Looks like he needed a Bath! Bath, ME that is...

Elder Dahlberg with President Stoker and his wife

Elder Dahlberg with his trainer Elder Lund

Dear Blog readers,

Elder Dahlberg sent a lot of pictures and gave me a lot of info today.  I'll be on here trying to get it all downloaded.  I'll publish bits as I go, but be sure to come back to see what you might have missed!  I did edit them a bit to make them easier to read...

A view of Bath, Maine

First of all, here is his current address (until at least Dec. 1, but most likely longer... we'll see).
 Elder Drew Dahlberg
 962 Middle St. Apt. 7
 Bath, ME  04530-2455

Google map of his apartment

     "Okay wow. this week has been one heck of a ride so if I'm all over the place, sorry I have to much info to say. I haven't been able to check my email in over a week and a half and i am LOADED with emails so thanks to everyone who sent me one! I ABSOLUTELY love it. 

     Okay so now getting to the good stuff. I am now in Bath, Maine. It is a city of ships. ships get built here and its a pretty small town along the coast of Maine  From where i am living i have yet to see the vastness of the Atlantic ocean but hopefully over the week i will be able too. Some of the favorite words people like to say are "Wicked" and "I'm all set". I heard that so many times while knocking on peoples doors which where then immediately slammed in my face. haha. SO i am living in the worst part of Bath, Maine  Where i live is where all the drug deals go down, where all the ex convicts live, and where all the troubled teens like to hang out and smoke. The apartment i live in is really crappy, stinky, and over 150 years old. No joke. It is freezing at night so i had to buy some extra blankets to keep myself warm. When the apartment needs to get warm the radiators attempt to work, by making the most horrendous sounds. For example it reminds me of when someone scratches their fingers on a chalk board. YEAH... 

     I really like how in the morning i get one hour to study the scriptures alone. It really helps get the day going. (Mom your probably like WHAT THE?!, DREW STUDYING!!) I'm saying the same thing too haha. ON my first night here in Bath Maine, my companion Elder Lund and I were driving around visiting people and a HUGE bolt of lightning went through the sky and it was  breathe taking. I have yet to see lightning since but it was epic. (Timmy is was 10x better than the ones in Arizona . As missionaries, we aren't allowed to be in the apartment before 9PM and it gets dark here around 5:30PM, And when i say dark, I mean dark. There are no street lights to light up the streets so its really dark. But if we finish our day before 9Pm we go on whats  called an obedience walk. Elder Lund and i could break the rules and go in the apartment at 8pm if we wanted to but we both didn't come on the mission to break the rules so we follow them as best we can. On obedience walks we are walking around the creepy area in which we live and its pretty sketchy the things we encounter. We already got honked at and yelled at for being Mormon.  People breathe smoke in your face to see your reaction, people say im all set while your trying to talk to them haha. I make it sound terrible, but its not THAT bad haha. I have so much info so stay with me. 

     In my area of Bath, i have yet to see a light house so i haven't seen one yet. Mom when you send a package,things that i really need here are a small hymn book, my blue pillow, an iPod wall charger and TRAIL MIX!!! there isn't a Costco to supply it so i can only get it from you. That trail mix is so good and every package you send please put that KIRKLAND trail mix in it. You can even buy two and fit it inside of a bigger bag :) i love that stuff. 

     The area in which i live is kind of like walking in Downtown SD to get to Petco. Full of trash and dirty things and the concrete is all cracked and made terribly, and the people are creepy haha. Its funny being in an apartment with one other guy because you know you shouldn't go into the bathroom when the door is closed because that means they are in there pooing or something. And you don't even have to close the door behind you when you go into it.#guythings :)   (Mother note... sorry for the graphics...)  Our light in the bathroom doesn't work so we are currently using a desk lamp to lighten up the way. Hopefully the landlord comes this week to fix it. Some statistics about our mission is that our baptism goal for our area is 6 baptisms in one year. so that helps show how hard it is here to spread the gospel. When the prophet changed the age for missionaries there were only 119 missionaries in the NHMM. Now there are 209 missionaries in this mission. Its funny here because when i was younger i was always told not to talk to strangers. but as a missionary you talk to every person possible, whether they be normal or wacked out on drugs haha. The drugged out people are the funnest to talk to. 

