Hello Mom,
Nice to hear Ohio is getting some intense rain as well, because it looks like we traded, this week we actually stayed remarkably dry, where all the rain and such was while we were sleeping, or in meetings haha. Although, I forgot to add a little detail from last week. IT HAILED here in Mangaldan!!!! Like, we are talking marble to as bid as quarter size hail. And a Tornado almost completely obliterated the house of one of our investigators. And they met together as a family in the middle of their home and prayed (which we had just taught them how to do the night before) that they would be safe from harm and danger, and they even prayed that we would be safe too. And the Tornado or ipon-ipon in Tagalog, just missed their house by 100 feet or so, only causing minor damage to their roof. This family now is on date for baptism on July 25th and came to church last sunday!
Speaking of which! We had 8 investigators come to church! And now all of them are on date! The work in our area is soooo great right now and we are making so much progress with some investigators that we have been teaching since I arrived in this area! It is amazing to see the journey they have taken from the first lesson till now. Some of them rejected us on sight, then had the slightest change of heart to listen and now are excited and preparing for baptism and membership in Jesus Christ's Church restored to the earth again.
In other news... I am in the same zone as Elder Tanner again!! He is doing so good and working so hard! I was especially impressed with his Tagalog and it was so cool to hold a conversation in the language we struggled with just 7 months before. And NO the transfer has not happened yet, but he was emergency transferred here just last week and is now in the other companionship in our branch!
Anyway, I love you all so very much and hope you are doing well. Please feel free to email me personally and tell me how your lives are going. I am really getting better at this whole email thing so I am sure that I will be able to respond to you every other week, if not every week. Please stay strong and faithful in all things that your Heavenly Father decides to send your way. Never forget that he loves you and wishes the best for you will never give you something you cant handle!
Elder Dahle
Dearest Family,
Well I will start this off by telling you I ate water buffalo tongue. Ha. It was honestly WAAYYY GOOD. This week was challenging and a lot of things did not really work out as we had hoped, worked, and prayed for. I will be honest and say that is seems as if the adversary is working as hard in this area as we are. Investigators are going through an extra onslaught of persecution, we as missionaries are feeling the discouragement and inadequacies of our own efforts. But we know "the Lord qualifies whom he calls" so we have held on to that extra tight the past few days. But no matter what we know we really can do it because of the wonderful insight Nephi gives us in 3:7, that "The Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men save it be he shall prepare a way".
I hope that all of you are happy, and healthy and not eating water buffalo tongue haha. I am doing great, and we are about half way through my last transfer training Elder Baldove, so about 3 and a half weeks left to go. I feel like I am going to transfer after that, which is sad because I LOVE it here in Mangaldan 2A, anmd I love the members here. But sadly that is much more likely to give E. Baldove a chance to lead the area. I am working hard, we are having a blast and changing this area everyday. I love you all so much and I hope you are working hard to come closer to your savior. He loves you. He knows you. He is proud of you. Have a great week this week and pray always that ye may come of conqueror.
Elder Dahle
Dear Family & Friends!
Wow I am so sorry I have not updated you all in so long. I am still here in Mangaldan training my first "mission kid" Elder Baldove. He and I have a great companionship. We basically walk around and tell each other corny jokes. I help him with English, he helps me with Tagalog (and sometimes Hiligaynon, his native tongue). He and I are doing the best we can here and have seen this area grow tremendously since we got here. The "open area feeling" has far worn off by now and we feel very close with members and especially our branch mission leader Bro. Randy.
My testimony has grown so much. I feel so much closer to my Heavenly Father and I just love walking around and telling people about it. My Tagalog is improving, I still get a little stressed when I talk sometimes but over all I can carry a conversation intelligently and understand about 99% of what I hear. I love you all so much and I wish I could spend hours telling you about the unending supply of spiritual experiences. It seems as though I never have a normal day, my heavenly father just wont let that happen, because that would be too easy haha. We have had 2 baptisms this month and returned 3 less active members. 2 of which had been inactive for 10 YEARS! and because they came back we were able to help there daughter enter the waters of baptism and make an eternal promise with her heavenly father. Hopefully sending pictures soon but I have to buy a new card reader because mine got absolutely soaked in the storm. Overall I just want you all to know that I love my mission. I have experienced the max level of stress on my body, mind, and spirit but it has stretched me and helped me to grow. Never forget that that is the purpose of trials. I LOVE the Philippines and the people here, I know I will miss it here and there will be tears shed when it is time to leave. This truly is "The Pearl of the Orient" and a really beautiful country. I love you all, I bear my testimony to you that I know this is the work of God. I know that a living prophet called me to this place and I know that We have a Heavenly Father who love us. He hears us ask for strength. Show him you havent wasted it. I bear you my witness that Christ lives and loves us and he died and rose again so we could do the same. Have a good week!
Elder Dahle
