Dallin week 8

Hi Everybody, I can't wait for next week to get to talk to Dallin. I'm glad that he is so excited about heading out next week. I will get his new address on our blog as soon as I receive it. I spoke to his companions mother yesterday. She is soo nice. Elder Ofa is the oldest of 6 (he has 5 sisters). He and Dallin get along so well. I hope they are able to be companions again out in the field. We hope all is well with everyone. Enjoy Dallin's email...

Hey Everybody,

How is everything going down in North Carolina and Virginia? I hope you are all doing
well. I finally got my flight plans this week and I am leaving on Wednesday, April 9th at
5:00 in the morning. Actually our flight doesn't leave until about 8:30 but we have to be
up at the travel offices with all our stuff ready to go at 5:00 AM. It is almost a 2 hour
flight but with the time change it is basically only going be an hour. So that means that
by lunch time I will be probably already be out knocking on doors. I can't wait!

Anyways, Mom you were right about me being able to call you at the airport. I'm not sure
who else will be at home when I call but be expecting it between 6-8 AM my time. I can't
wait to talk to all. And about the phone card--if you have already sent me one let me
know as soon as you can b/c if not I can just buy one here at the book store and you
won't have to pay to send it.

Guess who I ran into this past week. Do you remember the Baxter's that were in our ward a
long long time ago? Well, when I was in the book store, I heard someone call my and when
I looked around to see who it was I didn't recognize him. He asked me if my first name
was Dallin and if I was from NC. Then I thought, "He looks really familiar."
Then it came to me...It was Zack! It was the craziest thing ever. He just came in this
past week and he is going to Argentina.

And just to let you know Elder Chris Rice flew out to Bulgaria this past Tuesday. I
talked to him before he left and he seemed really excited. By the way, what is the latest
news on Tyler?

I have one favor to ask of you...Elder Ofa really likes some of the songs on my ipod and
he was wondering if one of you could put together a CD for him and send it out before we
leave. If you could put "Come thou Fount" (EFY) and "I Know That My
Redeemer Lives" (from the He Lives CD) on the CD and just some other good EFY songs
that would be great. The first 2 are the ones that he really likes so if you have time to
make it just make sure you have those to on it. Thanks so much.

Well, that is all for now. Sorry I didn't have any really big exciting news. But just
wait...in a little over a week hopefully I'll have some great experiences to tell you all
about.

I love you all and pray for you always.

Love,

Elder Page

VA Trip

Dallin Week 7

Dear Family,

As usual, things are still going great here at the MTC. Thank you for the spanish hymn
books and my ipod. I got them last week and we are all getting good use out of both of
them.

I am glad to hear that the prom went well and that everyone had a fun time. And I'm
guessing that you all also had a great time up in VA this past weekend. I can't wait to
see all the pictures from both.

Well, let me just say that it is great that all of you are getting to spend so much time
with the missionaries! I know that they appreciate the support a lot. One thing that we
have talked about alot here is the importance of having members present when we teach and
so I know that by you going out with the missionaries it is really helping the work
progress. So thank you for your hard work. I've got to say that of all the things that
probably prepared for my mission it was going out with the missionaries. Not only did it
get me into help me get over a lot of my fears about sharing my testimonies with others
but it also just got me really excited to go out and have the oppurtunity to do it all
the time. So Matt and Zach, keep it up. I know it will help prepare you and you will
certainly be blessed for it also.

I want to say one thing especially to Tory...You are going to do an AWESOME job in that
talent show! I have to say, I don't think I would have had the courage to play the drums
in front of the entire stake youth group so you must be one brave young man...not to
mention the fact that you rock at the drums! Anyways, good luck with that. Let me know
how it goes okay. I can't wait to hear about it! And let me just say that if it has been
a little rough so far being in the young mens and having to be away from all of your
younger friends it'll be alright. I was pretty much the oldest of all my friends when I
turned 12 so I know how it feels. But don't worry, before you know it they will be right
in there with you--and like I said in your letter, you've got Dad, Matt, and Zach right
there with you!

