merry christmas

Hey Mom

So I know I talked to you yesterday, so this will be short! I am doing pretty good. It has been a bit of a rough day, no one came to church and only a few of our appointments worked out this week.

I just received your christmas package and it was awesome!! Thank you so much for everything you sent to me, i loved everything. I am having fun

We will do better this week! The members are awesome here, we spent most of Christmas day on base! I didn't know Liana was here in Yigo too, wierd, I got her package too! I liked it.

Well I gotta go love ya c ya bye
Elder Kearl

talking to my boy

sidenote: We are here in beautiful Hawaii for christmas this year. Last christmas was very difficult for me since dan had just left and it was my first christmas without my mom. On christmas night last year after making Kraft Dinner for my family (i did buy stuff to make a really nice dinner but didn't feel up to it), I let them all know that we would be going to Hawaii next christmas, and i'm so glad we did. Since being here I have realized how far away Dan really is, we aren't even half way to him here. Part of me wanted to hop on another plane and travel the 8 hours to go spy on him for a day or two. I have thought alot about him here since the climate and surroundings are probably very similar. He is a lucky boy to be serving where he is. Although, Dan is the type of missionary that would be happy serving anywhere in the world. I am so proud of him for his good attitude and desire to serve God and others.
I was all muddled up with the time change and figuring out what time to call him at. In Calgary I am 17 hours behind in time from Micronesia. I figured since in Hawaii i am halfway to him and 3 hours behind calgary I would be 14 hours time difference. No....I am 20 hours behind him here. Greater time difference, but closer....go figure.

Our house here does not have a land line and rogers does not offer even half decent rates for long distance to guam from hawaii so we bought a calling card and planned on just using a pay phone. So at 330 pm our time on christmas eve, 1130 am his time on christmas day, we called him from Ala Moana Beach on the south shore (didn't want to interrupt sun and fun time of course).
I called the number he gave me and was told "this number does not accept incoming calls". I wanted to die. I kept trying and received the same message over and over so i called directory assistance in guam to try and get the mission home phone number. They gave me over 10 numbers assigned to Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I called each one with no luck, until the last number. I heard "elder donakey speaking". I recognized the name as an elder who served with dan in saipan. I told him dan gave me the wrong number and he laughed. He gave me dan's number and we connected finally. As always it was so good to hear his voice. He apologized for the error and just laughed. We had a really nice visit. He was feeling a little discouraged because the work is very slow right now and none of their investigators had come to church that day. We all took turns talking to him. It wasn't a great phone connection so he cut out a few times but it was great just to have a real conversation with him. He told me how happy he is to be serving a mission and to be amongst the micronesians. That's all I needed to hear....that he is happy! Here are some pictures of us talking to him. julie

drama and disappointment

Hey Mom

I am doing okay! This week was very interesting.

One of our former investigators and one of our less actives went to jail because they were fighting each other but they both got out. Yesterday we went to go visit Kitaichi and Nanne they are related to members and live in the same house and the dad was very drunk and being loud, he was swearing in chuukese and English! His wife just said to us "you need to go, my husband has problems right now, hes drunk" and so we came back and the landlord came with the police. We are really scared for him, he likes to drink but the funny thing is we talked to them the night before and he agreed and said he would stop drinking! No one came to church again! They didn't come because they are either sick, or they are ashamed with family or they are drinking!

Despite all the drama and disappointment, I am still having fun, I still like it and I am excited for christmas! I like the ward it's good, there are alot of micronesians and americans!

Micronesians are funny. I was translating for a woman and she asked me if her temple recommend is still good and I asked when did you get it and she said "2005". I said well its only good for 2 years and then she counted with her hands and realized she needs to get a new one. She is a great lady, she was sealed and everything to her late husband she is really funny!!

Well I gotta go love ya c ya bye

Love Elder Kearl

love his new name tag (just don't ask me what language it is)

Hey Mom

How are you doing?
I am doing good! I am having fun this week even though a lot of stuff fell through for us!

Sunday was pretty good. Joe and Nanna the two people we are teaching, both came to church! We have decided that we are going to focus even more on part member families! The work is going pretty well and is starting to pick up.

I am excited for Christmas. I have no idea what time you can call me but i'm sure they will let us know soon. The only thing I really hope you send me for christmas is Lipton Sidekicks.

