Dusty's Address

For all those who wish to contact Dusty in the MTC, here is his address for letters or care packages.

We would ask that you remember that Dusty is serving the Lord, and that we as his friends and family should do the best we can to help him focus on this task. We ask each of you to read the following advise from a missionary and keep his words in mind when you write Dusty. Each of us can help Dusty have a great experience, but we need to remember that what and how we write can have a major impact on that.

The following was published by the LDS Church in 1997. The words are still very wise:

“Missionaries love to hear from home, especially from close friends. What makes it tough to concentrate is what is contained in the letters. Write about their mission. Share personal missionary experiences you are having at home. Write about insightful things you’ve learned in the scriptures. It’s all right to write about home; just don’t dwell on it. Nothing distracts an elder more than talking about the boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. Don’t reflect on past dates or discuss when he will come home. People change a lot in the mission field and at home. It’s best to be only friends. A key to being a positive support to a missionary is to cut out any type of romance in your correspondence. If you are focused on his mission, he will be too.”

Further advise follows from the same article:

"Letters are a great place to talk seriously about the gospel. This will not only help the one who receives the letter; it will be of great value to the person writing the letter. Include copies of stories you have read or clippings from magazines. Write down thoughts or poems that you particularly like. Record interesting or funny things that have happened. And keep a duplicate of each letter you send. These letters can be a nice addition to your journal."

"Missionaries who really focus on their missions are the happiest. They look back at those years as a time of great service and growth. If you want to help in making his mission a wonderful time, keep your letters upbeat and light. This is also a time for you to pursue worthy goals in education, work, or missionary work."

"Many missionaries choose to memorize all seven verses of Doctrine and Covenants 4 about missionary work as a field ready to harvest. In verse five it encourages those who labor to have an “eye single to the glory of God.” This focus on the work makes missions more satisfying. Letters that encourage and uplift missionaries, rather than add to the homesickness, can help a missionary lose himself in service."

Now with those words of guidance out of the way, Dusty will be in the MTC through August 25th, 2008. His address is:

Elder Dustin Howard
MTC Mailbox #120
MEX-MEXE 0825
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, Ut. 84604-1793

You can also visit www.dearelder.com to send a letter directly to him at the MTC or via pouch service when he gets into the field.

Thank you for your interest in keeping in touch with Dusty and please help him to have great two years!