December 14th, 2015
Hello,
He has used those whom I love to answer my
prayer… that I have been longing for… for a while now.
I am literally just sitting here in amazed. I am listening to Aynsley's homecoming talk
and looking at Sadee’s picture of her missionary homecoming.
Today, let me just say thankkkkkkkkkkkkk
youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu for helping me recommit myself. You make me realize how important this work
is. I am overwhelmed and my heart is full of joy and peace. I have felt the
spirit very strongly as I sit at this computer in Fenton, Missouri, in this
little library. I am truly amazed how the
lord can teach us and what I have learned today. Let me say, I have learned so much and my
heart is full, truly full. The spirit
has touched my soul very deeply.
I sit here with a loss for words. I don't know
what to say. I love the lord. I love my family and I love my friends. We are all working in this together. I think
a lot of times I lose sight of the real purpose of things. I love heavenly
father’s tender mercies and today, this Monday, was a tender mercy. This work is the most important work of
all. I am working with HIM, who is the
prince of peace, who is truly my best friend.
Let me just say thank you again.
I love you all and cannot wait to talk to you
soon, 11 days!
MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS.
December
21st, 2015
FAMILY,
Oh my goodness, I get to
see your faces here in just a couple days over Skype. I am giddy about that, I am not really sure
about the details. We will be calling in
the afternoon from the Andersons. I will
give them your information and have them call you in the next couple days to
set things up. Does that sound all right?
MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS. How is it already almost Christmas? There is NO snow here.
NONE.
ZIP.
This is not normal
for Midwest weather. Last year at this
time, it was freezing. It is crazzzzzzyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.
A little info about our
week here in Fenton.
Monday night, we went to
learn how to do family history with a new ward missionary. It will help us better use family history as
a tool for finding opportunities. It was
interesting. GRANDPA’S NAME REALLY IS NOT JERRY????
I went on an exchange with
the Crystal City sisters. I went to
their area and I served with a sweet, sweet sister, Sister Peel. She was homesick and was struggling. This is her first Christmas away from home. I
really love her. We were able to see
some LA's and PM's and share, “A Savior Is Born’ cards. We found some really awesome potentials for
their area. I survived my first
exchange. One down, many more to go.
There is this really
awesome girl here... HALEY who got baptized before I got here. She had us over and told us that SHE IS GOING
ON A MISSION. It was really cool. One
week before her news, we had a lesson with her.
We shared our mission stories explaining why we are here now and how
heavenly father answered our prayers. We
were not planning on sharing that for our lesson. But it is amazing how used we
get to following the spirit that sometimes we do not even realize it. She told us when we shared our stories; she
KNEW it was the answer she has been looking for. AND SHE TALKED TO HER BISHOP
AND WILL START HER PAPERS IN THE SUMMER.
Converts are seriously the coolest.
Sister Rapp, my comp has
been sooooooo sick. We could not go to
church yesterday. She has had to come in and rest quite a bit. She has a nasty cold/flu ish thing that is
going around. This morning she woke up
with PINK EYE. Poor girl. She called
president Morgan and we talked with president and sister Morgan. I joked with president about how I was trying
to make sister Rapp breakfast this morning.
But it tasted like cardboard. President Morgan asked what I tried to
make and I said I couldn't tell them. He
asked again and I told him pancakes. He about
DIED laughing. "HOW DO YOU MESS UP PANCAKES?" I
said.......................president (laughing)..................that is why I
did not want to tell you. I asked him if
there was anything I could do for them?
His response, “ Get your companion better.” I told him that I was not meant to go into
the medical field..................but I would do my best. He replied, “Sounds like you should not go in
the food industry either." I start laughing, “I AM HOPELESS.” We had a good laugh and it was good for all
of us. I love president and sister Morgan.
We will be going and
spending time with members on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. We are going to the mission home for a minute
on Christmas Eve. YAY!
Merry Christmas from St. Louis.
REMIND ME TO TELL YOU ON
CHRISTMAS ABOUT JADA. Do not
let me forget. The story will be so much
better in person. SHE IS A MIRACLE.
We are working with a returning
member and her name is Cinnamon and she is nothing but amazing.
The work seems to be moving
slowly, but I know that the lord is teaching me to be more patient,
especially with a sick comp. We are
reading the book of Mormon again as a mission and I am focusing on inquiring of
the lord and not murmuring. So this
really has been a good test for me.
