Decide to Act and Not be Acted Upon September 18, 2012

Dear Family,

This has been quite an interesting week to say the least :) There have been many things going on, some good, some not so fun. Haha. First off, we got the transfer information yesterday letting us know that my companion will be getting transferred and I will be staying. They didn't say I was training. It will be interesting to see who my new companion will be. I'm heading into my last four transfers... Time is literally flying by. Well this past week went pretty slowly just because we weren't able to work very much with all of the doctors appointments and such. However I've been learning a lot and it's helping me grow.

So let's talk about what happened last week! So Monday night around 5:00 i got to start drinking, "The Juice of DEATH!!!" It was not fun at all! I was very cleaning out. I'll just say this, it does it's job and magnifies it's calling. The night before was definitely worse than the actual colonoscopy. I was supposed to drink 8 oz every 15 minutes. I set an alarm to go off to let me know when I had to consume more of this horrid drank and every time I had to drink it I thought of Harry Potter 6 when Dumbledore needs to drink that stuff and tells Harry to force him to drink it. I told my companion to force me to drink it. Haha. The other Elders in the house had a blast last Monday watching me run to the bathroom every 7 minutes or so... Other than that though everything else went pretty smoothly. At the doctor’s appointment everyone was so surprised that I was having a colonoscopy. I was the youngest one that they've done one to in a long while. Haha. However everything looks normal in my colon. They took some biopsy's to check for allergies but I still haven't heard back from the doctor on them. I was planning on having a CT scan on Wednesday but the CT scan place called and told me I needed to reschedule (the morning of the procedure after I had started to drink ANOTHER Jugo de Muerte) but it should happen this up coming week. The mission doctor has been talking with me and before they do more tests on me he wants me to live on a high fiber diet with a medication. So far it hasn't really been helping but we'll see this week.

This past week I was able to have a wonderful interview with President Anderson. He asked about the medical problems and said to just do the best that I can. He talked about Paul in the scriptures how he asked multiple times for his "thorn" to be taken from him but time after time the Lord rejected his request. We all have thorns in our lives that are there for a reason. Sometimes they're taken from us immediately and sometimes they're never taken from us. There is a quote that I really like and has brought great understanding to me this past week by Elder Bednar that says,

"In many of the uncertainties and challenges we encounter in our lives, God requires us to do our best, to act and not be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:26), and to trust in Him. We may not see angels, hear heavenly voices, or receive overwhelming spiritual impressions. We frequently may press forward hoping and praying—but without absolute assurance—that we are acting in accordance with God’s will. But as we honor our covenants and keep the commandments, as we strive ever more consistently to do good and to become better, we can walk with the confidence that God will guide our steps."

I love this quote because sometimes we may not receive overwhelming impressions or answers from doctors but we still have 2 choices, to act or to be acted upon. It's real easy to be acted upon and make excuses but when we decide to act, we receive understanding and the Spirit helps us know what to do.

This past week has been full of those kinds of moments. Someday I didn't have any energy at all, like the day of the procedure, however the Zone Leaders asked me to do a training to give to the zone that morning. ( This was the morning after the juice of death). As you can imagine, I wasn't feeling that great but I did what they asked me to do. I ended up giving one of the best trainings that I've ever given. It lasted about 25 minutes and the words, energy and Spirit just came to me. It was an amazing experience for me to fulfill the scripture in D&C 100: 5-8 that says,

"Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men; For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say. But a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall declare whatsoever thing ye declare in my name, in solemnity of heart, in the spirit of meekness, in all things. And I give unto you this promise, that inasmuch as ye do this the Holy Ghost shall be shed forth in bearing record unto all things whatsoever ye shall say."

This really is a perfect example of what happened. I don't know how it happened but it did! It was a strong testimony builder for me of what can happen when we trust in the Lord. So far nothing new has been happening except for what's happening inside me. President Anderson shared with me an experience of when he was on his mission he was in the hospital for eight days but he said, "I wouldn't wish what happened to me upon my worst enemy but I wouldn't change it for the world because of the things that I learned during those trials." At times it's really frustrating when difficult things happen to us that we can't understand, but as we trust in the Lord, "we can walk with the confidence that God will guide our steps." 

