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| I LOVE THIS SMILE!! |
Monday, September 30, 2013
3 Derry, NH
Hey Mom,
So I got the package and thanks for all the stuff,
I haven't yet eaten the bugs - I will take pictures of me eating them when I do though.
Lochlan really is really funny. That is crazy that CR just got home from his mission. Connor is really ready to leave for his mission. He will be good out there, it’s crazy though that he will leave and I will almost be at my year mark, in fact he might not even be in the field when I will hit my year mark. It kinda sucks that I will get home such a long time before him.
Thank you for keeping a list of the movies that are coming out, I have heard of some of the movies that have come out during my mission, I try not to notice them.
Mom, things here are going really good. My companion and I are doing really well together and I really like this ward… it is a great ward! Things are good.
One thing I forgot to mention last week I gave another talk - so that makes four in eight months.
Guess what today is? Today is my eight month mark, one third of my mission is finished, that is SO CRAZY.
We are teaching a little bit and things are good, our one investigator is progressing he has been without smoking for two weeks and so I am pretty sure that he will be baptized but we will have to see.
So these computers here are really weird, they shut off and most times we don’t even get a full hour, so yeah. It’s been a good week. Time is really flying right now, already I am half way through this transfer Not much else happened this week hope all is great with you.
I love you mom
Love Elder Dean
So I got the package and thanks for all the stuff,
I haven't yet eaten the bugs - I will take pictures of me eating them when I do though.
Lochlan really is really funny. That is crazy that CR just got home from his mission. Connor is really ready to leave for his mission. He will be good out there, it’s crazy though that he will leave and I will almost be at my year mark, in fact he might not even be in the field when I will hit my year mark. It kinda sucks that I will get home such a long time before him.
Thank you for keeping a list of the movies that are coming out, I have heard of some of the movies that have come out during my mission, I try not to notice them.
Mom, things here are going really good. My companion and I are doing really well together and I really like this ward… it is a great ward! Things are good.
One thing I forgot to mention last week I gave another talk - so that makes four in eight months.
Guess what today is? Today is my eight month mark, one third of my mission is finished, that is SO CRAZY.
We are teaching a little bit and things are good, our one investigator is progressing he has been without smoking for two weeks and so I am pretty sure that he will be baptized but we will have to see.
So these computers here are really weird, they shut off and most times we don’t even get a full hour, so yeah. It’s been a good week. Time is really flying right now, already I am half way through this transfer Not much else happened this week hope all is great with you.
I love you mom
Love Elder Dean
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
2 Derry, New Hampshire
Mum,
Hey, so things this past week have been going really good, it’s crazy, the members here feed us SO MUCH in this area. My companion has some terrible allergies and he just always seems ready to die when we run the short distance so sadly I am not able to run as much.
BOTH my companion and I are out of money for the month so we can’t get any food so it is a good thing the members feed us…. WHY are we out of money? You will never guess what happened. We came home one evening later then normal and the latch on the door was locked, which was weird because I never lock that lock, I only ever lock the dead bolt. So we go to the windows, because we had no key for the latch, and tried all the windows - luckily we had left one unlocked so I was able to hope in and unlock the door … We thought that was it. However, the next morning my companion was going through everything and notices things are out of place and missing and his suit cases are all opened – he just started freaking out. I just thought he was a nut job. but when I went I checked my wallet I noticed that I was missing all my money and my subway gift card. That is when we realized that we had been robbed the day before and that was why the latch was locked. So I had all my support money stolen. Which was awesome! Nothing else was taken but I was so freaking pissed off! I was furious all day, I was so MAD. I have calmed down now but it still sucks. Yeah.
My companion REALLY likes to talk. Which is good and bad, New Englanders also really like to talk. So it is really difficult when we go to members houses for meals. I am always struggling to get us out at the time that we are supposed to. I feel like after Sanford where we never went to members homes for meals here we use up so much precious time just sitting and chatting with members, it’s hard to find the balance.
It’s starting to get really cool here and I’m really really excited for the fall weather to come to New England! I am NOT excited for the snow, i hate snow.
I has been really good to come to Derry, we taught out one investigator last week and so that was really good! He committed to a baptismal date, but he is really addicted to smoking he has been smoking since he was 13. So it’s hard for him but he comes to church and he gave us his cigarettes and his lighter last week. So that was good, pray for him.
This past weekend we went to this thing called Derry-fest. We spent the whole day just sitting there handing out cards inviting people to church, it was fun.
