"Be careful out there, in the real world, they aren't as nice as we
are." haha That's how I feel now that I've left the MTC and I'm out in the
"real world". The night that I left to the airport, I didn't sleep at
all! Some of the Elders in my zone decided to build a massive fort for
our last night there! As we did so, we all got talking with one another,
telling stories and just laughing our butts off; gosh I miss them so
much already! When we got to the airport, it all started to feel real, I
was going to my first area and going to meet my trainer! Thankfully I
didn't let this get to my head too much and I was able to sleep all the
way from Salt lake to Georgia (I didn't have a chance to talk to anyone
on the plane, I was surrounded by missionaries)! When we arrived in
Georgia, some photographer for the Meridian Magazine was there and saw
all the missionaries that were coming off the plane and took a group
picture of all of us and said he would put it in the magazine (I don't
know how true that is). We then got on another plane to Tallahassee on
which I slept the whole way again hahaha. The mission President and his
wife were there to greet us, they are so nice and super funny! We went
back to the mission home where food was on the table ready for us! After
dinner we (7 other elders) were shipped to a hotel where we would spend
the night and then get our trainers and areas in the morning. So the
next day I wake up with a terrible cough and sore throat, haha that
would happen to me! But its okay, cause I am serving the Lord and He
will take care of me!
So my new companion/trainer is ELDER PECK, he is from Santaquin,
Utah and was taken out as Zone Leader to train me, how cool is that?! We
were assigned to open up a new area in Crestview, Florida! So we don't
have an area book or anyone to teach, so we have to rely on street
contacting and referrals as well as teaching less active members. The
work is slow right now, but I know that it will pick up once we get all
settled in and into the swing of things. It is absolutely gorgeous here!
I think Elder Peck is sick of me talking about the trees, but I cant
help it, they're awesome!!! The trees here literally wall the streets!! We are in kind of a rural area, so the houses are super cool as well. Everyone down here just parks their cars on the grass and no one even
cares, its so weird! A lot of people don't even have a driveway!
Southern Hospitality is 100% real! We have been fed every night so
far and have had some random people give us some food! These
people were so cool. We were riding our bikes and we pass this house
with a family sitting out on the porch having a beer and smoking
cigarettes and they called us over to talk to them!! We sat down and
ended up having an hour conversation with them building trust and
explaining to them what missionaries are and what we do. We shared a
quick little message with them and got their phone number and a return
appointment, they invited us for a bbq this Friday! I am so nervous, but
excited for this, it is going to be a blast, and I feel like the lord
has definitely prepared them to receive the restored gospel!
But then again, we are in the south and there are some crazies...
my first day in the field we were riding our bikes down the street for
the first time and this car drives pasts and yells some choice words at
us. I couldn't help but think "well, here we go" hahaha but thankfully
most people down here are really nice and welcoming!
I miss y'all so much and will definitely keep you posted on what is
going on in the Crestview area! keep me posted on life back home and all
the adventures that you go on! As soon as I figure out how to put
pictures on here, I will (so maybe next week or later today). But for
now, God Speed!
Love
Elder Schipaanboord
PS my new address is
Elder Schipaanboord
800 Spring Creek BLVD APT# 9206
Crestview, FL 32536
***Dallin also asks that if any of his friends and family have pictures with him to send printed copies so he can hang them up in his room***
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| "Nothing like starting out our first leg of the Meridian Magazine
sponsored Church History Tour and have 50 missionaries riding with us
on the plane! We were all loaning our cell phones to the Elders and
Sisters at the Salt Lake airport to make their final calls home (pay
phones are at a premium) and many tears of joy were shed. Needless to
say, all of our participants felt very safe on this flight! Love these
missionaries heading to Louisiana and Florida!" |
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| Good friend from home, Elder Nicholas Odgden. |
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| Door approaches. |
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| Laundry Day. |
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| Doing laundry for the first time. |
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