It's My Birthday!!!! 20 years old.....wow. (Week 44:update from Sachse, Texas)

 Part of my birthday present was this incredible sign. My favorite quote- "In God's plan there are no endings, Only everlasting beginnings." 20 years ago my eternal life with the best parents began.. I'm so lucky! 

All my chocolate... well there's more..but this is what I felt like taking a picture of. And yes that is a Jesus chocolate. And yes, that is organic healthy chocolate in that bag! I found the answer to my addiction! This is even healthy! It has no sugar. Just dark chocolate and honey. My goodness I love it.

4-28-2014

First of all.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA LEATHAM! I love you so much! I've loved you since the day I was born, and for eternity before then as well. I feel so blessed to share a birthday with such an incredible woman. I look up to you so much! You are the most amazing blessing to our family. I hope your birthday is so wonderful. I'm sending you hugs and kisses!!

and Yes it's my birthday too! It's been a great one so far. I really do have the best family. All I wanted was a letter from each of them and they definitely exceeded that expectation! And thank everyone for all the birthday email! I feel so loved! Out of all the presents I've been given, probably 90% of it was chocolate. People know me too well. God, love, and chocolate. Those are my basic needs and wants. I love my family and friends! I really have been so blessed to be surrounded by the most incredible people. Wow. Also for my birthday I FINISHED THE BOOK OF MORMON. Wooh! Perfect timing. Wow, I love that book!

I can't believe I am 20 years old. I seriously feel so old today. I am no longer a teenager! I don't even know how to be 20! But I'll take it one day at a time. And now I want to take a moment and admire God's hand in my life. We had interviews this week and Sister Durrant spoke about what a huge blessing the 'age change' was for so many. I thought about it. It changed my life. Completely turned it around. I couldn't help but cry because God literally loves me so much, He lowered the age at the exact moment I needed it. He once again saved my life. My mission is and forever will be the best choice I ever made. I heard a story from someone in our ward. His brother taught the deacons a long time ago and told them if they went on missions he would pay them $500. All but one went, and he said it was worth every cent! It is most definitely. The same man taught a group of primary girls. He gave them each a dollar and said they could spend that dollar or they could save it and if they got married in the temple, he would pay them each $100 if they brought back that $1. What an amazing man! And I love the emphasis on missions. My future marriage would not be the same if I didn't serve a mission, I know that for a fact!

So we had such an amazing week!

We found 5 new investigators. It was such a huge miracle. Two of them are super solid, too. One lady and her family were a referral from the Evans. Her husbands family all joined the church within the past 10 years. Her whole side of the family is Catholic, so they get pressure from both sides. She wants to investigate and see which one fits her family the best. What an amazing mother! Then we are teaching another lady who was a referral from the Bishop. Her story is incredible. So she is 45 and is fighting colon cancer. She goes through intense chemo treatment and it's really affecting her and her family's life. Her biological father died when she was very young. She never knew his side of the family, but 5 years ago she was doing family history work on her father and his side of the family (who are all members) found her! They told her she should get a blessing, so they contacted our bishop. He then asked her the willing and brief invitation and BAM we are teaching her! She is such a strong woman. She really has lived a difficult life. The gospel will help her so much. It's so amazing to be able to know and love her.

Robert hasn't been to church in 3 weeks...pray for him and Judy.. :(

John Cook is pretty sick.. I need prayers.

The Riegals are going to church and the father is taking the lessons! Prayers answered!

Byron ran into anti material...prayers. 

We had a ward talent show on Saturday and Sister Reboquio and I wrote more words to the Cup song/Called to Serve. It was really good, everyone loved it! We also spoke on Sunday. Everyone said they loved that as well! Interviews were great. Those were the last interviews the Durrants will give before they leave! Crazy. They asked me to sing at that meeting as well. I've been able to sing practically every week! I love it! I heard David Archuleta is home.. crazy!

My companion is incredible. She's doing so good! Her life is such an example. Her foster parents are the mission president and his wife of a mission in the Philippines. Her family is in too much poverty to take care of all the kids, that's why she is fostered. She converted to the gospel at age 10 and a lot of her family is less active now. Seriously she is so strong, I love her! She is such a blessing to me. I thank God every day.

