Subject: Week 13

This week has been a little bit different but good. Monday was a lazy p-day and was nice. We didn't have any zone or district activities going on so we stayed at home most of the day. Tuesday we had Zone Conference. Zone conference was amazing. I learned so much! One of the things that Sister Pitts talked about was Christlike Attributes of HIM. The H stood for Humility, I for Integrity, and M for meekness. It was really cool to see and make the connection. This week I was focused on studying these 3 attributes and learn how to become better at them. We also talked a lot about finding people. It was good because this week we did A LOT of tracting. We also had training on the importance of sacrament meeting and how to get investigators there. We talked about a few other things. Our theme scripture was 1 Ne 13:37. President talked about the scripture for like an hour. Who knew anyone could talk about and analyze a scripture in such depth for that long. It was so good. I have pages after pages of notes. I will share more when I get home :) Haha you will have to wait a little bit :)

So some interesting experiences with tracting this week:
1. Dogs! I have come to hate them even more, especially when they run up to you and almost bite you. I have decided to get pepper spray. I heard that vinegar and water work just the same. Hermana Tetelpa is not a fan of them either. Everyone here has them, especially hispanics. Most of the families homes we go into are good about putting their dogs in a different room or tie them up.
2. On one house we knocked on a person answered the door. We introduced ourselves and they told us that they used to be Mormon but aren't anymore. They went to Christianity because Mormon's don't believe in the Bible or Jesus Christ. I was laughing so hard in my head. I was curious to what Mormon church she went to. I still get laughs about it. I should have asked her more about where she went but Hna Tetelpa was ready to leave that house.
3. The next house we contacted we met a lady whose father used to be a CES member working for the church. She grew up Mormon but changed religions to a born-again Christian. Both people were quite adamant that they were not interested in the church.
4. I hate creepy things! I knocked on this door in the better part of Orem and the whole door shook. I jumped. It scared me. Hermana Tetelpa was like what happened. She didn't see the door move and stood at the top of the stairs. The other stair case was blocked and I was stuck down there if there was this creepy guy who opened the door. I was kind of glad that he didn't answer the door. If we do hear back from him or go contacting there again my companion is doing the knocking.

Our teaching pool is dwindling down to nothing. We have about 4 families that we are teaching that are not committing to baptism. One of them thinks we only need to go once a month, two of the families won't get divorced so that they can get married. They are living with others than they original spouse. And the last one wants to get baptized but is living with his girlfriend in Colombia. He goes back in a couple weeks. He wants to get married and get baptized together. We will see how that goes. He has changed so much. I was noticing this the other day when we were there. Another one of our investigators is going through a really hard time right now. We hope she keeps her baptism date despite all these hard times. Her son got deported to Argentina. He is involved with gangs and drugs and her father in law is really sick and his caretaker can no longer take care of him because her son has cancer. She might have to quit her job to take care of him but can't afford to quit. We told her to keep praying and trusting God. He will give her comfort and guidance. That is about it for the work. We don't have a whole lot going on. Next month we have 3 baptisms and a teaching pool of 3 people as of now. We are searching for more people.

This is a short letter but I don't have anything else that is new and exciting going on. Oh so funny story. Yesterday morning we were leaving for our first correlation meeting at 7am. We left about 6:50 and were walking down our stairs to the car. It had rained all night and the driveway looked wet. Wrong! It was ice. I was almost to the drivers door (I am driving now :)) and the next thing I know I am slipping. I have my lunch in my hand, my bag, my glasses, and a few other things. I couldn't grab hold of the car. It was covered in ice anyway. Next thing I know I am on the driveway and Hermana Tetelpa is asking if i am okay after she braces herself from falling. I am so sore now. I landed on my entire left side. I barely missed hitting the car and the fence. Oh man, it was hilarious even though I am in a lot of pain now.

Anyway, I hope that you are all doing well. It sounds like it! I know that Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer. I know that through Him we are able to experience life and receive forgiveness. He loves us. A couple weeks ago I bought Another Testament of Jesus Christ DVD and we have been showing it to our investigators. It is so good. My testimony is strengthened every time we watch it. I know He lives! This week I challenge all of you who read this to read 3 Nefi 11 to the end of the book of Nefi. It is amazing. I know that the Book of Mormon is Another Testament of Jesus Christ and that through it we can become better disciples of Christ. Help the missionaries in your areas. Help them find people and help others feel welcome in the wards. Help yourself come to know Christ better. I love you all and are so grateful for you and for you examples. You are all the best!

