Taiwan Second Month

Well hello everyone!!!!!!!!!!! :D 

     Hey sorry that I didn't have a creative way of addressing all of you today... awkward.... oh well, Today I'm writing the email back home first, to make sure I get everything in there that I want to!!! :D So this week has been absolutely amazing!!!!!! I love Christmas miracles, and they are everywhere!!!!! and Christmas is almost here!!!! This Christmas has been so amazing, because I have almost been completely on the serving side!!!! I hear there's a lot of snow in bountiful!!! I hope you're all safe!!! All I have to worry about here is some crazy Taiwanese driver trying to hit me.... but that's all ;D So Basically I am just so happy to be on my mission!! It isn't a lot like what I thought it would be, but I absolutely love every minute of it!! Even the sad parts, because they let me see the happiness when it comes :D Hey mom, wish your Friends daughter Karen good luck!!! Tell her I made a friend in the MTC whose going there :D And if you want to comfort her, let her know that Karen will learn better Chinese in New York then she will in Taiwan. Everybody in the MTC told us that, and so that might help :D And I'll be praying for them!! :D Wish Jason good luck!!!! I'm praying for him, and I just got to see Whitney this week!!!! :D yay!! I'll attach a photo to let you all see :D 

     So yes... my Chinese..... I see how it has come miles and is so much better now!! but I just feel like it's not good enough yet... I mean, I think I could consider myself "fluent" now, because I can explain everything that I need to without using English, and when people say something I don't understand, they can explain in Chinese and I'll get it :D But I mean... I can say everything how I want to... just.... not exactly with the same emotion haha! Our District leader is Taiwanese, so whenever I have to do a language pass off, or talk to him about how I'm feeling, it's all in Chinese, so I guess that's going good!!! But mom, watch out, I still have a super strong american Accent when I talk, so you may not understand me when I speak... hahahaha, but don't worry, it's getting better!! :D And sorry Mom, I know, I need to repent, and so I'm going to write longer Emails now :D I have cast off the old ways, and moved onto the new :D 

     So for Christmas here we had an awesome activity!!!!! I'll get more on that later :D No worries!!! And thank you so much for your testimony mom!!! I love hearing it :D And I'm so happy I have this time in Taiwan to teach people :D 

 

     So To answer some of my fathers Questions..... I am super excited for Christmas!!!!!!! The Work in DouLiu is going awesome!!!! I'm studying hard, and working hard, and trying to do even more!! :D There's so much to learn!!!!!! Discussions.... well.... we do teach a lot of them, but we don't have a ton of far along investigators, because we've been in the area only so long starting from scratch haha, but its coming along!!!! Me and my companion are going fine haha, and new foods... well yes, and they're all delicious, but I can't remember any of them right now haha!! But all the food here is absolutely delicious!!! :D :D And today we're going out to go find a new coat :D 

     So I'm super excited to skype home!!!! it will be at 9:00 in the morning here :D December 25th:D Super excited to see you all!!! Really though, words can't really describe how excited I am to see you all!!!! Ah!!! Oh, and tell President Taylor I think that's so awesome!! I'm sending him a card soon :D 

Oh... so now back to the old old ways... weekly day by day update!!!! yay!!!!! ok, here we go :D (Oh by the way, I have written everysingle day in my journal while on my misison and going strong!! :) 

Monday: It was fun... and I made a giant spike ball thing out of origami paper!! Like literally... it was huge!!! and it was the star signaling that Jesus has been born! I'll send a picture haha :D But ya, it was so big that Elder Long looked at it and said "Elder Dawson, I think the point of the scene is supposed to be baby Jesus, not the giant star above his head!" bahahaha!!! Super awesome!! Then Family home evening with a family playing ping pong, and then spiritual share! ya!!!! 

Tuesday: We went on exchanges with assistants to the president!!! ah!!! Super fun, and super crazy!!!! Plus it was pouring rain, so that was fun... being soaked while talking to people on the street :D awww yeah!!! 

Wednesday: Elder long's birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So for his birthday we had an amazing day with presents, but what was even more amazing was the English class turnout!!! We just worked hard, and a ton of people came to English class, and a lot of them had interest in hearing about the gospel!! yay!!!! :D 

Thursday: Mission wide Christmas party!!! yay!!!!! So we had to wake up super early to get there, but we all went to sun moon lake!!!!! It was crazy!!! We walked down a little shopping place that we went to last time with the Mangelsons, and this time me and Whitney were walking down it again, but as missionaries!!!!!! ah! It was crazy, and a lot of De ja vu, but it was good :D 

Friday: I lost my planner, then found it haha! Then went out and gave Christmas presents to a bunch of people :D 

Saturday: Great personal study about faith!! :D Plus it was a members birthday, so we wished him happy birthday :D Then there was this amazing thing that happened!!! So we were out in the middle of nowhere looking for some Less Actives, when we came across a person we all call "Huang Ba ba" Who's this 80 year old man whose super hunched over with back problems, but is the nicest happiest person we've ever seen!!! We came across his house, and he was like "What missionaries are here!? Here hang on, I'll go with you to find all the people!" He then put on his jacket, grabbed his cane, and walked with us to find people. The thing is, we didn't lead him to them, he already knew where they all lived, and he took us to everyone's house, and gave them all fruit!! Even though it's painful for him to stand up and walk, he did it with us. He was such an inspiration, and so awesome!!! :D 

Sunday: Fun day!! Elder Turner got sick, so that was sad :( however, a super awesome Christmas activity!!! Where we had a investigating family come, who loved it so much!!! Plus our English speaking investigator who took part in the performance! it was super fun, and It brought us all together, and made me Happy :D yay for warm fuzzies inside!!! 

So yes, that was this week!!! It was awesome, and the best part is always learning!!! It's hard, but everything we learn prepares us for the future :D I hope this gives a pretty good update, and I love you all, and talk to you next week!!! :D 

CTR, 

Elder Dawson 

P.S. I have Christmas cards coming! promise!! 

P.P.S. Enjoy the photos!!! 

