tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77547201625476020362024-03-05T02:22:56.625-07:00Elder Dilling New York, New York North MissionCarson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-1843408762262351552012-09-21T09:26:00.001-06:002012-09-21T09:26:32.964-06:00Hogar Dulce HogarWell.. I'm officially home. (well I've been here since monday.) Just wanted to throw out a quick thanks to anyone who followed my blog/mission. It was definitely a worthwhile experience, and I wouldnt change it for the world. <br />
<br />
Thats about it though. Thanks Again, CarsonCarson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-54977797135733742172012-09-14T13:59:00.000-06:002012-09-14T13:59:32.595-06:00Coming home early!Yesterday we received an unexpected phone call from President Morgan, Elder Dilling's Mission President. He informed us that Elder Dilling's Visa expires Sept 18th and this was overlooked by Salt Lake Mission Headquarters. So this means Elder Dilling will be coming home on Monday Sept 17th! We are excited to welcome him back and be with him again!<br />
<br />
The Dilling FamilyCarson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-50649894595656263272012-09-14T13:46:00.001-06:002012-09-14T13:46:32.168-06:00Quite a Few Investigators
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yonkers is a pretty nice area, although I'll admit
I've never actually seen the front of my building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We always enter through the garage and then
get to our apartment from there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've
never even been into the courtyard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
life is going pretty good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is definitely
getting a little harder to focus on missionary work, but be assured that I'm
not letting that natural man win.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm
working very hard to stay focused on what I'm doing here, and things are going
quite well.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have quite a few investigators
right now that are all doing pretty good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This one family in particular is really awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just refer to them as Marta and family
because it's her kids, her brothers and sisters, and their kids and
husbands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All in all we generally have
about 8 people in that lesson every time we go to her house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was found by the sisters when one of their
members called them and said he wanted the missionaries to visit his sister
(who was having some health issues for which she has successfully been treated
and is now recovering).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we've been
teaching them a number of times, and they've come to church a few weeks which
is cool because it fills our chapel to capacity pretty much every time they
come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just a quick note about my chapel...it's
in a rented building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The church is
working on getting an actual building, but it hasn’t happened yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also it has many problems; the biggest one
being that every time it rains outside, it also starts to rain inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other day we went to the church and ended
up collecting enough water to almost entirely fill one of those big garbage
cans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was ridiculous!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So yeah, the church is working on that, and
I'll definitely get some pics of all that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyways, so we've been working with
them, and I definitely feel that they'll eventually get baptized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might take a little while, but I can
really feel of the generosity and desire to learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, about three weeks ago after one of our
lessons they made some food for us (and them) and then we were talking about
food and what we like and stuff, and I made a comment about a type of Mexican
food that I hadn't tried and wanted to try called Mole (Mole-eh).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the other day when we went by we
finished our lesson and they informed us that they had made us some Mole just
for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was way awesome, and I'm
definitely going to miss them when I leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But till then I plan on continuing helping them receive and understand
the gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But yeah, that’s about it for that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We've also got some other pretty cool
investigators who we're teaching, and the work here is going way good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for your other questions, I’m loving
driving again. It's one of my favorite things to do, not really sure why, but I
just really enjoy it (that, and listening to music).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But driving in Yonkers is definitely
different than driving in Peekskill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s
a ridiculous amount of parallel parking and it's just not fun when two people
pull up after and block you in a really tight space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that’s just how it is I guess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, and it's also not fun when you get robbed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As for the Broadway Play, it was SO
SICK!!!!!!!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went into it thinking
that it'd be a decent play, but it was just great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's pretty close to the movie if you've seen
it, but they both have their really cool parts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t really know what else to say though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really don’t have a future as a reviewer
because I can’t write a whole lot about it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was way awesome!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As for Hugh Hanneson I'll keep an eye
out for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've had a couple elders tell
me he says hi because his ward is in my mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've actually even served in his stake when I
was in Peekskill, but never have I actually met him for myself so that'll be
cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as for this whole preparing my
room deal, what are you doing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just
putting my stuff back inside it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also I
asked this a little while ago, but do you know what my topic will be for the
homecoming talk?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyways, that’s about all I've got
for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope you all have a wonderful
week and I'll talk to you next week which is also my very last P-Day in the
mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Possibly my last email....<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Much Love, Carson (Currently known as
Elder Dilling but who is actually named (refer to the beginning of
sentence)).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>haha<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Till next week...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-3540096766157682532012-09-10T19:46:00.000-06:002012-09-10T19:46:40.631-06:00A quick update
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(Email from Sept 5, 2012)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I'm doing
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really don’t have a whole lot to
update for this week, but I hope your week is good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also, I'm
going to go see a Broadway play today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not the one I really wanted to see, but we're going to “The Newsies”
which will be pretty awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hope all is
well in Canada with school starting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
have a great week.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love, Carson</span></div>
Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-71643961152242591932012-09-02T14:53:00.002-06:002012-09-02T14:53:40.367-06:00Just doing what the prophet asks
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">First off,
life continues to go well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'll admit
the news about my home coming talk on October 21st is unexpected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as you know I always get nervous about
talks, and as I read that I'm already a little nervous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, it'll be fine, but the feeling of
knowing I have to give a talk just won’t seem to leave me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter what the topic is, which is a good
question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is my topic going to
be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As for our
investigators, they're all progressing pretty well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We've still been finding a few news, and
meeting with our current investigators who for the most part are all pretty
solid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other day two of them
expressed their desire to be baptized, so that's really awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we just need to help them get prepared
for these things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for your question
about whether I'll have any before I leave, I'm pretty sure I will, but that's
never really been the most important thing for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course I want to baptize, and that's
pretty much my purpose as a missionary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I'm just trying my best to do what the prophet asks, and then if someone
happens to make that choice, it's just the icing on the cake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And that’s
sweet about the business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe with
that money you could purchase a new GPS for me when I get home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just kidding, but I had the rather
disappointing experience the other day of having my GPS stolen from our
car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I forgot to lock the car,
and within the 2 minutes that the locks close themselves someone came and stole
mine, and the churches GPS that wasn't working.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And then when we were coming home, I went to grab a piece of gum from a
pack I keep in the car and found out that he stole that too!!!!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn't believe it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was ridiculous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The worst part too is that all my stuff was
put away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only way to know I had a
GPS was the mount on the window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that
really stank up my day yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
I've filed a police report and maybe if God feels inclined to bless me so, I'll
get my GPS someday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But yeah, that was
something very unfortunate that took place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Amazingly though, he didn’t take my RayBans that were sitting on top of
the GPS in the armrest compartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
for that I'm very thankful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you can
now tell, Yonkers is a pretty ghetto place, with lots of crime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also this
morning we found a full bag of weed in the dryer we put our clothes in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was pretty funny, so we disposed of that,
but it gave us a good laugh.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not much has
happened aside from that though, so I hope that you all have a great week, and
enjoy your last days of summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I'll
try and find out what’s up with my arrival/leaving date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm surprised you don't know yet. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love you
all, Carson</span></div>
Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-79354897047687534012012-08-25T14:34:00.003-06:002012-08-25T14:34:57.365-06:00Consistently Happy and Content
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wow, that’s
quite the story with the wheel and stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It's a good thing you weren't driving on the freeway and had it fall
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hearing that reminds me of when I
was driving to Great Falls with Jaren and his sister and one of the tires
exploded!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily we still had a rim to
ride on until we came to a stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t
imagine losing the entire tire!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
could have been bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I'm glad you’re
all fine and that you all enjoyed your trip to Utah. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I've been
good here in Yonkers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had an amazing
week with a ton of new investigators (probably more than I've had in like 5
months combined) and also a bunch of people came to church…the main reason
being that we found this family who became news, and came to church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that’s pretty sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aside from
that we've just been trying to find people to teach and stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hardest part in that is finding areas of
denser Spanish concentration, but we're still working hard to find people and
help the ward members here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I didn’t
mention before, my companion has been here for 3 months (in the field) and is a
really hard worker and he just has probably one of the most sincere desires
I've seen to share the gospel and do missionary work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's great.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As for
specific events and stuff from this week, I’m drawing a complete blank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At times I feel like I could copy an email from
a previous week and it would pretty much encapsulate what I did this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mainly because I'm just out here doing more
or less the same thing everyday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wake
up, study, Find new people, teach said people and visit members, go to sleep,
and repeat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that doesn’t sound like
the most exciting thing on paper, but it is amazingly really fulfilling, and
you go home every day feeling very content.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sure, some days are tougher than others, but it's all great in the end,
and you feel happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sitting here
thinking and stuff, I can’t think of a specific time in my life where I've been
consistently this happy and content, which surprises me, seeing as I generally
see myself as a content happy person, or someone who doesn’t really get down
all that easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it's awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyways, I’m
back to the library computers, so I’ll try and get some pics to you soon, but
I'm not sure when exactly that will happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hope that all continues going fantastic for you, and that you all have
a great week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully no more wheels
threaten to fall off the van (maybe that’s a sign that instead of a renovation
you should buy a new family car).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
all you only have 2 kids living at home now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe it's time to get a nice SUV or crew cab truck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But yeah, that’s
about all I've got for this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
have any questions about my area next week, let me know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But till then, I still love you all and wish you
the best for this next week (I think it might even be the last week of summer
for Christina and Daniel).</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Love, Carson</span>Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-47848812557416504432012-08-25T14:32:00.002-06:002012-08-25T14:32:44.492-06:00Hello Yonkers
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(Email from Aug 15, 2012)</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, where
