Season 2 Episode 5: Elder Dahl vs The Temptation

You know this "vs." thing is kinda cool ;) 

Man what a stressful week!

To start it off, Dallas got his Baptismal interview done and we are still working out the details with Alex's. And man planning these baptisms are stressful! Especially sense its the first ones both Elder Scott and I have done. But we had quite a bit of help from Elder Pierson and Kennedy especially with Dallas's haha.  But it's all working out so far! The dates have changed for Alex's a few times, but Dallas is still good to go on the 4th! And Alex on the 5th! 

But starting off at the beginning of the week, we decided to make cookies at te whites for the LA people so we might lighten the mood towards us missionaries for a hope of being able to swing by and teach them a sweet lesson. But man was I sorely tempted. I heard smash bros in the other room. And the whites all have kids from like 1-16. AMD so I got talking to them about smash bros and I told them that I was pretty much a competitive pro. And they were like: oh yeah? To which I responded: yeah I could wipe the floor with you. But as missionaries we aren't allowed. So maybe by the time I get back they might be able to stand up against me ;). 

We delivered the cookies the next day, which would be Wednesday and it as good so far until this tool of a boyfriend rejected my cookies. It was for a sister in the ward, and hes like, you enjoy them and we were like we made them for you guys to enjoy, and then he was like you enjoy them and closed the door.  Way to make me feel guy. First time my cookies were ever rejected. Not cool. 

But we were blessed the following day tremendously. 

So there has been a push to not knock and to "creative find" but we hadn't planned anything for the morning. So we were like eh what the heck well knock.  So we walked in the room and looked at washburn. Then pointed at a street that was knocked by sisters (a long time ago) and were like let's go here. So we did. The first 6-7 doors no answer, 8th and 9th handed out cards 10th an old lady that just waved her hand and said I'm not Interested to which I tried to respond, we are teaching people about family history! But no use. Then there was an apartment complex and Elder Scott is not a fan of them. But we went in. Same kinda deal as before no answers and not to interested (kinda the trend for morning knocking) but then we found Karen. She was outside smoking a cigarette and after learning she was not ok and learned that her son committed suicide and she was contemplating it. We talked with her about the Book of Mormon and the happiness that comes from it but also the answers to any question can be found in it. We left her with a copy (I literally always have to carry one around just in case ththiththis happens) and set a return appointment for the next day same time and said that we would be back. We came back and read Alma 40 and the spirit was so powerful there. I'll let you guys read it instead of me summarizing. It's crazy how much the gospel means to someone who has never heard of it or doesn't have a full idea of what it actually is. She is doing better and wanted to stop by the next day same time which we did, but she didnt answer darn. We left a card saying we'd be back Thursday (because we are so slammed this week) the rest of that day was super good we had some awesome bbq with some sweet members taught Dallas again and learned that he passed the Baptismal interview! 

Then we were a little late to a referral named Bruce and I don't really know how to describe him. His a little mental, blind in one eye and is going to school to learn how to read. Hes got some incredible commitment. And we traded him a large print Book of Mormon for the 3 regular copies he had. So we will see what happens. Then taught Alex the last few things and committed! Hes such a great kid! 

Then lastly, Brandon, a younger man in the late 20s who has been progressing so well and wants to quit smoking! Additionally hes getting married within this next month. And he said that after that happens he would like to get baptized too! It's so crazy!! We introduced him to the stop smoking program and learned that we teach it. Oops. But hes so chill and we've developed quite the relationship! Especially with elder Scott's large storage of nacho libre quotes. Plus his bday was the day we taught him last and hooked him up with some mountain dews so were pretty tight.

Man what a week right? Thanks for all your prayers and support! Wish us luck with these baptisms! to put more pressure, the bishop got released on Sunday and now we have a new one that's busy a lot but a super guy. Eeeeeeeeeeeeesh 

Love you all! So very much!!!!

