Week 17 in Xizhi

With Elder Fredenberg

Jungle Speed with the YSA

Teaching English class

We went with a member today to play Laser Tag with a group of missionaries. It got a little intense, but it was alright.

Laser tag on P-day

Xizhi

The beach at Yilan

With my brother

A common sight in in Taiwan

The train

Food from Thailand

A Sandwich worth eating...

containing mashed potatoes, peanut butter, cheese, and whole lot of delicious!

We started teaching the daughter of the couple baptized last week. I really enjoy teaching children as it requires us to teach simply. We asked her if her dad loved her. She responded "Yes! Of course!" We asked her how she could be sure. She listed off several things her dad does for her: picks her up from school, goes to work, etc. We then asked her if God loves her. She again responded in the affirmative. We shared with her why we were certain God loved her by teaching of families and prophets. It was fun pulling out a picture book and sharing the story of Noah and the Ark.

Later that night we ran across a man from Macedonia. No sooner did we meet him, but his ride started pulling away without him in the vehicle. Determined, the pursuit began. Upon arriving at their destination we helped them out of the car and had a great exchange. Immediately after, we stopped by our friend Harry at his workplace. Unfortunately, he was busy. We picked up a chocolate bar, gave Harry the money, and may just have accidently left it on the counter. I'm sure someone helped us take care of it ;)

Saturday morning we played ping pong with Lyle. His wife and daughter joined the church last year. I've never met someone so prepared and excited to learn the gospel in my life. He went to church for the first time in his life last Sunday and is determined to never miss a week again. He's a retired school teacher and great to be around.

We've lately been meeting with and seeking to understand the situations of all the prospective Elders (men between the ages of 18 and 26). There are about 10 or so in our current ward. It's been really fulfilling just to help these guys build their faith and come closer to Christ. Several already have a desire to serve missions. I wouldn't have minded if the missionaries in my home ward had worked more with me back in the day.

We had a lesson at the fire station on Saturday morning and came across a man who had fallen and cut his fingers up pretty well. We were glad for the opportunity to serve. We are never too busy to help the one in need.

I've been enjoying accompanying daily study of the New Testament to my daily study of the Book of Mormon. It's been a powerful combination and has built my faith. I also highly recommend the Bible videos made by the church (especially the section on miracles). See this link: Bible videos

We've been incredibly blessed with many people to teach. It's gotten to the point where our members and Investigators are pretty much all we talk or think about and it's glorious. It's nice to be able to forget yourself and really love and seek the welfare of others. Here lies the key to happiness. It even got to the point today where I was feeling a little down and needed to talk with someone about the Savior as we hadn't had many opportunities being busy with P-Day. We have an investigator who used to smoke a pack a day now switched over to chewing gum, a guy who makes a 30 minute commute to work on a nice motorcycle spending the time in prayer, and many others experiencing and feeling the joys of positive change and repentance in their lives. Service is the key to happiness!

Remember this weekend is General Conference and the opportunity to hear the words of our living Prophet and the 12 apostles as well as other leaders. See this link: 2018 General Conference

Our members are the Best!

All is well,

Elder Dickson

Week 16 in Xizhi

With my two "sons"  and "grandson" in the mission

We went with the zone to the beach today. It was good to see some old friends and be back at the shoreline once more. It's actually been quite a while. Ultimate was a blast!

Zone conference was this part week, and I had several significant take-a-ways:

Yes if... Oftentimes we respond to a situation by saying "no because..." putting forth no faith and eliminating all possibility of success. We excuse ourselves out of even trying. However, when we approach the same problem with "yes if" there is hope present. We start to think of what it would take to have success. We achieve much more.

Goal setting. We set a lot of goals as missionaries. Daily, weekly, even longer term goals such as mission goals. Over time I began to realize I often didn't match my daily goals. I either fell short or overshot them, but it was rare I actually hit them. I rationalized I need not even set the daily goals in the first place. They're never accurate and I already know I'll give my all. True. We oftentimes don't match the goal we set. This is okay. It was still worth setting the goal as it helped us stretch and expressed our faith. All we need to do after setting a goal is evaluate whether or not we might do things differently in the future, thank God for the miracle He wrought even if it wasn't what we anticipated, and trust in the Lord. We need to look at that 80% and say "wow! 80%" That's a blessing for which we can be grateful. 120% is no different. We thank God and move forward in faith. I didn't explain this as well as I hoped to, but I learned nonetheless.

illusion from zone conference

Pizza in Taiwan

On the way back from zone conference we set up two people to meet with us on the weekend. Our lesson then canceled for that night and the rains came down. We prayerfully set a goal for 2 additional set ups off the street, switched our suits out for rain gear, and off we went. We worked, and prayed, and worked, and prayed, and worked some more. We found people to teach. We were blessed to meet our goal, but that isn't really the point. It's just the principle of goal setting and how it drives us to greater action.

We were overjoyed to welcome the Chen family into the ward. All of the members did an outstanding job of reaching out to them over the past few months and the Lord has wrought a miracle in their family. I'm just grateful the Lord allowed me to be here to witness His work and to have a small part to play.

The longer I'm on my mission, the more I look forward to and love going to church. I'm grateful for all I'm able to give and receive. I receive Heavenly help, and am grateful for every opportunity to lift where I stand whether it be the young men, the sick, or anyone else. It's a blessing to be of service to another...to be on the Lord's errand. The members really are the heroes of the church. I've met many a member who goes the extra mile unbeknownst to man. They ask for no praise. They consecrate their service to the Lord, and they are happy in His service. I am happy in his service.