It's been a very difficult week but one where I have learned and experienced the enabling power of the Atonement in my life. I'm so grateful for all of the blessings that the Lord has blessed me with. We were so blessed to have the people who were baptized get confirmed this past Sunday as well! We saw them yesterday and they've changed a lot. The Spirit is definitely helping them out. Thank you for all of your many prayers and love and I really appreciate it! I love you all so very much!

-Elder David B. Fullmer

 Pictures on the shore of Lake Okeechobee

Weekly update- I'm finna get you thick

Dear Fullmer Family,

How have you all been doing this week? This week has been different but it's been good. Life is good in Belle Glade! Not much out of the ordinary has happened this past week. I was able to see a GI Specialist and he still wasn't very sure about what is going on. I'm going to be having a colonoscopy tomorrow afternoon where hopefully they'll be able to have a better idea of what's been going on. This past week i've also been on a prescription to kill of Giardia if I had it. I'm done with the perscription and I feel just about the same. So we can rule that out of the possibilities. It's been tough this week since i've been very low on energy but i've been learning how I need to accept the will of the Lord in my life and to follow his council. I don't know what will happen tomorrow, no one knows what will come up in their lives, but the Lord does. If we follow Him, and "feast upon the words of Christ... the words of Christ will tell you all things that ye should do." I've definitely been learning many things, which haven't been easy, but they're strengthening me.

This week we had a disappointment. Yesterday, A couple of the people we have taught made a bad decision. I was really frustrated since they have so much waiting for them but they just won't take it. As we were driving back to the church I was very angry but as we sat in sacrament meeting, a peaceful feeling came over me knowing that I did my very best and that the Lord is proud of me. These disappointments really do strengthen me and really make the successes so much sweeter. Another person has kind of been avoiding us lately so that has also been tough. However we met a really cool new investigator.... He played semi-pro football and almost went pro but got in a car crash. He's best friends with a guy in the NFL... He's a very humble guy and is really interested in what we have to say. He's planning to be baptized on my birthday :) He's really had a rough life but has turned his life around and is just waiting for the Gospel. He's also going to be our personal trainer... He's HUGE!!! He let us know, "I'm finna get you thick!" (that means, I really want to help you work out... and yes, finna is how it's spelled.). We got a txt from someone the other day and I want to share it with you. This is how it is spelled, you might need the Urim and Thummim to translate it. I've already let you in on the whole "finna" word but here you go. "Dats were we at nw im finna check wit her husband n her first to c if its ok first den um gon txt u right bak.." Gotta love Belle Glade!!

This next week is also transfers... I don't know where all the time went but it's here nonetheless. I have a feeling that my compaion will be transferred, as much as I don't want him to... I also feel like I'm going to be training a new missionary. Who knows though? 

Well that's about everything for this week. Sorry it's so short but my mind is a little preoccupied with what's going to be happening shortly :8 Please keep me in your prayers! I love you all!

-Elder David B. Fullmer

Labor Day Weekend- September 4, 2012

Dear Fullmer Family,

This week has been pretty good I have to say. It was filled with lots of high moments and a few lows but all in all it's been great! Let's start with the highs. We were able to have a wonderful wedding and baptism this past Saturday for ****** & ###### (I don't really know how to spell her name :).) It was so great to be able to see them be so happy and finally get baptized. The branch did so much to help their day be so special. There's a member who decorates flowers who did some arrangements for free, which was a surprise for us and them. The food was amazing and everyone was just so happy! 

The couple invited many family members and friends and they were all so great and supportive of both of them. Many came up to us afterwards and asked if they could come to church and if they had churches where they lived. One of the aunts, who lives in North Miami Beach, asked if I knew of a church down there and I could tell her exactly where it is since I served there :) It was a wonderful night! One that I will never forget! There is something special when someone you have grown to love and work with decides and makes the steps to be baptized. I'm so happy it went so well! I was able to baptize the man and my companion baptized the woman. Funny story, when she was being baptized she didn't take in a breath and breathed in water... :S She came up coughing. It was sad but she was still happy to be baptized. the man went nice a smoothly in and out of the water. As we were changing afterwards I asked him, "How do you feel?" He responded with tears in his eyes, "this is the best thing that I could have done for me and my family." I said it was and he said that it's been about five years since he's seen his aunts and they all wanted to come see him. They're so proud of him and the changes that he's making in his life. His mom died when he was 13 years old and ever since then he's been on the streets. He's been into some crazy stuff but he's recognizing the need to follow Jesus Christ and loves the feeling of the Spirit. It's really been a pleasure for me to work with them and grow to love them.

