Season 2 Episode 31: The Skit

This week seemed slow, but looking back it really wasn't.  We have done a few different methods of finding that include the members! We have been going to the youths soccer games! 

Now dont worry it's not apostate and here's why: 

Here we are white shirt and tie and a coat or 2 and people are looking at us and so are the soccer players and suddenly one of the players asks one of the young women, hey who are they? And they can then respond, oh they are the missionaries they do some cool stuff! 

And thus member missionary work takes a step forward! 

So along with going to a few of those, the other highlight of the week was the chili cook off! We volunteered to do a skit (it was also a talent show kinda thing) and we thought more people would show their talents, but there was a piano player and I think that's it haha. Nonetheless, we blew it out of the water! It was about 15 minutes long and the youth were rolling on the ground. So ask my mom about it haha. (Mom here. Here is the video: https://youtu.be/Wa9e7ALfnME )

Since it was transfer week we didnt end up having a district council, and our district is the same other then we are getting a new sister in edmundston! 

And as luck would have it, Madison and cole had last minute activities that prevented a lesson with them, but we are hoping and planning to teach them today and tomorrow so we'll make sure things keep rolling! 

We've also stopped in on Brandon and Joshua and Amanda they're all doing well and Brandon started up a new job! Alex is super busy with practice and games and we are hoping that is slows a bit so that we can meet with him more but we'll see! 

A more brief week for a shorter week! 

Love you all and hope you will have an awesome Halloween! Eat some candy for me and also be sure to treat your soul with some prayer and scripture study! 

Until next time!

Elder Dahl
Presque Isle, Maine
United States of America 

First snow!!

Season 2 Episode 30: Work to be done

So, the studio is running low on funds, everybody is loving the fame of Maine, so why not just cut some expenses and keep our favorite elder, out there a little longer??

That's right bb, You're boy gets another 6 episodes in the Fame of Maine

that being said heres the scoop, with the merge we typically find out transfers on sunday afternoon instead of tuesdays. this being said, I went to bed hoping i would leave, but if i did i was ok with it. so when sunday morning came around (our zone calls all the missionaries to have a zone wide prayer) and our district leader calls us and says "yoooo Elder dahl how do you feel???" and im just like wut? and we found out that the transfer table got released at 100 pm Saturday! so Elder Atkins and I were like wait don't tell us! and i looked and Elder atkins and I are staying!! so that was a relief. (tbh i was praying like every night telling heavenly father that i'd like to stay, but if he needs me elsewhere id be ok with it and here I am) 

so that was very exciting! one thing that was a little bit of a bummer, is that dale went to go see his family and i guess something went down and he had an anxiety attack, and that just put him back to his smoking habit. and he told us that to much change was happening in his life and he needs to take it easy for a little. so were letting him take a break and we'll see him in a month or so.

on the flip side, Madison is doing very well, and we had our first lesson with Cole! he is so elect. we started the lesson with how he feels about the church, the book of mormon and his background, and we learned that he never really went to church until now and he loves it! he told us that the ward and the church help him forget about the world and his problems and we told him that that was the spirit! he also accepted the invitation to be baptised (but we haven't got a date yet)  

we also wanted to stop teaching dan, but when we visited him, he told us that he's been reading the talks from general conference that i've been sending him so we'll work with him a little more and see what we can do!

we also picked up a new person! so on exchanges, elder atkins and johnson found a guy and gave him a book of mormon and he said he read it, so yesterday we swung by to see if he did. the name that he gave elder atkins and johnson was "Holy Smoke" and when we contacted him yesterday he said tom. he's an older guy and he's legit haha.

when Sunday came around, cole and madison made it, and we tried to keep transfers a secret and so we only told 2 families. so we'll see how fast word travels haha.

a few thoughts came to mind with transfers to

1) we are doing great so there's no need to move anyone

2) ive been here for a while, what am i missing or what else do I need to do?

3) heck yeah i'm still in America

so yes im so glad i get to stay a little longer!

Thank you for all your prayers and support! keep reading your scriptures and praying! and keep going to church!

Love you ALL!

video: "Our rooms legit" https://youtu.be/Y7bYkjfeZIw

A couple more pics from last week:

Season 2 Episode 29: The Field is White

What a week.  I have learned a lot about the work.  And looking at my time here I've done a lot. The feeling is kinda settling that I'm leaving the Fame of Maine, but at the same time I feel I could stay, I've just been here for a long time so I really dont know.  We find out Sunday so yeet am i right.

Over this week for comp study we read the Ricciardi letter (for me it was the first time) and my comp and i had the same thoughts towards many of the people we are teaching. But in short, the letter says that the field is white not green. There are people ready to harvest and bring into the fold, that being said  some of the people we are teaching are green. So as of now, we are teaching dale and doug. All the people we were teaching loved having us over and talking about the gospel and loving what we taught, but they never changed I have no doubt that they will join eventually, but not with us as the teachers. The trickyness of it all is how much driving we do to make to all the appointments we have. Legit we have no time to find. So after reading the letter, we realized that that many of the people are eternigating (eternal investigator) so our teaching pool may be small, but its bigger then it was when I first got to Maine. 