Taiwan Second Month

Hey mom and dad :D 

     So.... this week was awesome!!!! Sounds like you all had a fun time at home! Skiing?? say what!? That's fun haha!! Glad to know it's cold there :D So I'm looking forward to a Christmas package! yay!! And more excited to Skyping! yay!!! And thanks for the money, I'll go find a coat that will keep me warm haha :D Ya, so it basically blew my mind that me and sister Mangelson are in the same area haha! We'll send a picture next Zone training meeting :D Thanks for writing, and have a fun time at home!! It's awesome to hear from you all!!!! :D oh and President taylor sent me a letter!! it was really nice, and when you see him tell him I say thanks :D plus I'm sending him a card haha, so ya! Love you too!! 

Dear Sugarcane... I mean... ya... 

     Well... I actually don't even have a funny story with sugarcane this week haha. Just someone who gave us some to drink because it was healthy... ya... that's about it haha! So... I've decided to rethink my process of writing the letter home. I will now write home first, and other things after. I'm super excited!! But as for now, I don't have a lot of time, So I must go. Wow I'm getting awful at writing home haha! But as for now, enjoy these photos!! 

CTR, 

Elder Dawson 

Taiwan Second Month

Dear mom and Dad, 

     Hey thanks so much for sending The Savior Redeemer of my soul music!! That'll be great and I'm super excited to perform it :D So most important thing first is the Skype time!!!! I will be skyping Christmas day, December 25, 2013, at 9:00 AM in the morning here. I'm not sure what time that is over there, but yes, that is the time we're shooting for :D So yay!!! I'm super excited to see all of you!!! So thanks for emailing me!!! I'll be sure to look out for that Lard-fried-rice haha :D thanks!! And the fruit is amazing here!!1 i've eaten so much, and still loving it! It was just Pamelo season, so I've been eating a lot of those :D Sorry, I'll try to take more pictures haha!!! I do take a lot, I just don't send all of them... sorry!!!! I'll be better about that :D And I'm super excited for the package!!! No worries, i'll get a coat here :D It suddenly got warmer again... so I don't need it for a while more haha, oh yay :D I'm even more excited for the package to come!!! So sending things to america is super cheap... I sent a letter there, and it was only about 50 cents haha! so I'm sending Christmas cards to you :D Its set in stone, can't change it, hope you enjoy it bwahaha!! :D My companion is from oklahoma, so he's super jealous you're flying the Thunders haha :D  So crazy thing, Whitney is being trained in my zone!!!! So I'll get to see her a lot!!! It's super crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Christmas miracles are true, and I'm super excited to have Christmas here :D Sorry I'm like out of time, so I'll have to go now, but remember I love you so much!!!!, oh, and Whitney wants my weekly letters, but I'm not allowed to email her because she's in my area, so if you could forward her my weekly letters (just the other stuff, not this first paragraph for you two) then that would be great :D thanks!!! 

Dear World, 

     We are about to set the world record for smallest email sent home. Yep. Doing great, pray for me, and move call happened, so we have a new Elder in Dou Liu!!! Super fun!!! Yep!.... gotta go!! I promise promise promise I'll write more next week!!!! 

CTR, 

Elder Dawson 

Taiwan Second Month

Dear Everyone that is Gods Child, 

     Bahaha, that happens to include everyone. Tee hee hee I'm so tricky!!! *Irish Heel Click* Well.... No time... .seems to be the montra of my mission haha, so much to do, but so little time! yay for multi tasking!! haha, So once again, i have like no time to write here! yay! No!! So I'll just share a quick miracle story! This week we were teaching a father for the first time, and it was awesome!! He opened up and started telling us about his quest for happiness the past three years. He told us "I tried alcohol to make me happy, but that didn't work, so then I tried fishing, and that didn't work! Then after that I tried Gambling and traveling, but none of it worked to make me and my family happy!" He then Looked at photos of mine and Elder Long's families, and said tearfully "This is exactly what I want my family to look like. Happy." It was amazing, and we told him that through the gospel, we can have happiness and peace in this life. He was willing to meet with us again, and told us that he felt peaceful for once while he was meeting with us. This gospel is true. I know its true, because I am starting to see how it is changing people's lives to be happier. It has changed my life, and will forever change my life, and there are no words that I could possibly say to express the gratitude I have for the Savior and his atonement. A lot of things mattered to me before, but as for now, all that matters is bringing this joy to others so that they can feel as happy as I feel. There are still down times, there are still hard times, but through it all, the Lord will help us through. I know that, and I now have the chance to testify of it everyday. If anyone is sad, turn to the Lord in prayer, because he will help no matter what. i guarantee. 

Thank you for being amazing, love you tons, and talk to you next week!!! 

CTR, 

Elder Dawson 

Taiwan Second Month

Well hello everyone!!!! Dear Goodness I hope somebody is reading this..... 

     Sorry that I didn't write that much last week, It was a busy week and we didn't have as much time haha, but don't worry, I have more time to write this week!!!! :D 

So for starters, this week has been the saddest, and the happiest week I have ever had so far!!!!!!!!!! ok, here let me share the story :D So basically this whole week I have been super mad at my companion, and the little things where simply just getting in the way hardcore! So 4 days ago, we had a companionship inventory session and just talked things out, and then we went out. I decided at that time that I was sick of watching everything being done because I didn't know how to do it, so at that moment I decided to just try everything and figure it out for myself :D I was so happy, and me and Elder Long got along so well for the last three days because we understand each other!!!!! So yesterday we were fasting and praying that we would be able to find a family to teach. All of our current investigators and all college students, so because its midterms right now, none of them can really meet haha! So we were praying and fasting yesterday to find a family. We went out tracting last night and I felt like we should tract in these one apartments that looked super nice. We said a prayer, and Elder long started and I watched so I could learn how to do it. He started, and for 8 doors, every single person rejected us and said no. He was getting a little frustrated, so he said he was going to do calls, and If I felt comfortable, I could go Tract haha. I was terrified!!! I have never done it before, and I have no Idea what I'm doing!!!! I remembered that I have been promised courage on my mission, and so i just sucked up my fear and went for it! First house, absolutely nothing, and I felt awful! I just told myself to move on, and went to the next house. The lady opened the door, and I just started talking, asking her questions, and getting to know her. For some crazy reason she stayed talking to me!! Elder long came over to help me with my Chinese to talk to her, and we found out that her and her 2 sons lived there! They were willing to listen to our message, and said we could come back and meet with them. Amazing!!!! I tried, and because of that, me and elder Long were able to find a family!!! We were so grateful, and we decided to try and keep going :D The next 4 houses in a row all accepted us, and all said they'd meet with us, and they were all families. We had prayed and fasted that we would be able to find one family, but because we tried our hardest to do the most that we could, he blessed us that we were able to find 5 families that we can teach!!!!! Amazing!!!!!!!!! this has probably been the biggest miracle on my mission so far, and I'm so grateful that I have the Lord on my side as I do this mission :D It would be crazy impossible to try and do this without him!!!! So yes, there was that absolutely amazing story this week :D 