to begin?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything with Alex is going
great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He's still progressing and stuff
but couldn’t make it to church because he was visiting his cousin in the
hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as for Wanda we've been
struggling to get ahold of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We haven’t
been able to see her since our first visit, and I don't think I will ever see
her again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I'll get back to
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Summer has been treating me not
too bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone is away on holidays it
seems, but life is going well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for
who is more receptive, I think that would change more depending on who has been
in New York, and who hasn't.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people
who haven't been changed by the New York way of life are much more
receptive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This place really does change
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's hard to explain by email,
but the newer people are normally much more receptive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as for a specific group, pretty much
everyone is receptive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s as you said,
an "individual thing” although some are nicer than others, or reject us differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sounds like Dad’s
bike trip was pretty fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s one of
the things I really miss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really want
to go ride a bike, but I can’t here because of the rules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Traffic is pretty crazy, and I bet if we had
bikes they'd have a lot more missionaries getting injured.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And as for
Elder Hill’s family, they have your number and should call you soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I'll email Hill and remind him to send
his parents a reminder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the sounds of
things they are planning on meeting you at Sarah’s game in Orem.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I'll keep my
eye out for my updated VISA card in the mail, thanks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While on the subject of mail, don’t send
anymore stuff to Manhattan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been
transferred to a new Area!!!!!!! WOOO HOOOO!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well, I’m pretty excited because I really wanted to get a fourth area,
and I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm now serving in
Yonkers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kinda like the city but with a car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sweet eh?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And even better, I'm DRIVING!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>YEEHAW!! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s going to be
awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My new companion is Elder
Hurtado<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(pronounced Oortado).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He's from Mexico, from a state about 15 hrs
from the border, and he's way awesome!! He has two younger siblings a guy and
girl, and I'm super excited to be able to work with him for this last little
while!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elder Colton’s new companion is
awesome as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's none other than my
favorite missionary Elder Bartlett!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While I'm sad to be leaving him, I'm excited that Elder Bartlett is
taking my place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re gonna tear the
area up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so am I here in
Yonkers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have a lot to say about
my new area, but finally I have another large apartment, so that’s nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the last 14 months I've been living in
tiny apartments.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But yeah, as
for Sarah and the date she was asked out on, I don’t think she should turn it
down, just have fun and make the best of it, who knows maybe she could learn
Spanish from him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From my experience, Mexicans
are really funny, and awesome people, sometimes it just takes them a bit to
open up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I love them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They're one of my favorite peoples.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyways,
that’s about all I got for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for Broadway
shows, I'm not so sure I can get permission, but it's not really all that high
up on my priority list of things to do, so we'll see.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hope you all
have an amazing week and best of luck to Sarah in her games in Utah.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also I met a
member here who knows the Amaya family from the Elbow River Branch, so if you
ever meet Marisol Amaya tell her your son met Sis Caycho.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was kinda cool to meet her on Tuesday.</span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Much Love, Carson</span>Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-55174180790742476532012-08-07T20:29:00.000-06:002012-08-07T20:29:48.139-06:00Here's a short one...<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hey
everyone!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is gonna be a short email
today, since I really don't have much time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But everything is GREAT!!!! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alex
was finally able to make it to church, and he said he enjoyed it, and also
we've been able to find a couple more people to start teaching!! Finally!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But yeah, that’s
good to hear that everything is going well for you guys, and that you’re having
a good summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is this class that Mom
is planning on possibly teaching?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
that’s cool to hear about the school thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m still waiting to hear back about my other VISA which they're trying
to extend, so we'll see how that goes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As for the Olympics,
not much is happening where I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
on in all the bars, but I don't really hear much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How’s Canada doing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But yeah, that’s about all I’ve got time for
today.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love Carson</span></div>Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-24779094566297291372012-07-25T18:17:00.001-06:002012-07-25T18:17:57.871-06:00Touched by the Spirit<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I
don’t really have anything new to report.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once again Alex didn't make it to church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this time it was because he didn’t feel
comfortable going without a white shirt and tie, so we're gonna try and find
one for him for next week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also had a
cool experience with him on Monday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
had a set appt, and just before, he texted us telling us he had to run out to
do something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I was like Darn!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We won’t have time tomorrow (Tuesday) therefore
we must meet today, so we went by anyways, and he told us he only had about
half an hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had planned to watch
the long restoration movie with him, but obviously half and hour isn’t long
enough for that, so we chose to talk with him about what we discussed in District
Meeting earlier that day which was the Atonement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was good, and we could definitely feel the
spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But eventually the half hour ran
out and we wrapped up our lesson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
which point he asked, is that it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we
responded, well you only had a half hour right? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He thought for like 5 seconds and then said
well I can go later, so we kept on teaching and had a really great lesson with
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was really cool to see the
spirit touch him and see how his desire to listen and learn affected him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also I don’t
know if you remember the movie “Wanted”, the one with Angelina Jolie and the
curving bullets?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyways, a few weeks
ago I dodged the talk bullet, but unfortunately it curved around and still hit
me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spoke in church this past
Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My topic was Repentance, and I
focused more on the joy we receive through repentance, and used the story found
in Alma 36 of Alma's conversion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It went
well I guess. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And yeah,
aside from that we had a funny experience tracting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were knocking doors and this lady let us
in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elder Colton walked into the family
room first and went to greet the man sitting on the couch and as he reached his
arm out, the man turned his head and hawked a big loogy right onto the lap of a
girl sitting on the other couch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
so funny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turned out the guy has
Alzheimer's disease, so I kinda felt bad for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we spent the rest of the lesson somewhat
fearful of being spat on, because he supposedly does it quite often... So yeah,
that’s my funny experience for the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Aside from that I don't really have much to add.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have a great week, and I look forward to hearing
from you next week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love, Carson</span></div>Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-25030960826483500372012-07-24T19:32:00.001-06:002012-07-24T19:32:14.874-06:00Three weeks of updates<strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These posts are from the past three weeks (Elder Dilling's parents = Procrastinators):</span></strong><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">July 18, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I’m
glad you all enjoyed yourselves in Waterton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My week here was pretty good, definitely better than the last one. By
that I mean we've been able to teach more people, and our finding is having
more success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amazingly we had two
people invite us into their homes this week as we were knocking doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>THAT NEVER HAPPENS!! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that was pretty sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first guy was an English speaker who was
really more interested about getting his questions answered than finding the
true gospel of Jesus Christ, so we did our best to invite the spirit and
testify, and who knows, maybe something will come from it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the other guy was a young 19 year old
Dominican who invited us to come in as we were knocking doors later in the day,
so we only had like 15 minutes with him, but he said he'd come to church this
week which would be legit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His name is Eddy,
so maybe you can keep him in your prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And then once again, Alex failed to make it to church on Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His excuse being that he had bad food
poisoning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we'll let that one slide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thats a good excuse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He's gonna come this week though.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aside from
that all is more or less the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
New Mission President is great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His name
is President Morgan, and he's great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm
definitely glad I get to have two mission presidents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had interviews on Monday after district
meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was nice to get to know him
a little more, and talk with him on a more personal level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speaking of district meeting, that reminds me
about something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was way
awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elder McCullam, the other
district leader and I made a district meeting together, and using chairs we
made a maze in the gym, and had a few missionaries go through it blindfolded in
the dark, and gave them each two "guides" one good and the other bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had to make it through the maze of life
with their help, but the end was completely blocked, and without the help of
the atonement they couldn't make it to the end, so the Missionaries had to come
in and introduce them into the celestial kingdom only if they accepted baptism
and stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was way awesome, and after
we just shared a few words of encouragement about how we are here to help
people in the world to the final goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a lot of fun, and everyone seemed to enjoy and learn from it.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aside from
that nothing super special has happened this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it was good though, and Elder Colton and I
continue working and pressing forward.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love you all
and Happy belated birthday Sarah!</span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Carson</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">July 11, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks for
the email everyone... haha, jk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm here
early so it doesn't surprise me that you haven’t sent it yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyways,
this last week has been pretty sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We're still struggling to find new people to teach, and Alex still
hasn't come to church, because he slept in again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But life's good and we're having fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How’s Waterton?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where have you gone hiking?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you hiked Crypt? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How was the fly fishing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did Daniel enjoy himself?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But yeah, so
most of this week was pretty normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
we had a really great lesson with Alex yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn't really anything special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just went over everything we'd taught him
and made sure he understood everything, and just wanted to get a feel about
where he was progression wise, and he's doing great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end, he asked us a few questions, one
of them being about hair, tattoos and earrings (his ears are pierced).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We clarified that he was looking for what the
bible and stuff taught, not what we thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When we explained how our bodies are temples and what the prophet today
had counseled he was like "Ok, I'll take them out and throw them away then".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He'd tried to take them out a few days
before, but someone told him they looked weird so he put them back in, but he
just made the decision right there on the spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was way sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is such a
great example to me about following the counsel of God and the Prophets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then we had
