Workin' for the Weekend

And hello again!

It's been a good few days since the last time I was able to email: Anand came to church and had a good experience! We're going to try to put him back on date in about a week, he just has some personal things that he has to clear up first, but he still has the intent to be baptized. We haven't been able to get ahold of Diamond recently, so hopefully he's still doing okay. Most of the people we're teaching live in or near the ghettos, which is actually quite fun to serve near, because you meet some characters! Don't worry though, we had to be inside by 7:00 on the 4th of July, so safety wasn't a concern there.

We had a miracle happen on Friday: a less-active member called us and told us that he wants to start coming to church again and meeting with the missionaries. We saw him the next day, and he's a stud! He's super missionary minded, and has a really strong testimony for someone that hasn't been super active in the Church! He came to church on Sunday as well!

Also on Friday, I got to go back to Bourbonnais, because there was a YSA-aged man that got baptized that is thinking about giving the YSA a shot. It's tough for people in that area to come to the YSA ward, because it's about a 70 minute drive. It was fun to see some familiar faces, I saw Brother Anderson, the Beyers, and Bishop Freedlund.

Elder Campbell and I got matching t-shirts today at Dick's, so you can say the level of companionship unity is on point!

Talk to you again soon!

Love,
Elder Dallas Anderson
#HoodLife

What Even Is P-Day?!

Elder D, President and Sister Fenn

Hey everyone!

So if you're wondering why this email is coming in so late, I'm going to explain. I just want to clarify that I'm not breaking any rules sending this email this late in the week. Preparation Day will be next Monday like it usually is (at least that's what we expect). A little new information about my new area: I'm working with Elder Campbell, who's from Layton, and he's way chill, I love working with him! He went to school at the U before his mission studying computers, so at least one of us knows what they're doing with technology. Our apartment is in Woodridge, and there is one place in our area (it covers two stakes if you remember) where we can see the Chicago skyline, so that's pretty sweet!

It was an EXTREMELY crazy week last week. So transfers got all messed up because of bad weather in Chicago--one flight with new missionaries got in at 1:00 A.M. Tuesday morning (10 hours late), and the other didn't get in until 1:30 that afternoon (22 hours late). The whole transfer schedule got screwed up: usually, the new missionaries come in in the afternoon, and there is a 8-9 hour training session at the mission home, and the technology missionaries have plenty of time to get all of the iPads set up. With this transfer, we only had 3.5 hours to set up all of the iPads, and our presentation was cut out of the training session, so we didn't get to present any of the iPad restrictions and regulations. At the end of transfer day, there is a meeting for departing missionaries, which the tech elders are invited to attend. Since everything was running like 4 hours behind, the meeting started 4 hours late, and we didn't get home and get to bed until like 1:00 in the morning (which makes it tough for the following day, because we wake up at 5:45).

Friday was a mission conference on the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith; it was kind of a last hoorah for President and Sister Fenn before their departure on Monday (more on that later). President created a 87 slide Powerpoint presentation, so Elder Campbell and I went through and edited everything and made it look good for the final presentation. We actually got permission to stay up later than usual to help him the night before the conference. Now back to the actual conference: so we had lunch before the presentation, but President Fenn had an allergic reaction to a trace of nuts found in the sandwiches. He was debating whether or not to go to the hospital and abandon the slideshow, but he felt impressed like he needed to give the talk. Wow, was it a powerful one! It started off not too hot, you could tell that he was in serious pain and having major difficulties, but by the end, he was speaking with his regular vigor and power. It was really a testimony to me of how the Lord gives strength when it is needed most. The conference ended with us singing "Praise to the Man," and it was one of the most spiritual experiences I've ever had with a hymn. After the meeting, President gave me a hug (which is really special, because he doesn't give out hugs often--it's the only one I got on my mission) and told me that he loved me, which was pretty cool. I even got a photo with him and Sister Fenn!

