Taiwan Jan 27, 2014

Well.....

Hello.... this is Elder Dawson..... I'm out here serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The world is awesome, and the book and sky are blue. 

     Better??? Hmm.... sounds like I'm trying to hard haha, ok, so this week was good!!! Really good!!!! Except for the fact that I forgot my journal, so I cant do a day by day update this week :( Sorry!!!! I'll bring it next week and tell the interesting things :D 

     So yes, I'm a little weird, and I'll tell ya, watch out for this letter, near the end I'm goin' full preaching mode, and there's nothing that can stop it haha ;) So ya, a little something to worry about, or get excited for, depending on who you are ;) So just a thought, the word truncky sounds like a disease. Ewww... I don't want it!!!! hahaha

      Dad, you travel the world alot.... I want to go with you!!! hahaha, have fun living the dream, making money, having fun with no children at home, you know, all the good stuff ;) Thank you so much for sharing that story dad!!!! I certainly hope that all the people here that don't accept our message, we can leave them with a good impression of missionaries, and plant that seed of faith for them. I hope to keep on working super hard, not get discouraged, and remember that I have awesome family and friends behind me supporting me!!! yay!!!! Thanks everyone!!! 

     So, speaking of miracles, we're probably going to have a baptism!!!! February 15th we have someone really solid that's going to get baptized!!! So I hope you can all pray for him!!! I don't really want to say his name here because it's going online, and he actually is american (kind of....) but ya, just pray for our investigator!!! Love you all, and I'll send pictures!!!! :D 

     Oh and dad, I love full preaching mode, so no worries ;) 

     So, on to this week, with what the heck happened in my life here in Taiwan haha!!!!! So I'll just be picking random events and sharing them I suppose, because I don't have my journal haha.... awkward..... oh wait, I'm not allowed to say awkward anymore!!! Ah!!! I mean.... talk about physical discomfort that's making me self conscious about myself!!! haha... ha.... ok its awkward. moving on. 

     So, we have these really cool less active brothers that are now active!!! They are so awesome, and they're taking us to Nan tou today!!!!!! Ok, so Elder Long's dad also went on a mission to Taiwan. And when he was in Taiwan, he left a letter to the people of Nan Tou, and it's still there!!! So we're going there today to go see it :D And these cool brothers are taking us there!!! It was so amazing to see the change in them, and how the spirit has changed and helped them. The Oldest one was working in China, and this is his story: So, before he went to China, his mom took him to the chapel to get a blessing from us. of course his mom didn't tell him, and when they got there, he wasn't super happy. Not really at all haha. However, we gave him a blessing of safety, and it was amazing, after he said he felt so much love, that he was willing to start reading the scriptures in China. He eventually quit that job so that he could come back to Taiwan, be close to his family, and go to church! And then there's his younger brother!!! So this is the younger brothers story: He's a busy college student, and we were just trying to find times to meet with him and eat and talk. His English is really good, so we bought a 3 column Book of Mormon for him (English, PinYin, Chinese) and gave it to him to use. He started reading it, and something happened! he started coming to church, coming to English class, setting up his own times to meet with us, and it was amazing!! And as of right now, they all come to church, have callings, and as a family, they read scriptures every night, and pray together. The way the spirit has touched them is amazing, and it just makes me remember that it doesn't matter what we do for people, all that matters is how they feel in the end. If they feel the spirit of not. The transformation that happened to this family is amazing, and it can happen to anyone!! Just like the family proclamation to the world says, a family based on the principles of the gospel will be a successful family that is strong! So that is that families story, and it gives me inspiration whenever I talk about them! Ah! love it!!!

     Wow. I just went full preacher mode and I didn't even notice it.... hm. 

     So to end here, I just wanted to say the biggest thing that I feel like I've learned this week. It has to do with leading by example, and love. So. Love. Love is like the biggest thing!!! If we don't love people, then whats the point in doing things for others? If there's no love for others, then whats the point in trying to share all these things?? It says "For god so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son...." It's love! The God who created this world did it all out of love! The first great commandment is "Thou Shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart." And the Second is "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself". as we read in 1 John 5:2, it says "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments." So really, when we express our love for God, we really just show that we love his children a ton. We keep his commandments so that we can show how much we care about him. Now as for the second great commandment, I feel like everyone focuses on the part that we're supposed to love others so much. As we just learned, we have to love others, yes, but to me, the biggest part was the fact that we need to love others like ourselves. That means that to start loving others, we first need to love ourselves. now this doesn't mean that we need to get all prideful or anything, it just means that if we really love others and love god, then we'll accept the fact that we were made in his image, and that we need to love ourselves. As part of that love for ourselves, comes the realization that we are imperfect, and so is everyone else! We need to know that we can forgive others for mistakes they make, and that we can forgive ourselves for mistakes we make. As part of this commandment to love others and forgive them, I believe it also includes that we must love ourselves and forgive ourselves. Once we begin to realize that we truly are Children of God, and that we have special talents to help everyone we come in contact with, then we will realize how fun the journey to become better is! Ok I'm starting to babble now, but really, It hit me so hard this week how important love is!!! Love, acceptance, and making ourselves better!!! Another big part that goes with it is acceptance for others!!! We share this gospel because we know it will help make people better! But that isn't to say that they're not already doing things that are making them better people! So we respect others, but we share because it has helped us. There. I hope that makes sense. Hope I didn't sounds too weird, and I hope I got my point across haha!!! 