another cool thing happen yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
during our studies and stuff one of the English elders called me and asked me
to speak to this Spanish lady who was trying to talk to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I talked to her and she asked for the address
and time of the church, and if missionaries could come by her house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I took her address down too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But after I realized afterward that her
address didn’t really make sense because the street numbers on that particular
street don’t go that high up, so I though “shoot, I must have misheard her”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was ok, because there was a street
nearby that did have numbers that high, so maybe I did just mishear her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyways, so the day progresses, and comes to
an end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I call the sisters because
the address the lady gave me was in their area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I told them the address that I'd heard, they were like "NO
WAY!"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently they had been
walking down that street earlier and Sister Sanders looked at a building off to
the side and saw this building 31 25 (it's two buildings rolled into one) and
felt something say she needed to go knock that building soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The address I'd gotten was 3125, and because
of that I thought it didn't exist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
it does!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So she was saying how she'd
never really seen the building before and stuff, and how weird it seemed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was really cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called Elder McCullam back (he put the lady
on the phone to begin with) and told him about the exchange with Sister
Sanders, and then he commented back to me how he had felt prompted to go into
CVS (a pharmacy) right when he found that lady.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He said that almost right when he went in she talked to him, but he
doesn't really speak Spanish so he called me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And yeah, so as you can see, the Lord has a way of really making sure
that people get found, and he can work through many different means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm sure if it had happened differently it
may not have worked out the same, and stuff, But God really knows what he's
doing, and I can testify that he knows each and every one of his children
perfectly.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So yeah,
that's the cool stuff that's happened this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aside from that it's all more or less the
same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re still in Waterton, tell
everyone I love and miss them, and if you write back today maybe I'll still see
it, so feel free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Till next time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Love,Carson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong>July 4, 2012<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>Where to
start?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many changes have taken place in
the last week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elder Colton and I are
still the same, and as you know we have a new Mission President.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But first I'll start off with
investigators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
It almost
seems like we only have one, because we can’t get a hold of the others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one is Alex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He's SOO Sweet!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just a great kid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>20 years old, likes basketball, and movies. And
he is getting ready to go to school in September.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately it’s even been hard to meet
with him, but yesterday we had a great lesson on the Plan of Salvation, which I
think he understood pretty well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
shared with us a great experience he'd had with prayer too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the last time we were there, he said that
he was feeling confused and didn’t know what he was really doing here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t remember the word he used, but that
more or less explains how he felt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
then yesterday when we went there, he explained how he prayed, and he just felt
like something was taken from him, like his worries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was really cool, and it opened up a great
opportunity for us to testify about the power of prayer and how he'll get his
answers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a great lesson, and he's
committed himself to come to church this Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that ought to be great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But yeah, Alex is awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Aside from
that, like I said President Morgan has arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He's from Sandy, UT and has 5 sons, three of which have served missions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One leaves in September, and the other is 16
and will be here until he goes out as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So Saturday was the first day we met him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He came to a baptism we had in our district.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was actually kinda funny, because that
very morning, Elder Hill and I were joking about my Blog and how we both
thought that President Morgan had found it and read it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So after the baptism everyone was chatting,
and he mentions how he had "Read my Blog a little" and knew about
when I first came down to the city over a year ago and all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was really quite funny, and I looked over
at Elder Hill and we both just grinned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But yeah, I'm super excited to work with President Morgan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From what I can tell, he's going to be a
fantastic mission President.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I'm
glad I get to serve with him for these last 10 weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elder Hermosa (one of the AP's) told me
yesterday that Pres. Morgan had told him he had 11 weeks yet, so when he talked
to me he cut a week of his 11 because I go home earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that was fun to hear I guess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
As for my
Birthday it was really good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started
off our day with a Blitz, and I got a couple little things from some other
missionaries in my district: a Canada Dry, a stain remover (because I always
drop stuff on myself), some Fruit Gushers, and a Sudoku book (because I really
enjoy Sudoku for some reason).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But yeah,
so we had the blitz and then a member fed us dinner, and I don't know how, but
she remembered it was my birthday and made me a cake, and a really special meal
that she only cooks on special occasions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I didn't even know she knew it was my birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I definitely appreciated it a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And finally after the baptism I opened your
gift because it came the day after my birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And it's really funny getting gifts from Canada, because you have to
write on the side what it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when I
saw "polarized glasses" I was like “hmmm, what does that mean?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then when I opened the package and saw the
writing on the glasses case I was like NO WAY!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And then when I opened the package.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was even happier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You were
definitely right in your letter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t
really use them here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I am wearing
them right now, and I love them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's
amazing how much of a difference they make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They just sit nicely on your face, and they're comfortable in seconds.
Quality really does make a difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE RAYBAN AVIATORS!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Eatmores are great too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the glasses are sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They're even mirrored just like I would have
wanted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that’s awesome. I'm even more
excited to wear them back home and stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I also bought another new hat with some b-day money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I'm gonna send a good pic of both of my
hats and some other stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But yeah,
that's about it for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hope all
continues going well for you, and that you enjoy yourselves in Waterton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Say Hi to everyone else for me too.</div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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Love, Carson</div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong>July 4, 2012<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>Pday’s
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got permission to watch the
fireworks tonight, so that’s cool, and we are having a zone party with lots of
volleyball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Way fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enjoy bears hump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks for the extra email.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thats cool about the dogs who chase the deer
away in Waterton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><o:p> </o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Love, Carson</span></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">June 26, 2012</span></strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well last
week I forgot to let you know that transfers were changed to P-Day this
week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So if you get this email between
now and 2 your time, feel free to write back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I'll probably be on the computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Otherwise, I'll catch it next week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This week has been pretty good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Had lots of meetings, and I got kinda sick, but all in all it wasn't
bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After Wednesday... um, I really can’t
remember anything special happening since last Wednesday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We're teaching this SUPER cool guy named
Alex. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He's way legit, and prepared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He's doing all the reading, expresses the
desire to come to church, but hasn't made it yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But yeah, because of the Yankees game, we had
to do laundry on Friday, and the Laundromat wasn't working till 1:30 in the
afternoon, so as our laundry was washing we gotta watch the first half of the
Germany game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was SOOO sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially that goal by Lahm at 39'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that's all I saw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since Friday we've done a whole bunch of street
contacting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elder Colton really seems to
enjoy street contacting, while it's really not my favorite thing to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was fun, and we talked to some cool
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing specific came from it,
but lots of people now have the means of contacting us when something touches
them in the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In case you
were wondering why I'm writing on Tuesday this week, it's because President
Smith is leaving, and to accomplish transfers and everything P-Day temporarily
got moved to today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And next Tuesday
I'll get to meet President Morgan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
that should be sweet.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh yeah,
there was one thing that happened this week that I can’t believe I almost
forgot about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friday night I got a call
from my Bishop, which doesn’t happen very often, and I just thought it was
about the baptism that was gonna happen on this coming Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I was wrong; he was actually calling to
ask me to give a talk because one of his speakers had fallen through :(.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also asked another Elder to speak, and
when his last speaker fell through, he asked one of the sister missionaries to
speak as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we all prepared talks
for Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And mine was gonna be
EPIC!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyways, so I prepared it on
Saturday, and on Sunday we went to church, and when we arrived we were told the
Stake President wanted to talk to us, so we were like “alright, what’s up?”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spoke with him, and SURPRISE, we were
getting a new Bishop so we didn't need to talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>WHEW dodged that Bullet (temporarily).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I'll still probably be speaking sometime in July.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But til then I'm safe.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aside from
all that though, my week has really been pretty slow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also I'd add some pics, but unfortunately I
forgot my cord to my camera, so I don’t have anything to upload it with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Till next week...</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyways, I
hope all is well and that you have a great week.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Carson</span></div>Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-64207287610972779632012-06-23T16:17:00.000-06:002012-06-23T16:17:59.183-06:00Converting Yankee StadiumJ<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">une 20, 2012 (Part 1 of 2)<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well New
York is Sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven't had a chance to
convert Yankee Stadium yet, seeing as I'm not going until later today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the high for today is going to be
94!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Freaking crazy right?!?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Summer has definitely arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for our cheap tickets, there's a member in
the Bronx who works there, so we worked through her, or better said, she was
kind enough to help us out.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As for
speaking with people it's still been pretty tough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We tried to talk to Josue this week, but
because his mom works so much, it's hard, because we can’t pass by unless she's
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we're still working with
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also we met this new guy named
Alex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t remember if I mentioned
him last week, but he's really cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
was gonna come to church on Sunday, but he forgot to set his alarm, and slept
in even though we went looking for him and stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I'll answer
some more of your questions after the game, because we don’t have a ton of time
right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But just in case I don't get
time I wanted to jump on and send off a quick email.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk to you more later.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">June 20, 2012 (Part 2 of 2)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well the
