September 25, 2017 "Great is Your Reward"

Hey everyone!

We're about halfway through is transfer. I'm not sure if I'll do another one here or not yet since it's my 4th transfer here, but I am continuing to enjoy each week!

Elder and Sister Craig (housing coordinator
and mission nurse)-going back home to Kentucky!

 Elder and Sister Hansen (finance
and office secretary),
going back to Utah.

Elder and Sister Browne (car coordinator 

and referrals/supplies manager),
 going back home to Orem.
I've interacted with them the most of
 all the senior couples.
I'm going to miss them all!

After finishing the rest of our Zone Conferences this week, we said goodbye to the 3 senior couples that work in the mission office. They each have finished their missions and are being replaced with new couples. I've gotten to know them all super well over the course of my mission, so I will miss each of them!

We were able to meet with Pam a couple times this past week. She's doing pretty good! She has already read a decent amount of the Book of Mormon on her own. Without us giving her anything specific to read, she read through Joseph Smith's testimony, along with the testimonies of the three and eight witnesses, and understood quite a bit of it! She continues to tell us how she's searching for more peace in her life, and she recognizes the spirit she feels after meeting with us and wants to keep building upon that.

We have one investigator named Dorothy, who we have taught pretty consistently over my past 5 months in this ward. She has slowly began to understand the gospel as we have met with her. We had been debating whether or not to continue teaching her because she didn't seem to be progressing much. But she surprised us on Saturday night when we invited her to church (for the 15th time) by saying yes. She came to church yesterday and really enjoyed everything! She mentioned how it seemed to her that "there is a place for everyone!" She liked how all the kids, youth, adults, men, and women all have a place in the church. She's excited to continue learning and to start coming to church more regularly. We told her last week "people can meet with us all they want, but until they actually come and see for themselves, they'll likely never truly be able to gain a lasting testimony of what we teach." So finally, she was able to come and see, and had a great time.

We've been teaching Edith and her daughter
Audrey for a little while. They're sweet!

We were also able to find a couple other investigators this week, one named Octavia, and a young couple named Cindy and Andres. In both situations finding them, I know without a doubt we were led by the spirit to go to the specific places to find them. Sometimes it's hard to discern what's just our own thoughts and what's the spirit, but I know we were led to them.

We pulled up into his neighborhood,
 and Kofi came running to the car to see us.

                  Every week we are able to find numerous new investigators, and people to teach the message of the Restoration to. We meet people who are nice, and willing to listen with open ears. On the other hand though, each week we'll come in contact with people who will say and do things to us that aren't nice at all, and will just want to argue and contend with us. With this in mind, a couple scriptures bring me a lot of peace, as well as confidence and assurance.

This first is 3rd Nephi 21:9-10
"For in that day, for my sake shall the Father work a work, which shall be a great and a marvelous work among them; and there shall be among them those who will not believe it, although a man shall declare it unto them. But behold, the life of my servant shall be in my hand; therefore they shall not hurt him, although he shall be marred because of them. Yet I will heal him, for I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil."

The second scripture is Matthew 5:10-12
"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."

Missionaries and members of the church throughout the world are sharing the great and marvelous truths of the gospel, but there are people everywhere who will try and oppose, reject, and ignore the truth. There has always been opposition and always will be. But we can continue to press forward with confidence that we are in the Lord's hand, and that he will reward us in heaven for proclaiming His gospel, even if we may be ridiculed for doing so. I am so grateful to be a missionary here at this time and I am grateful for the testimony I have of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I'm looking forward to General Conference this week! I'm excited to learn from the leaders of the church and hear what they have to say. I love you all and I hope you have a great week!!

Elder Jeremy Duvall
Washington DC South Mission

September 18, 2017 "3rd Nephi 5:13'

Hey everyone!

Enjoying some Jollaf rice!!!

We've had another great week! I'm amazed by how many people we are able to talk to and teach each and every day. 

