June 27, 2011- Fullmer in Florida

Dear Fullmer Family,

How are all of you? I hope that you're all doing really well and everything is going just perfectly! This week in Miami Beach has definitely been an interesting one. Our teaching pool has been pretty small so for a lot of the time this week we've been knocking doors and talking with everyone that we meet. It's been difficult for me because I'm not really that type of person to just stop someone on the street and talk to them about the church. However that's what I'm supposed to do as a missionary so I've been trying my best to do it. 

We said as a companionship that we're going to be "smashing some shells" this week, meaning we're going to break out of our shells! My companion is pretty shy like me so we both need to be smashing some shells. He's such a great missionary. We have our differences like every companionship but we've been working through them trying to be the best companionship as we can. We're working hard. Along with doing a lot of finding throughout the day we meet a lot of crazy people. Believe me! There are a lot of crazy people here in Miami Beach! Haha. Ohh well, it brightens my day seeing some crazy people now and then. 

This past week we went down to South Beach to contact a referral that we received. Let's just say that I'm glad we don't go down there very often. It's a very beautiful place however...  A lot of people who need to repent, let's just put it like that. 

Mom, I'm sorry to say that I haven't received your letter through snail mail yet. I think it takes about 4 days to get home from here (me sending something home to you) and about 5 days when you send something here, because it takes an extra day with the office. Anyways it always brightens my day to see mail in the mail box at the end of the day so send any mail that you want. 

Thank you Whitney and Marc for the post cards that you sent me. I'm sorry to say that the Yellowstone wooden one broke in half someway along the way to the beach and I only got the side that had the stamp and my name on it... The written part was gone... It was pretty depressing, not gunna lie. But thank you for the effort!

This week has also been pretty tough knowing that I'm going to miss another wedding. I've had a little bit of home sickness and sometimes it's been a little difficult to stay positive. However the Lord is helping me through and helping me focus on the work. 

This week an incredible thing happened with our investigator. Last Sunday we found out that he isn't married with the person he calles his "esposa"... wife. It was at the end of a lesson we gave which kinda put a damper on everything. However as we prayerfully prepared to how we were going to tell him he can't get baptized if he's living with someone he's not married to without offending him or scaring him away. We realized that we just needed to tell him. We did that yesterday and he said, "I guess that would be a problem... Well I guess I need to talk to her about getting married! It's better that then having to leave her so I can get baptized!" It was awesome! He has such a strong testimony of the church and is so willing to change to be able to live the commandments. So even though I might not be there for Stephen's wedding, I'm going to be able to go to our investigators! Haha. It's pretty cool to see what people will do when they know it's true.

Alright... Now to respond to what everyone said...

Youth Conference sounds like it was pretty fun... Not gunna lie, not as fun as some other years but I'm sure it was a spiritual experience. I miss going to the temple so that's probably what I would have done most. You're right, If you went to Hawaii for Christmas I'd be a little upset. It's alright though, I'm living in paradise anyways! Ha ha. 

This past week we found a new place to go running in the morning. We went exploring one morning on our bikes during the time we have to excercise and we found a little trail that goes along the beach but we're not touching the sand. So pretty much I get to go running on the beach every morning. The trail is about 3 minutes away from our appartment. Jealous much? I would be! Haha. 

This week the Hale's depart from presiding over this mission. Actually today at about 3:45 President Anderson arrives and takes over. Many changes. Mom you asked about the oldest son of the Hale? He's already on a mission right now in Southern America somewhere... Maybe Peru. He's doing really well from what I've heard. 

It's been raining pretty much everyday here. Luckily we've been inside when the large storms have hit. I'm sure sometime soon I won't be as lucky so we'll see... I'm excited for Stephen and Amy! October 21st sounds perfect! Hopefully Stephen will be able to be up in time for the wedding at 9:00 AM. I'm sure all will be perfect! Sorry Sam that it's over UEA but that's life for ya! Ha ha.

