Season 3 Episode 4: The One Where I Finally Get My New Phone

Hello all! This week was probably as productive as and eventful as last week, not gonna lie. But Christmas was this last week, and then new year's is tomorrow! 

But Christmas was way good. Its definitely way different and kinda sad, but I mean, you got to remember that my last Christmas was in the MTC so that and that I was training, all that we where advised was to not knock. So christmas day we opened presents, had brunch at the James's (who made an incredible breakfast) and hooked elder Rougeau and I up with a couple small nerf guns! We then did our studies and then spent the night at the fox's! And they are a wonderful family too! On christmas eve we swung by them because they had a goodie gift for us and then in our discussion, invited us for dinner (which also was incredible). 

The members here are all just so great. And there is a lot of work to be done. Plus, now that the holidays are just about over, things will get moving again haha. But then over the course of the next few days my phone was supposed to come on the next working day, which apparently isn't boxing day. Or the day after. And then of course there is no post on sundays. So I finally got my replacement yesterday. Yeet.  So things are back in working order! 

But also over the course of this last week we did quite a bit of service! And that's always so good especially because it's greatly appreciated at this time of year. It's always so sweet. 

We also had a handful of lessons with John and he's still doing well! 

Not a whole lot else. But lots of good food. Lots of good people. Lots of good experiences. 

Ps tried beats for the first time they are super good! They also turned my pee red and poop a questionable color. So that was neat.

Sorry to take away from the spirit a little there, but I love and miss all y'all. Thanks for all your christmas wishes and prayers! Also tried Baniya cotta it's a anchovie butter cabbage dip it's solid!

Also still no pictures, but I just took one! 

Merry christmas and happy new year! 

I guess as a reflection on this last year, ill share a few thoughts and events! But to start, I've learned so much! As well as accomplished so much. I've learned just how much the Book of Mormon can help someone, as well as how much satan's influence is in the world. There are also so many awesome people that live in this world and I'm so glad that I could meet the people I did at this time. I love the people that I have meet and can't wait to meet them again someday. I've learned that the Book of Mormon is undoubtedly true. There is no way that Joseph Smith could pull out the story and wisdom that is contained in that glorious book. And I am always astonished at the things I continue to learn from it and what others have learned. It's so cool. I know that because the Book of Mormon is true, that Jesus Christ did actually come and perform the Atonement so that I can live with my Heavenly Father and my family for ever. But this can only be done in one of His temples. This knowledge has power and peace. Its just so cool to not worried about what happens when someone dies. So much more than this but no time haha

Elder Dahl 2.0
Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia
Canada

Season 3 Episode 3: Merry Christmas!

This will be a little shorter because time is kinda running out over here haha.

but this last week we did a lot of service for Feed Nova Scotia. so we sorted onions, squash, moved boxes, bagged potatoes, a lot of stuff and got to know a couple more members while doing that! 

we also had a handful of member visits and got to know a few more, but that did stop us from asking a handful of people at the Sunday service, who wasn't a member haha. which turns out were quite a few! The people we did talk to said they enjoyed it so hopefully we'll see them again haha

but Merry Christmas eve and Merry Christmas! there are some awesome members feeding us and having us over for these holidays, so no need to worry then! all is well so far in Sackville! Training is fun and has its challenges, but missionary work is great so it doesn't even matter! 

Thank you all for your wonderful support, love and prayers. be sure to be saying your prayers, as well as reading your scriptures! there's no better time than during this season!

Love you all!

Season 3 Episode 2: The Storm is Almost Over

The waves are a little less scary now! we have gotten a handle on the S.S. lower Sackville. and we are holding her steady!

