Monday, April 28, 2014

Taiwan April 27,2014 a Week of Tanning

Hello everyone!!!!!
     Ok, I think that title might have been a little misleading, but let it be known, even if you wear sunscreen, if you are in Heng Chun, you will get very tan, very fast. haha ;)

      So family, it looks like you all had a super fun time up there in Taipei, just having a grand old time!!!! haha :D Thanks for sending all the pictures!!!!!!! As for me, I am doing amazing here in Heng Chun, it's such a cool place!!!!!!! of course..... take out the fact that we have 1 investigator, and it's pretty good hahahahahaha :D 

媽媽,我跟你說,我黑掉了!!!ohno!!哈哈,恆春真的超級熱!並且,大部分的人都說,還沒到夏天!!完蛋了!So ya, I've basically just become very tan in a short amount of time here, because it's really hot, and we're out in the sun all day haha, because we have nobody to teach, so we ride out bikes around all day :D It's super good thought, and we're having a lot of fun!!!!!!!!!! 

     I got the package, thanks for sending it :D I've been eating a lot of dumplings and fried rice in Heng Chun.... oh and a lot of Seafood!! There's a member who owns a super nice seafood restaurant, and she let us eat there, and it was yummy :D I had some normal stuff, like chicken and Spring wraps, but then we also had some other not so normal stuff that was also good! such as Squid stuffed with carrots and cucumber, and Puffer fish Skin :D It was yummy haha, so I'm happy eating here :D I make myself a Papaya smoothie like everyday, and mango season is coming soon!!!!!!!! Needless to say, I'm pretty excited :D 

So sounds like a pretty legit conference at home about hastening the work! I do have to say, I agree with that haha :D It's super nice to be able to teach the gospel with an investigator, when their best friend is beside them testifying of what we say to be true, and adding their own testimony alongside it. Those lessons are some of the only lessons we get here in Heng Chun, because everybody on the street that we talk to is just a tourist, and most of the time they're from China or Malaysia haha. So I completely love hearing about all that!!! :D 

Ok, so my companion right now is Elder Lindsey, and may I just say, He's amazing!!!!!!! we get along super well, and We have fun while doing missionary work!!! The good part about it, is we're both willing to do hard and get as much done as possible. We started off by making sure that both of us are completely dedicated to the work and wanting to move forward, and it's just taken off!!! We're working as hard as I think we can be, and even though we're not seeing a lot of success, I can feel the blessings of the lord that has been given to both of us. Ah, Elder Lindsey is so awesome haha!!!!!! Ghee :D 

Ok, so I just felt like writing a lot this week, yay!!!! (hey is this email still being put on my blog? just wondering haha) ok here we go!!!: 

Monday: So It was the first day In my life I've ever clipped my fingernails. I was pretty proud of myself haha :D yay!!! Anyways, it was P-Day, and we basically just spent 4 hours cleaning the apartment, because all the elders before us are super messy!!!! so it was dirty haha. yep! 

Tuesday: We had an awesome district meeting!!! Consisting of Me and my lovely companion, and then he did some Facebook Missionary work!! Probably next move call I'll be a face book missionary.... not sure, but we'll see haha :D Then we helped a sister peel garlic for a service activity (my fingers still smell like it haha) Then ate at the seafood restaurant, then went home :D 

Wednesday: So today we went to a place called Man Zhou (滿州) and it was tiring haha. We go there every Wednesday, and to get there, we have to climb a mountain. and it's painful. but that's ok, it's all worth it haha :D They have Yummy Man Tou there (like... this sweet bread stuff) and then we met a member from Singapore that's here for military, and then had English class!!!! ya, it was fun :D 

Thursday: We went out to a secondary area called Che Cheng  (車城) and at ice with a less active, and then came home :D Met with some less actives... at ice cream with a less active...... ya...... all less active work :D 