So this ward has a ton of these recent converts and they are the sickest people on the face of the planet! They are all so awesome, one of them named Brandon he is 18 and a senior in high school. He was just baptized in June and he is amazing! I love him so much he is so rock solid and loves the gospel and he plans to serve a mission after graduating and he is so cool, he plays music and guitar and he is just amazing and he is the best people person and he will be an amazing missionary.
Man, I hope I remembered everything I wanted to tell you, I am running out of time. I will try to email the Sister missionary back but if I run out of time tell her I said I was sorry these computers are so dumb, they lock you out after an hour.
Mom I love u so much. Ahh, I am really trying to remember everything I feel like I am forgetting things but these computer can cut your time short its weird. I want to still write dad so I need to go.
I love you I’ll send pictures soon.
Also last question is grannies moms name Eveyln Jeanette Frieholtz? I am trying to use family search since that is all I can use since its church website. Love you.
Also on family history get granny to see if we have revolutionary blood cause that would be SWEET!! And any other cool stuff I want to help just no time. Love you
Also on familysearch.org I traced back the Mack line all the way to the 1100s it’s so freaking sweet! We are all over the European continent, Germany and Switzerland and France and everything it is so cool!!!!!!!!!!!!! And if this family search thing is right I found some direct relatives that were counts and knights in France and Germany and all sorts of stuff but I don’t know if it’s all correct
So I have to get off but one last thing - you will never believe it, looking at family history I found my 8x great grandmother on the Mack line, her grandpa is buried in my mission really close to my area!!!!!!!!! So sweet!!!!!!!
love you got to go
Love Elder Dean
Hey, so things this past week have been going really good, it’s crazy, the members here feed us SO MUCH in this area. My companion has some terrible allergies and he just always seems ready to die when we run the short distance so sadly I am not able to run as much.
BOTH my companion and I are out of money for the month so we can’t get any food so it is a good thing the members feed us…. WHY are we out of money? You will never guess what happened. We came home one evening later then normal and the latch on the door was locked, which was weird because I never lock that lock, I only ever lock the dead bolt. So we go to the windows, because we had no key for the latch, and tried all the windows - luckily we had left one unlocked so I was able to hope in and unlock the door … We thought that was it. However, the next morning my companion was going through everything and notices things are out of place and missing and his suit cases are all opened – he just started freaking out. I just thought he was a nut job. but when I went I checked my wallet I noticed that I was missing all my money and my subway gift card. That is when we realized that we had been robbed the day before and that was why the latch was locked. So I had all my support money stolen. Which was awesome! Nothing else was taken but I was so freaking pissed off! I was furious all day, I was so MAD. I have calmed down now but it still sucks. Yeah.
My companion REALLY likes to talk. Which is good and bad, New Englanders also really like to talk. So it is really difficult when we go to members houses for meals. I am always struggling to get us out at the time that we are supposed to. I feel like after Sanford where we never went to members homes for meals here we use up so much precious time just sitting and chatting with members, it’s hard to find the balance.
It’s starting to get really cool here and I’m really really excited for the fall weather to come to New England! I am NOT excited for the snow, i hate snow.
I has been really good to come to Derry, we taught out one investigator last week and so that was really good! He committed to a baptismal date, but he is really addicted to smoking he has been smoking since he was 13. So it’s hard for him but he comes to church and he gave us his cigarettes and his lighter last week. So that was good, pray for him.
This past weekend we went to this thing called Derry-fest. We spent the whole day just sitting there handing out cards inviting people to church, it was fun.
So this ward has a ton of these recent converts and they are the sickest people on the face of the planet! They are all so awesome, one of them named Brandon he is 18 and a senior in high school. He was just baptized in June and he is amazing! I love him so much he is so rock solid and loves the gospel and he plans to serve a mission after graduating and he is so cool, he plays music and guitar and he is just amazing and he is the best people person and he will be an amazing missionary.
Man, I hope I remembered everything I wanted to tell you, I am running out of time. I will try to email the Sister missionary back but if I run out of time tell her I said I was sorry these computers are so dumb, they lock you out after an hour.
Mom I love u so much. Ahh, I am really trying to remember everything I feel like I am forgetting things but these computer can cut your time short its weird. I want to still write dad so I need to go.
I love you I’ll send pictures soon.
Also last question is grannies moms name Eveyln Jeanette Frieholtz? I am trying to use family search since that is all I can use since its church website. Love you.