Anyways, with a difficult week behind me I really have seen how much stronger I am. A mission is most definitely the hardest thing that I've ever done. It takes everything out of me but I love it! I love being able to tell people that "I am a representative of Jesus Christ and He has a message for you." It's an amazing calling and the Spirit that I feel is amazing. I know Heavenly Father is watching over me. He loves me and He loves all of you so much! Keep praying for me! I love you!

-Elder David Fullmer

P.S. Thanks for starting the blog Mom! Hopefully I'll be getting some pictures to you soon.

P.P.S. Concerning the ties, just pick some that are colorful, with cool patterns like plaid or whatever. Sam, just pick some you think I'd like! Ha ha

I LOVE YOU!

To 11th Ward Young Men - 27 de Junio, 2011

Dear 11th Ward Young Men,
How are all of you? I hope you are all doing fantastic. Thank you for your letters and for the package of goodies that you sent. I loved them so much! 


I just wanted to share a couple of experiences that I've had on mu mission. The first one I'd like to share with you is when I came to Florida from the MTC. I remember sitting on the plane, flying over Florida and a feeling of doubt and fear came over me. I had thoughts of just turning around and going home. I didn't know what I'd be doing, where I'd be living, who my new companion would be or multiple things... I sat in my seat scared for what was about to come. I said a prayer in my heart asking for help. I had a distinct impression to open my scriptures and read. I opened up to 2 Nephi 32: 1-3. I invite you to read these verses right now. It was written just for me. It says, "I suppose that ye ponder somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye should do after ye have entered by the way." That was exactly what what I was feeling. It answered saying pretty much, Don't worry about it. The verse then says to do something. It says, "Feast upon the words of Christ... for (they) will tell you all things what ye should do."  There is a power in the scriptures. It's so important that we read every day because our lives are different everyday and different scriptures will testify different things determined by our different circumstances. I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon being the word of God!


The second experience that I'd like to share with you is when our Branch had a Father's Day party. Two days before this party was transfers. My trainer left to go home because he finished his two years. His Spanish was perfect! Mine however is not... I've been in Florida for 6 weeks expecting to get a companion who had only been out for about 2 months more than me. I was worried because the members would be coming to me to talk to and I didn't know Spanish very well. However, I remember not being afraid. I was able to understand every word that they told me. The only way that was possible was through the Spirit. Along with understanding, I could speak. I spoke the best Spanish that I ever have before. I have a testimony of the gift of tongues. It is real and I have witnessed it's power and help in my life. I don't speak fluently or understand everything all the time, but in times when we need help, a lot of help, the Lord is there willing to help us. If we only put our trust in Him, He will guide us. I encourage all of you to prepare to serve a mission. Prepare now! Decide now! And be ready. You will feel the Lord teach and strengthen you if you do. I promise you! 


Thank you again for the letters and the love that you've sent to me! I appreciate them so much. I wrote each of you a little thank you card, it's not much but it's what a missionary can do Ha Ha! I wish I could fly all of you out here and have you experience what I have been able to experience! It's incredible. I guess a little card is all I can do! Ha ha


I have a favor to ask of you... Well, a missionary loves ties. I was just wondering if you could send me a few ties. I have a few, but when you get to wear a tie everyday, the ones youv'e got gets pretty boring! Ha ha Also I would be able to remember all of you as I teach in Florida. I would absolutely love it if you could do that! You are the best! (I miss the 11th ward!) Keep going strong and prepare to serve a mission! 
I love you all!
Con Amor
Elder David B. Fullmer 

Temple Ground Breaking!

http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/61083/Groundbreaking-for-Ft-Lauderdale-temple.html

June 20, 2011- First week of Transfer 2

Dear Family,

 

This week has been a great week! Very, very different and very unexpected things happened. However it's been very spiritual and I've learned so much. 

