Nov 13 - Letter Home

11-13-13

Dear Family,

I’m so sorry I didn’t get more time to email yesterday. We’ve been pretty busy, as you can tell!  So I’ll explain what we’ve been doing in a little more detail.

Tuesday the 5^th

I wasn’t feeling the best, so I took some Airborne! Which really helped! (even though it tastes *bleh*) haha!

We came up with the idea to go to parks and play Christmas music!  I’ll probably play the cello and Elder F will either play alongside me (I would teach him) or he will talk to those who pass by to listen.  We have a few ward members who have cellos that we might ask to borrow!

Wednesday the 6^th

It wasn’t too eventful.  Elder G went with Pres Riggs to the Temple for the last time before he leaves.  That poor kid.  He doesn’t want to leave.  I don’t blame him.

Thursday the 7^th

We had something called “return & Report”.  Its where all the trainers & trainees get together so that President Riggs can give us advice.  At first I was nervous, but it turned out to be OK!

Friday the 8^th

I got some more sheet music today!  It is pretty awesome that we are allowed to do that! I’ve already got “If you could Hie to Kolob” mastered.  It’s a beautiful arrangement though.

Saturday the 9^th

So in the middle of the night, I got the worst charley horse cramp in my right leg.  I was limping the whole day.  We played soccer with JS though!  (and all of his friends- lds and non-members).  It always makes me miss Dawson!  Love you bro!

*PS JS will probably be playing for REAL Salt Lake soon.  He just needs surgery on his ACL.  By the way, is there a time he could stay at the cabin in Jan or Feb?  His is such a cool guy and I’d love for you guys to meet him when he goes to BYU.  He leaves over there in January I believe!

Saturday we helped Sister B move.  At the end they surprised us with Target giftcards.  We accepted them thinking they were like $10 each.  We ended up finding out that they each had $50 on them….In total they gave us $200. Wow!!

Sunday the 10^th

We had the primary program.  Sarah attended, which was awesome.  It wento over all the basics, which I believe, was exactly what she needed!

After church we were biking around.  I wasn’t feeling too hot (I felt kinda sick) but I didn’t say anything to Elder F.  Apparently, I was pale (more than usual) so he pulled over and gave me a blessing.  I immediately felt better.  Elder F said that the color immediately returned to my face as well!  I was kinda cool!

We went biking more and Elder F blew his back tire.  We got a ride from a nearby member, which was nice, cause we were about 5 miles away from home!

Monday the 11^th

So because we had Target gift cards we needed a way to get to Target (It’s not in our Area).  So we asked the Sisters if we could borrow their car.  They let us use it so we ended up buying them Swedish Fish Hershey “hugs” and sour patch kids. (So I gave hugs to girls in my mission…Just like Dawson gives “kisses” to girls back home) J

I got magic cards!  (Yes daws, I got the theros set).  I taught Elder F how to play and he loves it.

Elder F got clothes and extras like that.  He forgot to buy a tube.  So I later a member took us back (and we ended up hitting Bambi)

Tuesday the 12^th

I emailed you.  It was nice, even though it was brief.

We did service for a few hours for a guy named bro G.  His house caught on fire and a propane tank blew up with him next to it.  He will be Okay but we helped around his house.

We also ate at the S Family home. They threw a “party” for Elder G since he leaves tomorrow.

Wednesday the 13^th

We helped a part member family move.  They gave us new beds (full-size, literally brand new!) and a new table.  It was really awesome!

We got to use Facebook Today!  So you might notice that my page, pictures and posts are going to be different.  There’s quite a few restrictions we have but we get to get on for an hour each day!  It’s really neat!

So a few thoughts:

Bishop Neilson is the Ward Mission Leader?!  Way to go!  I’m so excited!  In fact, I thought about how he would be a great member missionary the other day!

I got my package literally right after emailing.  It was perfect!  Thank you so much for the Harmonicas!  I’m excited for the Life of Christ!  I’m just nervous about the props and getting everything together.

I love you all so much!  Thank you for supporting me out here!  I can’t wait to tell you more experiences that I’ve had!

