Wow There Has Been A Lot of Things This Past Two Weeks

This is the first thing I would like to talk about.

For those of you who are the Joseph Durrant blog followers you will remember Samuel. Samuel was the  man I gave the baptismal invitation to IN SPANISH. Anyways I attended his baptism on Saturday the 20th. It was so cool. Cool is not a very good word to describe it. A better one would be..... Amazing and Spiritual and just Awesome.

Me and Samuel. (:

Now to talk about school. Richardson High School. Home of the Eagles. I started school last Monday it is the best school in Utah and Texas. I have made a lot of ligit friends. A lot are black and some are white. A lot of them ain't Mormons. Some of them are. I am very greatful for the good influence of my LDS friends and my non-LDS friends are all way sweet as well. A lot of my friend base is consistent with my basketball class at school. Now to talk about my classes. This year I decided to go a little crazy because I signed myself up for all AP or pre AP classes. The workload is insane. I get home from school at about four thirty and am working until ten. I also had two books that of course I had no idea I was supposed to read over the summer. You got to love it. My teachers are all crazy in their own way. Doesn't it annoy you when people talk and during there sentence they say like six or seven times. Well one my teachers is like this except instead of like he uses "okay-alright" and "you-know," it is crazy hard to pay attention. I also have one teacher who is just like Jack Black. I have one teacher who thinks she is still a senior in high school. You get the picture. My school is crazy but I love it. Oh and today we got some awesome new missionaries. It has been another day for A Boy In The Mission Field.

This Weekend

I am really tired. On Friday we drove out to Tyler, Texas. It's about a 2 hour drive. There we had a 6 hour specialized training for the missionaries that was 6 hours long. It was a really spiritual experience. In Tyler we spent the night in a hotel. We got up the next day and drove to Tyler Texas. About and hour away. There my dad went to some stake stuff out there and then spoke that night at the session of conference. While he was doing all that me my mom and Deanna were staying with the Stake Presidents wife. They live on about 109 acres and own a lot of cows. So me and Deanna went over by the cows but did not get too close. I was scared, I kept thinking they were going to charge because they were Texas Long Horns. It was sweet. Next day we woke up and went to Gilmers stake conference. Gilmer stake covers a very large area so they have two meetings that day. One in Gilmer and one in a place called Paris Texas. It has been quite a long day we just got back. But I must say that I really love it. I just love being A Boy In The Mission Field.

I Invited Someone To Be Baptized... and they said yes.

Tonight I went out with the Elders and we went to a members house for dinner. It was so good!. It was pinto beans and a meat and potato mixture with tortillas Yummmmmm. I love eating Mexican food from real Mexicans. After that we went to there apartment where we were waiting for Samuel and his wife. We were going to teach them at the temple. Tonight they were going to invite Samuel to be baptized. Earlier that day I was playing volleyball at the church and Elder Perry called me, he said "Joseph you still on for tonight," I told him that I was. He said "Okay tonight we are going to invite Samuel to be baptized and we need you to memorize the baptismal invitation in Spanish and give it to him tonight. I said I would and all that day I was memorizing. So now back to the temple. They were talking with him in Spanish and I was trying to pick up on some stuff. Then Elder Perry asked me to give the invitation. Samuel and his wife spoke English and Spanish but Elder Perry asked me to do it in Spanish so I said. "Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized by someone holding the Priesthood authority of God." He said yes. It was awesome. My first invitation and he said yes. The spirit was way strong and I was super happy to be apart of that. And that is just another day for A Boy In The Mission Field.

I really don't have a good title for this one.

This week I have got to hang out with my sister Laura. I sure do love ya Laura. Also this week I got some sweet new basketball shoes and blisters to prove it. Yesterday I was bored so I read 30 pages in the Book of Mormon it was awesome. Also yesterday I went to mutual and played volleyball until about 8 o'clock then played basketball until about 11 o'clock in my new basketball shoes. My feet are not feeling very good  but it is just another day for A Boy In The Mission Field.

3 Sacrament Meetings

Today my parents, Deanna, Laura and I went to three sacrament meetings. We went to our own, a spanish ward were we heard two Elders and three Sisters from our mission spoke. After that my parents spoke in an English ward. I am really tired. But it was really great and a wonderful spiritual experience. It has been another great day for A Boy In The Mission Field.