Friday: I went hardcore on learning characters, and working hard to get them down haha! Then we had a good Weekly planning session, Then met with (You'll never guess) some less actives haha :D 

Saturday: Most. Tired. Day. Ever. So in the morning we went all the way to the bottom of the island (about an hour away, maybe a bit more...... ) to KenDing to find some less actives! it was one of the hottest days, and so it was fairly tiring haha, but thats ok :D However, then we got back to Heng Chun, and Went to Che Cheng, a half an hour the other direction, and it was pouring rain during that trip, and it was exhausting. Amen. haha 

Sunday: Went to church, and then went to part of a secondary area called Bai Sha, and then met with some less actives there :D Then we had a super fun Family Home evening making cards!! I'll send a picture :D It was fun haha!!! 

So ya, that was the week!!!!!!! I just want to say really quick something cool that I've learned here in Heng Chun So far. Sometimes, when we do the things the lord expects of us, we expect to be blessed in a certain way. For example, I'm here doing missionary work for the lord, and I hope that he will bless me with people to teach and baptize. However, one of the biggest things I feel I have learned, is that if you do what the Lord asks of you, he will bless you, but not always how you want to be blessed. I am super grateful for this time I have to be here, because it has helped me see tender mercies that the lord gives me from day to day life, the things that are taken for granted, things we may no longer realize as blessings. I'm grateful I have this time to be here and notice the little things, and work my hardest, and have an open mind to see how the Lord has, and will continue blessing me. I love being a missionary, and I love working hard and doing all I can!!! Huzzah!!!! 

CTR,(義)

Elder Dawson   陶長老



A members restaurant here :D

Different City Gates in Henchung  Taiwan





Beautiful Country


Our Arms Tanned


Sunday, April 27, 2014

Taiwan April 20 2014


Dear all those within reading distance of this letter, 

     Sometimes I think to myself, where am I? Is this paradise?? and then I realize, oh yes it is, I'm in Heng Chun :D So.... how to describe being a missionary here.... well.... basically just think of what being a missionary in Hawaii would be like, and that's what it's like here ;) (pictures to come  haha) 

      Mom!!!!! you can Type In Chinese now!!!!! 很開心!! 恆春很棒!不要擔心,我會常常用sunblock, 不然我就會黑死 ;) 哈哈,開玩笑 :D 我新同伴是一個小可愛的林長老, 他很像 David Barlow.;)  媽媽,我很喜歡你寫中文!我看的懂大概百分之95。。。吧。可是,不要擔心,林長老的中文很厲害!所以,如果我看不懂,他可以幫助我 :D Oh ya!!! 他也有去StarTalk!

Hahaha, leave it to my mom to write me three messages, in Chinese and English :D So More about the Heng Chun area!!! Here there are about 20 active memebers, our area is the largest in the mission, and if we were to bike to the farthest away area, it would take 3 to 4 hours haha, yay :D My new companion is Elder Lindsey, and He's super cool!!!! He's a lot like David Barlow.... hahahaha, loving the piano, and personality wise haha :D I love doing missionary work with him!!!! It's so fun!! 

hmmmmm,媽媽,爸爸,你們在臺灣eh?不能偷看喔!哈哈,我很愛你們,希望你們也過得好 :D 

yay!!!! So it was a great week here, a lot of work, but a lot of blessings too :D ya....... I don't really have things to write about each day this week, but I'll send pictures!!!! yay :D Just know, that we live about a half an hour from the beach, the city i'm in has one main road, and it's absolutely tiny. And then people here already have seen missionaries a million times haha ;) yay ;) 

CTR, (義)

Elder Dawson (陶長老) 

Me and Elder Lindsey :D So the City used to be surrounded by a big wall, and so there's four main gates entering the city, and this is the south one haha :D 


The beach hahaha, no we did not go swimming baha



Taiwan April 13 2014


Hello all!!!!!