Elder Dex Armstrong

The Bike Ride

November 18 - Email

Aw man, I've realized that every week is crazy! And I love it!

 

So I crashed again.... haha! But this time I only skinned my leg... and I may have ripped yet another one of my slacks. Oops... Haha it doesn't hurt, but I just find it funny. We were coming back from an appointment with a part-member family, and I rode my bike into our parking lot. I hit some rocks right as I braked, and the ground might have been wet. So it was like sliding into first base! Haha I probably would be more scratched up, but I was thankfully wearing my thermals. Thank you for sending them!

 

So yes, today is my two-month mark! Its pretty awesome! It hasn't felt that long!

 

Thank you so much for taking care of Kel! Funny thing is... I actually was going to email you today to buy her some flowers and give them to her.... So I guess my vibes are good enough that they reach across the nation!

 

My iPod works great! We use it as our alarm every morning, and I couldn't ask for more.

 

Poor Dawson (he had a mechanical baby over the weekend). I'm glad he now knows the importance/duties of a parent! Haha!

I'm actually okay on the cold weather gear! The Belmont Ridge Ward has really helped us missionaries out!

 

I have no idea on the dentistry. If anything got bad, we would go to one, but I think we are okay on the dentist (for now).

 

Christmas... I'll write you a letter on that one! Cause I have no idea!

 

Nothing on whether we can play Christmas music in the park idea yet... but we will find out!

 

Alright, so I'll explain in detail what goes on with Facebook!

As of November 12th, we now have access to facebook! We were trained in Zone Training how to use it, and the restrictions we have.

How We Use It:

We get on at the library for about an hour everyday. This will change when we get iPads in the middle of December(Looking like the 11th-ish, but i'm not sure).

We are allowed to have conversations with anyone as long as it pertains to the Gospel or fulfills our purpose as missionaries.

We post spiritual messages and can link them to mormon.org, lds.org, or any church website. (We are encouraged to do so).

We have asked members to get involved (anywhere and everywhere) by adding us as friends and liking or sharing our posts. When people "like" or "share" their friends can see it. It spreads the word/message pretty fast!

We can have blogs, so thats nice!

If we have discussions with a non-member, a member can join the chat with us to help explain the gospel better! This especially helps if the non-member knows the member!

 

Restrictions:

We had to hide all of our old photos, our books that we've read, shows that we've watched, previous statuses, etc.

We have to be careful with what we post. We cannot say "this is the official doctrine or standpoint of the church". (It just stops future problems from arising.

We can't post Preperation Day pictures. We have to be in proselyting/missionary attire.

 

But we are way excited!

 

All of our appointments canceled this last week so its been kinda slow. But we've visited a lot of members!

 

So as for transfers right befor Christmas, if someone does get transferred, it'll probably be Elder Falcòn. He's been in the area for awhile, and so usually the 'trainee' stays in the area. But we will see what the Lord has planned! I'd love to stay with Elder Falcòn at least until after Christmas (he's never seen snow fall). I love him, but I know the Lord knows what is the right thing for both of us.

 

I love you all so much! Thank you for all the support you give! I am grateful for this opportunity that I have to be out here. I've learned so much about my Savior and His Gospel. I know that it is true, without a doubt.

-Elder Dexton Armstrong

Nov 12 - Email Home

Yeah... We are getting iPads in a month so it'll really change when we can email!

But big news today! We are now using Facebook! So within a week you'll see me on my Facebook. Now I know you'll want to talk to me, which is fine, as long as its centered on missionary work. We aren't supposed to have casual conversations on Facebook unless its our emailing time. But we could have a three way chat between Elder F and I, you, and a less-active/non-member and it would count as a member present lesson! Its really cool!

So this last week has been crazy! You don't know how fast time is now flying. It literally feels like I got here a week ago and I've been here almost a whole transfer. In fact, next week I will have been out for two months! This work is amazing!

