February 15th, 2016
Week 6 of my second to last transfer..........
how is it possible?
Here is what
happened just last night: We were driving to the relief society president’s
house for dinner when I
heard our
phone ring. I told sister Walker the
phone is ringing. And she starts to look for it and by the time she finds it,
she misses the call. She looks at me and
says,
"uh,
sister Dahlberg, we missed a call from an 801 number......."
As I am
driving, I ask her to read the phone number to me so I can make sure it is not
my mom calling.
LOL LOL
LOL LOL LOL
We called
the number back and a lady answered and asked to speak to me.
Sister
Walker told the person on the phone that she is on a speaker and that I can
hear her.
I said, “HELLLLLLLOOOOO.”
She
asked, "Do you know who this
is?"
I
replied, "No." (I am super
confused and my heart is racing 654654654 miles an hour.)
She
said, "YOUR FRIEND FROM MARCELINE!"
I STARTED
SCREAMING-------- SISTER BLANK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think I
screamed for 5 minutes.
She told
me that they had talked to President Morgan.
She instructed me to be at the temple on February 20, at 10:00 a.m. to
prepare to see DON AND JENNIFER RECEIVE THEIR ENDOWMENTS AND TO SEE THEM SEALED
IN THE TEMPLE.
I wish I
could describe the happiness that filled my soul.
She
said, "Sister Dahlberg your first baptisms
are going to the temple. We have been
watching over them in this little corner."
Saturday.
February 20, 2016, cannot come fast enough.
I truly feel
divine happiness from the Lord and it is something that is overwhelming, in the
best way possible.
The idea
and fact that the Lord lets me, an imperfect, silly, 20 year old be a part of
this and to see his miracles from on high is a privilege beyond words.
I CANNOT
IMAGINE MY LIFE WITHOUT MY MISSION.
We are
running out of time, but we have been really focusing on MEMBER MISSIONARY WORK
oh boy, that is where you see miracles.
love you.
sister dahlberg
February
22, 2016
HI.
I think
this week may win FAVORITE OF MY MISSION! Is that allowed??
Just to
tell you a little before I tell you ABOUT THE WHITES AND THE SPECIAL DAY AT THE
TEMPLE.
We picked
up 4 new investigators, three of which come from a family and they
are probably the nicest people I have ever met in my life. Seriously, the mom investigated the church in
New York years ago. She cannot remember
why she stopped investigating. She said
that she thinks that life just got in the way.
Here is the story of how we met. A
few weeks back when I went on exchanges, a sister came to serve here in Fenton
with me. I felt strongly that we needed
to go to the "green apartments".
So we drove there and started knocking on doors. We were at the third door and as we were knocking
a car pulled up. They were waving at us, like we were BFFS! The
door we were knocking at was theirs. Tonia
and her 20 year old daughter Carrie let us inside right away. We were finally
able to see them again and Tonia was there with her husband and their daughter
Carrie. Sister Walker and I bore our testimony
and they were amazed at the spirit they felt.
When we got finished baring testimony of the Savior and the happiness
this message will bring to them FORVER, a message that will change them forever,
they quickly asked..... “WHEN ARE YOU COMING BACK?????” (: (that is rare) They
are so special to us already.
President
called Thursday night, meanwhile he was reading my weekly email and he was
LAUGHING and said, "I needed a good
laugh." He told me that sister Rapp (the sister who served in Marceline right
after me and she was my last companion) would be joining us at the temple. And our current companions were going to come
to the temple with us. They would all be staying at our apartment before we
went to the temple the next morning.
SISTER
ERICKSON.
SISTER
RAPP.
SISTER
WALKER
AND
ME
All in
one apartment, all my companions! We
just talked and talked that night, catching up, telling stories, and
laughing.
It was a very
special night and I am grateful president Morgan allowed that to happen.
We drove
to the temple and I had butterflies in my stomach the whole time. It was like a
feeling I could not even describe. I had
the wonderful opportunity to see the people who meant the absolute world to me,
the friends I have not seen for over a year.