Yankee game was
Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were like 8 home Runs!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was ridiculous!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But sadly the Yankees lost to the
Braves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>10-5 :(<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I said it was sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Derik Jeter, the Captain of the Yankees hit a
Home Run off his very first pitch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was sooo Sick!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Stadium went
wild!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>IT was SO hot though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I said earlier, 94 Degrees, but it felt
more like 1000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was so worth
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept my hat clean too, because
it's got a white brim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'll send some
pics home next week. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also I got up on
the Jumbo Screen Two Times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was so
sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've never been on a Jumbo Tron
before!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Funny story, when the camera turned
to us the second time the guys sitting front of us turned around and were like;
"you know it's kinda sad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t
recognize ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We saw the screen
and thought hmm, we recognize those guys”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were literally 12 inches behind them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Stadium’s crazy expensive though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like 7 dollars for a pop, and it's like 6 for a tiny hotdog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only bought a drink, but it was a great
investment because otherwise I would've died...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not really, but it wouldn't have been fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also your comment about the Yankee
Phraseology took me a second to understand, but I got a good chuckle out of
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found out that there's a Canadian
on the Yankees team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that made me
proud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a pretty enjoyable
game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm definitely more appreciative
of what baseball is now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not as good as
a Hockey game, but better than Golf.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So yeah,
that’s about it for the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'll send
some pics next week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until then, I love
you all, and hope you have a great week.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love, Carson</span></div>Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-48534789310289380652012-06-23T16:10:00.000-06:002012-06-23T16:12:12.067-06:00Time is going lightning fast<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>(Email from June 13, 2012)</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">WOOO Go
Germany!!!!!!!! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for the Euro Cup you'll have to keep me updated on Germany.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw some bits of the games while doing laundry this morning, but very little.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This week
has gone by at lightning speed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
honestly can’t believe it's Wednesday again, and that my Birthday is only 16
days away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crazy stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also before I forget, Happy early Fathers
Day!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I hope you enjoy your
anniversary trip to Vegas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
included some photos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first one is
one I found in Jesse's house on the front of a photo album he has.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm pretty dang sure you'll recognize the
place (Waterton).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second one is me
and my reaction when I saw a Tim Horton's cup in the US, and the third is what
I did with my air conditioner because I sleep on the top bunk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It works!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyways,
this last week has been pretty good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
response to your question, no we haven't seen Josue yet, but we're going to
hopefully see him before the weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Recently the weather has been pretty cloudy, and a little bit chillier,
but it's nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm not excited for the
summer because it gets so freaking hot here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You sweat like 3 pigs! It's ridiculous!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As for special testimony building experiences, I really can’t think of anything
off the top of my head. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This week has
been pretty normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess something
that was cool was something that happened yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So after service we went to go look up one of
our investigators that we're having trouble getting in contact with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got to his house, and no one was home, so
we decided we'd knock his building, and after climbing to the fifth floor of
his building I checked my pocket to get my planner out, and.... nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'd forgotten my planner, so no big deal,
Elder Colton should have his... haha not...Neither of us remembered our
planners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we're like ahh shoot, we
have nothing to write down the names and numbers of the people we find, so we
scrap the knocking idea, and go to look up the other investigator we have who
turned out to be sleeping, so we were left with nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily I had a Ward list with me, so we went
and looked for some less active members/members we didn't know in our area, and
found this one less active about fifteen minutes before our last appointment
who introduced us to her nephew who isn't a member, and she told him that he
should go to church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he was like “sure
why not?”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that was pretty cool, even
though we didn't have our stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Heavenly Father was able to lead us to find someone else that we can
start teaching and we have a lesson with them on Friday. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm excited to start teaching (his name is Alex).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His Aunt Francisca who is less-active will
hopefully reactivate herself to be a good example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I guess that could be my testimony
building experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God always has a
way of making the work progress, and even when our human faults cause problems,
he makes a way of getting through them.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aside from
that things have just been normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm
still alive, and I'm gonna go to a baseball game next week, and I'm excited for
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got some sweet tickets again
for $50 and it should be good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even
bought a Yankees hat the other day to wear to the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hat is way awesome looking too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'll put a pic up next week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One really cool thing about Todd's mission
call is how he'll really get to leave the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's SOO hard to completely leave the world
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By which I mean that there are so
many signs and advertisements and stuff here, that I know all the movies that
came out, and all that stuff,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>whereas he
gets to go to a place where he won’t see like any advertisements and stuff like
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the one thing I wish I
could have happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you can see though, I'm just
rambling on because I don’t have anything to write about.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I guess
the best thing to do is finish here. Enjoy your trip, and good luck to all in
whatever you’re doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love you all,</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Carson</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Good Ol' Waterton</div>
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Memories of Canada</div>
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Now I will survive the heat!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-89174398035166445312012-06-10T16:47:00.002-06:002012-06-10T16:47:53.753-06:00New York is where I'm supposed to be!<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well I'll start off I guess by
saying Congratulations to Todd [Carson's cousin].<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He's
going to a decent mission, and he'll have a great experience, but it won’t be
anything like New York!!!! I actually know a little about Vanuatu because a Sister
missionary who flew out with me was from there. It was actually pretty funny. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She thought that the buildings in the MTC were
big, so you can imagine what Vanuatu will be like. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, she barely spoke a lick of English when
she got here. So "Good luck with the people there Todd". <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't know what they speak though. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it's kinda like French, but I'm really
not all that sure. The Sister’s last name was Nalawas. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So if he meets any, maybe it'll be her. When
does he report to the MTC?<br />
<br />
So I'm just sitting here thinking a little about what Todd is going to
experience over the next couple years. And a little about how cool it would
have been to get to live on an island in the middle of the Pacific, or enjoy
the old castles and stuff of Europe or maybe live in a jungle in South America.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All that stuff would've been so sweet,
and maybe I would've taken more pictures. But I can’t help but feel like this
is really where I belong. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There's a
phrase President Smith used in Zone Conference yesterday. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was something that I think President Packer
said at the New Mission President training. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Missionaries are not called to Missions;
Missionaries are called to Mission Presidents". <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And thinking on it that way is really cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One thing I’ve really come to realize is that
it really doesn't matter where you’re called. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you really devote yourself to the work,
the love for the people and the place really comes into your heart. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know when I first got my call I was a little
disappointed, and the only thing that really made me excited was to learn
Spanish. But I can in all honesty say now that this really is <u>THE BEST</u>
mission ever, and I really don't have any desire to serve anywhere else. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'd like to travel, but that’s about it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm a New York, New York North Missionary, and
I can bear testimony this is where the Lord wanted me to be. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember walking out of my apartment about 3
months ago, and getting this overwhelming feeling of “this is where I'm
supposed to be”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was really cool. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, when you want to come here in the
future, you've got a great tour guide who knows the subway lines pretty well,
and can get you around the island no problem... :-) but yeah, congratulations
to Todd, he'll have a fantastic experience, and his mission will be super
great.<br />
<br />
Anyways, just a quick correction to your email Dad. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moroni doesn’t have 48 chapters. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It only has 10... I believe you were referring
to Alma. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Haha. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But yeah, I really love those chapters as
well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially verse 17. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's so good, and it's not only Moroni.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In verse 18 it refers to every other great
prophet and missionary in the Book of Mormon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for great spiritual experiences this last
week, I can’t think of anything so special. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I re-read the talk from Elder Rasband in the
October 2010 Conference, which was really good. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should read it (and Todd should as well). <br />
<br />
Life for me is going pretty well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elder
Colton and I are having a little more luck finding people, and the work is
getting a little better. One of the people we found is this young kid named
Josue. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We first found him at the movie
night we had back in March, but then last contact and couldn’t find him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the other day we had a bunch of stuff fall
through, so we decided to take a dinner break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>First we stopped by the chase bank, and as we were leaving we ran into
Josue. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or better put, he stopped us and
reminded us who he was, and gave us his address and stuff, so we went by and
taught him the other day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He's 12, and
reminds me a lot of Daniel. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He's also
really smart and understands pretty the Book of Mormon pretty well when we read
it with him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But yeah, he's just one of
a few people we've found recently that are really awesome. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I'm really excited for the future, and
what is to come. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really want to get at
least one more person baptized before I go home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But most of all I just want to get this area
pumping a little more. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I'm excited
to be with Elder Colton to do this. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He's
seemingly fearless. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He just does the
best he can, and doesn't really care if he can’t say it very well, but he'll
always try, which is so sweet as a trainer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it allows him to learn quickly too. <br />
<br />
So yeah, that’s more or less life at the moment. I really can’t think about
much more to write about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life's great,
and I'm healthy more or less. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'll have
to lose some stomach fat when I get home, but that's about it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My limbs are still skinny as twigs. Anyways, I
love you all very much. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Till next time,<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Carson</span>Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-46262943792640487752012-06-03T22:55:00.000-06:002012-06-03T22:55:26.437-06:00Still Working Hard<br />
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Alrighty,
well like you, I really have no idea what to say or put in my emails anymore. I feel like more or less it's always the same
stuff time after time. But I guess I'll
start off by saying that I have included some pics, so you can check those out. </div>
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<br /></div>
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As for the
work here, it's been super tough. People
just don’t seem to want to listen to us.