This week has been a bunch of member visits, tedious things, and a couple teaching appointments!  and the highlights are that with John, we started to clear concerns! the way that we are teaching him is giving him homework (a lists of questions that can be answered by finding verses during reading) and we had him read lehi's dream, and from this lesson, he started bringing up concerns that he had about life, and a few other things and its been awesome clearing them up.

also in the way of teaching, we finally met Shannon! she is a sweet lady! she broke her leg and so we help her by walking her dog, and eventually when she's all settled, she wants to learn more!

then in way of events, we have done quite a bit of service! we sorted onions, carted food boxes to people, set up food boxes, etc. and its way fun! we will also (whenever it decides to snow (yeah like its been heck'n nice this last week, windy, but nice)) shovel walks for a couple ladies in the ward and whoever else needs it.

we also had Zone Conference and now this was a joyous meeting. 

Now the joy of Elder Dahl was so great even that he was full; yea, he was swallowed up in the joy of his God, even to the exhausting of his strength; and he fell again to the earth. (not really but close) Now was not this exceeding joy? Behold, this is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness. Now the joy of Elder Dahl in meeting his brethren was truly great, and also the joy of Elder Scott, of Elder Gronneman, and others; but behold their joy was not that to exceed their strength.

I think that sums up zone conference. It was awesome. especially to see and talk with Elder Scott again. and when we met with his zone (Newfoundland) many of the missionaries where like "oh! this is Elder Dahl you were elder Scotts companion in presque isle!" so it seems that the Fame of Maine has reached Newfoundland haha. but yeah! zone conference was awesome. there was a gift exchange, and i'll just say i got the short end haha i got some candy a few stickers and a spiderman figurine in a stocking, and i ended up with a thrift store coat liner. but thats the way it goes sometimes haha. there were some crazy gifts. one of which was a twirking santa robot and that was legit. (a senoir couple ended up with it haha)

the last highlight of the week was that Elder Ruegeau and i will being teaching english connect! and that's going to be lit!

still don't have my phone yet, so no pictures :(

but I love you all and hope this letter find you well!

remember to read and pray!

Elder Dahl

Lower Sackville Nova Scotia,

Canada

Season 3 Episode 1: Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire

Oh boy. Aside from the baptisms I was able to participate in, this week was probably the most stressful and spooky.

so ill get that out of the way before i go into the cool things that happened!

so we had to ask for our transfer plans, the aps thought it would be cool to put all the plans on a google spreadsheet (which no one could find for a couple hours) where we learned that we had to be at Moncton at 9 (its a 4 hour drive, plus canadian time is an hour ahead) so in short, we were very late. then backing up a bit, i forgot to mention last week that i broke my phone and ordered a new one and the expected delivery changed from the 6th to the 5th (the day of transfers) to the 4th, then a snow storm hit so it was moved back to the 5th, and then after many prayers asking for a miracle that my new phone would be here was fulfilled! it arrived on the 4th. But i wasn't there to receive it and they didn't leave it on the door. (spiritual message: miracles happen, but sometimes you're not there to see them.) so driving down to moncton (fortunately i was able to pack all my stuff after getting another suitcase (20$) from Mardens (thank you Mardens)) was good! 

we made it just before 10:30 to learn that 2 other elders would be joining and they were also running late. so while we waited for them. we took a look at the aps travel plans and found that a lot of them wouldn't work. so we spent the next few hours making our own. We ended up going to bed around 12:30. And there was a handful of Elders that left around 3 or 4 in the morning so that was fun-ish. then came the stress inducing bus ride of 5 hours flying solo. so that was a trip. then after waiting for a few minutes some of the Dartmouth elders picked me up and I got to meet my greenie Elder Rougeau! a nice guy from the outskirts of Alberta! so we got dropped off at our apartment. and mine eyes have never beheld an apartment more beautiful than that apartment . The mission calls it the mission penthouse. And I'll leave it at that. ill send pictures as soon as I get my phone haha. 

so after settling for a little bit we were lucky enough to have a dinner appointment with a wonder family named the Mclennons (maybe butchered the spelling) and one of their sons Looks and acts exactly like my younger brother Jack. he's like the canadain equivalent. It's spooky. so that was Thursday. the Friday we had some service at a food pantry that the sisters volunteered at so we did that in the morning. then we did our studies (which is fun because Elder Rougeau is just wanting to go out and do missionary work (kinda like me when I was being trained which is super great) and so after having another dinner appointment with the Galley family, we went out and knocked on some doors! and I was surprised! I didn't think I get to meet another crazy roman catholic.  he had the exact same approach as the other lady from Truro. I was catching some heavy deja vu. the phrase he repeated was "are you serious" and for a second I thought he wasn't serious then he said, "so you're going to preach to me about Jesus" then he called out Elder Rougeau. so id say thats a good intro to missionary work haha.

