Week 46/47/48 "Staying in Sachse!!"

I Love Jesus Christ, Lyrics written by President Durrant, Music by Elder Clark Evans, and sung by Sister Kristina Dalling (Click on link to see youtube video)

Sister Nance and I :)

and my awesome birthday present from the Leas, mostly Joakim. 

Best Mission birthday ever! :)

Best Mission birthday ever! :) (Part II)

The Leas let us borrow their cooler..for a week! I am seriously spoiled, I thought this was such a trial. I'm learning :)

This bug. Found it in the middle of our kitchen! Ew. 

Blue Bonnet flowers - My favorite!

Week 48: 

Hey y'all!

First and most importantly: HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA DALLING! I love you so much! You are such an inspiration to me. I feel so lucky and blessed to bear your name here in Texas. Your legacy is unbelievable. I'm so happy I am yours forever and ever!:) <3

Another 6 weeks in Sachse, and I'm so grateful to be here!! I have no idea what the Lord has in store for me, but it will be worth it, I know that.

I really don't have much time today because it's Memorial Day, we only have half an hour.

Let me tell you, we had the most incredible week. We found 8 new investigators and the best news of all......WE HAVE A BAPTISMAL DATE! Jacob, from Israel. He is golden. He kept saying how much of an honor it would be to be a Mormon and asking how he could join. Of course we told him it would take a few weeks to understand and accept everything, but he has true desire! He is incredible. He's an expert on the Bible and genealogy.

I really am learning so much about history and the Bible. It's been such a good experience serving in Texas.

Every day we have just been so blessed. We even went to the temple with Joakim to show him around. It is so beautiful with all the spring flowers. I love that place.

Well that's all for now! I'm so happy to have my awesome companion and to be surrounded by so many amazing people.

Keep Jacob in your prayers!

I love you!!!

Love,
Sister Dalling

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Week 47:

Hey y'all!

I had a great week! Really, God has been good. But first, transfer calls are this Saturday!! I have mixed feelings about it, which is good because either way I'll be okay with it. Leaving Sachse would be really sad for me. I've grown to love the people so much here. Also I've learned SO much about myself. I've really become more like the person I am always striving to be. But staying in Sachse would be a trial as well because I'm dying to teach and baptize more. We are working so hard. I've never been more tired in my life, except maybe on finals week. But this is like a finals week that never ends..for 18 months! I know wherever God calls me will be the place I need to go. I'm learning to trust that. Patience is one thing I haven't mastered yet, so waiting for the call is really, really difficult! We'll see!

So this week we found 6 new investigators! It was a complete miracle. We pushed through really hard and the Lord blessed us. I'm always amazed when people let two strangers into their home to hear a message. But it happens and it's great when it does!

One huge miracle is Zach. He was taught by elders for a long time. They stopped meeting with him about a year ago. He lives next door to an awesome member in our ward, who called us up and told us he really thinks it's time to try Zach again. So we called Zach and met with him and he is awesome! We had a really good discussion about the reason and blessings why we have the word of wisdom. He has a testimony of just about everything! We also met the cutest couple who just let us in. They are 84 year old devout Mexican Catholics, but they love talking about God with anyone of any faith. They've been together 60 years and were just adorable. He kept saying she's losing her mind and he's just waiting for the Good Lord to call him home. They are still so in love and serve each other all the time. They even sang a song for us- old people are the best! Oh we also met a man named Jacob. He is from Israel but has lived in Texas for a long time. He's fluent in 4 languages, Hebrew, English, and I don't remember the last two. He's read the Bible in all four! He knows a lot as you can imagine and even knows a lot about our faith. He investigated many years ago. He heard a few anti things that turned him off but really respects the church. He told us that ours is one of the biggest churches Jerusalem has allowed to be built there. He is willing to listen to our message again, so wish us luck! I learn so much from all the faith here in Texas.

I sang President Durrant's song "I love Jesus Christ" at the Carrolton Stake Conference on Sunday. It was a huge honor to be there. President Durrant was one of the speakers and introduced the song, let us perform it, and that was his talk! I still can't believe I get to be the one to sing this wonderful song.  I love my mission president!

Robert and Judy really aren't doing well. Judy is in her last moments. The doctors suggested to Robert that they stop feeding her soon, then she has just 1-3 days left. We visited twice this week. She is in really bad shape, her lungs are filling up with water and they aren't feeding her very much at all because it worsens the condition of her lungs. Robert is so strong and he knows she does not want to live like this. He asked me to sing Judy a song, and I sang I Stand All Amazed. She will be well taken care of when she leaves this life, that I am sure of. It's impossible to be with those two and not feel God's love for them. It is an honor to know such amazing people. Robert is also a recovering alcoholic and designed something called the Marble Cage, it's too help people who are overcoming addiction. It's really a beautiful thing. Go on his website marbleinacage.com to check it out. He's amazing!

