Week 23 In The Field: I will be staying in Gualan, I will also be training and I will be the District Leader here.

Hey guys, hope you all have been doing great.

Yesterday we got our changes information. I will be staying in Gualán. I will also be training and I will be the District Leader here. I´m excited for the challenges that lie ahead and for the opportunity I will have to, in part, lead the work here in this town in Guatemala that I have come to love.

I do not know who my new companion will be yet. Elder Aguilar and Elder Proby will be heading to the capital for this next change and Elder Schulthies stays here with me.

I´m honestly hoping for a companion from Brazil so that maybe I can start learning Portuguese!

This week we found some new investigators that are really showing a lot of promise in terms of progression. We are putting our primary focus this week in inviting everyone in Gualan to General Conference.

Perhaps to guide you towards a purpose for viewing general conference this week, I´d invite you to think about the following quote from Neal A Maxwell:

"we are never in between as to this soaring call from Jesus: “What manner of men [and women] ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.” It is never safe to rest regarding that calling! In fact, being “valiant” in one’s testimony of Jesus includes striving to become more like Him in mind, heart, and attributes. Becoming this manner of men and women is the ultimate expression of orthodoxy!"

The ultimate way to show your love for Jesus Christ, his ministry, his gospel, and his atonement in this Easter season is through becoming more like him yourself. As you strive to become more like him, other things like sharing the gospel, strengthening your home, and doing family history work will come easily and automatically and beneficial side effects.

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Elder Dawson Photo

Uncle Dic was sent these pictures in an email. This is what the note attached said, "Yesterday we went to Gualan, Zacapa  where we saw these four Elders. Elder Dawson, one of them, said that you and Jennifer were his aunt and uncle. He is happy and working hard.

Elder Schulthies, Elder Dawson, and Elder Aguilar after District weekly planning in Gualan.

This is what Elder Dawson said about the pictures: Yeah we were walking to go get lunch after weekly planning on Friday as a district and some people who work for the church pulled up in a car and asked us for directions. One of them was born in Gualan and so she came back to check it out. The guy, Cia, is the second counselor at the MTC here in Guatemala so I asked him if they knew Uncle Dic and they said yes and so I told them he´s my great uncle and they wanted to take a picture. We posed after that but I don´t know why the picture turned out kind of crappy.

Week 22 In the Field: This week we were fortunate enough to hear from Elder Neil L. Andersen.

This week we were fortunate enough to hear from Elder Neil L Andersen in a conference with the Guatemala City East, North, and South missions. I had the opportunity to see a lot of old buddies and the conference was great. Elder Andersen talked about the importance of the atonement in our lives and in the lives of our investigators. He also discussed that as missionaries in Guatemala we have a distinct responsibility. In many countries people struggle with really believing that the historical person of Jesus of Nazareth is really Jesus the Christ. In many countries if you can get people to really and actually have a testimony of Jesus Christ then the steps towards His restored gospel are much easier.

In Guatemala however, people already believe in Jesus Christ and want to follow Him. Our challenge is not necessarily baptism but retention and reactivation. In our branch in Gualan we have an attendence of around 70 people but we have records for 650 people who have been baptized here. Unfortunately many people slip into inactivity after a short amount of time.

Elder Andersen´s solution to the problem is through a testimony of the atonment of Jesus Christ through the Book of Mormon. As people more fully understand who Jesus Christ was and what he did through the Book of Mormon these people will become truly converted.

This week we placed four baptism dates with Hector and Alex (two sons of a part member recent convert family) and with Prudencio and Dailin (a father and daughter from a reactivating part member family). We are really excited for the work in Gualan and we are striving to follow Elder Andersen´s counsel here.

I love this quote by Brad Wilcox:

"The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can live after we die but that we can live more abundantly. The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can be cleansed and consoled but that we can be transformed. Scriptures make it clear that no unclean thing can dwell with God, but, brothers and sisters, no unchanged thing will even want to. The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can go home but that—miraculously—we can feel at home there."

I testify of the power of the atonement and of the opportunity we all have to change, grow, improve, and progress towards salvation and eternal life. That we all will understand, use, and appreciate the atonement and its significance in our lives is my supplication and prayer.

Talk to you next week!

Elder Dawson

Elder and Sister Anderson and Brother and Sister Maynes

Week 21 in the Field: La Vainilla

Hey guys. This week has been really great. We had two baptisms (one of the baptisms fell because he drank coffee a few days before) and we found 11 new investigators.

We had a really neat experience the other day going to a place called La Vainilla. The Vainilla is a small town about 10 minutes by taxi from where we live. It´s technically part of our area but it´s small and far away so we had never gone before. One day we felt like we should go. We went and found a secluded spot to offer a prayer and ask for the Lord´s guidance. We wanted to find the person or people he had sent us there to find and we sought his direction by the Holy Ghost. The very first person we encountered after the prayer was an old man who had been baptized six years ago. He is inactive but was incredibly greatful for our visit. This week we will return to meet his family and friends and hopefully bring the man to activity and find lots of prepared people.

At our baptismal service I was able to share a short talk about the Holy Ghost and I shared some words from a talk from Elder Bednar. In the talk, Elder Bednar explains that receiving the Holy Ghost is not a passive process but an active acquiring. He states:

The simplicity of this ordinance may cause us to overlook its significance. These four words—“Receive the Holy Ghost”—are not a passive pronouncement; rather, they constitute a priesthood injunction—an authoritative admonition to act and not simply to be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:26). The Holy Ghost does not become operative in our lives merely because hands are placed upon our heads and those four important words are spoken. As we receive this ordinance, each of us accepts a sacred and ongoing responsibility to desire, to seek, to work, and to so live that we indeed “receive the Holy Ghost” and its attendant spiritual gifts. “For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift” (D&C 88:33).

