Email: March 15, 2010

This last week has been a marvelous one. First, we had a few days of daily work until Thursday, when we had Zone conference.

It was a wonderful experience. I learned a lot about the importance of Repentance and how we can help our Investigators realize, what a gift it really is. At the same time, I myself realized, what a gift it really is. It is a marvelous one, for sure! It is an invitation to us, to become better. It is the chance for us, to clean out and heal our wounds of the soul. I am so grateful, for that gift.
Then, on Saturday, we also had the chance, to go meet Elder Christofferson, of the Quorum of the twelve. He is a marvelous man and gave us some very good advice, personally and also for the work. What wonderful men we have, to lead and guide us here in our lives. We are blessed immensely.

Elder Warner, my new companion from California, and I get along very well. Like usually there is some differences, but what would life be without some variety! :) He is a good teacher easy-going. It's going to be a good transfer, for sure!!!

I love my mission! It is such a blessing, to be here. I love this gospel and the happiness it brings me and my family.

That is why I am here. Thank you, to all that support me and help me. Take care, until next time! :)

Email: March 8, 2010

alright, a new Transfer!!!
My last companion Elder Jeppesen has gone on :), to Milwaukee and my new companion has come. Elder Warner is his name. He is from San Diego, California and a true Surfer boy! :)
Nice guy though, for sure and I am excited for the next 6 weeks. It will be great.

The work is going great. we are teaching several young families and others.
it is marvelous to see the testimony grow in others and also at the same time in yourself. it is a learning experiance for sure, to be on amission. Hard at some times...but ALWAYS worth it. Just like everything else, that the lord asks us to do. Sometimes it gets hard, but we can always know, that he is there, watching over us and preparing a way, for us to achieve what he asks of us.
This gospel really is a gift to everyone! we need to share it. I am grateful for the chance I have, to do so full time!

Thanks, to everyone, for the support i get!!! I really love my mission love being here in Wisconsin!

hope, everyone is doing good and staying happy! We sure have enough reason to be happy...so...LET's do it :):)

well...take care everyone!
love, Elder Dautel

Eagle Show

From a Bald Eagle event here in town. It was way sweet.

Pictures: February 15, 2010

Here are some pictures of my new companion, Elder Jeppson, and our apartment.

Pictures: February 1, 2010

Elder Thiel

I was on an exchange with him for 2 days, because of transfers. He is awesome and I would be happy to work with him longer. He is from Canada and serving in Green Bay right now.

Iowa Sign

That's right!! Part of my area right now goes into Iowa. I have already served in 3 states!!! Pretty cool, huh!

Me at the Mississippi

Not much to explain. THAT RIVER IS HUGE!!!! That behind me is only about a third of how big it really is!!!

Overview of Green Bay


The Amish

Yep! There are amish in my area here and they actually put up signs for them and their carriages. It was so funny when I saw one the first time. I am going to try to take a picture with one of them :)

Turkey Time

Well...one of the members in the area has turkeys.

UP District

Yeah that is us...Marquette, Houghton and Iron Mountain Elders...except Elder Cottle, who was already on his way to Milwaukee to pick up his new greenie.

Email: January 25, 2010

Alright, my second Area: PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, WI
It is interesting, to see how the Lord works with us. I started out in an area, that has a looot of success and now I have been sent here, where there is basically nothing going on. I see, that I have been called here, to serve with my new companion Elder Jeppesen, to get this place up and running. Work has slacked a lot the last months and things are quite unorganized. But Elder Jeppesen and I have been working hard already, to change that.
There sure is a lot of potential here, especially if we can work with the members. There are several young families in the branch, which are all ready to share the gospel with their friends and happy to help us with our work.

It's how it always is. If we show heavenly father that we trust him and do our best at all times, then we can be absolutely sure, that he will bless us and give the effort reason.

I love being here. It is a challenge. But a challenge with blessings, that I am ready to take. To many times it happens, that we stand in front of a wall and loose focus of the blessings that we know, are waiting right behind.
This will work. I know it.

