This week I had exchanges with Elder Downey and Elder Rupert. Grateful for both of them-- they both have such good desires, which is literally all that matters out here. If your desires are pure, then you are willing to improve always and your actions will naturally fall into place. This week is the last one before transfers, so that's always exciting.I think I'll probably stay for another with elder Fifita but who knows.
We invited our friend Jacob to prepare for baptism, and then he dropped off the map. Then we went to Culver's where he works and found out he is moving his schedule around so he can come to church! The first one he'll be able to attend is stake conference, so hopefully that's good. He's been going to institute with his girlfriend a few times, so I'm excited for him. It's weird to see people actually progress. Finishing the discussions gives me a lot of leeway and a lot of chances to seek personal revelation. One of the coolest experiences about being a missionary is in Doctrine and Covenants 100:
Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men; For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say.
I've experienced this. Probably because I go into too many lessons not quite as prepared as I should haha. But sometimes my mental plan is not what I'm supposed to teach. I have tangible thoughts that I should teach something else, and then I try and rationalize them away. Then eventually I'll say, "alright fine," and my best teaching occurs. Not because it's more coherent or logical, but because I've connected our friend to the master teacher Jesus Christ. It's a pretty humbling experience. I love this quote from CS Lewis:
There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done.' All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. To those who knock it is opened.
I'm learning line upon line how to let my will be swallowed up in His. It's a sometimes painful process. It's always a faith promoting one. Choose the right because it is right even when it is hard. if you don't, you never open yourself to the opportunity to experience God. I'm so grateful for the clarity my mission has brought me. I really feel like I can do anything. I have access to incredible supernatural strength all the time. Lately, I've been getting memory flashes from my life-- I feel like I've already lived forever yet I have so much more to go. I think about you guys all the time-- I hope you're doing well and making sure you're becoming who you want to become. Pray for charity-- the world needs it.
Also, we had testimony meeting this week and my ward seems to have a lot of people who have some sort of deep connection to Ukraine? It was very odd. Maybe they served their missions there or something. Love you guys!
-Elder Dahl
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