In which I'm still in the MTC!

​Time is weird here! It feels like forever since my last email, but on Monday of this week, we did a service project and that feels like yesterday. The days are long, the weeks are kinda faster?


Sunday was busy, with an extra meeting for district leaders thrown in there, too. It wasn't a "day of rest" but it was still good and I felt the spirit lots! We were asked go watch a talk Elder Bednar of the quorum of the 12 apostles gave at the MTC some time ago called "The Character of Christ." Wow. A sister said that after watching it she felt like she'd been translated, and I thought that was a great way to put it. Idk if there's text or a video for the public to watch it, but definitely look for it because it blew my mind with its simplicity, and just inspired me so much to be more christlike. Essentially the thesis was: Where the natural man would turn inward in selfishness/self-pity, the Savior turned outward in love, compassion, and service to others.

Something I've discovered (too late) here in the MTC is the miracle of everything made by the BYU Creamery. Chocolate Milk and ice cream especially. I can't describe it but imagine the best possible chocolate milk and that's it. On tap at every meal. It's dangerous, but I'm still fitting in that last hope in my belt, so I'm safe so far! Yay for a speedy metabolism.

Monday we had our service project early in the morning. Nothing crazy, just sweeping and mopping a staircase and elevator in one of the residency buildings. The elders in front of us had to do bathrooms so we lucked out. :)

This week, we had our first TRCs. (Training Resource Center.) Basically, there are almost 100 people who are either on staff or volunteer? (idk) to play "investigators" for every companionship here. Or at least us english speaking ones. We had 4 meetings with two different people this week. We didn't know going into it whether they were actors or real investigators/people interested in the church. We got to practice teaching them lessons, answering questions, and helping them feel the spirit. Challenging them to read the book of Mormon and pray about it was a big part of it. It was cool seeing how the spirit led us to change the order of lessons for certain people, to focus on certain things, or invite them to do different things based on the person. There were plenty of awkward moments in the lessons, but we really got to enjoy getting to know and teach these people. I learned soooo much about teaching, feel a little bit more confident, and it was just really good. We actually got both of them to commit to baptism! It was awesome seeing them feel the spirit and change because of it. Our 2nd investigator, after inviting him to say the closing prayer and ask if what we said was true, was quiet for a while and just said "Wow. That feels really good." He had been kinds closed off and passive before then, but from that moment on he kept his commitments, read the book of Mormon on his own, and started setting goals. It was really cool. He ended up being a member already, but it gets me excited to be able to have similar experiences w real people! We'll get 2 more investigators this next week.

Our zone has gotten really into volleyball and 4 square for our daily exercise.  That's been really fun! I must say, I ended with a very long reign in the king square during our last 4 square game. :)

On Tuesday we had a devotional and Sister and Elder Zaballo of the 70 spoke. I was most impressed with the music at that devotional. The choir sang consider the lilies. And one of our opening songs was the primary song "I lived in heaven."

Elder Miller and I had been struggling in how to teach the plan of salvation in our next lesson with our investigators, but that beautiful, simple primary song summed up the entire lesson we wanted to share so beautifully and succinctly. I had to hold back tears, something about it just hit me so hard.

As the closing song, we sang Praise to the Man, and the line "millions shall know brother Joseph again" hit almost as hard. I'm excited to be one of the many helping introduce people to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our district of 4 elders and 6 sisters is getting really close! They/we are all pretty goofy, but these are just incredible people I look up to do much. I feel like I'm more confident as the district leader now, and have enjoyed it.

On Wednesday, the new shipment of elders and sisters came In! It's nice not being the newbies, and weird to think that was us a week ago.

On our 2nd to last meeting with our 2nd investigator he said he felt the spirit while we were talking about baptism but that he didn't feel ready. I testified that heavenly father had more trust in him than he did in himself and was helping him feel the spirit to tell him he was already ready. The spirit was there, it was awesome.

Yesterday after our last TRC, after getting 2/2 people to commit to baptism, we had about an hour before exercise hour and nothing specific to study for anymore, so... I took a nap. It was bliss, a tender mercy haha.

This morning, we went to the temple. I really felt the weight of what we were doing there. Basically, on behalf of those people who lived their lives without hearing the gospel, we do those things that will allow them to live with our heavenly father again. To me, it doesn't make sense that God would judge people based off of expectations they never got to hear in their lives. So it's cool to see how much our Heavenly Father loves all of His children and how he gives people second chances even in death.

Got some exciting stuff in the mail today! My cousins the Joyals sent some adorable drawings of missionaries and wishing me well in "Arkinsa" haha, it made my day. We also got... Our travel itinerary! Weird to think about! Leaving the MTC next week on the 20th.

We'll report to the MTC travel office at the grueling hour of 3:30AM haha, for a flight that leaves at 8:30. I know we have to ride a shuttle to the TRAX system and then ride to salt lake, and then another train to the airport. (Which I've done a time or two before! :)) so like yeah it's a lot to get to the airport, but 3:30 in the morning seems a little excessive haha.

Anyway, even though it's early, I'm really excited to get up at 3am for our flight.

We'll fly with the sisters of our district to Georgia, their mission, say goodbye there, and then catch our flight to little rock! Exciting!

As I'm writing this email, one of the new elders in our zone is playing eye of the tiger on the recorder. (Thankfully pretty well haha)

Spend me emails and stuff!
oliver.dahl@myldsmail.net

Elder Oliver Dahl
Jun20 AR-L8TR
2005 N 900 E #149
Provo, UT 84602

Mom add: Here is the song mentioned, "I Lived in Heaven" ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nDAo3alBo8