Thanks to everyone, that has been writing and supporting me over here.
I miss you all and hope, that you are all doing well.
Take good care,
Elder Robert Dautel

Email: January 18, 2010

TRANSFER WEEK! My training time is over and I am going to be transferred! Where to, i do not know yet, I will hear tomorrow, but I am already excited. Sad, because I really love this area here, with all the people. And also, because of Elder Cottle and having to leave him. He is going to train again, which is good, since his wonderful working attitude truly is an example to everyone.

But, he has taught me so very much, it is unbelievable. I am going to miss that.
I am grateful, for the blessings I have received through this companionship and the time here. Including the trials, which almost always in life, turn out, to be a blessing in disguise!!!! It is hard, to be with the same person 24 - 7. Especially if you didn't get to choose the person :).... BUT, if you work things out and have the same righteous desires and goals, it can work.

Elder Cottle and I have learned, to feed off of each others strengths and to simply work. Work together in our cause, to invite others to come unto our Savior Jesus Christ. THEN it all just started to work out and we truly ARE having the time of our lives.

It is simply amazing to see how Heavenly Father always knows best and knows, what we need! The time here has taught me so very much. Things that were hard for me in the beginning, like getting up and excercise on time, knocking doors and other small things... are now my favorite thing to do, for I see how it helps us to focus and be more effective. I love knocking doors now and it is way fun. :D

AWWWWW well... a mission is simply the coolest thing ever and I love it! I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world right now. I am grateful for the chance to serve my Savior and my brothers and sisters here.
"Today is the day, for us to perform our labors."
I am glad to perform them now.

Take good care everyone,
Love, Elder Robert Dautel

Pictures: January 18, 2010

Elder Burnside

Not much to say about...he is really cool and a very good missionary already, even though he has only been out one transfer.

Elder Wessely

Elder Burnside's companion, from Germany, Bielefeld. He is really nice and a good missionary.

Gallon Challenge

Ooooh my...me, Elder Cottle and the young men (plus the leaders) had to drink 1 gallon (3.78 Liters) if milk within ONE hour and keep it down for an hour. Supposedly it is impossible to do, because the milk expands...and none made it...EXCEPT ME! Ha...none beats me! :D But that night sure was horrible...:) NEVER AGAIN :D

Me, Trista and Dan Sarasin

They are a less-active couple, that really want to go back to church. Struggling but still trying. They are awesome and I am going to miss them, when I leave.

Me and Aden Sarasin

Dan and Trista's youngest son. He loves me sooooo much...I don't know why. He is shy to everyone else and hides from them...but from the first day on, he wouldn't stay away from me. :D I love that kid.

Me, Jeremiah and Jenna Sarasin

Dan and Trista's older kids. They are so sweet. Crazy :D...but sweet. Love them...and will miss them, when I leave. A lot!

Pictures: January 4, 2010

Christmas Stockings

These were made by Crystal, an investigator.

Me, Sonya and Will (her boyfriend)

Sonya is someone we are teaching in Marinette. Her whole family is basically being taught.

Christmas Gifts from Sonya

Wonderful people!

Me Sick

Iron Mountain Branch

Aaron, Autumn and Daniel

Aaron and Daniel are Pres. Scott's sons. Autumn is a recent convert, baptized by Elder Cottle and his companion before me. She is very nice and strong in her testimony about the church.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Gift from the Scotts

Elder Cottle and Me Christmas Eve

E-mail: January 4, 2010

I have written a few times about the work here... but I just wanted to write a little bit of a summary about the whole area here and how things go....

We travel every 3-5 days, from one area to another and try hard to keep up with everyone we teach. It works alright and we love it very much.

We get to see and to know a lot of people and try hard to help them find the truth about the Lords restored gospel on the earth today.

Iron Mountain is definitely the area with the most work right now and we love it there.
People come up to us and just say, that they want to be baptized... how great is THAT!?!?!
Iron Mountain has been prepared for this, for sure! The members really want to do their part and try hard to help us.