Also this past week I broke my toe! One of the lows... Just add it to the list of things going wrong with me haha. Last Tuesday after I wrote home to ya'll (I'm learning great things in the South), I stubbed my toe pretty badly. Not thinking much of it i just hobbled around and ate my lunch. When I stood back up I realized that it had gotten quite swollen, I looked down and it already started turning colors :) The next morning it was very colorful! Don't worry, I've got pictures :D But i've been taking some ibuprofen and that's taken the swelling down and also the pain. It's been a week and it's starting to feel better. My other wonderful body aches haven't really changed much. It's been so hot lately that my energy is just about drained by 2 o'clock in the afternoon but i'm doing my best that I can! I'm glad I've got a patient companion who really helps me out! Tomorrow I've got my appointment with the GI so hopefully they'll find something that'll help me. 

 This week as I have been reading the Book of Mormon I was reading Alma 5. I love this chapter. It is so powerful and clear and I love Alma's testimony when he says, "Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know of these things of myself. And now, I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me." I love how he testifies so clearly how he was able to know these things for himself. We have an investigator who wants to be baptized but feels like she hasn't received an "answer." We read this with her and she decided that she wants to fast for her answer. We're going to fast with her and are going to work to have her be baptized this next Sunday because we know she'll receive her answer.

Other than all that I've written there isn't much going on. Thank you so much for the package that you sent. Unfortunately the toothbrush heads aren't the right kind. I didn't open them. I should have been more specific... Sorry! The type of toothbrush I have is phillips sonicare pro whitening or pro series or something like that. The heads don't have that big plastic thing at the bottom. That's as specific as I can get. Haha. For my birthday, there isn't much that I need. I'm good on clothes and shoes and such but it would be nice for some cologne. Mine is all out... I like the Aquadigio and also this stuff called Kenneth Cole Reaction. But other than that there isn't much that I need. Ohh maybe some good socks. There are some that i really like made by CTR Clothing. They're pretty good stuff that some of my companions have and really liked. So if you find anything you think i'll like I probably will :) 

I love you all so much and am grateful for everything that you do for me! I hope you all have a great week! Pray for me that they'll be able to find what's up with me tomorrow at the doctor! 

-Elder David B. Fullmer

Tropical Storm Isaac- August 28th

Hola Familia,

How is everyone doing? Down in Florida it has been a little rainy, more like the most rain I've ever seen in my life!!! Haha. The storm came through and luckily we're all safe. It didn't hit us straight on so that's a good thing but we did get our fair share of rain. From Sunday right after church (11:00 AM) until yesterday at 5:00 PM we were confined to our house. Luckily the day before we went to a sporting goods store and bought a little basketball hoop that we hung up in our house so that kept us occupied for most of the time. For the rest of the time I did some reading. I'm just glad that we're all safe and our investigators are all safe as well. There has been some flooding here but it's not too bad.

Well I looked at the calendar today and realized that in 6 months from today I'll be going home... I can't believe it! Don't worry though, I'm not getting trunky. I really love my mission and I'm growing so much! These past few weeks have been a big change for me but it's been making me stronger. I wish time would just slow down a little... I can't keep up! Haha. That's great to hear about Jeff. I'm glad that he's doing well and really enjoyed his mission. I'm sure Denmark is a little different than Belle Glade but the work is the same! 

Congrats Sam on your first assembly! Sounds like everything went nice and smooth. Good luck with Homecoming! 

