September 28,2010

Hello

Hi this is elder Dickinson.

Umm, I see there are nice hobo spiders at home. Sweet. I like how you say you don’t think they are too poisonous. Haha.

To John and Sarah, thanks for writing all the time. Super funny too. Your letters have gone around my district and another. Funny kids at home. Haha.

Um, ok so today I went to the temple the last time, most likely till I come back. Cool though.

I leave next Monday, and I think I will be able to email that day, because I leave later in the day.

About emails- It’s really anyone, but supposed to be family. I think it will be the same when I am there.

‘

Oh just a note to throw out there, I got a letter from my roommate Derek's mom. She sent me a copy of one of his letters which was really cool. She wanted whoever was sending me mail, or whoever was putting my letters on Facebook (someone is doing that? nice) to email her, so she can forward them to you.

I meant to mail her back with some information, but I lost the address. So, if someone wants to deal with that, um, she’s Derek Clement's mom (or something). So maybe whoever is messing with my Facebook (if someone is), they might be able to help. Or if someone else has info. ok the end.

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Yep, so I have one week here left. Still don’t know how to speak Tagalog very good, but meh.

When I fly out, the branch prez. told us that there is no phone call policy, meaning I can call home if I want, or other places.

If you want me to call, I will be at the LA airport from (Pacific time) from 9pm to 1:20am. So that might be a good time for me to call.

Also I will be at the Taiwan airport from 6:10-9:30 am (Taiwan time, no idea).

So if you want me to call, someone is going to have to send me some phone numbers, if you could give them to mom. Also though, I think I am only going to be calling family, probably, so heads up.

If Heidi is going to show up while we are at the airport...which I don’t think is the best idea, I leave from MTC at 4:30pm, and leave the salt lake airport at 8pm. so, yah. I guess do what you want with that.

Well, learning a ton, and stuff, um I’ve got 14 minutes. I think I’ll save them for later.

Andy nice work, it looks like you rock at water polo or at least are getting spiddy powers from the spiders in your room.

Well until later today,

Elder Dickinson

September 20, 2010

Hello,

Umm I am rad.

Soo, I’ve got roommates now. I mean there are 4 of us now. The other two elders are pretty cool. It’s not good though, because he has been here for 4 days, and he tested me some words he knew, and I didn’t know them. huh. Ha ha. Oh well.

Mmm so remember last week I said I might be singing at conference? Well, I guess you aren’t supposed to count your chickens.. or something.. I forgot how it goes. Anyways, most of my district got a letter saying that they are invited to the choir... but I didn’t get one. Doe. Oh well, mostly it was a raffle to go, because I think there was about 350 spots, and about 1000 that applied. It was just a form that was filled out. I don’t care that much.. as I don’t really sing, but kinda stinks I am not going.

Ummmmm not a ton a stories to tell. Um, well I got one.

One day I went to class. Then I studied some stuff. Then I ate some food. The end.

Right, also I guess the people in my class thinks I’m really funny, when I fall asleep in class. Also they always laughing at stuff I say, which means they think I am super funny, or they think I am a retard. Prolly the latter. Could be both. It’s actually pretty funny sometimes. Either way, I have been saying all of the best jokes I know, like "why did the chicken cross the road" or "What’s big, blue, and looks like the sky". The one they like the most is "what is a pear like".

Well, to fight falling asleep in class (not that I am not getting enough sleep, but a lot of times its just I have no idea what’s going on, and then it gets quiet. Kinda like in school, how people fall asleep, pero, not even in English.) Anyways, to fight falling asleep in class, I drink lots of water now, and dump water on my head.

Umm right, I leave on the 4th Oct, or so. And sometime this week I get my travel info.

About that stick I got? I heard you had questions about it. Pretty much it’s a long staff, (prolly a leg off some old desk), with some tape on it, that gives ultimate power. I mean... nothing. I am also confused why I have a staff in my closet, but I will write my name on it and pass it on soon.

Oh mom, Don’t worry about sending me those shirts. I am already going to be chucking/sending home some stuff soon. Also, I am pretty sure, I won’t need a bottle of ketchup.

Ok, so this Tuesday, I get to go off campus, because my companion needs to go to the doctor, because he has leprosy. (well that’s what I tell him). Oh well.

I got a bunch of notes from home. That’s rad. I heard Andy is playing water polo, and Lucy is doing a little dance.

Ummm, Language isn’t too bad anymore, well, yeah. I get how it works mostly, but words are still weird to say, or remember. Most words have at least 5 syllables. Some have like 10. pananumpanatiya is faith, 7 syllables. Faith is much easier to say.

This week I teach the 2 lesson in Taglog. Which is actually going to be much harder then lesson 1, because there is so much more vocab. or at least vocab I don’t know.

Ummm well, umm, I am at the MTC still. Yep.

