Moving A Family

Hey everybody,

Things have been pretty crazy here in the land of Kingman and Pratt! Last weekend we received a referral from our office saying that some investigators need some help moving from Wichita to Pratt. So on Saturday we helped the man and wife move a large U-haul truck into a small storage unit. (Grandma Taylor would even be in shock! Love ya Grandma!) So after we moved everything they took us out for breakfast. So they took us to a restaurant that was on my "Do Not Eat There" list. It was good food for sure, but when I got home I was dead sick. I laid on the floor with no energy and felt like I was going to get even sicker. So we didn't do anything for the rest of the day. 

But on a brighter note, we went to a members home earlier this week and she fixed us some salmon. After dinner was over it was my turn to give the dinner message. I read from the Book of Mormon Alma 7:11-13:
11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

And after I read that I told of a message my Dad had sent me earlier about how he is having issues with his kidneys. And that I told my Dad that if he were to devote his life 100% the Lord would help him. So he received a blessing from my Grandpa Dickson. (I wont say here what it said). So I got on my email a couple days ago and my dad said that he had been going through different tests to see if he had cancer. Well 10 minutes previous to me emailing him he got a call saying that he was clean!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

To conclude this message I know that if we put the Lord first in everything the Lord will show miracles unto us all. Prayers to you all!!

Love Elder Dickson

P.S. Check out the new hair style:

Happy Pinching Day!!!

Hola amigos. Happy Pinching day!!! I was in bed this morning (not wearing green) and my companion (well over 200 lbs) came running into the run and jumped on me and started pinching me. Lol crazy Poly!!

 But this week has been great! We have been on the hunt for less actives this past week. We came across one man that has not gone to church in awhile. His life has took the one less traveled road. He has turned to alcohol and now is addicted. And he is so addicted that the Branch has been helping him the Branch even had a specialist come out from Headquarters and he even ditched this specialist. So now everybody in the Branch has no faith in him. The Branch President even said that it is a waste of our time to be with him. My comp and I were furious!! I said to my comp “what is on the front cover of The Restoration Pamphlet? A picture of Christ holding a lamb! Yes Christ stopped the heard of sheep to help this ONE sheep back into the fold.” So we now have to find somebody within the Branch to help this man. The Elders can’t help him in the way he needs. He will start to rely on us when he needs to rely on the branch. We can’t help him as much because as missionaries we cannot counsel. All we can do is introduce the ARP program. I feel that I am starting to rant and rave with these letters, which I will try not to do. Not just as members of the church, but everybody deserves a second chance in life. Do not every give up hope on anybody. Our savior did not keep hearding those sheep and look back seeing that one stray leave and continue on with the heard. He stopped!

On Friday I had a phone call from this less active member. He said that he won’t make it to church because he is training at his new job. But he did tell his new boss that he cant work Sundays because he wants to start going back to church. I was smiling at this point. He was even telling me scriptures that he has been reading. He even wanted us to come over for bible study. This was amazing to me. I have not had anybody call and say that he is interested again.

Sorry I can’t write in more detail right now. We are about to go play laser tag with the Zone leaders! Once I get an iPad my letters will be in better detail.

Love,
Elder Dickson

Elder Bednar & A Fire

Hey everybody,

Hope things are going good for you all. Things have been really slow this past week. My new companion has been sick so we have not been out of the apartment much. Elder Bednar came and had a special meeting with the whole mission. It was incredible! He said that this opportunity will most likely not come again in your life. One thing that really stuck out to me is that some members think they are obsolete from missionary work. When somebody gives a prayer most of the time the prayer includes “please bless the people that were not here today that they will be able to make it next time” well why are we leaving it up to the Lord to bless them to come to church? We are the ones that should be at their house making sure they are ok and helping them back to church next week. We as member s need to do the work. It is just like missionary work. If the missionaries sat in the apartment and asked a blessing upon the area for everybody to show up at church NOTHING would be done! That is why we need to get out and be the shepherd to the lost sheep.

Last Saturday we had a man from the Mission Presidency of the Wisconsin mission call us. He grew up in Kingman and was ecstatic to hear that there are missionaries where he grew up. So we met with him and his wife at the library that morning. We had a nice chat about how missionary work is going in the area. (It’s going pretty good) So he has a bunch of friends in the area that are not members. So he gave us 5 different people that he wants us to go talk with. (Wahoo referrals)

When we were leaving we asked if he needed any service. His eyes lit up, yes we do need help! He told us that he has a farm in town that has 11 acres of weeds that he needs to burn and asked if we could help. I said “you need help starting things on fire” he said “yes” we told him “we will so be there.” So we woke up early on P-day and went to the farm. We got out the flame thrower and started the perimeter of the acres on fire. The fire was burning so slow! We got to the other side of the field and I lit a section up and it took off. My comp was on the hose and I was on the flame thrower. That was a bad idea for me! I am a white boy that has not seen the sun for awhile. I WAS GETTING COOKED!! So I took over the hose again. I was trying to contain this roaring fire from going into other fields which I did great at. But all of a sudden the flames intensified. It became really hot! I dropped my camera and squirted myself off with the hose. INTENSE!! So the fire was put out and the other 3 people were just sitting back on the truck while I walked the perimeter. I walked up to them and I said did you know this is on fire? Right behind them was over 50 acres of field that was not theirs. It had started on fire and they did not know. I said this is on fire. We all jumped up and started raking the flames out. We got the fire out just in time. Well its time to go.

Love you all!!!

“You need help starting things on fire?”

11 acres of weeds burned off.

-10 Degrees Outside

The first week has been a little different. My Companion has been sick a bunch and we were snowed in on Sunday. Our car was parked and it was about -10 degrees outside. So we just stayed inside. A lot of the other missionaries went out in the snow and they got frost bite. Elder Maki loves to cook food. He also reminds me to be positive in all things and not to doubt myself.

Tell everybody I can't email them all today. We had a Zone P-day yesterday so we are emailing today. I love my Zone Leaders and the Assistant to the President. They really make me feel welcome especially where I am the 2nd oldest in the mission. I am learning right now that life is great. Everything that comes in your path will work out for the best. I am also learning that the Mission rules are important to follow, but enjoy being a Missionary at the same time and have fun. This Friday we are having David A Bednar come to our mission!! Booyeah!! Cant wait to hear from him.

We went into an investigators house the other day to check on them. The husband had shingles on his face. I was so worried about him so we just dropped by. We talked and had a spiritual message with them. I got an idea to play a game with them that deals with the Book of Mormon. Pick a page then a verse then you have to apply that verse to your life. They pulled up the scripture Alma 22:23.

Love you guys so very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have to go my Comp is waiting for me. Share this message with everyone on the blog.
Tell the family Hi.     Love, Elder Dickson