Also I got a Polaroid! But I learned I cant use it (film not being made no more but hey if you know a guy...)

Elder Dahl 2.0
Presque Isle, Maine
United States of America

Season 2 Episode 4 : 3/4 Miracles and I Learned it This Time

This week was so crazy good! Especially when we had exchanges!

How about we start with that then! So we started with a district council which is always super good because its literally just elder scott, Pierson, Kennedy and myself so we can share our thoughts super freely and get all we want said, said. Then we had a mini comp study and from that point we split. Elder Pierson and I I think got the better end. We met with a potential named Paul. 

Actually before continuing, president low wanted us to do exchanges in Caribou (our area) so we had to set up pretty much everything haha.

So on Saturday and Sunday we set some stuff up with the members and then just called random previous potential people and they all agreed to meet! So that was a miracle! But then as exchanges came around, one of the people we thought was super open texted us and told us she did not want to meet and was no longer interested. Huh. 

But back to paul! He works at a custom wreath and trinket shop on the way to the church and as we were talking with him, the previous mission President, president Pratt met him on like 3 different occasions! And left him with a card to get a free bible! But when the missionaries stopped in, they just gave him the bible, he said thank you, and that was it. He also had both numbers for the sister missionaries and the elders (there use to be like 3 companionships here) but none did to much with him, because he never had heard of the Book of Mormon! And he had some awesome questions! Like why there are so many bibles and churches and why bad things happen etc. And man I'm so glad that elder Pierson was with me because I learned something! You have to go slow! Every time Paul asked a question, I thought I could just answer it right away and continue with the next one.  But elder Pierson took it slow and answered his questions in a single manner. Especially when it came to the "why so many churches?" And he related Paul to Joseph Smith by saying "there was a young boy who had the same questions you had... first vision.... and man was the spirit testifying! We then segwayed into the Book of Mormon and answered his question on why bad things happen  by sharing a scripture in 2nd Nephi (I think,  its about how men are free to make there own choices to serve what ever master they wish but there are eternal consequences). And how we can't control what people choose to do, and we live in a fallen world where natural things happen. But (here's another miracle) I remembered reading Elder Harris's email and he answered it something like this: bad things happen to give opportunities to others to help and provide service.  He seemed pretty ok with that answer! So shout out to Elder Harris! Then as we talk to him about the Book of Mormon he told us that he was truly interested in reading it! we told him he could have it for free and he enjoyed that! Unfortunately, because hes in the wreath business, his work keeps him pretty busy, and honestly it's another miracle that he wasn't to busy (one person came in). And especially with memorial day, and getting wreaths for the tombstones he asked us to call him in a month or so. So it was like, dang. But it will give him plenty of time to read it!

Then after that, we went to the caribou library to find some local events we could go to and we found quite a few. Then as we were leaving, we saw 2 punk looking kids (sideways hats pants a little low, bling etc. Were walking by and we (elder Pierson and I) were like hey what's up? And got talking, gave them a Book of Mormon card and asked if they new anyone who needed a little help. And he was like "yeah my grandpap had a shoulder surgery and he needs another one on his other shoulder so maybe you could help him" and we were like ok where is he at? And what's his name? And he said his address, and his name was minard Dickerson. And we were like hmm that sounds a little fake, but we were like, let's follow up right now, so we drove over (like 5 minutes away) found him smoking a cigarette and had a solid talk with him, and he was minard, and he was going to have another surgery. Then his wife came out and we got talking with her, and learned that the missionaries use to teach them and that she and all her kids except her son, got baptized! And she is a less active of 10+ years! They are living with one of there kids until they get there house build (there previous one flooded or something) and we told them to give us a call and we can help out! So that was way neat! Then we saw the kids on the way back and told them that there grandparents were super cool! 

Then another youth wants to get baptized and his mom is less active and says that it's his decision. So we are going to teach these people! 

Then on Friday, we were going to visit members recorded on area book to see if they still live there, moved, or died. Which is often the later 2 and we got stuck again sorry. 

