Jeremy

Hey everyone!

If there's something I'm noticing more and more on my mission is even though I am on a mission there are times of spiritual highs and times of spiritual lows. It's probably just part of life but I'm trying my best to keep it as high as I can. I'm not sure exactly what leads to the lows but I wanted to ask you all what helps you to stay in your spiritual highs?

This week, probably the greatest part is Jeremy. Jeremy is not a member but is the boyfriend of a returning member Luna. Jeremy is very quiet and it's hard to get his insights at times when we teach them especially because Luna is so vocal. But this week we decided to stop by when Luna wasn't there and oh my goodness what a difference! Jeremy was not only talking but sharing his personal thoughts, his testimony, reading scriptures! It was incredible. We were able to ask some deeper questions and gauge that this really was something he wanted to learn more about and give His life to. It was so incredible to see.

Serving as a missionary has taught me lately how important it is to minister to the one. For me in the past it's been easy to view our friends as a whole as a group of people that hopefully want to learn more! But each person is individual, profound, and special. Each is a unique child of God-- just as divine as any strong member of the Church. God is really teaching me right now.

Which reminds me! We had a broadcast from Kyle S. McKay the Church Historian to all the missionaries in the Pacific Northwest Area Friday morning! It was incredible!! He structured it very uniquely. He taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ using Joseph Smith's life which was very interesting. His focus was all about Joseph Smith. Prior to the meeting, we had been asked questions we had about church history or about Joseph Smith in particular. He grouped the questions and addressed them and it was very insightful! I love listening to those who have more gospel knowledge than me. I love it even more when I spiritually prepare. It was revelatory for sure. One of the highlights was his comment on how as missionaries as a whole sometimes we look beyond the mark (which is Jesus Christ) but more often we look shorter than the mark! We often testify that the Book of Mormon is true, but what does that mean? I know the Book of Mormon is true and because it's true I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and that he lived, died, rose, and will come again! This was super helpful for me, something I need to be better at.

Anyways that's pretty long! I love you all! If you have time to answer: What helps you stay in your spiritual highs?

- Elder Dahl

Thelma! WSU! Daniel!

So how's it going, everyone? This is pretty weird sending a voice message to everyone, but that's alright. I basically was gonna write an email, but I'm not very good at it. And, this is a lot faster, so, I thought I'd do this. 

But, big highlights for this week. Basically, I got a text message yesterday, that someone that I helped get baptized in my first area in Montana just spoke at stake conference with her now-active husband-- he was inactive before-- and apparently she said some really awesome things and is like totally becoming converted, which is super cool to hear as a missionary that someone that you worked with is really progressing. It was really cool. They've been the temple twice - going to do baptisms - and they're so excited to get sealed in the temple. I'm so excited to go be a part of that! They said I could come with them when they're going to do it in February, which would be really cool. They said that I have to go shooting with them after the mission, and that they'll let me stay there and they'll take me shooting. It'll be pretty fun. Thelma is a really good cook. She's from the Philippines, and she just is really good at cooking. I loved having lessons at her house because she always made really good food. So that's been pretty exciting. 

We also got to go to a Wazzu game, which is pretty nuts. It was pretty crazy. Apparently my companion knows the member who is one of the coaches on the team, and so they got us free tickets, and we asked our mission president, "Hey we've got tickets. Can we go to this game?"

And he's like, "Yeah you can do that. Just take it out of your preparation day." And that was crazy! Our other mission president would not let us do that at all. So we did it. We went to a college football game. That was pretty crazy. I've never been to one before, so it was pretty exciting. It was pretty funny as a missionary too. All the members are saying, "Hey, Elder, how you doing?" That was pretty cool. 

I'm in the office right now helping out with tech stuff and all the senior missionaries are in the office as well. Our vehicle coordinator was giving us some weird assignments. He's like, "The missionaries don't know how to report their expenses on their card very well. Can you go and make a funny video about how to do that?" And so we just get some weird requests sometimes. It keeps the office life interesting for sure. 

But on a spiritual note. We have a friend Daniel-- he is 17. He's preparing to be baptized. His parents won't let him get baptized until he turns 18, then they're okay with it. But he came to a baptism. He just came and sat and watched it like a week or two ago, and he was just getting really sad-- he was loving it. And so he texted his mom and said, "Hey can I get baptized before I turn 18?"

And she's just responded with, "No." And apparently, like later, he was like pretty. . . .

Sorry my other voice recording stopped. But I was talking about Daniel. He's helped me to reflect on conversion. What that means for me-- how I can be more converted and what that looks like. And, I was inspired by President Nelson's talk about how we need to make discipleship the most important focus of our lives. And that's been really cool to study and ponder about. 

It's so cool to think about how how I personally can make Jesus Christ the focus of of every thought and action as best I can. Obviously I'm not very perfect at it. But it's fun to try and to catch myself and to really focus on Him. You know, there are times missionaries where we get, or I at least, get flustered or annoyed-- whether it's a companion or whether it's a friend that we're teaching that's just not being logical or isn't wanting to progress. There's different reasons, but it's fun-- it's insightful-- I guess it's a better word-- to take a step back and think about how Jesus would react in those situations. And to think of him more often. It's been pretty awesome and I I can testify of the joy that comes when we do that-- when we do take that time to be still and think about Christ's example, and how it can apply to our situation. And I love it. I love my mission and I love Jesus Christ. And the influence he's had on me and those that I'm able to help teach. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on President Nelson's message or anything else you want to share with me. But I thought I'd try something new with the voice recording.

Voice Recording First Half

Voice Recording Second Half

Videos:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QuKccnK1Z8FC17M29

https://photos.app.goo.gl/J1mrTw7KFtzuFC4p8

https://photos.app.goo.gl/uA6YUkSv1ishAgct6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hu7GmnSuZsxrubkx7

General Conference, New Apartment, Truck Driver

Hey everyone! 

One of my favorite talks from General Conference was President Wilcox's talk. I love how he laid out so plainly that we do not need to be like the rest of the world. We're not meant to fit in at all! We're meant to be a light, to be an example of the believers. Sometimes on my mission I feel pretty different from my companions or the elders I live with and I find myself trying to be like them to fit in. And that's great I live with great people, but I've realized that I need to be confident in who I am and not mold to the people around me. Do not try to match those around you, try to match God!

Also pretty cool experience! It was pitch black and we were walking back to our car and there was this truck driver who was just waiting by his truck in the middle of nowhere. So we went and talked to him and he was really awesome and receptive! Everyone needs the gospel and you never know when people are ready. He lives in Kennewick Washington and we were able to refer him over there! God works in mysterious ways!

I love being a missionary and sharing truth with all those that will receive it. I appreciated all the birthday wishes and hope you all will be able to take your insights from conference to becoming more like our perfect example Jesus Christ! 

I love you all, I'd love to hear your insights from conference when you get a chance!

- Elder Dahl