Who Da Thunk?

Week #80

I'm being transferred again. This time it's before the transfer. The next real transfer happens in January. I'll be leaving Wednesday. It seems that the Lord doesn't want me staying anywhere for much time. One transfer in Venâncio Aires, one in Vera Cruz and four weeks in Rio Branco. Que maravilha! 

I will miss the people here. This ward really is wonderful and we have several baptisms all lined up for next week. New people, new area, new everything. 

I have some great personal emails to write today, so I won't write a whole lot here. 

This week was great. We had seven investigators at church on Sunday (a personal record), 9 people with a baptismal date (another record) and confirmed Maria and Alexandre.

I also taught a little bit of piano yesterday. The problem is that I won't be able to teach anybody again. The two young women that I taught Saturday learn quickly and one even wants to serve a mission. I was really excited to start teaching. 

I just learned that I'm staying in the same stake, so I might still see some people. I'm going to the Canoas Centro ward. I don't know who my companion is. I'll say more next week.

The Church is true and Christ lives. He is our Savior and Redeemer and makes our weaknesses strengths.

Elder Dickson

Eu com churrasco (Elder Dickson with the barbecue.)

Paz Family

Churrasco (Barbecue)

Batismo e O Templo!

Week #79

It's been a while since the last time we baptized someone. We've come really close many times, but this time, deu certo!

I am loving Rio Branco. The more time I spend here, the more I understand how perfect the Lord's plan for His Church is. This ward seems to fulfill that plan very well. Everybody is involved. The meetinghouse has something happening every day (except Monday of course). The people are happy. They have goals and plans to split the ward in 2 years and the stake in 4. I wonder if being in Kirtland and Nauvoo or even the early days of Salt Lake felt like this. 

I've spent a little time talking with the bishop about what happens here. He said something that I really liked. He said that it is the responsibility of the members to make the church building a blessing for the community. Here, they do that by providing a professionally taught English Class, teach guitar, teach skateboarding, martial arts and probably much more in the future. It makes me think of Mosiah 18:25. These Latter-day Saints are meeting together oft and building each other. This is a wonderful ward.

We are fed very well. I'm getting fat again. The sister that owns our house makes cuca (a Brazilian version of a German food that is basically a cobbler in the shape of a bread loaf with less fruit) about once a week.

The Bishop also asked me to teach piano. We still have to set the time and whom I'll be teaching, but I'm excited.

Thank you for the package Grandpa and Grandma. I'm using the tie you sent today. The socks were very much appreciated. Most of mine have holes. I already ate all the candy. Don't worry. I shared.

Tchau. 

Elder Dickson

Porto Alegre Temple

Baptism of Maria and Alexandre

Package from Grandma and Grandpa

Eighteen Months In

Week #78

We worked hard this week. We met a lot of really wonderful people and learned many small things that make our teaching and work more effective. 

One principle that has been on my mind almost constantly these last few days is that of our heart, might, mind, and strength. As I think about the last 1.5 years, I can see where I really gave my best and the many times I did not. The feeling is sobering. 

The complete sacrifice of our will is very simple, but is the only true sacrifice we can give. Our will is the only thing that we have that can never be taken. We receive our life, objects, blessings, money, time because of the goodness of our Father in Heaven, but our will is the only thing He gave us and never will, nor can, take away. 

In the last few weeks I spent at home, I asked myself a few times if I really wanted to leave for 2 years. It seemed like such a huge thing and many times the temptation to stay was great. Now that I'm reflecting so much about the true and complete sacrifice of every moment that I have, every decision of the day, how I spend each hour, and doing the best thing instead of a good thing, I realize how much more difficult it is to place the natural man on the altar.

Deciding to spend two years in the Brazilian sun using 7 shirts of the same color, three different slacks (two of the same color), about 10 ties (thankfully, of varied colors) with a name tag that hasn't been fashionable since it was introduced was much easier than sanctifying every hour of every day. My time in this field of work is rapidly coming to an end and I still don't feel like I've accomplished that level of dedication. I only know of one person who has but we are commanded to reach that same level. 

Agora é a hora de ir com tudo.

And today is a perfect day to start. We're going to the temple in just a few hours to commune with God on His holy mount. What greater blessing could we have than a temple where the ordinances of salvation are done for the living and the dead? 

The Gospel is perfect. I learn of its perfection more and more each day.

Elder Dickson

Volta a Canoas

Week #77

I came back. A little more than a year ago I arrived in Guajuviras in the Canoas North Stake. Now I'm in Rio Branco Ward in the Canoas Stake. I've even met some people I knew before. Even being the same city, it is a completely different area. 

It's been a long time since I've had an area so small. In Osório, I had the whole city. In Montenegro, a big part of the city was ours. In Venâncio Aires, half the city. Vera Cruz was a huge area with several cities and towns. Rio Branco is two suburbs. It's very small and very densely populated.

I'm here with Elder Lopes. He's from São Paulo, has been on his mission for 9 months, reminds me a little bit of David Tennant mixed with Cleve Worthington. He works hard, a lot more than I do and knows how to organize and accomplish things. I'm hoping to learn a lot from him. 

I can send pictures again!

Marindia and Luis Carlos (Awesome family in Venâncio Aires.)

Last Night in Venâncio Aires

Caixa d´Agua in Vera Cruz with Davi

Elder Barbosa

Our neighbors in Vera Cruz. Having the Relief Society President as our next door neighbor is very convenient.

