Week 19 in Xizhi

Transfers came and I stayed in Xizhi to finish training. I had an ocular migraine on P-day so wasn't I able to email much this week but I will write more next week.

With family away from family

I got permission to find a sec to write and say all is well. I'll be brief as there's much to be done now even at 10pm. There's too much to really try to summarize between: transfers, General Conference, and zone conference. I'm feeling well now, but boy are we busy. The sisters' area was closed leaving only Elder Fredenberg and I in Xizhi. We have a teaching pool of over 20 investigators with nearly 10 on date for baptism. A handful really appreciate Daily visits from us. Go go go! What's more, we are in the middle of moving into the sisters' old apartment. My companion and I also were moved in with an all elder district...always interesting.

From my English class

Our English class is bursting at the seams with roughly 10 new students each week. I was most definitely stressed at first thinking about taking on additional investigators, managing the English class with 1/2 the teachers, moving, and lovingly knocking some heads together as needed (and all of this while still training Elder Fredenberg). Anyway, 1 Nephi 3:7 has been coming up a lot...and it's true; God is preparing the way day by day.

All is well!

Elder Dickson

Week 18 in Xizhi

Lunch with Terry and his wife (Taoyuan friends) 

We've had a great day. We went to Linkou for lunch with a couple of close friends of mine. The company and the food were of the highest quality and it was a peaceful, refreshing time. We then booked it over to Tianmu for Ultimate with some other missionaries (always a good time).

Linkou Station

Taiwanese burial plots

Beautiful view of a park

Chen Meijia was baptized Sunday. She's a true convert. We were also glad to attend a baptism in Tianmu Saturday night. There were three individuals being baptized that day--one of the three being a young man I referred to the missionaries there late last year. Our dear friend and progressing investigator Lyle was so kind as to drive us there and back after making us a delicious dinner no less. He informed us afterwards of his desire to move up his own baptismal date. At the same baptismal service we were blessed to find a new investigator for our own area as well as a referral for the Xizhi sisters. The ice cream provided afterwards was a welcome bonus :) 

With Taoyuan friends

With former AP and friend 蕫長老

Jiang's baptism in Tianmu 

Lyle's masterpiece

Monday night, we had a lesson with an awesome investigator. Our member present, a recent convert himself, did an outstanding job of relating to and assisting our investigator in overcoming his concerns. I was overjoyed roughly 15 minutes later to run into the two of them on the street with sodas in hand and full-out grins filling their faces. They laughed and thought it funny to have run into us again and were off on their way just enjoy themselves and having a good chat. This is what investigators need: not a member present, but a friend. 

English Class on Baking

Plan of salvation for children

I am sometimes saddened to look back and realize how much of my mission lies behind me and how little seems to be left. However, I was thinking the other day and came to the realization if my mission was a pizza, I'd still have a full slice to enjoy. I can assure you I wouldn't mourn over the loss of the pizza in my stomach. I'd be quite satisfied with it actually, but I am equally certain I wouldn't hesitate to down that last slice with pleasure. I'm grateful for the miracle and the blessing of a mission. It's been the best two years, and I intend to savor every moment down to the last bite ;P

At Fireside

With Kenneth

I'm grateful for living prophets. Though we have yet to see General Conference ourselves, I've been impressed by the revelations I've heard about and know the living Savior stands at the head of this His living church: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I invite you to come closer unto Christ today. I've found great peace in Him and His teachings. You can too. Please watch The Prince of Peace

I know He lives! 

Happy Easter! 

All is well, 

Elder Dickson

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