February 29 2016

Hola! So I don’t have a lot of time. But I want to share a cool story that seriously changed me this week.

First of all I want to tell you about a friend that I have. I won’t say his name but we’ll call him Jake. Jake has been a member his whole life but for a while fell away from the church. He got into some pretty bad things and was pretty confused for a while. I met him when I was like 14 or 15 I think. And I knew that he probably had some weaknesses that I didn’t understand, but I wanted to be his friend to help him out and just to get to know him better because he seemed like a cool kid. That same year when I met him, we went camping as a youth group to the beach. and I didn’t know it then, but he later explained to me that the example that me and my brother and other friends set for him changed his life forever, and even ¨saved his life¨, as he explained it.. I had no idea how important that was until this week. Over time he started to come to church and we became better and better friends. I didn’t notice completely the change that he was having because I saw him so often, but now I realize that his life took a compete 180 and that Christ literally healed him. This friend of mine got rid of old habits and slowly and probably painfully, and with lots of difficulty, became a new person. He was changed because Christ suffered for his imperfections, just like he suffered for all of our imperfections. That friend is going on a mission to preach the restored gospel and to help people experience a change similar to the one that he had. And I couldn’t be more excited for him.

Now I’m going to tell you about a guy I met this week. We will call him Pedro. We got to his house and right away I could tell that he had some addictions and some problems. I could tell he wanted to change and he explained to us as he broke down in tears that he wanted to be a better person. He wanted to be a good example and he wanted to have a life like we have. He wanted to be free. Right there in that moment I took a second and really looked at Pedro. I realized that he is JUST LIKE JAKE. Not just his situation or the things that he is going through but also his physical appearance. And for a second I pictured him as my best friend Jake. While explaining to him the power of Christ’s atonement I really could feel the power of the Holy Ghost. And it was different because I thought of my friend and of the huge change that he has had. I felt so much love for Pedro. And in that moment I began to understand the power of Christ’s sacrifice better. My friend was in Satan’s grasp. But he broke free of the chains and is now clean and ready to go on a mission. And Pedro has the same opportunity as Jake. It was the first time in my whole mission that I actually cried. Really actually cried. Because it’s such an amazing gift that we have. The gift of forgiveness. It’s the best thing that could ever happen to us. And to be able to claim this blessing we just have to be willing and humble enough to change and do away with bad habits, words, thoughts, and desires.

I’m so grateful that Christ suffered for me and for my imperfections. I’m so grateful that I understand how much he loves me and how much of a change we can have through him. It is completely impossible to understand and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to describe how I feel about what he did for us, but I am more sure now than ever that he loves us perfectly. He really truly does love us perfectly and he wants us to be able to live with him again. That’s why he died for us, so that we can repent and become clean. 

I know that these things are true. And I’m grateful for Jake and the example that he gives me. En el nombre de Jesucristo, mi Redentor, Amen. 

February 22 2016

Hola! 

Wow this week was crazy. Where to begin?

So we have been teaching these 2 hermanas named Mildred and Deyanira. They’re so awesome and they have kids that are so much fun haha. Anyway they had to move from our side of the ward to the other side of the ward. So they didn’t live in our sector when they got baptized but we were able to go. On Wednesday we helped them move and it was crazy! They lived in the 5th floor of an apartment building. Even though I probably sweated a gallon and I couldn’t feel my legs or arms after going up and down the stairs like 100 times, I felt so good! It made me think of the scripture in Mateo that says inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. It’s so true, and to know it’s true you gotta try and experience it :) so that was fun to help them move and see them get baptized this Saturday. The best is when the people call us angels and when they say they want their kids to be like us one day. I think being an example is a constant effort. People are always watching!

So this week we went to a fort called Real Felipe. It was awesome! It has cannons and tons of war ships and tanks that are there to defend the coast. They don’t use it anymore but they used to. It was cool to see it because I have seen many historic things here! 