In regards to the lessons and the language...they are both going pretty well. I feel
pretty comfortable teaching the first lesson in spanish but now we are on the learning
the second lesson. It is a little harder than the first lesson for a couple reasons. It
is a little longer and also the concepts are just a little more difficult to teach. We
are also trying to tie in the Word of Wisdom (La Palabra de Sabiduria) and baptism, so
like I said, it's a lot to cover. But no worries, I'll keep working hard and praying and
I know that the Lord will bless me with the abiblity to do and to learn the things
necessary to be able teach his gospel to the people in Anaheim. It is amazing what hard
work, faith, and the prayers of millions can do in the establishment of the Lord's gospel
here upon the earth. I know that it is His work. I know that it is "rolling forth to
all the nations of the earth and that no unhollowed hand can stop it." I know that
this church is true. I know that we have a heavenly father who loves us and who wants us
to be happy. And I know that because of that love he has provided us a way to return to
him and be together forever as families. I love you all and I am so grateful to be a part
of this wonderful family that we have.

Until next week...

Love,

Elder Page

Dallin Week 6

Hey Family,

I hope you are all doing great b/c I sure am! Mom, I got all of the emails you sent with
the pictures but I couldn't open them. I think they have a blocker on these computers or
something. So if you want to send me some pictures I guess you will just have to mail
them. Thanks for trying though. I can't wait to see the prom pictures!

Sorry not to say anything about it for so long but tell grandma that I did get her bread
and that it was delicious! Please give her a big thank you.

And thank you for my Saint Patrick's Day package. It was awesome. The healthier snacks
have been great to have and the tie you sent was pretty sweet! Thanks for always thinking
about me!

Oh yeah, and I forgot to tell you guys that I got the huge poster that you all made for
us. We have it hanging in our room over our desk. I'll take a picture so you can see you
masterpiece up on our wall.

Dad, thank you SOOOOO much for your books that you made! You don't know how long I have
been waiting to get those--I've been telling my companions all about it. My whole district
was pretty impressed with your work, I hope you don't mind that I showed everybody.
Anyways, I know how much work you put into making them and I just want you to know that it
was definetly worth every bit of sacrifice. I've been reading them alot the past few days
and I can't wait to read some more today during some of our freetime. One more
time...THANK YOU DAD!!! You are just too awesome!

Thanks also for sending my ipod. I haven't recieved it yet but I'm sure it will be here
pretty soon. And thank goodness. We are dying for some music!

News about this week...We got to hear from Sheri Dew last night which was a great
experience and we also taught our first lesson in spanish last week. It went pretty well.
Of course it can be a little shaky at times but overall it is going great. With a lot more
practice we will be able to sharpen it up a little bit. The tough part isn't really
teaching the principles (we can do that), it is trying to relate what we are teaching to
the investigator in a way that it can be applicable in his/her life. Like I said though,
it will just come with more time and practice...and the partnership of the spirit in our
teaching (Throught my short extent of teaching experience here during the past 6 weeks I
have come to an unwavering knowledge that teaching by the spirit is the only way that
truly works).

Lastly, I have a weird story for you and a favor to ask...Last night I had a dream about
Brother Anderson and I was just wondering if you could get his address to me somehow so
that I can write him and see how he's doing. Thanks.

Well, that's all for now. I hope I didn't forget anything. If I did I am sorry. Write me
back and let me know if I did so I can be sure to include it next week. I love you all
alot! Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Page

PROM

Letter from Dallin W/pictures

What a beautiful day! I can't wait until spring is offically here. Dallin received his first MTC haircut this week, Oh my the really chopped at it. He even worked on it himself to try to fix it. I'm not sure that that helped. Oh well it will grow out.