What should we do to make this authorized admonition to seek for the companionship of the third member of the Godhead an ongoing reality? Let me suggest that we need to (1) sincerely desire to receive the Holy Ghost, (2) appropriately invite the Holy Ghost into our lives, and (3) faithfully obey God’s commandments.

I invite you all to seek more fully the companionship of the Holy Ghost in your life by following the counsel of Elder Bednar. I love you all and hope everyone is doing great. Thanks for your love and support. We will be having a conference with Elder Neil L Andersen this week so I´ll tell you all about that in the next email!

Elder Dawson

Baptism Saturday March 14, 2015

Elder Proby, Digna Esperanza Ramirez Diaz, Ingrid Arseli Ramirez Diaz, Elder Dawson

Beverly Hills of Gualan

Beverly Hills of Gualan Part 2

Robes,  Josefa Vargas, in our branch made us

Burger King trip with the District

Prayer Spot in La Vainilla

(Answers to Mom's questions:)

What did the Doctor say about your rash? Like how you got it/how to prevent it?

I just sent pictures of it to him and he told me what medicine to take. I didn´t actually go to a doctor here, just got the advice from the Central America church doctor. Probably a bacterial infection from my razor based on the advice.

When you have computer time on your P-day are you allowed to look up stuff like Minute to Win it games and lesson ideas and stuff?

Yeah if your District Leader lets you. Mine normally will.

When do you think your next transfer will be?

I don´t know. I have a feeling maybe I´ll stay here with Elder Proby another change? Word on the street is that President Crapo is having missionaries stay longer than before, like 8 or 9 months in an area.

Is you luggage holding up OK? (Any opinion or advice for Jayden's set we buy him?)

I have literally never used it since I got to Gualan but yeah it´s fine. I only used it from AZ to Guatemala and from Guatemala City to Gualan. Maybe get him one where the luggage can train though? Those look a lot easier to carry around.

Week 20 - Should get to baptize three people on Saturday and 16 new investigators this past week.

This email is going to be pretty short because I´m almost out of time. Great week. Should get to baptize three people on Saturday. Face rash is gone. 16 new investigators this past week. Love you all, I´ll write more next week!

Elder Dawson

(Answers to Grandma's questions)

What bugs do you have there?

We have mosquitos and an occasional cockroach but other than than we are pretty free of bugs.

Love you lots Grandma, thanks for the email! I got your package yesterday and my companion and I have been eating the treats you sent. Thanks so much!

Unfortunately we didn´t do anything to celebrate my six months. Sorry! Pretty busy out here. 

Thanks for all you do Grandma, love you so much!

(Answers to Mom's questions)

How is your rash? Did they give you an antibiotic?

It´s all cleared up. Yeah I got an antibiotic.

How are your shoes holding up? What should we get Jayden?

I really like the hushpuppies, the Doc Martins honestly aren´t as comfortable. I would say get Jayden Hush Puppies.

Is your ingrown toenail better?

Yeah it´s okay.

Did they tell you places that you can eat at, or do you eat anywhere?

We can eat wherever we want.

Week 19 - Blessings will come more frequently and abundantly as you follow the gospel plan of Jesus Christ.

Hey guys! Hope everyone has had an excellent week.

This week we went to Guatemala City to fill out paperwork for my companion Elder Proby. Fortunately we got to go to the mall in the capital afterwards which was pretty cool. Elder Proby got some glasses and I got a shirt. 

We also had a Zone Meeting this week where we talked about personal conversion and working with leaders. I had a really neat spiritual experience as a part of this as well. The previous night I prayed in my evening prayer and after I prayed I paused and distinctly had the word "raíces" come to my mind which means "roots" in Spanish and I thought that was super random. The following day we talked about making our roots deeper in the soil of the gospel and I´m certain that Heavenly Father wanted me to pay special attention to that message. Certainly a fantastic experience!

We also had a cool mission activity this week where we played some Minute to Win it games. We distributed about 500 pamphlets with invitations this week and had an attendance a little bit shy of 100 people. It was fun and successful, albeit a little hectic.

This week I might have to go to the doctor because I have a rash on my chin. My guess is that I shaved with some bacteria on my razor. It looks pretty ugly but it´s gonna be treatable.

I want you all to know that you´re in my prayers and that I´m doing very well! I hope the best for each one of you and I can personally promise that blessings will come more frequently and abundantly as you follow the gospel plan of Jesus Christ.

"Do we realize that happiness here and now consists in freely, lovingly, joyfully acknowledging God’s will for us—and doing it in all ways and all affairs big and small? To live perfectly is to live happily. To live happily is to grow in spiritual strength toward perfection. Every action performed in accord with God’s will is part of that growth. Let us not partition our lives. Let us unify our lives, being contemptuous of fictitious honors and glories that do not come with God’s approval. Let us remember that the real source of our strength and happiness is beyond the reach of men and circumstances." - Ezra Taft Benson 

Have a great week!

(Answers to Tatum's questions)

What is your favorite part of Guatemala so far?

Things like haircuts and food at restaurants are super cheap. A haircut is less than two dollars and a meal at a restaurant is around 3 dollars. The people are really cool too. A lot of times it´s sad cause they´re super poor but there´s never really mean people here.

Is the language getting easier?

Yeah it´s a lot easier now. When I´m talking to people I think pretty much 100% in spanish. Every once in a while there will be a specific word that I don´t know but when they explain it I know what they are talking about.