Greetings from Miaoli! I was transferred to the other side of the island, the west side and north of where I was. My new area is just above the Taichung Mission which is the other mission here in Taiwan.
There's simply no way I will
be able to relate 1/10 part of all the craziness that was this past
week, but I will endeavor to give you a good sample.
Monday
was my final P-day in Hualien (though I didn't know it at the time). We
went on some crazy adventures in the mountains and had some super sweet
ice cream. The path we took up one of the rivers was sketchy at best,
but I will refrain from going into too much detail for the sake of my
wonderful mother :) What's important is that I'm alive and well for
which I am very grateful. I was definitely protected as I did all in my
power to hear and heed the promptings of the Spirit.
Final P-day in Haulien
Tuesday
I got to ghost a bike for the first time (riding a bike while guiding
another bike alongside you). Needless to say, it is much harder than it
looks and also somewhat sketchy in terms of safety. My first attempts
led to some bumps and bangs; I was a little shook up for not the first
time this week, but I got several opportunities to practice throughout
the week out of necessity and am starting to get the hang of it. I'm
once again grateful that I was watched over as I did all I could to
serve the Lord. On Tuesday,
we also had out last district meeting together in Hualien; it was an
oceanside meeting. I felt like I was sitting in the pages of the New
Testament as we sat on the rocks bordering the open waves discussing the
work of the Lord. At the close of the meeting, Elder Hawkes gave us a
chance to go off a little ways and account to the Lord. We didn't know
what the future would hold, but I was met with with sweetest assurance
that the Lord was pleased with my efforts and would not forsake
me...that He was perfectly aware of me and would watch over me whatever
happened. I cannot describe the feelings of peace, love, and pure joy
that calmed me as I looked out over the endless blue with the warm ocean
breeze rushing over me. It was a special experience. That night we
learned that there were 8 tickets bound for Taipei.
Place that had ice cream and tiger fish
last supper in Hualien
Wednesday,
we got the news. We received a call from President Jergensen and
learned that our area would be closing (too many missionaries in our
little ward: 6 and 8 if you include the Beutlers). I learned that I
would be boarding a train before the sun rose the next day; I was bound
for Miaoli with Elder Rauckhorst as my new companion and breaker (simply
the name for your 1st companion following your trainer). This meant
goodbye to everything and everyone I had come to know and love. It meant
everything would change, but I did not fear it. I received confirming
witnesses from the Spirit several times throughout the day letting me
know that it was the will of the Lord. These witnesses brought peace to
me throughout an otherwise very stressful day. We spent much of the day
preparing for the transition (packing and other arrangements and
compiling our efforts of the past 6 weeks into a convenient little
package to give to the zone leaders who would be taking on our
investigators and all our projects and responsibilities that were
formerly ours). We took a short break to teach English class for the
last time and grab dinner (the peanut butter burgers). Following English
class, we said our farewells and then rushed home to finish
preparations for handing over our area. We wouldn't finish until 1AM, but we ensured that no one will be left behind. Our sheep will have a shepherd.
Peanut Butter Burgers
More pix from when we ate the live shrimp
We arose at
5AM on Thursday
morning and boarded the train that would take us into the unknown. It
was goodbye to Hualien...goodbye to home and family...but as the sun
rose I was reminded of the hope I had felt previously. I determined to
go forward with faith, and...to do so happily :) We arrived in Taipei
without too much excitement.
At the mission offices:
It was then I learned that I would be on my
own from there on out. My companion had his own train to catch, and I
needed to secure a ticket and find my way onto a train to Miaoli. This
was goodbye. I'm grateful for the time I had with Elder Hawkes. I
learned much from him. We had our struggles and the road wasn't always
smooth, but through it all we came closer together. In the end, I was
saying goodbye to Elder Hawkes: my brother and friend...and just like
that he was gone. Finding my way through Taipei Main Station was
something of an adventure, but I was able to get a ticket, get to the
correct platform, and board the train to Miaoli. Onward ever onward.
Good-bye to my trainer: Elder Hawkes
The train ride
I
arrived in Miaoli, and the insanity began, well...didn't stop. My new
companion, Elder Rauckhorst, and the companionship we share our
apartment with, Elder Johnson and Elder Hinckley, rolled up on their
bikes. We exchanged pleasantries and off we went. We dropped my stuff in
the apartment and then went off to make arrangements for the sisters
that would be coming into Miaoli, Sisters Chang and Zang (opening and
whitewashing). We secured bikes, built furniture, and saw to a number of
other tasks to help them get situated.
My new companion, Elder Rauckhorst
Miaoli train station
Miaoli chapel
Cricket--the bike with character (mine was in transit still)
High Speed rail
Our handiwork; desks we put together for the incoming sisters
New home
Love
heals the hurt. Upon leaving Hualien, there was something of a hole in
my heart. All the people and places I had brought into my heart were
gone. It really kind of hurt, but I remembered my mom sharing of her own
experiences with transferring on the mission. She said she would always
cry whenever she left an area, but that without fail, she would come to
love the people in her new area so that when it was time to leave it
was hard again. I've found it to be true. I've been able to press
forward as I've lost myself in the work. With every investigator, every
missionary, every member I meet, a gap is filled in that was left from
those I came to love in Hualien. Church was the ultimate factor in
helping me to feel fully at home in Miaoli. The ward is simply superb.
They're truly one big family, and I already feel
that I've been welcomed into it. The people are just incredible. Some of
my favorites are several handicapped members. The Light of Christ is so
bright in their eyes and their constant smiling and singing lift all
around them. I could go on and on about the friends I've already made
here in Miaoli (members, missionaries, and investigators alike). The
transition has been trying, but there have been many tender mercies
along the way. I got to give my new missionary testimony in church on Sunday.
I focused all my remarks on the Savior and bore testimony of His love
and divinity. I was once again filled with peace. As I've gone forward
this week, I've been heavily reliant on His Atonement and on the Spirit.
I've really just gotten out of the way and allowed the Spirit to lead,
and as I've done so I've seen great miracles. Among them, Chinese has
been a strength rather than a weakness.
Teaching at 7-11
Hot Pot meal
Construction in our bathroom
Happenings:
played basketball at a miao (Buddhist temple) for exercise, were qinged
KFC by the workers working on the bathroom in our apartment, got to
give a blessing to sisters in need, broke a fast with microwave popcorn
and doritos, and much more, but my luggage is here now and we've got to
pick it up.
God wants we to keep growing. He's the gardener here. Alma 36:27 "And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me...and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me". I trust God.
All is well,
Elder Dickson