I just want to share one brief experience of someone we met this week. We had a neat experience finding a lady named Pam a few days ago. She's a testament to me that God truly does put people in our path. We were parking our car and then walked across a street and she was up on her balcony with her dogs. We just said hello to her as we walked by and to our surprise, she asked us if she could come down and talk to us. When she came down, she told us she just glanced out her window and saw us parking and decided to step out on her balcony and see which direction we would walk. She wasn't going to initiate conversation with us, but decided that if we walked her direction and talked to her, then she would come down and listen to us. She said this has been the hardest year of her life, with tons of trials and adversity that she's experienced, and when she saw us she felt like she needed to talk to us and see if the

Some jollaf rice from one of our African members in the Ward.

message we share could help her feel some peace. She was going in for a surgery today, and our visit with her a couple days ago helped to not only bring her some peace in her time of stress and anxiety, but also opened her eyes to a lot of truth she's been searching for. After teaching her about the Book of Mormon and reading a few powerful verses about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, she could not wait to have a copy of her own. She is excited to continue meeting with us, and is excited to start coming to church. I'm grateful that we were placed in her path! I know that the simple truths taught in the Book of Mormon are powerful and that the witness of Christ that is found in its pages can help heal any wounded soul. 

Can't do missionary work without food.

 Elder Ure and I at one of the Zone Conferences
 last week. I feel blessed to have had some great
companions throughout my mission!

We had two Zone Conferences this week that we trained at. Due to having such a large percentage of our missionaries that are in their first few months in the field, we were asked to train on the importance of teaching simply.  Harold B. Lee stated that we as missionaries and "teachers are not being sent out to teach new doctrine. You’re to teach the old doctrines, not so plain that they can just understand, but you must teach the doctrines of the Church so plainly that no one can misunderstand." We have THE most important message that anyone could share! We have a message that has a life-changing, and eternity-changing impact on those who embrace it. So we need to teach this wonderful message in a way that the Savior would have us teach it. We decided to not merely train the missionaries on the concept of teaching simply, but to teach it as the Savior would teach it. Under the "Teaching the Gospel" section in True to the Faith, it gives us some great insight! It states  "In your efforts to teach the gospel, look to Jesus Christ as your example. Study accounts of His mortal ministry, and look for ways to teach as He taught. He showed genuine love and concern for those He served. He strengthened people individually, teaching gospel principles in a way that would help them with their unique needs. He awakened in some the desire to understand and live the gospel. At times He asked questions that would help them apply what they learned. He taught the saving truths of the gospel, helping His hearers understand what they needed to know, do, and be in order to receive the gift of eternal life."  

I love all of these different things the Savior did as he taught! It humbles me to know that as a missionary, I truly represent Him and His restored gospel. So we need to be sure we're doing all we can to teach His gospel in a way that he would want us to teach it. I love what Mormon says in 3rd Nephi 5:13 "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life." This applies to each one of us missionaries as well, called to declare the restored gospel so that those we meet can access the eternal blessings of the gospel. Remembering that I've been called to represent Him every day helps me to keep pressing forward, trying my best to preach His gospel by the spirit. 

Sister Gutzwiller knows my Aunt Becky and Uncle Tom  and others
from when they lived in my home town,Temecula.
And her daughter was friends with my cousin Starla.
What a small world!!!

This is Sister "Gutz" Gutzwiller, a member living in

Woodbridge. When she found out I was from Temecula

she got super excited! She has lived in Temecula with her family twice and started making a lot of connections with me. Super nice woman! I love how small the world is within the church. Throughout my mission I've been surprised by how many connections I've made with different people.

I am grateful for each one of you, all of the wonderful examples I have to look to in my life. But I'm mostly grateful for the example of our Savior and I know that if we look to him, we'll never go wrong. 

I love you all! I hope you have a great week!

Elder Jeremy Duvall

Washington DC South Mission

 Elder Ure and I at one of the Zone Conferences last week. 

September 11, 2017 Dancing with Grandma

Hey everyone!

