Teeples, Dallin

¿Qué dice? Espero que la semana pasada pasó bien para todos! Little context for the title quote: Missionary slang for when a missionary finishes and goes home is that they "die." This week, I gave my final testimony at zone conference and maybe feel a little like I got one foot in the grave, but the key here is that mostly dead means that I'm still alive. I still got time to give and things to do. One thing that stood out was we had a devotional from a motivational speaker whose daughter served in this mission (she was actually in the MTC with me, but has now been home for six and a half months). In the devotional, he spoke about using language that God can support and that allows the Spirit to testify of it. For example, saying "that's crazy" or "unbelievable" tells ourselves/our consciousness that things are without order and that we don't have faith they can happen. We either float or sink our own ships. Whatever we say and whatever our atti...

The day I would've gone home has come and gone, yet I remain. I've left San Benito, and I'm finishing my mission here in Brownsville and on the bikes. This week went by quickly already, but I'm excited to be here. I know there are people to find. It's been crazy, though, because we're reopening the bike area in the Brownsville 4th branch. The other crazy part is that the branch area is in a part of Brownsville called Southmost and borders Matamoros. Not gonna lie, it's been a bit tough going back to the bikes, reopening an area, and us both not knowing the area; but I know God can work miracles and truly has plans for us. Already having to fight off dogs, dodge cars, bike through pouring rain and puddles, but I love being on the Lord's errand and inviting all to Christ. Prayers up for friends we're teaching and those we'll meet this next week. Had a homie in our area that the other Elders had been working with to be baptized this past weekend, bu...

What a day it is today! President Nelson turned 100, and somehow I turned 21. Figured the quote fit since it kind of includes both numbers. Not to mention that there were some powerful things that happened this week. First, our friend Ursulo was baptized! He's 72 years old and actually filled out an ad and got contacted by the sisters at Temple Square. Goes to show it’s never too late in life to change. There were lots of extreme efforts to get him there, though. First is that when we received the referral, they didn’t have the address, and we couldn’t find him. Next, he missed his ride to church the first week after we found him, and we had to arrange a ride for him to go to the later ward. Lastly, he has difficulty standing without a cane, but we were able to help balance him so he could be baptized. He absolutely loves the restored gospel and the ward, and he was crying tears of joy as we sang I Am a Child of God at the end of the baptism. It was a great early birthday gift to s...

¡Increíble! The one word to describe this week. Especially yesterday. Sunday was crazy and all over the place, but great. The reason for the title quote is because what we had planned fell through, but we were able to adjust, and it somehow worked out. All praise be to God. It's been all over the place, especially as my time winds down both in San Benito and on the mission. This coming week is my last full week here in San Benito, so I’ve got to make the most of it. We got a referral during the week for a guy named Ursulo. We had no address and couldn't consistently get in contact with him over the phone. We weren’t able to reach him but eventually spent an hour driving around the area he said he lived in and calling him, trying to find him. We eventually found him and set up a ride for him to come to church. Come Sunday, we called, and he was up and getting ready for his ride to church. We got a call 15 minutes before church from the member who said he wasn’t sure if it was th...