     We share a car with the sister missionaries whose area is Brunswick. We get the car from Monday night to Thursday night. The car is a chevy malibu. WE have bikes in the apartment, but we havent used them yet. I havent heard anything about using facebook or using ipads. For the first time being here on my mission in Bath Maine, on Sunday at 1:15 i felt a ray of sunshine hit my neck. What a great and glorious feeling that was. (DJ i miss those days while life-guarding when i wished there would be clouds to cover the sun.) Now the sun is all i want to feel. 

     When getting onto the freeway/highway you don't need to merge because there is NO traffic what so ever. Mom use any picture you want for my plaque.  Ill be sending some pictures soon so you can choose what  one you want. Doesn't even have to be one of the ones i send. I heard from some people that there is surf in Reid State Park. i haven't been there to check it out but hey, if there is talk of surf that must mean there is something. 

     A very nice less active sister in our ward gave both Elder Lund and I winter, gear from LL bean. She used to work there and she got super discounts on them. We offered to pay her for them but she declined. the gear is really nice. People wear ratty clothes here and there is no rush to get anywhere here. everyone is super laid back and if they are late, no point in trying to hurry if your already late. People here wear clothes like dads jacket that he wears when its cold. The blue, black checkered jacket that i think he got for Christmas?

Clothes drying the old school way!

That is how people dry their clothes. people don't have alot of money here in Bath :/ but some people are rich out of the wazoo hahaha

Sister who gave them warmer coats!

The warmer coats... I LOVE LL Bean!

     The members here are feeding me pretty well. And i eat at a members house about 5 times a week and they always have a dessert and they make you eat it haha. Im trying to work it off in the mornings but its hard with only 30 mins to burn off 2 dessert items in one day ya know!! im eating fine here. take all this info and make a wicked blog article!!! :) lots of people told me they love what your doing. so keep doing it!!! 

Pretty tree by the mission office

A typical Maine house

The kitchen???  Crazy small!  

        

Their room and study area

A fountain of Bathsheba in a park near their apartment

  

   












 Make an awesome blog post with all this info i gave you. Feel free to send the package sometime this week. I would love that. With trail mix!!! :) Lots of hugs and kisses for you mom and dad. I love you guys and if you are wondering how you could make drew's day. Send him a letter with a picture of yourself in it. :) it will make his day for sure. Well I'll leave you with a joke i heard here in Maine. 

So what do you get when 16 girls from Maine walk into a room?

A full set of teeth.   (ba dum pum)

Pretty gross huh? its true. They almost never brush their teeth and they smoke all day. 


The population here in Bath is like 75% old people on Social Security with 15% middle aged and 5 % young adults and 5% children. I have only seen one family that is in our ward that reminds me of MM2 ward. Oh and there are no other ethnicity other than white people. ONLY WHITE PEOPLE! And 1 random Asian guy that is in our ward, named Brother Wong. And he happened to live in Ocean Beach in SD for about 3 years. He said he loves it there and wished that he could live there. Oh and i am giving a talk about myself on NOV 17th. 

    If you do send mail to me can you include pictures of the family? 
Either that or individual pictures of you guys. I only get on the 1 time a week but i can look at that picture 24/7 if i wanted to. Thanks mom. Letters are going to be awesome!"

Until next week!  Write me!!!!!

Post Script from the editor:  He sent other pictures from the MTC that I have now posted in the previous blog entries, so you can check them out.  He saw Elder Norlund from our ward while at the MTC, so his picture is there too.  Thanks for hanging in there until the end!!!

He's much better this week. Thanks for the letters!

Drew and I were able to email chat a bit today, so that was fun.  We also received an actual letter from him telling me he was going to send me the SD card from his camera so I could download the pictures and then mail it back.  He has another SD card to use while that one's in transit.

