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