 

First of all let me tell you about my new companion. He's from Colorado. He has 6 brothers (2 of which are step brothers). He lives on a ranch, I think, because He has 7 horses. He's been out in Florida for about 4 months... we're a very young companionship... He's got such a great attitude and work ethic and I know I'm going to learn a lot from him. 

 

Mom you had a question about another missionary who went home. It's very sad. I don't know exactly why but he's not in Florida anymore. I think another one from my MTC group also went home and another who went home for medical reasons. A mission is very difficult. 

 

This past week we've had some tough things to go through. Our investigator did not get baptized unfortuneately... He said he wasn't ready quite yet and picked a new date for the 16th of July. It's kind of a long ways away but hopefully he'll be ready by then. 

 

Also with a new companion it is very difficult to change little things that we did with our old companions ya know... However we're working through them and working hard to establish our own success. I've definitely stretched a lot this week. I've been forced to speak Spanish which has helped me learn so much. 

 

We had a branch party on Friday night for Father's Day, or el dia de los padres. Feliz dia de los padres Dad! Anyways, at the party somehow I was able to speak really well. Also I could understand everything that people would say to me. It was a very momentous occasion for me where I feel like I bonded with the branch. We played musical chairs, which I won :) Soccer or Futbol, a relay race and just ate food. I'm excited to show you some pictures! There were 6 non members at the party! Super cool!

 

The temple ground breaking was an incredible experience. I'm not sure if you were able to see it. Hopefully it will be posted on lds.org soon. It was a very spiritual experience. We didn't have any investigators there unfortunately but we got to sit by some of the members, and it was a very nice experience. The love that these people have for the church is incredible. Soon they won't have to drive 4 hours to get to Orlando for the temple. They're incredible! They were so excited to be able to witness this momentous occasion. Luckily I got to watch it in English... So I knew what was going on. Ha ha.

 

So I just read the letter from Stephen... HE'S ENGAGED?! Well I guess the first wedding that I'll go to in our family is my own. That's alright though. All that really matters is that they're happy and doing the right thing.

 

That's great to hear about how you saw Linda at Costco. I hope everything is going well for them. If you happen to see them soon please let them know that I say hi! That's awesome that Eric is deciding to go on a mission. 

 

You said in your letter that you're going out of town? Where are you going? 

By the way, yes I do go to the Library to write home. We check out laptops and write very fast. We have an hour every week to write home and to write President Hale, soon to be President Anderson. It's going to be a crazy transition but I know it'll go smoothly.

 

That's great that both of you were able to be part of Primary this week at church. I love the Primary. Is it still ridiculously small? I hope not. That's exciting to hear about the new program with the missionaries in our ward. I hope all goes well. 

 

Well at church this week we didn't really get very many people there for invitation Sunday... We had about 6 non members total. I haven't heard how well the mission did for the big day but we did okay I guess. It was difficult because it was on Fathers Day. However that's alright. We'll keep working hard.

 

I just saw a sister in our Branch at the library and told her that Stephen is engaged and she said that when I get home I'm going to have a bunch of nieces and nephews. Whitney isn't pregnant is she? That would add to the list! Ha ha. 

 

Along with the card reader, I was wondering if you could send me some ties. I really like the ones from missionary mall but I only have like 5 or 6 good ones still. Could you order some, with sam's approval, on missionarymall.org?

 

Thanks a bunch! Other than that I think i'm doing fantastic. There are some tough days, and long nights but everything for the most part is awesome! I know that the Lord loves us and watches our for us. I love you all so much. Please keep praying for me. You're the best family ever! Fullmer Family Forever!

 

-Elder David Fullmer

 

P.S. Happy Anniversary! I'm happy you got both of the cards in time! I love you!

June 14, 2011 - Transfer Week on the Beach

Hello Family,

I cannot believe that the transfer is almost already over. I sorry that I forgot to tell you that on transfer week, P day is on Tuesday so I hope you didn't get too mad when you didn't receive a letter yesterday but hopefully you'll enjoy this letter.