I love my savior. As we
have spent some time in the apartment, I really have been reflecting on my
mission and what it truly means to me. I
have gone through my journal, looking at old entries and pictures and I cannot
find words to explain my mission experience thus far. This is by far the
hardest thing I have ever done, but I would not change the experiences for
anything in the world. My experience is
not longer a sacrifice, in fact it never was a sacrifice, it will always be
something very sacred to me.
A SAVIOR IS BORN.
REJOICE
REJOICE
REJOICE
GREATLY.
I love him. He is my
forever pal.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO
ALL.
XO
Sister Dahlberg
December 28th, 2015
Hello family and friends,
Family... just a few days
ago we talked to each other. What a happy day. It was really good seeing you
all. Side note. (I secretly love that you said I now have somewhat of a "black girl" voice)
Dreams come true.
jk,
lol
2015 is just about
over. Are we ready for 2016?
Funny story- our car broke
down last night and members are taking us around today. Truly, if it is not one thing it is
another......we had to drive home with the windows down last night so we could
see out the windows. It was hilarious. But hey, I do NOT have pink eye…
so that is a bonus.
Something that I have
learned,
My mission has taught me to
be a
PROBLEM SOLVER.
Oh hey.
We started teaching 2 new
investigators last night!! Eric and Brandon. They are roommates. We brought along a young member who had a lot
of great things to say.
It is really interesting to
be able to teach people who have such different beliefs. Hearing what they have to say and to try your
hardest to teach and testify of the things you KNOW are true, teaching from the
bottom of your heart, even if they may disagree. My mission has also taught me that the
spirit, with the love of god, will soften hearts always, no matter what. It was really interesting, when we finished
the lesson, I just realized that lesson similar to that just increase, build,
mature, and nurture my personal testimony.
I am reminded constantly that this church is true, Jesus Christ is at
the head of it, leading and guiding us, and very simply- I am doing what is
right.
When we taught Mary, an
investigator, who I met for the first time yesterday, I realized that it had
been a while since we have been able to actually teach the full message of the
restoration. I realized just how much I
missed it and the spirit as we taught and testified warmed my heart.
This area is reallllly
slow, but do not worry, I have not lost hope.
President Morgan told me to
keep the fire burning and that is exactly what I will do.
The members here treat us
so well. I am so grateful that I was
able spend Christmas here in Fenton, Missouri with the McDermott family, Anderson
family, and Larsen family. This is my
second Christmas being a missionary. Oh
how grateful I am for our father who sent his perfect son for us, for me and
for you.
We are going on exchanges
with the Webster Groves sisters and guess whom I will see tonight? LULU. I
am so happy about that!! After our phone
call Saturday night, I cannot wait to give her the biggest hug. I love her more
than words could ever express. I have
not seen her in over 7 months and she truly has become one of my very best
friends. The fact that I will be able to
see her tonight really brings me so much joy that is much needed.
Reflecting on my mission
and all that I have learned, all that I will continue to learn, and the person
I have become as I have come to know him and his gospel more fully, on a deeper
level. I think back to the people I have
met, the moments when I realized exactly why I was called here to the St. Louis,
Missouri mission and truly that is what keeps me going each and every day.
I am reading the book of Mormon. Our mission together is reading it before
conference. I am going through and marking
the missionary/the person I want to become. Boy, oh boy is heavenly father
teaching me lots.
I really have realized
lately.
God loves me just as he
loves you. He loves member of this church and non-members, he really does love
us all the same.
Hard times help us become
better......but ONLY IF WE LET THEM.
Being tired is part of our
mortal beings.
Murmuring does no good. (That
is something I am still learning)
I am far from perfect, but
I am trying.
And the list could go on
and on.
I am grateful for this time
that I can grow and learn, to represent my savior.
Happy
2016 to the people I love.
pics
Sister Petrie............MTC
COMP. Obsessed with her. Christmas eve night at the mission home.
Sister Rapp calling her
family to set up Skype. Document moment.
January 4th, 2016
Hello,
I have zero time. We had a sister’s p day at the mission home
earlier today. I gave president Morgan a
good tease as always, his birthday is on Friday and he told me not to tell anyone.
hahahaha I love that man. He is the best mission president in the world.
I let him watch the video of Lulu's reaction to me after we haven’t seen
each other for 7 months. The video
captures the reunion as we screamed and hugged each other. I love her. I got to
see Lulu this week when I went on exchanges with the Webster Groves sisters and
it was so happy. I wish I had time to
tell you all about, but it really was so good seeing her. I know one of the
many reasons why god sent me here was for Lulu.