Yep.... I wanted to type more... but then I realized all the time was gone haha, awkward!!!! So everyone stay awesome!!!! and I'll talk to you all next week!!! yay!!! 

CTR, 

Elder Dawson 

P.S. Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!! Eat a ton of turkey, because they don't have any where I am haha!!! 

Chapel here in Dou Liu :D 

Taiwan Week Four

Dear Family, friends, and everyone else (yes that means you potato), 

WAAAAA!!!!!!!!!! Why is every day in Taiwan so amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I wish I could just share like mental thoughts of everything that happens here with you all, because it is all literally so amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Unfortunately, I have like no time, so this week is going to be short! I've kind of given up on giving a day by day update until I have less things to do on P-day, so those will come back soon, but for now, not happening haha. 

So this week I had my first exchange! Crazy times!!! I exchanged with the Zone leader in Jia Yi, and so I got to spend a day with him teaching lessons, and planning and studying!! yay!!! It was crazy fun, but crazy hard! It made me happy to get back to Elder Long in some ways, because I know him, and he already knows I'm crazy haha! :D 

Also this week, we were contacting a bunch of old grandma's and grandpa's on the street, and a random guy on a scooter drove up, bought us both 2 drinks each, said amen, then drove off. It was so awesome!! We had no idea who he was, but he just kept saying amen, bought us drinks, more amen's then drove of haha! Gotta love Taiwanese people :D 

Also, on the life agenda of what happened this week, I got to perform my violin at another baptism!!!! It was so cool, and it was awesome seeing this girl give up her old live to follow the lord. Awesome. I want to tell more, but I have to go. Wa! Why is there not enough time in a day! ah!!!! So you're all awesome, if there even is anyone that reads this blog haha! Stay Classy, and I'll write more next week :D 

CTR, 

Elder Dawson 

Sunset in Taiwan! 

 


                           My Companion looking at "The Door to Salvation" Baptismal Font

Taiwan Week Three

Dear Everyone that is loved by someone, 

Wasn't that a classy way to start the email? I certainly thought so haha! So..... holy cow, where to start!!! So much happens!!! Ok, well since I forgot to share my last with you last week (goodness I hope that made sense) then I will now share two weeks with you, because I remembered my journal!! yay!!! ok, here we go, buckle you're seatbelts, hold on, and "Watch out, Your heads" (see picture) When I say 2 Monday or 2 something, then It means obviously two Mondays ago haha 

2 Monday: P-day... super fun haha, just crazy!!! So I got my bike, and I snapped the chain, but then got it fixed, yay!! yep,... not much haha, more interesting stuff happened this week anyways ;) 

Wow... That was a lot to take in...... Everyone take a quick break, you deserve it :D just a quick 30 second power nap, ready? go! ...... done? ok, onward and upward. 

Monday: P-Day, but the first not restful one, because we went to a theme park called Fancy World! Yay!! The placing of this theme park was literally on top of a mountain, so everything was beautiful!! While their, we talked to some people about the gospel, and they said they'd come to English class! So we'll see how that goes :D Then we had member relations building time, where we visited more members!! awesome!! 

Tuesday: While we ran in the morning we found a mini chinese temple to look at, then had a great study time!!! Although I have to put this in here, it was the first day that I have cried while in taiwan. Super messy cakes. Oh well, then we went up to Jia Yi and had interviews with the president!!! He really does care about us here, and he helped a lot, and his wife also helped a lot. She helped me find a solution to being eaten alive by mosquitoes. They are everyone, and they are rabid! Seriously! Then English proselyting, then a non member bought us an extremely nice dinner, simply because he like missionaries! so cool!! Then I got a post card that I'll send home :D 

Wednesday: It was the day I realized that for the past two weeks I had started every journal entry with the words "Today was absolutely amazing!!" so I figured I needed to find a new catch phrase haha. Today I got over the mental block I had for teaching lessons in Chinese, and it went good!! The We had Zone Training about establishing this area into a stake, and then had english class!! huzzah for israel!! I'm running out of time, so I gotta finish this week really quick haha 

Thursday: Well, we went to a secondary area today, and had an amazing time contacting and finding members!!!! Then we had a really cool experience with a man selling dominoes pizza. He was so ready for the gospel, he straight up asked us if he could meet with us, because he "noticed something different about us". Wa!! Being a missionary is so cool right now!!! 

Friday: To explain Friday, I simply must quote my journal, not if anyone will be afraid for my safety (mother.....) then don't read this day haha! so this is what is said "Today was.... full of fortune..... " Then I wrote some other stuff, but then it got to this "Then we had probably the most interesting experience on the mission yet. So second day here we contacted a family where the dad wanted to hear, but the wife sat there and ate beetlenut and told us to go away. Today they came and found us at a family mart, and asked us to buy them food. Elder Long said he would buy their kid food because he hadn't eaten yet today.... So the whole time the mom was asking for money, and the dad was wanting to know more about our gospel. How awesome! The mom told us that she worshiped her ancestors  and then looked me in the eyes and said "My ancestors are talking to me right now, and they are telling me that in three days, you will get hit by a car on your bike, and it will break both your arms." Creepy." So yep, today is three days from then, so pray for me haha!!! Oh gotta love crazy intoxicated ladies haha! 

