Season 2 Episode 35: Broken key, broken heater, more snow, and Madison's Baptism!

Another crazy fun sequence of things not working out, but working out! also interviews for us are tomorrow, so p-Day is today for us!

So to start it off, on wednesday we had exchanges with Elder Johnson and Gutierrez, they were able to travel here safely despite the storm that came in tuesday haha. they did end up pulling in late afternoon, so elder Gutierrez and I delivered some family history and then went to the bible study we went to last time and had a pretty good discussion on "treasure" and it was a great discussion. everyone in this bible group is so elect, they don't really go to another church because they are trying to start one. their beliefs are so close to ours and it would take a whole lot to get them thinking about coming out to the True one haha. what I enjoyed about the study, was that really hit home with treasure in heaven and the parable of the pearl of great price and the treasure in the field. they played a video about how we really have to abandon pretty much everything to have the gift of living with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. the video uses kinda apostate examples, but the idea behind it was super good haha. after that, Elder Gutierrez and I visited Brother Alliose, and headed home! while we were doing that, Elder Johnson and Atkins went to mutual and elder Johnson interviewed madison and she passed!

the next day Elder Johnson and I did service at the Food Pantry which is always fun and then our studies and by then it was time for district council! the zone leaders joined us in the promised land and gave a training on beginning with the end in mind, and it's a solid topic to even talk on! many times missionaries (myself included) teach the people that we are teaching that baptism is the Goal (and convey that its the only goal) when in reality, baptism is only the start! and the temple, and living the gospel is the final goal. the sister training leaders also added that if we love and are enthusiastic about the gospel and show that we really love it (they had Elder gutierrez describe his favourite food, and as a mexican, he took his time describing how good tacos are) and connected that to how we need to tell others about the gospel in that way and especially about the temple! so that was GR8.

Friday was a crazy day. the baptism was in the afternoon at 7, so what we did was we got to the church a little earlier to make sure that the font would run warm water, and to our great astonishment, the water heater had not been repaired... so that was another cold baptism i think the temperature ended up being like 50 degrees (f) so yeah. but backing up a little, the church key also broke so we had to go get another one from a member that lives in washburn and then on the way took a wrong turn, and at this point, I was getting a little frustrated haha but then, it all worked out, because that's how the gospel works, the baptismal service was amazing, frustrations pretty much gone. before the service started brother johnson (performed the baptism) told madison that the water was going to be like a cold pool, and then when madison started walking in, she said "this is colder than a cold pool!" and that was pretty funny not gonna lie. but hey, she'll remember!

Saturday was good! we visited with madison about how she was feeling and about what would go on on Sunday and she was excited! what made it better, is that her dad was able to make it! (he has tried to get Sundays off but was unable to so he requested some vacation hours to  make it) Brother Gerhauser gave the blessing and confirmed her and it's so special to be a part of this wonderful restored ordinance. its super awesome. Comfort peace and joy.

Also during district council, I got convinced im leaving. The sister training leaders, and the zone leaders sent word to the mission president so the Fame of Maine will have only one episode left. 36 episodes is not bad haha.

Also, just last night, we got 6 more inches of snow ;)

Tune in next time for the Grand Finale of The Fame Of Maine. this is your Host, Elder Dahl saying love you lots, remember to read and pray, and have a great day!

Elder Dahl 

Presque Isle, Maine 

United States of America 

Season 2 Episode 34: Zone Conference with a side of freezing rain

What a week this was, eventful and not eventful at the same time.

but to start off, the lesson we had with Cole and Andrew was great and the 3rd guy is named Chase! so that lesson was amazing. we taught the restoration and invited all of them to read and pray about the Book of Mormon! they all accepted and now they all have a copy of the Book of Mormon as well! it's so great because here are 3 guys all looking for something and where invited by a friend to learn about it. this is exactly what member work does and it's so easy! just invite! and if they say no that doesn't mean to stop trying. (I guess in our case we didn't even ask cole to invite people, but he knows people who can benefit from it so it's pretty much the same thing haha) plus it makes it that much more fun when we are all the same age-ish and we know what they need and what can help them! it just makes me so happy because we all need it and the fact that they dont know and we do, its just a goofy feeling its like:  *fluctuates voice "I know you want to know what I know, but you have to wait because if we tell you now, it will go over your head"

then wednesday came around and the more part of the day was driving down to moncton. we visited with Brother aloise and contacted a few people and then went on our way! during our time at the moncton inn (the moncton elders apt.) we were joined by ramushki, holton, moncton and us and it was a pretty solid party. in which afterwards, elder atkins was talking with Elder Tait and they talked about me (becuase im the talk of the century, but also to see if I was going to stay another transfer in the Fame of Maine) and in the discussion the zone leaders brought me up to president low and in essence, sounds like im out of here at the end of the transfer haha but hey, it's been a good run and will keep being a good run until I leave, then this place will probably fall apart... na, just kidding, this place will always run.