Then Friday we tried to find more members and did and didn't and went on this army base turned housing which had the crazy stranger things vibe and a building that looked like the starwars building on the ewok planet and learned some mind blowing things that maybe shouldn't be shared but if you want to know shoot me an email.

Then Easter! So awesome. We had a beautiful musical number by Bro Marker (piano) and one of the Mautz kids playing the violin and man the spirit was so amazing in that sacrament meeting. Then we talked to our families which was super awesome and then had dinner at the mautz and they are so great they gave us some Easter baskets with some awesome goodies. They are so awesome. 

In other news, elder Scott is a yellow driver (which just means we got a lot of aggressive driving alerts which just means we hit potholes hes an ok driver) (just kidding I say that because we drive a truck and you get the point ;))

Then I got a 150 model Polaroid camera at a thrift shop! So help me figure out how to use it haha

Things are poppin here and its all going up.  Thanks so much for your prayers, support, and love! 

I love you all so much!

Elder Dahl 2.0
Presque Isle, Maine
United States of America

https://youtu.be/X8efk7uKhLU (truck getting towed in)

Season 2 Episode 3: Things are getting pretty crazy

Yeah ^ 

Let it suffice that I have now met 2 really drunk ladies haha 

But we have had some awesome miracles! 

Previously elder Scott and Fife visited a Indian/first nation reserve and found a few people that were interested, but we managed to set and teach the restoration with a family that has just one little kiddo. And they were way open to it as well as the husband! (Originally we had just met the wife) and both accepted a return appointment, but their schedule is a little off and on, so calling them that day to see if they would like a lesson was the best way to set one up haha. 

Then we've met quite a few people who accepted Book of Mormon cards, but we also knocked into a lady who thought that what we are going around teaching was right up her alley! So that was way good! We found her in this huge, like massive series of apartment complexes like there where more then 30 complexes (each with only 4 rooms) and we weren't even close to finishing it up, but we found her as we were rapping up for the night. 

Then this week will be super good because we got put in charge of exchanges! 

(So typically the district leader puts it together, but president Low wants them to be done in caribou (our area) and not Edmonson (the DL area))

So we were like hmm who should we visit? and we set up a few appointments with a few potentials we found last week, and then just scrolled through the potential list in our area book and those that we phone numbers for we called and set quite a few of those! But we'll see what those turn into haha.

Then we also taught Alex and Dallas! We taught Alex a few times just because hes been more open, and Dallas is kinda far away, but Alex is doing so well! And he understands everything we teach him plus he connects with Elder Scott so well (they are both way into sports). Then Alex wanted to join elder Scott and I knocking while we waited to have some dessert at the whites, and he asked to join us today, but we may not knock today, because we've got quite a few lessons haha. But that's so great! We should just melt some snow and baptize him right now haha.

Then Dallas is doing super well to and is retaining a lot of what we have taught him! He recently got his wisdom teeth pulled so we weren't sure if he would get anything to him, but we taught him about prophets, and he remembered Joseph Smith and got a new understanding about what prophets do! 

And I'll add my testimony of prophets since I'm on the topic, and I know that they are called of God and they can teach you on a level that is personally connected to you. And because of that, the Holy Ghost can testify of its truthfulness, because that's all that prophets do. Help people and grow them closer to Christ. They only do good things. Gods church is perfect, but it is run by imperfect people nonetheless"By their works ye shall know them" that's in the scriptures somewhere promise ;) and if they are good, they are of God.

This last week was amazing and its only going to get better. Your prayers are answered ever day, and I am so grateful for the ones that include missionaries like me. 

Love you all! And here are some pictures!

1 the snow is slowly melting haha

2 the sky looks like the ocean!

3 pretty!

4 almost my name haha

5 we found a cool forest!

Elder Dahl 2.0
Presque Isle, Maine
United States of America

https://youtu.be/CCwXlB9w5eg (Not us...)