The Elders of Rio Branco (with the football: Elder Palma from Chile. With the camera in his mouth: Elder Valentine from Texas/Taiwan. Far Right: Elder Lopes) 

Transferred Again!

Week #76

I'm not sure what exactly is going on, but it seems that the Lord doesn't want me getting comfortable in my area anymore. This will be my third area since leaving Montenegro in August. Goodbye Vera Cruz. Now, I have to spend the day packing everything. I was not expecting to be transferred, so I have a lot to do. 

This week was a week full of work and Marli was almost baptized. I have never seen someone face so much opposition, especially from her own family. The strange thing is that even though we were so close and didn't make it, I am still satisfied with our work. There is a promise in Preach My Gospel that says a diligent missionary is happy. It's true.

I started to read all the Standard Works in Portuguese. My goal is to finish before the end of my mission and at least start Jesus, the Christ as well. I've learned a great deal of the complexities of the language reading the Old Testament and I understand much more how the Church is the same in every dispensation. 

I'm also reading the Book of Mormon for the third time in Portuguese and fourth time as a missionary. I am learning to love it more and more each day. The Book of Mormon truly contains every principle of the Gospel that is necessary for our salvation and rarely investigators understand that fact. President Ezra Taft Benson said that the saints are under condemnation for neglecting the Book of Mormon. I feel I have not been using it as well I as could/should have been. I certainly haven't been giving the Book of Mormon all the opportunities it needs to convert the hearts of men. 

After 20 years as a part of the Church and the many (I lost count) of times I've read the Book of Mormon, I am just now learning how important it really is. I invite all to strengthen their testimony of the Book of Mormon. It is really is the Word of God and should be the keystone not only of our testimony, but also of our daily lives. It should support every decision we make and it's teachings should be a standard by which we judge our own lives. 

All scripture strengthens and builds. All scripture serves as a Liahona to guide us through the wilderness of mortality. As we heed carefully the words written therein and give heed to the directions given, we will be guided to the parts more spiritually fertile of life. (1 Nephi 16:16, 26-29)

The Book of Mormon is true and with the Bible confounds every false doctrine and gives us safety for the soul. 

Until the next area,

Elder Dickson

Vera Cruz Week 5

Week #75

Time is passing very quickly. Wednesday will be one year in Brazil. It is incredible what has changed in one year. I understand what once was gibberish. I am more patient with the people I teach. I speak much more simply and my actions and words are more direct and honest. I also work a lot harder.

If you ever want proof that the gifts of the Spirit are real, just talk to returned missionaries who truly labored. Many, like myself, will testify of the power of the Gift of Tongues. Others will tell of the love they gained. Many will speak of miracles in their work. Revelation, tongues, healing, interpretation of tongues and many, many other manifestations of the Spirit are not simply things that exist in the scriptures. They are signs and gifts of God that follow His people as they strive to do his will. 

Congratulations to all that have received callings, are planning weddings, are studying the scriptures everyday and are becoming more and more like our Father in Heaven through your daily efforts.

It's a short one this week. Sorry.

Elder Dickson

Semana de Milagres (Week of Miracles)

Week #74

This was a very good week full of opportunities to see the Spirit work. More on that later.

This week could be called bipolar. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were all very hot and everything after was very rainy and a great temperature for working. The first miracle is that we were able to meet anybody. Between the ridiculous heat (horribly ridiculous), lots of rain, and a very small town, there were very few people in the streets this week. This was the best week I've had since I left Osório in April (looking at our numbers). 

Our two best investigators are Márcio and Marlí. Both are miracles that we met them and have shown incredible courage in doing what they know to be right. Márcio wants an eternal family and knows that his current girlfriend will not help him accomplish that goal. The moment he decides to follow the Law of Chastity, he is ready to be baptized.

Marlí wants to find truth and "buscar a Deus", but her daughter is absolutely against anything that has to with the Church. Her pastor has said everything from "the Book of Mormon brings curses" to "If you leave my church, you have to ask my blessing. If you don't seven demons will enter into you." She already knows he's a liar by his fruits (robbing money from the church. Asking for clothing donations and selling them etc.) and wants nothing to do with him. What's even better is that she knows the Book of Mormon is true and reads it of her own will. She even wants us to teach her mother.

It has been a very long time since I've seen people willing to sacrifice and hold on to the Gospel so firmly. They both have tasted the fruit and want to share it with others. Márcio heard that the branch has a goal to build a chapel here and he already wants to be involved and bring other people to the Gospel to accomplish that goal.

Fasting and prayer work. The Lord proved that to us yesterday. Hard work also works. Even when it feels like an oven outside and worse inside and nobody wants to listen, we have to continue and He will bless us for our endurance.

I decided to seek the blessings of the promise that Brother Hunt makes so often. As a missionary, we need miracles and if I can see more by reading the Book of Mormon for 30 minutes each day, Vamo lá! I also read this statement by Joseph Fielding Smith "No member of this Church can stand approved in the presence of God who has not seriously and carefully read the Book of Mormon." Então, Leiam o livro! It's true and has the power to bring us so close to God, that he makes of our lives much more that we could even imagine, that one day we may be born of God and see eye to eye. (Alma 36:26)

This Church is true. I become more sure of it every day.

Elder Dickson

Elder Dickson with Elder Almeida at Zone Conference.