       So crazy things are happening in the world of Taiwan!!!!!!!!!! So yes, I'll just say it straight up, I'm totally being transferred to a new area today!!!! I have been in Dou Liu for 6 months, and now I'm moving to...... wait for it...... I will be moving to Hung Chun Today!!!!!!!! So for all of you who may need a brushing up on the geography of Taiwan, let me give a review. So. Here in Dou Liu, I'm at about the middle of the Island, and I will be going to Hung Chun, which is the most southern part of Taiwan!!!!! It's crazy!!!! I'm going to a place that there's not even trains that go there haha!!!!! It's right by Ken Ding, Which is a super big party place in taiwan haha, because the beaches are beautiful :D 

      So...... pull up a photo of Taiwan. look at it. And see the little bottom of the jelly bean shaped Island? That's my area. the largest area in the Entire mission haha, and I'm going crazy!!!!! My district will only have 2 people in it, me and my companion. the closest missionaries to us are a 3 hour bus ride away, and it's so cool!!! So today I will take a two hour train down to Ping Dong, and then meet my new companion, the from there travel three hours on a bus to my area :D Super exciting!!!

     However, with all the excitement that's happening, I have to say how amazingly grateful I am for this time I have spent in Dou Liu. It's hard to admit, but I'll say it, this morning I just started balling because I'm leaving this area. I have grown an absolute love for the people here, and their love towards missionaries. I have been moved when teaching investigators, I have had success here, I've cried here, fought here, and all of it has been absolutely amazing! I can honestly say with all my heart, that I will miss Dou Liu, with all my heart. I'm moving to Hung Chun, but a little part of my heart will always be left in this amazing city, with the hearts of all those I've become close to. Saying goodbye to everyone here was honestly one of the hardest things I've ever done, but I keep praying and praying that the Lord will bless this area, and bless me as I move on to a new part of my life. I'm super scared, but super excited. 

     Anyways, So....... I do have to say, I did a pray a while ago that the Lord would help me lose weight.... know what he did?? He sent me to the hottest area on the mission. People still wear jackets down there during the summer, because if they don't, the sun will literally burn your skin to blackness. Everyone says I will become black down there, and that I'll go crazy haha, but I'm super happy. So let it be known, be careful what you pray for, because sometimes if you want to lose weight, the Lord will send you to the hottest place in the mission, in the middle of summer, with bike rides to places over 3 hours away. Mazeltov ;) yay! Exciting, but scary, I'll be like Anemic when I get home haha... ha.... anyway ;) 

     So everything I have is packed up.... sorry!!!! So I don't have the day by day update, but please, pray for me as I go to the fires of Hung Chun, that I will be able to.... um... live ;) love you all!!!!!!

CTR, (義)

Elder Dawson (陶長老) 

P.S. oh ya, my new companion is Elder Lindsey, and I'll let you know more about him next week :D you know.... when I've actually met him haha :D 

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Taiwan April 6, 2014

Hello all of you out there in the world, how are you???? That's good, I'm doing pretty good myself here ;) Thanks for asking haha :D 

       Guess what season it is????? It's CONFERENCE SEASON!!!!!!!!!!! Whoot whoot whoot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yay!!!! I'm glad you all get to see it back there! We have to wait a week for it to be translated into Chinese, and then we can watch it next week :D You'll have to tell me how all the sessions go haha :D I'm so excited to listen to them!!!!!!! 

     So wait, you just got out of a Taxi and saw Elder Mangleson!?!?!? That's so crazy!!!!!! Wow, what a small world when everyone's in Taiwan haha! Sounds like you parents had a fun time in Taiwan seeing..... people..... and having fun haha :D 

     So this last week we had a new investigator named Lin Bo Zhang, and he's doing awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!! Still reading the book of mormon, and he's only been reading 8 days, but is already almost to Alma!!!!! Super awesome, and he's still going strong haha!!!!! Love that guy ;) 

      To answer the Question, No, I am not getting Trunky haha, I love my mission far to much for that to happen haha ;) So yes, there's that :D 

     Preach my Gospel is an inspired book I tell you!!! Inspired!!!! haha :D I have a goal to read from it everyday on my mission, and it's going pretty good :D You can learn a lot from that book! Not just about the gospel, but also a lot about how to live your life. Of course those two things also do go together haha, so there you go ;) 

     So this week was pretty good!!!!!!!!! Almost cried a few times from happiness, but I refrained! I'm going good haha!!!! But ya, it was good :D here we go! 