And from this we did get blessings! To start, a young women named Madison randomly came to mutual with her less active father and asked the bishop how she could get baptized. (Rewind a bit, we were on exchanges and planned to digital find towards the end of the night so myself and elder Gutierrez went to a bible study, and elder atkins and Johnson went to teach and find a little. So as we arrived to the church, bishop was talking to the two and we introduced ourselves and the bishop told us that if she wanted to get baptized these where the people to talk to (us 4 elders haha) so we ended up teaching her yesterday and put her on date! Then the other miracle was cole. He is a legend. So our first lesson was actually on Sunday because he worked harvest and finished yesterday.  But the lesson we had was super great and hes got real intent. The member present is a younger guy poking jokes but he didnt get distracted and he kept talking with us! We're excited to keep working with him! And these miracles are the definition of the field is white. 

And its not that the time we spent with the others was a waste of time because it was a great use of time! But sometimes the people we are teaching need a break and choose for themselves if they want what we have. And there are people everyday that need to hear the gospel, and when we are to busy teaching to find, we are missing out on helping them in the most important way! 

Anyways, the rest of the week was super fun! Exchanges is always fun especially when your the one that plans them! And  elder atkins and Gutierrez had a crazy time! They witnessed a car crash with a semi so that was spooky to hear about. But elder Gutierrez and I when we where together did go to the bible study but we also taught Gordon (for the last time haha) hes a great guy, but, like described above, not green. Then the next day when elder Johnson and I where together, we taught dan, pretty much for the last time to. Dan frustrates me haha. He says it's true, God told him it is (he prayed about it) but he never did anything about it. He says he wants to make it out to church and stop smoking and drinking coffee, but alas, nay. 

So lots of sifting this week and we are getting blessed for it. Missionaries in the future I'm sure will run into them and maybe they will be ready then. 

But yeah! The work continues as we find those looking! And it's so fun I'm glad that I'm knocking more often. I got comfortable teaching and now talking with people of the doorstep is odd again haha. But I'll fix that haha. 

So yeah that was this week in a snipit lots of fun discussions as always. If you havent read the Ricciardi letter read it! If you haven't email me and I can get it to you. Also if yall have things you'd like me to read, let me know! I'm always up for learning more and finding ways to do better!

Love you all! Thanks you for all your support!! Keep up your scripture reading and conference reading. Because the word of God fills the soul and gets you the spirit!

Elder Dahl 2.0
Presque Isle, Maine
United States of America 

Season 2 Episode 28: a heckn good time

What a spirit and miracle filled week full of good times! So here we go!

We met with dale and brother alliose to talk to them about general conference on Wednesday and Friday brother alloise was hyped and unfortunately dale was out of town so we ended up watching the Saturday session with brother alliose which was a ball hes so funny. And my favorite talks where the first 4. So so good. Then the next day we were invited to watch the Sunday sessions with the Himes! A super great family and it was a ball! They do conference like the way my family does it with bingo! I didnt get a board I took notes (and I forgot my own boards haha) but it was equally as good. Elder Bednar and uchtdorfs where some of the ones I remember being super good! Then since the last session ended at 6 over here we had dinner and then we played a game that had mouthguard things and you had to read a sentence and that was super fun! With the left over time we planned exchanges!! And that will be this week!

 Additionally, we had a social media miracle! a guy named Joshua (different then Joshua and Amanda) voted on one of my polls through Facebook and I asked him about his response, chatted a little and then I transitioned to what he thinks of the world and God. he answered that hes loosing his faith and he doesn't want to, and I told him about the Book of Mormon and he asked for one! he also told us that hes way busy working construction and has little free time until the project is done, but he told us that he'd be at a gas station in Presque isle at 12:30. we where at the church in Caribou messaging and digital finding at the time (being 12:15 or so) so I was like shoot lets get going! so we hopped in the truck and drove as quick as we could and gave him one! a little later in the day I asked what he thought, and he said confusing, and I explained a little more about the Book of Mormon, and told him it would be easier in person. so now we await his project to be done! And missionaries dont have to be the only ones doing it! Legit out up your own poll, message a person who voted on it chat for a bit and then transition to the gospel and Book of Mormon! The missionaries in any area would love to deliver it for you! 

But yeah! Dale is doing great hes gone a week without smoking so far I believe so hes got one more week to go and then his whole life! No contact from Brandon unfortunately things keep falling through, Gordon is doing good, as well as Nestor even though it's been a bit haha. Dan is tricky. Well see about him next time. 

Also remember the Bothas? We meet with them again! They are a super family and want to get back into church, but since they have been out of the loop,  were helping them back in the loop! So we had dinner at thier place Friday, and I took down one of the biggest steaks (and best) I've had so far it was incredible. And we are seeing them again this Friday! 

Love you all!! Keep up your Book of Mormon reading it's the best thing ever, plus you make better choices every day if you read it every day and that includes tests just so you know. 

