Week 5 - MTC

No letter this week, just pictures.

Elder Hyer, Elder White, Elder Dawson - PDay (Preparation Day)

Elder Dawson and Elder Dawson (no relation)
This is another Elder Alec met at Deseret Book in Orem
the morning they entered the MTC!
They didn't know they had the same last name!

A gym at the MTC where they hold devotionals. It seats over 2000.

Cousins:  Elder Hadlock and Elder Dawson in front of World Map
(Elder Hadlock just arrived May 22)

Elder Dawson - MTC Host - May 22, 2013

So Alec was able to Host and help direct traffic as the new missionaries arrived at the MTC.  My nephew Sam Hadlock took this picture and sent it to us after he, Wendy and Van (my sister and brother-in-law) dropped off their youngest, Benjamin Hadlock. He will be in the MTC not quite two weeks with Alec and will probably leave about the same time.  He will be serving in the Arkansas Little Rock Mission.

Week 4 - MTC

Yes I got the package Thursday. Thank you so much. It was awesome. At least half of the gold fish are gone already. And the brownie chex mix stuff I was only ever able to find it at Wal-Mart. Nowhere else.

Yes time really does fly. I am so excited for Ben to get here. [Editor's Note:  Ben Hadlock is a cousin. He enters the MTC on May 22 (for about 2 weeks) and will be serving in the Arkansas Little Rock Mission]. I dont know if I will be able to Host when he comes but I will definitely try to catch him before he goes and does all of his stuff. He wrote me a little email last night.

Yes we got a new district. It’s a district of just nine elders. I dont get new companions. I keep the ones I have. They are all companions with each other. There is an Elder Wilde but there is no relation.

Oh and by the way I have run into Elder [Seth] Brown a few times. He is here waiting for his visa to go to Brazil. [Editor's Note:  Seth Brown is a brother to Ethan Brown whose family is in our Stake (mentioned in Week 3 post)]. I also ran into an Elder two weeks ago who was from Durham. I remember I talked to him after the priesthood session of conference. He is in a different ward that Logan and all, but in the same building and Sherron was his teacher in seminary. Also Hermana Watson is from Washington, like Seattle.

On Tuesday for Devotional Elder Russell M. Nelson came and spoke. It was so awesome. Our whole zone sang in the choir when he was there. I really loved listening to him and his wife, and singing in the choir. There was such a powerful spirit. I know that he has been called of God. I think two weeks ago Chad Lewis also came and spoke. It was really cool listening to him. I love going to the Devotionals. I am excited for the one tomorrow night. We never know who the guest speaker is until pretty much the devotional starts.

I hope I didnt miss anything. I love you.

Elder Dawson

Week 3 - MTC

Argentina Flag

Things are going fine. No allergies or anything. Yes I found my ring. It was in a pair of shorts. Found it when I was going to do laundry. [Editor’s Note: Alec had just bought an eternity ring but couldn’t find it at Grandma Walker’s house the morning we left for the MTC. Mom and I searched and searched for that thing, so I was glad to hear it was found.]  I got the package you sent with the card reader and letter from drew. The small PMG [Preach My Gospel] is just fine. I dont think Ben would need one. I was given a big Spanish PMG, and since he is speaking English they will probably give him one.

I haven’t seen Ethan here. [Editor’s Note: Ethan Brown also served his mission in Salta Argentina and returned last December.  He now is employed at the MTC going to school at BYU.  His family is from the York Ward in our Stake]. It would be hard for me to find him anywhere since I am pretty much in class all day.

This week has been pretty good. Got a new district, and had our two devotionals. A member of the 70, and Chad Lewis! It was pretty cool.

Elder Schumacher and Hermana Hillstead are from St. George. Hermana Newman is from South Jordan. Hermana Tanner is from Salt Lake City, I don’t remember where E. Jackson, or H. Watson are from. I will find out.

Well I have to go. I guess you could send me a DearElder if I need to know or do anything or know anything.

Love You,

World Map

Elder Dawson

Misc. pictures of Provo, Utah, Temple:

 

Week 2 - MTC

April 27-28, 2013

(Hand written letter from Alec – postmarked 4/30/13 – received 5/04/13?) 

Madre y Padre y Hermanos,

I am having a great time in the MTC.  I love it so much.  There are three people in my companionship:  Me, Elder White and Elder Hyer.  ElderWhite is from Cedar City and Elder Hyer is from Washington State by Moses Lake.  They are a lot of fun.

In my district there are 5 Elders and 4 Hermanas.  Elder Sheumaker (sounds like shoe mocker) and Elder Jackson are the other two Elders.  They are pretty cool too.  Hermana Hillstead, Hermana Newman, Hermana Tanner, Hermana Watson are all the Hermanas.  We have a lot of fun with each other.

Since Wednesday, its been hard doing different things.  Learning the Gospel in Spanish and teaching lessons.  Just different things.  Its been hard but so much fun and Testimony building.  We taught an investigator yesterday and today.  I assume she was a member.  But she was role playing.  We taught her about prayer in as much Spanglish as we could.  We invited her to pray about our message and she said yes.  It was good for our first lesson.  We had our follow up with her today and we taught about the love of God for us and how he wants us to return.  And how we can is through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  And because of the Atonement we can be with our families for eternity.  She prayed at the end and asked our Heavenly Father is what we shared was true and if tis what she wanted in her life.  We were so happy about it.  It was so awesome!  Today is Sunday and its been so great.  Priesthood Meeting, Sacrament, District Meeting, and Devotional.  Also watched a talk from David A. Bednar about Characteristics of Christ.  It was so good.  I invite you guys to watch it.  Here is a little something in Spanish.  My Purpose as a missionary is to:

Invitar a las Personas

a venir a Cristo

al ayudarlas a que

reciban El Evangelio

restaurado mediante

la fe en Jesucristo y El Expiación

El Arrepentimiento,

El Bautismo

La recepción del don

Del Espíritú Santo hasta el fin.

With faith in Christ I know that I can do all things.  I know that Heavenly Father loves me.  I know the true church of Christ is restored.

I love you.  Hasta Luego

Elder Dawson