January 30, 2012 letter

Dear Fullmer Family,

What a great week this has been. My companion and I have seen so many wonderful miracles as we have been working so hard to help others be able to come unto Christ and receive the peaceful blessings of His loving Atonement that He gave us. This past week I did my best to try and teach the other Elders in my district about the training that we had last week about how baptism is necessary to access the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It was a challenge to teach it because there was so much stuff to get across to them but with the help from the Spirit I was able to do it! I learned so many more things as I taught it and internalized my purpose even more.

My companion and I left that meeting ready to teach our investigators the necessity of baptism, not to be a member of the church but to really be able to receive the forgiveness of their sins. We said that we would invite everyone that we teach to be baptized. That day we came home with eight people who accepted to be baptized on a specific date.

The miracles were incredible and it was one of the best days that I have had on my mission. It was solely because I knew what my purpose was. The missionary purpose is to "Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored Gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost and Endure to the End." Before I thought I knew what my purpose was but as I've been studying more I've realized no one can fully understand completely what the missionary purpose is. The reason why is because of one word... Atonement. There always is more to learn and apply to become a more effective missionary and to come closer to Christ. This week I invite all of you to study what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is. I promise that you will learn a lot!

One of our investigators, and her daughter are going strong to be baptized this next Sunday. Her testimony is so strong. She shared with us this past week when she came into the states, about two months ago, she is the one who brought her husband, who's been a member for about ten years, back to church. She made him (who again is a member and she isn't yet) that he would do everything he could so that he doesn't work on Sundays. She is so strong and cannot wait for their baptism on Sunday! They’re starting to plan their temple sealing already and I hope it'll be in March of next year so I can come :)

Yesterday at church as we were getting everything ready for the broadcast of regional stake conference, a member came up to us with his non member brother who wants to learn more about families and our church. We taught him a short lesson and found out he has a wife and two kids who we will be teaching this next week. The Lord is blessing us in so many ways! It might not be when we are knocking doors but as we are exactly obedient to every rule and guideline, the Lord has promised to bless us immediately! (See Mosiah 2: 22-24)

That is so great to hear about Doug Carrell being in the Bishopric (Obispado en Espanol :) He will do such a great job. It's too bad to hear that the Peterson's will be moving... Do you know why they’re

moving? That's also really cool to hear about Peter Cooke running for Governor. He'd do a great job!

I just have to say I'm sick of politics! I can't wait until this election is over! Haha. The two things that friends aren't supposed to talk about are Religion and Politics. Our job is to talk about religion so to add politics in there just doesn't mix well :) But it's always nice to help someone understand that Mitt Romney isn't our Prophet and help them understand what we believe in. It was funny... The other day someone came up to us and said, "I'm going to be voting for your leader. He's a great guy!" We responded and said, "umm... he's just another member. He's not our leader." He said back to us, "How can you talk about your leader like that. Show respect for your Prophet!!" Crazy people in Miami.... I could write a book solely on the  crazy people that I've met on the streets here.

Recently I've been feeling a lot better. My stomach has felt a lot better... Minus the Ceviche that I had this past week which was a little strong on my stomach. Look up what Ceviche is... Also look up Mondongo Soup. Latin’s are crazy, but I love them!

I do have a question for you though... Lately I have been getting a lot of acne and I've been trying a lot of different creams and washes but nothing has been working well. I think it's because of all the

sweating that I do along with wearing a helmet (don't worry, I'll still wear it.) but I was wondering if you could ask a dermatologist or someone that would know, what I should use or if you could send me some stuff because it's bugging me...

Well I love you all so much! I love being a missionary and seeing they joy in other people's eyes when they know that it's true. There is no better feeling then knowing you are helping someone be able to access the Atonement and come closer to Christ! I love this work and I love being a missionary. My family is the best support that I could ask for. As we have been teaching more families lately I have realized how much our family has been blessed and how grateful I am for what I have been given. As I remember this it helps me want to help more and more families realize the blessings that the Lord has for them. I love you all and hope you all have a great week! Hasta pronto! :) Les Amo!

