01-18-10

Dear Family,

I hope all is going well for you. This week was a good week for me. To help our investigator continue to progress towards baptism we had a good member present lesson on baptism. The spirit was present as we talked and conversed about the atonement of Christ. We even used a chalk board to talk about justice and mercy. George seemed to be understanding it. We asked lots of questions to help George realize that he knows this stuff. It was a good lesson. We also made by weekly contact with him.

We also set up a time to consistently meet with bishop every week. He has given us people to contact and see threw out the week. We called him and reported back to bishop the thing that we accomplished on bishops list. We put bishops list as more of a priority and Heavenly Father blessed us with an ability to meet with most of these people.

Cool Story: What was really neat is that I actually have a distant relative who lives in the Berthoud ward. My companion and I coordinated with one of the members to setting up a time and teaching a message with them. It was wonderful experience, I even whipped out the new 2010 Durfee Calendar and showed him a picture of all the Durfee Family (which arrived the night before). He was amazed at how many Durfee's there are. At the end of the evening I told brother Durfee (my Relative) of a story of my grandmother. She died of cancer and before she passed away, she told her 12 children that she wanted there to be no empty chairs in Heaven. Telling each one of her kids that she wanted them to be active and to do their part to return one day to our Father in Heaven. I told brother Durfee that I did not want to see his chair empty in heaven. Brother Durfee sat back and said, with all those other Durfee's in heaven I want to be there with them. He said that he would come to church. I told him that I would like to see him there at church. He said that he would come in the next 8 weeks. I told him I might be transferred but to come any ways. I enjoyed getting to meet brother Durfee it was an awesome experience. I feet that meeting with brother Durfee was one of the reasons I came to the Colorado on my mission.

Dear Family I love you all and hope all is going good for you.

Love, Elder Durfee

P.S. the picture is of Lloyed Durfee

1-11-10

Dear Family,
I hope you all have had a wonderful week and things are treating you right. The work went forth for my companion and I. To help prepare our investigators be ready to be baptized we had member present at all our lessons. We even had a member present in a lesson we had with a potential investigator named Dennis. We talked with him a long time ago and last Sunday we actually met with him. He is an older man, mid 50 – 60's gray hair, and a nice smile. He was very open with us as we talked of prophets and a need to have one on the earth. He is already reading the Book of Mormon and said he would come to church this Sunday. Unfortunately when we asked him when we could meet with him again, he said he would call us... not the answer we were looking for but maybe he will call us soon. We also invited him to be baptized on the first lesson. It was great and I am very glad we did. If you could tell Elder Richardson that we invited Dennis to be baptized on the first lesson because of the training Elder Richardson gave. That would be most appreciated. Dennis said that he would like to learn more before he makes the choice to be baptized or not. I worked hard to follow the spirit and pray for my companion during the lesson. I felt blessed with the way the lesson flowed and the sweet spirit that was present. To further the work in the area I also changed my perspective. I set one of my goals to be a baptizing missionary. I have been praying that Heavenly Father will prepare people to enter the waters of baptism for us in our area. I have felt the work go much faster and greater direction from heavenly father. It wares me out and I have been sleeping much better in the nights. We talked to several less-active families and asked them if they would be willing to take the willing to take the missionary lessons, two of them excepted. We have already have already had two families say they would be willing to take the lessons. It is great. I have been working on becoming better friends with the ward members. mom mailed me thank you notes for Christmas and I have tried really hard to leave a personal thank you note around the house at each dinner appointment. Only missed one or two and I have seen a greater outpouring of love from the members. It could just be that I have grown a greater love for them but I feel some how it works for both. We have been edified and grown together. It reminds me of Sister Ely's talk. How one of us can make a difference. Just give a little love, it comes back ten fold. My studies have been improving. I feel edified and uplifted after my studies. I have taken to studying multiple things each morning. It has helped me feel the spirit and to stay awake. It was a great week , thank you for all you do. Love, Elder Durfee