All is well,
Elder Dickson

Week 15 in Xizhi: a trip to Jiufen

It's been a good day. A member took us up north to Jiufen. It was beautiful and relaxing. 

Pictures of Jiufen

Yin Yang in the water

My dad shared some of his remarks from speaking in church this past week, and they really hit home as I reflected on my own experience. He spoke on the "checklist" approach to things (particularly prayer, scriptures study, and other things more spiritual in nature, though it is applicable in all aspects of life) where we do things because we're supposed to and just to get them out of the way. The problem is, we don't do things near so well and there will always be something to fill the place of that which we've completed. The work is never "done." It's when we act with the intent of learning, growing, or lifting another that even the most mundane of tasks take on new meaning and will lead to real growth and change in our natures. I figured a lot of this out at some point on the path I've walked these past 2 years, and I have felt a distinct difference. I am much happier in daily living as I do right things for the right reasons. Sincere communication with a loving Father in Heaven brings with it great power and a peace independent of your surroundings. On the contrary, a variant of a prayer you've said 1000 times uttered only for the sake of being in a habit of so doing may not be the best use of our time or efforts. That which you do, you might as well do well. It's a lot better and more fulfilling in my experience to do less and do more in so doing. When we get wrapped up doing every good thing that comes our way, we miss out on many of the better and best things in this world. 

Member from Duke on spring vacation

I continue to be enchanted by the quality of the members here in Taiwan: their sheer goodness, love for God, and willingness to sacrifice. It simply blows me away time and time again. And it's not unique to Taiwan. There's many a member from my home ward in Cape Girardeau who fall under similar labels. It's just a blessing to see the Lord do His perfect work through imperfect people such as you and I. Those who enter into the Lord's service never come out of it the way they went in. Much is gained when you give everything.

We exchanged with the zone leaders again this past week (Elder Fredenberg's first exchange). We saw many a miracle to the point we didn't know whether to sing or to laugh. We did both. Despite the incessant rain characteristic of Northeastern Taiwan, we had a blast during those 24 hours. We saw the hand of the Lord again and again. We even ended up meeting a man off the street named Teancum...it's simply not a very common name. Anyway, we had a good time. I was also glad to play some ultimate Frisbee as it has been some time.

With the zone leaders

Enjoying American pudding (too sweet for me)

Taiwanese dessert

New Investigators came down to miracles again this week. Late last week we had an evening with not much planned and ended up on the street chatting with everyone and their dog only to be rejected in every instance. With only minutes left in the night, we made a last ditch effort to say hi to a kid on the side of the road. We outright asked if we could share with him about Jesus. He said yes. Not only have we been able to share with him, but he even came to church yesterday. Another evening we finished dinner with a minute or two left over. I sighed a breath of relief at the idea of resting my eyes a moment only to be prompted by my lively companion. Off we went to talk with whoever might cross our path. We ended up talking with one man. He was the happiest most optimistic guy I've met in some time. He couldn't stop laughing at his own jokes and I couldn't help but grin. He also ended up meeting with us a day or two after that encounter and we'll see him again tomorrow. Finally, we had an awkward 15 minute window one night with no particular plan. We prayed about where we might go and were off again. We ended up pulling two individuals over at stoplights. Both were happy and willing to talk about the Savior and one set up for the following day. He's in a preparation to hear the word.

All is well,
Elder Dickson

I mean it too. Smile. All really is well :)

Our district with Snoopy

More pictures from the zoo last week (from Elder Lawrence)

Week 14 in Xizhi

We went to the zoo for P-day. It was my first time in Taiwan. 

Pictures from the zoo

We set some especially high goals last week and gave our all to them. Despite having a fever Monday through Friday and only feeling much better yesterday, we were blessed to either meet or exceed the goals we set.

Being sick (Asian style)

Finally getting my bike repaired

Foods (including but not limited to pickled eel) 

With a friend

Come Saturday, we were still short of our goal by two new investigators. I did my best to assure Elder Fredenberg there was still time, though I really wasn't sure where those new investigators might come from. We prayed about where to go to talk with people with about 20 minutes left before time to head in for the night. Upon arriving, we found a noisy concert going on in the area leaving only a handful of people on the outskirts to talk with. We talked with a boy very briefly who set up for the following evening at 5 only an hour before we had an appointment with another investigator in Taibei City. He didn't show. We did some studies only to get a call from a number other than the one he gave us at around 5:40 saying he was almost there. I was pretty certain he wasn't coming. At roughly 5:50 not only did he show up, but he brought a friend with him. Our share was brief, and we were off. Miracle!

An incredible family we're teaching recently returned from a trip out of the country. They told us the vacation was nice, but they couldn't go another week without attending church. They said they felt like part of their lives were missing and they were just tired in general. They exclaimed they never wanted to miss a week of church again. Hearing them talk about church rejuvenating them as they did made me feel like Sunday was just a little too far away.

Joy comes from looking outside oneself. Despite not feeling so hot, I was blessed to discern that our investigator was having a hard day and we were able to help him feel a bit better. For that moment I almost forgot I was as sick as I was and couldn't help but feel grateful.

My sister Emilie sent me this transforming ninja star that she made

All is well,
Elder Dickson