Tracting and Appointments With The Missionaries

After playing basketball with the Elders on the 27th I hung around the house until 3:20 when I went and I picked up my sister Laura Kirton from the airport and I was really happy to see her. (Even though she did steal shotgun). I am really glad she is here.
The next day we had a train the trainers meeting and it was another great experience. While there Three Elders who were in a three person companionship asked me if I would like to go out and teach with them. More will come on that story. Later that day we picked up my Aunt Alaura from the airport. Once we picked her up we went home but then drove to Waco, Texas, which was about a two hour drive to go to my Uncles wedding. Once there we went to dinner and celebrated.
Friday we woke up ate breakfast  and that whole day was a lot of shopping for my uncle and just boring stuff. We got to the wedding about 5 o'clock or sometime there about and after ate dinner and I went home with my dad. The wedding was very strange for me because it was in a Catholic church. It was different from anything I had seen before.
Now to tell you the story of the title. Today I went out with the missionaries and 4:50 p.m. We went to a dinner appointment with a recent convert were we ate rice and beans and some sort of hamburger mix. It was delicious. The thing I did not know about these Elders going in was that they were Spanish speaking Elders. So the whole dinner was talking in Spanish with a little English mixed in every once in a while. It was great after we left and went outside right in front of us about 5 ft from the door we just came out of there was a door and there was a hand sticking out of the door. I saw it the Elders did not. I told Elder Perry we should go talk to him. My first word to anyone I have ever taught the gospel to with missionaries was Hola. That word and me seeing his hand got us a return appointment. "Score." It was great. Then it was time for an appointment with a sister looking into the gospel. It was all Spanish. I couldn't contribute any words so I just hoped I could bring a good spirit. Elder Perry did a great job and the appointment went great. Then we went tracting. It was so fun some of the houses talked to us and told us they had one reason or another they didn't want to here it but Elder Perry was persistent and really stuck to it. At each door that rejected us he still gave them a pass along card with his number. Then he told me I had to do the next English door approach and I was scared. I knocked on a door and she answered saying hello. Now I had to do it. I jumbled through what I thought was a pretty lame door approach but the first one I ever did we were let in. Another score. I love missionary work and I love missionaries. It has been some great days for A Boy In The Mission Field.

Tracting and Appointments With The Missionaries

After playing basketball with the Elders on the 27th I hung around the house until 3:20 when I went and I picked up my sister Laura Kirton from the airport and I was really happy to see her. (Even though she did steal shotgun). I am really glad she is here.
The next day we had a train the trainers meeting and it was another great experience. While there Three Elders who were in a three person companionship asked me if I would like to go out and teach with them. More will come on that story. Later that day we picked up my Aunt Alaura from the airport. Once we picked her up we went home but then drove to Waco, Texas, which was about a two hour drive to go to my Uncles wedding. Once there we went to dinner and celebrated.
Friday we woke up ate breakfast  and that whole day was a lot of shopping for my uncle and just boring stuff. We got to the wedding about 5 o'clock or sometime there about and after ate dinner and I went home with my dad. The wedding was very strange for me because it was in a Catholic church. It was different from anything I had seen before.
Now to tell you the story of the title. Today I went out with the missionaries and 4:50 p.m. We went to a dinner appointment were we ate rice and beans and some sort of hamburger mix. It was delicious. The thing I did not know about these Elders going in was that they were Spanish speaking Elders. So the whole dinner was talking in Spanish with a little English mixed in every once in a while. It was great after we left and went outside right in front of us about 5 ft from the door we just came out of there was a door and there was a hand sticking out of the door. I saw it the Elders did not. I told Elder

Celebrating Pioneer Day and More

This last Saturday my ward had a volleyball game it was way fun but we lost. Later that day I saw a really great movie, it is called 17 Miracles, for those of you have seen it know that it is way good. I am loving is here in Dallas and my ward is great.
Sunday the 24th was a really good sacrament meeting. We had awesome talks about pioneers and how we are pioneers today. After the meetings at about 7 o'clock I went over to one of the laurels house to have a meeting about a project we are doing for an activity. Its a movie about one of the subjects in the for the strength of youth pamphlet. We chose dating and they decided to use my mom and dads story of meeting with their own twists it sounds pretty awesome to me.
Monday was the preparation day for the missionaries and on that day some of them get together to play basketball and I went. It was great, they are all pretty good and they are fast paced so it is a really good workout. It is also fun because it is such an uplifting environment, usually when playing basketball or any sport there is a lot of criticism, not here, I love it.
Tuesday my neck hurt really bad all day so it was more of a chill day. I took about a 40 min nap on a floaty  thing we have for our pool. It was nice.
Then this morning I went and played and 6:30 a.m. with the missionaries again, it was another great time. And that's it, more days in the life of A Boy In The Mission Field.

