by a member that lives in the Roxboro branch and many other members live in it as well.

I am glad that summer is almost over!  I know that kids don't enjoy the summer coming to an end but I do, due to the fact it should get cooler, even though it has been a really mild summer.

I can't believe I'm about to be 20 it seems so crazy to me!!  But I really don't need anything at the moment for my birthday.

I really enjoyed that story you told me about the MTC missionaries.  Many missionaries  had to sacrifice a lot more than I did to go on a mission.  A lot of missionaries have a lot more challenges and difficulties than I do.  I really appreciate what you did for them.

I love you and I will email you again next week.

Love, 

Elder Lakey

Hello Durham

I am now in the Durham 2nd ward, which covers the northern half of the city of Durham. It is where a lot of suburbs are with a good sprinkling of Duke students.  Unfortunately, the ward boundary ends about two blocks before you get to Duke University.

I am half bike and half car just like Jacksonville. Durham 2nd is a really established ward, members feed us every night and the church attendance is literally double that of Pembroke!  Many of the members are young families doing post grad research at Duke and being paid to do it no less.  I am with Elder Evans who as been out as long as Elder Hjorth has.  We share the ward with Sisters (as usual).    We will be half bike half car, we split the car with the sisters.

I am sorry to hear that it's been a rough week. I will be praying for you all. Are you all still sick? I have been doing well, I haven't been sick since the first couple weeks of Pembroke.

As far as a birthday present goes, the only thing I can think of is making sure that when they give permission to release Ipads to the mission that we can buy one, but I think that is about it.

As far as I can tell most people that join the church and stay active in it start investigating when they see the good influence of friends and family who are members.  The church is true, but that doesn't mean a thing if we don't live the Gospel that makes us Christlike.

I love you all and I will email  you again next week.

Love, 

Elder Lakey