I really liked it when you sent me my friends blog updates. Why did u stop doing it? If you are not able to do it by mail you can just forward them by email? I would really appreciate that.

I hope u do well on your finals this week! Let me know how your week went.

I got really sick on Friday and had to miss the ward Christmas party! But I am fine now, I just slept the whole day!

I really like being companions with Elder Tadd. He is awesome and really funny!

Love Elder Kearl

climbed the highest mountain in guam

sidenote: I know I probably sound like a broken record but there are no words to describe the joy I feel as I see Dan serve among the Micronesians on the other side of the world (5993 miles to be exact). Even when we are in Hawaii at christmas, we won't be halfway to him, weird to really think about. Derek and I were just talking about how proud we are of him to have overcome so much and successfully be able to do 'hard things'. He is a great soul! julie

Hey Mom

We are doing well! This week was good but we had a lot of appointments fall through and none of our investigators came to church!

I received the package but at first I was curiious about who sent it since there was no letter in it and it was mailed from Phoenix. I really appreciate it, it was awesome!

Elder Tadd and I are good companions to each other. Transfers are coming up on wednesday and I am very happy to be here in Guam, I hope I get to stay!

I climbed the biggest mountain on Guam today for P day, it was a long hike! It was awesome and I will send some pictures. Also the bishop put my pictures on a dvd so I will send that in the mail! I am going on an exchange with the zone leaders today!

To DAD: I am curious what your new calling is if you were released from young mens! Transfers are coming up on wednesday! I don't know I will probably stay here with Elder Tadd. I am glad you are going to Hawaii, have fun watching basketball there! Micronesians really like to play basketball and volleyball, there is almost always a court around and even in the less developed parts they always build something to play them! Have fun skiing. Love ya

Sorry I don't have more to write. Just know we are having fun, I am fine and happy,

I gotta go,
love ya,
c ya,
bye

Love Elder Kearl

I want to explain these pictures. These are some of me climbing Mt Lamlam, the highest mountain in Guam; the one with the family is a family we are teaching Kitaichi, Nanna and K2 then you can see some kids in a picture too! also me and elder Tadd at 2 lovers point. No we are not gay, its a legend.  - dan

finally some pictures (i had to steal them off his ward's facebook page)

sidenote: Dan has been out in the field exactly a year. Last year he arrived just in time for American thanksgiving dinner at the mission home. The year has gone by very fast. He is so happy and so I am happy too!!! julie

Hey Mom,

How are you? I am doing very good, We had a great week.

We had a chuukese fireside at the church and one of our families is progressing along very well. Elder Tadd and I are having alot of fun together too! Bishop Ramos said there are some pictures of me on the Yigo Ward facebook page. He is borrowing my memory card so he can use some of my pictures. He wants you guys to go on it and see it! Its called Yigo Ward or something like that, you should look it up!

The family who is progressing is actually a couple and their kids. Their sons name is K2 (as in kid #2...literally, that's what it means). He is young like 2 or 3 and really cute! They are from Chuuk and they came to church and the Chuukese fireside they really liked it!

For American Thanksgiving I went to our ward mission leaders house and ate dinner. It was really good, we were so stuffed afterwards!! We had lots of fun!!

To answer some of your questions. If you moved houses that would be really weird but it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. However, it would be nice if it was in Tuscany still, but whatever you and dad choose will be fine! That is exciting jenn and derek are going to argentina to get tyson soon. If you want to pick me up when i'm done that's fine or I could just come to the airport in Calgary. It really doesn't matter either way to me, I know its a lot of money to fly here though! For presents for Elder Tadd, he is about 5'"6 or 5'7" something like that! As far as what I want for christmas, I don't really need much but this is what I am thinking of to help you out: Black Crocs, a tie, a bigger scripture case one for my big scriptures(maybe the bigggest one you can find), Lipton Sidekicks, some dry Lux garments(tops and bottoms), a memory card because the one I have right now is full (i'll mail it to you), oh and some candy. I can't think of anything else, I hope it is not too much.

I gotta go,

I love you so much,

Love Elder Kearl

things are rolling along in guam

Dear Mom

Hey Mom! How are you? Sounds like you had a pretty good week! Glad to see you are having fun with the old people at the seniors lodge! If you are so excited to do labour and delivery, you should come here. There are always alot of babies being born! The one thing that Chuukese people make is babies, and alot of them too. We just have to get them all married!

