Temple Day.

DQ Run

Matching socks from Sister DeMordaunt's mom.

April 26th Note

Dear Dad,

Dear Dad,

   It seems like life is crazy as ever in the 602. Sounds like everyone is busy and life is definitely moving. I continuo pray for your job. I know Heavenly Father is working something out for you and will give you the best opportunity for you. I love when he makes decisions for us :) He's so good at that! Tell Shane he's got more personality than anyone I know! He'll be the face of the sprint company across the street. They don't know what they're doing. He has nothing to worry about. He will be blessed so much for his service in NJ. I hope he has fun in Utah.

   So this week started on such a high! Shu Hang had a date and we were going to the temple. The temple on Tuesday was incredible. It was amazing to be there with Jennifer and with President and Sister Tilleman. I will not have the opportunity to go to the temple with them at the end of my mission so it was so special to be there with them and to feel the much needed spirit of the temple. Wednesday was great until Shu Hang texted us. He dropped his date and my heart dropped. I couldn't believe it. He is getting a lot of opposition from his family and friends. He felt like he needed to think more about it. We were able to convince him to meet with President Deyell on Friday in Vancouver to have an interview. We had full faith that he could be baptized on sunday and were praying so hard. He met with President Deyell and the conclusion was that he needed to speak with Presdient Tilleman. 
   At that point I figured it wasn't happening this past weekend. but the assistants said Presdient could do it either saturday or sunday. I got excited again but I wasn't sure if he even wanted to be baptized anymore. Saturday night we were still on exchanges with Sister Ellgen when Shu Hang texted and said there's no way he could make it. Earlier that night I was on the phone with him and just pleaded with him to meet with Presdient. I told him that this was such a special opportunity and that this never happens! When we got the text, I just began to cry because I knew he was so close and so ready! Sister Ellgen was so great and comforted me. She told me I had done everything in my power to help him get to the waters of baptism. Realizing I had done everything I could, hit me pretty hard. I knew it was now out of my hands. 
   The next morning we texted President back and told him he would not be able to meet with him in the morning but that afternoon in Richmond. After many texts and phone calls, he was at the Richmond Building. I was praying so hard for him. When I found out he did not set a date, I just died. I knew for sure that it would get through to him how important this step is. Then we spoke with an elder who helped translate and he told me SHu Hang had not quit smoking and needed more time. I was so confused. 
   We then called Shu Hang. I asked him about the meeting and he said it wasn;t anything special. He didn't really say much and then I asked him about smoking. He smoked last week and I asked him why he didnt tell us and he said we didn't ask. I felt like I had just been punched in the stomach. We had just bent over backwards for him and I couldn't believe it. It hurt so bad to know that he still had a problem and we didn't know. I was pretty emotionally exhausted yesterday and just thanked Heavenly Father for letting us see many miracles. But in the end it really was up to Shu Hang. He has the gift of agency and he had to make that decision.

   So yesterday was a bit of a roller coaster with 7 loopty loops. I never thought I would mourn so badly over someone else's salvation. It was an incredible feeling and it taught me so much. I know that Shu Hang will be baptized, he just needs more time. I learned about the love President Tilleman has for every living soul and his desire to bring everyone unto Christ. That was my crazy week and I wouldn't change any of it. My blood pressure went up a bit but I know more than ever that Heavenly Father is looking out for us. He is so aware! I know this church is true! I love Jesus Christ and all the opportunities he gives me to change and improve. I love you!!

Love, Sister Emily Dahl

My comp bought me some new rain boots.

MY boots are all destroyed.

Note from April 22nd - Happy Easter

Dear Dad,

   Happy Easter! It's a great time up here in Canada. I am seriously seeing SO many miracles and the Lord is blessing our companionship more than I've ever seen! It all started on Thursday. We realized that Shu Hang was willing to maybe set a date for baptism. He said he would think about it and while he thought we were going to fast! We told our zone leaders to pray for him and they joined our fast and encouraged us to invite him to fast as well. He fasted with us! Good friday was a day of miracles! That morning we received a phone call from Sister Tilleman inviting Sister Demordaunt to a sealing for a recent convert. It is the woman who's dog bit President when he ended up in the hospital. She ended up getting baptized and now she's getting endowed. Sister DeMordaunt met her at a ward activity on an exchange and ultimately helped her make her decision to go through the temple. Amazing. So we will be going to the temple tonight with Jennifer, President Tilleman, and Sister Tilleman! We are freaking out! I have been really wanting to go to the temple and now we get to go with a recent convert and with President. Amazing.