Last night was crazy though! So Elder F and I totally forgot about an appointment we had set the day before for 7:00Pm last night. So we got a call at 7:50 by that family. We told them that we had no way to get there (Elder F blew a tire on Sunday and they live a good 3 miles away) so they came and picked us up.Then they took us to target to get a new tire. On the way there we were going 45 and.... we hit a deer. Alright well I shouted "deer" so we dropped to about 25 and glanced its back legs. It left some deer hair in the hood, but the car was other wise fine, and we were as well! Haha good times!

S is doing better! She's actually starting to get it. She was at work the other day and she said that she just felt peaceful when she was confronted by a coworker. Its the little miracles that really count. Its seriously amazing.

About my dreams...Haha I actually gave Elder F that suggestion to keep a journal at the beginning of the transfer, and he's kept a dream journal as well!

And yep, we know all about comfortability out here. when you get comfortable, you get transfered, but we will see what the Lord has in store! I'll go where He wants me to go!

So this weeks email is shorter. I'll send home a letter when i get time. I'm sorry but hopefully I get everything to you soon!

I love you all, and I'm glad you are all doing so well!

-Elder Dex Armstrong

Nov 8 - Quick Email Info

Just to let you know that I won't be able to email on the 11th, so we will be emailing on the 12th instead!

Also, don't send any letters or packages Monday 11th -Thursday 14th because transfers are on the 14th. so I'll let you know next Friday if I got transferred or not!

love you all!

-Dex 

November 5 - Letter Home

My Family!

How’s it going? I'm doing alright.  Earlier today, I felt like throwing up.  I was pretty miserable, mom will be happy to know that I used Airborne!  I'm feeling better now!

I'm really glad you actually got my letter!  I was worried that I had forgotten to send it or that it got lost in the mail!  Thankfully it hadn't.

We actually played Dungeons & Dragons yesterday!  It was actually quite fun!  We all got pretty into it!  That surprised me, cause Elder K doesn't seem like the type who enjoys role-playing or nerdy games!  ha-ha!

The weather is getting chillier every day!  The leaves are also starting to loose their vibrant colors.  It's still gorgeous and I'm starting to need to layer everywhere I go, which is hard under my suit pants!

So my dreams are pretty awesome!   I really love that I get to have them!  Imagine being able to watch a movie every night!  That's what it is like for me.  I know you said (mom) that you know someone who has a few ways to get them to stop, but I really love them and I don't want to give them up.  I really think that it's a blessing to have dreams.  Sleep would be boring otherwise ;-P haha!

Some of my dreams are nightmare-ish but the majority actually are funny!  They actually have strengthened mine & Elder F's relationship!  We trust each other a lot.  I really hope that I don't have to say goodbye on the 14th which is transfers meeting. 

So yesterday I bought some of those uncrustables!  They actually had them at Giants! (the store) It made me really happy to see them, so I bought them!  I just barely ate one and it was extremely good.

How was daylight savings back home?  Here is really helped getting that extra hour of sleep!  My body still wakes up at 5 (which used to be 6) but I fall back asleep really easily.

So Elder F and I had a great idea!  We are going to ask President Riggs if we could practice Christmas [music] until Christmas time on a cello and/or a violin.  We would then go to parks and play them.  We could share our message with those who gathered around to listen!  We are pretty stoked!

So just curious, did the Xbox thing ever get figured out?  There's not much I can do, but I was curious.

Also, did Aunt Karen ever get the UVU stuff done?  I'm just looking out for my future! ;-)

Poor S (an investigator).  She's really struggling with her husband.  She just can't seem to forgive him and all she wants is someone to take care of her.  There’s not much Elder F and I can do except for praying and fasting, so that's what we do.

So you don't ever need to worry about food for me out here in Ashburn!  We get so much food, you'd be blown away. We just cleaned out our fridge full of week-old leftovers because our fridge was completely full.  It amazed me how much the members care for us missionaries!

I love you all so much!  I miss you guys but it's been a lot easier cause I'm getting lost in the work!  I love this area!  I love being on a mission!  I love my Heavenly Father so very much! 

This Church is true.  Never doubt that.  It is THE restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I love you all!

Elder Dex Armstrong

November 4 - Email Home

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! Thats so crazy! 19 years?!! You guys are way too young to be married for that long;).

