Elder Dixon's December 17th and 24th emails

Adam's Address Update

 
Hey Family,

The address I sent you wasn't the best address to send stuff to. (don't worry, though, the packages will probably still get there). But here's a better, updated address.

Mision Peru Iquitos

Jiron Napo 478

Iquitos, Maynas

Loreto

Peru

 

December 17th email

 Hey Family and Friends!

How are things going up there? Are they fun? I've had some fun down here with some of the other Elders in my district. One of the other elders, Elder Sherwood, has been out for a year and has some pretty great stories about some of the companion's he's been with. I don't think these are all the stories I'll hear about the other missionaries here, so this email will be the first edition of Antics of Other Missionaries.

This one time, as these two elders were serving in the jungle, they were teaching an investigator outside near this small pond. They were both sitting on plastic chairs next to this wall with a machete leaning against it. One of the elders leaned back and the chair broke. He fell down, and as soon as he did, a crocodile from the pond immediately began to run to him. The other elder instantly grabbed the machete, jumped over to the crocodile, and slayed it before it could get to his companion. Man, I wanna do something like that so bad! 

Here's another one. During a service day, these two other elders visited this lady who said she had a service project for them. When they arrived, both of them were given machetes, led into a room full of rats and huge bugs, and told to go nuts. I don't remember the end of that story, but I think they asked for a different service project.

This last Sunday was the Primary Program in our ward, and I gotta tell you, those little Amazonian children are adorable! The Primary Program was a lot like the kind back home, only with more singing at the top of lungs. It was fun to see those kids put on that program.

Last Saturday, 5 different zones got together to do this huge service project for an orphanage by painting over the graffiti on their walls and cleaning up the streets surrounding it. There, I saw one of my MTC pals. It was like seeing an old friend I hadn't seen in years! He told me he had done some math during one of his P-days and said that we both have 100-week missions! 1% for each week, and 10% the way through already! Can you believe that?

The language is finally starting to get to me. I can communicate easier, understand easier, and learn words I don't know easier. The hardest part right now is when someone is speaking directly to me, either through a question or a statement. My mind completely blanks out when that happens.

How is everything up there? Is Katie doing well? How is Emily doing in China? (By the way, what's her email address again)?

Sorry for this short email and lack of pictures. The computers here have been having a bit of trouble. I hope you're all doing well!

Love,

Elder Dixon

December 24th email

Hey there, everyone!

This week, I had my first baptism! We had 3 kids that had turned 8, and my companion and I were asked if we could baptize them! It was pretty great! I thought I would've messed up at the baptismal prayer in Spanish, but I didn't, thank goodness. The first baptism I gave in my life chose not to plug his nose. Luckily, he came out alright.

It was a pretty spiritual experience too. I'm glad I have the opportunity to bring people to the gospel and to baptize them. We had a couple of investigators at the baptism too, and we could tell they felt the spirit there as well.

Speaking of getting wet, is the ice bucket challenge still going on? Because this past week, the water in our room was turned off, so I had to take a shower in one of the other companionship's places. The shower was literally filling up a bucket with cold water and dumping it over yourself, soap and shampoo, and do it again.

That's my ice bucket challenge! Now it's time for me to challenge 3 people to at least take a cold water shower for 5 minutes. I challenge Steven, Christopher, and Jim!

Next week, I transfer. It'll be my first transfer, so I'm not quite sure what's going to happen. I've heard different things about what will happen to me. I've heard that I'll stay in the same place for 6 more months (but I was told that by an Elder who likes to mess with me, so I'm not sure if that's true), and I've heard that I'll stay in the same zone, but in a different area. Guess I'll find out next week.

I've started to notice how good the juice is down here. Juice is the everything-drink down here. People drink juice for every occasion, and it's real, South American, fruit juice. And it's delicious.

Anyways, sorry for the short email this week. I didn't get as much time to email this week, so I need to cut this one short.

Love,

Elder Dixon

Boy Party at Oma and Opa's!

Since Adam left the video games have been gathering dust, so Opa is sponsoring a boy party the Friday after Thanksgiving at 3 PM.  Steven has agreed to set up the video games in the family room and downstairs, so everyone should have a chance to play.  We will have pizza and other goodies.

If anyone of you want to watch a guy flick later on, let me know what you would like to see.

Love,
Opa.

Thanksgiving at the Dixon's

 

We are so excited to announce that 

it's our turn to have everyone over for 

THANKSGIVING DINNER

And for that we are truly thankful!

Time.......11:00 am

Place......Mom and Dad's

Date.......November 27th

 

Some people have already asked for assignments...

Mom will make Turkey and Ham

and a jello salad.

Anna and Mary Kate....Decorations.

Katie......Rolls and 2 pies.

Mary.....3 or 4 pies and her famous yam/apple casserole.

Heather.......Drink.

Lilli......Mashed potatoes, and pie.

if anyone else wants to bring something just post it in the comment section of the blog.

 

We have also been talking about doing an activity this year, either before or after the dinner.

There will be the Turkey Trot fundraiser for Sister Brenda Zaugg. It is a walk/run.

A movie has been suggested, either at the theater, or in house.....that way we can watch more than one......(clever, right?)

We want your ideas!

 

Can Dad and I tell you how excited we are that you are coming. You children and your families are our biggest joy! 

We love you so very much!

