Elder Dillon McSpadden: July 2016

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Arrived

July 27, 2016

"I've arrived and I'm serving in Oxford!"

Elder McSpadden

President and Sister Gubler

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Week 3 MTC Enters the Mission Field

July 26, 2016

I have made some pretty amazing friendships here in the MTC so it's going to be really hard for me me to say good-bye tomorrow to all of them. Last night we stayed up until 3am talking and laughing so hard with all the boys because they all had to be up at 3am to get to the airport on time anyways. We have finally been getting to know each other a lot more so it's been so fun! But also we've been able to grow together spiritually. I don't know if I told you but it's the biggest group of missionaries here in the MTC with 84 people but we all know each other so well, so it's all good.

All of us in our shirts reppin our different Countries!

Funny thing that happened to me on Sunday... I was taking a nap because we had like 45 minutes of free time and I woke up right when I was suppose to be at the devotional. So I hurried and threw my clothes on and ran downstairs. Hillstrom and I try to sneak in the back and President Preston stands up and says, "Finally Elder McSpadden is here to conduct!" I'm like, your kidding me... So I walk up as everyone is just dying of laughter because they all knew I was asleep and President Preston says, "Elder, did you know you were conducting?" I said, "Uh no, no one told me." He starts to laugh, along with everyone else, and says "well i just told you and were 10 minutes late into this meeting so stand up and lead this devotional." So I stood up with bed head and all, still half asleep as everyone is still laughing and conducted that meeting! It was pretty funny so I decided to share it with you. Ha Ha!
Now a spiritual experience... I had the opportunity to give a blessing of comfort to a member of my district who has been really struggling. It was such a cool thing! It was the first time I actually felt guided by my words of what to say. I said amen and I was shocked and felt the spirit so strong. he stood up gave me a hug and said that is exactly what I needed! He then turned around and gave me a blessing for the sick because I have been so sick this past week. i felt the spirit so strong and the next morning I woke up and felt just fine. THE POWER OF THE PRIESTHOOD IS REAL!!! I love it so much!
We had a last testimony meeting with everyone and it was so much better than I had expected. I was thinking it was going to be some 2 hour drag on meeting when everyone says I didn't want to come but now I love it and I'm glad I did... NO it was nothing like that!! Every person got up and truly testified that there is a God and He is a loving Heavenly Father who loves all of us. He sent his Son Jesus Christ to pay for OUR sins. They all said something a little different but the spirit was so powerful in just the simple words each of us had to say! I know my Redeemer lives! He loves each of us and if He had to suffer for everyone all over again so we could be saved, He would. Because of the intense love He has for all of us! I hope my family knows I have a very strong testimony of this Gospel and of the Atonement. Without it I wouldn't be who I am today. I love you all so much and I"m so very glad we as kids have been raised by such good parents who love and take of us. I hope Lake Powell was just a blast and you all thought of Dillon the whole time! LOL J/K But I was thinking and praying very hard for each one of you. My loving family and my Heavenly Father is what helps me every day. . Love you all and God be with you till we meet again!
Please send tons of letters to the mission now! I think my P-Day is on Mondays now. So excited to get out there and see what it's like. Ha Ha! I have to wake up way early and then I have a 6 hour bus ride but I'm excited because then I can sleep the whole way! (:

Much Love,
Love Ya Boy Elder McSpadden

Elder McSpadden and Elder Mesa

"He just yells my name at the top of his lungs wherever he's at! It's really funny, love this guy!"

Elder Timperley from Australia, Elder McSpadden and Elder Strandberg from Sweden.

"Outside playing futbol with all these Europeans. No American football because they say they have to be better at at least one thing... haha But I'm catching up on those 5th grade soccer skills and I'm gunna kick some butt!"

Elder Still and I reppin USA and Canada!

Week 2 MTC Chruch History Sites

July 20, 2016

This week we got to into Preston and go to some Church History sites. We were able to see this way old Protestant chapel called Vauxhall Chapel where Heber C. Kimball preached 3times and then met and taught with people in there homes. They were able to baptize a lot of people from this. We also went were President Hinkley lived when his dad wrote him the letter and said, " Forget yourself and go to work!". We went to the River Ribble, near Preston, where Heber C. Kimball the first converts in England. It was only 10 days after the missionaries' had arrived. Between 5 and 7 thousand people watched the baptisms from the banks. We went and saw where the first missionaries stayed, Heber C. Kimball and Joseph F. Smith. We went to this place where they preached downtown and after hey taught 12 people and all 12 wanted to be baptized. I loved getting out in England and being able to see these cool sites.

Roommates: best homies all going to ELSM!!
Elder Hillstrom, Elder Veenker, Elder McSpadden, Elder Still (Canada), Elder Dickey, Elder Ataide (Brazil)

Elder Hillstrom, Elder Castillo (Ecuador), Elder McSpadden, Elder Argian (France)

Preston, England Temple!

"We get to attend the temple on our P-Days, so
grateful for the spirit I feel when I enter the temple
no matter where I am."

Elder Hillstrom and Elder McSpadden

My MTC District Elder Nelson,Sly, McSpadden, Hillstrom, Sister Bungato, Steed and Bradshaw

One night we had a push up competition with all the elders in the MTC and I won. I know surprising because I haven't worked out in forever. But I've started while I'm here so I can keep on winning! LOL Sundays are my absolute favorite in the MTC, we get to go to church then take naps and listen to great devotionals by General Authorities. We watched one by Elder Holland talking about the atonement. he said missionary work isn't easy because the price that He paid for salvation wasn't easy! That really stood out to me and gave me motivation to work hard and help others.