Dallas Temple

Yesterday I went to the high school and it was closed... Lame. So I went to 24 hour fitness and played there with some guys.
Today I woke up at 10 and read my scriptures until about 11. Then I ate breakfast read Tess Wolfert's blog (tess-wolfert.blogspot.com/) and my mom said we were going to the temple. Got to the temple about 12 and we had to wait a long time. We got home at around 3:30 and the rest of the day was spent just chillin. The temple is so beautiful I love being there to do  baptisms for the dead. It was a great feeling and I love being closer to my Heavenly Father. It has been a spiritual day for A Boy In The Mission Field.

Back Again

   Hello everybody, sorry I have not blogged in a week. My computer shut down and all the Internet was down, so here I am and I am going to try to recount the last week as best I can. On the 14th I had my first piano lesson in Texas. It was not a fun experience, so my mom let us not do them anymore. Now each week I have to learn two hymns and practice one song that I like and want to learn. This is a much better idea for me than taking piano lessons. After piano I had my first open gym at the high school. It was awesome. I did way well and it was fun playing with all these new guys. The biggest difference is that with 10 guys on the court and each guy saying about two swear words in 10 seconds you here a lot and it is really weird. I am no longer in Utah. But it is a good experience and it will force me to practice a lot of self control. I am going again tonight and I will tell you how it goes.
   On the 15th my dad interviewed all the missionaries that were headed home on the next transfer. I swam it was a good day.
   On the 16th I spent a lot of the day preparing for a talk I had to give the next day. So I thought I had prepared well and it was about 5 and 1/2 minutes. Perfect.
   The next day I gave the talk and it didn't go as well as I hoped but it still made sense and gave a good clear message. I was satisfied with it. But next time I hope I will be even more prepared. I think I like giving impromptu speeches or my testimony better than giving a talk.
   Monday was the best day I have had in the mission up to that point. We met the new missionaries. There were 20 new missionaries coming in and it really was a party. They came and had interviews with my dad and we ate sandwiches for lunch. We did other things, watched a driving safety video and then had barbecue for dinner. MMMMMMM. It was delicious. After dinner we had a testimony meeting for the missionaries and the spirit was there so strong, it was amazing.
   I said Monday was the best day I have had in the mission up to that point. Well Tuesday was better. On Tuesday I went to the transfer meeting. This is were all the Elders and Sisters who get transferred go to our chapel from all over the mission and we announce a new area or a new companion they will be serving with. Also the missionaries who are leaving get to bear there testimony to these missionaries for the last time. It was so much fun seeing all the excitement and joy when they found out different companions or different areas.  After that we went into a training for new missionaries and there trainers. This was cool because my parents told them all sorts of great stuff. We ate pizza after and I chilled with the missionaries. After Deanna and I went to Harry Potter. It was so cool but it came in second to the wonderful experience I had earlier that day. And I loved Harry Potter a lot. So hopefully you see. Anyways after that I went home and I hung out with missionaries who were headed home. Three or four of us went outside and shot on the basket I have hanging on the garage, we played horse mostly and it was way fun. We had testimony meeting and then sent them on there way it was a really good day.
   Now for Wednesday. Today was great because guess what? I GOT A PHONE! YAHOOOOO! It is so cool. I love it. Just Facebook me and I will give it to you but I am so happy. It was fun the figure out the features of the phone. Than that night for young men young women's we played water balloon volleyball it was sweet. Than we played real volleyball and later that night we played basketball. It was great. And that is another week for A Boy In The Mission Field.

King sized bed

Yesterday was great. My parents brought an extra king sized bed to Texas just in case they did not like the one here. As it turns out they didn't like it so they gave it to me. Now I have a King sized bed and it is sweet. Also last night I went and played basketball at the church. We were so good that the old guys kicked us off. It was funny but also kind of dumb that they did that. I have my first piano lesson with a new teacher and I am kind of scared because my lessons are 45 minutes and I have to stay until Deanna's lesson is over as well. An hour and a half :( is no bueno. Well it was just another day for A Boy In The Mission Field.

