"Should I stay or should I go now?" -The Clash

Hey.... We have had a really strange week with a lot of ups and downs.  One of the ups is that we had the baptism of Xaymara Fajardo which was awesome.  I was able to baptize her.  In case I haven't said too much about her, she is the daughter of a less active family who was super interested in being baptized.  I will send pictures next week of the baptism.  She will be my 9th baptism out in the field (in case you are counting).  We are being very blessed.

We had a crazy encounter when one of our recent converts broke up with his girlfriend and sent us the epitome of suicide notes. We spent the next day hunting him down.  We found him at his job and talked to him there.  He has been very stressed recently, but we were able to talk him through it.

Also, transfer calls are this Friday so I will learn if I am staying in Allentown or moving to a new area... exciting!  I hope you guys are doing just as well as I am... going on cruises, riding jet skis and such.  I will make sure to send pictures next week.

-Elder Dean

Making Decisions

2015 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Zone Conference 

Hey!  It's time for the new weekly email (audience applause).  We have had a great week here in Allentown.  Elder Fernandes and I have been keeping ourselves busy.  We are having a baptism this Saturday for Xaymara Fajardo.  She is the daughter of a less active family who we are helping re-activate, so we are super exited and I will try to send pictures next week.

Companion News

Elder Fernandes and I are still working well together.  He is a cool companion and we are getting along great.  Here are some things you might not know about Elder Fernandes: he has Tourettes; he is Portuguese, Hawaiian, and Japanese; and he wants to be an aerial lineman (google it).

Elders Dean and Fernandes go to White Castle

White Castle, the home of the slider, is part of the true East Coast experience... one of the essential East Coast food chains. It is a disappointment.  Those are the only words I have to say.  But the tiny cheesesteak place attached to the Home Depot is the best steak in town. I am making a pact to never go to a chain on my mission again.  There is just too much good food I would be passing up to do so.

Making Decisions

This week I thought a lot about making decisions. I know if I hadn't

made the decision to put in my papers with you and dad that night when I sat on your laundry basket, I wouldn't be out here now.  There is a great talk by Henry B. Eyring in the 2007 April General Conference called "This Day".  It is about making decisions now.  Another is "Choose to Believe" By Elder L. Whitney in the 2015 April Conference.  I love you, I love dad and I love all three of my awesome siblings. I want to be an Eternal family...that is the decision I have made.

-Elder Dean

Let them eat...Cheesesteak

The First Philly Cheesesteak Report

August 3rd, 2014

OK real email while the bread bakes.   How are you mom?  Are you feeling better after your trip to Park City?  That sounds like a lot of fun.  Did you do anything fun up there? Also how is the family?   

The Cheesesteak was great and nothing too crazy has happened . This week has been pretty normal for me.  We're still doing work, trying to contact people and being missionaries. Elder Fernandez is six months out and I'm only three, so he is the senior companion.  

Excerpt from his letter to Grandma
Thanks for the letter. Rita's is really common shop on the East Coast I didn't know there was one in Provo, it's probably from all the missionaries.  It's a fun treat that we get sometimes on P-day.