Teaching-wise this week, we met with a young man named Anand, who's 17 years old, but one of the smartest kids I've met, especially when it comes to the gospel. He made a profound statement at one of the lessons where he's noticed that when he does what is right, it becomes easier and easier to do right, and the voice in his head telling him to do wrong goes away more, and vice versa. Really bright, intelligent kid. He's scheduled to be baptized on July 11th, but has some concerns with drugs, and he's on parole, so definitely keep him in your prayers. Also, we taught another young man named Diamond, who we put on date for August 1st. He's super cool, and he came to church on Sunday and had a really good experience. Funny side note about Diamond, he sounds EXACTLY like Chance The Rapper (Landon will get who I'm talking about). We had a drop lesson with a woman named Marcella, where we're going to give her some time off from the missionary lessons, because she's not really acting on the invitation to be baptized, even though she has been taught everything and feels that it is true. Besides that, we had a miracle with a man named Keith on Sunday--he doesn't have a working phone, and we stopped by, and as we were leaving, he came home and we set up a lesson with him. If we had have been there even a minute earlier, we would have missed him entirely, so that was pretty cool.

As far as technology goes, I'm making the adjustment into the position, and I'm starting to get the hang of a lot of the things we do. We get tons of phone calls and emails asking for help with the areabook app and different stuff like that. Just so you know, I might have to come home with glasses though, because the tech elder before me told me that the computers and iPads just ruined his eyes, and now he wears glasses. Hopefully that's not the case, but we'll see how it turns out!

On Monday, President Fenn had about two hours to sit down with President Griffin and give him as much information as possible about the mission. After that meeting, President and Sister Fenn were off (President is driving back to Utah in his new BMW), and President and Sister Griffin were in charge. It's pretty crazy, because President Griffin is actually taller than President Fenn, which is saying something, because President Fenn was 6'3" or so. President Griffin is probably 6'4"-6'5", which is pretty cool! We had a meeting where we got to know President and Sister Griffin today, and they're both great! President Griffin is from South Carolina and sounds a little bit like the coach from "The Blind Side." In the meeting, we had to each introduce ourselves and tell everyone a hobby or two that we had. I said that my hobby was writing jokes and posts for Twitter, LOL.

Now we come to the title of this letter: What even is P-Day!? "I don't know," I would respond. You see, since President Fenn left on Monday, Elder Campbell and I had to help him transfer every single file and personal information off of his computer to his personal iPad and hard drive, and everything from the mission iPhone to his personal iPhone, because we had to wipe the phone clean for President Griffin. We were in the office doing that all of Sunday night, all day Monday (except for the two appointments we had), and Tuesday morning as well.

President Fenn told us that we could do P-Day on Tuesday since we helped him all day Monday, but that didn't work, because we had to help set up everything for President Griffin. We went to the mission home and set up a brand new computer for him and installed all of the cables and accessories that he needs to make that work properly. Then we helped him set up his phone with all of the mission information. Besides that, we've had to send out the area email accounts for all of the missionaries in the mission, and we've been approving everyone for online proselyting through Facebook. That meant preparation day on Tuesday was gone. Wednesday, we had a lesson with Anand, a lesson with Marcella, and had to work in the office some more and accomplish more tasks (like compiling all of the Harvester documents President Fenn ever wrote into one single document), which saw a Wednesday P-Day go out the window. Then Thursday was the "Meet President and Sister Griffin meeting," followed by a lesson with Justin, followed by work in the office, followed by dinner with a member, topped off with institute, which was one of the greatest lessons that I've ever heard! So, after all of that chaos, I'm finally getting a chance to write home today, even though we don't get a full preparation day.

Anyways, I'm stoked that you got to see James this week, he's my man. Definitely tell him hi for me! You'll have to tell Carleigh hi for me when you see her next as well! That's pretty much it from me! I love you all back in the 801, and I
hope that life is treating you right!

Much love,
Elder Dallas Anderson
#RaiseTheCup

Called to the Geek Squad!

Elder Dallas and Elder Limary with the Boswells,
one of his favorite Naperville families.

So we had another awesome lesson with Scott this week, but because of family concerns, he wasn't able to come to church yesterday. He called us on Tuesday though and asked a question about 2 Nephi 32. He told us that he'd been reading for 3 hours! At our lesson on Friday, he told us that he'd read up to Moroni 7! Keep in mind, we gave him the Book of Mormon like 2 weeks ago, and he's just going to town!

We also taught Kathy, and the lesson with her went really well too, except a woman started telling us about how horrible the world we live in is, and how the standards of the world today are declining and how we're all just a bunch of hypocrites. It really killed the Spirit. Fortunately, it was after we had finished teaching the lesson, so it didn't interrupt our teaching at all. Hopefully that won't keep her from continuing to investigate the Church.

