The One With the Temple and Drive Time

Most of this week seems like it happened about a month and a half ago by now, but nope... that was this week!


On Monday night, we went straight into finding, and found 3 new people to teach. Not a bad start to the week!

On Tuesday, we met some more characters. We knocked on one guy's door and he got after us for walking past his no trespassing signs. But then talked with us for like an hour. So hey!

Later, we went to visit a referral from the sisters. I think they just think it's funny to send us sketchy and/or crazy people. The latest of these was in some kind of rehab place. He's been in there for like 8 years after being run over by a backhoe. It wasn't just his leg that was damaged, if you know what I mean. He was talking about getting a spaceship to escape to an island, and selling the rocks he pulled out of his pockets as diamonds to make a billion dollars. Then we met his girlfriend, who was in a slightly better mental state, but probably about a five year old mentality. She fell of a balcony a few months ago. Kinda sad. She gave us a picture she drew and walked us to our car.


Wednesday was Zone Conference, and it just so happened to be in Searcy, Arkansas! Our branch president drove our district up there, a solid hour and forty five minute drive one way. He's awesome, and sounded like he enjoyed zone conference almost as much as I did! We talled about prayer and a new planning technique that has been really good.

That night, one of the assistants called us and asked if we would trade our morning shift at the temple for a media event, for a 12pm-8pm shift helping with the tours. That ended up being such a blessing!


So Thursday, instead of going to the morning shift, we got to see one of the people we are teaching for a good, quick visit and then we headed to Memphis to help at the temple which will be dedicated come May! This week wasn't open to the public, at least that's what they said, but they didn't turn anyone away either haha. Within the first few minutes of us being there, a couple from Denmark walked in wanting to tour the temple, so everyone scrambled to accommodate haha. They said they'd gone to the Rome, Italy open house and were now roadtripping across the United States and wanted to tour another temple! So we joined them and got to see the inside. It's so beautiful! And seems a lot bigger than before the remodel, but is apparently the same size.

As their tour was ending, another tour group consisting of missionaries was just starting, so we went through again with them. Then they sent us to a room in the church building to wait for assignments, but they didn't come for a while, and there was just a table full of enough cookies for an army. So when someone did come asking for volunteers, I was quick to raise my hand. We ended up getting the best job haha. Everyone else helped with parking.

We ended up being the guys in charge of opening the temple doors for each group coming in and out. It was cool to hear people's reactions coming out. To name a few:
- "Wow! Wow wow! Wow!"
- (in response to, "how do you feel?") "I feel like I've just finished a journey."

We got back really late that night after trying to navigate Memphis's freeway system amidst crazy drivers haha. The usual.


Then the next day, still a little worn out, I got to go to Jonesboro on exchanges with our zone leaders. It's about an hour drive up there. After studies and trying to visit a few people, we drove another hour out to Pocahontas, Arkansas, where I got to do 3 consecutive baptismal interviews for 3 brothers from the Marshall Islands. The oldest was a junior in high school, and said the closing prayer in Marshalese. The youngest was in 8th grade and in his closing prayer, asked God to bless me and my family, which I thought was really special. 

We then drove back to Jonesboro, and visited a less active member with about 1.2 legs. The floor of his house was bubbled, warped, and falling in in some places, poor guy. 

We got back to their house (literally, a 2 story house the mission rents from a member. They share it with a set of Spanish elders who are super funny) and didn't have the imagination to think of anything else to cook besides another quesadilla, so we went to Chick-fil-a and that was great haha. 

We drove back to West Memphis the next morning, weekly planned, and had our interviews with President Hansen. It's crazy thinking we are going into the last week of the transfer. And then it's the last transfer of my mission, eek!

As we were driving home, I was thinking about one of the sister's investigators, enough that I felt like I should call them to see how he's doing. When they answered, they said they were on their way right then to see him. So that was a cool confirmation to me that I've learned to recognize promptings at least some of the time! :)

On Sunday, no one came to church again, but I think we are getting closer to having people ready for this Sunday! (Even if I'm having to give one of my belts to a guy so he will come haha) We had some good lessons that night, though, and closed the week out with call-ins!

Today's been fun, too, but it's not over yet, so I'll probably wait til next week to write about it! It does involve biking over the Mississippi, though, so...

Love y'all!
Elder Dahl

oliver.dahl@missionary.org

107 McCain Blvd Apt. D,
West Memphis, AR, 72301

​Video: https://youtu.be/N-iiyfRZKBo

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