Thursday we had our zone conference and it was super great. Elder Bassett of the 70 came and talked a lot about factors of mission life such as sacrifice, our calling as missionaries and the power we truly have it was amazing. then after we drove the 4 hours back and arrived just in time to eat a little something and then headed to basketball where we were joined by cole and brother himes, I played 2 games and won one of them (yeet)

Fridays highlight was the Bothas, they are a super family and want to get back into the church so our meeting was just us listening to the crazy things that happened to them, and then yesterday (monday)  we caught them all up on the changes in the church. he also showed us his crazy train system and man cave. its legit (see pics) also on monday we went to see the sharps they are doing great the rest of her family could be doing better, but there all ok. snow can be slippery sometimes. 

Saturday we were able to help out with vanders baptism! (one of the white's kiddos) brother white asked us to fill the font for them and me being a seasoned veteran at filling fonts accepted so we got there at 9 or so and the baptism was at noon and I did everything I needed to make sure the font was warm, and then after about 45 minutes, found that the water heater was broken. yeet.

so that was memorable for brother white and vander. 

Sunday was great! Madison and cole came again and loved it we had dinner at the himes and watched the face 2 face with them. and man i wish i was a youth. hook me up with one of those rings wouldja? 

but that was some of this week! hope you've enjoyed! love you all lots! remember to read and pray. Stay warm! This morning our car was coated in a layer of ice so yeet x2 

https://youtu.be/sjFVLAFo0ow Trains

https://youtu.be/vW5wiIZXpcM Eating a KitKat

Season 2 Episode 33: Elder Dahl vs the first and second snow

Not to one up or anything...

This week was absolutely fantastic. Cole is literally the best. But before I go there, I'll back up a little to the start of this week! 

Almost everyday we have taught Madison so that she can be ready for her baptism, but unfortunately we fell short and it will be moved to the 22nd. She is doing nothing wrong, she just needs to be taught the rest, plus it works out on our end because we will have exchanges next week here in presque isle, and our district leader will come down and do her interview then! 

We also have been visiting with our homie brother alliose and ended up helping make a beef stew for dinner on Saturday! 

Wednesday we had our district council and on the way back elder atkins was craving some cheetos (which he usually doesnt) and we ended up talking to a guy named Matthew and is open to meet with us! 

Fast forward to Thursday where we had a sweet lesson with cole! And as we were walking in his door we met andrew one of his buddies who he's been talking to about the church and us and he invited him to our lessons/discussions! So we taught them both the gospel of Jesus Christ and asked cole about baptism and hes for it but not quite haha. So after that lesson we were pretty shook that he brought a friend and we where having the time of our life talking about the lesson on the drive back!

Then Friday was pretty sweet to! We visited with brother stiggle and invited him out to the primary program on Sunday (he didnt make it :() and then helped sort fish at the micmac farm! So we where scooping huge fish left and right and catching smaller ones and sorting them! It was a solid time haha. Then after we had to run to the church to message a few people and towards the end we where running out of time and rushed out of the church so quick, that elder atkins left the keys in the church...again... so we called a few people and eventually got back in to get them. So we went to the bothas smelling a bit like fish, but fortunately we had fish and chips! (Probably the beat fish and chips I've ever had) 

Saturday we got into some good contact with kameron and invited him to church and he came! (Hes a young guy who hangs with the bishops family and his mom is less active) 

Sunday came around and Madison and kameron came, cole was sick so that meant andrew wouldn't be there. But it was great nonetheless because the primary program was legendary. I love all those kiddos there so funny. After church we visited dan again and it turns out he was in the hospital the day before so that was spooky. Hes doing ok! Seemed out of it, but hes ok. Then we helped out with a bishops fireside which was so fun! The kiddos had to close their eyes and follow a rope around a simple obstacle course and we helped them out by telling them what's going on and how to do it, it was compared to life and how education will get you further in life. It was solid.

