Happy New Year!

Dear Fullmer Family,

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a very merry Christmas and that you had a very special day. For me it was a very nice day! After we stopped skyping we went to a recent convert's house for dinner and it was really fun! It was weird to just chill and not really do anything. It was a really weird feeling just not having anything to do. But that ended soon. This past week my cold lingered longer. I'm just getting over it. I called up the mission nurse and she said, "Elder Fullmer, you still sound sick... How long has it been? 10 days? You need antibiotics." So I got some antibiotics and now i'm feeling a lot better! 

So today has been a lot of fun so far. Since the youth are still out for winter break we went fishing this morning. It was really fun! I caught 3 fish!! 2 small snappers and then a pretty good sized black grouper. First fish I've ever caught!! I'll send some pics. Later on today we're going to play some basketball with the youth as well! It's a lot of fun out in the Keys!

Yesterday we were privileged to have a baptism. ****got baptized! She's 9 years old, almost 10 and it was probably the hardest 9 year old baptism ever. When I met her for the first time when I got to Key West she basically said that she doesn't want to get baptized so we didn't really know what to do. But we gave her some time and then went and saw her and had a really interactive lesson and it went really well. This past week when we went over the baptismal interview questions we were trying to think of something to do to make it fun and not boring. We looked at the questions and there were like eight and we asked ourselves, "What can we do that has eight parts to it?" We looked over at my melting snowman kit that I got in my stocking and it worked perfectly!! She loved it and we had a great time. By the way, she was wondering if Santa had any extra of those...? If you could get one, if it's not too much hassle I'm sure she'd really appreciate it. The baptism was really nice. Everything went really smoothly and it was nice. President Louchez is still out of town but even without him we got everything done. 

Well that's about everything from my end. We're really excited for this next week to be able to work without being limited by sickness. We're going to be working really hard this week! I love you all so much! Sorry for the short email but I just can't think of anything else that happened this week. Have a very happy new year!

Con amor, 

-Elder David B. Fullmer

The fished from the coast since it is against the rules to go on a boat. He also had lunch plans with a member and basketball with the youth in Key West. 

Merry Christmas Eve

Dear Fullmer Family,

Since Sam sent a lot of Christmas "one liners" as he put it, i decided to start my letter today with one... Here it goes.

What did Adam tell Eve on Christmas?............................... Merry Christmas, Eve! 

It's probably not very doctrinally correct but I thought it was punny.. Haha. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Well I still can't fathom that it's basically Christmas. This past week it dipped down into the upper 50's and everyone freaked out and said how cold it was! Haha. However, it's still not Christmas weather. Don't get mad at me, I'm not complaining about the upper 60's and sunny with a slight breeze from the ocean, but I miss the Christmas weather. But nonetheless it's a wonderful time of the year. It seems like everyone is so much more kind and offer to help others out. We went to the store this past week to buy some cough syrup and a woman came up to us randomly and gave us a hug and said, "Thank you for what you do! We try and do what you do for a couple weeks by spreading the Love of Christ but you do this all the time! It's wonderful what you do." It was nice to see someone realize and recognize what we are called to do. Christmas season is the best time of the year!

This past week has been a little difficult. My cough that I was talking about last week progressed into a terrible cold this whole week! I was basically shut in the trailer for 5 days straight... It wasn't the best week of my mission. It was difficult since I wanted to be outside so badly. As I was talking with the mission nurse, she said something that impacted me. She said, "It's hard to be patient when you want to be on the Lord's errand." It's true. I really wanted to be out helping others but didn't have much of a choice in the matter... Luckily I'm feeling much better! I woke up this morning feeling great so luckily I won't be sick for Christmas, and amazingly my companion has come through unscathed. Just a little sore throat. I basically was forcing Vitamin C down him all week long because I didn't want him to get sick as well! Haha. 

Well there really isn't much more to talk about... I don't want to share everything before tomorrow!! Haha. Come ready for questions or stuff to say so we don't just look at each other for 30 minutes ;) Be there Tomorrow at two!! I love you all and have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

con mucho amor y carino,

-Elder David B. Fullmer

Here are a few screenshopts of our Skype call with Elder Fullmer. He is doing well and happy to be on his mission.