     So there was full preacher mode, and It's fun!!! I hope that will help someone out there who is struggling, and I hope that we all can feel of the love others have for us :D I love you all, and I love my family!!!! Internet hug!!!!! ()  Love you all!!!! Have a fantastical week!!! 

CTR, (義)

Elder Dawson (陶長老) 

P.S. Photo time??? I think so!!! Bwhahahaa!!!!!!!!!! 

Taiwan January 2014

Well howdy,            Jan12,  2014

    Fine week, don't you say? I was thinking perhaps it was a bit

cold.... you know, over there in America haha ;) Everyone we meet on the

street is like "You're american?? wow, it's really cold over there right

now!!" bahaha, who needs to watch news when you can talk to people and hear

all the exaggerated stories :D It's great!!!! love it!! Halla!!!!!

    But really, lets get down to business, this week started out kind

of.... meh. But then became a great week!!!! yay great weeks!!!!!!

Basically because I remembered the fact that I'm out here to do work, and

not worry about what other people think of me :D Isn't that just an amazing

realization!? I do say so, it is my dear chap!!! :

    Family!! And love!!! Love is what brings us together today!!!! Tell

the family I say hi :D And I want to know if Karen is planning on coming to

Taiwan for vacation haha!!!! It would be fun to know :D Missionary

efforts.... fun/hard times :D

So...... How am I? hmm........ Well Good, and were teaching about 20

lessons a week now, so I"m super happy about that!!!!!!!!!! We have one

investigator with a super strong baptismal goal, so pray for him and for us

that we can help him!!!! Success wise.... well.... I feel super blessed,

because here in Dou Liu, me and Elder long have about 4 or 5 investigators,

and the other companion ships have none right now. I feel super blessed

that we have people to teach, and It makes me want to help them as much as

possible :D God has given me this responsibility to help them, and so that

will keep me going :D Mandarin is super good!!! I feel pretty ok with it :D

I mean obviously if we're talking about like muscular diseases then I don't

understand, but basic stuff I'm doing good :D Speaking it, I still sound

super funny haha, but that's ok, my accent will go away with time.....

hopefully.... :D

So!!!!! On to the week!!!!! So for each day, I'm trying to add in a funny

or spiritual story, but I just thought of this, so Next week I'll have one

for each day, but as for now, I'll just try to remember some :D

Monday: Hahha.... ha..... so dad.... this is how I started out my Journal

entry.... I think you'll enjoy it ;)  I said "So.... sometimes I think my

dad is weird, then I realize, I'm the same weird as him, and it's

awesome!!!" Bahahaha, Love you dad :D So last Monday we spent with one of

Elder Long's old investigator, who wanted to spend time and see him haha.

So we ate.... talked.... played ping pong.... and talked to him.... ya....

super fun!!! Funny story of this day is that The american's won in ping

pong, which overall is just ironic if you ask me haha :D

Tuesday: Suuuuuuuuuuuuuupppppppperrrrrrrr tired!!!!! Like, really tired

haha!!!!! We taught a ton of lessons, and had an amazing ZTM!!!!!!! I got

more language material, and we sprinted like 2 miles with 50 pounds of

books on our back haha!! Funny... but.... bruising on the shoulders haha.

Really fun story of the day has to do with one of our English

investigators! Last time we taught him about the Law of Chastity, and he

was like "Respect for the Church! that's awesome!!!" Then this time, he was

reviewing what the Law of Chastity prohibits, and somehow, he got in his

mind that "Flatulation" Was against it, and we were like oh no! You can

still fart. Promise. And he was like "Oh good, because if you couldn't, I

would never make it into the church!!" bahaha.... funny. awkward. love it.

Wednesday: English class day!!!! Gotta love English class, and this week

is English class party!! Super excited!!!! We're doing a Harry Potter

party, and we have wands we're giving everyone :D Super excited! Anyways,

last Wednesday was super good :D Met with a cool family :D And found

magnets, and then talked about extreme sports. yep.... story... umm.....

ya..... next day :D

Thursday: Wow.... so... tired... need... sleep.... You know I had a

realization, from a video we watched one day. I'm so tired. like every day.