England doesn't have any AC and they said it's been the hottest England has been this last week in a long time so tha't been tough! In a class room all day now add sweating all day in there as well. Our rooms we sleep in are so hot we found 4 fans to set up to keep us cool so we can sleep at night. No one has reported them missing so I think we're all good. England is sweet and I can't wait to get out in the field!!

Love,
Elder McSpadden

Week 1 MTC

Week #1 July 13, 2016

So the first week in the MTC was absolutely amazing!! We got here and they just put us right to work with learning planning and teaching. For 12 hours a day that’s all I do and then I get to eat and go back to class. I get some exercise time so I can beat up on Trux when I get home but that’s it. I eat really fast so I can go back to my bed and get 5 on the ear cuz it is very much needed. I haven't been sleeping very well at all because these beds are so bad, I'm so tired. I finally just knock out at the end of the day. During classes I have to stand up sometimes because with out a doubt I start to fall asleep I'm so tired! haha Its actually really funny.

I was made a district leader second day here over the Benjamin Distrct. My companion is Elder Hillstrom (a kid he went to High School with) and we get along pretty well. We have just been killin it in our lessons with role play and investigators. My roommates are Elder Veenker Elder Atidide from Brazil Elder Dicky from South Africa and Elder Still from Canada. We cross people up in b ball all the time. These guys aren't in my district, but our dorm is stacked with all those studs.

The investigators are real peoples stories that the teachers act in so it’s a very special experience for us to be able to find ways to help that real investigator. We were told a story about how they did this and after the MTC two missionaries found their real role play investigator and then knew exactly what she needed to hear, gave her lessons and she was baptized. Kinda crazy, but its sweet. I treat it like its real and when that happens I'm able to teach with the spirit. When I was teaching we talked to this lady about eternal families and the importance of it. The teacher/investigator started tearing up a little because of the love she felt by the spirit for that investigator. It was amazing to see that and have those experiences.

I have never felt the spirit more in my life than in the last week. We had a devotional and all it was was videos from Mormon messages. The one about staying in the lines and the one about the priest who gave a blessing to a football player on the field. Many about how we need to be ready and worthy to fulfil our priesthood duties. I was sitting there in my chair feeling the spirit from my head to my toes, literally. I have never felt the spirit feeling in my face before but it was freaking awesome. I couldn't sit still I was so pumped to go give a blessing or something. The spirit of God is so powerful and I have seen that more just in the MTC.

So the other day we were chillin in the dorm and talking about funny things and what to compare the mtc to and we decided it was like a prison camp haha. I said that because our teacher is German, and she snaps at us a lot. There are German learners everywhere so we hear it a lot. We rarely get to go outside, we have to stay in hot class rooms all the time so that was the description. Kinda messed up but so true. We then laughed and we all said how we loved it, but just can’t wait to get out and teach.

It’s harder to stay awake than the Snow College film session we have after those hard practices. Trux might know what I'm talking about. At the end of the day I always feel so accomplished and good about what I have done that day. Makes it better for me to wake up the next and get back to work. So the MTC Pres. said this is the largest group to ever come in one day and largest to ever be here so it’s kinda PACKED. We have about 86 missionaries here right now and by the time I leave there’s suppose to be 116. Not comparable to Provo MTC, this is small but that’s so many people for how small this place is. I love meeting new people and making friends. Mom I already have people from Brazil, Ecuador, France, and Spain coming to live with us after the mission cuz I talked to them about snowmobiling so be prepared for that. It's gunna be lit Trux.

Much love to you guys and please writ letters because with emails, I don't have a whole lot of time for! Tell everyone to send letters. Love you all and God bless!

-Love ya Elder D MCSPAD

Arrived in the MTC!

July 6, 2016
Family! I want you to know that I arrived in safety to the MTC. I'm doing absolutely great except I'm tired and I can't feel my legs from that long flight. It was great though and I met some amazing missionaries that I flew with. One of them is from Lone Peak his name is Elder Peterson. We have gotten along so well and have become close friends already. He is going to Alpine Germany, so that's cool! I also met the girl that Aunt Lisa told me about, Sister Parker she is way cool as well. i already love it here in England! It smells so good feels amazing and I love the feeling it brings to me. I finally get to feel the way Dad has felt about this place. It's very comforting to me. Mom and Dad, it's okay I promise! No need to worry about your boy he's doing good! I can't believe this adventure is sarting for me and I feel so great it's finally here, we have the best family ever and I'm blessed to be apart of it!

Love,
Elder Dillon McSpadden

My District in the MTC
Back Row: Elder Hillstrom, Elder McSpadden, Elder Sly, Elder Nelson
Front row:Teacher, Sister Steed (Holiday), Sister Bradshaw (ST. Geezy), Sister Calle Bungato (Spain).

Airport

July 5, 2016

Drive to the airport, not so fun! He flies from SLC to Orlando, 4 hour layover, then into Manchester to arrive at the Preston MTC Wednesday morning at 8am. "Mom, I'm so excited for my turn to serve. Don't be sad!"

Officially Elder Dillon McSadden

Families are Forever! We love this kid and our so pleased with his willingness to serve and the example he sets for all of us! Time to finish our 4th of July celebrations with some fireworks! Last one for 2 years!

July 4, 2016 Elder Dillon McSpadden was set apart as a full time missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! Bishop Carter representing England with his British tie! (He served in London)