Que Loucura! (What Madness!)

Week #81

I probably won't tell too much of this week so I have something to talk about on Christmas, but this transfer has been very interesting. 

Two areas, two companions, and this transfer just got cut short by one week. About half the mission will switch around December 30th. I think Elder Holmes will leave which means we'll have spent two weeks as companions. Certainly the shortest amount of time I've spent with somebody on the mission.

Elder Holmes is from Maryland and has been a missionary for a little more than a year. He was born in Fort Collins, Colorado and spent some times serving the Washinton, Tacoma Mission. I'll send a picture of him.

Here in the Center of Canoas I have seen a lot of people I already know. My first day here, I met Francilaine and her family from Guajuviras, Claudia from Montenegro, a family from Rio Branco and one more sister that was visiting her family in Montenegro. I also met somebody that recognized me from Venâncio Aires and many people said they saw me in Guajuviras. I don't remember every getting comfortable in a new ward so quickly. 

We'll be spending Christmas with some families here, so I should be able to take lots of pictures. 

Until Thursday.

Elder Dickson

Elder Holmes 

My new toys.

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