Well, that's it folks! I'm doing great, thanks for all the prayers and support!

Love,

Sister Dalling

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Week 46:

Mother's Day was the best!! 

I'm so glad I got to talk to my family. I miss y'all so much! But I know I'm loved and have so much support. This mission would be a lot harder without my family. Mothers are incredible, especially my mom. They have so much responsibility, and seriously have the hardest job in the world. Preparing children to face this world is a daunting task, but so many mothers face it fearlessly every day. I wouldn't be here today if my mom didn't take the time to teach me about my Father in Heaven, my Savior, and the gospel.

So we had a great week! It was pretty slow, but of course we saw miracles. We met someone this week who thought the heavens were still closed and miracles ceased. Their preacher is saying that, I couldn't believe it! I told her to spend a day with us if she wanted to see proof that God is a God of miracles and there is a constant flow of revelation pouring down from Heaven. 

Jennifer and Josh are that nice couple who let us in when we knocked on the door. We met with them again and still had a lot of questions. They are so nice and really seem to have a desire to understand. They let us borrow their mini fridge and are going to feed us dinner tomorrow night! I really hope and pray we can help them understand the restored gospel. They are such awesome people. It always amazes me how God provides. There's so many people in my life that God uses as tools to support me. The Leas are great examples of that. Laura seems to save the day when I need it most. I wish little things like fridges and ant infestations didn't bother me but those little things add up fast! 

Thursday we had kind of a crazy day. I already told my family but its a good story. We were out tracting in the pouring rain. It was really raining hard, but we were having fun with it, getting completely soaked from head to toe. Only 2 people were home after an hour of knocking in this rain. We talked to one man who is now a potential investigator and then right after that we got a text about a tornado warning and to take shelter. We only had 3 more houses so we were going to just finish the street but then the tornado sirens around the city started going off. We ran back to our car, which was probably a mile away. Luckily we made it back to the apartment safely and God filled us with peace and calm, but it was quite the adventure. My first tornado warning in Texas! 

The weather here is so strange. I feel responsible for the tornado warning because the day before I prayed for a thunderstorm so my allergies wouldn't be so bad. God provided! And it's been pretty overcast ever since. Still very hot and humid, but is has helped! The bugs are still disgusting and something I'll probably never get used to. We had to clean all our cabinets out because of the ants. 

A huge miracle on Sunday! Esmirna and her husband and kids came to church! They loved it. We're teaching her again this week. Their family is so prepared. We're REALLY excited about them. 

It was also really great getting to meet Sister Reboquio's foster parents through skype. He's a mission president so as you can imagine, he's super spiritual. He made me cry telling me how grateful they were for me and how my companion would remember me forever. I love serving with this incredible girl! I am so blessed. 

Well I love y'all! So much! 7 more months!!

Love,

S.Dalling

Sister Kristina Dalling

6360 Murphy Rd.

#123

Sachse, TX 75048

or email:

kristina.dalling@myldsmail.net

Week of the Infestation of Blessings and Trials (Week 45 Update from Sachse, Texas)

The Gladys Knight Concert was so AMAZING!

It's been kind of a crazy week, so I'll try to cover most of it!

Happy Cinco de Mayo! We've had a lot of Mexican food this week because everyone found out Sister Reboquio hadn't had it before. So we're prepared to have a very Tex-Mex holiday today. 

I don't even know where to begin! I've been pretty overwhelmed with so many ups and downs. Sachse is definitely turning out to be a growth period in my life. 

Monday- My birthday was just so great! Of course you already heard about most of it and all that my family did. Then Joakim's family gave me a true birthday party! It was the best! There was chocolate cake, a huge teddy bear, and an awesome card everybody signed. And Joakim sang happy birthday in Norwegian. I feel so loved! We also had a family home evening (FHE) with the Sanchez family. I stole my parents Tree of Life idea and we did it with them. The kids loved it! We made a 'rod of iron' out of string and it led to the 'fruit of the tree of life' or candy. We blind folded them and we pretended to be the adversary to get them to let go. Brother Sanchez went first since Lehi went first to lead his family down the path. It was so powerful.  The kids loved it! Thanks mom and dad for being such great parents! Keep those FHE's going. 

