*Apologies for the delayed post: After her Mother's Day conversation, Elder Dallas' mom was too busy smiling to get around to updating this blog*
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| Elder Dallas shows off his "garbage" mission phone. |
On Mother’s Day, we were so lucky to talk to Elder Dallas
online! There were a few hiccups at first: the technology elders forgot to
unlock FaceTime on the iPads. (Forgot?! On Mother’s Day?!) But we proceeded to
Plan B, and are happy to share all the answers to questions you didn’t know you
had about the Chicago West Mission.
Where does Elder Dallas live?
The Naperville apartment is one worth coveting; it’s in a
complex of a few hundred apartments. The Elders are on the first floor (convenient
for their bikes), and each tower has 7 floors. The apartment is fairly new and
very nice; there’s a fully equipped gym available for use, much to Elder D’s
delight. The elders live across the hall from a friendly guy named Mack and his
wife. He hasn’t had any discussions yet, but Mack joined the elders at church
on Mother’s Day!
What does Elder Dallas eat?
Cereal and PB&Js in the apartment. Every day. No
exceptions. “You can’t make a faster, cheaper meal. Plus, there's hardly any cleanup.”
The elders in the district do get pizza together every once
in a while, and Giardano’s continues to be the absolute favorite. Unlike his
area in Kankakee, Naperville does have some fast food establishments, but his
missionary budget prefers the PB&Js.
(See also, “What does Elder Dallas like about Chicago” below.)
The elders are invited for dinner at member homes about 3
times a week. He’s discovered a lot of new foods, and we’re happy to note he
likes most of them! (Jalapeños – yes! Catfish – still no!) A challenge for many member families here is that the husband usually works in the city and doesn’t get home
until past the missionary dinner hour, and the elders can’t go in a home unless
there’s a man 18 years or older. (Funny side note: a kind sister in the ward took pity on
the elders during a downpour. Because she was the only one home, they had to
get comfortable in her garage until the storm passed.)
As if you need to ask. He acquired yet another pair of D-Rose socks; this pair with a glow-in-the-dark logo.
How does Elder Dallas get around?
He and his companion are on bikes right now. Elder Dallas
has expressed concern many times he thinks he’s getting fat. When we questioned
how this was possible if he was working out every morning and riding bikes all
day, we learned that Naperville is supposedly the smallest mission area in the
world – less than a mile in any direction. We told him to start taking the long way to all his discussions. Plus a lap.
What does Elder Dallas like about the Chicago West mission?
1. Giordano’s pizza. Chicago dogs. And he has discovered a
love for Italian beef sandwiches at Portillo’s.
2. He really loves the people, and has especially fond memories
of his first area in Kankakee. He appreciates all the support from terrific
members.
What does Elder Dallas NOT like about the Chicago West
mission?
What was a huge plus going in is now a minus. The Chicago
West missionaries were part of the beta test for using iPads. Now that iPads
are an official program, and even though they've been using them for months, the Chicago missionaries have to go through the program
training with everybody else. Elder D is required to watch all the
instructional videos, like 20 minutes on “here’s how to add an appointment to the
calendar.” He really can’t wait for the training videos to be done.
Does Elder Dallas want to live in Chicago someday?
Probably not. Although he really, really loves it there, he learned that the property taxes are so high, many people pay more in taxes than they do on their mortgage. #GottaMakeHisFortuneFirst
What is Elder Dallas’ favorite missionary job?
He really loves being a trainer. He likes “breaking in the
new guy.” Plus, training companionships get some bonus study time and go to extra
training meetings, which he likes.
President Fenn told Dallas he was going to train another new
missionary this round of transfers, but Elder Dallas found out just the day
before that the elder he was to be paired with decided to leave the MTC and go home.
His new companion isn’t brand new, but just one transfer old, so that’s still
pretty good.
What has Elder Dallas learned?
How to talk to people! He can talk to pretty much anybody
now.
Does Elder Dallas know your friends in Naperville?
So far, not the names we’ve been sending to him. It turns
out there are 6 wards in Naperville. He only serves in the Naperville 1st
Ward.
Is Elder Dallas Chicago’s best missionary?
Probably. But we do know he’s the World’s Okayest Son.
Still have questions? Submit them directly to Elder Dallas
at danderson@myldsmail.net or
email them to his mother who is still smiling ear to ear from seeing him on
Mother’s Day.
Much love from ChiTown!
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