Merry Christmas December 17, 2012

Dear Family,

Well this week has been a wonderful week! It's been a bit different with everything going on but it's been one full of memories! This week we were privelidged to have a mission conference to celebrate Christmas! You all saw the picture that President sent and I was doing so well in not blinking in the pictures!



Christmas Mission Conference. Elder Fullmer is on the back row (ninth from the left) His eyes are shut :)

 However there was only one picture that I blinked in and it just so happened to be the picture that he sent out to everyone! Kinda disappointing but oh well, what can you do :) But really the conference was so special. We started off with a delicious lunch with prime rib, green beens, FUNERAL POTATOES (I was on an almost two year withdrawal), and pumpkin pie. The food was so good!! We then played a white elephant game where I brought a piggy bank that was made out of a coconut! It was so cool!! I ended up with a stocking holding a notebook inside... Pretty lame but that's alright. After that we had the zone musical numbers. We went first and I have to say it went pretty well. Not perfect but it went well.

Homestead Zone- Photo taken from Bill and Mary's blog

We sang O Holy Night and it was nice! After all of the other zones performed we all went into the chapel where President Anderson gave a message to us. He compiled testimonies of prophets and apostles of Jesus Christ and put them to music. It was so spiritual and I loved it! He gave each of us a CD which I have listened to multiple times. I also like it cuz the music is by John Schmidt :) It's been a while! All in all it was a great meeting and it was so fun to see all of my fromer companions and other missionaries that I haven't seen in quite some time. It was probably the last time I'll see most of them so it was a bit difficult.

Thank you so much for the 12 days of Christmas! It is so much fun to open all of the things and feel a little bit more like Christmas. Actually last night I had a dream of a white christmas... Pretty sure I'm not going to have one this year :( Ohh well! I've got the beach. I'm not sure about what time we'll be skyping. We'll be emailing next Monday (Christmas Eve) and we'll know for sure when we'll be able to skype. It's hard because so many people are going out of town so we're not sure when it will be at. However we'll let it worked out! sorry I'm out of time today but I have a favor to ask of you... If you haven't sent my Christmas package yet could you include any sheet music you can find? Especially the Pall Cardall book that I have? That would be wonderful! I love you all and look forward to skyping with you this next week!
-Elder David B. FUllmer

Sorry that this email was so rushed... We had a survey to fill out for President.

Note from his mom: His ulcer has also been acting up again. Please keep him in your prayers so he can endure to the end. Here is the email from President Anderson

Feliz Naughty Dog! December 10th

Dear Fullmer Family,



One of his favorite Stake Leaders came to visit

 This week has been another great one! I don't have much time today so sorry if this letter is a bit shorter than normal. But it's been a great week! As you somehow already know, my new companion is named Elder *******. He's so great! He's from Lexington Kentucky and has been out on his mission for about seven months. I asked him when he was born and when he said April 1993 I felt really old... AHH!! He's a great missionary! He's Spanish is pretty good for only being out in the field for a little time. Also, he's very musical. He's an incredible pianist and knows his stuff about music It's a lot of fun! This past week we put together a musical number for the zone to perform and it's going to be amazing! So we're going to perform "O Holy Night." We're going to have a piano duet (he and another missionary), an eight man choir and a soloist! It's going to be awesome! I can't wait to see it all put together. I was put in charge of it by the zone leaders and it's quite difficult to get everything put together all the way down in the Keys. Luckily the senior couple are helping out a lot. So for the choir we wrote it out by ourselves and I have to say it's legit! It's a lot of fun having a musical companion again. No Dad, he doesn't have a southern accent :) Haha.