We
arrived at the temple and we were walking into the distribution center when we
saw JENNIFER WHITE WALKING OUT OF THE DOORS SMILING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I
dropped to the ground and just started screaming. Next came out DON WHITE and
PRESIDENT BLANK AND SISTER BLANK. I wish
you could have felt what that sweet reunion felt like.
We were
all under the impression that sister Montgomery was not coming because she
lives in Arizona now. So the Whites
printed off a big photograph of her so we could hold it and she could be part
of this special day. We started talking
pictures and just talking and laughing. I LOVED IT ALL SO MUCH! Then we walked over to the temple to and
SISTER BLANKS SAID. "OH MY GOSH."
We turn
our heads to see what she is talking about and guess who is walking toward all
of us?
SISTER
MONTGOMERY AND HER FIANCE.
What a
wonderful surprise!
It is all
on video.
THERE
WERE MANY SCREAMS AND TEARS (happy tears) HUGS and SMILES FROM ALL OF US.
We were
able to all be in the endowment session with Don and Jennifer. Let me tell you something, I truly have never
felt such happiness before. I just sat there watching them and it was one of
the most sacred moments of my mission.
Afterwards,
we were standing together in the Celestial Room. Jennifer reminded me that when I arrived in
Marceline as a new missionary that I could have gone home when it got hard, but
I didn't. And because I didn't she said
that she was where she was today. I reassured her that it was she, Don, and the
Lord. I was just so humbled that they
let me be there on their special day.
After a
while, someone said. ARE YOU READY TO GO GET SEALED???????
Jennifer's
response, "I have only been waiting for this day for 20 years."
We were
all able to watch Don and Jennifer be sealed.
I will never forget JENNIFER AND HER BIG SMILE THE WHOLE TIME.
Sister Montgomery and I just happened to sit right in front of the mirrors that
go on forever and ever. We both sat
there watching them get sealed and my mission came over me so strongly. I saw the eternal perspective that the Lord
has always been able to see the whole time. He saw this moment long before I
did. He saw it when I was struggling to come on my mission, he saw it when I
was a homesick missionary, and he saw it when I was struggling and he was
probably just thinking, “OH SISTER DAHLBERG, JUST HANG IN THERE”. And I am so
beyond grateful that I did hang in there.
MY
MISSION NEVER WAS A SACRIFICE IT IS SO VERY SACRED TO ME.
I never
want to try to think of my life without this journey.
The White
kids will hopefully be sealed to Don and Jennifer soon.
After the
temple, we all went to lunch. Sister Montgomery
and I sat across Don and Jennifer and we
talked about their journey. I sat there
truly amazed as I listened to DON. HE IS NOT THE SAME PERSON!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let
me tell you all something. THE GOSPEL CHANGES LIVES FOREVER AND THAT WAS MADE
KNOWN TO ME, CRYSTAL CLEAR. I reminded him when we came to his home to
teach. He would not listen to us and he
would stay in the kitchen and cook. He
just laughed and we all giggled. Wow, what a miracle story the White family is
and what a miraculous day Saturday was for everyone in the St. Louis temple.
(I could
talk about it all day.......... but I will save some stories and experiences
for home)
I love
you all a lot.
7 weeks
from today, I will be home.
Today my
dying transfer starts and I just wanted to give Heavenly Father all that I can
before I return home.
I love
all of you and appreciate your support.
Love,
sister
dahlberg
We are
headed to the zoo today!
XOXO
February 29th, 2016
hello,
BRYCE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK. March 6!!!
6 weeks
left.
I am on emotional
roller coaster inside.
Heyyyyyyy.
do you remember Christy??? The single mom, who got baptized in Danville? (oh
gosh, i love her a lot) We were also teaching her sister, Teresa while we were
there and her three little kids. GUESS WHAT I FOUND OUT??? The three little
kiddos got baptized!!! We were at MLC and sister Turpin, a missionary that went
into the area after me, brought me a note that they wrote to me. It warmed my heart. It was the sweetest thing in the world.
