Week 2 in Beitou: Happiness comes from family and God, not material things

 Skyping with the family in Missouri for Mother's Day

I even got to see my sister in Utah, (the wonders of technology)

It was another week of learning. I was able to Skype with my family this morning, which was Sunday night in Missouri. It's hard for me to believe how quickly the time is passing; it feels like only yesterday I Skyped them at Christmas time. I love them, and I'm grateful that they're doing so well.

An Amazing Family

 Lil Miss Captain America and her hero of a father

 A Marimba like back home!

A Happy child

We visited a member family this week. Their living space was a little smaller than what many people reading this blog are accustomed to, but...they had everything. I included some pictures of the kids. They're so happy as a family. They have one another, and they have the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The father is the hero of the children (much as my parents always were and still are to me). I've shared this before, but my dad was always very busy when I was growing up. He had a lot of responsibilities and not a lot of time. However, we children were always a priority. He always made time for us to do the things we enjoyed doing. It meant the world to me, and he and my other family members are my best and most trusted friends in all the world. The world we live in isn't an easy place to grow up in. Don't underestimate the influence you have. Make time for those you love this week. 

It was good to hear from the assistants to the President this past week that Elder Raley is doing outstanding over in Miaoli. He tested into the second level of language learning and they were literally astounded by his language and teaching skills. He's the best!

Photos of Beitou

 The Chapel in Beitou

We ran into a man on the street this past week that had some concerns about our church history. We asked him if he personally had read the Book of Mormon. He had not. It is amazing the power the Book of Mormon has. It is the keystone of our religion. It testifies of Christ, contains His Gospel in its fullness, and is a witness to all the world of modern-day revelation. All stands or falls with the Book of Mormon. In this last General Conference President Monson focused his remarks on this special witness of the Savior and invited all to study from it on a daily basis. This is my invitation to you. Follow the prophet. Read and study from the Book of Mormon. Individually and as a family. Daily. We need to build and maintain our testimonies of the Savior if we are to endure these challenging times that lay ahead. Hold to the rod.

Public Transportation

 I gave in and bought a Costco card last P-day

 Spicy Mexican Fried Rice

 We have a new roommate, Sir Roach.

maggots for lunch...

Did some morning exercise and the mosquitoes got me.

 This Dragonfly made it's last flight :(

It also happens to be Mother's Day in America. I couldn't be more blessed. My mom is my hero and friend. She also just so happens to be an angel.

For Mother's day in Taiwan there was a luncheon for the moms and missionaries after church.

 Yummy cake!

These scriptures in Alma describe just how much influence a mother can have on the lives of her children.  (Referring to the Army of Helaman)

Alma 56:47 "Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them." and Alma 57:25-27 "25 And it came to pass that there were two hundred, out of my two thousand and sixty, who had fainted because of the loss of blood; nevertheless, according to the goodness of God, and to our great astonishment, and also the joy of our whole army, there was not one soul of them who did perish; yea, and neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds.

26 And now, their preservation was astonishing to our whole army, yea, that they should be spared while there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain. And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe—that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power.

27 Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually."

I'm grateful each day for the things my mother taught me through her teachings and example. She's among the most Christlike people I know.

I love you all!

All is well,

Elder Dickson