We've been knocking doors, and no one is really interested in anything,
which makes it hard for us to find investigators. On Thursday I was kicked out of a building
for the second time. That almost never
happens. But this lady using a very
"colorful" vocabulary impolitely asked us to leave. It was very unpleasant. She didn't actually kick us out, but she called
the Superintendent and he quite politely asked us to leave to which we most
graciously obliged. He was much nicer
about it. Since then we've spent a lot
of time doing finding activities, mainly looking up past investigators and
knocking buildings, because that seems to be the most effective way of finding
here. Elder Colton my Companion from
Arcadia, California has decided rather quickly that white people are very rude,
and really don’t like us. </div>
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<br /></div>
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But we've
also found some people that seem like they'll have some possible
potential. Hopefully in the coming weeks
we can add a few more people to our sadly low teaching pool. I feel pretty sad for Elder Colton to have to
begin his mission with the lack of work we have going on. But I guess it'll teach him what the low is
so he can appreciate the highs to come a little more.</div>
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<br /></div>
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As for spiritual
experiences this week we went to a funeral.
I know, not your typical spiritual experience. But this one was really different. The father of one of our members passed away,
and he was Catholic, so most of the service was a Catholic service. It was interesting during the Priest’s
"lecture" the people were talking and stuff, and the spirit really
wasn't there. They were reciting the rosary
and stuff, and it was just really different and didn’t really seem all that
special or spiritual or anything. But it
was still a good service. Afterwards
there was a "second" service, meaning that one of the members of our Bishopric
stood up, and we had our own service. We
started off with a song, which brought the spirit instantly, and then the
missionaries did a special number.
"Nearer My God To Thee".
The Bishopric member said some words, and we sang a couple more
songs. The whole time, the people were
practically silent. No one was talking
like when the Catholic Priest spoke, and the Spirit was there so strong. It was just a real testimony builder about
the church, and its truthfulness. It was
really quite a cool experience.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But yeah
that’s pretty much my week, lots of finding, a cool funeral experience, and
life’s good. Hope you enjoy the
pictures, and that everything continues to go well for you back in Calgary.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Much love,
Carson</div>
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<br /></div>
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P.S. Dad will have to teach me more Portuguese
once I get home. The Book of Mormon
helps, but I really don’t know how to pronounce or conjugate words, but I will
one day. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></div>
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City Artwork</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzG4eWVZy24yTMaZ67KbBc1dYMoLRgLNml40sHrKYYxoVd8On9CKYHOpHFFGXS17USgDSErxdUEI3Wcs5u6537ZFtNzqC7eul0BDzsIZSTh7EIhb3YhPNvOPQFsOpC2YU0r34d0ix11FX/s1600/DSCN4793%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzG4eWVZy24yTMaZ67KbBc1dYMoLRgLNml40sHrKYYxoVd8On9CKYHOpHFFGXS17USgDSErxdUEI3Wcs5u6537ZFtNzqC7eul0BDzsIZSTh7EIhb3YhPNvOPQFsOpC2YU0r34d0ix11FX/s320/DSCN4793%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Manhattan Temple</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDjG-TZl2Q-avj5FojYRROI240WpLWisXR1fLKw8Zod1iNW0tfeirPsHDnCgm55w6wq52xFIMWuXFMOsMHAUvdxE-GfB4rkdTde1-eKYF12vwLSQ3jS1s6mv2SSBnwefoNAkwuY8f0Qdn/s1600/DSCN4804%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDjG-TZl2Q-avj5FojYRROI240WpLWisXR1fLKw8Zod1iNW0tfeirPsHDnCgm55w6wq52xFIMWuXFMOsMHAUvdxE-GfB4rkdTde1-eKYF12vwLSQ3jS1s6mv2SSBnwefoNAkwuY8f0Qdn/s320/DSCN4804%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Elder Head and Elder Dilling on a service project </div>
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Welcome to my chapel in Manhattan</div>
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9/11 Memorial</div>
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My Zone</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span></div>Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-49289677443137722922012-06-02T14:21:00.001-06:002012-06-02T14:21:12.342-06:00Another Transfer Week<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i>(Note:
This entry is from Elder Dilling’s May 23<sup>rd</sup> email)</i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So transfers
have once again come and gone. The
opening sentence of Dad's email to me was perfectly fine. Many people here actually tend to say
"mijo". Mas sim pai voce
estava bom. How was my Portuguese? I've
been reading the Book of Mormon in Portuguese a little when I have the
time. Pronunciation is the hardest part
for me.</div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Anyways, all
is pretty good here. I liked your opening
paragraph, because my spiritual experience this week was gonna be just
that. So on Sunday I was doing my
studies after church, and since I've been trying to finish the Old testament
before I get home, I found myself in Isaiah (I've been bogged down there for
like 3 months). And I came upon a couple
of verses that I liked a lot:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i>Isaiah 55:10-11<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<i> </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><b>10</b> For as the rain cometh down, and the
snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh
it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the
eater</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><b>11</b>
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto
me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in
the thing whereto I sent it.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Now you must
understand that very few are the scriptures in Isaiah that I understood. So yeah.
Anyways, I just kinda pondered that scripture a little bit, and applied
it to myself as a missionary. And just
how most Spanish people will let us in because we're sharing a message about
Christ, and because we speak the word of God.
So because of that last verse I just thought about how even in those
hard times when the success we want (whatever it may be) isn't coming, there
really is a purpose in the work and everything we do and say as representatives
of Christ will fulfill its purpose. It
won't "return unto me void".
And this is more or less what the spirit brought to my mind. It was pretty cool, just a nice little pat on
the back with a "just keep doing what you’re doing, it's good." </div>
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<br /></div>
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As for your
question though about me in comparison to my district, my area is struggling
the most. But I'm excited for the
future. And I'm gonna get at least one
more baptism before I go home. Now for
what has gone down this last week as well.
On Saturday we had a somewhat surprise conference with Elder Rasband who
as it turned out, served here when he was a young missionary, and also served
as a Mission President before being called as a General Authority. He just talked to us about his experiences
here, and told some cool stories. It was
really pretty cool. Then on Monday we
got the call that Elder Head was leaving and going upstate. And that I would be getting a "new"
companion. My companion’s name is Elder
Colton. He's from The LA area, and I'm
pretty excited to get to serve with him.
But not only that, if you couldn't tell by the "new" I'm
TRAINING!! crazy. I can’t believe I’m
gonna be training for the second time. I
feel like I just barely got away from my last greenie. But nonetheless I'm excited. He seems way cool, and I'm just way excited
to have a companion that'll help me "finish strong". Not that I'm getting trunky or anything. It'll just help me stay focused. I'm also gonna try not to tell him when I'm
finishing. But we'll see how long that
lasts for. I'd send a photo, but I
forgot my cord today, so that’s not gonna work out till next week. Thanks for the pics though, I was kinda
forgetting what Canada looked like, especially the mountains. All I see all day are 5 story buildings. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
But yeah, my
journal writing is better. I've written
every day since the beginning of March.