Ether 12:27 is my scripture of the week!

"Pure Christ like love flowing from true righteousness can change the world." Elder Holland

I love y'all so much! All y'all and each y'all. Thank you so much for such a wonderful birthday.

Sister Kristina Dalling

 P.S.

Sorry everyone but I had to get evidence of this!

This is my gigantic spider bite. Yep, it's 2 weeks old and still nasty. You should have seen it last week. This seriously looks like it's healed a ton. The story: We were just outside and my arm started itching, I scratched it barely and my skin started peeling. Then I had a huge bump and it was red and my skin was raw. It was disgusting. We tracted into a nurse last week and she said it was a spider bite and that I was super lucky and I should have seen a doctor. Apparently spiders here in Texas can be very dangerous. And this was a huge spider. Those are the bite marks, pretty gross right? Good thing I didn't die! Just kidding ;) It's fine, just kind of horrible looking.

p.p.s. Also! This is completely unrelated but when the group of missionaries that Sister Reboquio entered with came into the mission, one of the new sisters came up to me. She said 'don't think this is creepy or anything but I know all about you! I stalked your blog ever since I decided to serve a mission.' Made my day! Seriously-haha. This is such a small world. Thought y'all would enjoy that! 

"Happy Easter!" Week 43 Update from Sachse, Texas

"Yes, men and women who turn their lives over to God will find out that he can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life to God will find he has eternal life."  New Era, May 1975 President Ezra Taft Benson

Losing my life to God was the best thing I ever did. Period. This mission, as Felipe has said, 'is the hardest thing I've ever loved'. And training is the best thing I've ever been nervous for.

My new companion is Sister Reboquio! She is amazing. She's from the Philippines, which is the coolest thing ever! This is her first time in America! It has been quite an adventure teaching her about this country and learning about her country. She speaks Tagalog but studied English in school. Her English is pretty good but there's still a little bit of a language barrier. She's adjusting very well though! She's the sweetest person from an amazing culture. I love Filipinos just from what she's told me. Training is crazy, especially because I'm training her on an entirely new culture too. Her country is a lot more simple than ours. The people are much more harsh here and our way of life is quite extravagant. Being her trainer has taught me a lot more than what I'm teaching her. This is definitely a life changing experience! Her people serve each other all the time and are so respectful, it's so incredible! I can easily say the only hard thing about training so far is my disappointment in our culture.. People don't seem to have enough time for God or to serve and love each other. The way money is thrown around is super astounding to my companion, and it's really opened my eyes. We could really use some humility up in here!;)

The differences in our cultures don't all make me sad though! It's been so fun experiencing things she's never done or seen. I took her to Subway for the first time- she loved it! (Thanks for the gift card mom!) She says everything is bigger in Texas- and she doesn't even know that's a saying! But it's true! She was amazed how big the sky, the sun and moon are. She's never met so many inside, pampered dogs. In the Philippines, dogs usually run around the  streets all the time. I taught her how to use a dishwasher and a washing machine. I want to teach her to drive, but pretty sure the mission wouldn't approve! We bought rice and have been eating that everyday. She's teaching me Tagalog and we are going to learn I am a Child of God! She's really adorable. She has an amazing spirit and testimony. She is a super powerful teacher. Training has really been the best experience! There are so many things, I don't even have enough time to write them all down. One funny story- The first night she was here she was still not sure about what she should and shouldn't do. So we were getting ready for bed and I said my prayer and got into bed. I left the light on because she was still praying and usually the last person to go to sleep will turn the light off. She must have thought we slept with the light on or something because the light was on all night. I was so tired I didn't even notice until 6am! The next day our light burnt out- haha! It's been fun. She watches and does and says everything I do, so it's been a good chance to evaluate all those things in myself. I'm always teaching her new words and she is a great, fast learner!