Elder Dickinson

September 13, 2010

ok well according to my countdown I am at 2% of my mission... but really its like 5%. 98 letters left.

um, well about the teaching in all taglogic, its still not 100%, but it’s a lot more. Lot of work to do left though. Actually, there is no way anyone could really finish getting ready here... I mean there’s a whole language to learn... and then they expect us to teach in it. yep. ok

ok this time I figure I’ll try to just tell you stuff that’s been happening here. I don’t think I have done that yet.

Ok so on Wednesday, ill have 2 new missionaries coming into our room. doe. oh well it will be good for me... I hope.

2 weeks ago I started playing soccer at gym (for tagalog. its tagaglog vs. Spanish). well pretty much I stink. well I did. now I just stink a little less. but... it’s really funny, because all I know how to do is run around, so I chase all of the good players a lot until they get lazy. Lately I started getting better at stealing it. And taking body shots. I feel good when after the game; I hear 3-4 people complaining that kept messing them up. yep I am rad.

ummmmmmm oh. I was dubbed with the stick of straight. apparently someone in our zone, had it given to him, and now I have it. It’s ... rad. I guess.

a couple nights ago I wasn’t feeling super good, so some guy was like, "hey, elder dickinson, take this pill. I told him no. but then he asked me again. so I did. ... that prolly wasn’t a good idea. but I swallowed it, which I haven’t done in a long time.

we (me and my companion) had an army man battle. that was rad. We even made a parachute, for guys.

I think there is a really good chance, the mtc choir will be singing at priesthood session. I’ll keep you posted.

um, got hair cut... (hmm my time went somewhere... got to cut it short)

why did I get multiple letters about getting hit/or shot in the face, from different people... what’s wrong with my face? I confused.

ummm john, that story was mega nasty. both of them. But I shared it and had people tell me similar stories about light blubs... not good.

well, g2g.

Ninja!

Elder Dickinson

also... peter... dont buy houses that are falling into the lake.

September 6, 2010

September 6, 2010

Hi, well going to try to answer a lot of those questions, I have some stuff already written up though.

Um, about the secret places, I have found some. The pillow room is important. We found it, but it’s locked, so lots of people are practicing their skills to open locked doors.... ha-ha that’s good. I have heard of some making it in though.

So now I am at 1% of my mission, 99 weeks left. Or 4 weeks left here.

-about the army men... right after I wrote that I decided that it wasn’t the best idea. Oh well I got some now. I and my companion had a battle and we had my parachute with a drop ship attached. He is getting some blue ones sent in now I think.

-Sarah, I have been to the Bean museum. The same show too, we touched the live snake and turtle. I also used to be like Isaac and throw stuff down the vents.

Also, john smells.

-Zora- Moosta Zora!

I heard lots of people were sore from the run. That’s nice. That means they did it the best way. Basically don’t train, that much (comparably), and then run fast at the race. Nice.

I got a long list of stuff from things at home. That’s good.

Oh I saw a bunch of people this week.

I saw, sister Dalton (ma-ka-ell?) from Tigard. That was cool.

Um, also I saw another elder Dickinson that was whack. I didn’t make eye contact. Hopefully he isn’t a robot trying to take my identity. Or maybe I am the robot...

Um, I have seen Grace Fuller (from school) a couple times. She works here now.

I saw (Preston) Elder Judd (from school too.) We talked and he said there was another guy from our ward here going to the Philippines. I didn’t know that. When I asked for his name, he said he couldn’t think of it. So (this was at lunch). I looked around when I was eating and spotted him. I thought to myself "Hey, that guy is from my ward... the guy I don’t know his name" apparently Preston was right.

Um, Oh. I got a letter from my roommate back at school. Craig. He has been out for over 6 months now, which is crazy. But I guess he’s doing well, and getting his first transfer soon.

I am getting a hair cut soon... it’s hard to get on the list. I finally got on today. (Might be during class though... doe.)

Today is Labor Day, so no mail comes in. Most Mondays I get a bunch a mail, from sat/sun/mon... But not today. Plus since I only write mail on Monday, I won’t be able to reply to any of those, till next week. (I get to rad mail every day, but only write it on Mondays) if you get something from me that was written on another day then Monday, then you can tisk tisk me.

Also, if I don’t have your address, I can’t send you letters.

Cilla- thanks for the camera advice. I am thinking about taking more pictures (I haven’t taken many yet), I’ll send some home if I get them developed.

Dallin - so far being a missionary has been pretty fun. There’s lots of stuff I get to do.

Hi Eden!

Tanner- thank you for telling me I need to eat dinner! Ohhh right. Also that I can cut down trees, or sleep in them. Drawing letters is really cool!

Hi Carter!

Something that is pretty whack, is that I can hear the bell tower every 30 minutes here, (the one that was, about 100 yards from my apt. while I was at school.) Also, when I am at the temple, I can see the swkt (the tower), and the business building, and the building I took calc in, and took a computer science class.

Tammy- I hear Maddie likes Dora the explorer. Rad. Also her sweet drawing with Dora stickers is on my wall next to the poster Larry's kids drew.

