dan's homecoming sunday

Two days after arriving home, Dan reported his mission to the Tuscany Ward Congregation.  What made it extra special was that his cousin Jesse was giving his farewell talk before leaving to serve in the Toronto Ontario Mission.   Dan did such a great job speaking about his experiences in Micronesia Guam and sharing his testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Our Stake President, Steve Miller, was in attendance and went home and told his wife that Dan gave the best homecoming talk he has ever heard from a returned missionary.  It was clear that Dan had served faithfully and was diligent as a missionary.  After church we invited all our friends and family over to our house, including the Massey's for a celebration dinner.  Feeling incredibly blessed today!

HE'S FINALLY HOME!!!

The day was finally here that my boy would be back home with us.  I had been counting down how many sleeps for weeks.  He had a very long flight, close to 24 hours.  He flew to Hawaii, San Francisco, then Calgary.   The weather was terrible that day, so bad that Grandpa Rosenvall could not drive up from Cardston because of bad roads.   We had plenty of friends, aunts, uncles, cousins, and bishops join us to welcome him home.  He was very tired and overwhelmed when he came through the gates.  I was the first one to get to hug him and it was wonderful.   You could tell it was something new for him to receive hugs from all the ladies and he wasn't very comfortable with that, he preferred to shake everyone's hand in true missionary style.   He loosened up after a couple hours and we had a great weekend together as a family where he could share with us in more detail all the great experiences he had serving the Lord in Micronesia Guam.

As a mother, I can not adequately put into words the feelings of seeing a son return home from honorably serving a mission.  Dan had a difficult start in life with an uncertain future.  I remember always praying that he would be able to grow up and be well enough to serve a mission.  And that he did...and he did it very well.  I love you to the moon and back Dan!  You are my hero and I look up to you in so many ways.  Thank you for setting such a great example for Emily, Scott, your Dad and I.

areas of service

LAST EMAIL HOME!

sidenote: Can't believe Dan will be home on Friday. We are all very excited to be reunited. We are flying Emily home from BYU to surprise him. It wouldn't be the same if she wasn't here for his homecoming. He is flying home on United Airlines from San Francisco, Friday, November 9th at 1154 am. Everyone is welcome to join us. He is speaking in church this Sunday at Royal Oak Chapel 9:00 am. I received this email from Jim Redd, father of dan's good friend Peter. He and Karyn have always been so good to Dan. We were sad that they miss seeing Dan by just a couple days, they are starting their mission to Thailand this week.

Hi Julie,
We attended sacrament meeting at the MTC today so we could meet with the sisters and elders going to our mission-we enter the MTC tomorrow. In their ward was a group of missionaries going to the Guam Micronesia mission. They leave tomorrow, so they would just catch, or just miss, Dan. Neat!
Jim


Hey mom,

This is going to be very short. I am feeling wierd that this is my last week as a missionary. I actually cried in church yesterday! It is going to be sad to say goodbye to everyone.

Elder Johnson is training a new missionary so I am going to be with Elder Fisher for a couple of days. We are going to Rommanum today. We went to a lighthouse but this huge storm came in.

We will have lots to talk about when I get home. I can't wait to see you!

Would you mind putting some money in my account for luggage and food?

It is going to be a very long flight home....20 hours.

see you later (in person),

Love Elder Kearl

here is some photos of my last goodbyes

Me and President Andes family, me and a kid from mechitiw, me and Elder Johnson, Me and Kypow, JT, Bitor and Nuno. Also With President Wainis's family