I have a cool story to share with all of you! Yesterday as we were harvesting I actually was bit by a dog... That wasn't the cool part of the story but bear with me... So it was a pretty good bite. We got to the trailer where we called up the mission nurse to see what I should do. She said I needed to clean it out with hydrogen peroxide (which we didn't have and we couldn't buy any since it was Sunday, so we started to think of some members to call.) As I was about to call a certain youth in the branch, when the phone started to ring and it was him! I said, "I know this is random but I just got bit by a dog, do you have any hydrogen peroxide? (I made sure not say Hydrochloric acid... I know you all were thinking it...) He said he did and told us to meet him at his house. We got there and as I was cleaning it out I remembered that he called me and I asked him what he called to ask me about and he told me he'd ask me later. We went outside of his house and I sat down and asked him what was up and he expressed concerns about going on a mission.This young man is 17 years old and is preparing for a mission. He reminded me of myself at his age and as we talked, the spirit was so strong. He called the branch president right there and asked if he could meet with him this week. I testified of the Atonement and of how it changes people. I gave him my copy of "the continuous Atonement" and I testified of how the Lord sees him as who he can become, not only at his current state. I felt so honored that this young man, who we have been utilizing in missionary work, trusted me enough to come and ask for advice. I'm grateful that the Lord took a not so ideal situation (me getting bit by a dog... by the way I'm okay) and changing it into a life changing moment for both myself and this young future missionary.

I love this time in my mission. I'm seeing how the Lord is strengthening me and puting me in a place where I won"t just "end" my mission but where I will "finish." I remember a quote that President Hale said, "Finishers wanted!" I'm going to finish. By the way, could you get in contact with President Hale and invite him to my homecoming whenever we find out when it will be? Thanks! Well I love you lots! Have a wonderful week!

-Elder David B. Fullmer

Note form his Mom: David will most likely give his homecoming talk on March 10th. (Meeting starts at 10:50 1565 Foothill Drive, SLC, UT)

Merry December

Dear Fullmer Family,

Well another transfer has come and gone. I can't believe that it's gone by so fast. The day of transfer call is usually full of anticipation but it just felt like a normal day. We got on the call where we found out that Elder **** will be getting transferred tomorrow. We were both in SHOCK!! We were almost positive that we weren't going to be split up. But our ways are not the Lord's ways. It will be hard to see him leave, like every companion, but it will open up a new opportunity to learn more.

Things in the area are going well. ******** was confirmed on Sunday by ELder ******** and also %%%%%%% was ordained a Priest by my companion. It was really cool to see our recent converts doing so well. This Sunday we attended the Marathon Sacrament meeting and there were a lot of people there! This past week on two occasions at the store, a person came up to Elder and Sister ********* telling them that they are members and have been looking for the church. Neither of them speak much english so they asked if we could come on Sunday so I could translate. Both of them wanted to bear their testimonies so I interpreted for them and the both expressed how they felt so alone and wanted to go to church but didn't know where it was and were praying for a way to go to it. It just so happened that they found them in Publix (the grocery store) by their nametags. Elder ********* went up afterwards to bear his testimony and said, "This makes me want to go to the store more often." It was really cool to see how excited Elder and Sister ********* have been seeing the branch flourish. They're amazing people and do so much for us.

This past week has been really great. It's been a little disheartening while harvesting since all of the people we have been finding have either not been "there" for their appointments or they just tell us they don't want to hear from us anymore. Both my companion and I have been praying fervently for solid investigators and specifically a family to teach and baptize. We followed up with a woman who told us to come back to bless her home and when we got there her husband answered the door. He wasn't going to open the door but he told us, "I felt like I needed to let you in." We came in and the husband explained how he is a spiritual man but is not involved in any religion because he doesn't believe he knows where the true church is. We sat there as he expressed questions that he had like, "why bad things happen to good people?" and "how can I know what's true?" We listened carefully and when he stopped we taught him the Restoration to him and his wife. As we explained the Restoration and the first vision they both looked at each other and said, "Wow!" The Spirit was so strong and it was an answer to our prayers as we were led to that family. I know that the Lord lives and guides us if we only trust in Him and live according to His Gospel.

I love this work so much and I'm glad I still have time left to keep working! Time is moving fast but I need to remember that this time will never come again! I've been working my hardest and I still plan to do so :) If you ever feel like sending notes or letters of encouragement that would always be appreciated :) I love you guys so much and I hope you have a great week! Also, let me know if there is anything you want for Christmas from down in the Keys :) It's more available for me than for you.

Cuidense Mucho! Les Quiero
-Elder David B. Fullmer