Ok well, something kind of cool happened yesterday. It was Fast Sunday, and I had a testimony I said, I share.

During our district meeting today I wasn’t paying attention. Some thoughts came to mind, that was a personal spiritual experience on its own. But then I had a question, and during the last 5 minutes, the branch 1st counselor, took over (someone else was teaching), and pulled out a scripture that completely answered my question. Almost like he could read my mind. But I know that was actually the answer to my prayer, coming though him. Then I said, if the spirit is real, then there is a God, and Jesus Christ. And I know that Christ is our savior, and through him we can be cleaned of our sins. And then that what I am doing here really has a purpose, to help bring people to Christ. (Done)

Here is to members of the church or nonmembers:

I know that if you pray to God, you can receive answers to your prayers because he is our father in heaven. You can feel the answers through the sprit.

To pray:

You can open with addressing Heavenly Father or God.

Than thank Him for all the things you have received or things you are thankful for.

Then ask Him for things you need help with, or ask Him questions.

And close the prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

If someone has any questions about this, you can send me a letter. You don’t have to be a member to pray. I am and don’t know everything but I can try to help.

Thanks for the letters.

Luke/ Elder Dickinson

Hi,

Luke sent me a letter and wanted me to add a few things to his last letter as he ran out of time while E-mailing.

1st of all he wanted to end the letter with

"Extra extra, Heidi Smells"

He also said that he can hear the football game from where he studies. He can tell if there is a kick off or a touch down by the noise of the crowd. It sounded like we won.

He will be teaching in Tagalog this week.

In class they speak everything in Tagalog. He said its kind of hard, but possible.

He's joining the MTC Choir.

August 30, 2010

Hello po!

That’s the closest thing to an actual hello. (Hello is from English... the po is a respect marker)

Ok so, um. The new guys didn’t join our room, so it’s just us two still. Which is nice. ummm

I got some mail. More than a lot of people still, but less than last week (last week I got like 30 envelopes, this week I got 5)... but in one of the envelopes I got 20 pieces of paper... (Which I actually had to pay for, because of the weight), and a poster! That was rad.

Um, I tried to send some pictures home, I hope they got there.

About the amount of days on my mission left... I figured I’d start a countdown. Right now is a good time to start too. I got 100 weeks left, or 700 days. I also figured, I get about 10-12 hours of time (besides sleep and study) so I also have 7000 hours left of work to do. I am at 0% (each week will be 1 %)

Um, Thanks dad for the note. I’ll try to keep the language study going and my focus.

Hey, if Andy wants his swim suit, I think I know where it is. In my box of clothes I stored at home... there is some swim suits. Not sure if his (we have the same ones), but he can have any of mine.

Sherry had a baby? Oh yah.

Nice, skating sounds fun. I get to walk places. That’s almost as good.

About the hood to coast, I heard peter you were going the wrong way? For 1/2 mile?? That’s not what you are supposed to do. Forward not backwards, backwards not forward and swirling swirling to freedom.

Also, sleeping when you are running doesn’t work. I guess you guys figured that out too. Ha-ha

I heard you guys did well though. Like fast and stuff. Rad.

I did also hear, that you still have your Speedos, and ran in them. Good work. Making me proud.

To Spencer - It was your BIRTHDAY! Hurray! Happy birthday.

Heidi- you out in Provo now? Like down the street? Rad.

ummmm if someone wants to send me army men, that would be rad. um, or if Heidi got some and just hucked it over the mtc fence, that might also work.

-John/Sarah. Looks like things are pretty normal around there, john still has good tastes in presents, and Isaac still makes us proud.

-Miranda/Derek/Spencer/Lindsey/Cara- the poster you made and sent is super RAD! I am going to put it up on my wall.

Life’s pretty normal here (for mtc normal)... oh elder Holland spoke, that was pretty cool.

Um, about language, I figured I'd write a little bit to explain a little. Ok

Um, so this is kind of how it works.

I ate 3 potatoes at lunch

Ate I 3 potatoes at lunch

kain (ang)ako ng tatlo patatas sa tunghailan.

kumain ako ng tatlong patatas sa tunghailan.

Or

Who took the cookie from the cookie jar?

Who ang take (past tense conj.) ng cookie, sa cookie jar?

sino ang nagkanin ng galtetsa sa galtetsa na tano?

Also, I guess people mess this up a lot. Because of the verb conjunctions.

New missionaries often say, Christ killed the people, instead of the people killed Christ. (Scares the investigators I guess.)

(Kind of like: let’s eat grandpa. and let’s eat, grandpa)

kumain ako ng mulok (I ate the chicken)

kinain ako ng mulok (I was eaten by the chicken)

Anyways thought maybe that would be fun to look at.

Um, not a ton of stuff happens here, study, eat, study, gym, study, sleep. Something likes that. I think I am going to give my companion my last 5 minutes... because he didnt get to finish his.

Oh well I am 0% of mission done now. Thanks for the letters.

Elder Dickinson