2 Friday: We woke up early and taught an early morning seminary class! so cool!!! Then we had weekly planning, which is amazing, gotta love planning :D Had lunch with a member, then went and contacted! 

2 Saturday: First day it rained in Taiwan! Huzzah!!! Then we contacted less actives. A huge emphasis has been placed on this, because rescuing is as important as finding :D Super important! one for keeps!! oh yes, and not to just throw it in or anything, but I performed my violin at a baptism this day also :D 

2 Sunday: We had an investigator come to church with us!! yay!!!! We also had an activity with the youth of the church, and it made me kind of sad to see how many of them are wasting their lives away on video games, and it made me realize how much me being on a mission has opened my eyes to how much time is wasted on certain things. Crazy! Then we had another lesson with a super quiet guy, then had family home evening with a less active family :D Super crazy day, but sundays are always the best days of the week!! :D 

Ok so I will have to include saturday and sunday in next week because I'm out of time!! But know that I'm amazing!! Except I woke up yesterday morning with an inability to move my neck, so we had to get that checked out haha. It kinda hurts, but thats ok!! There is worse things that could happen in life, and the work is still moving along, and is still amazing!! Sorry this email is so long haha!!! Love you all!!! 

CTR, 

Elder Dawson 

 Cool Sign and Yikes Bikes !!

Taiwan Second Week

Well Hello, 

     

   

     I'm just going to apologize in advance that this letter is going to be kind of short, we don't have a lot of time haha. Also I forgot my journal... so I'm going to be completely honest, I don't exactly remember what happened in the week, so I'll just say what I remember! and next week if there was anything super cool I forgot, I'll write about it :) 

So first is about the people here in Taiwan. They are the some of the nicest people I have ever met, and so freaking awesome!!! When we contact them and they don't want to hear our message, then don't get mad and say "stop talking to me" they just simply say "Oh thank you thank you thank you" and back away slowly haha! Funny, and nice!!! I still haven't gotten rejected, so that's good!! :D Ok, so two experiences in general just blew me away with how nice people here are! First one, we were at the bread shop on the side of the road just buying some food to eat, and we tried contacting this guy on a scooter also buying bread. He said he was fine, and that he had to go home to give his kids the food he just bought, and then left. Right before he left we gave him a tract, then let him leave. We sat by the stand contacting others and eating our bread, and about five minutes later that guy came back!! He came back on his scooter and handed us a bag with drinks in it for us to "go with our bread" he said! I looked down at his scooter, and he still hadn't gone home to give his kids the bread he bought!! Like literally, this man we talked to for 15 seconds at most just drove to a store, bought us drinks, then drove back to find us and give them to us, before he went home. It was amazing!!! Such a nice gesture!! Next story isn't as long, but when we were lost, we asked this one guy for directions. He gave the directions, and then looked as us for a few seconds in silence, then said "Here, let me give you some fruit." I was like, what!? Like, we just asked this random guy on the side of the street for directions, talked to him for 30 seconds, and now he's giving us fruit!! Wow. The people here are amazing!!! 

So those stories basically took up my time... so here I am... out of time, and haven't given a week synopsis. I feel terrible. Haha, but oh well, next week you'll just get two weeks!! yay!!! So time to go, but to end, here's some photos :D 

Thanks so much!! 

CTR, 

Elder Dawson 

Taiwan Countryside Douliu

Taiwan First Week Photos

 Elder Dawson  & Elder Long at the Internet Cafe

Wow Chinese Hot Pot ! Yum 

A strange restaurant name

TAIWAN First Week

To see the missionaries in action as they first arrived in Taiwan,
view this 10 min you tube video
The Dan Jones Project, Taiwan Taichung Mission at::

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD0kJF3-sBg&feature=youtu.be


Dear Everyone,

     Well hello!!! Wow...... how to start.... this is crazy!!!!!!! My new trainer and companion is Elder Long, and he is absolutely amazing!!! We are in Dou Liu, in the smack dab middle of Taiwan, and its so awesome!!! Basically its a tiny town, so we actually tract and ride a lot in rice fields and bamboo forests! So cool!!! The apartment is... well... livable haha, no worries, but we have 4 people in it, and only 1 bathroom and room! crazy, but way fun!! The area is still just a district, but they are hoping to become a stake very soon!!! The Mission president told me that they're putting the strongest of missionaries in Dou Liu so that we can get enough people to create a stake! I didn't quite believe him, until my companion looked at all the missionaries in this area. Every single one except me is a step down zone leader, and amazing missionaries!! I hope I will be able to help, and be able to learn the language soon!! I had to bear my testimony in church yesterday, and that was.... interesting haha! Super cool, but scary!! The food is amazing, just like mama made it haha!!!! I basically love everything about Taiwan :)

So, week recap time!!!

Monday: all I wrote in my journal was "Packing" because I was leaving the next day! haha!!

Tuesday: We woke up at 2:00 in the morning to see Elder Bird off, and that was crazy!!!! sad, but we had to move on I suppose :( After that we finished packing and went to the front runner station at 6:30 in the morning, went to the airport, and talked to a bunch of returned missionaries, and had a ball being in public!! Then to LAX airport, then To taiwan!!!

Wednesday: Literally spent the entire day on a plane, so all I wrote was "It's so crazy that I was just in the MTC, and now am in Taiwan about to preach the gospel!!!" So cool!!!

Thursday: I wrote: "Holy Cow!!!! Longest fist day in Taiwan ever!!!!! We woke up and ran a ton!! Then came back, bought our bikes, did personal study, and had an amazing breakfast!!!.... After that we had orientation, and more orientation!! We then had lunch at a place called Marijuana, and had Hot Pot there (Baha, oh boy) After that we had a ton more orientation, a bit more orientation, and then even more orientation!!!"  Wow, quite the day!!! We had a cool banquet dinner, then went and preached the gospel, Dan Jones Style!!!!! In case you're wondering what that is, yes we stood on a box holding a book of Mormon yelling out the gospel to people as they passed. Awesome. That's not how we really do missionary work obviously, but it got us out of our shells haha! Wa! Amazing!