Tuesday- we have this new investigator who is progressing pretty well. She hasn't come to church yet and we haven't taught her family yet, but you can tell there is sincere desire to know. She is a tender mercy! We've been praying so hard for someone like her. We also met with a "less active" couple, but you wouldn't know it because their testimonies are still strong. Anyways, we had a great conversation about blessings and miracles in our lives' and the mother shared an experience about doing her father's temple work since she is a convert. Then my companion started tearing up and told us about how her father's work hasn't been done either. She's the only one in her family who can do it since she is the most active. She didn't know she could do it on her mission, but I told her it would happen no matter what. So we called President Durrant and got permission. We asked Joakim to perform the baptism for her father. This week or the next we are going to have the baptism of Brother Reboquio who died 18 years ago. It was such an incredible, spiritual experience. And we have both felt his presence. We know he is ready and excited. I'm so grateful for the temple! 

Thursday- We had a great lesson with Joakim about the priesthood. So exciting! I also had to get a ton more allergy medicine because Texas is crazy and it kills me. It affects my whole body and there is no medication that is strong enough. But life goes on! I just won't be able to properly breathe for a couple of months. 

Friday- I don't remember what day this happened, but we helped the Arrevalo's paint the entire inside of their garage. That was fun and a good experience. We also ended up talking with two Jehovah's Witness' for about an hour. Technically they are new investigators, but we are mostly just trying to understand the others' beliefs. It will be interesting! Who knows, they could feel the Spirit testify to them this message is true! We've been working so hard though, tracting at least 4 hours almost every day. We've talked to over 200 people and haven't had very much luck, so that kind of got me down for a couple of days. But I've been learning and realizing a lot about what true success is. Again. God is so patient with me. I keep having to learn this lesson. He knows it's a hard one for me, but He also knows, better than I do, that I can get through it. 

Saturday- It was a truly beautiful day, but for whatever reason this is when the stress just piled up. It was a hard day, but we are getting through it! My companion is so incredible, strong, and patient. I love her example. So our fridge stopped working (it's still not fixed today even though apt management was supposed to fix it 2 days ago), all of our food spoiled, we have an ant infestation now in our kitchen, a lot of people who were going to attend Gladys Knight's fireside cancelled, I have 7 mosquito bites, etc. The list could go on and on I assure you, BUT I'm growing a lot. It's ok. I've been doing a lot of study and prayer. God is making me very strong for my life and family ahead. I know I need all of these experiences, but He has a lot more faith in me than I do. I'm sure that's true with everyone. When I do a deep study about something like that, I get very deep and dramatic- haha. I'm sure someone will be able to benefit from my answers I've received though. In my journal some of my thoughts were pretty profound looking back so I thought I should share them: God needs me. I came to Earth to become who I need to be. That is my responsibility, I will respond. I can't give up. I want to live so He can trust me, I want my heart to be like His. I believe in Christ, so come what may. John 16:33- "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I [Christ] have overcome the world." "Hold on, child of God. Keep believing. Don't quit. Don't give up. Let God do His work in you. The greatest tragedy is to miss what God wants to teach us through our troubles"-march ensign "The future is as bright as your faith.""Our Heavenly Father, who gives us so much to delight in, also knows that we learn and grow to become stronger as we face and survive the trials through which we must pass.. Such difficulties allow us to change for the better, to rebuild our lives in the way our Heavenly Father teaches us, and to become something different from what we were- better than we were, more understanding than we were, with stronger testimonies than we had before." President Thomas S. Monson

I can testify of the truthfulness of all of that. Even though my trials are so small right now, I'm grateful I was able to have some insight on the subject. God has revealed so many amazing things to me. 

Sunday- Church was great as always! Joakim is going to bless the sacrament next week! And it was the anniversary of my baptism 12 years ago! That was a pretty special realization. And we went to Gladys Knight with Joakim, Meggie, Laura, and their friend Joshua. I also got to see Sister Stephenson! It was such an amazing fireside. Sister Knight's husband bore his testimony as well, and wow. His testimony and witness was so powerful. Music is the most incredible thing. It truly breaks all boundaries of culture or color. I know everyone there felt the Spirit. I hope I can share my testimony that strongly through music. She is truly a powerful tool in God's hands. 

So I hope my week can give you a spiritual boost as well. I've definitely felt the Spirit so strongly each day. I am so blessed! Even after spraying, killing, and scrubbing our disgusting fridge for an hour, even after all of our food went to waste, even after all of my itchy bites, stuffy nose, and watery eyes, I am SO blessed. Literally, God spoils me. Thank y'all for reading! May you feel God's hand in your life each day. 

Love,

Sister Kristina Dalling

p.s. I am a Christian. :)

p.p.s. there will be pictures next week! We took lots of blue bonnets and of my birthday, I just forgot my camera!

#7moremonthsnextweek