We have had a great week! It's been a huge blessing to have such fresh faith. I'll have to tell y'all about more miracles next week! I got to sing a song in Spanish at another Spanish baptism- that was one highlight. Gift of tongues in music for sure since I only had 10 minutes to prepare! Oh and one of my favorite highlights- Robert and Judy have been having a hard time recently. She is getting more sick and it doesn't look like she'll be able to be baptized in this life. Robert is so tired. So we asked what his favorite dessert was. Key lime pie. So with the help of the Lea family, we got to make his dessert! He wasn't expecting it at all. It brought tears to both of their eyes and meant so much to them. It was definitely worth all 20 key limes that we juiced. I'm so blessed to have so many incredible people in my life right now!

Also I read the story of the brother of Jared in Ether and wrote down my thoughts. I really got a lot out of this story and wanted to share it with y'all: When we turn to God and rely on His support, He will be there. He will provide trials. He will provide safety, light, protection, guidance to lead us in the right direction toward what He has prepared for us. There may be storms of trials, we may be completely submerged in hardship but He will always bring us back up. Under water or above water, He will always be the light that never dims. We must keep ourselves 'tight like unto a dish' to God and His counsel. No wiggle room. We should praise Him and give Him thanks unceasingly. Then, we must go to work.

President Monson: "Whether it is the best of times or the worst of times, He is with us. He has promised that this will never change. May we have a commitment to our Heavenly Father that does not ebb or flow with the years or the crises of our lives. We should not need to experience difficulties for us to remember Him, and we should not be driven to humility before giving Him our faith and trust. May we ever strive to be close to our Heavenly Father. To do so, we must pray to Him and listen to Him every day. We truly need Him every hour, whether they be hours of sunshine or of rain. May His promise ever be our watchward: 'I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.'"

Easter was the best ever! Made me cry every time I thought about how incredible it was to spend Easter as a missionary. Talking of Christ, Rejoicing in Christ, Preaching of Christ. He lives! He is Risen! He will come again!

Mahal kita! (I love you in Tagalog)

Sister Kristina Dalling

P.S. I completed my 21 day chocolate fast! And my mom provided the prize. Thanks for the best Easter package! aka chocolate package aka I love you! I have the best family ever!

Forever<3

Write me!

Sister Kristina Dalling

6360 Murphy Rd.
#123
Sachse, TX 75048

Week 42 Update From The Sachse, Texas: "Because of Him"

Click here to watch "Because of Him" video

This is in honor of Frozen. We've heard so much about this movie and the soundtrack is the best thing ever! So we built a snowman at Bahama Bucks ;)

While we were tracting, we knocked on a house with a pet pig! Only in Texas..

Joakim's baptism! Look at all these sister missionaries.. I would call this a sister success ;)

Remember this picture posed way back while we were teaching him? Yep, we created it again on his baptism day! I love these people so much. 

Sunsets here in Texas after a thunderstorm are just breathtaking. I love Texas!

Bluebonnets! True, wild, Texan beauty

Transfer 3 in Sachse here we come! Sister Stephenson is being transferred, and she's really sad about it, but I know she'll enjoy discovering a new area. So I'm going to be training this transfer! I'm going to be a mom (aka the title missionaries give the sisters that train a grennie sister missionary)! I'm super nervous about it. I feel like God is trusting me too much. It'll be a good experience and I know I'll grow a lot from it. I  hope I can be a good trainer! I really can feel her parents' prayers asking God for a good first companion for their daughter. So no pressure!

We had such a good week last week! Joakim's baptism was one of the best experiences on my mission! I've learned so much from him, it was incredible to see him make these changes and show his faith in Christ. He was confirmed Sunday and received the priesthood all in the same day! Couldn't have been a better weekend! For celebration we went to a Japanese sushi restaurant which was unbelievably good! I didn't even know I liked sushi that much. Amazing stuff!

It's been really hard finding new investigators who really have a desire, so I'm hoping the new 'greenie faith' coming in will help with that. I'm so ready to find more success in Sachse! I'm also super excited for Easter! It's such an incredible holiday! The fact that Christ lives changes everything. It's impacted my life in ways I can't describe. Because of Him I am here today. Because of Him I have hope. Because of Him I WILL live again..with the people that matter to me most- my family. I love Easter! And I love Jesus Christ! Also there's a super good Mormon message called Because of Him. Y'all need to watch it. <Click here> And share it with everyone!