Love,
Hermana Dickson

Week 11

Another week has come and gone. This week has been good. I hope you all enjoyed your week and had a wonderful New Years.

Monday night we met with 2 investigators (Juan and Orbelin). Juan has been taught by the missionaries for awhile. Monday night or the end of last week he finally accepted baptism. His baptism is for the this weekend. Supposedly he has commited to baptism 3 times before so we shall see. Our ward mission leader says it is different this time. Orbelin is progressing. His baptism is supposed to be this Saturday but has to be postponed. He didn't show up to church on Sunday :(.

Tuesday we met with a 9 year old, Giselle. She is super smart. She reminds me of Kaelyn in looks and all. Her and her mom are taking the discussions but her mom is never home so we just teach her. We also went to Yesenia's house and watched The Legacy with her before her baptism. We also taught Jorge about the law of chastity. It was quite entertaining. He is a funny kid. We also reviewed everything that we taught him to make sure he was ready for his interview.

Wednesday we went contacting in the morning and then met with Hernando. We taught him lesson one. He is so ready to be baptized. He always has a bunch of questions for us and understands and accepts everything we teach him. His brother is a member. He is visting him from Colombia for a month. During the day we ended up receiving a bad storm. We had hail, ice, snow, wind. It was no fun and we still have all the ice and cold from it. It hasn't warmed up past 25 for almost a week. Wednesday evening, despite the weather we had Yesenia's baptism. She had a lot of people show up. I am so excited for her. She is amazing. She got baptized on her 21st birthday. She was so excited and ready to be baptized. She wants her family to get baptized as well. Her mom is taking the discussions from the elder's in their area. We were only teaching her because she wanted sisters and we were the closest.

Thursday we went and watched the Joseph Smith movie with Hernando. He really enjoyed it. He has told us he has no reason to deny what we were are teaching him. He was very impressed with Joseph Smith. Afterwards we went and taught Monica. She is getting baptized Feb 15. We watched some of Witnesses of Christ with her and talked about Prophets. She is so sweet and you can tell she is excited about the gospel. We also went and taught Orbelin. We taught him about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Later that night we had a correlation and then taught Juan. We taught Juan about Obedience, Prayer, and Scripture Study. After the lesson the member we brought with us told me my Spanish was coming along. It doesn't feel like it so it was good to hear it from someone else.

Friday we had Jorge's baptism interview and then planned for the day. We had our DTM (district training meeting). There we talked about being bold and confident in our work. It was really good. Afterwards we finished planning and then met back up with our distrcit for the rest of the night (well until 9:30). We went out for dinner at a restaurant called One Man Band. It was pretty good. It is in Pleasant Grove. You order at the table over the phone. It is really run by one person. If you are in the area you should go. After dinner we went to a members home, the Adamson's, and played games and watched a movie. We had permission to watch an animated g rated movie. We watched How to Train Your Dragon. We got special permission to watch it since it is PG. It is a really cute movie. Afterwards we had permission to stay up until midnight but Hermana Tetelpa and I decided to get more sleep. We got to sleep in until 8:30. It felt so good to get some extra sleep.

Saturday we were to stay in our apartments until 5 and then go on like a normal proselyting day. It was kind of a boring day but I got letters written and almost finished reading the Book of Mormon. That night we met with Hernando and watched The Testaments with him. We also went and taught Yesenia. We read 3 Ne 11 and watched a slideshow of Another Testament (Mark Mabry photos of 3 Ne 11). It was really good. We had a RM there with us.

Sunday was a crazy day. We started our day out at 7 with correlation, 8:30 had another correlation, 9 went to Yesenia's ward for her confimation, 10, went to one of our three wards, 11 we went to another ward of ours,12- correlation, 1 back to church, 2 taught Orbelin,3 taugh Giselle, 4 correlation, 5 dinner, 6 taught a lady named Sandra and afterwards we went to familia Mitre-Rojas. It was a long day.

This last week was busy as you can see but it was really good. I had a lot of fun. I know that this week will be just as good. I am so grateful to be out here and to be helping others Come Unto Christ. I know there is no other place for me to be. I know that we can all help others come unto Christ. In the Book of Mormon in the book of mormon we are asked to do this. I know Heavenly Father will help us daily as we have faith and rely on Him. I know He loves us. I know He knows each of us personally. He is our Savior and Redeemer. I am so grateful for Him and the gospel in my life. I hope that we can all find the joy and peace the gospel brings to us and that we will not be ashamed or afraid to share it with others. I love you all and am so grateful for you and for your examples. You are the best!

Love,
Hermana Dickson