Speaking
of MLC........ my last one. Five Sister
Training Leaders will be going home this transfer. President Morgan had each of
us bare our testimonies for our last MLC.
At the end of the meeting, sister Petrie stood up and told everyone what
a mess we were in the MTC in Provo. HAHAHAHA She explained the potential we each
have and what we can become when we have the Savior with us. It was surreal, it seems like just yesterday,
we were lost in the MTC, laughing and trying to figure out who we were and what
we were doing. And now I look back and
see just how far we have come.
In
studies this morning, I was reading and I realized something, my mission has been
a celestial mission for me. It has not been easy…salvation will never be easy.
I hope I find joy in every singe day I have left.
We have
been finding and meeting with a lot of people that are unknown, less actives
and it has been interesting. It is so interesting to see how everyone's story
is unique. A ton of people cancelled on
us this week. But we were able to reset
a baptism date with Amanda for April 2nd! We have an awesome lesson with Whitney
tomorrow and we plan to set a baptism date with her. She is a cousin of the CUTEST FAMILY WHO ARE
MEMBERS EVER. She will have us over for dinner
and then we have a lesson. I am super
excited for that. We picked up a new investigator, Shannon. She is great! Yesterday at church, they had us fill in for
primary and we taught the 10 year olds, it was the best.
Sister
Walker and I will be giving a 45 minute training this week at zone conference. I will give you a little sneak peak…sister Walker
may or may not be dressing up as Samuel the Lamanite for the first part of it. She is the funniest. (: it will be great, we
are teaching personal repentance.
DO YOU
WANT TO HEAR THE FUNNIEST STORY?!?
(It is
was so funny in person and I wish you could have watched it happen)
Okay, so our
cars were grounded on Wednesday because of all the snow. Well we had an appointment with a less
active, so we walked 4 miles to get there.
Sister Walker quickly learned that her boots were NOT WATERPROOF. It was really snowy and we were walking down
the street. Several ladies on a front
porch yelled at us, “WHY IN THE WORLD ARE YOU WALKING IN THIS WEATHER?” We walked over to them smiling and explained
that we were missionaries and we had people to visit and teach. They were just so amazed. We told them what we do and everything. I hope that planted a little seed. Well anyway, we were walking on the sidewalks
that no one had shoveled on Main Street.
People were driving by, looking at us like….YOU ARE CRAZY.............
hey people, the Lords work must press forward. We finally arrived at our appointment and had
a lesson. We were getting ready to
leave. I tried to put my boots on but my
BOOTS WOULD NOT GO ON. The sweet lady we taught was worried about sister Walker
getting frost bite on her toes, from her wet socks. She had her rub VASELINE on them. Okay so I am dying laughing at Sister Walker.
Then I realize I have my own problem because I still cannot get my wet boots on
and we have to walk 2 miles to get back home.
So the sweet lady tells me to go to her SPICE CABINET. I am
getting worried. I THOUGHT OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. She had me get the cornstarch and rub it all
over my feet and tights. She thought it
would help my boots slip on. Well, the cornstarch
went EVERYWHERE. Sister Walker was pushing on my boot, trying to get it on with
her VASELINE HANDS and she was pushing so hard we knocked over an URN that was
behind us. Yes, an URN with ashes in
it. The sweet lady screamed as it hit
the floor, "THAT IS MY SISTERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR." we were
silent..................
OH MY
GOSH.
Thank the
heavens it did not break, but we all got a good laugh!!!!
WE STILL
ARE LAUGHING ABOUT THAT ONE.
Anyhow, I
love you all.
I love
the Savior. I still love my little black
nametag and I love being able to bring people PURE happiness because of the
message we are so privileged to share each day.
XO
sister dahlberg
March 7th,
2016
hi.
It is
meeeeeeeeeeeeee.
I received
something in the mail, and I am just numb about it........
my flight
information.
Moving on
to another note.
Sister
Walker and I planned a training this week for a long time, put a lot of effort
and thought into it. We went to role play it the day before zone conference and
it did not feel right, not at all.
We
panicked.