In all three areas, we are staying with members.

Marinette – The Scotts
President Scott is the Branch President in Marinette and just in the beginning of this transfer we moved in with them, from an apartment that the church owned before. Sr. Scott is German and it is nice to talk to her in German once in a while J. They have 3 daughters and 2 sons, of which only the sons, Aaron and Daniel still live with them. They are wonderful people and we love being with them.

Escanaba – The Schmidts
Sr. Schmidt is the BEST! she does everything for us. She is sooo very nice. Her Husband is the branch president in Escanaba and her son James (16) still lives there also.
Cool guy, whose best friend lives in Houston and goes to seminary with my cousin Lauren :) :D

Iron Mountain – The Lewis’
Brother and Sister Lewis are my 'Grandparents' :) here and so very nice. They love having the missionaries in their house and try to do anything for us. Br. Lewis is the Branch Mission leader and does a fabulous job at it. He tries to talk with us almost daily and does everything he can to support us with our investigators. It could not be better than that. It is an essential part to the work, that there is such a good relation between the missionaries and their leaders.

So…that is where we are staying…now about some few people we are teaching. I took the names out, but at least you can read a little bit about the things we do here.

In Marinette there is a 25 year old girl. She has come a looooong way already and really tries hard to do what is right. After overcoming a loooot of things…it is only Smoking that is still holding her back. She has come down from a package a day to ONE stinking cigarette a day, but THAT, she just doesn’t finish off. We have been trying so very hard to help her, and will keep doing so as much as we can.

Iron Mountain has a lot of great things happening.
There is a 9 year old boy,Tyler (name ok here), whose father is Inactive. The dad knows the Church is true, but has a long story of different things happening, that prevent him from coming to church. As we worked with Tyler, his dad himself made a lot of progress and started to have the desire to return to the church and support his son. At the baptism service for Tyler, he offered the closing prayer. It was so wonderful to see the progress he has made, just in these last months. He will be a wonderful dad.

Then there is another couple that we are teaching. LONG story. But short: They were contacted at the delivery of a bible, which they had requested over the internet,said, they would like to be taught more. IN that process, a lot happened. One night, (2 days after I came out J ) we helped them move out their stuff, from their apartment. Their landlord wanted to redo the carpeting in there. The next day, when they wanted to see how things are and when they could move their stuff back in, she was told that they are thrown out and the locks have been changed. CRAZY.!!!! … They were devastated and called us. We went there, talked to them and gave them both a blessing. They were comforted and we talked to them a little more about trials and the good they can bring us.
They understood and changed their attitude about it, by wanting to change their lives to the better. It has been marvelous to see the changes they have made.
Now, they both have jobs again and a place to stay. Family Home Evening is being held regularly in their home and if work allows it, they always come to church.
She is just waiting for her divorce papers to come through, so they can get married and baptized. A wonderful day it will be. I look forward to it…

There are more people… but to write about all of them, would take a looong time. To know… the work here is amazing and the people wonderful. I love serving here and wish I could stay the whole 2 years.
But anyways…it’s the Lord’s work. I will do, as he calls! I am very grateful to be here and will do my best at all times to live up to the responsibility.
Thanks to everyone. I miss you all and hope everyone is doing good. Bye

Email: December 7, 2009

so... another week!!!! MY FIRST TRANSFER COMPLETE :) (16 to go :) )
work is going great!!! but wow... financial crisis. it is crazy. Unemployement...puuh...it is the worst here. Like...every second person is unemployed...for sure. It is CRAZY. But we try to help the people to get through that, by showing them, that if they trust in the Lord it will always work out. and we HAVE seen many miracles already.

One time, there was a younger couple that was moving out their furniture for their landlord, so he could renew the carpet in their appartement. The next morning, wanting to move things back in, the were told, they have been evicted..... wow....that was so crazy...

a lot to go through....but...now....we have been teaching them and they have started to rely on their savior. Now they both have jobs and a decent appartement. They both want to get baptized and married, as soon as her divorce papers are through. They are good people. it is an amazing story.