Keep praying too that's another bonus.

Elder Dahl 2.0
Presque Isle, Maine
United States of America

Joys of backing up: https://youtu.be/PehD-T9hSXg

Season 2 Episode 27: ok then.

This week was solid. Also episode 27, that's 27 weeks here that's bonkers. 

This week had many ups and a few downs. So I'll get the downs in first so that when your done reading its happy!

So yeah, the first bummer is that Dan really isnt making any progress. Hes told us may times that he knows Joseph Smith is a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is like a missing part of the Bible. But hes not acting on it. So depending on our next lesson, it may be the last one. Hes a great guy and I love him and his whole family and all his friends, but he may not be quite ready. 

Next bummer is that we havent taught Brandon this week. Hes been out of town or one in his household was sick so that's a wee bit frustrating. 

And then the last bummer! Lisa, the lady we impressed with service in the rain, hates me :). So when we first met she confused myself and elder hatch's name (so in her mind I was elder hatch) and wanted to correct her the next time we met, elder hatch thought it was fun, but you'll see. It was our bad and so here's the scoop! So we met Sunday to talk about church and how she was doing and she had a falling out with her son that day (for what ever reason we show up when she needs us most it's kinda weird ;)) and so we asked if we could talk with her son Jake and she said sure, so we started chatting while he was playing fortnite  and he and elder Atkins got pretty tight (hes a sporty guy around the age of 12 so they talked about their favorite football and basketball players and teams etc.) And we asked if we could play some basketball with him and did and had a good time and told him that we try to swing by again Tuesday evening again and we told lisa the same. So then Tuesday came (this being last week pday) and we finally got some contact with Robert and stopped by him and others in fort Fairfield. We told lisa that we wouldn't be able to make it and she wasn't having it. So we stopped by a few days later on Thursday and in short, I deceived her because she thought I was elder hatch and not elder Dahl and that we broke her sons heart. Lots more she told us with some pretty fowl language all of which wasn't true and just disappointed me. Lisa has changed a lot since I first met her, but this was unexpected. I'm sure she will come around, but until then, I probably wont see her the rest of my time here. So yeah big bummer, but that's agency for you!

But on to the great things that are going on here! 

Dale has only had 1 cigarette in the past 3 days and loves the Book of Mormon and the videos along with it! So he is on his way on to the golden path I'm so pumped for him! His friend just needs to stop giving him cigarettes. Then brother Alliose (the guy we are reactivating) is doing equally as good and is super excited about general conference so we are going to hook it up in his home so he can watch it! And we have been reading the Book of Mormon and watching the videos with him too! Also in caribou we repicked up doug! And had 2 solid meets! The first we read the intro to the Book of Mormon and that went super well and he got pretty excited about it and so we asked him to read a few versus in 3 nephi 11 and in our second visit we found that he did! He got confused with some of the names but he liked what he read so we taught the restoration and this was probably the greatest restoration discussion I've had in a very long time. And when we got to Jesus Christs ministry we talked about the gospel of Jesus Christ and talked about baptism for a few minutes and moved on and by the end hes like, "so where do you want me to read next?" So we have him Mosiah 26 I think... (baptisms in the waters of Mormon) and well talk about baptism again and see if baptism is something that he would like! 

Then the bible study with Ryan was pretty apostate but we stayed quiet for the most part. For a group that had a lot of denominations (I think) the have some odd theories and ideas of what various scriptures mean and they are pretty far from what Jesus taught and that's all I'm saying haha. 

Then Sunday came around, the day before we met with dale again and he told us he would like to come to church but just doesn't know if he can, and so he didn't he was sick. But Cole (dating a member) came for like the 5th time in a row  and the weeks before he darted out of there before we could talk with him, but this time we talked with him and asked what hes up to, what he does fridays (we have a game night) and if he would be interested in learning more about the church and hes like yeah sure why not? -- fast forward Monday--  we were talking with brother white and it turns out that cole has a Book of Mormon, has been reading, prayed about it and knows its true! But here's the cool thing, is that they broke up and he has still been coming out!! So he'll probably get baptized in like 2 weeks. Hes a homie. He is a college student and hes a baller. Hes legit. Like as legit as Dale.  But we'll see we are hoping to have a lesson with him Wednesday! 

A lot is going on and it is awesome! Miracles ever day colors changing and getting colder, but its just all so good! 

But one thing that elder atkins and I had a comp study on was what if the Book of Mormon didnt exist. Where would I be? 

And thinking about it, no Book of Mormon, no church,  and so I obviously wouldn't be on a mission, I imagine my family would be torn,  i would probably have all sorts of poor habits or addictions and wouldn't have a purpose or direction. I just imagine that I would be a sinful guy. So I am way grateful for the Book of Mormon it's a life changing book. 

Love you all. Read the Book of Mormon and then watch the vids there legit. After that, pray about it and get yourself a witness from God that it is true. And then repent. Repenting is the way to live the happiest life you can. 

Elder Dahl
Presque Isle, Maine
United States of America