Monday: Well saw some pretty awesome people that may or may not be related to me ;) hahaha, and then we had a Family home evening, Elder Gummow Lost his wallet, and then we found it with the 4000 dollars still in it :D awesome!!!! 

Tuesday: We had a DTM Training meeting that was hilarious!!!!!! and learned a lot :D then we met with my Recent Convert Kevin Guo, and it was super fun :D yay!!!

Wednesday: It was raining so hard!!!!!!!! And yet, we still went out and did missionary work, and it was fun :D However, we got kind of wet haha....... oh well!!!!!! then we had English class, and next week is our english class party!!!! yay!!!!!!

Thursday: Tiredness was setting in, because the mosquito's wont let me sleep!!!!! they're all just big meanies. haha ;) oh well, the running total is at 23 mosquito bites right now haha, so yay. mazeltov. Then we met a totally golden guy that has spent 2 years looking for the right church, and he came to ours and said he loves the atmosphere and the message we bring!!! Ah!!!!! Miracles are everywhere!!!! 

Friday: Planned a lot.... ya..... then had a dinner at a Ma Jia Ting's house, and had some meetings....... met with people.... ya.... 

Saturday: We had a super cool day going grave sweeping!!!!! It's a festival here in Taiwan, where they all go and sweep the graves. So, interestingly, the graves are all just public graves, and they bury the people there, and once the body is decayed, they dig up the bones, and put them inside of a jar, and then put the jar inside of this giant building! We went there, and it's crazy how many boxes there are with dead people in them!! Weird... but cool..... ya :D Then got lost in a secondary area and went home :D 

Sunday: So Church (yay) and then we went out to a secondary area called Xi Luo. We went to the middle of nowhere finding a less active, and then the person riding with us, his tire popped haha. and we were literally in the middle of nowhere haha. yay. It all went good though, but in all, me and Elder Gummow were riding our bikes super fast for about 3 hours all at once to get there, get lost, and get on the right road, eat dinner and get home. yay for exercise haha ;) 

So yes, it was a pretty good week!!!!!!! Hope you like the photos!!!

CTR, (義)

Elder Dawson (陶長老) 

Our Zone Leader

Elder Forbes and Companion

Sister Mangelson and Companion

Grave Sweeping and Cleanup Service Project


Friday, April 4, 2014

Taiwan March 30, 2014

Hello all,
What an Odd Week !!

     So this has been a really cool week, and actually kind of weird...... hm...... My trainer who went home a month or so ago came back and saw me. He was wearing normal clothes, and it was super weird haha!!!!! Ya.... and then some things will be happening today that will be.... different..... hahahahaha ya. 

     So mother and father, it's good to hear that you're in Taiwan right now hahaha, what a crazy happenstance bwahahahahaha!!!!!! I'm glad you had a good time at church :D and this should be fun.... hm..... life's good, and I'm super excited for today haha :D 

     So, other than that, this week was super cool, and super good!!!!!!! I got to perform my violin yesterday, while we sang a song called "come unto Christ" And then we had a fireside sending off a soon to be missionary here :D He's going to Canada Edmonton haha, so yay!!! Super excited for him :D 

