Christmas Time Miracles

Hello hello!

Well, we had another crazy busy week, as usual. We had two more exchanges -- and I'm sure you're all tired of hearing about them. haha I'll just say that they went great! And now we only have two more!! Hallelujah. We had our last trainer/trainee meeting this week, which went great. We gave a training on how to use the new Christmas initiative in our missionary work! That is our big focus right now, #ASaviorIsBorn. I'm such a big fan!! We have the little pass-along cards, and are trying to hand out as many as possible. It's the best, because we always have something to bring up with people, and they don't think it's quite as weird because it's Christmas time, and people are way more open to things like that. So we're trying to get all the missionaries to take full advantage of this! 
A member from the Bush Branch was in Anchorage Saturday, from Naknek! He was so nice, and called us telling us he wanted to buys us dinner. So we met him at Subway and he bought us some food. It was great! The Bush Branch really is the neatest thing. I think I forgot to tell you, but we have 2 new potential investigators in the Bush Branch!!! There are a mother and son, who are both super interested in the church. They are just busy, so we have to find a good time we can skype with them to have their first lesson! One of the members works with the mom, and has been great in talking about the church with her. I'm tellin ya, that's how we find the most golden investigators!! 

#membermissionarywork

We had the greatest surprise Saturday. There was a family that got baptized 3 days before I got to Juneau right at the beginning of my mission, that I got to teach the new member lessons to. The Kleinschmidts, I can't remember if I ever talked about them. Well, they moved to Kenai not long after they were baptized and Saturday were sealed in the temple! We got to go to their endowment, and sealing!!!! Wow it was such a neat experience! I didn't know them super well, because I only taught them a few lessons. But it was so great to see someone who I had worked with at the very beginning, getting sealed in the temple at the very end. What perfect timing!! 

I love them so much!!!! What a miracle! :) That's what this work is all about, getting people to the temple!
I'm excited for the exchanges we have this week, because I get to go back to Colony!!! Woo hoo, I'm pumped! That'll be a blast to see everyone again. And then I get to go on exchanges with Sister Ogden, who was in the MTC with me. I just adore her. So it'll be some good exchanges! I literally cannot believe how fast the time is going, I need it to slow down!!! Everything is just so wonderful, and I am quite literally living the dream. Have a fantastic week, and remember to expect miracles!! Because they do come! I love you all dearly :)
Love, Sister Dall

Baptism!!

What a week!!

Thursday we got to go up to our wards girls camp for dinner and testimony meeting. First of all, the drive up there was the prettiest drive of my life! Why is Alaska so dang beautiful?! But it was great. I just love our ward and our young women so much!! They are all amazing girls. The testimony meeting was so neat, and it really made me miss girls camp!! I was so glad we got to go up though, it was super fun and a really good experience.
Then on Saturday, we had KAYLEE'S BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Woo hoo!! 

So I was super stressed all day, of course. You just start thinking of everything that could go wrong. But it was fantastic. We got there at 2, and started filling the font. It took about 3 hours.And then Kaylee showed up, and we got her dressed, and took pictures and everything. So was so excited!!! And then like the entire YSA ward showed up, which was so cool, cause they hardly know Kaylee, but what great support! We were so happy. So everything is hunky dory, and we're about to get started, when we decide to check the font. And it's drained about a foot!!! What?! So we run and tell Elder Pace, who runs and starts putting more water into it. I guess there's a slight leakor something. So I'm freaking out, and running around like a chicken with my head cut off, and the elders are trying to reassure me that everything will be ok. So we keep filling it for the opening song and prayer, and then turn it off for the first talk. Then it was time for the baptism, and luckily the water was high enough. And the baptism was perfect! I tell ya what, that feeling of watching someone you've been working with for so long, finally enter the waters of baptism, and make those covenants with God. And it's been really cool, since I've been working with Kaylee from the very beginning, and been able to watch her progress and change every step of the way. What an amazing road! I feel so blessed to have been one of the Lord's tools in His work, and to have been able to work with Kaylee. 

Yesterday was her confirmation which was equally amazing. She said that she felt amazing and that she couldn't explain the feelings that she had. And then, the lesson in RS was all about learning how to recognize the Holy Ghost :) How perfect! So basically I think I'm the happiest missionary on this sweet green earth, literally living the dream!!! I love being a missionary, there's no more fulfilling work. 

I think that's about all the news for this week. I miss you guys. Thanks for all you do for me, Love you!!

Love, Sister Dall :)

it's COLD

Hello there!

So this week was pretty normal, nothing too exciting. 

oh wait.... 

KAYLEA'S BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

But, I'm getting ahead of myself. First of all, we had 23 set lessons last week, which was the biggest miracle ever! And only like 3 of them cancelled. It was craziness, that never happens up  here. So we were pretty stoked. Also, our dear friend the sun has decided it's time to start making a reappearance here, and we couldn't be happier. It got above the trees yesterday!!!!!!!! And it'll only get higher from here! BUT, it's for sure not getting any warmer. 

Today we have reached an all-time low for the coldest this winter. -40. Yes, that's right we have hit -40 degrees. The only word I can use to describe this would be... painful. I wan to cry it is so cold. But this is the real Alaska now! We hope it doesn't stay too long, and frankly we've been incredibly blessed it's taken this long to get that cold. But winter is almost over woo hoo! There's also this terrible stuff we call ice fog. All the exhaust, breath, and anything like that just goes in the air and freezes. It doesn't really evaporate or anything, it just kinda hangs in the air. So it's really hard to see on the roads, when the car in front of you lets out a huge cloud of exhaust and it just chills there in front of you (literally). So that's been fun. 

I took this at -31...and then it dropped to -40 -_-

Alright, and now on to the main event!!! So the morning of Kaylea's baptism, I was SO stressed!! I couldn't eat, I couldn't focus on anything because all I was thinking about was all the different things that could go wrong. Typical. But it was actually practically perfect. We showed up about an hour early, and our ward mission leader was there filling up the font. We were a little worried he would forget, but he didn't! So we printed the programs, and then as soon as Kaylea got there, we got her changed and then took pictures. ahhh so fun!! The program went great. Little Kaylea looked so happy coming out of that water! I honestly don't think I've ever been so happy in all my life. There is really and truly no better feeling, than  helping others come closer to our Savior Jesus Christ. There was a very tangible spirit there that I hope everyone felt, especially the non-member dad. I think he did. So, it was all a success! And yesterday was the confirmation! Their other home teacher, brother Nixon, did the confirmation. It was a beautiful blessing, with some pretty amazing promises. The dad (joe) also came to that, and it was only the second time he's ever been to church. So that was a miracle for sure. But oh man, Kaylea was just glowing after her confirmation. It was incredible!!!! Greatest thing of my life. And her whole family just all looked so excited and so happy, it was the best! Their family is amazing and making such a huge change woo hoo! 

Also, we picked up a new investigator this week! Her name is Payton and she is the definition of a golden investigator. She's in the 1st ward boundaries, but since she's a 16 year old girl, the elders passed her to  us. She said she's been searching for a church because she wants religion in her life, and she was interested in learning more about our church. She said she just didn't know where to start. With the missionaries!!! So we taught her the first lesson and it went great. She's excited to read the B of M and can't wait to go to mutual on wednesdays, she's really excited about that. So we're praying that continues to go well! 

I don't think there's anything else to report, but be sure to ask any questions you have. I love answering questions! Thank you thank you for being so awesome, and for all the emails each week. I am truly blessed with amazing people in my life. 

Love you all, and expect miracles!

Love, Sister Dall :)