"On Tuesday, our devotional was joined by Elder Dallin H. Oaks (one of the 12 apostles).  Pretty powerful stuff.  I look forward to Wednesday when I get to teach the fresh meat missionaries.  I know they will look up to me as Zone leader and I will be the coolest leader.  I will be a leader of 12 missionaries. Big shoes to fill,  but as you know, I have some big stinky feet, so it should be all good.  Love you guys and I am having a great time here at the MTC :) I look forward to P-day on Friday.
P.S. I love seeing ELDER DAHLBERG on a black name tag when I look into a mirror. Best thing I can be doing at this exact second of time."

Here are excerpts from his emails from today.

"Okay Mom. so here is the big ol fat letter full of info. Ill start off with my dorm room and the elders in it.
Elder Jensen-I love that kid so much. He may be deaf and need a hearing aid to hear me but he really knows how to listen. We talk so much about everything. He isn't my companion but we hang out anytime we get the chance. We eat lunch together and work out together. Pretty much everything. He is from Roseville, California, he loves to wake board, hike and just hang out. Oh and he can give me a run for my money in terms of farting. If i had to compare him to someone it would be a mix of me and Timmy and Dj. (Except without the surfing and blonde hair)
Elder Chilton- He is my companion. We both play water polo and swim. He wrestles and likes to talk. He talks a lot, and he is VERY smart in the Gospel. He knows almost every scripture by heart. He also is great at teaching missionary lessons. He is from Oakland,  California. If i had to compare him to someone i know it would be a mix between Logan Oldner and Jonny Sensenbaugh.
Elder Widerburg- He is elder Jensen's companion and he is in a family of 14 with 6 brothers and 7 sisters. he is 3rd. he is from Rexburg Idaho, and he really loves cars. He is a very strict rule follower and he gets uneasy when things don't come to plan. He is also VERY knowlegable about the gospel and its unbelievable how well he knows church history. If i had to compare him to someone i know it would probably be Devin. haha

My favorite experience(s) so far have been teaching investigators by the Spirit. Its a crazy feeling when the Spirit enters the lesson and you can just see it in the investigators eyes that he is feeling it. The brotherhood of our zone is so hard to describe. We all love each other and we all are here to serve Jesus Christ. Ill share something i wrote in my journal. "I cant at this moment think of anything stronger on Earth than humble servants of The Lord kneeling to our father in heaven in prayer. We may all be one as individuals but we are one in purpose."

The food here at the MTC is getting better. I think its getting better because my attitude is getting better. I am starting to eat more food than i previously had when i last emailed. Some examples of dinners ive had are. Chicken Cordon Bleu, Greek Salad with BBQ Chicken, Chicken sandwiches, Hot wings with caeser salad, french toast, yummy greek yogurt . Things like that. The days and meals here all mold together and its hard to remember what you even did 5 hours ago haha. 

So about the girls here at the MTC. There are some occasional attractive ones that all the missionaries gauk over. here at the MTC when you see an attractive girl you tell your companion that you just saw a very "Wholesome Daughter of God." The rule when looking at girls is 'its a sin to look twice' I got around that rule by just plainly looking at the girl and just keep staring so that i never break  eye contact. We had an Elder who left for home because he was homesick.  He was from Colorado Springs. I am so glad when i was all depressed and unhappy during the first couple days that i didnt just give up. I am so proud that I stayed here. I have learned so much about the Gospel and about myself.

On Tuesday there was a special devotional, and Dalin H. Oaks came and spoke to us missionaries! (Im on main campus BTW). Pretty cool to see a General Authority. He spoke about our church and the 3 things that make our church different from all the other ones on earth. 1.) The fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ 2.) Proper Priesthood Keys 3.) unique testimonies.

Oh wait. Here is some info you will want to know right now. I will depart for the airport from the MTC on Monday OCT 21 at 330AM. I will then board the plane leaving for Chicago at 7:55AM. From Chicago, which we will land at approximatly 12:01PM we will leave for Manchester NH at 1:06. and arrive there at 4:17.
Mom you i will call the house if its before 7Am your time and if its after 7AM your time i will call your cell. So please be expecting a call haha. :) tell everyone at home about it. IF i dont get to call than that will suck haha.

