Happy 19th Birthday Elder Dahl...Written 8-25-2014

Happy 19th Birthday!
Notice the lovely shape of the cake.
And boy, what a birthday candle! (Made by his companion)

These guys are all living in Washington D.C. as
roommates while serving in the Mt. Pleasant Ward

Monday evening Elder H, Elder C, and I went to a less-active member's home and taught her about enduring to the end. She is going through some difficult times and we were trying to lift her spirit. We also went and dropped off some things for a member that needed help.

On Tuesday, we went to a member's home for breakfast and learned how to make flour tortillas. This week we were kind of addicted to making them all the time. We used up all of the special flour mix we had to make them this week. They are fun and delicious to make. Elder H is the best at making them circular and I'm the best at getting them the right thickness (or rather thinness). Anyways, I'm not sure I haven't mentioned this yet but Elder H is leaving this Friday. He is finishing his mission and going home early for school in the middle of this transfer. Tuesday he went over with the East Elders to have some goodbyes with those members while Elder C and I worked in our area. We went all the way to the Potomac River to try and find a lost member but she no longer lives there now. On the way there we went down some great roads through several parks. I also got to pass by the Swedish Embassy on the way.

This is the scenery for one of the trails to the DC Parks.
Much more green and lush than dried out California right now.

Wednesday we had a great lesson with one of our investigators in the morning about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We also had some lessons with some members in the evening.

Thursday we had our district meeting and afterwards we went to a really good burger place down the street called Z-Burger. We then went to the Hospital to go check on one of our members that was admitted there. She was doing alright when we were there and she was healthy enough to come to church on Sunday.

In front of the Potomac River

Riding under a Fun Bridge

On Friday in the afternoon we went to South West (south and west of the capital) again to a different (and lower) part of the Potomac River to try and find another of the area's lost members. He also no longer lives there and we found out that he now lives in Virginia. We have been trying to locate all of our areas lost members (we have 25 more we are trying to find). We don't have any more lost members that far south in our area so we shouldn't be down there any time too soon. In the evening we had a little goodbye dinner for one of the investigators moving to New Jersey that grew pretty close to the missionaries. We had some food we made and the others brought some desserts. It was a fun time and great to be together. After the dinner we all went to the Branch Correlation meeting.

Saturday we taught an English Class in the morning which went really well. We spent some time in the early afternoon updating our records and doing some office work. In the afternoon we had an awesome lesson on baptism with the progressing investigator of the area. We are very close to having a baptism date with her again. We then had a lesson with another woman on repentance and she really felt the spirit there.

Sunday was a nice day. It was Elder H's last Sunday in the branch so there were several goodbyes said to him. We also had a lot of member lessons in the evening. This week was really successful and I am very happy to be here.

Today has been great so far. I opened Aunt D's packages she sent me and have been enjoying some of the Birthday Oreo Cookies and Bertie Bot's Every Flavour Beans this morning. Tell her thank you for all the great gifts. I also got a few cards I opened today from some family members. Tell them thank you too.

Thank you for the Birthday wishes. I hope Dad is feeling better and that everything will continue to go well for you and the family.

Today has been really good so far. For breakfast, Elder H made everyone German Pancakes and Turkey Bacon. During morning studies the other Elders distracted me and made me a cake. It was a two layer yellow cake with chocolate frosting and we then put some of the Birthday Oreo Cookies on top to add to it.

I hope you have a great day and a great coming week.

Love,
Elder Braden Dahl