It's good to hear that Emily is getting her applications in for university. That is crazy! I hope that she has fun and finds the school that is right for her! I am happy that Scotts doing fine too! I haven't been really thinking alot about university when I get home. I just want to focus on my priesthood duties right now in my life! I still want to go to BYU Idaho, but the only problem is visa. Could I get started on doing my US citizenship? Let me know what you think!

Thats really insane but exciting that Chantae is engaged! Thanks for letting me know about Mike. It's between him and the Lord and I trust that its the right decision for him. Thats so wierd Tyson is getting home soon and then Brett and then me!

Well things are going good here in Guam! We have been trying to get more members in lessons and we have improved in that area and are feeling some success! We took Bro Raymond with us. He's this chuukese man who was baptized in 1994, endowed in the Laie Hawaii Temple and really knows about the gospel! He has been less active but has been coming to church the last month. He was awesome, he sat down, talked all in chuukese. We had already given the lesson but he started talking about reading the scriptures, praying and going to church. We felt the spirit the whole time really strong. He said he would pick up the investigators for church. He was so excited and really wants to come back with us everytime. He was really strong, he baptised his whole family and alot of other chuukese people! He used to be second counselour in the barrigada branch presidency. Right now he is the 1st counselour in the elders quorum but he hasn't really been coming to church! So that's exciting for him and for our investigators. We also taught juniors dad for the first time this week. We heard he was really stubborn but he said he would consider getting baptized and will think about it a little bit!

Well thats our week. Things are going well with my companion, he's a great guy.

I gotta go,

I love you all,

Elder Kearl

update...

Dear Mom

How are you? Ifa osum? Nang mi fakkun Pechekun! I am doing really good!

We are having fun here in Yigo! We had alot of lessons this week and we found some really good people to help and teach! We received a referral for a family of twelve and we contacted them and they seem really interested! They are chuukese and their car is in the shop so we had to coordinate rides in PEC, so we are either thinking of a bus or having different members give them rides! Working together as a ward is so great!

This week I wore a long sleeve shirt for the first time in a year! I am not going to lie, it feels so wierd!

We also have Elder Richardson from Yap with us for yesterday and today! Hes so funny, and Yapese sounds really different from chuukese!

Remember I told you about the naughtiest and funniest kids last week? When we were teaching their family this week, the kids stole my shoes. I naturally like to take off my shoes when I go in to a home. We found the kids outside wearing them and then they tried to steal my socks (people don't wear socks here) but I stopped them from taking them off my feet. They went through all my bags and now call me Elder Girl (because thats what Kearl sounds like in their accent). They think it's hilarious. I thought it was really funny and so I just asked them to hold my bags and my scriptures and then carry them for me and put them in the car to give them something to do! They are really cute and just have lots of energy! We were teaching this chuukese family and I asked one of their kids (who was naked),"ifai om Uf? which means where are your clothes and he said "Ese Wor"(none/nothing). I just was like 'oh, ok'. He kept laughing and thought it was really funny!

Micronesians are very relaxed, they are not ashamed and they are really simple and I just feel so comfortable around them!

We had a good week even though no investigators came to church on Sunday. We were sad but the ward here does friday family hoome evening's where you get some less actives, some recent converts, investigators and active member families. It really helps here, we keep it really simple and usually all the kids are yelling and playing during the whole thing! But everyone liked it and they want to come again! You should do that in Tuscany Ward!

Well I love you! C ya

Sipwap Chu Fengen

Oune nom

Love

Elder Daniel Kearl

picture of my companion, Elder Tadd

boys will be boys.....

Hey Mom,

I am great! How are you?

I really miss Saipan, but I love Guam, the members here are great we got so many referrals!

We were referred to this Pohnpheian guy who is the pohnpheian equivalent of Jack Black. Seriously, he looks and acts alot like him. He is so funny, we are teaching him now! We asked him if we could share more of our message and he said" I think I got your message".

I really like my companion Elder Tadd, hes awesome and really funny. He just came from serving in Pohnphei! He was the branch president there too. I really love him! He is from Las Vegas.