Okay another topic is recieving letters from you guys. IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY!!! Heres what i wrote in my journal after getting my first letter from you guys. "I came home to residence and to my surprise i had 3 letters waiting for me. It made me happier than when the American forefathers gained independence from the British!. I loved it so much. that is the best way i could describe the feelings i got. thanks for the letters. eveytime you send one i look like this :)

My week has been full of ups and downs and the week has felt like  a whole month, but i know that if i dedicate myself to the work, and work hard, time will fly by. I love you guys so much and i miss you, but i am having a great time here and i hope it stays that way. Thanks for the Support uncle Mike. I wasnt able to write a letter in reply but thanks for your letter and I will try my best to stay warm in NEW HAMPSHIRE!! Mom i got your letter with Devin's, Dad's and Tori's letters today. Dad- Thanks for the update on the scores, and i had NO idea that you wrote in cursive. When i first read it i was like what the heck is this? Is this english? Then i remembered that when writing in english you can use cursive haha. Tori- thanks for writing to me, I want to let you know that I actually miss talking to you and hanging out with you on sunday afternoons. I get choked up a little when i think of when you started crying when saying bye to me that day. I love you sis. Feel free to send me random selfies of yourself. Its cool to get pictures. Timmy- The picture of the whole group is awesome and I really really enjoyed seeing all them again. Andres is def. skinnier and he looks like he went through hell hahahahaha. Devin- Thanks for agreeing with me that the time here in the MTC feels like an eternity. I never expected that but thanks to you guys i got strength to continue.

Mom if you can when you post this to the blog let people know that they can send me an email at andrew.dahlberg@myldsmail.net, and that i may not have time to respond but i do have time to read them. So jokes, Funny Stories, pictures of you, stories in general, first impression of me, how much you love Drew. those kinds of emails are encouraged haha :)
Love you Mom. Thanks for being such a big supporter of me, this morning i woke up and looked outside at the moon and it was just like you said in the letter, I was watching over ya and i want you to know that. DEAR WORLD!  I am a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and i am in love with my mom."

They were able to go to the Provo Temple and took pictures of their district.  The sisters and the other two Elders are going to Orlando, FL

"The elder on the bottom is going to jacob loebers mission. He had to stay at the MTC for 4 weeks because he had a terrible case of athletes foot where he had huge pussy zit like things that shot out mustard ketchup and relish combined . Yum! Are you getting hungry?"

OK, folks, that's it for this week.  We'll see where his first area is sometime next week.  I'll keep you posted...

Extra pictures he sent in a later email...

Missionaries going to New Hampshire

Elder Dahlberg saw Elder Norlund from our ward

Elder Dahlberg and buddy Elder Jensen

Elder Dahlberg and comp. Elder Chilton

OH NO!! He's Homesick!! SOS!!

Well, we received a few different emails from Drew today and they all sound very stressed and homesick.  He REALLY wants some mail from his friends and family, so here are three ways you can communicate with him:

1.  Send him a regular email...  Andrew.Dahlberg@myldsmail.net  
     Unfortunately, he can only check that email once a week on Fridays, so it would be a week until he is able to read it.

2.  Send him a regular snail mail letter...  Here's the address for that until Oct. 21st.

Elder Andrew Craig Dahlberg
OCT21 NH-MAN
2009 N 900 E Unit 111
Provo UT 84602.

He has a mailbox that he checks a couple of times a day, so he would get that a bit faster.

3. Send a message with website called: www.dearelder.com This is a free service that allows you to fill out a form on their website, then type up a letter. They will print out the letter (Monday-Friday) and put it directly into his MTC mailbox. So, that's probably the fastest and cheapest way to go. Here's the info you need for the form:

Name Andrew Dahlberg
Unit # 111 Mission code NH-MAN Date he leaves the MTC: Oct. 21
So, here are some excerpts from the emails we received today, left unedited...