So Texas really showed her beauty this week. The bluebonnets are blooming everywhere! They are insanely beautiful. We've been getting a lot of thunderstorms too. And heat lightening! I absolutely love it. God's creations are so incredible.

One of my favorite members from The Colony sent me a letter and included some quotes that I just have to share! I loved it. Thank you Sister Dali!

"Nobody else could do what you can do right now, right here." Sis Dali

"I've learned a few things about this path we're all traveling. We are exactly where we need to be. And crawling is fine."

Much Love,

Sister Dalling

Week 41 From The Sachse

Hey y'all! 

This week we really weren't able to get a lot done with conference, but it was still a great week! I went to the allergy doctor this morning so hopefully that will all be figured out! It hasn't been that bad recently because of all the rain..because of the storms..because of the tornado. Yep, there was a tornado close to Sherman, TX which is like an hour away, but it caused a few days of thunderstorms that were pretty crazy. Tornado season is going to be fun! 

Joakim's baptism is this Saturday!!!!!!! I am so excited! He has become one of my very best friends. I'm so happy God has led him to where he is today. He's such a great example to me of faith and trusting in God. This week is going to be a great one! 

We are teaching this one elderly lady that we found from tracting. She's pretty funny! She's sweet as heck. She loves to talk, and we found out she used to have a best friend who was Mormon. Not sure how interested she is in joining yet, but she is an amazing woman! 

General Conference was so good! I think my top favorite talks were Sister Reeves', Elder Richard G Scott's, President Uchtdorf's, and President Monson's. Overall it was just an incredible conference. One of my favorite quotes is "In [God's] plan, there are no endings, only everlasting beginnings."President Uchtdorf. Amen to that! I feel so grateful to know so much about God and His plan for all of us. 

Also, I'm so grateful God has allowed me to bear my testimony through music a lot lately. We had the song Elder Evans and President Durrant wrote filmed and recorded on Saturday. That was a really fun project! Hopefully I'll have the video soon! Speaking of President Durrant, he was just called as the second counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency! I can't believe it! I have the best mission president in the whole world. He is so amazing. He is such a good example to all of us. Also the Spanish elders had a baptism yesterday they asked me to sing at. It was really special and I was so grateful to serve with my talents. 

Well that's all for now, folks! Hope this week is filled with joy and blessings for all of you! 

Love,

Sis Dalling

p.s. Here are some pics of Jeremy's baptism! 

Week 40 from Sachse, Texas!

Women's General Conference was AMAZING! 

It was such an amazing way to end a week of complete miracles. It was so incredible to think about how my mom and sisters were watching it along with me. I felt so close to so many amazing women who have influenced my life in so many ways. I absolutely loved how much they talked about standing as a witness of God at all times, in all things, and in all places. I hope I can always do that throughout my life. I'm called to represent Jesus Christ full time right now, but I hope I can always stand for Him. The errand of angels is truly given to women. And I loved how they invited us not only to love more, but to love better. That was SO powerful. It was also an answer to my prayers when they talked about our true identity and our true nature. I've heard so often about our fallen nature and the natural man is an enemy to God. Thinking about all the times I've fallen short and witnessing so many who have also fallen short and don't even know it- it's taken a toll on me. But when they talked about how our true identity and nature is a disciple of Jesus Christ, a daughter of God it meant so much to me. I also loved how Elder Eyring talked about how we need to see people as children of God, in the way God sees them. He opened up my eyes to just how much potential God sees in me. He said he sees more potential than even what my earthly mom sees in me. And she's one of my biggest fans along with my dad.

So now that y'all know how much I loved the Women's Conference, I'll tell you a little about my amazing week. We found 7 new investigators and received the best news EVER. JOAKIM IS GETTING BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's been taught for like 8 months and has finally received the answer to be baptized. We had an amazing lesson on temples and family history. Man, I love the temple! And after we asked him to pray to know if he should be baptized. The next day he called us and asked if we could meet. We were so nervous, I thought he was dropping us or something. My heart was about to break when he said "sisters, I need to tell you something.." then he said "I want to be baptized and become a member of your church." AHHHHHHHHH. Could not believe it. So he's going to take this next step on April 12! We and all the other sisters who have taught him couldn't be happier. I'd like to say I had something to do with it, but it was all God, Christ, and the Holy Ghost.

