may be the shortest one yet....but he's happy and doing well, that's all that matters

sidenote: Dan worked at Sobey's here in Tuscany for over three years; derek would joke that he is the longest serving courtesy clerk in Sobey's history. He must have done a good job because Scott applied there and they called him in for an interview which consisted of them asking how Dan was, how he was enjoying his mission and then simply telling Scott to go pick up a uniform in the back room. julie

Hey Mom!

How are you? I am doing really good, we had a good week. Ivan came to church and he is excited to be baptized this Saturday!  President and Sister Mecham showed up to District meeting again, I think it went really well! Trained about Goals and Visions(read Proverbs 29:18).

I am really glad that Scott got the job at Sobey's! I didn't think they would still remember me! I really enjoyed that job and was grateful to have worked there. Thats awesome they emily and scott both working and have good job's!  Thats exciting that Parker Steele is going to Russia on his mission. When does he leave? I met quite a few Russian's in Saipan.  Thats exciting that Emily received her patriarchal blessing this weekend.

Sorry this is so short, I have a very busy p-day. Elder Tadd came for Zone Leader Council and it was great to see him again.  Say Hi to Mike and Misty for me, I got to go, I love you so much.

Love Elder Kearl

success in missionary work and chuukese girls chasing him

Hey Mom,

How are you?

I am doing very well and the work is improving all the time, we are very busy right now We are meeting a lot of people who show interest. Ivan, our investigator, came to church and he is on track to be baptized on the March 31st! The mission president came to district meeting I was conducting and that made me a little bit more nervous!

We are having a good week, we are very busy, and I have alot of stuff on my plate now but thats OK! I do remember NCAA March Madness, people here don't follow it as much as the NBA, they really do love the NBA. I remember going to both Salt Lake City and Portland for games. Good times for sure!

Elder Marshall is a great companion! We are having fun and the district is doing good!  This week was interesting. There were some chuukese girls around our age that liked me and kept calling and texting me saying stupid things not related to missionary work (like I love you, I miss you)! I had to go to them and tell them that I can't talk about that stuff and I am not looking for a relationship or a girlfriend! When I told her this, she looked like she was going to cry. Funny thing is thats the closest I have ever gotten to actually breaking up with someone. I told the President about it and he just said thats the way it is sometimes and I shouldn't feel bad that she almost cried! I was pretty direct when I talked to her. Thats my funny story for the week.

I received letters form Daynia, Kent, Tyler, Tyler and Jeremy. Elder Beatty also wrote me from Hawaii, I replied to all of them. Is Brett home yet? What's up with Jesse? Is he working? Are his mission papers in yet?

Thats about it, I love you so much

Love Elder Kearl

remembering grandma this week through service

sidenote: friday was the 2 year anniversary of my mom's passing. dan and my mom had a very special relationship. the above picture is at my mom's 70th surprise birthday party we threw for her on what ended up being the last birthday here on earth. dan's birthday is around the same time so we had a cake to honor dan too. the way my mom is looking at dan here perfectly captures her love for him. my cute sister laura, sent the following email to dad and the siblings last sunday:

Well I cannot believe the 2 year mark for Mom's passing is this upcoming Friday… I still catch myself wanting to call her and tell her a funny story, get a recipe, or just chat…. Jacob still asks me when Grandma is coming back, but his question now more often is, when will Grandma be resurrected? As I was sitting in church today, I was reflecting on Mom, and what a great example she has been to me, and how much I miss her… I came up with a tradition I am going to do with my family, and shared it with them after church, and thought I would share it with each of your families to see if you would like to join in with us. They were all very excited to do this… I asked them what Grandma's greatest example to all of us was, they all said love and service!!!! So this Friday, and every March 9th, we are going to remember Grandma by planning and doing an act of service on that day (collectively as a family, and individually). Jamie and I laughed because they asked if we could also remember her by getting timbits, going to the Dollar Store, and buying a bunch of candy on that day…. I laughed so hard, they don't know it, but I think I am going to surprise them with it on Friday…. oh I miss her! I think it will be a great opportunity to feel together as a family (though there are miles between us), and closer to Mom, and share Mom's example of love and service to our children. Love, Laura

my dad sent the following email on friday,
To My Dear Family:

Thanks for remembering Mom today on this special day. She would be so pleased about the fun things you are doing in her memory and especially the service. And we can't forget the candy and the Timbits or equivalent. Please thank the kids for remembering her. They were her love and joy. She looks down upon us all with motherly and grandmotherly concern and satisfaction and most of all would want us to be happy today and always.
All my love, Dad

my dad is down in utah with dave and carol, but we had a fun family dinner with mulhollands friday night. it was fun to hear of the different acts of service people had done. i sent this email to dan and he loved it. dan has been an excellent example of service, through his sacrifice to give up two years and go serve the people of micronesia. what a great example he set for all the grandkids on both sides; he is the first to serve in both the kearl and rosenvall family. julie

Hey Mom,

I am doing good? How are you? I'm glad you are still enjoying your nursing program! I like hearing about what you are doing.

This week was interesting! I had to do a baptismal interview all in Chuukese! It was really hard but he understood what I was saying and I understood what he said too! He was baptized on Wednesday. Our investigator, Ivan didn't come to church so we are going to work on that! He could still get baptized on the 31st! He has already been living the Law of Chastity and Word of Wisdom so I pray everything will work out for him!

I went to a special training for all the district leaders on Guam (there are only 3 of us)! It was good. I learned about the duties of a district leader, about Baptismal interviews (kinda like a mini leadership training)! Baptismal interviews are the most spiritually exhilarating things I have done on my mission.

Me and my companion are doing good together! I am sad about Grandma, I miss her alot! We are going to two lovers point today for District P Day its going to be fun! I still really like getting the updates you send me on tanner, kent, tyler, tyler and brett's experiences in their missions. I did receive the shirts you sent me, I really like them, thank you so much mom, they fit perfect!

I love you so much mom and I am really happy to be here.

Love, Elder Kearl

new companion and new calling

sidenote: it was my last week on the postpartum/labour and delivery unit at the hospital and i am feeling a little sad about that; it is a very happy place to nurse compared to most units. i hope i end up working there when i am done (i finish school the same month dan gets home). i have had many thoughts of dan throughout this clinical. i walk by the room i was in when he was born, have spent time in the NICU where he was for 10 weeks, and have seen my high risk obstetrician who cared for me and the neonatologists who cared for him over 20 years ago. life has a way of coming full circle and putting a big smile on your face when you realize how far you have come, the valuable lessons you have learned and how life always has a way of working out. i wish back then i could have had a glimpse of dan as a 20 year old man. i am so very proud of him. julie

Dear Family,

How are you? It has been a crazy week here in Guam...transfers happened. I have a new companion, Elder Marshall from Idaho! He was on Palau for a year and now he is with me in Yigo! I am very happy I get to stay in this area.

I have also been made District Leader here in Guam North District! I was a little freaked out at first and still am but I know this is from the Lord! When the President called me on Thursday the first thing he said was "Elder Kearl if the Lord didn't think you could not do this he would not have called you!" He also told me to read D&C 121 a couple of times. They are going to be holding a training for District Leaders, they haven't done that for a while! Its been pretty crazy, I held my first District Meeting that same day. I also did my first baptismal interviews on Friday since I spent the whole day with the Zone Leaders! That is a neat experience because you can really feel the Spirit and it really guides you on what questions to ask. Tyler Gedlaman reported having had a similar experience during a baptismal interview. They were awesome and a real learning growing experience.

We had like no time to do much else this week, I was either picking up Elder Marshall or dropping off Elder Tadd. I will really miss Elder Tadd, I am sad he went back to Pohnphei. We got along really well and I learned alot from him as a person. Elder Marshall and I are still working with Ivan, he didn't come to church yesterday but we are still trying to meet with him. When I called him on Saturday, he said he was reading and praying so that made me happy!

I really love Elder Marshall, he's from Boise, Idaho. He is awesome, he teaches in a very simple, effective manner and he is really good at speaking Palauen.

Dad...thanks for the email. I love you too, I am happy to be your son!  Well I gotta go, love you all.

Love Elder Kearl