Friday: I said "What. The. Holy. Crap. Today was... well... wow. Ok so we started the day in Taiwan, Taichung at the mission home, and ended.... well, we'll get to that. So we woke up (a little sore from running the day before) and had to do the worst workout ever!!1 (made me more sore). We rean stairs for 20 minutes straight. Then died. Kidding but I felt like it haha! I have never been so sore on my legs!!! Ok, after that we got ready for the day, got our stuff ready to be taken, and got ready to go." ok.. yada yada yada.... oh! "Then, at 10:00, we went up to meet trainers!! In the chapel we learned about "The first 12 weeks program (which we have a goal to finish in 8 weeks) and watched a super cool video about Taiwan, and our "Dan Jones" activity from last night." So then after that I realized the truth of where I was going. So my trainer is a Step Down zone leader (obviously) and he has been here a year and 7 months. Me and him are "White Washing" This area, which means that me and him have no investigators, no referrals, no connections with anyone, don't know where anything is, and just get to go for it. Awesome, but crazy!!! Because of that, Friday night we contacted people for 3 hours straight trying to find people ready for the gospel. Then we got to meet the ward mission leader, a super cool guy who just 6 months ago was inactive, and then "rescued" by missionaries. This gospel means everything to him, and hearing him bear his testimony was a super spiritual experience.

Saturday: "First Full day!! and holy cow was it hard!!! Woke up, played basketball, came back, and showered, then had 4 hours of study!! 4!!! and it was awesome!!! We practiced teaching, read how to be better missionaries, and prayed!!! " Really quick insert, Elder Long is a super cool Elder, and amazingly spiritual!!! I'm so glad I have this chance to learn from him :) anyways, back to my journal "After that we went out and contacted/found lunch (lunch was delicious, of course). Contacting is crazy!! Elder Long is crazy at it!! I've seen him chase down cars, put fliers in windshield wipers, emergency stop to talk to someone, and talk to and pull over scooters!! Crazy right?! But awesome. We prayed for miracles because we had no investigators, and now one to call haha! But we had a lot of friendly people, and got 11 numbers!!!" After that we had the chance to see a baptism!! So cool!!!!! Then, we contacted even more haha, Oh its fun :)

Sunday: "Today.... Goodness gracious, so much happens each day, I don't know how to write about all of it!!!" Let me just say, that is so true, it's like impossible to let you know all that I do in every day haha! anyways... "So this morning we had church, and we had an investigator come to church with us!!!!!" Now here is the awesome part "After church, when we taught him and he prayed, he said something to the effect of "Please help me plant the seed of this gospel in my heart, so it may grow and help me." and we hadn't even read Alma 32 with him yet!!! He's so golden, he's practically already glowing!!" So cool :) After that, really we studied, and contacted, and then went to a family home evening!! So cool!!!!

So ya, there's my week!!! I don't really have a lot of photo's this week to send, but I'll take more this week and send them!! Promise!!!!! The work is moving forward in Taiwan, and I'm so excited to be a part of it!!! I hope everyone's having an amazing time back home, and I'll talk to you next week!!!!!

CTR,

Elder Dawson

P.S. What is my blog address?? Some people have been wondering so they can read it, and I don't even know it haha, if I could get that, that would be awesome :)

the blog address is::
 http://dannydawson1207.blogspot.com

Elder Dawson Arrives in Taiwan

Elder Dawson With President & Sister Blickenstaff

Before going to his first Assignment in Douliu Taiwan

Week Nine Photos

Danny w Companion Sister Mangelson W Companion

Danny With Entire MTC District

Danny & MTC District with President and Sister Blickenstaff

Arrive at the Taipei Airport Oct 23, 2013

Danny With District Elders

Danny and his Companions

MTC Week 9 Last week

Dear Family, Cheese, and... wow... sorry, ran out of anything creative haha, 

     Yay emails!!! So today... last P-Day at the MTC.... its crazy!!! I've learned and grown so much, and yet I feel as if I still am stupid haha! That's good to know about my violin, it's going to be my carry on, so that it doesn't get broken :) Thanks for all the things you're doing for me back at home!! Sounds like you're having a great time at home!!! So I got to perform for stafford in his first meeting in the MTC, and he also stays in my building, so I see him everyday!! Plus, best part of this all, is that me and him have the same suit!! We're practically twins!! Except hes skinny and I'm.... well.... Its close. Moving on!! I can't wait to hear about your mission dad!! Any advice for heading out into the field?? I'm so excited to finally get started in the work!! 

So I really don't have a lot of time today, so here comes speed typing!! Please, no making fun of me if I mess up a ton haha, but here we go! So I promised last week that this week I'd focus on spiritual thoughts, so I'll give a super quick overview of my week, and then I'll talk about all the spiritual experiences here! And actually one of the coolest ones happened yesterday!! Ok, moving on

Monday: This is Literally all I wrote "P-Day!! yay!!"  welp. there ya go. 

Tuesday: This is how I started my journal entry "Wow, totally planned on writing more yesterday... awkward... repentance process on three! one, two, three!!"  Wow, I am so hilarious. Kidding haha! So Elder Roberts got a little sick, so we got medicine or him, and then we went to a devotional at night. Guess who spoke at the devotional!! Elder Oaks!! He is so smart, he basically blows my mind whenever he talks haha! His wife said to us "our missions aren't a time to boast of some language ability, it is a time to learn how to love like Christ" Elder Oaks took over and said "The Lord qualifies those he calls". That was a huge relief to me!! And I realized that one of the biggest things our mission is for is to learn how to love like Christ! It made me think of 1st John 4: 17-21 Which says: "17. herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgement: because as he is so are we in this world. 18. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19. We love him, because he first loved us. 20. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21. And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also." Sorry, I know It's kind of long, but it really hit me hard!! Have no fear he said, because as long as we have "perfect love" or the love of Christ, it will cast out all fear. Something that helped me was the thought of going with instead of the word brother, use the word companions. This helped me so much, and I realized that I can't judge other people because they sin differently than me, I can only figure out why they do the things they do, and then learn to love them from it. Amazing. We must love the lord with all our heart, and why do we do that? because he loved us first. 