I felt quite a bit of peace this week with the passing of my Grandma Smith. I am grateful that I was able to say some final words to her over the phone, but most of all I am grateful to know that for this past week she has enjoyed a sweet reunion with Papa Smith and Uncle Randy! I am so blessed to have had 4 amazing grandparents in my life. I love them all! I am grateful for my Mom and Dad, who wouldn't be the great parents who they are if it weren't for their parents. I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, that has blessed my family and brought so much peace and joy.
One of my favorite memories with Grandma was one of the Sundays that she came over for dinner. For a while, she and Uncle Mark would regularly come over to our home on Sundays. One time, I remember that I randomly took her by the hand and starting dancing with her in our kitchen. I think there was some music playing. It was really fun and she was laughing a ton. There's nobody else I'd rather dance with than my sweet grandma! I figured that someone had to dance with her in place of grandpa, but now she's probably happily dancing away with Papa Smith in heaven! Many of my memories with her over the past 5 years include sitting by her chair in her bedroom making her laugh. I enjoyed sitting in front of her, allowing her to put her hand on my head, letting her scratch my hair. She always had the prettiest smile, and nothing brought me more joy than making her laugh and seeing her smile. As a child, I also always looked forward to Christmas Day breakfast when I would have her yummy coffee cake for breakfast, and I remember getting to make it with her a couple of times. We had a member of our ward here this last week give us some banana bread that reminded me of hers!

I will miss grandma but I know she is in a better place. And I know, without any doubt whatsoever, that I will get to see her smiling face again! I know that she will be watching over me as I continue to serve as a missionary, and I know that she will continue to watch over all of us as we continue our lives here on earth.

This is the video of Jeremy dancing with his grandma Smith taken on December 23, 2012

Early Wednesday morning, dropping off all of these
great missionaries off at the airport! It's been an interesting
feeling being able to be there in the airport each transfer
 as we say goodbye and send them all back home. If anything,
 it motivates me to keep working hard each and every day.
 I'm grateful that it's not me on that plane, and that I still
 have a lot of time left to serve here in VA.

We had a busy week starting off the new transfer. We had to spend a little more time in the office again this week than we usually do, taking care of a bunch of changes and things that have happened as a result of all the new missionaries arriving last week. But we still were able to teach quite a bit this week.
Our main investigators right now are Tenisha and her children, and Michelle. We taught them both this week multiple times and they are both doing great, reading the Book of Mormon in between our visits and enjoying everything that they learn. I'm grateful to be a missionary in this area and I am grateful to be able to share the gospel with people each and every day. I am grateful for the great Plan of Happiness and our Savior Jesus Christ that is central to it all!

Elder Ure and I have been looking every day to try and find 3 or more unplanned opportunities to serve someone. It's been awesome and we've met some pretty cool people as a result! We've helped quite a bit of people carry groceries inside from their car, opened tons of doors, and taken people's trash out. Elder Ure even cleaned someone's headlights on their car for them while they were cleaning their car. He used to detail cars for work, so he knows how to clean cars super well. They were pretty impressed with how clean the lights looked (bug spray was the secret, it cleans the lights really well). It's cool to see how simple acts of service soften people's hearts. We've been able to introduce a lot of people to the Book of Mormon and even taught a few lessons as a result of the simple acts of service.

I finished the Book of Mormon again this morning! The Book of Mormon truly is the keystone of my testimony! I know without doubt that it is true. I am grateful for the more personal relationship with Jesus Christ that I have gained from it as a result of studying it and trying to "abide by its precepts."

I love you all and I hope you have a great week!!

Elder Jeremy Duvall

Michelle is so sweet! Her testimony of the
Plan of Salvation after we taught it to her is so solid!

Early morning breakfast with the Office Elders
at Denny's, right after leaving the airport.

Elder Jeremy Duvall
Washington DC South Mission

September 4, 2017 "Down Payment on Tomorrow's Happiness"

Hey everyone!