Con Mucho Amor,

-Elder David B. Fullmer

January 23rd letter

Dear Fullmer Family,
This week has been an absolutely wonderful week! I love the area that I'm in and the ward that I'm serving in! They are so wonderful to the missionaries and love the Gospel. I'm also so great to be able to
serve with my companion. Sometimes it's hard not being able to talk to him in English but it's really helping me with my Spanish. The other day I was thinking in Spanish. His English is getting a lot better as well.

Last Friday I got the privelige to go to a Leadership training, now that I'm DL... But the training was incredible. Anyways, as I went to the training my companion got paired up with one of the English Elders for the day. The night before he was freaking out saying, "I don't know how I'm going to be able to talk!!!! AHHH!!!" His English is actually really good but he has a hard time speaking it. He understands pretty much everything but can't speak it. However he had the help of the Lord that day and got through it. When I got
back from the training he came up to me and gave me a hug and said, "I'm so happy to be able to speak Spanish!!!" Haha. It was pretty funny. Mom, you asked if he went to the MTC in Peru but nope
he didn't! He went to Provo to learn English. Even though his call is for Spanish since he is serving in the states he got to learn English.

But everything is going really well in North Miami Beach. The family we are teaching, the one where the wife is not a member, came again to church yesterday and absolutely loved it! We went over to their house last
night and had a lesson with them. It turns out that she had the missionaries teach her when she was in Colombia but didn't want to get baptized if her husband wasn't there. He was here for the past 8 years
or so and she and the kids came 2 months ago. We invited her to be baptized on February 5th and she accepted! So to answer your question about what  I'll be doing during the super bowl, hopefully I'll be
having a baptism!

Being a District Leader is, so far, really good! I haven't had  a baptismal interview yet but I'll probably be having my first one soon! It's hard to do it because I don't have a car and it's quite the bike ride to the other areas. It'll work out though. My favorite part about being district leader so far is the training that we went to this past week! The head of the missionary department came and gave a training about the missionary purpose. This guy helped write Preach My Gospel! His knowledge of the scriptures and the gospel is so great! It helped me realize that I have a lot to learn. He gave a training about repentance and taught that "No one has access to the Atonement without being baptized." No person can be forgiven of any sin without being baptized in the church. He also said, "You are the only people in the world that can help people repent of their many sins." He helped me realize the power of my calling and the importance of the work. It was
a training that I really needed and I can't wait to teach it to my district this next week.

I'm doing really well and I'm so happy to be on my mission right now! There are so many miracles in my mission that I've been a part of that help me keep going to want to make a difference in the lives of
others. I love my calling! Even though it's the most stressful thing I've done in my life, it's the most rewarding by far! Thank you for your love and support. I love you!
 -Elder David B. Fullmer

New Transfer 1-16-2012 and pictures he sent

Dear Fullmer Family,

 

It's the first week of the new transfers and there are many new changes! First of all my new companion is named Elder *****. He is from Cuzco Peru and has been out for about 8 months. He's so awesome! He doesn't speak English, well a very little bit, so I've been able to study my Spanish a lot! Haha. He was companions with another on of my companions before as well and he's just so funny! It's a big change having a Latin companion, ya know just with their customs and little differences but we're getting along really well! He's 25 years old but he really doesn't look like it. I'll try and get a picture to you soon. My last companion was sent up to South Bay, Stuart Fl. It's close to Orlando... Really far north!

 

Also I have been called to serve as the District Leader in this District. I'm super excited but at the same time I'm humbled. There are a lot of things that I need to learn and improve on but I'm excited to be able to grow so much this next transfer. My Spanish will improve and hopefully my leadership abilities. We have such a young companionship. Me and an elder in my district, were companions in the MTC and are the oldest in the District. It's weird being on the older end of the stick... But we've got a lot of energy to do the work and I'm so excited to see what happens this next transfer!

 

Lately I've been feeling a lot better. There are times when I just have problems with my stomach... It seems like my stomach isn't really digesting the food very well and then it takes a lot of energy to digest it. Therefore it seems like I'm really tired all the time. It also just hurts to sit down occasionally but it seems to be doing better. I'll be going to the doctor's soon I think. We'll see. but President and Sister Anderson know about what's going on. I haven't heard much about Elder ***** we came home. She said hopefully he'll be back this next transfer! I sure hope so! I'll send him a letter today.