Hey mom. I am here at the MTC. I am having a really hard time. Its really hard and rough. But im trying my best to get through it. Im also feeling stressed because everything is so new.... But Ill calm down and let you know what is going on. So my P-days are on fridays, so today and next friday are when i can read emails. But i can read mail at anytime of the day. I really want mail. Our district leader, named Elder Jensen, checks the mail twice a day so i look forward to the day he brings mail for Elder Dahlberg. Like i said i am having a really rough time here. The days are long and the stress level is so high. I really need the support of friends and family at this time :/ Mail me please. I want to get motivated because i really am not atm. Im pretty sure ill get over it once the MTC passes but its hard because the days here at the MTC feel like weeks, and i really mean that! I am trying to write letters every night and mail them out but the time here is so booked. my schedule is packed from 6:30AM to 10PM. The only time i have to really relax and be "Drew" is when im supposed to be sleeping. My emotions are high as im writing this because i am starting to understand what missing someone feels like. It is SO HARD to be away from home. I miss everyone so much. Its hard :/ I love you guys. Now i understand why every single one of Devin's emails said I love you to every person in the family. Its because its so true... I love you Mom, Dad, Timmy, Tori, and Devin. I have been waiting all week to write this letter to you guys and its such a relief to hear from you because I love you guys so much.Okay i will start to list the good things about the MTC. I have 3 room mates and they are all going to Manchester, NH! It was so cool to see that when i first met them. I am starting to get really close to them and I feel like we will be brothers by the time the MTC finally passes. The names of my room mates are Elder Chilton (my companion) Elder Jensen and Elder Witerburg (Spell check...) Elder Chilton and Elder Jensen are from northern California and the other is from Rexburg. I am bonding with Elder Jensen the most because we both have the same sense of humor, and we both talk about how much we love our families haha. Elder Jensen is also deaf and can only hear out of his right ear (thanks to a hearing aid). He is such a cool dude and im glad i get to be in the same room as him. Last night was my favorite time at the MTC because he and I talked for almost 2 hours about crazy stories and things like that. I took a picture of all of us together but i forgot my camera at my room and i cant just run there and get it cause it would be to much of a hastle when i have limited time. I really really miss you guys if you cant tell. Other updates are that my companion and i were called to be zone leader, so that is a big responsibility because next wednesday when the NEwbies come to the MTC we give them a tour and help them around the place. And we are in charge of everyone in our district. I recomend you dont send me a package but send me Letters... This letter sucks because all the important info that i need to send to you is in my room and I would need to go back and get it. Ill try and get it but if i dont the next letter i send to you will be epic!


I havent talked about the food...... Its not the greatest... The bagels are stale and the oatmeal has been sitting there getting soggy for weeks and the only really good things are the bannanas and that it gives us a break from class. Class at the MTC is brutal!!!! Its 3 hours long and every minute we are getting loaded with deep deep questions which in turn make me feel stressed because they are so deep. The Classes almost make me a worse missionary.. I like to just go out there and let the spirit teach. I really want to you let guys know that i am thinking of all of you always and i really really want to get letters from you. THEY WILL LITTERALLY MAKE MY DAY! I cant think of anything else to tell you at the moment but if you want specific answers to your questions ask them to me like this. Example---What are you feeling like? ----How are you doing? ----Whats it like? Haha you get the point just use these --- so i know you want an answer to it. I will try and send another email with pictures and better info in like an hour. I love you guys so much and if you can just send me daily emails so that when i open my mailbox i am loaded with things to read i think i will cry if i see that. No joke. Love you!!!!! This is so hard.....

Then, there was another one, a bit later...

