Season 2 Episode 9: ok Exchanges and Some Awesome Moments

This week was full of some crazy miracles so here we go!

So Wednesday was exchanges that elder Scott and I planned and this one was not as good as the last one, but that didnt stop some cool things from happening! Elder Smith and I went first and our first teach event sort of fell through. We were going to teach Alex's parents, but they ended up going to Alex's baseball game, so we were like,what the heck, so we went to. We got to know them a little more, and he told us that he can trace his lineage back to the tribe of Levi! So that was really cool to learn! We are meeting with them this Friday and am excited to move forward with them. Its awesome. Then we swapped out and I went with elder Pierson to have dinner with the whites and he got to meet Grant, an awesome member who is moving up to Elder Piersons area! So that was super neat that he was there! Then we had to leave a little earlier to we could make it to a potential guy that we called and said he was open to have us, and we didnt have his address (elder scott had the area phone at the time) so we called the other elders like 30 times, until we thought, hey lets go see what Brandon is up to. So we got to teach him about prayer and encourage him to pray and that went super well! Then we headed to mutual to see if any nonmembers came (which there are always a few and even some drive all the way down from elder Piersons area so yeet) we then got a referral from some sister missionaries in Kentucky! and then that concluded the exchange! 

We visited the referral the next morning and her name is Susan Phillips! Her boyfriend let us in and we talked to him a little and hes a gamer and what to be developer and was catholic, until the environment became unfriendly then he became Muslim. Hmm. But we first meet with her to give her a "Mormon Bible" and we briefly discussed what it was and read a few scriptures with her and when we did that, the boyfriend just got up and left. We then left shortly after and invited her to read 3 nephi 11. We also set a return date for Saturday! We then went to Perth to try to visit some part member families and potentials, butthatdidnt work to well, nonetheless we got a few return appointments for next week! And we stumbled upon an abandoned fish hatchery! And that was so sweet!

I'll skip ahead a little for time sake so I'll tell y'all about Susan and Henry. So Henry Elliot has been waiting to go on his mission for quite a while and he finally got a call from the stake president that he leaves on Tuesday, today! He has joined us on quite a few lessons and hes a stud love that man. And I can't remember were hes going haha.  But what's cool about that is that he was going to join us to a lesson that fell through, so we visited the Dean's, and the spirit impressed brother dean that Henry had to give him a blessing. And that wouldn't have happened if that lesson didnt fall through so that was neat!

Then Susan's lesson went so well! We were lucky to have brother landeen join us (and hes a talker and always happy). But that worked so well and here's why. So we started teaching Susan, and the boyfriend started listening in and including his thoughts which were not to bad and totally inline with what we were discussing sothat got him to be more open with us, and share a story with us that he hasn't to anyone else about a car crash that he was in so that was super neat. Then he and brother landeen started talking with one another, and we were able to finish teaching Susan and answer some of her questions as well! It all worked out!

Love you all and appreciate your prayers they are answered all the time! Until next week! 

Elder Dahl
Presque Isle, Maine
United States of America

Season 2 Episode 8: Drama and a Lot of Food

This week was super cool and we had some awesome lessons!

The first lesson was with the a family named the bowens! They are a part member family and I think their kids are all children of record. But something happens and we are trying to start teaching the wife! And the lesson we shared was like a spirit bomb! All the kids liked it and they were like please come back! So that is such a blessing. The only tricky part is the husband is a firefighter and his schedual is a little tricky but we've got a solid friendship with the kids (one of them is a total nerd like me FINALY everyone I've meet are all sport minded people so it's nice that I could talk nerd for a few minutes haha) and that was the end of pday!

The next day Alex had a little high school drama that we helped him with and it was kinda cute haha. But he texted us like I don't want to live anymore and we were like what?! What could have happened?! In short there was a lady friend involved. It's awesome that we've developed the friendship with him enough that he would come to us! Plus it worked out with elder scott with a certain lady and my 2 week long Facebook official relationship so that got him laughing . But it's all good and hes good now haha.

Then the next day was my bro birthday and celebrated by finally meeting with a potential that elder Scott and Kennedy found a while ago. Her name is Jenna and she didnt even know what missionaries are! So that was a eye opener. She has had quite a few miracles in her life and was wanting to know why they happened and had some totally awesome questions. One in particular I thought I had a solid answer to, but theres another part that is tricky. The question is why does bad things happen (to good people, children, in general) and I first talked about 2 nephi 2 with peoples agency and they can choose to do good things or evil things, but also we live in a fallen world were natural disasters and sickness happen. But then she was like, why do children get cancer? And you know that's a tough one. I first said that it brings people together, but then she said that it could do the opposite too. But when you have the eternal mindset that members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints have, it's all part of God plan and you'll see those past on again in a perfect state. We didn't have time to get to that, but I'm sure she'll like that answer.

 But if any of you gave other things to add let me know!