It was just such a good week. And you wouldn't believe the theme of our new investigators. For some reason God led us to 4 teen moms to teach. Two pairs and two completely different houses but we happened to find them all and all of them were receptive. So weird! One is pregnant still and one got married the day before she gave birth. It was really an incredible thing to feel God's love for them as we taught them about The Restoration and about our Savior's love for them. God is so great! He is an awesome God.

Oh and I got to have a surprise call to my parents! President Durrant let me call them while I was practicing the song we are working on. What a tender mercy! And then the Evans- who are awesome- took a video of us and sent it to them. I hope my family knows how much I love them! And darling Emily, I wish I could've talked to you but I will soon.. in May! By the way, I'm only quitting chocolate for 21 days.. so no worries about my easter package! Pack it with chocolate! I am addicted, and so I thought it would be a healthy choice to build some resistance to it. ;)

Well I love y'all! I'm loving my mission! Can't believe this transfer is almost over!

Until next week,

Sis Dalling

Week 39 Update from Sachse, Texas!

Hey y'all!

Another week of miracles! To be honest, I've had to really look for the miracles this week, but regardless they were there! It was a trying week.

For example, Tuesday we had 5 lessons planned and all of them fell through or cancelled! So we basically knocked on doors all day every day. It was exhausting! But it builds character- haha.

On Friday, we had Specialized Training with all the English missionaries. It was really great to see everyone! Oh, when I saw Sister Allred, she told me her grandpa passed away two weeks ago. So keep her in your prayers! Can't imagine how hard that must be. So during the training, President Durrant told a story about how a missionary's parents and older brother visited Dallas for business but wanted to see their missionary. They didn't want to distract him, but chose to watch from afar all day. He told two scenarios, the first was of a missionary who wasn't working as hard as he should have been and it made the parents and brother really sad. The second scenario was that they were so proud to see him working with all his might. At the end, we found out the parents were our Heavenly Parents and Jesus Christ, our elder brother. It was such a powerful story. And it really rang true to me. God sees everything I'm doing, He sees all my hard work even though sometimes nobody else does because we don't have success in numbers. God and Christ know my potential and they are with me every step of the way. I really needed to hear that this week!

So Sister Stephenson and I made a goal to contact as many people as we could the rest of the week. In one day, we talked to 100 people. We had a total of 202 contacts for the week. Usually missionaries have a hard time reaching 100 for a total week. It was a lot of hard work and we are exhausted now, but it was so worth it! And it was incredible realizing God and Christ were watching me and were with me every moment.

We even tracted a neighborhood no missionary has knocked on prior because it was gated. As missionaries, gated communities are one of our biggest enemies. I think every missionary gets the police called on them at least once. The police have come twice already in my 9 months! So in this gated community we ran into a few houses that had gates that led up to the door as well. Sister Stephenson and I asked each other if we should still unlock the gate and knock on the door, and after a few moments we came to the conclusion that we definitely should! Why were we fearing what man could do? Why were we scared of a simple gate? My motivation was found in a simple thought that entered into my head "Please don't let a simple gate stop this person from hearing My gospel.. I love this person, and I suffered everything for them so I could heal them. Please don't pass this chance up for them". It felt so good to knock on that door, even though it didn't lead to anything! Christ was rejected too, He was scared too of how bitter the cup was. I can do my simple part in giving everyone the chance to feel that healing, to come to Christ.

So I learned a lot. I grew a ton this week and I am so grateful for that!

Also President Durrant asked a favor of me! He asked an elder and I to make music to a poem President wrote. I'm going to sing it at a meeting in May or June. I was so honored when he pulled me aside and asked! He said I've become the official TDM vocalist. I'm so excited for this opportunity. I love my mission!

Expect more miracles next week!

Love,

Sister Kristina Dalling

Write me!

6360 Murphy Rd.
#123
Sachse, TX 75048