      

The Dogs in Iquitoes

Hey there, Friends and Fam!

Don't be confused by the title of this letter. Iquitos doesn't have a week dedicated to dogs (not that I know of, at least), but this week has been full of dog-related experiences. 

One of them is when I realized I was living the dream as a missionary! Me and my companion were, no joke, chased by a bulldog. Just like your stereotypical missionary! At first, I thought it wanted a piece of my leg, but it later caught up to us with its tail wagging about and I realized it just wanted to play. It was pretty cute.

Not as cute as this other dog, though. These next two weeks, me and my companion have hired this other lady to make meals for us, and next door to them lives this adorable little puppy. It would sit down patiently when we arrive at the door, and when we pay the slightest bit of attention to it, it would hop and bound around in circles with its tail wagging abroad. I swear, rainbows, hearts, and sunshinies revolve around this puppy. 

Anyways, this little dog got me thinking about all the other dogs in Iquitos, which eventually got me thinking, "What do people do with their dogs once they've died?"

The next day, my question was more-or-less answered. I was on a switch with another elder from my district (I call him Latino Superman. The guy's super buff), Elder Turcios, and we were walking down this street with a flock of birds ahead at the corner behind some bags of garbage. The birds here are HUGE, nearly the size of a 5 or 6 year old child. When we approached, we could see one of the birds dragging the skeleton of a dog out of a sewer. I'm pretty sure I just stood there with my eyes bulging out in surprise and my mouth hanging open like a cartoon character for five minutes.

The rest of the day, I was extremely weirded out at how big these birds were, and how people may just toss their dogs out when they've died, and not to mention the fact that a bird the size of my torso was pulling the skeleton of a dog out of the sewers.

Well, that's it for dog stories this week. Oh, also, something really cool. There are a few families I've met here that have been taught and baptized by Cousin Chris Dixon! Dad, do you think you could send me Chris' Dixon's email address so I could ask him about those members? Thanks!

How is everyone over there? Is Katie doing well? I'm glad Dad made it back from Turkey safely. How about Emily in China and Missy in Oregon? School is going well for everyone, right? Also, Steven, I heard you had your first date! Who was it with? Tellmetellmetellmetellmetellme!!!!!!

I finally was able to send a picture here. It's a little immature, but still pretty amusing. I was only able to send one, though. Next week, I'll send a picture of Iquitos!

Anyways, I'd just like to finish with my testimony. This week's been one of the tougher weeks when it came to the language, but I know that learning it isn't impossible. I believe that Heavenly Father wouldn't give me a task to fail at. It's like Nephi said, "...For I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Talk to ya all next week!

-Elder Dixon

Christmas List Exchange

Time seems to be coming faster and faster and before you know it Christmas will be upon us! When everyone was here for Halloween we drew names,  here are the results!

Dad---Missy
Mom---Dad
Heather---Emily
Missy---Katie
Sarah D---Heather
Lilli---Sarah D
Emily---Lilli
Adam---Scott

Robert---Mary W
Katie---Peter
Christopher---Grant
Mary Kate---Becca
Kamilla---Xander
Joshua---Malia
Anna T---Geoffrey
Sarah T---Anna W

Scott---Jim
Mary W---Erin
Steven---Joshua
Anna W---Anna T
Becca---Isabelle
Ellie---Kamilla
Tommy---Brevan
Mimi---Mary Kate
Alice---Owen

Peter---Adam
Faunice---Robert
Owen---Ellie

Tom---Faunice
Kristy---Mom
Xander---Christopher
Brevan---Tommy
Isabelle---Mimi
Grant---Steven
Malia---Sarah T

Jim---Tom
Erin---Kristy
Geoffrey---Alice

If anything on this looks wrong to you let my know.  Christmas falls on a Thursday. Missy is planning on being here. 
Life is good!

Elder Adam Post Halloween Email

Hey everyone! Sorry again for no pictures. I remembered my camera cable, but the computers in this specific internet cafe don't like being fast. I'll keep trying, but a picture this week is unlikely. Sorry.

Not much has happened this week. It has rained a bunch, though, flooding up some of the streets. The rain really brings the heat down a bunch, plus, it makes our investigators stay inside, so I'm glad that it exists. Our investigators have been pretty great too. A lot of them are less-active, but we have our fair share of those who've never heard of the church before.

There was this one man who stopped us on the street and invited us into his house because he had a ton of questions about the Bible. The man was definitely a talker. I could only pick up a few things he said, but I could tell he was confused about the Bible and why God allowed people to sin. I almost thought, for a few moments, that he was going to jump up and beat us up, because his tone and questions were a little scary. Luckily, me and my companion kept our heads on and were calm in answering his questions.

So they celebrate Halloween down here too, but instead of going door-to-door missionary-style, everyone lights up their Christmas trees, pops open a bottle of soda, and sit around, watching the TV. It's definitely a family holiday, so lucky for us, we got a lot of lessons in that day.

Speaking of Halloween, those were awesome costumes!! My favorites were Mom's (I seriously laughed aloud when I saw that!), Tom's, and Heather's! Everyone looked amazing!

Anyways, sorry this email was a little short. I want to thank everyone for your prayers! I'm glad Katie's doing really well, and the same to Dad and Emily! I love all of you a lot! I hope you'll have a good week! You'll be in my prayers!

Love,

Elder Dixon