Wow this week we got a call from a family and they said they wanted to see us right away. So we ran to their house and it turns out the mom had stomach cancer and was going to have an operation. They started the operation and realized that it had already progressed a ton and there wasn’t anything they could do. They released her a few days later and I think now she is just resting and waiting to have peace.. They asked us to go to their house to bless her room so that she could feel happy. And they asked me to do it. It was the most peaceful feeling ever seriously. Knowing that this family is sealed and that they all understand the plan of salvation as returned missionaries, they know exactly where their daughter, aunt, mom, sister is going. Leaving that house I honestly was overcome with emotion as I realized that I have the same promises. I’m so grateful for this gospel and for this message that we share with the world. I love helping others to know that death isn’t a goodbye. It’s a see ya later! And it’s a peaceful thing. 

I know that when we trust in God and that he has a perfect plan, we can trust in that even though sometimes things don’t go our way we can still be happy because we can know that things are going HIS way. And personally I trust in his way much more than I trust in my way. :) Because he knows his plan inside and out.

Thanks for all the emails and support! I’m still 100 percent convinced that I have the best friends and family in the world. You guys are the best.

Love Elder Dahlin

WE ARE AS THE ARMIES OF HELAMAN. Garrett I'm pretty sure this picture is pretty similar to one that you took on your mission.

This guy was selling rabbits and caramel apples in the street! There are so many things that I love seeing here haha.

I dont think he was very excited to take a picture with a gringo haha.. I dont know why.. I thought it was a good idea.

February 15 2016

What’s up you guys!! 

Elder Dahlin here. I have definitely made it a point to take more pictures and count the miracles that we see here in this work. After all, these are the most important 2 years that I have ever lived! Well I heard that Caleb and Matt are both leaving the same day to go on their missions. I’m so stoked for you guys. Not only because I know that serving the mission is the right thing to do, but also because I know maybe some of the things that you’re going to learn here. It’s seriously the best :)

Last week we went to the catacombs! It was seriously so cool haha. I really don’t have much time to explain what it is, but there are some cool pictures that I’m going to include. I have like 3 minutes so this is going to be short haha. But this week we were able to see God’s hand in our missions. Whether its seeing how he literally protects us here, or the power that he gives us to help people see the truth and receive their own testimonies, we can always see how he is in charge here. 

More than anything I continue to see daily that we are just helpers here. We are just instruments here in God’s work. And because he wants everyone to hear this message, he helps us and protects us. And more than anything he guides us to the people that are prepared to receive us. Well I’m gonna have to wrap this up pretty quick haha. But I know that this church is true. And that I am exactly where God wants me to be, doing exactly what he wants me to be doing. I love it here :)

Salchipapa! Probably the most unhealthy thing ever. But I love it.

Mis amigos. Elder Castro y Elder Trujillo (my new companion)

Catacombs!

February 9 2016

It’s been too long! Sorry you guys haha. Today I’m going to send some pictures to make up for the weeks that I have emailed.

Wow! First of all the mission is still the best and I continue to learn and see miracles every day. I still can’t decide if I love the people or their food more haha. Both are things that I will remember for the rest of my life. 

Well my companion Elder Navarro got transferred and I received my new companion, Elder Trujillo last week! He’s awesome. He’s from Trujillo. He’s maybe one of the shyest people I’ve ever met, but also probably the funniest companion I have had so far haha. I know we are going to have success together this change. At the beginning of my mission I didn’t notice, but now I see that every companion that I have had has been like a brother to me. And it’s because we have all the same goals and standards! And because we are called of God to be together in this time to teach the people about happiness. That really is the main thing that we are here to do anyway haha. Teach people about how they can be happy with their families forever. What else could we want?