The floods.................. we are safe and
sound. Please pray for the people here, some have lost so much. We did service on Friday lifting 50-70 pound
sandbags and taking people flood clean up kits from the church. It broke our hearts to see what the
floodwaters have done. The church is
working to provide service in the community.
Everyone was worried that I was going to hurt myself carrying the bags,
and they wanted me to stop. (They said it was a man's job................) but
I just kept going. I wore boots and a
bright yellow vest, because sewer water and floodwater dripped all over
me. I just wanted so badly to help. We
all just wanted to do what we could.
We have a really busy week this week, with two
exchanges back to back. I have been thinking a lot about the pre-mortal life
lately. I would highly encourage
everyone to read his or her patriarchal blessings. I pondered the first two paragraphs of mine during
studies. I am just so grateful for a loving
Heavenly Father who cares about us all.
I love him with my full heart.
I am sorry this is so short. I love you all so very much. "Where
there is great love there will always be miracles."
xo, sister Dahlberg
January 11, 2016
SISTER MONTGOMERY (MY MOMMMA) IS ENGAGED.
Oh hey.
Remember me emailing saying
transfer numba 10 was a wrap just yesterday?
NOW transfer numba 11 is a
wrap.
How does that happen?
3 months from today I will
see you all in person.
I can't believe it is
almost to the end.
My time as a missionary
means a lot to me.
We had a wonderful,
absolutely phenomenal missionary conference. All 197
missionaries met together and ELDER RASBAND spoke to all of us. I wish you all could have been there to feel
the spirit as an apostle of the living Lord, Jesus Christ spoke to us.
One of my favorite things and
it warmed my heart; he told President Monson that he was coming to visit the
missionaries in the St. Louis, Missouri Mission. President Monson said,
"OH, PLEASE TELL THEM
I LOVE THEM."
I love that man.
Elder Rasband talked a lot
about the revelation given as they assign a missionary to a location and to a mission
president and his wife. The stories he
shared with us will always stay in my heart.
He talked about the revelation given to President Morgan to assign us
areas and companions, the importance, the great importance of all of that and
how it truly does come from on HIGH from God.
Missionary life is a roller
coaster, but I am reminded again and again of the deep love that I have for
this work. I love sharing the good news
to all and the deep love that I have for my savior. THE CHURCH IS TRUE. It is so important that I came and that I am
here. I will be returning home in 3 months in soooooooo much more debt to my
savior. My debt really is growing. Once again, reminded of my mission
theme-
I STAND ALL AMAZED, TRULY.
I DO.
Transfer calls came and we
called all the sisters in the zone to tell them what was happening to them and
some crazy things are happening.
My companion (sister Rapp)
is leaving to go to the Mexico, Missouri with sister ERICKSON (my baby)
Sister HENRIE (my baby) is
coming to this zone.
I AM GETTING SISTER WALKER. (one of the
funniest sisters in the mission)
We are going to have so much
fun doing The Lords work together!
She will be coming to Fenton
tomorrow.
May I leave you with a
challenge? For the next 90 days, I am working on and really focusing on one
thing per day to become more like the savior.
Today I am focusing on,
WHAT DOES THE LORD
SEE AND FEEL WHEN HE LOOKS AT THAT PERSON.
Seeing people the way that
God sees them is an important thing.
Heaven gained a special
soul, my very favorite ”grandma” in Marceline, Deloris Smith passed away. She will definitely be one friend that I
will run to see after this life.
I know Heavenly Father has
a plan and I fully trust in him.
I love you all.
XO.
SISTER DAHLBERG
January 19th, 2016
hello.
We do not have much time at
the library today and we have a busy day ahead of us.
I am going to be 100
percent honest; I am super overwhelmed with everything and everything that is
going on. So much is changing, so many things are different, and my mind is
just having a hard time with it all. But
hey.........I will survive.
Sister walker is my new
companion and we have been laughing a lot.
That is always good!
We had MLC this week and it
was one of my favorite missionary meetings and training from president and
sister Morgan. We got to spend some time
close to the temple. Sister Morgan had
all the leaders stand up and say something that no one knew about us. I told the group not to laugh. Because I had been attacked by a dolphin. You should
have seen the look on President's face. HAHAHA
This week we went to a
relief society cooking activity for dinner and a non-member was there and they
gave me a pork egg role. I almost ate
the whole thing, before realizing it was completely raw pork inside. Mine was the only one that was not
cooked. I panicked. I am still
recovering from that one.