     Other than that, we have a super cool investigator!!!!!!!! His name is Lin Bo Zhang, and he's super cool!!! He's a college student, who said he'd come to church with us, and when he came he loved it! We taught him the first lesson about Joseph Smith, and then we taught about prayer and the Book of Mormon. The next time we met with him, he said he prayed, and had a overwhelming feeling that he had to read the entire Book of Mormon, and then decide for himself. It was super awesome!!!!!!!!! Wa!!!!!!!! So he came to a movie night activity we had, and then he read the Book of Mormon like the whole time!!!! Super cool :D 

     This last week was just as busy as I think it could get...... I love being busy!!!! yay!!!!! So... I totally forgot my Journal, so I can't say day by day.... but that's ok, I'll have to do it next week haha! :D Ya...... So..... this week's email is kind of short. sorry!!! But I'll be better next week haha, just know, that all is going well here in the world of Taiwan!!!!!!! Love it :D Stay cool, and I love you all!!!!!

CTR, (義)

Elder Dawson (陶長老) 

Taiwan March 23, 2014

Well hello everyone!!!!!
A Week of Miracles

      And hello family, having fun in Hawaii I see ;) That's so awesome!!!!!!! It 

      I'm glad to hear that the ward there is so awesome!!!!!!! I'm super excited to get all the stuff, and don't worry, I've only had like 2 steam buns since I've been in Taiwan haha ;) Hope you're all having fun!!!!!! I'm glad you got all the pictures from sister Chen :D 


      So this week in Taiwan was super fun!!!!!!!!! We got 7 new investigators, and they're all super cool and super willing to learn!!!!!! This week we tried really hard to do all that we could to hit the mission standards, and to work our hardest, and be the most obedient we could, and we have seen the Lord bless us in all that we do, and it's been so amazing!!!!!! This week truly has been a week of miracles :D 

Monday: Decided to really start learning Chinese Characters, and I know about 400 right now, so yay!!!! :D Played ping pong, got a hair cut, went caroling, and then went tracting :D 

Tuesday: Super inspirational day!!!! The whole day was in Jia Yi at a zone conference, and it was so cool!!!! We spent the whole day learning about mission standards, new rule book, morning time studies, and then to end it, President Blickenstaff teaching us about the doctrine of Christ. It was so cool!!!!! ah!!!!!!! Then we met with a family that made me realize how important social skills are.... hm.. Better get those. haha ;) 

Wednesday: This day was super hard work, and super fun!!!! A big highlight is I became an assassin of mosquitoes. So it was English Class, and for some reason, our Chapel was completely infested with Mosquitoes. Like, They were seriously everywhere!!! So me and Elder Gummow ran home and grabbed my mosquito tennis Racket killer, and I went to work! I probably killed over 200 mosquitoes that day. No joke. it took me a half an hour, but I got them haha. Super fun :D 

Thursday: We decided to change to becoming more obedient and trying harder today. It was super cool, and we learned the importance of asking inspired questions when trying to help people :D 

Friday: I went on an Exchange with our zone leaders in Jia Yi!!! I went up there for the day, and it was super cool and super fun!!!!! We Taught a lot of people, sang like everywhere we went, and then got to know the zone leaders :D Then taught a completely crazy person, but that's ok, no worries :D 

Saturday: Exchanged back to Dou Liu, and went out to our secondary area of Ci Tong, and had some fun finding people out there!! :D Then Elder gummow did a baptismal interview for a sister that the other Elders were teaching :D 

Sunday: The complete miracle day!!!! So we were 6 lessons away from hitting the mission standard for lessons, and we were kind of sad. So we prayed for miracles, and it totally happened!!!! We got six lessons just on sunday, and 4 new investigators!!!!!!! wa!!!!!! And, to top it all off, some members here gave me a suit, and 3 pairs of pants!!!! wa!!!!!! They completely love me haha :D And, I got to meet one of the Chinese people that has a video made of them in the Mormon Messages :D It was an AMAZING day!!!!! Love it :D 

So yes, that was the week, and I loved it!I hope you enjoy reading it :D I can't wait to see what happens this week, and I can't wait to hear more from all of you :D I love you all so much!!!!!!!!! And Have a fantastic week!!!!!!! 