I just need to work on the subject matter now. I have trouble writing about more than the
surface stuff. But all in all it is
pretty good. Anyways, that’s about all
I've got for this week. I'll let you
know how training is going next week. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Much Love,
Carson</div>Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-82793931226935111422012-05-10T21:20:00.000-06:002012-05-10T21:20:11.499-06:00People Waiting to Hear the Gospel in New York City<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This week
has been suuuuuper legit!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to say
that we got a lot of news, and that we found a really awesome prepared person,
which we did, but that it's just been a good week.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I guess
I'll start off with Last Thursday which involved going down to Central Park to
do some volunteering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Revlon Run
& Walk (a women’s cancer fundraiser) took place this weekend, and on
Thursday I and twenty other missionaries went down to Central Park to unwrap
medallions for the people involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over
the space of about 4 hours, the 21 of us opened 15,000 medallions, and so we
all got an idea of what it's like to work in a factory, and how to get carpel
tunnel syndrome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was fun just
chillin’ in a tent with the other missionaries and talking and unwrapping the
medallions.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thursday
wasn't the only day we helped with this Revlon event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Saturday we had the privilege of waking up
at 3:30 and going down to...TIME SQUARE!!! woot woot!!! It was way cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s where the start of the event took place,
and we were in charge of making sure the different teams got their signs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of which had pretty funny names.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The teams are groups of people who raised
donations and participated in the run...normally a family or group of friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So yeah, a few of the names were: Friends on
a Mission, Yushka Babushkas, Breast Friends and Black Girls Run NYC.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was a lot
of fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the missionaries from
Manhattan were there, and so that went until 9 in the morning, and after we
went to lunch with some of the other missionaries and I got this super
delicious steak burger with spicy guacamole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was SOOO good, and pretty fairly priced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the rest of that day was pretty slow
because of how tired I was, but I can definitely say I slept well that night...</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then nothing
much happened until Monday, which turned out to be a great start to this
week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Friday we received a referral
through the Sisters in my District, which they received from the Ward Mission Leader
in the Bronx, who happens to work right next to our chapel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyways, we made an appointment with him, and
saw him on Monday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His name is Francisco.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He's Dominican, speaks pretty good English,
and has had some health issues but is doing well now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyways, so we went over, and got to know him
a little, and found out that he's wanted to get back into a church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He grew up Catholic, but doesn't agree with
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he really likes the Ward Mission
Leader from Olmsted (one of the wards in the Bronx), who's name is Brother
Mota.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He likes how much Brother Mota has
changed since joining the church, because before, Bro. Mota was a big drinker,
and now the Gospel has had a strong influence on his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that's how Francisco got interested in the
church and stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just so cool to
see how the Lord is helping us, and giving us those little things to say “Good
job, just keep going, there are people here who are waiting for the gospel”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also committed himself to going to church on
Sunday which is always super awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
thanks to all of you for your prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They're
definitely being answered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it would
still be nice if we could change that free agency a little bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But yeah, that's about it for me.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love you
all, and I'm excited to talk on Sunday (Mother’s Day),</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Carson</span></div>Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-81483272585564048772012-05-08T19:50:00.000-06:002012-05-08T19:50:15.058-06:00One of the best weeks...<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hey Y'all!</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); float: none; orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">So the week went pretty good. We had one of
the best weeks we've had in a while. So that was way sweet! But it
didn't start out the greatest. The day after I wrote you and told you
about the lady we gave the blessing to, I called her to try and set up an
appointment before the weekend. So I called her and I was super excited
to get to meet with her again. She answered her phone, and I said “Hey how’s
it going”...and then when I asked if we could come by on Saturday, and she said
“well, I prayed and God told me that I need to return to the Catholic Church...please
don't come by. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'll give you a call when
I want you to come back”. At that point it felt like a semi had slammed
into my chest and I was like NOOOOOO (in my head of course) and It just sucked
so much!! She wrapped up the conversation quickly so I couldn't say much,
and then once she had hung up, the NOOOOOO became audible. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then when I told Elder Head, he did about the
same thing. It just was not any fun, especially after we had just
finished talking about how awesome she was, and making some sweet plans to help
her progress. Then to put the icing on the cake we ran into another of
our investigators a few days later, and he informed us that he was going back
to the Dominican Republic, and that he leaves tomorrow. So two of what I
thought were our best investigators have just fallen through our hands.
Not a very fun thing if I do say so myself.</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); float: none; orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">But hey aside from that life is great. You
know what they say “when life is going great Satan works his hardest”. So
that must mean things are going pretty good if Satan's gonna work that hard to
make me lose two investigators in one week. But yeah I really don’t have
a whole lot to talk about this week. Oh, I found out yesterday that my
Support Card for my mission was compromised (someone copied it), so I had to
put a freeze on my account, and it was just a hassle, so I lost my funds
temporarily. Luckily they were able to release some funds so that I could
buy my metro card this morning, but yeah, that's a little annoying. And
as for the weather here, it's been pretty bipolar. It's rainy and muggy
one day, then sunny the next. Currently is raining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once it stops and gets warm it makes the heat
suck even more because it gets super humid and disgusting. It would be
great though If I weren't a missionary and didn't have to wear a white collared
shirt. </span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); float: none; orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">So today Elder Bartlett and I are gonna go down to
Macy's because he needs to buy some new shoes with a little more ankle support,
and his companion didn't want to go. So that should be fun. It's
cool, because normally we can’t go south of 59th street, but Macy's in on 34th
street.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); float: none; orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Oh, and also this last Sunday we had this great
5th Sunday lesson from the bishop about media and sharing the gospel. And
after when everyone was leaving I walked out the back of the gym, and turned
the corner, and found a bunch of members surrounding this lady that had strait
up passed out in the middle of the hallway, and unfortunately no one caught
her. So she fell pretty hard, and it took about 2 minutes to pull her out
of it, and it was pretty crazy. She was so out of it, and I'm pretty sure
she might have a small concussion. Luckily she seemed pretty good by the
time I actually left the church, and the Relief Society sisters where doing a
great job of watching over her.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); float: none; orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">But yeah, that's about all I've got to say for
this week. I hope all continues to go well, and that you have a super
awesome week.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); float: none; orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Love, Carson</span></span></div>Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-18252848177122937002012-04-27T18:51:00.000-06:002012-04-27T18:51:58.576-06:00Fellowship = missionary work<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sorry guys,
this week is gonna be a smaller email.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It's not that I don't love you or anything; I just really don't want to
be writing an email right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So this
last week was pretty...well really slow (just not a very good week).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got to Sunday and only had 1 lesson with
an investigator which kinda sucks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we
started this Monday off with a very fixed determination that this week would be
better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so far it has been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We had a really
cool experience on Monday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But first
I'll go back a little bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There's this recent
convert named Elleris.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He lives in my
area, but the missionaries who baptized him taught him in their area because
the person who owned the house he lived in didn't want him to have us over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyways, fast forward to about 3 weeks ago,
and he invited us over to give a blessing to the lady he rents a room
from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was cool, but I didn't really
think much of it. Then as I said, on Monday we were doing a couple of look-ups,
and we had one in the same building as Elleris (pronounced Eh-yer-ees) and
knocked on the door of the look-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
this time we'd both forgotten which was Elleris' door and the Landlady who
Elleris rents from answered the door, and invited us in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked to her a bit and shared a super
awesome restoration lesson that started off kinda crazy, but turned out to be
really good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think she has a really
good chance of progressing, especially because she lives with Elleris.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He's a super member missionary - always
trying to share the gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So yeah, it
was just super cool to meet her and based and what other people have said it
was lucky that she let us talk to her.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As for the
question about the spiritual experience, I went to the temple today...need I
say more??? JK the one above was that one.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As for that little
message you asked for, I guess as a missionary it'd just be about really being
a friend to those who are newly baptized or have left the church for one reason
or another, and always trying to help them and stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s one of the biggest problems I've seen
as a missionary, and one of the biggest causes for people leaving the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People just don't know how to help new
Members, and because of that they leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hope this helps.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By the way
I'm very jealous about that knife throwing thing that Daniel got to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I've been practicing on my own... not
that you want to hear that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my last
pad I made this super thick cardboard dartboard thing, and I'd practice
throwing my knives at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must say, I
got pretty good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'd be even better if I
had a legit throwing knife though (hint hint wink wink).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe then I could kill the few mice that
plague us...and... yeah, that’s it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just
wanted to add that.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, unfortunately
that’s about all I've got for you today. Hope all continues to go well and
stuff, I love you all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Til next week,</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Carson</span></div>Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-61785090593659620122012-04-20T18:07:00.003-06:002012-04-20T18:07:53.585-06:00The Black Plague<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Well hey
there,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It's been a little bit of a tough week. The Black Plague came to our apartment. And the reason I call it the Black Plague is
because it came when we found some mice (the Black Plague was was
carried though Europe on rats). But
that mouse problem is taken care of. We
caught and killed three of them, and they shouldn't be bothering us
anymore. So yeah, that can count as my
funny story I guess.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We haven't
been able to find much since last week, we did a look up a past investigator
named Martha who we had a great lesson with.