Soccer Yesterday

Yesterday was a pretty normal day nothing to exciting. At about 6:30 p.m. I got picked up and we went to play soccer. I wasn't sure how it was going to be and how many people were going to show up but it turned out to be way fun. To get to the field we had to hop a fence (I will tell you more about that later). The game was sweet and pretty big. I played defense the entire game and it was really fun. The game ended in a tie. After the game we sat around talking. We left about ten minutes after the game. When we got to the parking lot where our car was, we saw a police officer and so we hopped over and walked over. He lectured us about what fences are for. Then he let us go but told us not to do it again. So the soccer game mixed with the visit from the officer made for a pretty interesting night. This has been quite a unique day for A Boy In The Mission Field.

Yesterday at Six Flags

Yesterday I spent the entire day at six flags over Texas with some of my new friends, they are way sweet. Ryan, Mason, Paul, Erin, and Sarah. Wyatt I still love you. On the way up we listened to the Fray, they are a sweet band. It was awesome I loved every ride, lagoon seems so lame compared to this awesome amusement park. Every ride was so much fun and there were almost no lines at most of them. We went on a ride called Titan ten times. It was so fun. At the park we also participated in karaoke and a game show, Mason saved his team in that game show. After that we went to eat at Taco Bueno and it was muy bueno. Texas is so legit I love it. The people here are awesome. It was another great day for A Boy In The Mission Field.

Busy Busy Day

Today was great. We woke up and went to church. I was able to bless in this new ward in a new suit and suspenders we bought yesterday. Today at church in a different sacrament meeting David Archuleta was there and I got to meet him. After church I got an assignment to speak next Sunday. Pretty fast. I have made a couple friends with priests in the quorum and tomorrow we are going to Six Flags. It is going to be way fun. I just got back from meeting some stake presidents and that was pretty enjoyable. I love it here in Texas and look forward to doing missionary work. It has been another day for A Boy In The Mission Field.

This is what I want to do in Texas

http://youtu.be/ynVgDWKWHtU


The Missionary Purpose
Our 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 enduring to the end.

Saturday

Last night we stayed in Flint, Texas in a stake president's guest house and it was really nice. He even left us a basket full of snacks which I really loved. After we woke up we went to Tyler Texas. There my dad interviewed with the Tyler Zone and I got to here more training given by the missionaries. Today I was led by the spirit to make a couple comments which was really fun for me to know that it was through the spirit that I was directed to say things. I liked it because each time I made a comment it led to a great discussion that the elders wanted to go to. That was neat. I was glad I was there to be able to do that. A lot of missionaries ask if this is hard on me. But it is not. In fact it could not be more of a blessing for me. I love the missionaries and I love my mom and dad. Because they were called and I still get all these blessings I love this church. The hope and message we share is one of pure gladness and I know it is true.

After this we drove back home. We got home at about 12:00, and the rest of the day was normal. It has been another day for A Boy In The Mission Field

8th

On Friday we left for East Texas, There we spent a long day meeting with missionaries in a small town called Gilmer. We had another get to know you meeting. This one was the greatest one yet for me. I felt a spirit there that I had not felt in any other meeting prior to that. It was a testimony for me that the church really is true. Because it was such a long day for part of it I watched a movie on Deanna's portable DVD player. After that I just spent time with the missionaries, I listened to their trainings and listened to stories about there missions until it got really late. If I heard about this I might think it was boring. But really truly it was such a great experience. The spirit is similar to one you might feel at Efy. I am glad because I now have that on a regular basis. It has been another great day for A Boy In The Mission Field.

Another Fine Day

Today was a good day. I woke up at around nine. Went down stairs saw a note saying my parents were at the mission office. So I went into the living room and watched TV. I did that for about 30 minutes then I ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. After this delicious breakfast I went swimming. I only stayed out there for about 20 minutes. I came back in got on facebook and chatted with some friends for a while. Hope it helped. After that I mainly just chilled for the rest of the day. Made myself spaggetti for lunch and pizza for dinner. And that is just another day for A Boy In The Mission Field.