Also on family history get granny to see if we have revolutionary blood cause that would be SWEET!! And any other cool stuff I want to help just no time. Love you
Also on familysearch.org I traced back the Mack line all the way to the 1100s it’s so freaking sweet! We are all over the European continent, Germany and Switzerland and France and everything it is so cool!!!!!!!!!!!!! And if this family search thing is right I found some direct relatives that were counts and knights in France and Germany and all sorts of stuff but I don’t know if it’s all correct
So I have to get off but one last thing - you will never believe it, looking at family history I found my 8x great grandmother on the Mack line, her grandpa is buried in my mission really close to my area!!!!!!!!! So sweet!!!!!!!
love you got to go
Love Elder Dean
Monday, September 23, 2013
Google Map views of Derry, NH
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| The aerial view of the drive from Elder Deans apartment to the LDS church building |
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| Elder Deans Derry, New Hampshire Apartment |
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| Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Derry, New Hampshire |
Monday, September 16, 2013
Derry, New Hampshire
Derry, New Hampshire.
Situated an hour from Boston, an hour from the seacoast, and an hour from the base of the great White Mountains of New Hampshire...... So really an hour from just about everything!
Second Sacrament Talk - Sanford, Maine
Good morning brothers and sisters, whenever I think of Missionary work one person always comes to my mind first and that is Jesus Christ. Throughout the course of His earthly life he was the perfect missionary ever. He was always looking and striving to find ways to teach people the gospel and to share with them the amazing message that he carried. Always saying exactly what needed to be said right when it needed to be. So how was it that Christ was able to so effectively spread the gospel? (other than the fact that He was the only begotten of the Father).
In Doctrine and Covenants section four it gives us a list of the attributes that we need to have in order to accomplish this work,
“5. And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.
6. Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.”
All of these attributes are things that Christ excelled at, he showed forth these qualities wherever he went, and so I wish to talk about a few of these attributes and why they are so key to this work.
First I want to focus on the love that Christ so magnificently showed forth to all who came seeking. To me in missionary work one of the most important things that is needed in order to be successful is that we have to love those around us. In Doctrine and Covenants Section 12 verse 8 it reads:
“8. And no one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope, and charity, being temperate in all things, whatsoever shall be entrusted to his care.”
Love is an essential characteristic that is needed when we do missionary work. I have a friend who, prior to her being set apart as a missionary, was told by our Stake President that we will truly become successful when we love those that we serve. Since I have come on my mission the word love has taken on an all new and deeper meaning to me, prior it was a word that I hardly ever said, and when I did say it - it was to very few people. Now to me though, to love someone is to truly desire what is best for that person and to care for them. And as a member of this church I know that what is best for people is for them to partake of this gospel, we as members just need to make others see that as well. Christ did just that by showing love to everyone, he showed his love when he talked to the Samaritan woman; a group of people who were so hated ****THIS PART OF TALK WAS CUT OFF****to enter their country, yet our Lord and Savior showed her the same love that he did to everyone else and taught her. He showed forth his love when he forgave the woman who was taken in adultery and when he taught his disciples and the Pharisees that the second most important commandment, behind only to loving God, was that we are to love our neighbors as we do ourselves, and again in Doctrine and Covenants 112:11 when he said;
“I know thy heart, and have heard thy prayers concerning thy Brethren, be not partial towards them in love above many others, but let thy love be for them as for thyself: and let thy love abound unto all men, and unto all who love my name.”
And lastly he showed forth his matchless love for all mankind when he allowed himself to be taken and crucified, so that we could all eventually return to live with Him some day.
I would like to read the first and fourth verses to Hymn 220,
“Lord, I Would Follow Thee.” “Savior, may I learn to love Thee, walk the path that thou hast shown, Pause to help and lift another, finding strength beyond my own. Savior, may I learn to love thee – Lord, I would follow thee.”
“Savior, may I love my brother as I know thou lovest me, find in thee my strength, my beacon, for thy servant I would be. Savior, may I love my brother – Lord, I would follow thee.”
This has always been a favorite hymn of mine, because learning to love as our Savior does is so very important. In the very last discourse that our Lord gave while mortal to his disciples, right before his suffering in the garden and his arrest, was recorded in John 13:34-35:
“34. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
So far I Have struggled with this for my whole mission, to be able to love someone that is nice or kind or who is my friend is easy, even sinners can do that, but to love everyone, even those who hate us and persecute us is very difficult. In his Sermon on the Mount Christ taught on this very same thing, he said:
“44. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. 45. That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:…….”