She is this older Dominican lady who has had a lot of challenges with her
kids and her health. We had a really
good lesson with her about faith and perseverance, and WOW…she's such an
amazing example. She referred to Job,
and all that he went through, and how he didn't complain and then said that
what she's going though is nothing compared to him, and she knows that God won’t
ask more of her than she can support, and we pretty much just got to know her,
and who she is. It was what I thought was
a really good first lesson, and I'm excited to go back by her house and get to
know her a little more, and teach her how the restored gospel can really bless
her life and her family’s life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Another cool
kinda funny thing that happened was on Saturday. One of the Elders (Elder Hill) in my District
turned 20 on Sunday. For his birthday he
wanted to go out for dinner on Saturday night as a District. He and I were on a bit of a split so that
Elder Head and Elder Bartlett could buy him a gift. We went knocking and hadn't had much luck,
when one of the other missionaries gave us a call and said that the line at
Dallas BBQ was huge, which sucks, because we didn’t have all the time in the
world. Anyways, on our way out of the
last building Elder Hill said a prayer asking that we could get a reservation. He finished his prayer and we left the
building, and not 75 feet from the building he got a text saying that we had
received a reservation for 8:00 (twenty five minutes from then). When we got to Dallas BBQ and saw how packed
it was we were amazed. So lesson learned…God
answers prayers. No matter how silly
they may sound. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So yeah, that’s
about it for this week. I hope all
continues to go super well, and I love you all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Carson</div>Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-33597246930382486622012-04-15T22:42:00.001-06:002012-04-15T23:48:57.559-06:00The Best District<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Good to hear that all is great in Calgary, and that your Easter was good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mine just felt like another day for the most part, although I got to go give a blessing to a less-active member in the Sister’s area who was pretty cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He injured his foot in a NYPD basketball tournament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked to him about the NYPD and learned all sorts of cool new facts, but I won’t bore you with those.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I really don’t know what to write about this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I could start off by saying that transfers have come and gone, and I'm staying here in North Manhattan with Elder Head which is way legit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We're both excited about it, and things are going pretty great.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think I mentioned last week that Jesse's wife passed away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was sad, but we got to go to the viewing yesterday which was nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strangely, Jesse was in one of the happiest moods I've seen him in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not because his wife passed away, but I think he feels a little less burdened. And he's happy he can focus a little more on helping strengthen his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was really cool talking to him about that for a few minutes while we were paying our condolences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So yeah, he's doing well, but aside from that, we've really been struggling to find people to teach and our investigators aren't really progressing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we're working hard to find some people whose lives the gospel can change.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aside from that, nothing super special has really happened since the last time I emailed you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elder Head and I caught some-kind of bug for a few days, but we're feeling much better now, and life is just great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I guess I can think of a couple of things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So on Friday we had a blitz in the Sister’s area, and half way through, this Catholic procession of some kind went down the street right near us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something new I learned was that Good Friday is a pretty big catholic celebration. It was pretty weird, and kinda creepy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm gonna stick up some pics too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So you can enjoy those to make up for my lack of words this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also went on a split with Elder Bartlett, and had a good day with him knocking doors and stuff (lots of doors to knock here).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also went to the George Washington Bridge and took a few pictures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was kinda creepy standing on it, because every time a semi-truck drove by, the bridge seemed to shudder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not what you want to feel 300 feet off the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was cool…I'll put the pics up for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But yeah, sorry I don’t really have all that much to report this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully I'll have more next week.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love, Carson</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRU5SoPhynT5tcb1aaOkejYKCTaYZwmlbnjdooRoe9MozrFnAHtsX7H4XHHWEjTp8yjah7qO7czoM4xqIxKd5AvroRXSm-IxOhSRdlB_84xswrCt4Myzg2A9ooomKGg0y9cj9ngPerlhxI/s1600/IMG_4665%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRU5SoPhynT5tcb1aaOkejYKCTaYZwmlbnjdooRoe9MozrFnAHtsX7H4XHHWEjTp8yjah7qO7czoM4xqIxKd5AvroRXSm-IxOhSRdlB_84xswrCt4Myzg2A9ooomKGg0y9cj9ngPerlhxI/s320/IMG_4665%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div>Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-31258770208755612582012-04-09T19:19:00.000-06:002012-04-09T19:19:48.246-06:00Conference was the best!<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, I guess I'll start off by saying I'm glad you enjoyed the pics.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This last week has been pretty sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course the best part was Conference. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t say I had a favorite session this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved them all so much. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some talks spoke to me more than others, but I really enjoyed all of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think my favorites were the very first talk (Elder Packer I think) and the talk from Elder Bednar during the Priesthood session.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Oh</span>, I also liked the talk by President Uchtdorf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave a really cool talk with a short sermon involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wrote it down word for word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"STOP IT" Like I said, it was a cool talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was just talking, from what I perceived, about Christlike love, and how we really need to refrain from judging others because they aren't at the same level we're at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is something that can be hard.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It's also the same topic (more or less) that I trained on at District Meeting on Monday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked about Judging and Love, and just how we need to refrain from the one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or in the words of Elder Cook "Have the courage to refrain from judging."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And really allow the other to penetrate who we are, and how we view those around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It went very well, seeing as I didn't think it was going to be all that great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So YAY!!</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On another note, we had something sad happen on Monday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our investigator Jesse's wife passed away Monday morning after a difficult fight with cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we tried to see him Monday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wasn't home, but we did get a little time to talk to him yesterday, and from what I could tell he's holding up pretty good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elder Head and I were just broken hearted when we found out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'd barely met her, but I could tell that Jesse really loved her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he was talking to us about how he wished there had been more he could've done while she was here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Se we unfortunately didn't have much time, but we talked with him and reassured him that he will see her again, and be able to be with her.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And then aside from that the rest of our investigators aren't doing much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we've continued our search and we're gonna keep looking for those people that are ready for the gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also I'll add a few more pics that I stole from Elder Head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus transfers are next week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we'll see what happens...</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyways, I love you all very much and I look forward to next week’s email.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Carson</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfRK7N9IIpU0q61dbeHg9ISmtCg7yix69U1n-x0owoMB4vqrAaWzy8Kv8vloLvIoXcDbZgs0WoC3CqFdTO6HEQZhCY-yT72abqB6L_x2PelVM3cn-dbI-ml7vutAxZ2M8Zjc4fVNOlqrs/s1600/District+Apr+2012-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfRK7N9IIpU0q61dbeHg9ISmtCg7yix69U1n-x0owoMB4vqrAaWzy8Kv8vloLvIoXcDbZgs0WoC3CqFdTO6HEQZhCY-yT72abqB6L_x2PelVM3cn-dbI-ml7vutAxZ2M8Zjc4fVNOlqrs/s320/District+Apr+2012-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My District at a member home</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVzzBRL_9ooB9X8lvJZm2CBHSDrl5VIgZH8hyphenhyphenpD3PeA4Y2MLeKv6bs6QU_d65xPfbKvRefjNv0cCf1YSEH-jMMHsJj7zbvfhogbNhu6xMTkX-QKrxvX25rHOqFoSb2nJIpmQgyUsXH6Ch/s1600/District+Apr+2012-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVzzBRL_9ooB9X8lvJZm2CBHSDrl5VIgZH8hyphenhyphenpD3PeA4Y2MLeKv6bs6QU_d65xPfbKvRefjNv0cCf1YSEH-jMMHsJj7zbvfhogbNhu6xMTkX-QKrxvX25rHOqFoSb2nJIpmQgyUsXH6Ch/s320/District+Apr+2012-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My District</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iVUlazn2U-4iKPeM5y__qbnWzpmDsueJq6fQwJJG-un87HCWyU5LomIG-ORe0zYtze0DDFFGO0n_KzKtK6S4SEdC4P94uwluOn30umzbAr9NfXigzUBS_JOk5Y_XSry_jYntXwqqfgDc/s1600/Elder+Dilling+riding+the+Subway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iVUlazn2U-4iKPeM5y__qbnWzpmDsueJq6fQwJJG-un87HCWyU5LomIG-ORe0zYtze0DDFFGO0n_KzKtK6S4SEdC4P94uwluOn30umzbAr9NfXigzUBS_JOk5Y_XSry_jYntXwqqfgDc/s320/Elder+Dilling+riding+the+Subway.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me riding the Subway</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CORRke8rwTlzNpZ2GOYnKFyEd6mTFRycvAT36SPQX1wusavtX-jd_ZL2e_tVvNXFBln0NRqSx8zD1tiagQ0bgv49mAhaLLW5n1oG1v764sICR3ECFsOC4srNPBy9Cy401JTyogs8oSJo/s1600/Stickers+on+people's+doors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CORRke8rwTlzNpZ2GOYnKFyEd6mTFRycvAT36SPQX1wusavtX-jd_ZL2e_tVvNXFBln0NRqSx8zD1tiagQ0bgv49mAhaLLW5n1oG1v764sICR3ECFsOC4srNPBy9Cy401JTyogs8oSJo/s320/Stickers+on+people's+doors.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">New Yorkers like to put stickers on their doors</div>Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-85558071476619854852012-04-03T21:03:00.000-06:002012-04-03T21:03:21.526-06:00All is well...<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> (<em>Email from March 28, 2012</em>) I guess to start off with I'll say that all is well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This last week passed by super fast, and it's been a really good week too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not much happened between Wednesday and Sunday, but Sunday was sweet.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First off we had Testimony meeting and it was a pretty typical Spanish Fast and Testimony Sunday - not a moment of silence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyways, there's this one guy in our ward named Oscar, a way cool Dominican about as tall as me, which is not normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> He's</span> just a really funny and cool guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So he went up and started to bear his testimony and stuff and this is what he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Que bonito es....es, soy bonito"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (Meaning: What is beauty? I am beautiful)</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he made it spiritual by adding, "Soy Bonito porque tengo el evangelio de Jesucristo en mi Vida", which was great<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (Meaning: I am beautiful because I have the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life). </span>It made everyone laugh. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was good.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Later that night we held a movie night, as a way of finding more people to teach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We told members to bring their friends to come and watch "The Testaments" Which was sooo good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a member bring her neighbors which were way cool, and so now we're hoping to be able to teach them soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her neighbor’s son who is twelve made a really cool comment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the Sister Missionaries asked him what he thought about the movie and Jesus Christ and stuff and he said "He was here" Referring to Jesus, which was way cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I talked to him a couple of minutes later, and he was just sitting quietly reading the Book of Mormon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a really good activity, and now we're working on meeting with all the people that came.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aside from all that though, things are going well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We found some pretty cool investigators yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was actually a really good first lesson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just got to know them, and shared a scripture with them about Christ and how he can bless us and what not. It was just a super great first lesson with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that happened last night, so not all that much has taken place since then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'll send you some pics of me that were taken with the new camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully they're not blurry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But yeah, all is well here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm still alive, and now I'm gonna go play basketball.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love, Carson<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