Saturday was sweet! we had a lesson with one of the sisters people they were teaching named John and he is super cool! the odd thing is that he's been taught by sisters for a year and a half, and he had been to church every week (i think) and so the sisters told us of a method that helps him learn so we used that same method for a lesson yesterday. there is also a steller lady named shannon that we have yet to meet, but on the phone she sounds like the sweetest lady. like if there was a southern black lady that is white in canada, that would be her. We have yet to meet her but im super excited to!

one last cool miracle! on Sunday we were able to speak in church because one of the original speakers couldn't make it, so we had a great time there, we also had dinner with another amazing family named the Johnsons and had a great time with them, but here is where the miracle is; we wanted to visit a few other member families out there and for whatever reason, we kept missing the turn (we are both kinda dyslexic) and so after missing it for the 3rd time we just turned into a random neighborhood and started knocking and ran into an amazing couple. (granted we had a few interesting encounters too) and we started talking with the wife first about the time of year and Jesus Christ. and told her about the Book of Mormon. we asked her about it and she had no idea, so I started using the illustrations, and at that point, the husband came to the door and asked if we wanted to come inside, and we said yes so we ended us teaching the restoration. they thought it was a cool story and accepted a Book of Mormon, and as we got to know them before, they dont drink a lot and dont seem to smoke either. #drymember. they told us to come back after the holidays! and what is especially cool about them is that they told us that if they weren't going to see family on christmas that we would be free to come to their home!  #drymember 

Anyways, no pictures this week, when I have my phone there will be some! Love you all and hope that your week will be less stressful that this last week! remember to read and pray! this is your kickstart to the newest season, The Thrill of Sackville!

Season 2 Episode 36: The End of an Era

Its official folks. The Fame of Maine has reached its end, and many new adventures await in Sackville Nova Scotia! in the which, a brand new character enters the scene. Elder Rougeal (i think that's how it is written it sounds like rue-go) and he entered the field yesterday night! so your host, Elder Dahl, is training! we are not yet serving together, but we'll meet probably on Thursday. so yes a whitewash it's going to be lit.

That's pretty much the highlight and the reason for a little bit of sadness. I really don't want to leave, but I know that ill love others where i'm going just as much as I love the people here...maybe...haha. im happy for the change, and sad to leave good friends, pretty much family, and start a new! 

But this last week we had thanksgiving and we went to the himes! we had a fun time and they had a smaller foosball table, but that didn't stop me from winning haha. still undefeated *dabs. but the morning of thanksgiving we got with alex, Bro white, kohlbacher, and a few others 2 of which weren't members and had a 5 v 5 tag football game in 6 inches of snow. we ended up beating them 6-5 and this was the first time in 5 years, that the adults have lost. so yeet. 

Sunday was kinda sad. I gave a testimony and thanks for all the awesome people in this ward and only cried a little. then over the course of the next few days we visited with madison alex, brother alloise, and the whites. they gave me another awesome tie and they signed it. I love them so much they are just so awesome. im going to miss them, the markers, the Bothas, pretty much everyone so much.

Yesterday we had some trainer/leadership zoom meetings with president and sister low + aps and we got taught how to train in the best ways and got some solid tips and advice. so that made me way excited. kinda spooked to whitewash, but once the first week passes it will be a breeze.

Thank you all for tuning into this wonderful spirit filled season of The Fame of Maine. so many amazing experiences and even more wonderful people ive met and loved. I hope that by reading these your spirits are lifted because mine certainly are. im excited to see what trials and tests come from training in a new area with a new missionary. 

Love you all! remember to read and pray! and I'll see you all in Season 3!

Elder Dahl

Presque Isle Maine, 

United States of America