Wednesday: Hosted for the last time and performed at the MTC!! Score!!! this is what I wrote "I performed for the new missionary welcome, at both of them that is :D Finally, dream come true to have my performance be live shown on huge projector screens to 508 people!! Ah!! So cool!! They both went exactly how I would have them go!! 

Thursday: All I wrote once again "In field orientation!!!" how awkward. 

Friday: Dont worry, I wrote about thursday in Friday's slot, so heres what I wrote "So... In field orientation was.... sobering. It was 9 hours long, but super cool!! We learned about what it will be like to actually be doing missionary work, work with ward council, use key indicators, and set goals! Awesome." In one of the classrooms, a sister said this comment "If there is something stopping you from feeling the spirit, such as sleeping, then you need to get over that now!" Thats so cool! Smackdown Laid! Game set and Match! Haha! On friday we saw one of our teachers for the last time, so that was also sad :( However, in the nighttime class, we had a super cool spiritual experience!!!!!! We were reading Alma 14 about Alma and Amulek being thrown into prison, and then compared it with John 19 with the Savior. What Alma and Amulek had to go through was only a bit of what the Lord had to go through, and they held themselves properly! It was crazy seeing how with alma and amulek, Nehor said "Know ye not that I have the power to deliver you to the flames?" and then with the savior, Pilate said "Know ye not that I have the power to crucify thee?" They used the same wording!!!! They must have gotten it in a book of evil guy quotes or something! But how did The lord and Alma and Amulek respond? Silence. They said nothing! When people "torture" us, what is our first response?? because silence is the most powerful. If we want to make a difference in this world, I suppose sometimes silence is the way to do it. Other times speak your mind! haha 

Saturday: My journal entry "Wow.... 3 days left... this is an unreal feeling!! I'm leaving on my mission soon!! wow!!" and that was all... amen. 

Sunday: My favorite day!! Really, sundays are the best thing since my morning bagels that I eat haha! So, this is fun spiritual Experience day, and sharing it will be my journal :D ". I ended my entry saying "I'm ready to go out and do this work, and I pray the Lord will qualify me, whom he hast called to proclaim his word, and bring souls to salvation." Amen, awesome ending to a sunday!! 

So ya, that was the week!! Now, I keep saying I want to talk about my general conference notes, but it's just not happening. Sorry! When I have more time, I promise that I will write some back!! I have absolutely no idea when I'll have no time, so just expect me not to write anymore back, and if I do, be really excited :D    So ya, that was my week!!! Thanks for being so awesome!! And thanks Mom and Dad for putting up with me, and putting my letters on the blog for me haha, thanks ;) 

CTR,

Elder Dawson (of the Daniel variety) 

Last Week 8 Photos

Danny & Whitney with their Companions at the MTC

IE Sister Mangelson & Elder Dawson and Companions

All the Elders From Bountiful high that are on the same floor residence hall as Danny

at the MTC

Companion Tree Smelling (must be a Taiwan  pre departure ritual?)

MTC Week 8

Dear Family, Friends, Fried Chicken, and any cats reading this, 

     Thanks so much for the emails!!!! Especially you mom and dad, love 'em ;) Thanks for posting things on the blog!! I hope you got both last weeks email and the one before that didn't send.... they were both good :) and no worries, I will definitely be talking about conference more in this email, because its been cool to see how it now has applied to my life!!!! I hope moving in the new family goes good! I'll be praying for you, and how you'll pull that off without the amazing help of me (bwa ha ha!) Kidding. So if you have any spiritual experiences to share, or just funny stories from the week, that would be awesome to hear!! 

This Wednesday I will be hosting again, so I will definitely look for Stafford!! If I figure out where he's staying at, I'll for sure go and get a picture with him :) Also I did get the letter and stuff you send to President Blickenstaff, thanks for letting me know!!! Also on that note, well, I'll put that in at the end of the email :) 

Now, what I know you've all been waiting for, my travel plans!! (da da da DA!!) So. I leave the MTC at 6:30 AM on October 22, and take the Delta Air Lines flight 1299 from SLC to LAX at 11:30 AM. October 22. 2013. Yep. And then we land in LA, and leave 4:00 PM on the 22nd, and land 9:05 PM on the 23. Going from LAX to TPE Delta flight 7734. Glad we don't have to go through Japan!! Just straight there! well... almost :) Glad you could use this information! Do with it what you will, and I'll see you soon. I mean uhh... call you at the airport ;) yep!! So there's that!! and on to bigger and better things I suppose! 

So, biggest news besides the fact we got travel plans was probably the fact that I get to perform this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AH I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I get to perform my violin song "All Creatures of Our God and King" This wednesday at the new missionaries meeting, so guess who'll be there that will hear it?? Stafford!! AH! I'm so excited that I get to have this opportunity to perform at the MTC!! And I get to bring my violin to Taiwan???? I died. I died? I died. So excited!! I've been practicing like crazy, and I hope it goes well, but you know what, as long as the spirit is there, it will be good :) 

Oh, onto the week synopsis, as hosted by Danny Dawson's Journal: 

Monday: Well first off, on Monday I changed the pen that I use to write in my journal with, and let me just say, it was for the best. My journal looks so much more neat now, and I am in ultimate comfort writing in my journal now :) Spiritual Experience of Monday went like this "Well Today, P-Day, we did initiatory!! It's cool because in the morning I felt like I needed to do initiatory, so I told Elder Roberts and he said sure!! When we got to the temple, they said they needed Elders to do initiatory really bad, and I was like "Boo-yah!!" It was awesome!! After that we did service for an hour folding laundry, then did the other mundane things P-Day includes haha!" Yep, then we said goodbye to Elder Roberts friend Elder Hanson, and it was touching, and amen. Oh ya, and Skype TRC with some nice old lady in Taiwan. What a keeper ;) 

Tuesday: Bad Day. Real bad day. Not much more needs to be said about that day, but I wrote "Today I just want to curl up into a ball in some corner and cry and cry until I feel better." I'm better now!! But ya, that was a hard day for sure. Moving on *dramatic step forward* 

Wednesday: We helped our investigator stop smoking!! Score!!! plus, Wednesday was probably the best day with Tuesday being the worst! I wrote "Words can't describe how awesome I feel because of this gospel!! It's by far the best thing thats ever happened to me!! Seriously!!! I know the Lord loves me, and now I know more than I ever did before that he will help me in times of need." It was a good day indeed. 