Also, Katherine came to church this week! Unfortunately, it was for the wrong reasons--she just came to support Elder Limary and me, at least that's what she said. The shootings in South Carolina really hindered any progress that we were making with her (since she doesn't believe in God), because she feels like God should protect His people if they are in His house, and if He doesn't protect them there, then He's not going to protect them anywhere else.

Here's the big news for the email though: we had transfer calls on Saturday, and President Fenn called me to be one of the Technology Specialists in the mission! Since our mission has iPads, this is a special position that two elders in the entire mission have. I'm super excited, because it will be a change of pace, and I can't wait to work with all of the iPads and learn a lot of new things, but I'm a little nervous, because it's a huge responsibility. 

To make you aware of some of the details of the position, we work in the Naperville YSA Ward, which covers two whole stakes (pretty much half of the mission). Soooo, I'll probably get super fat now, because no more bikes, just lots of driving. Anyways, we work in the office several days a week, monitoring all of the iPads in the mission, creating videos and Powerpoints for mission and zone conferences, doing tech stuff for President Fenn (and soon to be President Griffin), all that fun stuff. It's a lot to take in, but I'm super excited, and can't wait to get the hang of it.

As a result of this new position, transfers started two days early--usually they start Tuesdays, but because I'm being trained for the position, I got to go with the Tech Elders and starting yesterday. I'll have to jump right into everything, because we present to the new missionaries that come in tomorrow, and we're helping President with a Powerpoint for the mission conference on Friday.

Thanks for all that you do! I love all of you guys back home, and can't wait to hear from you!

Much love from Chi-Town,

Elder Dallas Anderson
#RaiseTheCup

Farewell and Fond Memories from Elder Limary

We received this kind (and kind of hilarious!) note from Elder Limary, Dallas' most recent companion:

Hey sister Anderson! 

I just thought I would send you an email telling you what a hard working and impressive son you have! I really truly loved and enjoyed working with him. He has been my favorite companion thus far. 

Some funny things your son has said: He woke up in the middle of the night, sat up, and with a very concerned voice, asked me "Hey, does my bed spread match my sheets?!" Very confused I asked, "Are you talking to me?" He said "Yes! Does my bed spread match my sheets?!!" Wanting to go to bed I said, "Yeah, I think they match your sheets." And that must have been good enough.

Also one time he stepped on me while going to bathroom/getting a drink of water. Which is what he did every single night. 

Also, your son calls his clothing choice "GRAYSCALE!"

Sorry this note is so short. Thank you for supporting him on his mission!

#stayhungry #chiwest #keeppounding 

-elder limary

Won't be knocking any doors tonight... (Stanley Cup Game 6!)

It's going nuts here for hockey, it's so awesome! When the Hawks played on Saturday, we were out tracting, and seriously, pretty much every single house had the game on, nobody was out and about, everybody was too busy watching the game. When they scored, people came outside and some blew air horns, others were just shouting, and there were even a couple people who came out and lit fireworks, but then everybody ran back inside so that they wouldn't miss any of the game. 

For the week, we taught Scott twice this week, teaching him the plan of salvation on Tuesday and the Gospel of Jesus Christ last night. The lesson last night went so well, the member we brought with us really connected with Scott and made him feel comfortable, which was a big deal because Scott says he doesn't open up to a lot of people. The hardest thing for him will be getting him to church, but hopefully after we get him some friends, he'll feel more comfortable. He said that he'd be baptize after he gains the trust of the members here in the area.

Besides Scott, we taught George this week, who still isn't making much progress, but is open to learning and is super nice and really funny. We did some more service for Katherine, who we met tracting about a month ago, working in her garden in the middle of the rain. We didn't get to have a lesson with Kathy, Mack, or Washina, so hopefully we'll be able to see them more in the future.

We're playing some good basketball at the church today, you know I'm reppin' the D-Rose jersey, and droppin' buckets! Besides that, it's been raining like crazy all day today, we've gotten several flash flood warnings on our phone. That's not going to be stopping the Hawks from winning tonight though!

Thanks for all you do, I enjoy getting all of your emails and letters! Keep it real, and GO HAWKS!!