For me to love those who yell and curse me, who slam their doors in my face, or who threaten me is extremely hard, but as we follow the example of our Lord and walk the path that he has shown and show that same love to our fellow brothers and sisters, they will come to recognize us for what we truly are, and that is disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, and their hearts will be touched by the Holy Ghost and softened so that they will desire to hear our message. Our previous mission president told us a story of two Elders who, one cold winter night knocked on a man’s door, who told them off. As they were walking away one of the Elders put his arm around his discouraged looking companion and told him that it was okay, the Lord will help us. The man watching from his house suddenly called them back saying, no one who shows love like that can be that bad, so he let them in. So as we show love to everyone people will notice and desire to know why.
Next I want to talk about something else that was very key to the character of our Lord, that was his attitude of service. In Matthew 20:28 it reads:
“Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
In the dictionary it defines to minister as to give help, so the greatest being to ever live, came down to this earth to give service and to help out everyone. He came down and he “took upon himself the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). He came down here and “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). Prior to his arrest our Lord took water and washed the feet of his disciples. In Mosiah 2:17-18 King Benjamin in his address to his people says:
“17. And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
18. Behold, ye have called me your king, and if I, whom ye call your king, do labor to serve you, then aught not ye labor to serve one another?”
The Savior taught the same thing while on the earth, in Matthew 25:34-40 he teaches us:
“…. and the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.”
“A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief”, verse 7 reads,
“then in a moment to my view the stranger started from disguise the tokens in his hands I knew; the Savior stood before mine eyes. He spake and my poor name he names, of Me thou hast now been ashamed. These deeds shall thy memorial be, fear not, thou didst them unto me.”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does just as we are taught by the savior. We have a huge humanitarian program. The church is often one of the first groups into an area after a natural disaster giving out food and supplies to those who are poor or needy.
Elder Dallin H. Oakes, in the last session of General Conference, said,
“During the last quarter century we have assisted nearly 30 million people in 179 countries. Truly the “Mormons” know how to give to the poor and needy.”
We as members also help out each month by fasting and donating at least the amount of the meals missed to help those in need. We as a church have taken the Saviors teaching to heart and magnified what was asked of us. An experience that I had with service was when I was a Sophomore in high school, Alabama was devastated by over a hundred tornadoes that in the course of a single night caused thousands of people to lose everything they had. So the priesthood of my ward packed up everything that we needed and made the four hour trek to help with the clean-up. I’ll never forget the experience of going and helping these people to clear the debris and trees that had caused so much damage. The gratitude that these people had for what we did for them was beyond belief. For me, it was just one weekend not much but to them it was everything. The Lord often answers our prayers through the actions of others, so as we serve and help others in every way that we can, even if it seems small and insignificant to us, may be everything to that person, an answer to their prayers. And though by serving we may not see a result or a conversion, we are planting seeds for future generations to harvest.
In conclusion I will read one last story from Christ’s life in John 1:37-46 “…..” As we follow the Savior’s example our friends and family will notice and as they do be ready to , as Peter says, give a reason for the hope and light they see in you and invite them to come and see and find out for themselves what it is all about. Lastly I would like to bear my testimony.
In Doctrine and Covenants section four it gives us a list of the attributes that we need to have in order to accomplish this work,
“5. And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.
6. Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.”
All of these attributes are things that Christ excelled at, he showed forth these qualities wherever he went, and so I wish to talk about a few of these attributes and why they are so key to this work.
First I want to focus on the love that Christ so magnificently showed forth to all who came seeking. To me in missionary work one of the most important things that is needed in order to be successful is that we have to love those around us. In Doctrine and Covenants Section 12 verse 8 it reads:
“8. And no one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope, and charity, being temperate in all things, whatsoever shall be entrusted to his care.”