Thursday: Had a brain fart moment, wrote in my journal "Wow, can't wait until its 13/13/13!!" Woooowww Danny. Wow. I mean Elder Dawson. This day a lot of time was spent with my companions planning a prank on another Elder. Funny, but Childish and not necessary. So that was a journey!! but I also got a package from my parents with the classiest sweater vests known to mankind, and I got a letter from Mariah with a bag of cookies stapled to it, who knew that was a thing now!? haha! Ah... oh ya! I also watched this cool video on "civility" and how apprently Georgve Washington had this book he read on "rules to civility" and how in our society in this age, civility is a dying thing! That was cool, and it made me want to be more civil, so look at that, another goal ;) 

Friday: So much happened on Friday!!! A lot I already talked about like travel plans and performing, but It was the day I realized how excited I am to go to Taiwan!! Ah!!! Plus we taught two lessons, Nailed one, and bombed the other! So... ya that was awkward haha, but I suppose nice and evened out ;) 

Saturday: Nothing really interesting happened Saturday.... Except for TRC with this awesome guy!! We connected way good, and helped him with this problem he was having with one of his friends. Awesome. Nailed it *high five* .... *but not with a sister, because that's not allowed* 

Sunday: Best spiritual experience day ever!! And, I wrote a bunch of letters. Amazing. I felt basically like I was on top of the world!! Here, journal, let me explain better "So today I got to perform my violin in sacrament meeting!! Naturally, because I have already given a talk, and because I was performing, I thought I'd be safe to not talk. boy was I wrong. I spoke. The performed haha, awesome." Later in the day we watched an amazing talk called "Missions are forever". In it he talked a lot about how we need to astonish people if we are to do correct work haha. "He also told us missionary work is meant to be hard. He aid the reason it is hard is because "salvation is not a cheap experience." plus he said that if your mission is done right, it should be hard." I went on writing in my journal saying "Preach my gospel. It's the lord's gospel, but lets make it more personal so it's ours to share. Amazing. I need to make these two years count as much as humanly possible, because as Elder Holland Says: "The road to salvation goes through Gethsemane, and we all have a cross to carry during it."  Well, Here's to making it count." It's points like this that really make me realize why I'm here, and become rededicated to going out for the work. 

So ya. That's pretty cool. I wish I had like 2 hours more to type and get everything I want to say in here, but I have no time!! ah!! ok, next week, I'll try to start with all the spiritual experiences so they don't get cut off from the end. Sorry, I'll talk more about what I learned from conference next week! Promise!! 

Ok, so just a reminder, if you could go to the bank and let them know that I'm leaving the country October 22nd that would be awesome :) Plus if you could call Karen Bergeson and ask her what I need to do to get my violin ready to go to the humid island of Taiwan that would also be really nice :) I just need to know what stuff I need to do to get it ready. She might say that we need to get something for it, and if that's the case could you send whatever it is to me? thanks so much!!  I love you all so much!! Especially my family :) The center of this church is family, and I love it! Thanks for being awesome, and thanks for supporting me so much on my mission! :) 

CTR, 

Elder Dawson 

Yay Photos!!! 

Elder Daniel David Dawson

The Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter Day Saints

MTC Week 7

Dear Family, Friends, Previous people I may have met in a sandwich line, and turtles, 

     That makes me so sad that you didn't get my email last week!!! I wrote a ton I promise, and it said it sent, but I guess it didn't :/ Welp, there goes my perfect streak emailing every week. *sigh* So guess what?! For the first time ever, I stayed awake the entire conference, all sessions!!! I was so happy!! I took a ton of notes, and learned so much, and feel so edified! I'll talk more about my favorite parts in just a sec :) Yes indeed.... there's a lot of missionaries out... its like we're trying to convert the world or something ;) So if you ever don't get my letter by Monday at 6, feel free to send me a dear elder and tell me, so that I can run on and resend it, because it really bummed me out that you didn't get my last week email :/ Wow, I'm super spastic.... wow. 

     Travel Plans. Right. So we get them this Friday! ah!! So excited!! As soon as I know, I will write you the next Monday... so In a week I'll let you know haha! So I see Sister Mangelson every day, and we talk a ton! Her district has 7 Sisters and 2 elders, so that's pretty unique! She says she's having an amazing time, and I love being able to talk to her and have us both learning Chinese here! It's so cool!! Me an my companions are going... pretty well!!! They're so awesome, and they put up with my crazy-ness very well considering ;) They are so much fun to be around, and its awesome being able to learn and study with them :) I unfortunately haven't had a chance to perform yet, but I'm still keeping my hopes up that they'll let me perform somewhere!!! Please please please!!! Anything you send this week that would be awesome... Ya... photos.... warm clothes.... a rock... really anything would be great! haha

     So glad to know you still got to get away and go to St. George for the weekend, sounds like it was a party! Well, a pie party by the sound of it, glad to know you're all eating enough pie without me there ;) haha! Oh Taiwan food... I'm so excited :) Once again, sorry my letter didn't get there last week mom! sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry!! I do hope you get it this week along with this letter!! Oh ya... me and Sister Mangelson have been meaning to take a picture together for some time, but we keep forgetting haha! No worries, It shall come!!! We shall get it to you!! :) Tell Cheryl I say back! So fun story, I've been reading a lot in "Our Heritage" And I read about all the hardships that the early saints went through. It's crazy!! I mean, some of the missionaries they sent out literally had nothing except Book of Mormons and the clothes on their back, and then here is poor ol' Elder Dawson going out with his three suit cases full of stuff. I mean, missionaries go without, but really in all honesty, we have so much that we bring with us, and receive so much from others! Both Physically, and spiritually. 