 

This week has been really good. We've been working really hard and I have come home absolutely exhausted every single night. We've been meeting with a lot of the members to get them excited about the temple ground breaking on Saturday. Also in connection with Temple Saturday, we are having something called Invitation Sunday. This is when all the members in the mission, within the 4 stakes, invites their friends, family, and neighbors to come to church on Sunday. The goal, mission-wide, is to have 400 non members attend church this Sunday. It's pretty exciting. As a branch, we have a goal to have 15 non members attend church. By the way it's looking, we could easily exceed our goal. 

 

The branch is so excited to be a part of missionary work. It's really cool! This past Sunday was a day that will be very hard to forget, not that I want to forget it, but it was very special. During church we had 3 walk-ins come, which are 3 people who aren't members who came in unexpectedly. One is a man who's son almost died last year through drug abuse. Since that moment he's been searching for the truth. He's attended many different churches but doesn't feel confortable in the churches. A member saw him on the bus and asked him to come to church. We're planning to teach him tonight so I'm very excited about it. 

 

After the block on Sunday, the branch threw a surprise farewell party for my companion. He had no idea about it and it was really special. They were all in the relief society room and they all said how much they love and appreciate him. It was cool. Although I felt a little worried because I was the one who was going to be there when he leaves... Ohh well I just need to keep working harder and harder. 

 

We couldn't stay long at the party because we needed to go to Plantation, the mission home, to have my companion's final interview. There are blessings with having a companion that's going home. I was able to go and spend a good part of the day with the Hale Family. 

 

They wanted us to stay for dinner, actually they forced us to :) As we were preparing dinner, Sister Hale and myself, a large storm came through and took out the power. We prepared roast beef french dip sandwitches by candlelight and ate by candlelight. It was a very special opportunity. Not many people get to have dinner with the Mission President and his family, let alone cook with the mission president's wife. We had so much fun together. She said that after our missions we should start a catering company! Haha. 

 

Ohh ya, last Saturday it was President Hale's 50th Birthday, just a few days after Dad's. Anyways we thought it would be nice to make him some brownies since we'd see him the day after. So on Saturday we made two batches of brownies. It was nice to be able to cook! So much fun. Anyways, we surprised President Hale with them along with a card and he loved it so much. This experience will be remembered for a very long time. They're an incredible family. When Dad wrote about how our dwellings become homes I thought about the Mission Home. That home is centered on the Gospel and the Gospel is always being taught in that home. The spirit inside is so strong and comfortable. I always love going inside. It is a place of safety, not only from rain and lightning, but it is also a place of safety from the storms of life. It was a great experience.

 

Anyways to answer some of your questions... The baptism for this Saturday is for a man (name not mentioned on the blog) He's such an incredible man. We found him my first day in Florida and now he's preparing to be baptized! Really cool. He's very excited and loves to read and come to church. I remember the first time he came to church the word he used to describe how he felt was refreshed. That's how we're all supposed to feel as we partake of the sacrament. Refreshed because we have the opportunity to be clean from our sins and start over and remember the promises that we have made through covenants. It was amazing to learn this from someone who had only been to church once. 

 

I always loved Stake Conference! It's cool that you were able to sing in the choir mom. I miss singing in a choir, however we sing in every lesson that we teach so I haven't been lacking on the singing. Happy Anniversary on June 20th! I can't believe all the kids are going away for Father's day... Terrible. Thank you for your example Dad. Unfortuneately I can't call home and wish you happy Father's day... I hope it's a wonderful day along with your anniversary. 

 

It's too bad that the Heat lost... Actually I wanted Dallas to win. Don't tell anyone down here I said that because I probably wouldn't be on my mission for very much longer... if you know what i'm saying... Ha ha. That's so cool that you were able to be at the temple. I miss going... My companion gets to go tomorrow. I'm a little jealous. But oh well.

