Arrived in Texas!

This is Alec's new mailing address:

Elder Alec Dawson

Texas McAllen Mission

200 W La Vista Ave

McAllen TX  78501

email will not change:  alec.dawson@myldsmail.net

Alec arrived in McAllen, Texas, yesterday, June 3. I was able to talk to him a couple of minutes today (because apparently he didn't have any time to call from the airport), and he said it was hot!  The Mission President and his wife (Bro. and Sis. Trayner) sent an email to us today indicating he looked good and appeared anxious to go to work.

President and Sister Trayner

His companion is Elder Torres (from Utah) and his first assignment will be serving in the Brownsville area. His P-Day is on Monday.

Early morning June 3, leaving MTC for Salt Lake City airport.

Week 6 - MTC - Reassigned to Texas!

Alec was able to call us this afternoon about 3:45 pm to let us know that while he is waiting for his Visa for Argentina, he has been reassigned to go to the Texas McAllen Mission.  He leaves on Monday, June 3, at about 8 am, and he should be able to call again from the airport and talk a little longer.  It was good to hear his voice. We maybe only talked for for a couple of minutes.  He was on his way to the temple. 

[Editor's Note:  Our nephew, Benjamin Hadlock, will leave to go to Arkansas on Tuesday? Our nephew, Logan Close was called to Brazil Florianopolis Mission and leaves for Brazil on August 14. Our niece, Allison Scarlett received her mission call last Saturday.  She is going to the Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission. She leaves for Provo MTC on September 25. Our nephew, Steven George, will be getting his mission call within a couple of weeks. Currently, there is Jessica George serving in Salt Lake, and Ben will be in Arkansas, there will be the three in South America, and we'll see about Steven! So exciting!]

Just checking out the features on my camera. It can detect a smile
 and take the picture or I can wink and it starts a timer.

            Just my favorite picture in the MTC. I dont know what it is called. The light makes it look different.

                                                             My reassignment papers.

                                                            Reassignment Travel Plans.

Elder Oaks invited a group of Muslim leaders from L.A. to come visit the MTC. They chose our classroom to come visit. They were just seeing what we do and all. We represented all 67,000 missionaries. So crazy but so awesome! President Nally is in the center. He is the MTC President. 

           Doing the Elder Jackson Face. He is in the very Back. The Hermana in the middle doing the other
              face is Hermana Gray. One of our teachers. She is doing the Elder White Face...far left Elder.

                                             The Cream Soda Tree. It smells like Cream Soda



Below is the email we received from Alec on the same day:

I wonder what the weather is going to be like in Texas since I will probably be there for most of the summer. I guess once I get my visa then they will just send me straight to Argentina.

I can't believe that Sean is driving now. That's even scarier than Andrew. He is so small.

I emailed Elder Cook, he told me that he was going to Asheboro. I think that is his last transfer and then he goes home. [Editor’s Note:  Elder Cook is one of the missionaries Alec spent time with serving two mini missions here in Gastonia].

  

I am so stoked for Allison. I was hoping that we all would be called to South America but I didnt think Allison would. I am so excited for her! Both of us will be getting home almost the same time!! So then did Stevens papers just go in? Or still waiting for a little? I am really excited to find out where he will go! I hope it is in Argentina also. If anything South America. It seems so weird that everyone will all be gone. Things will probably be way different back home.

So yes I got to Host again on Wednesday. I hosted three people. Elder Hamblin, he was going to Mexico. Elder Cooke going to Washington D.C. North. Elder Sum, going to Washington D.C. North also. Cooke and Sum were neighbors in Salt Lake. In about a month Elder Cooke's dad is going to be his mission President there. I thought that was pretty interesting.

So I have started packing things back up again. I didnt take everything out. But I am getting stuff back in. I have my big jacket to put in there also. I can only have two checked bags and only one carry on. So I am having to pack the backpack also. I am trying my best to get as close to 50 lbs. as possible because I have a feeling I will be overweight. I pay for all the fees but once I get to Texas the Mission President reimburse (no clue how to spell it) us. Only for the check-in fees and stuff I think. Im pretty sure if I am over weight then it is on me.  If I need to get rid of anything I will send it to Uncle Dale and Aunt Cheryl. Also I was thinking that I will probably invest in some of those vacuumed clothes bags that could help a little. So yeah, I will get to call you again in the airport when I leave. I love you!

-Elder Dawson

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