 

We had a cool experience at church yesterday! A family walked in and is super excited to be there. The father is a member of a few years ago but was inactive for a while and the mother is not a member. They loved church so much. Apparently they were talking to a member about how they want to go to the temple! GOLDEN! She wants to get baptized and we will be meeting with them this week! Can't wait for them! Another investigator isn't really showing much interest. He is working a TON so he doesn't really have time for us. It's so hard to meet with people now a days because no one has any fixed job so when they find any work they go to it and work their butts off... It's hard especially in the Spanish area but we will still try and work with him.

 

The person that we blessed last week is still in the hospital and from what I've heard is doing alright. We need to go back and visit with her. I think we're going to see her tonight. She is a member of many years and her whole family are members. She loves the missionaries so much and it's always a joy to see her.

 

Thank you for sending me those awesome quotes mom! This past week I've been studying in Alma 43 when Captain Moroni, who's a beast, is leading the Nephites. What stuck out to me this time that i read it is how they came prepared into battle but the Lamanites were not prepared with armor. As they started to fight the Lamanites started getting whopped! However as time went on the Lamanites started to get mad and, as the scriptures say, "Fought like Dragons." The Nephites were getting owned now... But as Captain Moroni started to remind them about why they were fighting and what their main purpose was, which was their freedom, their families and their church. The Nephites started to have the Help of the Lord and were fighting for a better purpose. As I apply that in my life to remember what got me on the plane. What pushed me to get here and remember that, it will help me push through the hard times and soar. 

 

I love how many things we learn from the scriptures. They really are the words of God and every word can help us in our everyday lives. As we study, ponder and pray about the things we read, the Lord will open our eyes to the things that will help us in our lives. I encourage you to read the talk "We are doing a great work and cannot come down" by Captain Uchtdorf! :) It's so amazing!

 

Well thank you all for your love and support. I know that this is the work of  the Lord and I am so privileged to be a part of it! The Lord loves us all so very much. I want you to know that you are the reason why I'm here! My family is what pushes me everyday to go one more step. I know that the Lord is blessing you and is watching out for you. You are always in my prayers and I love each and every one of you!

 

-Elder David B. Fullmer

 

 

Transfer week- January 10th

Dear Fullmer Family,

Well this week is transfer week, you were right Mom, sorry Dad you were wrong. Well we got the calls last night and we found out that my current companion is being transferred and I will be staying in North Miami Beach. I'm a little disappointed because my companion and I got along so well and we were working really hard. However I know that everything will work out and that the Lord has plans for all of us. It will be interesting to see where he is going to go and who my new companion will be. I was hoping that it would be Elder ***** until I read Mom's email. I hadn't heard about him. That's too bad about everything. It must be so tough on him. I know that he's get through it and everything will work out. He's a great missionary but I'm sad he's going to have to go home.

This week has been pretty good. I've been pretty sick though. I got a pretty bad cold but 'm getting over it. My stomach is still acting up but I think I’m going to be going to the doctors this week to see what's going on inside of me... Sorry that I've been using my credit card a lot. There have been a lot of little things that I needed. Mostly medicine but also from TJ Max a jacket. We were riding home one night and we were both freezing cold! It was 41 degrees in FL! So we stopped in and bought a jacket. Haha. Don't worry, grandma hasn't stolen my card :)

During this past week we had a mission harvest where all of the missionaries went harvesting together at the same time. It was incredible. As a mission during a two hour time period we were able to bless 368 homes! It was incredible! Something that I have learned about myself is that I need to be more bold when I talk with people. It's just so outside of my nature but slowly I'm working on it and it's been hard but I'm getting better at it!

This past week we have been doing TON of biking. This past week we have probably gone about 150 miles or more on bike... It's been a little tiring. However it's great! You just feel more like a missionary going out on bikes everywhere. The other day I was out on an exchange with my district leader. We were going up one street on bikes and we happened to pass by a Krispy Kreme donut place where the HOT DONUTS NOW sign was flashing... The smell was so good that we couldn't resist! Haha. We needed a little snack. That's the down side of bikes, you get tempted by everything around you, well food wise anyway. Haha.

Thank you for the GPS! IT's been so helpful. I'm glad now because my companion is leaving, who is practically a GPS in this area, now I have some more help since I still don't know the area that well. It's a big area. 