But also that day, I ate the most food I've ever eaten. We met with brother stiggle just before Jenna were we had some awesome honey mustard pork chops and Brussel sprouts then for dinner we went with a older and shorter sister in the ward to a restaurant equivalent of golden corral, but you order food, and the salad bar is the golden corral part. It's called bonanza so yeah! Then after than had crepes at the whites. I think I weighed 150. (I'm normally 140) . 

Then the next day we went to a high quality restaurant with Aaron Johnson, because he leaves and enters the MTC here today or tomorrow! But we had a good time telling him about what to expect.

Then the next day some JWs knocked on our door! We talked for a little and we hoped we could get a new world translation from them, but nothing really happened haha. Then we helped out sister Bowen move her furniture, and she may need to get a sharpie for her fridge .  Then we finished up writing our talks or the next day!

Sunday was pretty darn good. And I wrote probably my 2nd best talk. Then knocked a little, had dinner at the himes white are an awesome family and very active in the school community. Then on Monday we visited Dallas and set up some goals with him that we can help him work towards! 

Awesome week, kinda slow, but great nonetheless. I love you all and am grateful for so many things! Until next time!

Elder Dahl 2.0
Presque Isle, Maine
United States of America

Videos of the DDay Bombers in Presque Isle, Maine

https://youtu.be/wx8e495w1mg

https://youtu.be/a_LpLXMZt2A

https://youtu.be/Jmzn730cbwI

https://youtu.be/o13WSadmqYk

https://youtu.be/TvMDCDW6O0s

Season 2 Episode 7: Mother's Day, transfers, and some cool people

Happy mothers day to all mothers reading this!!!

This last week was pretty sweet and a little spooky. Also did somethings that I wouldn't recommend doing especially in a mission vehicle. But I'll get to that haha...

Mothers day was super sweet! There is a young man named Asron Johnson in the ward who is going on his mission so Salem Oregon and he gave his farewell on mothers day. Hes a funny guy and a mission would do good for him haha. Oregon will be blessed by his efforts! We also got to call our families on Sunday and I got to see Oliver's handsome face! And maybe again today ;). Man i miss that guy and it's cool that he comes home here in a few weeks that's crazy. Another memorial point that happened on mothers day was that I hit my 6 month mark. On mothers day 6 months ago I went into the MTC. Man that doesn't seem real. 

But onto I think the coolest thing that happened this week. We were cleaning up area book (visiting members that we don't know or haven't seen and seeing if they live at the address and checking phone #) and there is this family called the Botha's and they live out a ways from any town. And they are the coolest and most unique family I have meet. They raise lambs! So as we are walking up there long drive way we see them manning a tractor and delivering grass so we pass by their house and a kid opens a window and says, "hey are you FBI?" (Yes finally here is Elder Dahl 1.0 getting mistaken as cops frequently and now I finally got one! Hahahehe) we didnt quite say who we were yet but we asked if his parents were the ones out there. He said yup and we continued walking and then another kid came up cruising on an ATV and didnt say anything. We said hi and asked him if they were his parents,  he said yeah and then offered giving us a ride on the ATV over there. We declined and finally got there. We got talking a little then on the way back, I told the mom to tell their kids we were FBI just to play with them. And man that was fun haha. Their house is like all wood to a nice polished log and furnace house it's legit. But we got talking some more and they are less active of like 4 years. They have been left out of the loop for a really long time. But its understandable because certain family had passed and they took up the mantle of the farm. But they didnt know that president Monson had passed and from then to now. So we told them the latest updates and about the come follow me program and they wanted to check it out! So we are swinging by again and maybe teaching them a thing or two about the gospel. But they are an awesome family! Both the mother and father were military and they have a few kids 2 dogs and a baby lamb they keep in there house with a diaper on. That's a first. Also the road leading up to there house is a logging road so the tiwi (the device that tracks speed and aggressive driving) didnt register a speed limit so i being silly and kinda dumb started going like 75 mph it was nice. 

Then we helped out brother white set up an American Ninja warrior course and that was pretty cool. And I did like 15 pull ups. 

Then unfortunately and it's kinda our bad too, was that Brandon went to portland during his stop smoking week so we couldnt meet with him at all and he lasted 4 days! We talked with him yesterday about starting it again and he was game, but he wants a little break from all the cinnamon mouthwash dang. But he is driven he just got little distracted. Plus we will be able to help him out a little more as well. Hes a super cool and funny dude and does want to stop and eventually join the church. 

We also gave Karen a call and had an awesome conversation with her and are meeting her Wednesday! Yay! I like her shes fun and would benefit from the gospel.

There were a few more things, but time is of the essence! love you all tell your mothers you love them. If you have already, tell them again. ;)

Elder Dahl 2.0
Presque Isle, Maine
United States of America

We also found a pretty sweet logging road and took some dank pics. So follow me on Instagram or facebook to see more of them!