This last Saturday me and my companion we were walking to an investigators house to see how they were doing and to invite them to church on Sunday. We were just walking along when all the sudden we both felt something. We looked at each other and I asked him how he felt. He wasn’t sure and he asked me. I felt like we didn’t need to go that way. I felt like we had to go to another investigator that we had met a few weeks ago. He agreed and even though it would take like 20 minutes to walk there and it was almost 9 o clock, we did it because we felt like it was right. While walking we talked about what we were going to share and we decided that based on their needs we would both know. Anyway we got to their house and right when we knock on the door the sister opens it. She’s probably like 70 years old and she is in a wheel chair. She had an accident a few years ago and she never had the money to go to the doctor to get her broken ribs fixed. And she has been in a wheel chair ever since. She opened the door and right away started crying. We went inside and started talking to their family and it turns out that her pain had been sooo strong the last couple of days. Her daughter also had been sick and was having kidney stones due to an infection. They had been praying to be able to feel better and about 20 minutes later we knocked on the door. From experiencias like these I’m reminded so clearly that this time is not mine. It’s Gods. The things I do here are Gods will. And I really am just an instrument. We taught the sisters more clearly of the priesthood, or the authority to act in God’s name to bless his children, and we taught them about faith too, and then we blessed them. There is nothing more important to me than to know that Gods authority has been restored to the earth by Joseph Smith and that thanks to that authority, we can be blessed. Blessings of health, or the blessing of making promises with God in the temples that allow us to be together forever. I’m grateful for my family and for the knowledge that I have that we can really be together forever. 

I have decided that I will take more pictures no matter what. Because I have been horrible about that haha. Thanks for the support and for always writing me! You guys are the best. 

Here are some pictures that I took! 

Love Elder Dahlin

A huge bee that we found!

Diego, one of my best friends ever.

My new companion, Elder Trujillo!

Chilis is super popular among the misioneros :)

January 18 2016

Hey everyone!

It has been too long since I’ve wrote a big email to you all. Time on the internet disappears faster than any Peruvian plate of food that you put in front of me. I’m sure you can imagine :) haha wow where to begin! These last few weeks have been crazy. Summer is up and running here. Which means that we literally sweat all day long everyday haha. It’s alright though cause there are these things here called marcianos. They’re like long plastic bags of frozen fruit and they’re SO good. Seriously they save me every day. I’ll try to take a picture and send it. Sometimes it’s hard to send pictures because I don’t really carry my camera with me anymore. When its summer here, people get thrown into those little plastic doboy pools. There are seriously little plastic pools everywhere! And if you aren’t careful in the summertime you get thrown in haha. 

In Matthew chapter 10 it explains that Jesus gave his disciples authority to cast out demons and heal the sick. In Ether in the book of Mormon it says that we receive no testimonio until after the test of our faith. Well in these last few weeks my faith has been tried and I now know for a fact that by the power of the priesthood, as missionaries we have the authority to cast out demons and heal the sick. I probably shouldn’t go into detail but we have seen miracles.

Last week Elder Uceda from the Seventy came to talk to us and it was seriously the coolest thing EVER! He explained that the church has grown in Peru faster than in any other country (including the United States). And that they have reached 100 stakes faster than any other country in the world. He explained that the people here in South America are decedents of Lehi the prophet in the book of Mormon. And they’re a chosen people. He then went on to explain the importance of this time here in the mission. And it really made me think of the importance of what I’m doing here. Sometimes I can’t imagine what the people must think when they see us. We are like 19 years old but we have the most important message that they will ever receive. He explained that as missionaries and members we should always be making sure that we are on the bus that leads to heaven. And if we aren’t, we need to get off the bus and get on the bus that does go to heaven. And how it’s all possible through Jesus Christ. I seriously don’t know who I would be without my faith in Jesus Christ. Faith that he really did come here and pay the price for our sins. The hymn ‘How Great Thou Art’ in Spanish is super cool too. On one part it says, “I remember Gods love, and that he sent the Savior from heaven. And that Savior came here to save me. And to suffer and die on the cross for me”. Not gonna lie haha in Spanish it flows better. But it got me thinking that he must love us so much. Even though sometimes we are so ignorant or we do things that we shouldn’t do. He loves us anyway. He loves us enough to pay the price for those imperfectiones and mistakes. All so that we can be happy and not have to suffer like he did in a state of never ending unhappiness. It made me feel happy :)

Well I’m still in love with Peru. More than ever actually. And even more in love with the work that we are doing here. There is nothing that has ever made me happier or given me a better sense of who I am and why I’m here on earth, thanks for all the letters and all the support! I love you all!

Love Elder Dahlin

Ps. I’ll try to send pictures next week.

December 28 2015

FELIZ NAVIDAD!!

