LETTERS TO THE WHOLE FAMILY

Letters came to everyone in the family. We loved getting mail today.
The letter below is to Mom in response to questions about things she was hoping he was doing. He then told more of what he is doing.
Dearest Mother,
I am getting almost too much sleep. My body wakes me up before 6:30 every morning.
I am flossing and brushing for fve mintes a day. No, we do not live like slobs. Our room is spotless and our beds are made. (probably because we don't know when room inspection is.)
I am working my tail off and have a blast at the same time. Praying hard? Well, I am praying harder and in a different language than I have my whole life.
BTW, Mrs Hopeing (mom); please have a little more faith in me. Hope is okay, Faith Muy Bien!!!
So you are not the only one who met an apostle last week. Jeffrey R. Holland came with his whole family last week. It was a pretty cool/spiritual/ amazing Thanksgiving ever!! His grandchildren sang to us and then his wife spoke and then he gave an amazing talk on the Atonement. He said the symbol of the church is missionaries. He also said, "cowboy up and get to work."
Every speaker/teacher here has told us the gospel is bigger than all of us.
I remember at the beginning of the devotional that we were singing Because I have been given much when Elder Holland walked in. We all stood and sang even louder. The spirit was off the charts. He blew us kises and motioned for us to sit down. He did the same thing at the end.
Scripture and PMG (Preach My Gospel) study is amazing. Scriptures pop up like daises when we are being strictly and exactly obedient. It is so cool to feel the spirit 24/7. It is like I can't turn it off I don't want to. It is just awesome. So, that is what is up. I am excited to go to the temple this Thursday. I can see Julies house when we go on our temple walks on Sundays. I am excited for the up coming adventures with my district and comapanion. Pictures will come soon.
Love, Elder Chadwick

FIRST LETTER FROM THE MTC!!!!!

Dated November, 20, 2010 Three days after he went in the MTC. Received November 24, 2010

I am loving it here. My companion is great. His name is Elder Oswald. We get along extremely well. No, he is not in band but he plays the guitar. He is from Idaho Falls, Idaho. I am the senior companion.

We will be able to teach the first lesson in Spanish by next Tuesday. We already know how to greet people, tell them our purpose, bear our testimony and set up appointments. We also pray before everything we do. Almost everything is in Spanish now.

We have two teachers HNO Latimar y HNO Ramirez. Latimar went ot Chile on his mission. Cool fact: my middle name is Santiago. Pretty cool, huh? HNO Ramirez is from Mexico and served a mission in Mexico. He has been learning English since July.

The food here is great. I love the wraps. I eat one almost everyday. Some Elders had an orange juice Challenge. One Elder drank 17 8 oz glasses of it. He was sick for a week. They pack it with fiber. I don't want to even go near it.

I have read half of Our Search for Happiness. It has some interesting stories.
So you are probably wanting a spiritual experience I had... Okay, well here you go.
Dios ama sus hijos. Jesu Cristo es nuestro hermano. Me familia es eterno. Me gusta de comida Dios das me. Jesu Cristo expiacion para sus.
See, it is coming along. It is easier when teaching. Everyone of our leaders have told us "If you don't have the spirit, DON'T TEACH!" That is why we pray constantly.

My district is full of the best missionaries. Elder Hatt is from Canada, he is our district leader. Elder Flores, Prebbe and Lewis are from California and Elder Johnson and Oswald and Fredrickson are from Idaho. Elder pierce is from Seattle/
Btw, I met Hermana Johnson. (Nikki & Joel Johnson's neice) She is pretty cool. Met her on the way to get shots which I didn't get.

I am looking forward to Tuesday nights devotional. Hopefully I get a good seat.
Sundays, I have heard, are great. We are going on temple walks and sacrament meeting is all in Espanol.

We have to prepare a talk in Spanish every week. I am preparing on on kingdoms of glory. Planning for the next day is key to being a successful missionary. MDT (missionary directed training) is four hours a day. We have a lot of time to study and pray.

There are 30 minutes for breakfast, 45 for lunch and dinner. We always sit next to or across from our companion and we sit together as a district. We are cool like that. I always have a salad with each meal except breakfast.

There are two companionships to a room. I am on the top bunk.
Basketball and four square are so much fun. The shoes/zapatos work :) Can you get me some feet spray? My feet mucho not good smell. My P-day is on Thursdays so I won't e-mail you till then.
Thanksgiving is going to be great!
Thanks for the package. Please put a little food in it next time.
Gracias,
Love, Elder Daryl (Santiago) Chadwick

ENTER THE MTC

The big day finally arrived. DJ was so excited and ready to go. We were going to have lunch at Brick Oven before he went in but he just wanted to go. We got to the MTC and drove up by the temple to take a few pictures since the MTC sign is gone because of construction. We traveled to the south side of the MTC and were greeted by 4 elders. (see photo) Our new friends. They asked if he had his immunization record and if he had a cell phone or car keys. After a short conversation about phantom cell phone vibrations in pockets for a few weeks, it was time for the final picture. We gathered our new friends and took the photo. After our last hugs and me getting to do my happy dance, we left Daryl James Chadwick at the MTC.

After DJ entered the MTC, he met Jolene Hope who he knows from marching band. What a surprise for her anyway. I'm sure he was surprised too. She had someone take their picture and you can barely see his name tag but that's okay.
It was fun to come home and hear the message that she had met him and had a photo to send me. He has a friend in the MTC now as she works there every Thursday and will gladly bring me things from him.

BEING SET APART

Tuesday. One more day until the MTC. The day to be set apart as a missionary. Bishop Nichols, President Anderson, Grandma Chadwick and our little family were in attendance. We heard a short message from the Stake President and then all said why we think DJ would be a good missionary. DJ then stood and told why he would be a good missionary, told everyone why he was grateful for each person in the room and then bore strong testimony about the Savior, going on a mission and his love of the gospel. He was then set apart by his father, the bishop and stake president.
He was promised many wonderful things. We know he will be a great missionary.

SAD MONDAY

Monday morning seemed like it would be just another day. Working, living, doing. Rush, rush, rush.
It all came to a stop when we got the call to get to the hospital as quick as we could. Sons, daughter in laws, granddaughters and grandsons and friends made their way.
Vernon Chris Chadwick passed away at 9:25 a.m.
We were blessed to have all the family together on Sunday.
We are glad that we had our father and grandfather with us to celebrate.
We will miss him.
The picture is of DJ and his grandpa was taken by his grandma. DJ noticed after his grandpa died that by the picture of Christ was his grandpa's name. Chris. Of course, the wood block says Christ but for the photo the t was covered up.

FAREWELL SUNDAY

Today was farewell Sunday. DJ gave a very good talk. So did Bishop Hoyle and Brandon Bean. Many family and friends came to wish DJ goodbye. We loved having everyone in our small home. This was a great time to remember.