Love is an essential characteristic that is needed when we do missionary work. I have a friend who, prior to her being set apart as a missionary, was told by our Stake President that we will truly become successful when we love those that we serve. Since I have come on my mission the word love has taken on an all new and deeper meaning to me, prior it was a word that I hardly ever said, and when I did say it - it was to very few people. Now to me though, to love someone is to truly desire what is best for that person and to care for them. And as a member of this church I know that what is best for people is for them to partake of this gospel, we as members just need to make others see that as well. Christ did just that by showing love to everyone, he showed his love when he talked to the Samaritan woman; a group of people who were so hated ****THIS PART OF TALK WAS CUT OFF****to enter their country, yet our Lord and Savior showed her the same love that he did to everyone else and taught her. He showed forth his love when he forgave the woman who was taken in adultery and when he taught his disciples and the Pharisees that the second most important commandment, behind only to loving God, was that we are to love our neighbors as we do ourselves, and again in Doctrine and Covenants 112:11 when he said;
“I know thy heart, and have heard thy prayers concerning thy Brethren, be not partial towards them in love above many others, but let thy love be for them as for thyself: and let thy love abound unto all men, and unto all who love my name.”
And lastly he showed forth his matchless love for all mankind when he allowed himself to be taken and crucified, so that we could all eventually return to live with Him some day.
I would like to read the first and fourth verses to Hymn 220,
“Lord, I Would Follow Thee.” “Savior, may I learn to love Thee, walk the path that thou hast shown, Pause to help and lift another, finding strength beyond my own. Savior, may I learn to love thee – Lord, I would follow thee.”
“Savior, may I love my brother as I know thou lovest me, find in thee my strength, my beacon, for thy servant I would be. Savior, may I love my brother – Lord, I would follow thee.”
This has always been a favorite hymn of mine, because learning to love as our Savior does is so very important. In the very last discourse that our Lord gave while mortal to his disciples, right before his suffering in the garden and his arrest, was recorded in John 13:34-35:
“34. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
So far I Have struggled with this for my whole mission, to be able to love someone that is nice or kind or who is my friend is easy, even sinners can do that, but to love everyone, even those who hate us and persecute us is very difficult. In his Sermon on the Mount Christ taught on this very same thing, he said:
“44. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. 45. That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:…….”
For me to love those who yell and curse me, who slam their doors in my face, or who threaten me is extremely hard, but as we follow the example of our Lord and walk the path that he has shown and show that same love to our fellow brothers and sisters, they will come to recognize us for what we truly are, and that is disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, and their hearts will be touched by the Holy Ghost and softened so that they will desire to hear our message. Our previous mission president told us a story of two Elders who, one cold winter night knocked on a man’s door, who told them off. As they were walking away one of the Elders put his arm around his discouraged looking companion and told him that it was okay, the Lord will help us. The man watching from his house suddenly called them back saying, no one who shows love like that can be that bad, so he let them in. So as we show love to everyone people will notice and desire to know why.
Next I want to talk about something else that was very key to the character of our Lord, that was his attitude of service. In Matthew 20:28 it reads:
“Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
In the dictionary it defines to minister as to give help, so the greatest being to ever live, came down to this earth to give service and to help out everyone. He came down and he “took upon himself the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). He came down here and “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). Prior to his arrest our Lord took water and washed the feet of his disciples. In Mosiah 2:17-18 King Benjamin in his address to his people says:
“17. And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
18. Behold, ye have called me your king, and if I, whom ye call your king, do labor to serve you, then aught not ye labor to serve one another?”
The Savior taught the same thing while on the earth, in Matthew 25:34-40 he teaches us:
“…. and the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.”
“A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief”, verse 7 reads,
“then in a moment to my view the stranger started from disguise the tokens in his hands I knew; the Savior stood before mine eyes. He spake and my poor name he names, of Me thou hast now been ashamed. These deeds shall thy memorial be, fear not, thou didst them unto me.”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does just as we are taught by the savior. We have a huge humanitarian program. The church is often one of the first groups into an area after a natural disaster giving out food and supplies to those who are poor or needy.
Elder Dallin H. Oakes, in the last session of General Conference, said,
“During the last quarter century we have assisted nearly 30 million people in 179 countries. Truly the “Mormons” know how to give to the poor and needy.”
We as members also help out each month by fasting and donating at least the amount of the meals missed to help those in need. We as a church have taken the Saviors teaching to heart and magnified what was asked of us. An experience that I had with service was when I was a Sophomore in high school, Alabama was devastated by over a hundred tornadoes that in the course of a single night caused thousands of people to lose everything they had. So the priesthood of my ward packed up everything that we needed and made the four hour trek to help with the clean-up. I’ll never forget the experience of going and helping these people to clear the debris and trees that had caused so much damage. The gratitude that these people had for what we did for them was beyond belief. For me, it was just one weekend not much but to them it was everything. The Lord often answers our prayers through the actions of others, so as we serve and help others in every way that we can, even if it seems small and insignificant to us, may be everything to that person, an answer to their prayers. And though by serving we may not see a result or a conversion, we are planting seeds for future generations to harvest.
