Fast for Helen

Dear Family,

I got a call from Aunt Deanna yesterday asking that since it was fast Sunday tomorrow if everyone could remember to fast for Aunt Helen as she is having a difficult time getting better. 

Thank you so much for your faith and prayers.
Love you so much,
Mom

Anyone want some stuff?

We have a used white bunk bed handed down from Mom and Dad and a chest of drawers, night stand, desk and chair from Grandma and Grandpa Dixon. They have served us well, but we don't need them anymore.  If anyone would like them, you are welcome to have them free.  Just come pick them up.

Elder Adam's February 23rd Email

Dear Family!

This week has been much more interesting than the last one, thank goodness! We've had a bit more success with the investigators and we're on our way to getting some dates set for a baptism (and maybe a marriage)! When I saw one of my favorite investigators come to church on Sunday (we've been working with him for a few weeks now), I found myself in some pretty good spirits for the rest of the day!

On Tuesday, we got to watch "Meet the Mormons"! Have you guys seen it yet? If not, don't read this next part, because I'm putting up spoilers! I loved the story about the Candy Bomber! I always wondered how that tradition was started. I also really loved the story about the Bishop too! What was everyone's favorite part of the movie over there? 

This week, we had one of the Zone Leaders switch places with one of the other elders in the other companionship. His name is Elder Valle, and he's so cool! He reminds me a lot of Jim in the sense that I want to be him. We stayed up nearly until 11:45 just talking about what it was like for him to be a Zone Leader. I'm so lucky to have some awesome zone leaders! Back in Punchana, the Zone Leaders didn't do much, almost as if they didn't want to be ZLs. These guys are way better at what they do.

Another interesting thing Elder Valle said was that he was expecting some huge changes to come to the Iquitos Mission in the upcoming year. He didn't specify, but it sounded like he expected the mission to separate into two because of how fast it was growing! I dunno! I guess we'll see in a year!

This week, during a lesson, we were teaching about Joseph Smith, when all of a sudden, outside the house, we heard a loud crunching noise. We probably shouldn't have done this, but we all left the house in the middle of the lesson to see what happened. It had rained a lot earlier this week, so the streets were all muddy and wet, and we found that a semi truck had slipped and driven into a ditch! Another semi came along about 15 minutes later and tried to pull it out, only to get it more stuck than it already was. Yikes! We haven't been back to that area yet, but when we do, I'm expecting the truck to still be there. 

That's pretty much all this week. Later on today, we have more transfers. I doubt I'll be transferred, but who knows? Anything can happen. How is everyone doing over there? I'm glad Katie found some people to do the transplant and that she found a new chemo! I was really stressing about that all week. She's awesome!

Anyways, that's all I got for this week! I love you all!

-Elder Dixon

Not a match - but there is one!

Just a quick FYI - I just heard from the huntsman center, and I'm not a match as a bone marrow doner.  However, the lady who contacted me did say that there was a good match for Katie!  I don't know who it is, but I'm glad there is one!

Karaoke at the Thompson's

Steven and Chris

I had taken pictures at the Karaoke night last week, but my phone lots of times won't speak to me......I think my phone hates me! This was the only picture that would post. It was so much fun and I see we have a LOT of talent. Hopefully we can do this again and hear more! 

Scott did a very cute duet with Mimi, and Robert sang a song he dedicated to Katie that I know I will never forget! Everyone did an amazing job! I really wish I could figure out how to get all the pictures on, but the memories will stay forever!

 

Elder Adam's February 16th email

Hey Family! What's up?

I hope everyone there had a good Valentine's Day! What did everyone do over there for that day? Valentine's Day down here is celebrated just as much as it is up in the states. We had a lot of music blasting out of huge speakers (they love doing that down here for holidays) and lots of people went out to eat. Y'know. Same ol', same ol'. Lots of members weren't home that day because there was a stake-wide date night for everyone 16 and up, so it was a tough day for lessons with members.

Other than that, this week was boring. Super boring. I'm having a hard time thinking of things to tell you guys about as I'm writing this. Earlier this week, the other companionship in our apartment was proselyting in the morning and saw a group of dogs attacking a single other dog. They scared off the other dogs and the dog that got attacked (whose name was Rocky) began to follow them!

Down here, when dogs start to follow us, it's usually for a minute or two until they see another person they can follow. This dog really liked these missionaries, though, and followed them all the way to their next lesson! Their lesson ran a bit longer to over an hour, and they found Rocky waiting for them outside the fence! Rocky followed them to lunch. And followed them back to our apartment. And followed them back out for proselyting. And followed them to dinner. And followed them back home, and decided to take a nap outside.

Rocky wasn't there in the morning, though. Oh well. Our little canine buddy probably had enough. But how often can you say you've proselyted with a dog? Oh, those lucky guys! I wish I would've gotten a picture with Rocky. 

As for spiritual experiences, earlier this week, I was just having a tough time with pretty much everything, so I decided to do a fast. That fast helped me out so much, and gave me a reassuring confirmation that everything's okay. It's amazing what fasting can do!

How is everyone doing over there? Sorry to hear about Missy trapped in Boston. That must be tough! There's 'snow' way it's getting any warmer soon over there. Best thing to do is just to have a 'ice' time. :P 

How is Katie feeling? I fasted for her too this week. Have the doctors found a match from any of the siblings? I continually pray for her and all of you!