Can you ask Liana what part of Pohnphei she served in and where? and also where she served in Guam?

Yigo north (my area) is awesome. We have found alot of new investigators and have made progress with our current ones. Two of them came to church for the first time yesterday!

As far as what I want or need from you...I would like if you could send me a cheap, big scripture case. My old scriptures are getting very worn down, so I bought the big hard cover triple and bible combined for like 6 dollars here. It doesn't need to be fancy just something to hold my scriptures in. I still have my old scriptures the nice quad I just don't use it for proselyting, only personal studies! I don't need anything else but thanks for asking.

I want to tell you about the ranches where we do alot of teaching. It is the most ghetto place I have been too. People live in ghetto tin houses and old shipping containers and concrete shacks, they are mostly chuukese people!

This one family we see quite often have been members for a while. They live in this concrete shack with no power and the dad talked about how grateful he was that God gave him his house. It is so humbling, we are teaching some of his family members.

When we stopped by there one day, one of his kids was totally naked. Its really common here though, micronesian kids especially Pohnpheian and Chuukese are always naked and run around barefoot. I tried to ask him where his pants/clothes were and instead I accidently asked him where his panties were. I thought that was pretty funny.

Then later when we prayed I totally farted and their little girl was laughing so hard (chuukese kids are so funny). Because she was laughing so hard, the mom kept hitting her(that also is quite common here). After the prayer I asked her why she was laughing and she said "Pun ka Pwir"(because you farted). Then we all started laughing. This same girl likes to say my name over and over its so wierd: Elder Kearl, Elder Kearl, Elder Kearl, Elder Kearl.

Well thats my story for the week.

we really felt the spirit while doing missionary work together. We have been roleplaying alot and been working real hard! We also went to ward council yesterday and that was very interesting.

Unfortunately, this computer isn't working very well so I will be unable to send you pictures this week.

Well I gotta go

Love ya, C ya, bye

Love Elder Kearl

1 year mark and his first transfer to.........

sidenote: It was exactly one year ago this weekend that we had Dan's open house and farewell to leave on his mission. Even on that day, he did not have his US visa and we knew that if it didn't arrive the next day he would not be leaving for another six weeks. Dan was ready to leave and Derek was ready for him to leave as well. Derek said that if there was a God in heaven it would come on time and it did, the very next morning. I knew it was transfers this week and so as usual my mind was thinking about him all day wednesday, wondering where he was. He has been in Saipan for his whole mission and it has been a very positive experience for him. As his mother, I was excited to hear of his transfer and that he was adjusting well. I knew it would be very hard for him to say goodbye to the people in Saipan, he had really grown to love them. Derek and I giggled tonight as we thought of him translating into the language of Chuukese. I had memories of him as a 4 year old taking him to speech therapy weekly at the Glenrose Hospital in Edmonton to learn prepositions, etc. His speech therapist would be thrilled to see where he is today. This boy has come such a long way in his life. I love him so very much and wouldn't want him anywhere else but where he is.  julie


Hey Mom,

Ran Annim

Man, this so crazy. How are you? OK so I got transferred to..........................................................................Guam! So crazy.

I am white washing an area with Elder Tadd in Yigo North. Elder Tadd just came off Mand in Pohnphei. He was the branch president there. This is his first time off his island too. We are by the Anderson air force base here in Guam. It was hard to say goodbye to Saipan. But.....I like Guam its an awesome place! We are having fun.

I can't even describe how sad I was to say goodbye to the island of Saipan. Guam feels very modernized compared to Saipan. The ward is awesome. The members like to have the missionaries over alot and to work with them. The past few days the Bishop has come out with us showing us where all the members live. We went to the ranches on saturday where all the less active chuukese families live. I have never spent so much time speaking chuukese. I was even asked to translate Gospel Principles class and priesthood, it was very interesting. During gospel principles I was translating for this one lady and her small son kept spitting on my hand and kicking me and the mom just kept giving me candy. That was interesting to me that she did nothing about her son.

I am having fun but also really stretching myself and progressing in the language. Its exhausting being a missionary but so worth it. We found this pohnpheian family yesterday. I am so glad Elder Tadd speaks Pohnpheian, it will help us reach so many more people in this area. He has been out for a year and a half. We made so many appointments with less active and part member chuukese families. The work is going to progress so much here, I just know it.

