Testimonies and Transitions

Week #21

What a week. The weather is cooling, six of us have decided to start an exercise program run by one of the members in the mornings, recent converts are having severe difficulties with the Church, and I got to play a musical number in another ward yesterday.

Last Wednesday, the Elders in the neighboring Coal Creek Ward told us about an early morning exercise class that Brother Melver taught. It's called Boot Camp and requires us to get up around 5:30 so we can get there on time. It's sort of a mixed cardio/resistance program and the routine changes every day. It's a great way to wake up, but it makes you very sore all day. Basically, it's a pain to get up in the morning, but it starts the day very well. Bonus, I am losing weight. 

A few nights ago, we got a call from a recent convert who expressed several issues she had with teachings of the Church. Her biggest challenge was tithing and told us quite fervently that "Money is evil and God doesn't need it." She then told us that she doesn't believe anybody knows what happens after death and emphasized that every church teaches a different thing. The worst part was that she would believe the words of a previous missionary because she believed he was the thing that was special about her conversion. The only thing Elder Hanks and I could think of was to, as it says in Alma 4:19 (I think of this scripture often), bear down in pure testimony. That's what we did and we have recognized three miracles of that experience. The first is that she changed from severe doubt to praying to her Father in Heaven and asking Him for knowledge. We have yet to hear what experiences she had. The second and third were in Elder Hanks and myself. 

Elder Hanks usually has a way of talking as if he's afraid to say anything and usually just says very simple but repetitive truths from the lessons. That night, there wasn't a single easy or previously know line from him. He was bold, he didn't sound afraid to speak and he testified with something more than the usual conviction.

My experience was very similar. While looking back on the things I said, I realized that many of those things I did not know the purpose of. The conversation had been long and there is no way I could have remembered every concern expressed and addressed them in one response, but everything I bore testimony of dealt with every issue she had. I do not know what she will decide to do (she didn't come to church yesterday), but we were given in the very moment what we should say and have invited her to come to Christ. We have fulfilled our purpose. Now she needs the help of the members and the Lord to fulfill hers. 

In unrelated news, I just got (as in four minutes ago) an email notifying me that my visa has arrived! Still reading to figure out when I leave.

Anyway, last story. (I leave on November 11) Saturday night I received a call asking me if I could play a musical number in the Flatirons Ward sacrament meeting the next morning. The whole zone was  supposed to sing I Need Thee Every Hour, but none of the missionaries were able to be at that meeting. The Elders there told the coordinator, but she asked if Elder Dickson could play piano. They decided to wait a week before asking me if I could play, so I got to arrange a version of I Need Thee Every Hour at 9:00 the night before and didn't even have a piano so I could know if what I was planning to do would work. Long story short, I played a solo with one night to prepare and it was awesome!

Anyway, I'm excited about my visa and need to email more people.

Tchau!

Decisions Determine Destiny

Week #20

Good day all! 

Still lots of Boulder damage to clean up and we have heard from President Brown that there have been some teaching opportunities opening up because of it, but I haven't heard of specific instances. We have had many people thank us for the service we do and have expressed how impressed they are with the quick action of the Church. I'm not sure, but I've heard that FEMA has placed the stake in charge of the relief effort. That was what we heard from a few stake leaders, but I'm not sure to what extent that is true. Either way, people are seeing our help and we're being recognized.

Highlight of the week: Stake Conference

From what I've been told, missionaries aren't usually allowed to attend the adult session, but in this case, the First Presidency specifically mandated that the missionaries attend because the topic of the session was missionary work. 

The Boulder Stake Presidency was reorganized because our last president has been called to be a Russian speaking mission president. He doesn't know where or when, but he has received and accepted the call. We had two Seventies come Elders Schweitzer and Wright. They had some wonderful things to say about making homes an MTC and preparing children to serve. One of the stories told was of an inactive member who had gone on a mission and had the program from her missionary farewell framed and hanging in the stairwell of her home. She never attended church, probably didn't teach the scriptures to her sons, and yet all three of them went on missions. 

Elder Schweitzer asked us why we thought those boys made that decision and then continued to tell a story of a woman whose son joined the Navy and went off to sea, never to return. She wept and wondered why her son decided on such a distant and dangerous career. To distract her from her sorrow, she decided to perform a thorough cleaning of her home. As she slowly progressed through her empty home, she noticed the paintings of ships hanging on the walls of each room and then ceased to wonder why her son had gone to sea. 