In conclusion I will read one last story from Christ’s life in John 1:37-46 “…..” As we follow the Savior’s example our friends and family will notice and as they do be ready to , as Peter says, give a reason for the hope and light they see in you and invite them to come and see and find out for themselves what it is all about. Lastly I would like to bear my testimony.
Silly pictures from Sanford, Maine
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| Elder Whitehead and Elder Dean |
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| Elder Dean |
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| Elder Whitehead.... FUNNIEST thing about this picture is that is Bryson's hat... IT IS HUGE on Elder Whitehead |
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| This is what happens when you leave your camera in your car! Sister Welling has the long straight hair, Sister Westling the long brown curly hair and Sister Hall the shorter blond hair |
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| Bryson said there were a TON of pictures like these on his camera! |
LAST letter from SANFORD, MAINE!!!!!
Hey mom,
So as I said in the other email, I have finally been transferred, it’s been really hard to say goodbye to Sanford. I really don’t want to have to leave, I love it here but I know that the lord requires my service elsewhere and needs me to go.
I had to say goodbye to the members in my talk, which I will send you a copy. It was nice that a lot of the members came up to me and were saying that they loved having me here and that they would miss. Maybe they say that to most missionaries that leave but it still made it a little better because I felt as though I did my job right and that the members truly like me, at least I hope so.
I am really comfortable here. Things have really gotten good, I loved the missionaries that were in the same ward as me, the three sisters and my companion. This last transfer was a really good transfer… and it went way to fast. It seems like the companions that I really click with and really enjoy serving with – I don’t get much time with. It is just the companions that I struggle with that I seem to have forever. Anyway my companion and the sisters that are also serving here were all just so funny and just so much fun to be around and made the work different.
I have no clue where I will go or who I will be around, so it is a little nerve wracking. Packing is a bear, I have been in Sanford, Maine for 7 months and I have so much stuff!
I emailed all of the kids from our home ward, I did get replies back from Tori, Spencer, Ryan and Tasia. It was kinda cool that I heard back from all four of them.
I don’t know there wasn’t to much this week, the talk went well at least the members said they liked it and so I hope it was good. the past week has just been a blur cause transfers were just so solidly on my mind cause deep down I knew I was leaving and I really don’t want to. I am excited, kinda, but I mean this is all I know and I have been here for over a quarter of my mission.
I don’t know what else to say, I love you mom I wish I had more to say, have a good week.
Love, Elder Dean
So as I said in the other email, I have finally been transferred, it’s been really hard to say goodbye to Sanford. I really don’t want to have to leave, I love it here but I know that the lord requires my service elsewhere and needs me to go.
I had to say goodbye to the members in my talk, which I will send you a copy. It was nice that a lot of the members came up to me and were saying that they loved having me here and that they would miss. Maybe they say that to most missionaries that leave but it still made it a little better because I felt as though I did my job right and that the members truly like me, at least I hope so.
I am really comfortable here. Things have really gotten good, I loved the missionaries that were in the same ward as me, the three sisters and my companion. This last transfer was a really good transfer… and it went way to fast. It seems like the companions that I really click with and really enjoy serving with – I don’t get much time with. It is just the companions that I struggle with that I seem to have forever. Anyway my companion and the sisters that are also serving here were all just so funny and just so much fun to be around and made the work different.
I have no clue where I will go or who I will be around, so it is a little nerve wracking. Packing is a bear, I have been in Sanford, Maine for 7 months and I have so much stuff!
I emailed all of the kids from our home ward, I did get replies back from Tori, Spencer, Ryan and Tasia. It was kinda cool that I heard back from all four of them.
I don’t know there wasn’t to much this week, the talk went well at least the members said they liked it and so I hope it was good. the past week has just been a blur cause transfers were just so solidly on my mind cause deep down I knew I was leaving and I really don’t want to. I am excited, kinda, but I mean this is all I know and I have been here for over a quarter of my mission.
I don’t know what else to say, I love you mom I wish I had more to say, have a good week.
Love, Elder Dean
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
27 - Sanford, Maine
Hi Mom,
So we have to do emails weird this week, kinda sucks because its labor day, really annoying by the way, and so we are emailing in a hardware store. The sisters need to use the only two computers later so we have to email way early, haven’t even shopped or done laundry yet.