These pictures are saying goodbye to members at the Saipan airport. I left with Sister Tennant, she is done her mission.

Please tell everyone they can send mail to the mission home.

Oh yeah, I just found out that I can email grandparents but I won't do it all the time.

Well I gotta go,

I love you,

Love Elder Kearl

plugging along in saipan

Dear Mom,

That is exciting that you are finished your Psych Rotation. Are you excited to care for seniors?

I have no idea what is happening for transfers this week. There were supposed to be 3 new elders coming this transfer but 2 of them got delayed, so I think that switches things up, I have no idea!

I have some ideas of what I would want for christmas! Maybe a tie or two, a belt, a pair of crocs (turns out we can wear them while proselyting if we wear socks and I have been wearing mine but another pair would be nice, Black to match my socks and pants). Maybe some food or candy! Thats all I can think of for now!

The senior couple arrived here on Monday, Elder and Sister Jones. They are really funny and super nice! They remind me of President and Sister Dowdle a little bit! Oddly enough they also remind me of you two! They are CES misionaries helping out with Institute and YSA stuff. We are so excited to have them on Saipan!

Saipan is doing really good. We had a baptism on friday where 2 of the sisters investigators got baptized! Perry, one of our investigators is getting baptized on Wednesday and we are looking forward to that. Transfer calls are this week on wednesday too! So it is going to be a fun week.

Ummm nothing else much new! I helped give someone the Melchezidek Priesthood to a guy named Arthur who is going to australia on his mission in December.  The computers aren't working this week so I can't send pictures but I will try again next week. Sorry! I can't believe I have been out a year, I feel so old!

Love Elder Kearl

short and sweet but amazing pictures make up for it

sidenote: There has been much discussion in the past few weeks between Derek and I about what we are able and willing to do as parents to help our kids obtain an education in a reasonable, fair and equitable manner. I have tried to not ask Dan too many questions about what his plans are for when he gets home from his mission. As of right now, he has been accepted to BYU for January 2013 but other schools have not been ruled out. Yesterday, I felt very impressed that I needed to share with Dan what we had agreed upon and emphasize to him that as parents, we really value education. When I received Dan's email I was reminded of how aware the Lord is of each of us. It assured to me the importance to share our thoughts and feelings with others when we feel prompted, even if we don't know why. I had no way of knowing that Dan was thinking about this very thing too and needed reassurance. It reminded me of the quote by Spencer W. Kimball where he reminds us that Heavenly Father does hear our prayers but it is usually through someone else that he answers them. For this I am grateful. i love my boy!!!! julie

Hey Mom

How are you? I am doing just fine! Ben got confirmed this week by Elder Cook! We were all really happy and its nice to know that the ward is behind him 100%! My next transfer is next week on the 26th or 27th I believe!

That is so exciting about Grandma and Grandpa entering the MTC today. I'm sure it was a little sad for them to say goodbye too. I know they will enjoy being missionaries and serving the missionaries in London! The new senior couple is coming in today and we are all excited to meet them. The assistants met them last night and they told us that they are very awesome and very nice. They will really help the Saipan ward and we are all looking forward to their efforts in the Lord's work.

Thats so crazy that Danielle and Jeremy Stanford were both called to the same mission in France but different languages. What are the chances of that? I know they will both be very good missionaries and will have fun.

I was very touched by what you said about my schooling when I get home. It means alot to me that you are willing to sacrifice so that I am able to get an education and that you believe in my ability to do so. It was a total answer to my prayers. I was thinking about this very topic last night before I went to bed. I was considering delaying school so I could work to save up some more money but then very clearly a thought came in to my mind saying 'don't worry about this, a way will be provided and it will all work itself out'. And then I received your email the next morning. My patriarchal blessing reminds me too that the Lord will help me in this regard. I am so blessed and I will not worry about it while I'm on my mission.

One thing that I have been able to improve on is using my money wisely and being thrifty! I am not perfect at it, but I have learned some tricks on how to save money and use it wisely. I regard the money I receive as a missionary as sacred funds and will not misuse it.

I love you all and hope you are able to recieve blessings that Heavenly Father has in store for you.