So this week has been busy! But I swear I wrote you guys a letter..... I don't know what happened to it... maybe it got lost in the mail? Maybe the mailman has never picked it up? I really dont know. Kel didn't get hers either...:( Sorry guys. I did write...

So on Tuesday, I had my first official exchange! (Its pretty much a swap of missionaries and a sleep over). So Elder T is our District Leader, (his comps are Elder G and M) and he wanted to exchange Elder M for me. So I went to their area, and Elder M came to our area with Elder F. It was quite the adventure! I got to see what it was like to be in a tri-panionship! I went tracting with them, but we didn't have any success. But overall it was a good experience! I made German Pancakes for them in the morning to show my appreciation! At about 2 on Wednesday, I came back to Ashburn, which was nice!

We met with D on Wednesday night! He was doing really well! We talked about Joseph Smith, Eternal Marriage/Families, and the differences and similarities that we have with other religions! He wanted to feed us (we were forgotten by Sister S, who brought McD's later to us that night. She's so awesome! Haha) but we declined because we also had a meeting with S that night. So he gave us some of his Mahi Mahi (its kinda like a dolphin) to cook at home! He's such an awesome guy, I just wish he wasnt so busy with work.

We rushed over from D's to S's and were running about 10 minutes late. S never showed up, because of a miscommunication between S and Sister A (the lady who is good friends with S). So we just taught Sister A a spiritual message about Scripture Reading because of some concerns she's had. But It was good overall. We were just bummed about S.

Aw, I'm sorry about Sister Daughtery. She was awesome. She is a wonderful example of what we should all strive to be. She definitely will be on the right hand of God.

Man, Tayla passed her learners test? I'm kinda amazed.... not because she isn't smart... but because I've seen her drive.... Haha!!!!!!!!!!! Good job Tayla!

They don't get along? Man, I would have thought Pixie and Rudy would have made a great pair! But thats okay. How about Pixie and Truck? Do they get along?

I really loved all of the photos in dropbox. Tell Tayla that she should wear that Halloween outfit everyday of her life. She wont have any troubles with boys if she does. Haha!

So on Thursday we got the opportunity to watch two movies!!!!!! We watch Monsters University and Emperors New Groove!!!!!! I forgot how much I loved that show. You know you are a missionary when you watch a movie, and you make missionary analogies out of it (ex: "He just left his companion!" and "Hey that sounds like comp inventory!") haha. It was happening throughout both movies!

Since we didn't get to meet with S on Wednesday we ran past her house yesterday. We ended up talking to her for an hour and 20 minutes which was good! She hates being the leader of her house, she misses having a husband. We are doing our best though. We pray for her quite often.

So Elder C says hello! I was with him on Friday, and he says that you are the best trek grandparents ever! Just to let you know that he loves you!

So I've been playing Soccer every saturday! I'm super sore after, but it reminds me a lot about Dawson. I love that kid. I miss him! Love you bro!

My shoes are awesome! Haha they'll probably last my whole mission especially if I'm on bikes or in a car!!!!:D

I am happy. I've never been this joyful or this peaceful before. The last week has been amazing. I've loved it all. The week has flown by faster than ever. I just don't want it to end. I want my whole mission to be this way.

So Elder G goes home in a few weeks. I'm really gonna miss that guy. I really respect him and he's a great example for me. He goes home on the 15th.

I love you all so much! Thank you for all the support! Know that I pray about you every night and every day!

-Elder Dex Armstrong

Pictures! November 4, 2013

Elder Armstrong 

and his companion!

      

A pumpkin carving that was

           done before transfers

Elder Armstrong's district

"Sorry about the blurriness"

" I fell backwards off of Elder K cause he shifted and then they took the picture... 

so I made the best of it haha" 

The trees are changing colors!

"The colors are gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Every color is very vibrant! The Red trees just leave you in awe!"

A deer right outside his apartment

October 30, 2013- Letter Home & Alma Analogy

Dear Family,

Sorry it took me a couple of days to send this!  I have been pretty busy.  Monday night was good because we went out and visited a non-member family.  They have been friends with a lot of different LDS people and they just moved into our area a few weeks ago.  So we visit them from time to time.  Tuesday I went on exchanges with the District Leaders-Elder G & Elder T.  They are pretty neat guys!

