Tuesday, May 26, 2015

The Monday Report

Dear Mom,
I'm glad to hear from you again.  It's been years.  It feels like my family has given up on me.   I'm glad you still care.   I wish you guys would write me more.  There are five of you, so if if you guys had days that you wrote me I would love to hear from all of you i.e. (Mom Monday, Ryan Tuesday,Ashton Wednesday, Colin Thursday, Dad Friday). Your emails really brighten my week.  
A bird's-eye view of Allentown, PA

Now that the rebuking is over, I had a great week.  We have had a lot of great lessons this week and the two families we have, are both progressing.  The Adhikari kids are bounce-off-the-wall-crazy.  It's hard to teach them, but their baptism will be on the 31st.  The other family are the Mendozas.  They have baptismal dates for June 7th.  Sister Mendoza is doing great and so is her brother David, but he is starting to ask some weird questions.   I hope is isn't searching for anti-Mormon propaganda. Our last baptism is Benjamin Bonaparte, we are having ups and downs with him he is going through a hard time so he is hard to
contact sometimes, but all the lessons we have taught him have helped
him to make huge improvements in his life but because of scheduling
issues we will probably have to move his date back.

I have some things that I need and for the birthday.  First,  is a black tie.  Just a plain black tie and any others you might choose.  The second, is some music.  Ask Matt if he can get me a "quiet house" CD.  Don't worry it is mission appropriate and any other mission appropriate CD's you want to send.  And if you want to be rebellious, a booster-pack of magic cards would make my day.   
I'm going to also going to send some pictures like you asked hope you like them.

-Elder Dean
The Lehigh Valley is one of the worst places for allergies.  
Because there is so much plant gunk that can't leave.  
The side picture looks like the bundle has a face.


It's a bunch of flowers.  
They looked like sandbags blowing around in
the parking lot.

Self-entitled, "The Thug Life"


Monday, May 18, 2015

A Home Away From Home

May 18, 2015

The twin sized beds
Where the action takes place.
Dearest Mother, 
My week has had its ups and downs.  A lot of good things have happened.  This week we did great as missionaries, we met all the standards of excellence, and even exceeded a few.  I had "golden" retraining this Tuesday, where we drove to the mission office, and I got to see the people in my MTC district.  As I was talking to them they were telling me about their areas, some were also in the ghetto, but me and my companion were some of the most successful missionaries there, at least in numbers (I won't let my pride get the best me).  We have about seven baptisms scheduled.  My companion and I are very blessed in that manner.

There has also been some bad this week. The Spanish speaking Elders down the street got bed bugs so they needed to get their house fumigated.  They had to clean everything and they had to stay the night at our apartment (we made sure they were clean, I am not getting bedbugs!) One of the elders slept on the couch, the other shared a twin sized bed with my companion, one head at the foot of the bed the other's head was at the top.  They slept butt to butt.   Just so you know I barely fit on my bed so I don't know how they slept at all that night. Things always go up and down in this mission.
The stairs to the outside?  

     Mom I'll bare my testimony to you that this is the true church.  That the gospel that I am preaching changes lives and I know that I am in Allentown for a reason and that is to help people to change their lives and to help them build families.   I know that you raised me well and that even though some times are rough, that it's just to polish me up and help me to be a better missionary.   I love you.


-Elder Dean
El Commode







  


May 18, 2015
Elder Dean & Elder Litton  May 18, 2015

Mom:  The following email was sent to me by a friend who returned from the mission my son is now serving in.  It is from my son's companion to my friend.  It is just a small portion of the letter, but my friend thought I needed to see it...and he was right!   

From: Elder Litton (via Brother Eyler)
. . .
I am Training Elder Dean.  He is a great kid and becoming a great missionary.  I'm not doing much for it either.  He already knew a lot and the Spirit is training him better then I ever could.  It is so much fun to be serving with him.
. . .
Be Good, Have Fun and Remember Who You Are!
Lots of Love,
Elder Litton

Elder Litton, Allentown

Sunday, May 17, 2015

A Little Good News

May 17, 2015

Mom: Here's a text I received tonight...