I also have a question. I don't know if you remember a while ago when some missionaries came over to our house they had some paper which was like a 10 day or something like that challenge where they pick 10 names and fast and pray to see who is ready... I remembered that last week and I want to use it in my area. I don't know if you still have one or if Bishop DeJohn has one but if I could get a copy that would be lovely!

Too bad but the man we were teaching was not baptized this past Sunday... He hasn't been able to meet up with us because of his work but we're still working on it! We were able to set another young man with a baptism date though. He's 13 years old and his mom was baptized when she was 13 and now he committed to come to church this Sunday! He's awesome. He reminds me of Sam for some reason. Haha. Ohh yeah! I almost forgot. So this past Sunday we went to Aventura Hospital to give a blessing to this older woman I hadn't met. As I walked into the room she looked just like Grandma Teddy. Her hair was white and short and as I sat and talked with her it was like I was talking to Grandma. As I gave her a blessing, the Spirit was so powerful and afterwards we just sat there. Not a word was said but the Love of the Lord filled our hearts. I loved that experience!

Well that's all I've got to inform you on from this week! I love you all so much and I know the Lord is mindful of each one of us! Please keep me and my companion in your prayers as we have transfers this week! I love you all so much!

-Elder David B. Fullmer

Happy New Year Jan. 3, 2012 and pictures he sent

Dear Fullmer Family!

Happy New Years to you all! I hope you all had a wonderful day and that the new year has started well! For New Year's Eve we had to be in our apartments by 8:00 so there wasn't much partying going on. We did have a nice meal at about 5:00 but other than that the night was pretty calm. Our air conditioning went out this past week but luckily it went out at a very good time! The weather has been very cool lately with a low today of about 46 degrees. It's been very nice!

We went sunrising this morning which was super pretty but it was also pretty chilly! I'll send some pics. I'm glad that I had my sweatshirt with me. But really it's been a pretty good week. Sorry that I am writing back a little later than normal. The library was closed yesterday so they switched our p day to today and we went mountain biking just barely and so that's why it's a bit later. The mountain biking was pretty fun. There is a course right across from the chapel. You wouldn't think there would be much but it was really challenging. Not much of a mountain biking fan but it was pretty fun.

Lately I have been a little sick though with my stomach. No one really knows what's wrong with my stomach though... Ohh well. Just gotta deal with it and work through it. I didn't go to a clinic though. I went to CVS to buy a few medical things but i didn't go to a clinic. Did the account say that i did? It sounds like this week has been fun back at home... painting. Fun fun! I'm glad that both BYU and Utah won their bowl games! That's good to hear!

Well our investigators are doing pretty well I guess... The family we are teaching all came to church on Sunday. The youngest son was making a lot of noise so they felt bad and embarrassed... Our ward doesn't have very many kids so it usually kind of quiet but it's not a big deal. They're just new and so we're telling them not to worry about it. The kids love church so much! It's awesome having investigators come to church! Another person we are teaching is doing well as well. We've only been able to visit with him twice this week and he just seems like he needs a little bit more time before baptism. He's doing really well though. We brought a member with us this past lesson and it turns out he went with the missionaries before like two years ago to teach him. They're both from Colombia so they got along really well!

This past week I had a really cool experience. So the YSA sisters texted us a referral that they contacted they other day. So a few days ago we went to follow up on him and give him a blessing. So we went to the address and no one by the name of ****** lived at that house... We were a little bummed. So as we were walking back to the bikes I had a feeling to knock on one of the doors on the street. We knocked it and a man came to the door. We introduced ourselves and I asked, "What's your name?" He said, "*****!" Some women like you talked to me the other day. Come on in!" It was a really cool experience to be led by the Spirit. I'm grateful that I was listening to the spirit and was willing to act upon the impression.

In my personal studies i have been studying in Ether 12 about weaknesses becoming strengths and I absolutely love what it says we need to do to strengthen our weaknesses. First we need to ask our Heavenly Father what our weaknesses are. Then we need to come unto him being humble and having faith and he will help us make our weak things become strengths. I have read those scriptures over and over again but this time they just stuck out to me.

Well that's about all I've got to say this week. I hope you all have a wonderful week this week and know that I love you all! Please keep me in your prayers!

Con Amor,

-Elder David B. Fullmer