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</div>Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-67994529435833438762012-03-25T19:07:00.000-06:002012-03-25T19:07:35.019-06:00A great week!<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> This last week has been great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not really with tons of success, but just cool experiences, which I have such a hard time expressing through email, but I'll try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First off we haven't really been able to meet with our investigators recently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They've been really busy and stuff, so that’s been trying but Elder Head and I are getting through it.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So let’s start with Sunday. We had a goal of at least two investigators last week, and we had only been able to find one by Sunday, so we spent the hours after church finding until our last appointment for the night at 7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we found... a lot of diddly squat!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just a plethora of slammed doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not my idea of success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that's cool - nothing that much out of the norm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So eventually it came time to travel to our next appointment, and about fifty feet from the front door, this lady across the street yells “Hey I know them”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which isn't uncommon either, so we kinda glanced over, thought she wasn't talking about us and kept on walking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she left her friends and ran after us and shouted "hey wait up"...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess she was talking about us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we stopped and she caught up and was like “Do you remember me (to Elder Head)?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turns out she worked at a Duane Reade (Pharmacy here in NY) and he had contacted her when he was serving in the East Bronx.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A long way from where we are now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He eventually remembered her as well, and she was like "Hey I want Bible studies now!!"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then she asked if we could come to the Bronx.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We said “no, but there are missionaries there who could pass by” and she was like “No I want you two”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Could I come over here once a week and you could teach me?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we were like of course!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we exchanged info, and parted ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was just way cool to have that experience, especially for Elder Head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just shows that no matter what we do, the Lord has a way of making sure all those who need to receive the message, receive it.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After this experience we met a couple other people and so in the coming weeks we should be able to find a few new people to talk to, which is awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we had a great training from President Smith about teaching, and then yesterday we applied the model he gave us in one of our lessons, and it was just AWESOME!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The model was [Observe and Listen --> Discern --> Talk], which was a great help for us, and the lesson with the family was great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We found 2 news as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s about all I got for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It's good to hear the all is well back on the home front. </span>Just let me know if I missed anything, or if you've got any comments or concerns.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love, Carson</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">P.S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I added a photo of the member I mentioned last week - the one who reminds me of Grandma Dilling (if she were Hispanic).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzrY_k2d0p2Pbw8wXBxhx90wWmto6bAuJsjXyfZeObf1djh30XQQh0lOdcjbFnLyH5PG53Ld8bO0g_tbYb-l_Fe4re6de3gdpl2ABc4BF_HMS9GiWcXcT_xSeqpRV9v1TxVt0ZbVy1J_D/s1600/CIMG1048%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzrY_k2d0p2Pbw8wXBxhx90wWmto6bAuJsjXyfZeObf1djh30XQQh0lOdcjbFnLyH5PG53Ld8bO0g_tbYb-l_Fe4re6de3gdpl2ABc4BF_HMS9GiWcXcT_xSeqpRV9v1TxVt0ZbVy1J_D/s320/CIMG1048%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-22911455336977758032012-03-17T11:38:00.001-06:002012-03-17T11:39:18.295-06:00The Members Love The Missionaries<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hola Familia,</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bueno, para empezar. Voy a decir que... No lo creo que Sarah escribio esa parrafo por si mismo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>La gramatica que uso, y las palabras vinieron de un nivel mucho mas alto do lo que ella hubiera aprendido en high school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>algunas de las palabras aun yo no las sabia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Para de todos modos de diverti leyendo su carta en Espanol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well things here are going pretty good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was cool getting a letter from all of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'll start off by saying I'm gonna get a new camera, because I always hold the button down half way and make sure that the camera gives me the green light saying it's focused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I'm assuming that something isn't working as it should be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I'll go ahead and do that today, and let you know what it cost next week.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I guess I'll start off answering your questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s approximately 12 Wards (1 stake) in Manhattan alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then there are five in the Bronx, and I know that there’s a Queens Stake, and a Brooklyn Stake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the church is pretty big here, but it really appears small in comparison to how many people are living in this city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the Elders in my District got a letter from his dad with the statistic for how many people live in his area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently in the skinny part of the island over a distance of 25 blocks or so, approx 400,000 people are living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crazy right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for Christina’s questions, the ward I'm in right now is super awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The members are so supporting of the missionary work, and that’s just so awesome, because not many wards are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We're gonna have an activity on the 25<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be a Movie night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We're inviting members to come see a movie, and their ticket is a non-member or less-Active member, so hopefully we can get some good success from that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We're gonna watch The Testaments.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">From the sounds of your letters everyone back home is doing great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully Sarah gets that job at Spruce It U.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It'd be a lot of fun, and when I was there I got $12/hr.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But maybe they'll pay her more, who knows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As for me, things are going great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a pretty good week, still not a whole lot of new investigators, but we're happy and finding some success from our knocking, and finding efforts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple of cool things happened this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First off Elder McMullin came back with his Family for a visit, and I met his parents at church on Sunday, which was kinda funny because His mom already knew who I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was like “wow, you’re Elder Dilling” (apparently when you search "New York New York North Mission" My Blog comes up) so she'd read that a little bit, and it was kinda cool to meet them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We haven't really had any really cool spiritual experiences lately, but we've had some more success with our finding efforts as I said... Just a few less people said “no” to us or ignored us through the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are all good things that lead to success sometimes faster than others, but that’s cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I just have a quick story to let you know how the members feel about us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were walking to an appointment the other day, and this member (her name is Hermana) was walking towards us and the first thing she said was "What happened on Friday?!?" (We hadn't stopped by) She then went on to talk about he she had cooked for us and stuff and expected that we were coming over, even though we hadn't made any appointment with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were actually trying to give her a break and not be a burden on her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That obviously didn't work; she then said that she expects us to come over every Friday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were just so impressed by her love and desire, and we also felt so bad for not having gone over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we figured that since we hadn't made an appointment with her she wouldn't do anything like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it just goes to show how much the people here love the missionaries, at times too much, but you need not worry, I'm being well fed here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have dinner appointments like 3 or 4 times a week. And the occasional lunch appointment too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just another side note, I was thinking about this member and the thought just came to my mind about how similar she looks to Grandma Dilling, I have a picture of her, but I want a better one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Grandma Dilling were Hispanic, this would be what she looks like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'll get a better pic when we go over on Friday.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But yeah, as I said things are going great here in the Campo Misional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hope everything also continues to go well for you in Calgary, and that the weather gets better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's been like 20 everyday for the last week here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spring has definitely arrived early.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love Carson</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">P.S. As for Dad’s School question, I'm currently leaning towards BYUI, to at least get my associates, but then after that I'm not entirely sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I'm still allowing staying in Calgary to be an option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm trying to be fair about it, but I think I'd be happier at Idaho.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We'll see though, I know I've gotta decide soonish, and that'll definitely be a question on my mind during this coming conference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For now though I'll focus my efforts on what’s at hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It'll all work out whatever I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've also been thinking of some other career paths I might pursue.</span></div>Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754720162547602036.post-92200958822361344662012-03-07T23:51:00.000-07:002012-03-07T23:51:23.854-07:00Something Great is in Store<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hola mi familia,</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All is well here in Manhattan. First off, what do you want me to do about my camera?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should I for sure go ahead and buy a new one?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If so, how much should I spend?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might just break into that cash that I have saved up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you think?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyways, it's good to hear that all is going well with you back home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately I can’t really say the same for us here in my area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We haven't really been able to find any new investigators these past few weeks and it seems that every time we try and do some finding we really don't find much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then to top it off, most of our present investigators are dropping off the face of the earth, or just not keeping their appointments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In spite of all this I feel that Heavenly Father is trying to teach me something, I'm just not all that sure what thing is yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just wish it would be a little clearer sometimes. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This week was pretty good in other ways though, Elders Hill and Bartlett are doing great together and they've brought a great spirit with them to the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's been a lot of fun with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yesterday we went and did some service at a local garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It reminded me of my days at Spruce it Up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Which, by the way I suggested to Sarah that she put in an application there.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All we did was shovel mulch into buckets and then carry said buckets about 100 meters to the garden, dump the bucket and then another missionary would spread it while I went back to get some more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'll tell you what.. My back was KILLING me this morning when I got up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I'm gonna need a massage and a chiropractor when I get home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also I might need a new retainer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mine is getting pretty old and has a couple holes in it as well as a few cracks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I still wear it as often as I remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(most nights.)</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We also had a great lesson with one of our investigators named Hector.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he goes by Daddy Rane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t ask me why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyways, we went over there with the plan of dropping him because he hasn't been progressing and ended up giving him a baptismal commitment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(because he's got a long way to go), but a firm commitment to which he said he wanted to work towards, so we're excited to keep working with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aside from that, Elder Head and I are convinced that the Lord is preparing us for something big because of our lack of success in finding new people to teach. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can hardly wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things are still going great regardless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyways, just let me know about the camera and stuff and I look forward to hearing back next week.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love, Carson</span></div>Carson Dillinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15956625442693922990noreply@blogger.com0