request for his first meal home

sidenote: dan is home in 11 sleeps! i am so excited i can hardly stand it.

Dear Mom

I am doing good! So much to say but I have very little time.

I appreciated hearing about the temple dedication. I am looking forward to attending the temple soon. Very neat you were all able to go inside the temple for it, including shane.

We almost had our bikes stolen, it's a funny story that I will tell you when I get home!

We had two baptisms this week. Jess Abraham was baptized and also Elder Katas 8 year old sister Emmeline. I want to show you all the pictures when I get home.

I'm excited for you to make me dinner that evening. I would like mashed potatoes and gravy. Anything will be better than what I have been making. I can't wait.

I am going to Romanum for my last pday and that will be the last time I email you!! The next time we communicate it will be face to face! I am looking forward to seeing you.

I am going to give most of my stuff to members before I leave. Is that Ok with you?

I gotta go, love you, see you

Elder Kearl

"i kinda want to see a doctor and a dentist when i get home"

sidenote: no shower for 4 days and not a lot of drinking water makes this mama very anxious to have her boy home....18 more sleeps! yipee!!!! most of you know that making quilts is one of my favorite things to do. i found this fabric that has an island theme with bikes and airplanes (he flew lots from island to island and rode bikes in Chuuk) mixed into so i made dan a quilt as a remembrance of his service in micronesia. i tried my best to make it more 'manly' by using a grey background and binding it in black. however, i am told it is juvenile looking. i don't care, i know dan will love it and appreciate the time i put into it.

Dear Mom

I think it's funny that you are counting down for me coming home by how many sleeps are left. It's hard to believe I will be home so soon.

I received your package with the shoes and treats. Thank you very much, my companion and I especially loved all the chocolate you sent.

I am doing great! Those baptisms aren't until saturday. We are excited and it will be Jovovicks first time conducting a baptism.

I haven't showered in 4 days. The water ran out and there are problems with the pump. Also there is not alot of drinking water to go around to everyone. I kinda want to see a doctor and a dentist when I get home. Can you book appointments for me?

I am loving being a missionary and serving in Chuuk,

Hope all is well with you guys,

Love Elder Kearl

short and sweet but an amazing picture make up for it

sidenote: With Emily starting university next fall there has been much discussion 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 rule out. Yesterday, I felt very impressed that I needed to share with Dan what Derek and I had agreed upon. 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.

Hey Mom

How are you? I am doing fine! Ben got confirmed this week by Elder Cook! We were really happy and its nice to know that the ward is behind it! I have never actually been then one who has never done the actual ordinance yet! MY next transfer is next week on the wendsday 26 0r 27 I beilieve! That is so exciting about Grandma and Grandpa and sad too I know they will have fun! The new senior couple is coming in today! It is very exciting the assitants met them and last night they told us that they are very awesome and very nice. We are so happy that we wil have some they will really help the ward they are excited. Thats so crazy about the Stanfords call I know they will be very good missionaries and will have fun.

I was very touched by what you said about my schooling. It means alot to me that you are willing to sacrifice so that I am more able to get an education. Wierd thing is I was thinking about this last night and I was considering delaying school so I could work to gwet some money but then a thought came in to my mind don't worry you will be take care of with that. One thing that I have been able to improve is on using my money wisely and thrifty! I am not perfect at it but I have learned some tricks on how to save money and use it wisely. I use sacred funds wisely.

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

Love Elder Kearl

greatest lesson learned as a missionary.....

Hey Mom

I am doing good, this week was awesome. The priesthood helped us get people to church again which was so good to have happen. Chuuk is still awesome, we are seeing a lot of success here. We have some baptisms planned for next week and I hope they happen.

I didn't write on p-day because I was at zone conference. I had my last interview with President Mecham at zone conference!

That was nice of Emily to recommend I live in Nauvoo condos at BYU.  Go ahead and sign me up. I might talk to translation services to see if I can get a job while I'm in school. I still need to ask President Mecham if he can set me up an interview before I go, I heard they want translators pretty bad. I will see, it's weird to think I have to start thinking about that stuff so soon. I still want to keep my options open and decide more when I get home. I hope to stay busy once I'm home for the 2 months i'm home before leaving again.

Very exciting I can go to the temple with Jesse the morning after I am home. I talked to President Mecham about my temple recommend and he said he will give me one before I leave which is only good for 90 days then I have to talk to President Miller!

You asked what is the greatest lesson i have learned as a missionary......I have learned alot. Two things come to mind. First, I learned to stick things out to the end, don't quit. And, I know that when you do what the Lord wants you to do that things will work out in the end.

here is some pictures of some of the priesthood:

Well I gotta go

I love you lots,

Love

Elder Kearl

a miracle in chuuk

Dear Mom

We don't get to watch general conference until next weekend because of the 16 hour time difference but I heard about the change in age to serve a mission. There are so many sisters who want to serve missions so it will be great! That is really cool! I am excited, Chuuk is really going to grow from that change!

Thats a really cool experience you had at the hospital reuniting with my nurse! I hope I get to meet her! Thanks for sharing.

We had a great week and a cool experience! Elder Johnson got really sick so we couldn't go proselyte and remind our investigators to come to church that week. We prayed that our investigators would still come to church. So we prayed for a miracle. The next morning we woke up and Elder Johnson felt better so we woke up and we went out to the place where they all live (they all live in this one village Koroni) and we see Maika our ward clerk who is a returned missionary and Elder Katas brother in law! He was getting the Aaronic priesthood and on their own they divided and visited every member and all of our investigators. I asked him why he had done that and he just said that last night he felt that he needed to organize the priesthood to visit all of our investigators. 3 of our investigators came to church which does not always happen because church is the hardest thing for people here because it is so far. We broke another record and had 50 people at church. It was completely packed, alot of people were sitting on the floor! All because of the Priesthood, I am so grateful for that miracle!

My shoes got completely destroyed and I only have a pair of crocs left. Can you send me a pair of dress shoes size 8 1/2 to 9! The island of Chuuk is very hard on shoes. I would really appreciate it.

Thats about it!

I love you so much

Love Elder Kearl