More fun

The last two days have been fun. We met more missionaries yesterday and the day before that. On tuesday we were in a meeting were it was all elders. And they are great but the day after that we had two sisters and meetings with sisters are way better. It has been fun. I love our pools. There is two more days for A Boy In The Mission Field

Happy Fourth of July

Today was great. Mainly it was all about the pool. I woke up early to help set of flags and then build a flag pole. After that we had a ward breakfast and played softball, (it was really hot). After that we came home and our whole family went swimming. We were out there for probably an hour or two. Then we ate and did some other things but we just got back from a dinner where we went swimming it was really fun hanging out with some kids from my ward. I found out at J.J. Pierce I am one of about five LDS kids who go to the school. After that I took down flags and headed home. It was a great Independence Day. That is just another day in the life of A Boy In The Mission Field.

First Sunday

I did not blog yesterday because we just went shopping and swam at the pool. We also saw J.J. Pierce High School and it looks great. Today I went to church. The ward seems to be a good one. We got a new bishopric today, so that was fun to be there for their sustaining. I met some priests but a lot of them were out of town. So far it has been great and I am really enjoying it. Tomorrow we have a 4th of July party which sounds fun. So today was a good day for me. It was been another day for A Boy In The Mission Field.

Day Three

Today we met more missionaries. They were all so cool and sweet. We met the Spanish elders and sisters today. Some of the meeting we spoke in Spanish, some in English. So I understood the majority of the meeting. It was such a great spiritual experience because you could feel the love and spirit of each of those wonderful spirits. At the end of the meeting my dad opened up to take questions from them and they could also ask our family. One elder raised his hand and said. "What are the goals that you guys want to accomplish while you are in the mission." My dad and mom looked like they were thinking, so I said to them. "I just want to learn from you how to become a good missionary." I told them how I wanted to go on splits with them whenever I could. They were getting excited and talking about that when one elder said. "You have just filled up every night of the week." Everyone laughed. Being the funny guy that I am, I said, "Okay but I will schedule a date night." Everybody in the whole room laughed, it was really fun. I have made a couple jokes like that, and I think because the elders and sisters are just with their companion most of the time and being spiritual most of the time which is what they should be doing, I think they enjoy a little humor. I made friends with a lot of the elders and each one of them love me. Most all of them play basketball and I received multiple invitations to play basketball with them at their churches on their preparation day which is this Monday for all of them. That right now is what I am really looking forward to the most. I enjoy all the elders and sisters and I am looking forward to meeting the rest of them. I love it here in Texas. My pool, and house are great. I love this hot weather because we had a cold winter in Utah. That is another day in the life of A Boy In The Mission Field.

Day One and Two

DAY 1

We left the house early on June 29th for Dallas Texas. We found out we were going to this wonderful place on Oct. 20th 2010. When I found out my dad was going to be a mission president I was so excited. After we left we said some goodbyes to my sisters family and we said goodbyes. After this we jumped back in the car and got on the plane. After a two or three hour flight we arrived in Texas. I stepped out of the plane and was hit my the awesome Texas humidity. I love the hot weather here it is so great. (We will see how long it lasts). When we arrived we met with President Smith and Sister Smith about some of the things we need to know about our home and the mission office. We ate and met with them, it was a great time.When we got home we unpacked our clothes, went out for dinner, then came back and met the assistants. Their names are Elder Facer and Jensen and they are way cool. After that me and Deanna went swimming in our pool. After that we headed for bed. And that is a day in the life of a boy in the mission field.


DAY 2

Today was a busy day. We met with 42 elders and sisters. They introduced themselves to us and we introduced ourselves to them. I have a real true love for every Elder and Sister in this mission. Each of them has a hardworking sweet spirit and it truly is contagious. So far my favorites are Elder Durtschi and Pett. I made friends with both of them. The great thing is that am friends with all of them. And even after one day I feel a deep connection, I think it is because of their kindness and because they are so inviting. Each one of them took time to get to know me. I am really looking forward to hearing from the rest of the missionaries here in Texas and some in Oklahoma. I have learned a lot and look forward to learning more. I know the church is true and if you ever have any doubt come to one of these meetings, because if you do, all doubt will be washed away. These missionaries know what they are out here doing and I am thankful I can join them. And that is a day in the life of a boy in the mission field.