Happy Sunday Elder Dean's family!
Just wanted to send a quick note and picture of your missionary.  He is doing well here in Allentown in the Whitehall Ward. My husband and I are both from Utah, so it was fun to hear he is from Provo. 
I was grateful for him and his companion today, while we were waiting for my husband to get home they helped entertain my kids on the trampoline.  (I can assure you they were very careful and no one got hurt.) 

He also mentioned his birthday is coming up on the 31st.  Is there a special treat we could make to share with him on that day he would like? Well, we hope things are well for you and your family!  We will do our best to look after and support your son in his service while he is here. 

Take care.
Sister Smith

Mom:  It's always fun to hear about your Elder.  Thank you Sister Smith and Smith children for entertaining the missionaries.  Oh by the way, Elder Dean loves Granny B's sugar cookies with pink frosting!  Yum!  

The Day After


May 11, 2015

Nothing too new from yesterday.  We're playing darts because we can't
play board games.  I still love you.

-Elder Dean

Elder Dean with Elder Eckstrom at the Provo Temple

Elder Dean headed to Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission




Allentown, PA


Allentown, PA

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Mother's Day
May 10th, 2015

Mom writes:  Today I got to talk with Trevor over FaceTime.  He looked and sounded great though I still can't believe how grown up he looks.  When Colin asked to see his missionary tags my heartstrings were tugged.  I am so proud of my son for choosing to be obedient and heed the call to minister for the church.  During the conversation Trevor  mentioned that he and his companion were able to help 11 investigators at church today.  He also responded that there is still plenty of work to do.  Somewhere in the conversation he told us about his bout of food poisoning last Tuesday.  Apparently  he ate some leftovers in the fridge that he thought were only one week old, but come to find out were two weeks old. He described the incidence as the Turbo Lax scene from the movie Dumb and Dumber. Poor Trevor.  What was he thinking?  Truly I taught him better than that or so I thought.   Well I guess nothing breaks in a companionship like a trauma induced food poisoning episode.  

I am so grateful for Trevor and for this mission experience.  Every day I am trying to be a better Mom and person, because I know he is trying his hardest to be like our Savior.  He is an amazing man and I am so happy that he's my son.    Happy Mother's Day indeed!     

Monday, May 4, 2015

May 4th, 2015

Elder Dean writes:  The first area of my mission is Allentown, Pennsylvania it's north of Philadelphia, but it's a cool area. The area is a bit ghetto-ish (ok I'm in the ghetto, but not the projects so I'll be ok), but I come home tired every night so that is good.   I live in a row home on the second floor with my companion Elder Litton.  He is a good guy.  He is a little quiet like me, but we get along just fine.   He's from central California, he kind of reminds me of Ian Frandsen if that helps.  There are no bikes in the Philadelphia mission only cars and walking. We cover a family ward and the YSA or young single adult wards, so we normally use the car. We have only had a few lessons, but I learned a lot in the MTC.  I think I contribute to the conversation enough, as only a new missionary can. I never thought I was a person who ate a lot till I came here. I'm always hungry, but I'm going to get some things to remedy that situation today. For P day two other companionship's have come over and we are having a gathering of sorts.   

There is definitely a lot of work to do out here for the Lord.  Teen pregnancy is rampant out here.  The usual family out here consists of a girl and her boyfriend and their kids, until the boyfriend leaves her and she becomes a single mom.  Another cool thing about my mission is that I get an iPad.  We use them as the area book,  I can read your mail any day of week, but I can only write back on Monday which is my prep day.   I love you guys and I pray for you every night and I know that Heavenly Father loves you also.   If you write on Monday's if I'm not busy I will try to answer any questions you might have I love you.


-Elder Dean
P.S. Get Matt to write me, I've got some stories for his ears only
P.P.S My mailing address is 510 North 8th Street, Allentown, PA 18102 and my email is trevor.dean@myldsmail.net