Going to watch Game 6 (not really),

Elder Dallas Anderson

#GoHawks

Honk for the Hawks

It was an exciting week here in Naperville, topped with the excitement going around since the Hawks are playing for the Cup! You've never seen a group of people so excited for their team, it's literally a sea of red and black on gameday, EVERYBODY is wearing Hawks gear around. It's pretty cool, because pretty much all of the businesses around have a sign that supports the Hawks somehow. My favorite one says, "Honk for the Hawks! 3 to go!" BUT they change the number each time the Hawks win. It's like an ESPN Scorecenter app for missionaries, since we can't check scores. Some other examples include, "Keep calm and beat the Lightning," "Go Hawks!!!," and "On to the Cup!" Besides that, there are companies around that are promoting special sales since the Hawks made it to the Finals.

We had a new experience this week: on Wednesday, we had a priest from a ward in the Rockford Stake come out with us (following all of the mission rules) for three and a half days. His name was Michael, and he was 18 years old. He's got his mission call already to Croatia! It was a pretty great experience, we taught a few lessons (I'll get to those in a minute), did some tracting, and visited with a few members. The sad but funny story of the mini mission was that Michael crashed his bike and totaled one of our bikes...He was tough though, he got right up and kept going.

Now for lessons, we taught George this week about following the prophet. We didn't have a chance to teach Mack, but we saw Katherine multiple times and did some good service in her yard! She's super funny, she always teases Elder Limary, but we get some really good laughs out of it. On Thursday, we tracted into a man named Scott, who seems really interested. He let us right into his home and we taught him about the Restoration and the Book of Mormon; he was super intrigued! We also taught a woman named Kathy and her son Anthony, and they are great! They live in our apartment, we found them talking out in the parking lot.

The downside of the week was that we had five people solidly commit to coming to church yesterday, but we didn't have anyone show up, so that was too bad. Also, we set up two appointments with Shante this week, but she had things come up, so neither of those happened.

On the bright side, we helped a couple of members with some service, and we had great lessons with the former stake president and the former temple president last night! The members in this ward are so great!

I'm waiting for the Hawks contest entries to flood in, spread the word!! Hope to talk to you all soon!

Love,
Elder Dallas Anderson
#GoHawks

Elder D's Challenge: Hawks Contest

So I'll just jump right into the email this week, although it might be a little disappointing, because not a ton happened.

We had a lesson with George on Wednesday, and we taught him the law of chastity. Fortunately, he committed to keeping it, we were a little nervous (LOL, he's like 90 years old). But he had some trouble with keeping the word of wisdom, so we'll have to help him with that some more. That was the only lesson that we had this week in our area. On Friday, I went on exchanges with one of my zone leaders, Elder Pike, and we taught one of their investigators the Restoration and committed them to come to church. 

In our area, we weren't able to find any new investigators, nobody was really interested. Besides that, the people that we found last week weren't answering their phone calls and weren't home when we stopped by, so hopefully we'll have some better luck this next week. 

We've got a couple of service opportunities set up for this next week, including helping a member organize their garage and helping an investigator spread some mulch throughout their garden. We also get to water the plants again one more time this week, so we're excited to do that!

For preparation day today, we balled it up with five of the homies from the high school basketball squad today that were at the park. In the picture I'll attach of Elder Limary and me, you can see some of them in the background shooting some hoops. They were pretty good, but they talked a lot of jive. We actually beat them in a game to 15, with ya boi dropping a couple shots from deep. They were chill afterwords though, and we finna play again next week, at least that's what we hope. They best be bringing their A game.

Last off, I want to issue a challenge to all of my Twitter followers and general fans: since the Hawks are in the Stanley Cup Finals, I want you to send me tweets or emails telling me how you plan to cheer on the Chicago boys. I'll pick the best one or two and give you a S/O on Twitter. Just caption your message: "Hawks Contest." My email is danderson@myldsmail.net.

Well, I love you all back in the 801, and I pray for you guys all the time! Thanks for your love and your support, I'm always happy to answer your questions, and I'm grateful for all of the emails that I get. I hope to hear from you all soon!

Love,

Elder Dallas Anderson

#GoHawks

EDITOR'S NOTE: Elder D's photo of the "homies" didn't come through. We will update this post when he's able to send it again.