We met a Jewish man this
week and we had a lesson with him outside on his driveway. He looked at me and told me why what I
believed was wrong, after I bore testimony to him. It literally broke my heart it two. WHERE
THERE IS TRUTH, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE OPPOSITION.
We went to visit a
potential/former this week and she was really hesitant of us and then her
little dog got out and started running away. I DROPPED MY BAG AND SISTER WALKER AND I
STARTED SPRINTING towards the run-away dog!
I saved the day. After that, she
felt that she trusted us. She was totally
open to have us come back. What a small
miracle!
I got to talk to Lulu on Saturday
and that was a really happy time for me. After I got off the phone with her, I
thought, if I have to go through all of this, it is completely worth every
second because I came and met Lulu. She
gave me a really great pep talk about missionary work and the important role of
missionaries and what we are doing and the seeds that we are planting, no
matter the outcome. My heart filled with
joy. Lulu has always been the one
TEACHING ME.
We had a fun sisters p-day
yesterday at the city museum and in the city.
St. Louis really is such a cute city. I love it. Sister Henrie came and we laughed and
laughed. It is good to have her back and
have her in the zone. We both think the same things are funny, so we just laugh
and talk about memories from Danville.
May we all try to turn
outward, even if it means volunteering to pump the gas in the freezing cold so
that your companion can stay in the warm car.
DO IT. (:
I just want to become like
my savior. Has anyone noticed how many
times the Book of Mormon talks about being diligent? I am amazed, truly amazed
how many times the lord reminds us to be diligent.
I think at the end of the
day, whether an old Jewish man tells me with a firm voice that I am wrong or if
people don't ever call us back, or I feel overwhelmed with what the next months
hold. None of that really matters, what
matters and what I will remember is how much I love my mission and truly the
person I have changed into and am becoming, THAT IS WHAT MATTERS.
I know as long as I am
diligent in working, it will all work out, it always does.
Love you all to the moon
and back.
MEET SISTER WALKER
EVERYBODY.
January 25th, 2016
Today something special
happened....
We received a message this
morning asking us if we would come over and talk to someone who was needed us.
I felt the love of God so
strongly for one of his daughters. Cinnamon. I sat and shed tears, listening to
her and I felt honestly and truly the pure, and I mean PURE love that the
Father and Jesus Christ have for her.
That will always be a
moment I will remember.
I received this email from
a dear family from my first area just today.
"Dear Sister Dahlberg,
It was one year ago
today that my best friend was baptized. The year has flown by. As I sit and
reflect back my heart smiles. Seeing the pictures of you the last week and
hearing the confidence you have makes my heart smile.
I think back to when you
first came to Marceline. You were scared and homesick, and we were a
broken family putting ourselves back together. Slowly we all found our way and
how many awesome changes have come. Don and I will finish our Temple prep
classes tomorrow. As soon as my health improves we will be getting our Temple
recommends and our endowments. Our goal is to do it before you go
home. We are planning on being sealed as a family in late May.
I know that my family isn't
the only one you have touched. Thank you for serving a mission you have changed
our lives forever.
We love you,
The White Family
I cannot and will not glory
myself. I am unworthy to glory myself. I
know it is not me, it is THE LORD. Just as the book of Mormon states, truly god
has provided, heaven sent miracles, as I labor and continue to labor in this
part of his vineyard in the St. Louis, Missouri mission. Oh how blessed I feel that he let me be a
part of their journey and to be here to witness his miracles and his pure
love.
My heart is happy.
My heart is full.
Happy week to you
all.
Sincerely,
Sister Dahlberg
February 1st, 2016
hello people.
This week...... oh man.
Sweet sister Henrie came
here to Fenton with me on exchanges and it was fun to see how far she has come.
She was born to be a missionary. That
girl is always laughing. It is refreshing. I will be going on 2 exchanges this
week.
We had a lesson with John
this week, one of our investigators, and we invited him to be baptized. But he started saying- " I will not get
baptized, no matter what you say."
The members that came with us just were not sure what to do. Haha It was pretty funny. We will just keep
working with him. He knows the message of the restoration is true.
We started teaching
CINNAMON’S BOYFRIEND PATTY. He is the
coolest person ever. One of the funniest and nicest people here. We have fun teaching him with Cinnamon’s
little kiddos. He keeps us laughing and
is always a good sport, even when we have to play hangman to teach the
restoration.
We had president interviews
this week. OH BIG NEWS, the Morgans are
officially grandparents!!