So. 

My week! And General Conference notes! 

Monday: P-day a week ago.... I got a package, with a lime green tie! yay!!! Best day ever!!! We also went to the temple, Learned more Chinese, and ate a cookie.  A week ago I also had to say goodbye to Elder Davis, and that was hard. He's so amazing, and I know he'll be really good on his mission, so I wish him good luck!! Ya.... 

Tuesday: Well heard another story from Elder Wuthrich, and guess what I found out! His cousin, Natalie Wuthrich, Went to bountiful with me, and I was totally in musical with her! Ah awesome connections!!!! Besides that awesome fact, this is what I had to say that day: "Ok so today I learned a lot, exercised a lot of patience, and studied! We had a super cool talk by a super cool man with an accent. He talked about how we are Christian." That guys name was president Baxter of the 70, and he told us a lot about how much charity and donations our church has done. I ended the journal entry by saying "Ah! Why are we so cool!!" Haha, right. Humility. On that. 

Wednesday: First day hosting!!!! I got to host three elders, and also talk to a bunch of dropping off families! In class we learned about teaching people and not lessons. We practiced aiming our lessons to the persons needs, and not giving a recited bit about how were there to teach them a lesson on the gospel. Right after class I got a haircut here.... Never again. Basically I look like a poor walrus that's missing half a head. ya, It was a bad haircut haha, but the cool part is they vacuum your head to get the hair off! That felt pretty cool haha. 

Thursday: This was the day Elder Wuthrich asked if I would room with him at BYU when we get back from our missions. I said why not! We both will speak mandarin Chinese, and we get along great! So ya, I guess I have my first college roommate now... odd... Why am I so old!!! 

So sorry these are kind of short day entries, sorry, I want to get to my general conference notes. 

Friday: This is literally all I wrote in my journal. "Great Day!! Yay!!" Wow. awful. Because now I don't remember that day, so I have no Idea what happened... yep. Moving on. 

Saturday. Started by saying "Wow that was a short Journal entry.... I probably need to repent haha!" GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!! I'll get more to that later :) I went and talked more to Elder Garcia, and that was super fun!!! But the coolest non-spiritual part about Saturday is that we found the bat cave!  here's what I said "Oh! Funny story, we found a bat cave!! Like a study kind, not a literal cave with bats. We drew a piano that goes on the front door, and we "play" it to get in and study! It's super quiet in there, and we don't allow people to talk, so It's cool how much studying happens!" Finally, I think I found a way to get my companions to study. Thank heavens. haha

Sunday: yay yay yay more conference!!!! (more later on that) but the cool part of Sunday was that we got to see Vocal Point!! They sang and shared stories from their missions, and I cried. Amen. 21 times at the MTC. Rocking it. Oh and Elder Wuthrich left today, so now I am friendless. Kidding, I still have my companions as friends ;) And My district... And Elder Hainsworth... ya.... 

Ok so on to general Conference, wow? Am I right?? It was so cool! I was surprised that they didn't announce any new temples, but I suppose there probably a reason for that, you know, all them missionaries out preachin' and stuff ;) haha, oh I sometimes think I'm funny... anyways! I Really loved how Robert D. Hales reminded us that we were listening to the Lords conference, and we would hear his words. The next thing that struck me super had was Edward Dube (cool accent guy) said, well I guess his mom said "Never look back, look at what we have to do". The more I thought about it, the more I realized its true! I mean, a lot of times we simply look at how much we've accomplished to make us feel better about ourselves, and to make us feel like we have to do less in the future because we've done so much. Elder Holland said "The past is to be led from, not to be lived in." It's such a rally to push forward with faith, trying our absolute hardest to do the most we can in the future. Missions are hard, but I know that if I approach it with the thought of "look what there is to do" and not with "look at what I have done" then the Lord will work wonders through me. In comparison with that thought, he also said an amazing quote about some... cattle? trying to move a stone. He said "It doesn't matter how strong you are alone, but how well you move as a team." As missionaries, we preach as a team. I have let some things slip by with not trying to help my companions as much as I could, because I figured I could just do it by myself. However, as soon as I heard that, it hit me that, no matter how strong I am as a missionary, it all matters about how me and my companion move together. We all must become one with preaching the gospel. 

S. Gifford Nielson said "Pray for the missionaries by name" *ahem* hint hint. 

Timothy J. Dyches quoted and said "With thou be made whole?" and all I could think was "I don't know, will we?" If want to be forgiven of our sins, and be able to move on, we have to be willing, and ask the Lord to help us, or else it wont happen. Another interesting concept he brought up was the fact that the second great law was "love others as you love yourself". To fulfill that law, we have to love ourselves. This has always been an interesting problem for me, but now I know that we cant just find solace in trying to help and serve others. We also have to help, serve, and love ourselves, so that we will be able to love others. Wowza. Game, set, match. 

Well unfortunately I only got through a third of my conference notes, and I'm out of time :/ but if anyone were to write me a letter this week, they'd probably hear more from me, just saying ;) haha, but to end, I just wanted to share another quote from conference that reminded me of the people of our church. Its from Henry B. Eyring, and he said "Remember you are the Samaritan, not the man, or the Levite that walked by." As people of this church, we are the good Samaritan's trying to heal others and bring them to the Lord. To be able to do that, we cant just say were going to try and help, then pass up opportunities, we must constantly seek opportunities to teach, heal, and be good friends. Helping people come closer to Christ doesn't have to be converting them to the church, sometimes, it simply means being their friend. Don't be the person M. Russel Ballard described when he said "People don't ask for opportunities to share the gospel, because they're afraid they'll have to." This gospel is centered on Christ, but that doesn't mean standing on the street corner preaching repentance unto the world. Reevaluate how you treat others, and If your being a good friend to those you interact with, and that will show you how well you are bringing people closer to God. 

I hope you have a great week, and I'll write more about conference next week I suppose!! 

CTR, 

Elder Dawson 

P.S. I hope you actually get this letter!! haha

P.P.S.: Photo time!!!