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