PANICKED.
We quickly
got on our knees and asked Heavenly Father to direct us, to inspire us, to
train on what the missionaries in the south zone truly needed.
We pretty
much started from scratch.
It was stressful. We were tired, oh so tired, and we had a lot to
do. It was late and we had to be up
early for zone conference the next
morning.
Lonnngggggggg
story short, we came up with a completely different training and prayed that God
would direct us, and that is exactly what He did.
We asked
each of the missionaries, to write down how they were feeling and put the paper
slip into a bowl. It was anonymous. Then we read out loud some of the
missionary’s responses.
"tired,
excited, contemplating going home, anxious, unsuccessful."
There
were a variety of words and feelings from the missionaries. We continued our
training and had an object lesson. I
felt prompted and knew that I needed to say something, so I did. I told the zone, " I do not know who
wrote on their slip of paper that they wanted to go home, but I need to say to
you, you must not go home, you can not go home, the Lord needs you here."
We went
along with our training.
After
zone conference, a sister came up to my companion, while I was talking to some other
missionaries. She told sister Walker
that she came to zone conference with the question about going home or staying. And now she received her answer through the
words that the Lord directed me to say.
The sister did not want to tell me directly, but sister Walker told me
later.
We
received a lot of positive feedback from various missionaries on our training.
They said that it was EXACTLY what they needed.
I LOVE
DOING THE LORD’S WORK.
I gave my
last testimony at zone conference and during it.
I stood
up and told the missionaries, “I want to tell you a story of a sister
missionary that I knew quit well.”
Then I told them about little changing moments of my mission. Then I let them know that that sister
missionary was actually me.
I truly
cannot believe how far I have come. 17 months, how did you go by so quickly?
We are
teaching a sweet seventeen year old investigator who is struggling, she is so
sweet. Her parents let us in to teach her, but they would not sit in on the
lesson. I secretly think they were
listening from somewhere in the house. The fourteen year old brother was
listening from the kitchen. When we
asked him if he wanted a Book of Mormon, he smiled and said yes. (:
We were
leaving their house, when we saw a family that lived next door. They were outside playing with the cutest
little puppy.
OUR
MISSION IS REALLY FOCUSING ON TALKING TO EVERYONE.
So we
went over and asked if we could see their puppy. Little kids running around everywhere, a couple
of adults, and a teenager. Meanwhile the
lady walks inside and we start talking to her dad. We bring up the church and ask him if he has
heard of it. He says................... “YEAH,
MY DAUGHTER IS A MEMBER AND SHE WAS BAPTIZED IN CALIFORNIA, IT REALLY CHANGED
HER LIFE.”
wait
what?
come
again?
That
rarely happens here in the Midwest.
Like Never.
We had
the little kids go and get their mom to come out and talk to us.
We sat in
the warm sunshine talking to them. My cheeks hurt from laughing. The lady was
baptized years ago, was active for 6 years, and then fell away. She never moved her records when she moved to
Missouri. We told her that it was no coincidence that we met her today. She totally agreed and she let us set up a
return appointment. She said that she has
had a question and has been thinking about it for a long time. Now she realizes that this is an answer from
heaven.
We
returned to our apartment for lunch, and I asked sister Walker............ how
does the Lord do it? We both were just
so amazed. The timing was so perfect. We
were meant to be there. I do not know
how He does it, but He does and we witness His miracles and we are amazed.
Remember
the cute family, we knocked on their door and they asked us when we were coming
back, after baring our testimony?????
We had a
ward activity and CARRIE CAME. (the 20 year old daughter) and everyone loved
her. SHE LOVED IT.
and guess
what?
TONIA
(her mom) AND CARRIE CAME TO CHURCH SUNDAY.
It was
testimony meeting.
We
brought two members with us last night to their home, to teach them the message
of the restoration.
I really
love them. Carrie wrote us the sweetest little notes.
Let me
say it again, I LOVE DOING THE LORD’S WORK.
5 weeks.
OH BOY.
love you
all.
xxooooxo
sister
dahlberg
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