Love Elder Kearl

these pictures are from the American Memorial Park

another baptism

Hello Family

Thats a great family picture you sent me from Waterton. I remember climbing Bears Hump as a family, it is a good hike. I do have one concern....Joey looks very fat.

We have had a great week. Ben was baptized but he was not confirmed because we watched general conference and there was no sacrament meeting! Conference was great really awesome. I really liked the talks, especially Sister Daltons and Elder Callisters. I loved all the others too.

That's crazy that Grandpa and Grandma leave on the 17th. I am really happy they are going on a mission, they are setting a really good example by going. It reminds me of Elder Hollands talk where he say's that by going on a mission the couples are saying "in this family we go on mission's".

what happened to Patriarch Melchin that they needed to call Ian Miller? Did he die or did he move?

We don't have thanksgiving till Nov 26 and we are getting a new senior couple on Nov 20th. The other missionaries say that when there is a senior couple they usually help take care of the missionaries and they do stuff for holidays so thats exciting.

You asked me if i miss having seasons. I don't miss the weather changes at all, I love how summer is all year round.

I received the two packages you sent me, thank you very much.

I know that this church is true and I am very grateful for it.

I love you all so much.

Love, Elder Kearl

Here is a picture of Bens baptism, proof that I am getting fatter and yummy tacos we made.

more success in saipan and a trip to bird island....beautiful.

Hey Mom!

How are You? I am doing really good! I have had a really good week!

Ben, our investigator, is going to be baptized this coming week! It's so exciting. We taught him the Word of Wisdom last night and he said he would start to live it. He is very excited to be baptized! We are finding some new people but we feel super busy covering 2 areas.

We found this guy named Perry last week. He has parkinson's disease and he went to church and really enjoyed it! Luckily, he has some great fellowshippers!

I am having fun as a missionary for sure but the best part is just being immeresed in the Lord's work. I studied D&C 107 this week and I have been learning alot about the Priesthod. We had general Priesthood meeting here too and they talked about using ordanices not too much or too little and doing them the right way. They also talked about being prepared and to bring your consecrated oil with you all the time! The funny thing is, a members dad, one of our investigators was in the hospital and his daughter texted us and told us that he wanted us to visit him, turned out he wanted a blessing. What's ironic is I forgot to bring my consecrated oil right after we just talked about it. Luckily, my companion, Elder Cook had his and he asked me to seal the annointing. We really felt the spirit afterwards and there were some nonmembers visiting him at the time. We visited him later and he was doing fine. He had attended church a couple months ago and has since read the whole triple and the book of mormon! When we went back to see if he is ok he was recovering after surgery but he was awake. He said after you gave me the blessing I asked my daughter to go get the Book of Mormon and I have been reading it faithfully and it has helped me alot right now. He also said that he wants to go to church when he feels healthy enough to do so. His daughter Vicky, who is very active has been to the temple told us he was sad he couldn't come this week because of his health but he will come next week. He also really appreciated our visits she said and he wants to continue to learn more. We are excited for him.

We don't watch general conference until next week because of the huge time difference. I heard they are building another temple in Provo amd one or two in africa and in Wyoming. Also, I thought I heard something about France! I don't know for sure!

Hey mom I was wondering if you could put ten dollars in my bank account. I want to buy a memory card reader it only costs ten dollars.

We are going to have a crazy week this week!

I am excited to hear where Jeremy Stanford will be going and pleased that Danielle Stanford has been called to France. Thats going to be fun. No, I haven't received any of the packages you have sent yet but I look forward to them.

These are some pictures from Bird Island, I love it there.

I love you all.

see ya, bye

love Elder Dan Kearl

sidenote: the top picture is one that dan letter mailed to me from the saipan zone conference when he met his new mission president, Pres. Mecham. The first thing I noticed was the sister missionaries wearing matching shirts...a little strange but cute. Then it looked like Dan had spilt spaghetti on his shirt. As a mother, I rolled my eyes. Then, I realized Sister Mecham had the same "spots" on her white shirt. So I figured perhaps she also spilt spaghetti on her shirt. I then saw some "spots" on Elder Cook's white collar too. I am assuming it was probably something that happened in processing the photo. I like the latter assumption. you have to click on the picture to see what i'm talking about. anyhow, it's 11 months tomorrow...yipee!!!!!! julie