But yet I feel so happy!!! Why is that??? who knows!!! First one to get the

answer will get a hug through the computer ;) Dad, Bryan, you can't play

because you already know the answer haha ;) Oh ya.... but this day, I will

not tell a lie, I wanted to kill Elder Long. But then we talked about it,

and it was all better :D We did a really cool spiritual share with a

candle. We lit the candle, and said it represented the light of Christ in

all of us. Then grabbed a cup which represented Satan, and put it over.

Satan will try to put out our light, but we always have the power to move

away from where he has power to put us out. Love it :D

Friday: We.... had a good day!!!!! I tried writing in my Journal in

Chinese and It went good!!!!! I want to try and write the scripture that I

wrote down here.... Ok, I'll try :D It's Mosiah 26:17, which says "你有福了,

因為你在人......." Ok I give up. Takes to long to type haha!!! I'll have to try

again later :D

Saturday: Everyone is treating us to dinner. Well, there goes my diet

haha :D That was the realization of the day haha!!!!

Sunday: It was a hard day. We had to experience a bit of heart ache as

someone we really care about and want to help doesn't want to talk to us,

and just wants to leave. It was hard, but we made things better :D

Yep... so that was the week!!!! And Now I'm sitting here babbling on....

and listening to some EFY music.... singing to myself... getting funny

looks.... ya all that good stuff :D I love you all at home, and don't

forget me!! That's a big no no!!! No forgetting Elder Danny Dawson, I still

live out here haha!!!! Love you all, and hope you have a great week :D Pray

for me!!!

CTR, (義)

Elder Dawson (陶長老)

P.S. Enjoy the Photos!!!

Family here who ate lunch with us :D

January 5  2014

Well harrow there everyone!!!!! 

     I hope you all had an amazing new years!!!!! Partied a lot..... drank sparkling cider.... partied.... without me..... *sniff* *sniff* bahaha, kidding, I'm having a party here :D 

     So, mission life is going really good!!!!!! Serving others, working hard, laughing, crying, and having the occasional mental breakdowns from Chinese haha! Yay!!!! New years day.... we didn't really do anything.... like at all haha!!! Just continue doing missionary work!! yay!!!!! Year of the horse..... good luck!!!!!!! So that young man and his mother that we were talking about last week are doing good!  His older brother just came back from China, so now its a happy family all together now!!! yay!!!! 

     So mom, sounds like you had an awesome new years!!!!!!! I will be praying for Miriam, and you all, and your family :D And Teaching Primary!!! Yay!!!! That's awesome!!! Good luck mom!!! Try not to spoil them too much ;) I'm super excited to have Chinese new year here!!!!!!! Although, it basically means that my diet is going out the window.... but hey, as of right now I'm at 205!!! yay!!!! That's an improvement haha :D 

Mom! Another Package! Ah! Super Expensive! ah!!! Haha, umm......just recipes to make stuff... a card.... smiles..... not too much candy haha (still trying to lose weight ;) and um..... pictures? I don't know! Ask bryan, he might know haha!!! :D 

Soooo.... This week!!!! Yay!!!!! Overall this week was pretty good :D A little hard at times, but overall pretty good!!! yay!!!! So.... 

Monday: I felt so good!!!!! It was a great day, and I felt super happy!!!! 

Tuesday: Had fun, and Met a really cool German family!!!!! They wanted to come and tour the Chapel, so were super excited!!!!! yay!!!! 

Wednesday: We literally contacted people like all day. Super tiring, but super worth it!! We found a lot of people to meet with, and basically, just hard work brings miracles :D 

Thursday: We met with a ton of less actives!!!! I love meeting with them, and getting to know who they are!! Super fun!!! yay!!!!! 

Friday: So..... got a little tired..... yes..... but that's ok, because I'm still having an amazing time being here!!!! yay!!!! and one of our investigators accepted a baptismal invite, and so now we're working with two people towards baptism!!! yay!!!! 

Saturday: I literally only wrote "Well, what a great day!! :)" Well.... what to do. 

Sunday: Super good!!! That mom I was talking about earlier, It's her birthday next week, so I'm making paper flowers for her! I'll send a picture when I'm done :D 

So to end, I would just love to say how amazing it is to have study times each morning :D Just having that time every morning to study the scriptures has helped so much in my life!!! It's something that I hope to keep doing my whole life :D I love you all!!!!! 