Dallin's mission pictures

Photobucket Album

Dallin week 5

Dear Family,
I don't know if you realize but I only have less than a month left before I will be flying
out to Anahiem. That is very scary in some ways but hopefully all of the excitement of
actually being able to be in the field will override any of my fears.
This past week was pretty huge for a lot of reasons. The first being that last Tuesday
(the night of the weekly MTC Devotional where we get to here from a general authority) we
were priviliged to hear from the one and only...Elder Jeffery R. Holland! He gave an
amazing talk and just like himself he was funny and laid back one minute and then the
next he was laying down the law in his firm voice (at one point while telling us
"never to go home with a regret" he hit the pulpet and almost broke the
microphone). Of course I have almos 3 pages of notes from his talk but I'll just share a
couple of my favorite things since I don't have forever...
"Live true to the prayers of the millions that are praying for you."
"Be the missionary that your Mother, Father, and brothers and sisters imagine you to
be."
"Stand as a witness of Jesus Christ, stand in defense of truth, defiently if
necessary, and always lovingly. Do not abandon Him! When things are rough and times are
tough, stay true! Plant your feet and fly the flag. Be defenders of the faith!"
I know that it is not quite the same feelings when are reading them than when you are
actually listening the a prohet of the Lord speak to you but just try to imagine Elder
Holland saying that. He bore such a powerful witness of this work and that it is
undeniably the Lords work (Moses 1:39). I know that what I am doing right now by serving a
mission is but a small service to repay that which the Lord has done for me. The blessings
in my life are endless and I am so grateful for them all. My love for my Savior Jesus
Christ is something that I can't explain. I know that He died for me and suffered for my
sins that through Him I may be forgiven and be made clean. I know that loves me and I know
that He loves each of us. His Atonement, both His suffering in Gethsemane and on the
cross, are an undeniable manifestation of His endless and unconditional love for each and
every one of us. I know that we have a prophet on the earth today, President Thomas S.
Monson. I know that he is mouthpiece by which the Christ leads His gospel. I know that
this is Christ's church and that the message that I carry is of His gospel. I'm grateful
carry that message and to bear the name of Jesus chist on my name tag. I pray I can always
be worthy of it.
En el nombre de Jesucristo amen.

Dallin's week 4 email

Dear Family,

Things are still going pretty good here. I can't believe that I am almost at the half way
mark! About 12 elders in our zone left this morning to go to Argentina--it's weird to
think that I will be the one leaving soon.
That is really cool about Zach's chemistry video. I can't wait to watch it when I get home
(and every other movie that you guys will probably make while I'm gone).
Anyways...Mom...so you say you details about the MTC huh.? Well, the days pretty much
blend together b/c they are all pretty much exactly the same. Once every week we go the
the TRC where we teach volunteers who are acting like an investigator. We get to practice
introducing ourselves and getting to know them in spanish and then we teach the lesson in
english. The first 2 weeks we taught the first lesson in english and last week and this
week we are teaching the 2nd lesson in english. Starting next week though, we are going to
be teaching all in spanish. Two weeks each of both lesson 1 and 2 again...just in spanish
this time. I'll let you know how it goes.
Another neat thing that we get to do here is working at the RC (Referral Center). We
basically go and take calls from people. We answer any questions they might have about the
church. We also take the calls for people that want to order a Book of Mormon or a Bible
or a church video. Every once in a while when the phones aren't that busy with people
calling, we make calls to people that have ordered something recently to make sure that
they recieved what they asked for. We even get to do live chats with people who have
questions also. The TRC is great but the RC is probably the best practice we have with
sharing the gospel in a real situation. It really helps to get us all over the fear of
talking to someone we don't know about the church. It is kind of funny b/c last week I
called a man from NJ to make sure that he recieved the copy of the Book of Mormon that he
ordered. He was an ex-Deacon and so he knew alot about the bible. We talked for over an
hour! I taught him about the Joseph Smith and told him the story of the First Vision and
talked about the Restoration mostly. It was a really neat experience. For matt and zach,
when you come to the MTC, the RC and the TRC are definetly something to look forward too.
That is all the really big news that I have. I hope you all have an amazing week! I'm
looking forward to talking again next week! I love you!

Love,
Elder Page

P.S. Someone sent me some choclate chip cookies this past week and I'm not sure how it was
but they were AMAZING. Anyways, the next time you want to send me some kind of food
package (although the sweet treats are great) if you could send me some healthier snacks
that would be perfect. I eat unhealthy enough in the cafeteria so it's better if my snacks
are a little healthier. I love you. Thanks.
(Goldfish, wheat thins, granola bars, etc.--you know what I like)
Don't feel like you have to send something...really...but if you want to, just keep it
healthy. Love you!

It's Thurday March 6th. yesterday was my birthday. Thank you to everyone who made that day special for me. I have a great family and many wonderful friends. Everyone is staying busy in this household. We seem to see each other in passing, but aleast we kiss and hug in those moments.