CTR, (義)

Elder Dawson (陶長老) 



Taiwan March 16, 2014

And it Was Fire and Ice in the Land of Taiwan
 The Work here in Taiwan is so awesome!!!!!! Loving it, and just always keeping going, and working hard!!!! I've noticed when I sleep at nights now, I don't move at all. I just lay there like a rock haha. I'm so tired all the time, but I guess that's a good thing :D 

So that's so awesome about the baptism over there!!!!!! Tell her I say congratulations, and that I think it's so awesome :D Wa! Baptism is so awesome!!!!! During a baptism, the spirit is stronger than most other times in your life, and it's an amazing thing to be able to be a part of something like that :D I'll have to show you one of the Tracts we use when contacting people, it's all about baptism :D Oh and if you want you can send the medicine haha, that would be easier than having to go to a doctor here and only partially understand what they are saying haha :D 

WA!!!!!!!!!!! Next time anyone see's Andrew Robinson, can you just give him a hug for me!? Gosh I love that kid haha :D And that sounds super awesome they're all going on a mission!!!!!! Tell them I wish them luck, and I'm excited to hear where they go!!! And if they felt the need to write me a little email tell them feel free to haha ;) 

Dad.... did you find the Puffer fish??? This is very Important. Hahaha, Just kidding ;) Oh and that Sister Chen Gave me an adorable owl thing with my name on it! I'll send a picture to you :D 

So dad, sounds like you're having a party flying around the world!!!!!!!!!! And holy cow, since when were you all going to Hawaii?? That sounds so much fun!!!!!!!! Have a fun time for me, I know it'll be hard without me there, but please, try ;) hahaha, just kidding :D 

Thank you so much everyone for sending me stuff, and for sharing spiritual insights, and for sharing how your says were :D I love hearing from you all!!!! And because of that, I will share about my week so you can hear about me too haha :D 

Monday: So we ate lunch with sister Chen and her two kids :D And then I spent money. oh ya, I should probably let you know when I pull money out of my account huh? Well last week I totally pulled money out haha :D There you go haha :D So other than that we met with a slightly.... off.... less active, who had us feel his head haha. Anyways, super cool, and I'm starting to read Jesus the Christ!!!!! Gotta finish it :D 

Tuesday: Had a super spiritual meeting on helping this area become a stake :D Then had a Family home Evening with a family. yay :D 

Wednesday: Had a great English class!!!!! Score!!!!!!!!! Then I saw my old companion Elder Yeh (he's already been released as a missionary) and it was super weird!!!!! Ah!!!!!

Thursday: So I played my violin at a traditional Taiwanese Funeral, and it went super good :D The funeral was a little weird, but that's ok, I just didn't understand anything, because it was all in Taiwanese haha :D Oh and then a member here got his mission call, and he's going to Edmonton Canada, the same area as one of my MTC companions!!! So those two might be companions in the future!!!! Super cool :D 

Friday: Had some good food...... good meetings.... sang some songs.... and ya.... worked. Amen. 

Saturday: our investigators are awesome!!! yay!!! It makes me happy :D and Some lady from New Zealand walked up to us and said "I really appreciate what you two are doing here, so here, treat yourselves to something nice" then handed us a 100 kuai bill, and walked away haha. Awesome :D Then we gave a guy and his 4 girlfriends a tour of the chapel, and then went to a former Bishops house for dinner :D 

Sunday: Very good, and I was reminded of the fact that help is always there when you need it :D We are never alone, because the Lord is always willing to help us :D We also went to our farthest away secondary area called Xi Luo, rode bikes for an hour and a half, and had dinner their :D yay :D 

So ya, that was the week!!!!! I want you all to remember I love you, and I'm praying for you all over here in Taiwan, and I hope you all have an amazing week!!!!! 

CTR, (義)

Elder Dawson (陶長老) 

Me and Elder Gummow