So this past week as we were preparing for the wedding and baptism we got news of the storm. We didn't think it would be coming up this way but when we heard about it the Branch President told us that we wouldn't be having it... That was hard for us to grasp and also for our investigators. It was one of the hardest things for me to tell them that they need to wait because they want it so bad and were so looking forward to this past Saturday. However yesterday when we went over there they were still a little bummed and we needed something to boost up their desires. So we went to the Book of Mormon. We read in Alma 36 where Alma is talking to his son Helaman about his conversion. It was so powerful! Both of them have had such hard lives and have done things in their lives that they aren't proud of and have brought them sorrow. When we read in verse 21 where it says, "I say unto you, my son, that there could me nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other had, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy" Jay's face just lit up and he started to cry... He can't wait to be baptized! He knows he'll be forgiven of the things he's done in the past and he'll be able to start over and he can't wait for it! On Sunday at church, they announced their wedding and so many members came up to them and supported them. One of them is going to take her out to get a dress and shoes and the others are planning the food and everything. The member that called you, paid for the wedding papers and we went to the Court house (or as they call it here, the county barn) to get it last Tuesday. I love the members here and I'm happy to be serving around them. 

This past week I also went to see a doctor. After waiting for about two hours they said they didn't know what was going on with me and referred me to go see a GI specialist. So no new news concerning my tummy troubles but I guess we'll see later on when I see the other doc. My comp, and I are getting along really well! He's in his third transfer and is just starting to lose himself in the work. It's a lot of fun to have such a great energetic companion. He's about at his six month mark and it feels like I was just in his spot... Turns out that was a year ago ;) We're doing really well! We went to this little Mexican store the other day and bought some Horchata mix. It's super good!!! Luckily no one else in the apartment likes it so it's all mine :D Maybe I'll send you home some Mom. 

Well that's about all I've got from this end. Keep our investigators in your prayers so they can get married and baptized on Saturday. Also pray for our other investigators so they can also get baptized! I love you all and hope to hear from you soon!

-Elder David B. Fullmer

A frog living outside of his apartment

Temple progress

The South Florida Temple Construction in Davie Florida.

August 20th- Shopping the Thrift!

Dear Fullmer Family,

I'm glad to hear that all of you are doing well and you're all happy. Sorry to hear about Sam's falling experience but I hope you start to feel better soon! I know how sprained ankles are... Not fun! Happy Birthday Marc! Sorry to hear that you caught strep throat and that you have to start school today but I hope you have a great day :) 

Everything out here has been pretty good. I've still been feeling sick but I have an appointment with a doctor this Friday so hopefully we'll be making some progress to figure out what's going on. Belle Glade/South Bay is an interesting place. I love it! There are so many nice, friendly and loving people. I'm still not used to it but I'm getting there. Haha. One thing I know for sure though is that I love this branch. They are so amazing! They're small but so strong and so willing to help. We have two investigators that need to be married. They came to church yesterday for the second time and just absolutely loved it! The Branch loved them as well. After church after our investigators left we were talking to some of the members of the branch and asked us how they're doing. We told them that they need to be married and that they really don't have the means to afford the marriage application. The woman that we were talking to said, "Well, don't worry because we're going to have a wedding. I'll pay for the application (which is like $100) and we'll have a nice little wedding here at the church!" They went to the ATM right after church and gave us the money. All of the members are starting to plan what they're going to do to help. It's so great! They didn't come to church last week because the man didn't have any church clothes and didn't feel comfortable coming in gym shorts. That's about all he has. So my companion and I went to Goodwill to see what they had. Well they had a very nice gray suit that fit him perfectly and we got it for $11. I'm learning from Sam how to shop, "the thrift" :) We brought it over to them on Tuesday and he was so happy! Their date for baptism was supposed to be yesterday and it was so hard to tell them they couldn't get baptized yet because they're not married yet. He was so sad! He wants to get baptized so badly! Tomorrow we're going to the court house so they can get their marriage certificate :) I hope everything works out! Needless to say, I'm really excited for this week!