Then monday came around and we planned a lot more for the light the world and taught Madison again! 

Also we had another lesson with cole and andrew today (p-day sort of disobedient, but we pretty much got everything done) and he invited another friend! His name is chase and hes a cool guy! So in the lesson we had an hour ago, we taught 3 YSA guys (plus Coles mom was around the corner on her phone but put it down a few times as we were teaching!!) it was so so good we taught the restoration and it was so good. So fun just a bunch of 18 year olds being taught by 2 19 year olds so great. 

Anyways love you all and please don't forget to read your scriptures and pray!  And it did snow 2 times once on Wednesday, but melted by Friday, then we got 10 inches today! 

Elder Dahl
Presque Isle, Maine
United States of America 

video: https://youtu.be/TwCYlDgv-BM (Elder Atkins sore calves)

video: https://youtu.be/wuxsRnQQHtk (Snow!!) 

Season 2 Episode 32: Pumpkin for dinner

this week flew by so quick. but here are a few of the highlights!

Wednesday we had another great district council in edmunston and i was able to give a training on asking questions and this is the question that i started with to being the training and that is "what is your favorite question Jesus asked?" so ill extend that to y'all! we then had to book it down back to mapleton so that we could make it to the second lesson we had with Cole! we taught the restoration and told him where the book of Mormon came from and he was down for all of it and has made it out to church every week! he is doing so solid. we asked him when he thinks he'd be ready for baptism and he said that he'd have to ask his parents... so that kinda puts into how old he is! he looks a lot older (and in that sense reminds me of my younger brother haha). we also went to another soccer game and the coach that elder atkins plays on thursdays was there anc came to shake are hands and he's a super cool guy!  presque isle won that game 1-0 if i remember right (heck yeah) we also swung in on Gordon and he hasn't really changed so we'll give him a month or 2 for the spirit to work on him haha. 

then over the course of the next few days we started to plan a light the world float (which I may not even be here for but hey) and while we were looking up ideas, the power went out. in short a super big wind storm came through and some trees hit some power lines so that put a damper on the plans to make plans. but it was shortly after that we got a call from elder Scott and Nally they requested that a disk (that contained a MRI) that was given to the sisters in edmundston be given to us to give to a member asap. so that was what we did Saturday, as well as go to the last PI soccer game where again the coach came up to us. he talked about having elder Atkins help coach basketball since its that season now. so that would be pretty cool! we also drove down to the bothas because they haven't been responding to messages... and it turns out that they just got a new phone and we are meeting them friday haha.

Sunday came around and Maidson and Cole came and we had an ok fast and testimony meeting. lots of stories... testimony meetings should be full of many people giving what they know to be true. not travelogs or some cool think or miracle that happened in the month, if you want to do that, ask the bishop or one of his councilors to give you a talk in church. not hating on what God has given his children, just that's not what fast and testimony meeting is for. 

we also finally got to meet with cheryl! she was a self referral that had a few things come up, and we gave her the book of mormon and a passage to read before next Sunday! we also met with Holy smoke aka Tom, and talked with him about the Book of Mormon, and we think he's all set with this religion, but he kept the Book of Mormon!

Then for dinner, the himes had us over and sister himes made a hamburger rice thing and cooked it in a pumpkin! it was super good to! I have never eaten pumpkin (aside from muffins or spiced things) before and it was not bad! the himes are a super family.

then yesterday, we did a lot of writing. That is, our number on the back of light the world cards. we also visited with Brother Aloise (we've meet with him just about every other day watching conference or the Book of Mormon videos and hes the best he's so funny.) we also turned in our registration for a float in the PI light parade and taught madison! 

Madison is quite a character. we've had few lessons with her and she seems to remember parts of them but she really wants to be baptised on the 15th (she told her friends about it) but she needs to be taught a few more things before she can, so we told her that she had to be taught everything before, and she told us, then meet with me more! im open mondays tuesdays fridays and you can teach me before young women and even after church! and were where like alrighty then! so we kept it and are teaching her wednesday and probably friday and the next available days. so she is doing great!

love you all and i'm glad that you enjoyed the skit! keep up your scripture reading and prayer they are 2 of the most important things to do every day! until next week!

The Wind!! https://youtu.be/J6ylraUcSQA