CTR, (義)

Elder Dawson (陶長老) 

Taiwan January 2014

Well hello all humans, platypuses (platypi?), and everyone else :D 

     Well hello!!!!!!! Wow!!!!!!! What a Week!!!!!!!!!! Got to Skype home!!!!!! Yay!!!! It made Elder Long a little bit trunky, but not me, sorry, still don't miss home enough to be trunky haha ;) But really, it was so amazing to be able to see everyone!!! You all look so good, and sound so good!!! Sorry the connection wasn't super amazing, but hey, I got to see you all :D And mom, I'm sorry for how long it took you to get home from St. Louis haha ;) hope you at least had fun a little!! :D And Tell Meilan and Meifong and Amah and Agong that I say hi!!!!! I'm learning Bo, Po, Mo, Fo right now, because they don't have roman pinyin here in Taiwan haha, so I'll be able to type simple things in Chinese back to you all!!!!!! like...... 我愛你們!!!!!!!!! Holy cow that took forever!!!! Ok, on to studying Bo, Po, Mo, Fo, even more haha!!! Hope you all have fun in San Jose!!! I'll be practicing my Chinese and Taiwanese so I can talk with you all when I get back :) Give everyone a hug for me when you're there!!! So.... It's freezing here. Legit. It's currently like 10 degree's Celsius haha, good thing I bought myself a Christmas present, a nice jacket! (yay!)

     So... Christmas Proselyting... oh you know, just joyously fun!!!!! I just want my family to know, I pray for you all everyday by name, and I hope that it help you find guidance in all the decisions you make, just as my mission is helping me learn how to make decisions that will help me in my life :D 

     So, Christmas season is a time of miracles!!!! To start, let me tell the story of a man named Bob. No his name is not really Bob, its some Chinese Characters that I don't want to take the time to type out haha :D However, to protect his privacy, I will just say his name is Bob :D So Bob is a less active here in Dou Liu, Who is awesome!!!! We started meeting with him and his mom, and just getting to know them, and miracles happened!!!! We just invited him to start reading the Book of Mormon again, and come to church with us, and it changed his life!! Before he met with us, he said he was sad, never hung out with friends, and just stayed at home studying. However, he said he would meet with us, and he felt happy! He started hanging out with friends more, started hanging out with his mom, and started coming to church! Yesterday in Church he was asked "what things bring you closer to christ?" His answer was "Hearing the Missionaries bear their testimonies". It touched my heart, to see this sad person who we met suddenly have a change, and start being happy! He told us his new years resolution is to read the Book of Mormon and Bible all the way through!!! He Is so amazing, and families relationship was restored, and he couldn't be happier!!! It's things like this that keep me going :D Seeing how following simple gospel principles can help people so much, it's amazing!!! :D 

     So, on to the week synopsis: 

Monday: Well I realized on this day that I have lost my sense of humor. what to do. who knows?? move on I suppose haha :D Then I bought my new jacket, and wrote cards for people! That was about it :D 

Tuesday:  All I wrote "Christmas Eve!!!!" (yes, correct number of Exclamation points) however, I repented, and the next day wrote "Wow. Pitiful last journal entry. I spit on it. *spit*" and then went on to talk about how for Christmas eve we had happy and sad!! We had to stop meeting with an investigator because he wasn't wanting to listen to what we had to say, but on the other hand we, went Christmas Caroling!!!! Yay!!!!! Right after Christmas caroling, my heart was just filled with joy, as a mother walked over to us (this is a mother who we've been working with to help her sons come back) and told us while she was crying "You two have touched my heart, never before have I met two better and nice missionaries!" Then she went on in some Chinese that I didn't understand haha, but the spirit can move people, and it kills me!!! In a good way :D 

Wednesday: Christmas!!!!!!!! opened presents from family, and got to skype!!!!! Yay!!!!!! Yep..... that was about Christmas :D 

Thursday: Super busy day!!!!!! So we called, Contacted people, had dinner with investigators, met a German Family, and then met with a family!!! We were riding so fast to get everywhere we needed, it was crazy!!! But so much got done, and so much was felt :D 

Friday: We went on Splits!! So I was with Elder Turner, and man it was fun and weird!!! Because we were both Junior companions, I got to be senior companion for a day!! Because we were working in my area :D and then we gave one of our investigators a baptismal goal, and he accepted!!!!!! It's so amazing, and I'm so excited to keep on helping him move towards that goal!!!!! 

Saturday: Back to normal, and back to working even harder!!! We met a man that like our Church, except for the fact we liked Jesus....hmmm.... odd... oh well, it was an amazing day!!! 

Sunday: Well.... Sundays are always.... thought provoking.... haha, and basically I had a smackdown, and had to rethink my life, and had a whole rethought process that was super.... unique haha! But it all helps me to be better, and all helps to make us better people!!! And that is the main point :D Becoming better people, and being happy!!! yay!!!!! 

So yes, that was my week :D Lots learned, and lots to do now :D I hope everyone's doing amazing at home, and don't forget me!!! I love you all, and now, it's time for photos :D 

CTR, 

Elder Dawson 

P.S. I can use dropbox now!!! Whatever that is haha 

 Special family  

Branch Party

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