So transfer calls are this Saturday and I’m really nervous, I don’t want to leave I love this ward. I love the sisters and elders in the area and I just really don’t want to have to pack up and start all over again, I’m worried that I will be moved.
I get the opportunity to speak on Sunday so I am super excited for that, it’s on “Following Christ as we try to become better missionaries”, the member of the bishopric that assigned it to me asked me to focus on the attributes of Christ and how by being more Christ-like and following the Saviors teachings we can be better missionaries. I've started taking notes and working on it for studies and I am really praying and struggling because I want it to be a good talk, it might be my last in this ward.
Have you had the chance to go to the temple yet and see the new video? I really desperately want to go see it. the Boston Temple is only two hours away, it’s hard not being able to go?!?! It’s so difficult to not be able to go at all, I still have seventeen months.
How are things going at home with school for Lochlan and Alexander and Christine? How is the wedding planning business going?
Things are kinda hard here, we are the worst looking area in terms of teaching and stuff and in the past five weeks I have only taught a total of 16 lessons, in five weeks?!?! Now realistically the brethren want us teaching 20 a WEEK. I haven’t even taught 20 in five weeks and so it’s hard to not at times feel like a failure. I KNOW that you just have to keep pressing on and just have the hope and faith that there is always a sunrise, "the night is darkest right before the dawn" and often that is when it gets hardest to see the designs of God. When it’s just so dark and bleak that you have trouble taking that next step, you don’t know if you’ll fall…. there could be a chasm or something else that can cause us to stumble and often there is but we need to trust so much in God and in his sight and how from where he sits above us he can see all and knows all and he is truly within all.
Please don’t get me wrong I am not depressed or discouraged, it’s just a constant struggle, Satan works hard to pull at us and to push, and even though we may not see success as so many people around us and around the world see I know I have to just trust in God. I want to know that I am pleasing him and doing what he wants. I just have to trust that if I work as hard as i can and truly do my best then the lord will do the rest and be OK with my efforts.
Any way I love you mom and I miss you
Love Elder Dean
So we have to do emails weird this week, kinda sucks because its labor day, really annoying by the way, and so we are emailing in a hardware store. The sisters need to use the only two computers later so we have to email way early, haven’t even shopped or done laundry yet.
So transfer calls are this Saturday and I’m really nervous, I don’t want to leave I love this ward. I love the sisters and elders in the area and I just really don’t want to have to pack up and start all over again, I’m worried that I will be moved.
I get the opportunity to speak on Sunday so I am super excited for that, it’s on “Following Christ as we try to become better missionaries”, the member of the bishopric that assigned it to me asked me to focus on the attributes of Christ and how by being more Christ-like and following the Saviors teachings we can be better missionaries. I've started taking notes and working on it for studies and I am really praying and struggling because I want it to be a good talk, it might be my last in this ward.
Have you had the chance to go to the temple yet and see the new video? I really desperately want to go see it. the Boston Temple is only two hours away, it’s hard not being able to go?!?! It’s so difficult to not be able to go at all, I still have seventeen months.
How are things going at home with school for Lochlan and Alexander and Christine? How is the wedding planning business going?
Things are kinda hard here, we are the worst looking area in terms of teaching and stuff and in the past five weeks I have only taught a total of 16 lessons, in five weeks?!?! Now realistically the brethren want us teaching 20 a WEEK. I haven’t even taught 20 in five weeks and so it’s hard to not at times feel like a failure. I KNOW that you just have to keep pressing on and just have the hope and faith that there is always a sunrise, "the night is darkest right before the dawn" and often that is when it gets hardest to see the designs of God. When it’s just so dark and bleak that you have trouble taking that next step, you don’t know if you’ll fall…. there could be a chasm or something else that can cause us to stumble and often there is but we need to trust so much in God and in his sight and how from where he sits above us he can see all and knows all and he is truly within all.
Please don’t get me wrong I am not depressed or discouraged, it’s just a constant struggle, Satan works hard to pull at us and to push, and even though we may not see success as so many people around us and around the world see I know I have to just trust in God. I want to know that I am pleasing him and doing what he wants. I just have to trust that if I work as hard as i can and truly do my best then the lord will do the rest and be OK with my efforts.
Any way I love you mom and I miss you
Love Elder Dean
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