President Morgan and
I always have the best talks. We talk and giggle for the majority of the
interview, talking about all different kinds of things. He said,
"Sister Dahlberg I
wish I could be there at the airport when you come home."
I giggled and asked why...
He said, “Because your
parents are not getting back the same little girl that left their house. That is a miracle of a mission."
Can your mission president
and his wife be your best friend?
Weekly planning this week,
we planned for 7 hours, and it was intense.
Something special happened
this week:
We don't very often have a
full open day. That means with no appointments, but it happened on Saturday.
Sister Walker and I prayed multiple times that heavenly father would lead us
where he needed us. And he did.
Previously, we met a member’s
neighbor and have really wanted to help and share the gospel with her. Later Saturday night, we decided to head to
Valley Park, to check up on one of our investigators. We had a thought to go back to the member’s
neighbor’s house.
We pulled up and there she
was sitting on the porch, looking heart broken. I got out of the car and said hello. I
started walking toward her and she reached out her hands. I gave her a hug and she started crying. For
confidential reasons, I will not go into what she is going through, but it sure
is a lot. She is an atheist. We sat with
her crying, and we talked with her for a long time. Then we all went over to the member’s house to
talk all together. I told her that we had a full open day and how heavenly
father sent us straight to her door. She
accepted a priesthood blessing after the member explained what it was. It was getting
really late, past 10 p.m. We sent a text
to our leaders to tell them we were in a serious situation. We were needed and we would be home as soon
as we possible. Sister Pederson went
into her bedroom to ask her husband, who was ready to go to bed, to give the
neighbor a blessing. A few moments
later, he walked out in his church clothes.
When I saw him I started CRYING.
It was a really sacred moment for me. My testimony of worthy priesthood
holders grew deeply. I wish I could
explain the peace that was in that room, we all could feel it. The neighbor even mentioned it. This is the church of JESUS CHRIST himself and
moments like that; I am just reminded so strongly.
The last few days have been
rough with sickness, just adding memories to the memory book though. My companion has been right by my side, doing
all she can to help. After going in the
hospital last night, they gave me medicine that is really helping, so all is
well.
The mission nurse and her
husband came to my hospital room and the zone leaders came in to give me a
blessing. After they put medication in
my IV, I remember saying this:
“THIS MIGHT BE TMI,
BUT MY MOUTH TASTES LIKE THROW UP.”
Oh heaven help me.
Everyone just started
laughing.............
I am doing so much better
and I thank heaven for that.
Have a happy week!
February 8, 2016
I am so happy, I might cry,
JENNIFER AND DON WHITE HAVE
THEIR TEMPLE RECOMMENDS AND ARE RECEIVING THEIR ENDOWMENTS THIS MONTH AT THE ST.
LOUIS TEMPLE AND I GET TO GO. (most likely date is Feb 20)
That is literally all I can
think about right now.
My heart is so happy.
so
so
happy.
That family is so special
to me and they always have been and always will be! I was looking back at my journal entries and
my heart is just full of so much gratitude that I was able to meet them MY VERY FIRST DAY AS A
MISSIONARY IN THE FIELD. Talk about
heavenly father leading us straight to them.
Teaching and watching their family be baptized through my first 4 1/2 month
as a missionary will always be so special and sacred to me. They are a family whose miracle fell straight
from heaven.
I am telling you, Marceline
will always have my heart. I cannot
express the appreciation I feel that heavenly father let me witness such a
miracle.
Thinking about seeing them dressed
in white in the temple just makes me giddy… so giddy.
OH MY GOSH.
This is what everlasting
happiness feels like, I just know it.
I STAND ALL AMAZED AT THE
LOVE JESUS OFFERS ME. CONFUSED AT HIS GRACE THAT SO FULLY HE OFFERS ME.
Truly, I stand all amazed.
MOMENTS JUST LIKE THIS makes
every second worth everything.
I would not trade my
mission experience for the world.
I am at a loss for words.
Sometimes I get caught up
in the small things, and I get overwhelmed, and I try to do this work by myself.
And then I realize very quickly that it is impossible work without help from
heaven and that the small things do not matter.
But the message I can offer to people is the most important message I
can share. It is the message of complete love from our savior. It is a message of hope, oh so much
hope. It is a message of truth. It is a
message of never ending opportunities to change and become better.
The White family is so
special to me and they always will be.
My work here in the Missouri,
St. Louis mission is not yet finished.
I will do everything I can
to bring the message of complete hope to the people here.
I will give the next 9
weeks my all.
Sincerely,
the sister missionary who
can not stop smiling.
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