   Then we met with our friend Xiao. She has been progressing so quickly and when we taught it took a wrong turn but our member saved us! Xiao now has a baptismal date for May 18th! We are so excited! Then we made our way back to the restaurant to break our fast with Shu Hang. He seemed well and still wasn;t sure what to do. Before we met with him we were doing some training and received so much revleation on what we needed to share with him. He wasn;t sure because of all these different reasons and we tried to help him see the big picture and the eternal perspective. FInally we shared Ether 12:6 with him. "And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." It clicked. He knew. He set the date for April 27th... Shu Hang is getting baptized!!!! I am so excited! I have been teaching him since January and he's been through SO much. I didn;t think I could set a baptismal date int he middle of a busy restaurant but it happened. My heart was burning with the spirit and I knew that the spirit touched his heart. It strengthened my testimony so much about fasting and the impact the Lord has in our lives. I am so blessed.

   I am doing so well! A little nervous about transfer calls next week but I know the Lord knows what I need. I've been out almost 9 months and in this area for 7...it may be time for so change and when the Lord makes changes, He likes to make them BIG. Well I love you. I am praying hard for you. You;re going to look great when I get home! :) I can;t wait to go skiing together again. That was on of my favorite days we spent together. I am praying for everyone! 

Love, Sister Emily Dahl

April 14th Note

Dear Dad,

   Sounds like you're having a blast with Shane in Utah! I miss you both so much! I am totally jealous my 2 best buds get to hang out so much. It has to be such a great feeling to see so many old friends and family in such a short amount of time. I am so grateful our family has been blessed with so many amazing people. 

   Well life up north is going well! I am starting to realize what people are talking about when they say Vancouver is one of the most beautiful places in the world! It's Spring!!! It was up to 67 degrees and we were having a hay day! haha it's been so wonderful being outside in this beautiful weather to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone. We saw so many miracles this week and are truly feeling God pouring out His blessings upon us. We have seen so many miracles and so many occurrences of God sharing His love. 

   I have been thinking as lot about love and a lot about how we give and receive love. During a companionship inventory with the Sister Training Leaders, we talked a lot about love. It really was so interesting that within in our companionship we give and receive love differently, whether it be through words of affirmation or service. We all have so much love for each other but one companion saying "I love you" to the other wouldn;t go as far as doing the dishes and vice versa. I just thought about our Savior. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of love. He showed His love in word as he taught us the way to eternal life. He also did it through deed. He performed countless miracles and ultimately performed the greatest act of love this world has or ever will see, through His atoning sacrifice. 

   I thought a lot about how I can better follow the example of Jesus Christ, especially this Easter week, by loving more. I need to do it through words. I need to tell everyone the glorious message of the gospel and I need to tell them the Lord loves them. I need to show my love through my actions. I have to get up and get out. I need to constantly seek opportunities to serve those around me. And I know that as I strive to love more, in all ways, I will show my love for my Heavenly Father and also for my Savior, Jesus Christ.

   I know He lives. I love being a representative of Him. I love the Chinese people I am able to serve everyday. It is such a privilege to be out here. I am nearly half way and I am already so in love with this work. It is such a joy and such an amazing opportunity to be out here sharing God's love with his children. I don;t get discouraged when people reject me because I know they just aren;t ready to accept His love just yet or we're just not using the right method to give it to them. 

   I love you! I hope you have a great Easter week! I am praying hard for you and know the Lord is looking out and will bless you!

   Love, Sister Emily Dahl

Tell Bryant Snow I need to be adjusted the day i get home. My back is all outta wack. haha

Trying to keep my feet dry with my sad boots.

Loved the package!

A dog peed on me.

Note from April 7th

Dear Dad,

   Sounds and looks like you all are having a great time in Nashville. I remember going to Denver, that was so fun. It's funny being on a missi0n though because as you all were at the Final Four and I was watching conference in Mandarin I just kept thinking, "I really hope mom and dad are able to watch this! It;s so good!" There were so many amazing talks and helpful insights. I had to listen to 3 sessions in mandarin so Elder Holland and Elder Bednar's talks will probably be a surprise when I read about them in a few weeks. I had like 2 lines of notes for Elder Holland... clearly I didn't understand haha It was a neat experience though. The one session we did listen to in English (saturday afternoon) Answered everything I've been dealing with and also our companionship!

   I have been thinking a lot about how to strengthen my faith and Elder Russel M Nelson answered that one pretty well! He talked so much about where we put our faith and how it needs to be in our Savior. That's the kind of faith that moves mountains, or baptizes someone or helps you find a new job. He talked a lot about SHOWING your faith. We have to seek opportunities to not just exercise faith but to show it! Then Elder Richard G. Scott got up there and changed my life. We have to love, trust and then share the knowledge we know. He taught simply and clearly how members can share the gospel. We just have to share the doctrine of Christ. It's about Faith, Repentance, baptism by water and fire and then enduring to the end. We don;t have to get so complicated with tenets! (2 Tim 2:23, D&C 19:31) It helped me learn to have more confidence in my investigators and what I can do to help them progress.

