Back to Work

Week #85

This week I finally got to work again! We walked a lot, talked with a lot of people. Invited everybody to be baptized and especially got somebody to church! Kevin and Lucas should be a great help to baptize the rest of their family and especially their Grandmother Marli. We're going to try and baptize the three of them this week. It'll take a miracle or two, but we're in the Lord's service. Why shouldn't we see a few? Nevertheless, prayers are appreciated.

I've already mentioned this several times, but I never tire of saying it. When I think of how much I have changed since I got here, I am amazed. I do everything at least a little bit better. I'm more diligent. I work harder. I forgive more easily. I speak a new language. I teach much better. I'm not as afraid to talk to people.

When a friend returned from his mission about 2 years ago, he told me that you feel like a superhero when you come home because you can do so many things that you couldn't before. It's proof that God can really make much more of our lives than we can. 

The world with all its wisdom would say that two years off the grid, out of the workforce, out of education, out of dating and social circles is a bad decision, but I cannot agree. What other experience could transform boys who have little to no knowledge of the world and its workings into bilingual practiced leaders who know how to establish and accomplish goals, that have had real pressure to perform well and have learned probably better than any other group in the world about teamwork and getting along with others? Let's not forget that this is in a 2 year period usually before turning 22. 

I haven't even mentioned the spiritual benefits. I do not believe they can be adequately shared or taught. Just learned by experience.

I have a strong testimony that the mission experience is the best thing any young man can have in his post high-school years. It is worth the effort and sacrifice.

Contrary to popular belief, my shoes are still fine. They should be fine until the end of my mission. The only shoes I will be buying are the kind that are really expensive and made to look good when I come home. They'll probably be the coolest shoes on the block.

Until next week.

Elder Dickson

Thank you Sister Cheila Aderiane da Silva for sharing this picture with us. Apparently guys do take selflies. 

New Companion Again!

Week #84

I promise that President Wright isn't switching my companions because I'm not well behaved. Elder Quinteros and I have only actually taught together once this week. 

I finally went to take out my ingrown toenails. There is a member of the Rio Branco Ward that works in the Center and she has been very helpful. The only problem was that she ordered me not to get my toes wet and not to walk very much. It rained three or four days this week and our area is a long way from our house. I spent the rainy days in the apartment studying and the sunny days working with one of the other Elders that works a lot closer to our house while Elder Quinteros went to my area to figure out what's there and visit some people I already knew.

So, Monday was P-day and I stayed with Elder Swann and Elder Miller.

Tuesday: Elder Quinteros arrived and we visited some less-active members of the Relief Society with the Elders Quorum President and his wife. We met some great part-member families.

Wednesday: Went to the foot doctor. After that, it rained. My shoes aren't waterproof anymore, so we protected my toes.

Thursday: Rained.

Friday: Really great zone meeting. President Wright is throwing a lot of focus on working with our heart, might, mind, and strength. Everybody identified something they can do better. Went back to the foot doctor. Still couldn't get my feet wet, but one toe is healing. Stayed in the city center working with Elder Swann in his area. We taught a really great young man named G. He should be baptized next week. 

We also met a Colombian who lives with 3 Mexicans. None of them speak Portuguese, so Elder Swann and I used the little bit of Spanish we know to set an appointment with Elder Quinteros (from El Salvador). Then we were hit by a storm that looked like something from an apocalypse film. We ran home so my toes wouldn't get wet. 

Pictures taken from: http://zh.clicrbs.com.br/rs/noticias/noticia/2015/01/cai-para-175-mil-o-numero-de-imoveis-sem-luz-no-rs-4678326.html

Saturday: Stayed with Elder Miller in his area.

Sunday: (Sister Capella is wonderful. We were in the same zone three times. Actually, when she wrote "Elder Dickson no piano" she wasn't writing in English. She was writing in Portuguese and wrote correctly. There is a huge difference when a meeting doesn't have music. Two Sundays ago, we came into Sacrament Meeting during the opening hymn. Everybody from the ward that knows how to play piano was on vacation. Singing a capela is not a widely held ability. I played piano the rest of the meeting. This Sunday was better.) Got tired of not being in my area and took Elder Miller with me to my area while Elder Quinteros went to teach our Colombian and Mexican friends with Elder Swann. We narrowly avoided a Bible Bash. I figured out it's much easier not to even open the Bible when somebody already shows that they just want to argue. If you don't want to fight, why would you give the antagonist a battlefield? 

Today: Went back to the foot doctor. She said I can walk and get my feet wet now! Agora, o bicho vai pegar. (that only makes sense in Brazil. Even in Google Translate it doesn't make sense.) Basically it means we're going to work a lot this week.

Until next week.

Elder Dickson

Here's Elder Quinteros taking a selfie with Elder Swann and Elder Miller.

Three Companions in One Week

Week #83

Another week full of strange situations.

My companion Elder Holmes was transferred and my new companion, Elder Cruz came to Canoas on Tuesday. He stayed here until Friday and then went home to São Paulo. My next companion should be arriving today. Because Elder Cruz had some serious back problems, we stayed at home the whole week, so there aren't really all that many stories to tell this week. Sorry. Our weekly report (to the mission president) was also the second worst I have ever given (the worst being in Colorado during flooding).

Elder Swann is Elder Miller's new companion. He's finishing his mission in February and is from Northern California. I have a few pictures to send this week and from last week.

My new companion, Elder Quinteiros is really funny and is from El Salvador, but I don't know him very well yet. (note from Mom: Sounds like his new companion arrived during the composition of this brief email??)

Lots of catch-up work to do this week!

Elder Dickson

The zone last transfer

Elder Lopes and I

Elder Miller and Elder Swann (some missionaries take selfies - Elder Dickson is not one of them, but his Mom wishes he was)

Thank you Sister Raquel Holdefer for sending the following photos:

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