Unfortunately our other investigator and her daughter didn't get baptized this past week. They went out of town for the last weekend of the summer but we're hoping they'll be baptized with the married couple this weekend! Things are doing well in the area and we're finding some really cool people :)

This past week there was also a death in the Branch. An older man died and had his funeral on Saturday. It was a very nice, small funeral. This town is so closely knit. Everyone knows each other!! It's so great! We had a potluck after the funeral and I had some amazing food! It's definitely very different being here but I'm really starting to love it :) 

We also were privileged to have zone conference this past week. It was one of the best ones that I've ever had! President Anderson talked a lot about being discouraged. He talked a lot about why hard things happen to us. He talked about Paul and all of the trials and challenges he had, being beat, put in prison, whipped, almost killed many times, etc. all because he preached the gospel. It also talks about how he had some sort of health problem, in the bible it uses the word "thorn" and he asks the Lord to take it from him. However, the Lord doesn't take it away... All of us have our thorns and sometimes they aren't taken away. They are there so that we can humble ourselves before God and rely on His strength. President said, "many times we are put in situations where we begin to pray so that the Lord with change our circumstances. However, there is a better way. Pray for the strength to change your circumstances." As I've been applying that this week I've begun to see the power and how my perspective has changed to be able to handle my challenges with confidence and with the strength of God. 

Thank you for all of your help and support and the love that you have for me! Things haven't been easy but I know that the Lord is strengthening me through your prayers and I'm really grateful for them :) We are getting closer to having missionaries enter Cuba. How exciting is that? Pretty cool! I also heard that they changed my release date from March 6th, 2013 to February 28th, 2013. So I'm going home a week earlier than planned. Mom you asked about applying to schools, I'm almost positive that I'm going to go to the U at least for my first year back and might take the summer semester. If you could begin to search for my records and stuff like that, it would be great :) I love you all and hope you have a great week!

con mucho amor y carino,

-Elder David B. Fullmer

From Cuba to Kansas Aug. 13, 2012

Dear Fullmer Family,

Well another week has come and gone and this week was full of many changes. I was transferred up to the area South Bay which is part of the city Belle Glade. It's such a small town but I love it! Definitely different than the last area that I came from, I'll have to send some pictures (They are attached). I'm serving in a small tiny little branch. Yesterday at church there were about 25 people there. It brings me back to the beginning of my mission when I served in the Miami Beach Branch. This is an English branch but we bring whoever we teach and if they speak spanish I get to translate :) I'm serving with my new companion from St. George UT. He's been out about five months. He's a great missionary and I'm excited to work with him. We're both learning great new things :)

 

Well this week has been really great! There are some really great members in this branch. One of my favorite families is named the ***** Family. They are Mexican family who are so humble! It's a family of five who live in small little trailer. We went over and helped them clean out their air conditioning. I love talking with them. So humble and so giving to the missionaries. I'm very excited to be with them in the branch.

One of the recent converts in the area is named ^^^^ and her daughter is ###### . They're a Mexican family who are awesome! We went over there the other day to meet them. First we came in and talked with ^^^^ in Spanish, she doesn't know English. Then a little later ###### walked in, said hi and then went to the other room. Then about 5 minutes later she came back out, and was staring at me and asked, "What are you?" I was confused... I didn't really know what to say... Then she asked again, "What are you? Like where are you from?" I said I'm from Utah and I'm American. She said, "really? Because you don't have an accent. I don't get it! I've never met anyone who's white and doesn't have a gringo accent!" It was pretty funny. I always thought I had a bad accent but apparently not. Haha.

So I've got a really funny story! So on Friday we had a zone meeting up in Stuart which is about an hour and a half away. So we drove up there and it was such a beautiful drive just seeing all of these open fields. We had the meeting and it was good but when we came out the car we came up in had a flat tire... We had to change it and then get to a store to get it fixed. All in all it took such a long time!!! We got back around 6 o'clock but it was a good memory. Right now I'm living with other elders for the first time in my mission. They're so much fun! One of them reminds me of Stephen! We get along really well! Today we're going to be playing games in the church with some of our investigators and members. We're looking forward to it :) 

We have some great investigators. We have like four families that we're working with and their going really well. One of them is named +++++ with her Daughter @@@@@. They should be getting baptized this next weekend. I'm happy to be in this area working with some great people. Well that's all I've really got to share for today. I'm so happy to be in this area and ready to learn and grow. Have an awesome week! I love you all!

-Elder David B. Fullmer