It’s been a few weeks since I could write all you guys. I was humbled to spend my last Christmas here in Peru and I really enjoyed all the Peruvian tradiciones and all the things that they do here. More than anything I loved testifying to the people of Christ’s birth and his mission here. A mission that would change all of us forever. 

We have been sharing a video with the people. It’s called a savior is born. And it’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. You should all go watch it here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_TEOyhy7Bg

I think the best Christmas present that I could have received was being able to talk to my family on skype! Seeing you guys was the best and made me want to work harder than ever so that people can be with their families forever, just like we will be together forever through temple ordinances. 

I thought I would have more time to write you guys but I’m running out of time already. I am going to include a ton of pictures.

I now that 2000 years ago my hope was born. And I know that we all must have been in heaven singing and rejoicing and crying because we would have the chance to be forgiven. I know that through Christ and his sacrifice, we can be clean and we can be happy. There’s that word again haha- happy. All we do is so that we can be happy. And I’m grateful to have found this gospel because I know that the only true and lasting happiness that I will ever have will come from the true teaching of Jesus Christ. 

I love you guys! Have a good New Years! And keep writing me and sending pictures too :)

Love Elder Dahlin

Papa Noel realmente existe! Le vimos!

We wrapped Books of Mormon in wrapping paper and went out and gave them away to people. It's the best gift they'll ever recieve!!

Fireworks in Lima!!

Talking to the family on Skype :) 

Talking to mi familia!

Paneton and chocolate!

Mission Christmas party

December 7 2015

Hola!

Wow the weeks are flying by. I can’t believe that it’s almost Christmas again! The traditions here are the best haha. Something that I’m going to miss for sure. So here in Peru there are a whole bunch of different districts. Like Cuzco, Iquitos, Tacna. Anyway, there are coins with pictures on them, like there are in the United States. I have been collecting them for a while but I noticed that they were kinda dirty. So I did something really dumb haha. I figured that a little bit of coca cola would do the trick. I put them in coca cola and was going to take them out after like 20 minutes. I forgot about them! For 5 DAYS!! When I found them and took them out of the coca cola they were stained brown and the picture wasn’t even visible anymore. And I couldn’t get it off. I tried everything, thinner, gasolina, Clorox. They were pretty much trashed, and I even started to spend some of them haha cause I figured it was pointless to keep them when I could buy like chocolate or some crazy fruit that doesn’t exist in the states. I was pretty bummed haha. I was talking to a guy in my ward and he told me that he had a cream that would help with taking away the stains! I was super excited and was anxious to receive the cream to try it out. One day he called us and told us that he was outside out house. I ran downstairs and got the cream and went back inside. After putting the cream on the coins and rubbing it in and scrubbing it, I removed the coin from the cloth and it was super super shiny. And the picture on the coin was so detailed and perfect. It was much cleaner and much much better than it was before the accident with the coca cola. Now my collection is looking good :) but there more to the story than that. I think of this story and it makes me remember our savior Jesus Christ. We are all imperfect and we do things that sometimes we wish we wouldn’t have. Sometimes we do everything we can to take away the stain, or the memory, but nothing seems to work. When we discover the gospel of Jesus Christ and the redeeming power of his atonement, we get excited and want to learn more. And when we finally understand how to repent and understand that it’s a change of heart, we can be clean. Not just clean. But better and stronger than we were before. Just like my coins. If they never would have gotten stained, I wouldn’t have seen the need to clean them. And it turns out that after cleaning them, they were much better than before. Every experience that we have it to make us better. We all do things that we need to change, and when we apply the atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives, we can turn our weaknesses into strengths and be better than we were people. I know that the Atonement is real. And I love this time of year because it helps me reflect the hope that was born into the world more than 2000 years ago. I’m running out of time but I’m going to put in some pictures here. I love you all and I’m grateful for your support. We should always remember that this time of the year isn’t about gifts and presents. It’s about the birth of Christ. The only person that can cleanse of imperfection and help us live with God again. Next week I’ll tell some crazy stories :)

Love Elder Dahlin

My best friends here!

This bug bit me!! but I'm okay :) #doterra saved my life

Cool Nativity at the temple