overzealous with the rules, mastering laundry and feeling good about himself

sidenote: the last couple weeks dan has been sending very short emails which i'm kind of okay with because all i really care to hear is that he is happy and he is being a good missionary. however, derek obviously noted my longing for a little more detail. derek wrote him and told him that he needs to send his mom a longer email this week and he did. good boy! the top picture is of aunt liana in front of the house dan lives in now. she lived there 25 years ago when she was a missionary. i laughed out loud when i read his response about doing his own laundry. before dan left on his mission i was teaching him how to do his own laundry including his bedding. the next week when he did it on his own, i glanced over and saw him shoving his actual pillow into the washing machine. all i had to say was 'really dan? the pillow?'. again, i could write a book on raising this kid, the good the bad and the ugly. i love him so much, i laughed again when he told me what his mission president said to him about being overzealous with the rules, only dan. interesting his mission president told him exactly what his patriarchal blessing says; that he will be recognized throughout his whole mission for obedience, diligence and knowledge of the gospel. the night before he went into the MTC we were packing and i noticed his missionary rule book looked all ratty and worn as if it had been to micronesia and back already, he had obviously been studying it very hard before he left. 6 months tomorrow and he'll be home. yipee!

Hey mom

How are you mom? I am sorry about the really short letter last week (good apology dan).  It has been a really crazy week but really fun. We took 2 pictures today including one in front of the house where liana lived and one with Elder Kata. I don't really have a lot of time to take pictures so bear with me if I don't send very many!  That is crazy you are almost done nursing school and that I hit my 18 month mark tomorrow and that I have my last phone call with you next week!

Missionary work was tough this week but we had some good moments. Ermina, an investigator recognized the Holy Ghost at church. Ermina is chuukese and still has some family concerns but she really wants to get baptized! We are really busy, our area is so huge! Also we fasted with another investigator Connie so that SHE COULD GET PERMISSION FROM HER PARENTS to get baptized!

I really like this area. Elder Kata is a great missionary. It's been a little difficult with him but we are working it out just fine. We are patiently learning each others languages; he speaks chuukese. weird!

Crazy that Johno is married now, i'm happy it was in the temple. What BYU is Emily going too?

I met someone who remembers Liana but I forget her name! I think all the connections with aunt liana are pretty cool!

The week before we had interviews with President Mecham. Mine went really well like usual. He said to me, "Elder Kearl, I don't worry about you, I know you are keeping the rules, but you are the only missionary I have ever said this too, don't obsess over the rules!" I thought that was funny and then he talked about how alot of missionaries admire me for my obedience and diligence. It was cool and makes me feel good inside!

I find that as I get older in the mission, I realize how much I have learned. I look back and think I wish I would have learned that sooner. It has also been amazing to me how much I have grown. Who would have known I could do my own laundry without mom bugging me to do it! Also, its amazing how different each companion has been and how different I am too. But you realize how much each of them help you grow and stretch! I have come to the conclusion that I would not like to be companions with someone who is exactly like me, that would be extremely frustrating!

Love Elder Kearl

Connie later got baptised after I left the area - dan