Today is the day before transfers, and we picked up 34 brand new missionaries from the airport today! That is the biggest group that President Huntsman has had since being a mission President. Elder Ure and I had to drive separate cars full of missionaries, along with President and Sister Huntsman each having to drive a vehicle as well. It was fun welcoming them all to DC! Each time I go back to that airport, I think back to the time that I walked off that plane. It always feels as if that were just a few weeks ago, but when I stop and think about it, SO much has happened since that day. I've had so many experiences and met so many incredible people over the past 20 months!

This past week marks one year since Asif and Isha were baptized. They are both doing well! Asif was baptized at the end of August last year, and Isha was the first week of September. Isha has been doing great. Her ward meets in the same building as us, so it's fun running into her every now and then.
I emailed Asif this week checking up on him, pointing out that it has been one year since his baptism, asking how he and his family have been doing in Dubai, and his response was the best. I love imagining his accent saying these words, he responded "Thanks a lot brother, me and my family following all our lord Jesus Christ commandments and we are very happy and always thankful to you and our brother Elder Judkins as well. Thanks a lot for remember my baptism day, I feel it's my birth day. We wish our lord Jesus Christ will bless us and give us a place in the celestial kingdom, where he's living with his beloved father in the name of Jesus Christ amen."

Last night we had the new member fireside that we do every transfer, where recent converts speak and talk about their conversion stories. That is by far my favorite meeting. I've been able to attend it numerous times over the course of my mission. Sitting up at the front looking out, I noticed a companionship of sister missionaries walking in late in the back. They walked in with Katie, who I found and taught in the spring of 2016, who was eventually baptized at the beginning of this year. I made eye contact with her and she saw me and just had the biggest smile on her face. I had the thought/impression while seeing her, that if she was the only one I had an impact on on my mission, these two years would have all been worth it. I have been able to see many people's lives blessed by the gospel, but perhaps hers more than anyone else. Her path towards baptism took a while, through many sets of missionaries, but has been strong in the gospel ever since her baptism. Talking to her after the meeting, she explained that she just accepted a calling to serve as a Young Women's Sunday school teacher, which she is nervous about, but I know she'll do great!

This week was pretty busy. We don't usually spend much time in our mission office, because we try to proselyte in our area as much as possible. But we had a lot to get done in preparation for this week, so we were there a bit more than usual this past week.

Here's Tenisha holding her brand new baby.
 I think she weighs a little over 4 pounds now.
And then there's two more of her kids, Amaree and Amani.

But we still were able to teach some great lessons to our investigators this week. We had an awesome lesson with Tenisha and a couple of her kids, Amaree and Amani. We met her months ago, but we're finally able to start teaching her a couple times a week the past few weeks. She has had many health struggles that've prevented us from meeting with her, and has been in and out of the hospital throughout the year, but her health is finally starting to stay steady. She actually just had a baby as well about a month ago. The baby, named Amaya, was born premature though, at 2.5 pounds and had to stay in the hospital for the first month until last week when she was able to take her home. It's growing really healthy though and is such a precious little thing! Tenisha has been extremely humbled by everything that's gone on in her life, and has really embraced the opportunity to learn about the gospel. It's cool to see her enthusiasm to learn, despite all the struggles she goes through.

Elder Ure, Logan, and I with Gifty,

one of our many Ghanaian investigators

who we've been teaching.

A quote that I heard a while back from a good friend said that "Gratitude is a down payment on tomorrow's happiness." We all will experience different trials in our lives. But no matter where we are at, we can find all things to be grateful for. If we hold on to the good memories, good experiences, and blessings that we do have, instead of focusing on what we don't have, we can and use that perspective to motivate us to press forward. Tenisha, and many of the people I have taught on my mission, have exemplified this perspective, having a spirit of gratitude despite their circumstances.
I know that that is something that can help all of us, and I know that as we express our gratitude towards others and towards our Father in Heaven, that it truly will turn out to be "a down payment on tomorrow's happiness."

I love you all! Hope you have a great week!!

Elder Jeremy Duvall
Washington DC South Mission