Hey mom. my camera doesnt work with the computers at the mtc but luckily elder jensens does. I am uploading some pictures of us. Couldnt have asked for better room mates. Especially Elder Jensen, i love that kid already. I dont have alot of time left but if you get anything out of these emails is that i am doing this work for The Lord and that no matter what i go through he will be there with me guiding me through my trials. And i cant wait to enter the real mission field! I leave on the21st of October and dont worry mom i found a better way to pack my clothes so that i will have space. please incoiurage people to write me through the blog. I would love to get letters from people. tell them i want to write back to every letter and email but if i dont its because i ran out of time and i am getting yelled at to get off the computer for so long haha. Bye

Elders Widerburg, Dahlberg, Jensen, Chilton 

And then another one... (just to get his point across about mailing him letters!)

Oh and mom when im on my P-days which are friday I will probably be able to check the computers in between 12-4pm for your reply to my emails. so next friday around that time expect an email from me and then reply back fast and then i may be able to send you another one that same day. :) I love you mom and i know you know that. It may sound like i hate this time but in the end of the day it is all worth it. Its very stressful work but the results i see from it are astronomical. My testimony has grown so much and i am so excited to share it with the people of New Hampshire. Oh and ask questions because I dont know what to talk about. All i keep wanting to say is that I love you and that I am in good hands. I made a mission motto last night and here it is. It might change but I think its appropriate. "I am just a tool, but a pretty dang attractive one." Oh and if your wondering if im farting alot? Well i am and Elder Jensen does the exact same. haha we are a perfect match I swear. Oh and we are all going to MAN-NH which is so awesome. Love you g2g

Oh, and then he sent another email to Timmy and some friends...

I am at the MTC. Also known as MBC. "missionary boot camp." This place is not my favorite place on earth... To be honest i cant wait to leave this place. The days here last from6:30am-10pm, of non stop learning. This time that i am writing this email is like the first time i have felt relaxed. these past 3 days that i have been here have been so long dudes.... Im not even aloud to call other guys dudes, or guys. i have to call them elders. its a big change from my normal life. Imagine your longest class at school and then multiply it by 3. haha so long... The food here is like breakfasts at a hotel. Mass produced and made with practically no nutrition. So i am seriously living on bannanas and apples. I am not going to get fat at the MTC, it will be impossible because the food isnt that good. ( I am a picky eater so Taylor i think you will love it here haha, unlimited doughnuts, ice cream, cookies, you name it.) I dont eat that stuff cause it makes me feel like crap. But in all seriousness i miss it back home. hopefully my attitude changes because if it stays like this my mission will be miserable. and i dont want that. I cant wait till the 21st which is when we get out of this place. and we get to go to NH. I love you guys and if you have any free time while at home please send me a letter at

Elder Andrew Craig Dahlberg
OCT21 NH-MAN

2009 N 900 E Unit 111
Provo UT 84602

I really want to hear from you guys while im gone. it will help keep me motivated and keep me from going insane haha. Love you guys. Peace out

Sooo, did we get the message to send letters???
Go for it!! He'll be so grateful!

And he's off.....

Well, he's checked in at the MTC (Missionary Training Center) in Provo, UT to learn how to be a good missionary.  He left San Diego yesterday, and flew up to Salt Lake City.  While there, he met up with my brother, "Uncle Mark" and they spent the day together.  Mark is an avid hiker, so of course, they went on a hike!  They made a fun video on their hike and posted it on Facebook.  I'll try to see if I can put a link on here.  (need technical know-how...)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10201843005497973      (hope that works...)

He was also able to spend a couple of hours this morning hanging out with Taylor Dean, one of his good friends, before being dropped off at the curb...

I don't know if he'll have the time or opportunity to write or send emails while he's in Provo, but if he does, I'll post it.  I know he has a lot of friends who are thinking of him and I want to thank all of you for your support while he does this, especially his "non-Mormon" friends who may think he's crazy...

So, here are some of the pictures of his last activities before the big adventure begins!

Yes, we know you are silly!

Best friend brothers...

The bottom of his shoes.  We'll see what they look like in a year...

We know where he got the silly from...

Cousin Connor & Drew on hike

But seriously now... check out the Y on the mountain in the background.  I miss that Y!!

Drew Dahlberg & Taylor Dean, the crazy duo!

Here's his welcoming buddy to show him the ropes...