 

So tomorrow I get a new companion. I'm anxious, scared, excited, and a bit worried but I know it will all work out. I have a feeling he's going to be a pretty young missionary so we'll have a lot of opportunities to learn. I'll be sure to tell you all about him next letter... unlike another missionary who also had the same name as me :) Sorry Steve!

 

But I'm excited. It's going to be a wild week but it'll be good. Thank you Spokane Fullmers fro writing me. Thank you for your love and support! I love you all! Thank you all for your willingness to share what's been going on and for sharing your testimonies and your love with me. You're all wonderful! I know this is the Lord's work and His glory. I need to remember and learn from Jesus Christ and His Atonement every day. Only through Him are we able to return to our loving Father in Heaven! I love you!

 

-Elder Fullmer

June 6, 2011 From the Beach

Dear Family,

 

Today has been such a great day! We decided since it was one of the last p- days for my companion that we'd do something special. Most of the missionaries from the zone met this morning at about 5:45 to go watch the sunrise. There in a little pier type thing that goes out over the water, but we don't touch the sand! It was beautiful! There were some big clouds that blocked the sun but it was still very pretty! It was nice to see the ocean... Which was my first time! It was fantastic! I was tempted to take a little swim but I'm happy to tell you that I resisted the temptation. 

 

Anyways this week has been quite fantastic. It's been a little different because we has pros Monday and P-day on Tuesday. Plus we had Zone Conference on Thursday all day but it ended up being a very good week. The musical number went really well and I think it sounded really good, just sayin... :) I woke up with a slight sore throat but it went away by the time that we needed to sing. 

 

President and Sister Hale talked about the topic "Follow the Keys." It was their last Zone Conference so it was kind of weird having everyone talking about going home while I'm just starting. Also having everyone talking to my companion about going home but I'm still happy to be here. 

 

The topic "Follow the Keys" means as long as you follow those who hold the keys everything will be alright. It was very reasuring and the spirit testified to me that all would go well with the new mission president. It will be different but it'll all go well. 

 

It makes me very happy to know that it was a beautiful day yesterday! I'm very happy. I'm also glad that you got my card just in time! :) Sorry but that cake you made for dad doesn't exactly sound very good... But I'm sure since you've been on the diet again it tasted wonderful. And I'm also glad that you were able to have a BBQ. We went to a member's house last night and I ate the best meal that I have so far on my mission. They barbequed some beef (on a stick) my cooking knowledge has left my brain and I can't think of the word. Anyways they had rice and beans, which I have grown to love, and plantains. It was very good! Finished off with some watermelon. So we both ate BBQ yesterday! 

 

We had a scheduled baptism for this Saturday but unfortunately we didn't have the opportunity to teach him at all this past week because his house was being fumigated... of course! He is however going to be baptized on June 18th! It's sad however that my companion won't be here for when he'll be baptized. It's going to be strange having a new companion. Also it'll be very difficult because everyone will be asking me questions, instead of my new companion, and it'll be tough because i don't understand them. It'll be tough but it'll go well. We've gotten really close and we've been working really hard so getting a new companion will be difficult. 

 

This next transfer is going to have many changes. In zone conference Sister Hale said, "The only constant thing in life is change." It will definitely make me stretch and it's going to be difficult but everytime you stretch, you grow. However we have decided as a companionship to have this week be the best week. We've set some big goals but we're going to get it all done! 

 

Time is going by pretty fast. Some days seem very long but when I look back it's gone by very quickly.

Thank you all for your letters. It's so great to hear about what's going on back home. What's this about the young men going to Palmyra? That sounds really fun! Thanks for ordering me a card reader. Then you can see how beautiful it is here. Well I know that this is the Lord's work and that He guides me and protects me. It's definitely not easy and it's really hard work but it's the most important work. I just need to remember to keep going and endure, with a smile! I love you all very much. Nothing brings me more joy than my family. I'm so blessed to have such a great one! I pray for you everyday and I know the Lord is watching over you all. I love you!

 

With love,

Elder David Fullmer

Miami Beach Zone