Love,

Elder Dixon

Valentine's Karaoke

There's been a lot of clamour for another Karaoke night.  So everyone is invited to Valentine Karaoke night at the Thompson house held Friday, February 13th @ 7:00-9:00.  Be prepared with YouTube karaoke versions of cheesy love songs (although all songs are welcome).  If you would like to bring a treat to share as well, that would be great!  See you then!

Boston Snow!

 

 Missy sent this picture of what it looks like in front of her apartment. She had to walk to work this morning because of the snow!!

Yesterday the Governor of Massachusetts declared his state in a state  of emergency.  Someone needs to talk to the weather man about sending some of that snow to us!

Elder Adam's February 9th Email

Dear Family!

I got your New Year's package this week! I've had a pretty sweet time eating peanuts (I love those) and Swedish Fish (those too). Those Chinese candies from Emily were an awesome surprise too (thank you so much, Emily!). They all tasted pretty good too!

I'm still a little psyched out about the chicken feet, though! They eat those as candies in China? Gnarly! I've seen chicken feet as kind of a bullion for some soup here in Peru. It was there, but you weren't supposed to eat it, because the dogs liked it way more than the humans did. I have yet to eat a chicken foot, but I'm going to do it! And I'm going to record myself doing it!

But I really, really love that tie you sent too! I wore it on Sunday and every young man wanted to trade. I'm not sure if it was because it looked fantastic, because it was from China, because the colors looked good together, or perhaps all three, but I got several comments on it and how good I looked with it on! Thank you for that!

I also got a weird compliment from the young women too. This week was super sunshiny and super hot, so naturally, I got super sunburn. On the day I was the most red, the young women pointed out that I had a gringo sunburn, and that it really brought out my eyes. Now all the young women of the ward tell me they want to trade eyes with me. Weird.

I never thought fungus would be a problem here in Pucallpa until I found some gnarly red spots all over my body that itch like crazy. So I bought some anti-fungus cream. Hopefully, that will get rid of the stuff, but if not, maybe I'll resort to thinking they're something else instead. I dunno. :P

I met another English speaker this week too. Two in one week! What are the odds? He asked me what continent Australia belonged to, and I replied that Australia is its own continent. Then I attempted to contact him. Turns out, he was a missionary for a different church. An awkward silence fell upon us before we wished each other luck and went along our ways. I had no idea what to do in that kind of situation. Whoops. :P

Tomorrow, we're teaching this guy who's last name is, you guessed it, Dixon! I don't think I'll be forgetting his name anytime soon. 

How's everyone doing over there? Is Katie feeling any better? How are all my favorite siblings and Bobo? Valentine's Day is this week, isn't it? Are Mom and Dad doing anything for Valentines? 

I love you all and pray for you every day!

Love,

Elder Dixon

P.S. I call dibs on naming one of my sons Ether. I think it's a sick name! 

Elder Adam's February 2nd Email

BATS!

Dear Family!

This week's been pretty good. The other companionship in our house has been trying to work things out between themselves, so it's been more peaceful around. Much more quiet and silent too...

...Except for that weird chirping sound that's in the space between the ceiling and the roof. I've been hearing it since I got to Pucallpa and I've always assumed it was a bird, because that's what it sounded like. I would always say, "Hey guys, come listen to this! We've got a bird living above here!"

Last Tuesday, we actually found out what it was. I went to wash my hands in the kitchen sink when I saw it, sucking water from a sponge. It was big, brown, and hairy. At first I thought it was a bug, but on further inspection, I found that it was a bat. Same thing, pretty much, but I was stunned! I told everyone to come check it out. When we did, the bat sprang to life and tackled Elder Haymond's face! I tried to help, but it bit my arm. In the end, we were all bitten and got rabies.

I'm just kidding though. The bat didn't move from the sponge at all. Elder Haymond and I were too psyched out about it to do anything, so Elder Anze, his companion, came in with a broom and a blick. After a flurry of action, he tossed it outside. We haven't seen it since. But we will see another one. I still hear chirps up in the attic.

That's my fun story this week. My cool story is that I got the perfect contact too. In the MTC, we would always fantasize what the perfect investigator would be, and we all came to the decision that he'd be an English-speaker that would contact us instead of us contacting him. 

Guess what? I got that. W00t! We were just walking through the street late one night, heading to our last appointment when this guy stops me and says "Hey, where are you going?"

I was surprised that he began to talk to me in English, and I figured that since he stopped us missionaries on the street, he wanted to hear what we had to say, so I said, "Well, we're looking for you!" I replied in English.

"You are from the church of those Mormons, no?"

"Yes, we are! We're missionaries from that church!"

"Great! I want you to visit me and teach me about your religion in my house! Here's my phone number..."

That was pretty much the luckiest, coolest, and most awesome thing that happened to me in my mission. Best. Contact. Evar. I was in a good mood for the rest of the night. We have yet to contact him again, but teaching him in English is going to be fun. At the same time, we were proselyting with one of the assistants, who knows a good amount of English too. After the contact, he leaned over to me and said, "You gotta teach that guy! You're super lucky to find an English-speaker!"

But that was pretty much my week. How's everyone doing over there? Is Katie doing well? How about all my wonderful nieces and nephews! Is Dad's knee recovering well? I love you all! You guys are the best!

Always praying for all of you,

Elder Dixon