Dearest Family and Friends,
Believe it or not, this is probably the last letter that will come to you from the Philippines Olongapo mission president and wife. The movers are coming to take this computer and most of our belongings away in three short weeks, and I don’t imagine getting back to this again before then. 10 weeks to go until the magnificent and great President and Sister Lacanienta arrive, and the older and hopefully wiser Brother and Sister Dahle set out for home.
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| Doesn't he look great?! |
Thank you for your prayers most especially. We have needed it, and continue to need it, so please don’t even think about stopping!! Thanks to the primary, the youth, and so many of you that have remembered birthdays, Christmas or sent messages or cards for no special reason. Thank you for the many who have supported our children, grandchildren and mothers when we could not be there! For all of these things, we are wildly grateful – well, I am wildly grateful, and Dennis is respectfully and deeply grateful.
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Trying out the look of future missionaries!
District primary missionary activity!
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As nearly as I can tell we will be speaking in our home Sacrament Meeting on July 16. We will probably be seen racing hither and yon before and after that for family reunions, meeting five exquisite new grandkids and getting to know the ten adorable ones we left behind, hugging & kissing cheeks (awkward cultural differences coming up)… doctor and dentist check-ups and gloriously sinking newly cleaned teeth and anxious taste buds into Paradise Bakery’s Turkey and Cranberry on Molasses Bread! Café Rio burritos for Dennis. So much to look forward to!
With all of that, hit pause. We will have had in total 535 missionaries whom we love! Six districts and one stake worth of members that we have come to at least recognize, because who can remember all the names, but their faces have become so dear. The faithful Filipino pioneers and leadership have gotten into our hearts fully. We love the flavorful scenes and the beautiful children. Most of all, we love missionary work! This field is so white! The softened and prepared hearts are many. We have gotten used to seeing brand new nervous, excited, fresh from the MTC missionaries step off the bus on that first day, watching them navigate the difficult beginning, grow in confidence and joy, become trainers and leaders and master teachers, then saying goodbye as they get back on the bus to go home. They have worked so hard and changed so much! That is the part I and maybe we, will miss the most! That thought is what brings the tears.
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We will do this twice more! Pairing trainers with their brand new companions!
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What a gift this calling has been. Not an easy gift by any means. It has been rugged and brutal many times, but as we continually teach and believe: There is no growing in your comfort zone and no comfort in your growing zone. So, that is that. I hope we have grown. We are eternally and overwhelmingly grateful to a kind loving Father who's plan provided a Savior and Redeemer and an Atonement that has a most miraculous enabling power! Because how else could we, and why else would we do these things?
With love,
President and Sister Dahle
I got to work with the sisters in the mountains on my birthday:
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| It was her birthday too! |
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A good start on my birthday dinner!
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The bus was hired by the Mariveles Branch so they could more easily come to district conference.
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He doesn't miss an opportunity.
APs and President pausing to contact, testify, and invite to learn!
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Our Elder Demetillo came back after his mission to court and marry this darling girl!
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Some common views:
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| Really!! |
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| Our front drive |
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Taking a moment to admire the view.
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At it again. Three referrals from pulling over to watch the sun go down.
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