I am so happy for the chance we have been given to help the people around us with the truths we have been given.
We have something amazing to share! And that is EXACTLY what we all need to do. SHARE!
Thanks, to everyone for all the support I get. I miss you and think about you a lot. Take good care,... until we meet again!

Pictures: November 30, 2009

Campfire with the Scotts and one of their neighbors, for Family Home Evening.

President and Sister Scott (the branch president in Merinette)

Elder Cottle at the campfire.

I love the decorations here.

People just started decorating. I bet it is going to get even better.

Email: November 30, 2009

Wow, soooo much is happening. It is CRAAAAAAZY! I love it :)
Elder Cottle and I are getting along great and have a lot of fun together.
Man, am I glad we have a truck with four-wheel drive :)
One time he wanted to turn around on the street and went a little bit into the high grass on the side of the street. We got stuck in swampy ground. but... ONE click on the big 4- button .... and OUT we were :) it was funny.

and the work...wow...the work... it is amazing. We see sooo much success. As we both try to be better personally and also to each other, daily... we also see the many blessings, that come from it.
We knock on doors and people just say: "oh...i already have my beliefs...but...hey...sure, I will learn more!"
Progress is being made so much, and we get to be the tools for it. I am so grateful for that opportunity. I learn so much and grow closer to my savior Jesus Christ, daily.

We have 4 baptism dates at the moment. one on the 13th of december, 2 on the 19th and 1 on the 26th.
It truly is going to be a white christmas :):) i love it.
BUT I am glad that elder cottle was asked to do the one on the 26th. The investigator wants to be baptized in a river.... CRAAAAAZY... it is already freezing cold here and it is getting colder daily... well.... faith and it will be fine!

so, that's about it :) thanks to everyone that I know and for the support I receive.
BUT...let me say just one more things. there is not much, that is nicer, than a letter in the mailbox in the morning.
I love emails, but letters are just simply better. :D:D

November 24, 2009 Pictures

Lake Superior! Those blue skies...exactly like that everyday! Except today actually. The first time it rains on me is today :) I love it!

Me at the Lake

Me attempting a major bubble! :) Why do we fall...TO TRY AGAIN. (See the following picture)

OOOOOOOOOOOOOH YEAH!!!!!!

Elder Cottle and me on the way to an appointment :) Yeah, we are cool.

Email: November 23, 2009

I am really happy here!!! It is exciting times for sure! We have a lot of work to do here, but a looot of success!!!!

We just had some baptisms on Saturday!! A whole family, except the youngest is just turning 8 in April! It was really special. I got to baptize one of the boys. I love that family. Darlene and Howard Brault. They married THAT day. And Darlene's kids Bryce and Destine (Schuh, their last name) and then Ashley, the youngest. The wedding and the baptism were simply amazing!! I LOVE THIS WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is so wonderful, to see people change their lives and grow closer to our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ!!!

I am priviledged to be a part in this and to be a tool in the hands of the Lord! I am doing my best to live up to the responsibility.

We have 3 more baptism dates that are all solid. So hopefully, I will be able to tell you more about it soon:) I am grateful to see this work progress. I love the work and I love my Savior. I know that this church is the one true church and that we can enjoy the FULNESS of the gospel within it. Let us ALL be beacons unto the people. If WE don't share the light, who will!?!?!?!?! Let's fulfill our purpose and invite others to come unto Christ!!!

OH MY...I am so happy! I am really learning alot. No day, without some experience!

Oh and please get the letter business going. I like emails, but...well...letters are even better! I haven't recieved ONE letter yet, except one. :(

I love you all very much and thank everyone for the support I recieve Take good care.

Love, Elder Dautel

The Brault Family in front of the church.

Elder Cottle, Robby and the Brault Family, with Brother Lewis (who Robby and his companion live with)

The little boy Robby baptized...Destin Schuh.