   Then W. Craig Zwick got up there and answered every problem I will ever have in my mission companionship and eternal companionship. We have to step back ask the other, "What are you thinking?" We have to be patient and in all situations think of the others perspective. I have been struggling with that this week and was definitely called to repentance. I need to be more patient with my companions. If I don't know where they are coming from then I need to ask them where they are coming from! We can "transform hazardous cases into holy places". That talk was so powerful! And then as Elder Quentin L Cook spoke on Family History it gave me such a strong desire to seek out my ancestors when I get home. I am so grateful for all the history I do know already. He said it's time to Hasten THIS work! I have sucha  strong testimony of the temple and the 130 that were built in the last 50 years and we now need to help the Lord take all His children;s names there.

   Those are just some of my thoughts this week. I had a tough time this week. I was a little sick and was struggling with the language and spiritually as well. I was so discouraged because we have no baptismal dates and our area is struggling. I am trying to increase my faith though. I am seeing more and more how the Lord is blessing us. One crazy miracle of the Lord protecting us is we have an investigator who lives in a super sketchy part of east van and our plan was to go to her this week and clean it so we could help her quit smoking. Friday morning we called her to invite her to conference and her phone said "not in service". We kept trying but nothing happened. Then in zone meeting the zone leaders announced that President received revelation that we needed to create a red zone in east van. It's a section where no missionaries are ever aloud to go, ever. Our investigator lives in the middle of that area. We don;t know what would have happened if we went there but we know that Heavenly father is really protecting us. It's such a blessing.

   I love you and pray you get the chance to watch some conference. Tell Shane I still think he's a great catch. Any girl would be crazy not to love him! Maybe he needs to grow out the mane again haha I will continue to pray for your job. I know the Lord will bless you. Thank you for all your prayers and continued support! I am so grateful! 

Love, Sister Emily Dahl

Sister Xu broke up with us and gave us gifts. I cried the whole time. (we got dropped)

Chen Popo! sorry my eyes are closed

March 31st Note

Dear Dad,

   I guess I can no longer tell my investigators you are a bishop (ni shi yige zhujiao!). I am so grateful you were able to serve well in that calling. You were a blessing to so many. I loved having you as a bishop as I went through high school. It felt like I could share the great relationship we have with everyone in the ward. they could talk to you like I do. It's so special! I am glad you enjoyed my note. I tried to bring a smile to yours and mom's face. btw I felt the spirit so strong when you said Steve Smit is a counselor now. It just confirmed to me that he is so ready for a calling like that and that he has been called of God. I am so proud of where he has come and for the blessing he has been to our family and Joni and Megan. Let him know I love him and I am excited to sit next to him on the stand at my homecoming talk :) 

   Jack is going on a mission! I am so excited! He is such a stud. Argentina look out! You;re getting the best guy around. I am so excited and will start praying for him as he prepares even more. He will love the mission. And what a blessing to speak spanish! That will be so neat for him. 

   SO something I have been thinking a lot about this week is obedience. It seems like a simple concept but it has just been such a crucial part of my mission so far. I can see a direct relationship with obedience and blessings. When we obey, the Lord is bound. He has to bless us. I was reading this morning in Mosiah 2:22-24 and it just hit me so strong. The spirit confirmed to me that when we obey, blessings ALWAYS follow. I see so many missionaries who aren't doing their absolute best to obey every rule. They don't take the handbook to heart and it's just sad to me. I was on exchanges this week and another sister told me one of my strengths is obedience. It meant so much to me and I feel like I am honestly doing everything I can to do exactly what heavenly Father has asked me to do. (I'm also trying to stay humble!)

  I can see how this mindset will effect me the rest of my life. I can feel the world getting more and more evil. I am away from the world at this time but when I see small glimpses it's so sad. I know in the future I need to be strong. I need to keep this mindset of exact obedience, to the commandments and to my covenants. It's such a blessing that I am learning this now. It amazing to be able to evaluate myself all the time and check to see how I can improve. It is helping me become better and refining me. I pray you and the family are doing everything you can to follow Jesus Christ and every commandment He gives us. I am so grateful to be raised in a home where our standards were high. Thank you so much for that! 

   I love you so much. I will continue to pray for you and for the boys. I know everyone is going through separate challenges and we're constantly learning and changing. But I also know when we do what the Lord would have us do it will always be better in the end. 

  love, Sister Emily Dahl