The thought I wrote after Elder Schweitzer related this story was this: 

The messages we place upon the bulletin boards or walls of our homes will silently, subtly, and significantly shape the decisions we and our children make. 

That was soon followed by another though that echoes one of my mother's favorite quotes. Let's see if you know what it is.

The decisions regarding what is allowed in a home will determine the destiny of the residents therein. 

I know the wording seems a little bit flowery, but this is how I think when I get ideas in conferences or personal study. I think making them sound quotable makes them easier to remember anyway. That's the important part. 

I've heard many times, (especially in the MTC) that the thoughts we have during talks are so much more important than a word for word record of the talk given. I agree. Everybody can hear or read the words of a talk. We all hear the same ones and there are already many ways to record the words spoken. That's why General Conference is filmed and the talks printed in the Ensign. The aspects of a talk that requires sharing and recording on our part are the inspirations we receive during our reflection of the words everybody else hear. 

(I'll let the reader insert a paragraph that ties the last two together and designs a personal application of them.)

That's all for this week.

Keep Love's banner floating o'er you;

Smite Death's threat'ning wave before you.

God be with you till we meet again. 

Elder Dickson

Week #19

Only a little paragraph this week!

Last night Blaine Yorgason spoke in our stake about the settling of St. George and the development of the endowment. Did you know he lives in St. George? He just wrote a book called "All That Was Promised." The Church asked him to write it. He mentioned a lot of names I know: Stucki, Iverson, Gardiner. It was fun.


Elder Dickson

Exclamation Point!!!

Week #18

Exclamation points are good, right?

New transfer, new companion, same area. After twelve weeks of training from Elder Yarman, he left and Elder Hanks came in to take his place. He's different and not quite as bold as Elder Yarman, but he's still great. He made bread a few days ago and he does a pretty good job. He cares about the work and the people we've met so far and has some wonderful insights about the Gospel. Fun stuff.

Boulder Flood work is slowing down tremendously, but we still haven't much opportunity to teach. The Elders in the neighboring area are supposed to have a car, but because neither of them have a driver's license, we have had custody and use of the car. Usually this means that we drive them just about everywhere they need to go. Their area is much too big to reasonably bike and they still have a lot of administrating to do before they can start ministering. Hopefully one of them, can get a license this week.

The Elders in that area are Elder Dionicio who is training Elder Penaranda from Bolivia. Elder Penaranda is 18 and this is his first experience being away from home. He wants to work hard, but he doesn't really know how to live on his own yet. These next few weeks will be quite an experience for him. I am very glad I spent a year at college first. It's good to learn how to live without Mom first.

Elder Hanks and I have been biking (when we're not a shuttle service), and every night I come home very tired and just a bit hungry. Definitely going to be healthier and all ready for Brazil when my visa comes. (Thanks for the update, Mom.)


I'm excited to see what happens in these weeks right after Conference. Even more excited because in just two weeks we have Stake Conference. With so much emphasis on missionary work lately, I have been a little bit frustrated with the lack of involvement from the members. Feeding missionaries is a great thing, but we would much rather have referrals. We can get our own food just as easily, but the only way we can really find people is knocking and everybody now knows that there is a better way. Share the Conference messages. Share the scriptures. Preach the Gospel and, if necessary, use words to help your work. "The Harvest is great and the laborers are few; but if we're united, we all things can do (exclamation point!)"

Minha alma se alegra por causa do Evangelho de Jesus Cristo, nosso Salvador e Redentor. Ele criou os ceus e a terra. Ele e O Senhor, O Filho Unigenito e ele nos ama.

Eu amo voces.

Elder Dickson.

Here's Elder Hanks.

Here's a new friend of mine. He came in a box with a lot of goodies. (May I add from the best cousin ever.)

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As a side note, you may notice that Elder Dickson is not in the picture with his companion. This is because Elder Dickson believes that "Guys shouldn't take selfies." So therefore they can't take a picture together. 

World Traveler

Sam's mom has been checking the Brazil Consulate visa status, and guess what? His visa is finally ready!!!

We're still not sure when Sam will get his visa, but he is one step closer to getting it!