Exchanges go over a 24-hour period. So I stayed the night and made German Pancakes for them in the morning!  They loved it!  It was really good.  We visited a few members and investigators while I was on exchanges.

One such "eternigator" (eternal investigator) was named "B".  Poor guy.  He's been in  a lot of back pain for his whole life.  So at 60, he doesn't do much.  He inherited $85,000 and he blew all of it on Redskin (the football team) fan stuff and on movies.  When you walk in to his apartment, all you see is movies & Redskin stuff.  He wears Redskin slippers & pj's , has like 14 Redskin blankets and about 400 movies.  It's kinda funny.  Lesson to be learned is all things in moderation.

I can't believe Tyler finally got his Visa! Thats awesome!

My rain gear is fine actually!  I'm more worried about winter because in our area, from what we know, there's no stores that would sell winter stuff.  I guess we will find out!

Good thing we got the shoulder bag over the backpack!  They made an announcement last week that all backpacks have to be gone by December 31st.  Which is fine because we won't have to carry much anyway, just ipads.

I have my bike water bottle and even if I run out, people always offer us something to drink. It's funny because whenever we visit the O family they say, "we know you don't drink beer, but would you like water or Gatorade?"  Haha! We find it pretty funny.

S is doing alright.  We didn't get to meet with her last Thursday and she didn't come to Church on Sunday because Church makes her feel terrible.  We have other single moms in our ward though, so we will introduce S to them!

Hardest thing?  Sleep, by a long shot.  Just getting up on time really sucks, especially since I get really wacko dreams and it exhausts me.  By the time I wake up I feel as if I ran a marathon.  I love it though.  Dreams are a gift and I wouldn't get rid of hem. 

As a companionship we focus on a lot of different things.  Generally if we have an investigator then we will study for that investigators needs.  We also focus on just the main points we need to improve on.  We do pretty well. 

We teach pretty much from our hearts.  Actually, I take that back.  We don't teach.  We just inform and explain to our investigators what the gospel is or what a specific principle is.  The one who does the teaching & testifying is the Spirit.  We would get nowhere without the Spirit.

Service is awesome!  It is THE best part of missionary work.  There is never enough of it.  Especially since the the "H" family moved.  They were our main source of service.  Since then, we've only done a few things here and there.

Just know that I really love all of you.  I pray for each of you every night & morning. 

This gospel is true! Never forget it!

love

Elder Dex Armstrong

PS I included an analogy I found in Chapter 43 of Alma!

Alma 43

Moroni & his armies = Us

Alma = The Spirit

The Lamanites = Satan

Lehi & his armies = Living the Gospel

At first, we understand where Satan will attack us (vs 18).

We prepare to meet him.  Satan understands that we are prepared in that area (vs 19)

So we need to pray to know where & how to be strengthened (vs 23 & 24)

We then protect our strong areas but mainly focus on the weaker parts (vs 25)

We need to give our all (vs 26)

We diligently live the Gospel (vs 35 & 36)

Satan will fight exceedingly well (vs 43)

We will probably get discouraged but we need to turn to the Lord and remember why we are are fighting (vs 48 & 49)

We will win the fight (vs 54)

When Satan tries to attack us in those areas again, something like this will happen (Alma 49:3-4, 8-9, 14-15). We can astonish Satan and he cannot win (49:23)

A few Pictures

 This is Dexton's companion Elder F and the other missionary Elder K

     Dextons companion is a great artist!

 Remember reading about "G" the bird?
Here is the a picture of the feathered friend.

 Dexton said that "this is the most important catalog in the world".  You can buy animals and have them sent to other areas of the world

It took me awhile to figure this picture out of the tree.  He titled it "weeping cherry and regular cherry tree".  If you look close at the bottom branch on the right it must be the weeping part grafted into the regular part.

                                                      

          

                                                              He titled this, 

                                                                          "yes, we had a shopping cart in our apartment"