Week 18 in Taoyuan: Celebrating my birthday :)

Celebrating my 20th Birthday

My 20th birthday cake! :)

Thank you for all of the birthday wishes! Two decades...it's crazy how fast the time passes. We saw a huge miracle last week. It all began with a man taking out the trash a couple of weeks ago. In short, we were on our way to visit a member and stopped to talk with a man and his daughter who came out with the sole intent of taking out the trash. We shared a little with them, but they didn't want to learn more. So, we gave them a flyer for our free English class and off we went. 

The dad attended the class that week and loved it. He was especially glad to take home his own copy of the Book of Mormon and start reading it. This past week we had the opportunity to sit down with him and share more about the Savior and His Restored Gospel. He was thrilled to see us and had already read the introduction and first 10 chapters of the book. He kept talking about a warm feeling in his heart, and his one question was that he wanted to know what he might do to keep that feeling. The Word of God has a way of bringing peace to our minds and joy to our hearts. We're excited to continue sharing with this wonderful man. 

Thanksgiving Feasting in Taiwan

Average day on the streets of Taiwan

I've been struggling with some physical difficulties for some time now that are finally starting to clear up. Things got worse before they got better, but they really are getting better. We all face trials in life. Some are small, others seemingly insurmountable. Some are shared with everyone and their dog, while others are fought out in the quiet chambers of your own soul. In the end, it is a battle between faith and fear, and with the Savior on our side we need not fear. 

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7

"Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear." Moroni 8:16

With old friends/mission companions

Elder on a train

Thank you again for all you do and quite simply for being you. 

Choose happiness :D!

All is well,

Elder Reed Dickson

Week 17 in Taoyaun

Happy!

 Team building exercise in English class

Before leaving the apartment on Saturday, we prayed to find a family to teach. Before the night was through, we were blessed with not one, but two new families to teach. The first came by means of stopping and talking with an older man.  Before long, he had two children at his side and had invited us to head to the drink shop next door for a hot chocolate. And so it was, as the lesson drew to a close the kids were begging their father to give permission for them to pray, read the scriptures, and come to church. "Can we daddy? Please! Please Please! Oh can't we please..." It was a blessing and a joy to meet them and have the opportunity to be teaching them the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 The second family lives way out by the international airport. By the time we got out there, it was already nearing 9PM. After the front door yielded no results, we made our way to the back door as we had been directed to the back once before. We found evidence of only the grandparents and a toddler present, and the grandparents hadn't been too happy to see us the last time we had stopped in. What to do? Well, we prayed of course. Immediately following the prayer, we felt impressed to give it a go. Not five minutes later there we were sitting in a cozy living room with the father of the family. He's interested in our message, and it's what he wants for his young family. Miracles all around...

Celebrating Elder Hong's Birthday

Good Food!

It's hard to believe I finished being trained over a year ago and at this time last year was already in Miaoli苗栗. At the time, I hadn't an inkling of the many adventures and learning opportunities that lay in store. The next 6 months were some of the best of my life, and I hope and believe I'll be able to say the same about these next 6 months as well. My wish is that you'll be able to say the same.

Thank you for all your prayers and support! Have the best week!

All is well,

Elder Dickson

Week 16 in Taoyuan

 At the Taipei Temple

 

View of the city

 

Monkey

 

 

Mosiah 4:27 "And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order." It is a puzzle indeed. I've been learning how to be urgent and diligent without being in a state of emergency. I've come to several conclusions, but, in short, not even the Savior Himself sprinted from multitude to multitude. We need only do our best and place our trust in Him and recognize Him as our strength. 

Ward Activity

We were glad to discover at least in part the concerns of one of our most progressing investigators. I call it the Santa Claus Syndrome: he believes it and wants it to be true, but if he later found it to all be false it would crush him. He doesn't want to make himself vulnerable. He's scared. Solution. We need to help him continue building his faith. 

The miracle formula works! It involves setting a goal prayerfully and accompanying prayer with hard work until that goal is realized. We were running out of time in the night, and we still needed one more set up to hit the goal we had set. In a last ditch effort we each shouted out to a passerby. In essence we said "can we share with you about Jesus Christ?" The one responded "sure." After inquiring further as to why he might be willing, he just said "what? Is that a strange thing to want?" Long story short he set up to meet with us.

Finally, we got our smart phones. I've been amazed with the church's software in relation to missionary work and technology. It's revolutionizing our work though I still don't fully understand all of it. 

 

With Kim Chen

 

With Elder Sproul

 

serious

 

My companion: Elder Jorgensen with Kim Chen

 

 

All is well!

Have the best week!

Elder Dickson 

Week 15 in Taoyuan

An exhausting week...really just tiring like nothing else. Between, ultimate frisbee, push-up competitions, and traveling everywhere on foot for a time, I've slept really well.

With President and Sister Chen

with Kenneth in Taipei

I was grateful for the opportunity afforded to us during zone conference this past week to consider our mission vision. As I reflected on what I had set out to do, what I had done already, and that which I still hoped to accomplish during my time here in Taiwan, I was overcome with a feeling of peace. It was like someone was hugging me. I know the Lord is pleased with and has accepted my humble service done in His name. Have I been perfect or even near to it? No, not in the slightest, but boy am I trying and that's okay. That's all we can do.

With Elder Weinberger on exchanges

Traveling in Taiwan

I was also reminded of some of the goals I set way back in training, and I recommitted myself to those. Has it been easy? No, but I heard a thought on this the other day I appreciated a great deal: "Is 'such-and such' (the mission/life/etc.) going to be hard? Of course it is! Heavenly Father loves you!" It's sometimes hard to see all of the reasons or to understand why things can't be easier, but I'm confident God has His plan for us and in the grand scheme of things those "setbacks" are oftentimes nothing more than the stepping stones to a bright future.

Enjoy!

Here's a great video:

The Will of God

All is well,

Elder Dickson