What an incredible week we've had here in Maine!
Monday we had an awesome FHE with the Branch President and his family. We have been focusing a lot on getting members involved in Preach My Gospel. We did a neat activity with them on sincere prayers. It was a ton of fun for their family and for us and the spirit was so strong.
Tuesday we did some service for Eddie and Susie, two of our investigators. It was really neat because after we were done they agreed to take the discussions. We visited the West family later that evening. They are less active, but you would never know it. They study the scriptures, live and talk like active church members, but they don't go to church. We talked to them about using Preach My Gospel and Brother West stood up walked in the other room and grabbed his copy. He already had one, so we committed him and his wife to start studying from it. Another neat experience that happened from that visit was that they agreed to participate in the forty day fast that our branch has just started.
Wednesday we had district meeting and although it's already week three of the transfer it was our first one with our new district. It was probably one of the best district meetings we've ever had. We talked about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and how it is because of the Resurrection that we can repent. We were encouraged to get a picture of Christ and put it where we could easily find it or see it and whenever we get distracted or discouraged think of Him. We had dinner with Sister Gosselin, our Relief Society President. She is expecting a baby girl in August so we helped with some household chores and she fed us. Pretty awesome trade if you ask me.
Thursday was the day that started off the incredible experiences that resulted from Youth Conference. Ten sets of missionaries were selected to attend the Bangor and Augusta stakes youth conference. Sister Burton and I were one of the lucky companionship's that got to go. The theme of the conference was Mission Possible: Agents of Action. The missionaries were the team leaders and we were assigned a group of about 15 youth. Our group was B1, which was soon added upon by the youth to be the B1 Brave Hearts. As we first met with our group we were a little nervous about a few of the youth who didn't seem too enthused to be there. We got started by making a flag and a chant. Not long after that they had an opening devotional. During this time Sister Burton and I prepared our class. We were assigned to teach a class on bringing the scriptures to life. It was actually a pretty neat experience on how we decided what we were going to teach. We only received our assignment to teach the week previous so we didn't have much time to think or prepare. As we prayed about what we needed to teach, the revelation just began to flow! It was such a neat experience. In about an hours time we had a pretty solid outline for what we needed to share. Our class was about Lehi's vision of the tree of life (found in 1 Nephi 8). We decided that we were going to make this story come to life and apply it the the youth's lives right now. Sister Burton and I played the parts of Sariah and Lehi. We started our class in the Primary room and then told our "children" that we needed to leave Jerusalem because it was going to be destroyed, and then they followed us into the wilderness. The next room over we had made a huge fort/tent that we had the rest of our class in. We talked about the different groups of people that are mentioned in Lehi's dream. We taught how we can leave behind our own personal Jerusalems, and that we all need to be a part of the group that continuously holds fast to the rod of iron, not the one that clings. I learned so many insights about the tree of life that I had never before understood. The scriptures are incredible things, and they are truly written for our day.
Friday was another incredible day. There is so much that I want to share, but I don't quite have the time. One huge miracle that happened was with our former investigator Matthew Dorr. When Sister Burton and I got here, we were told that he had a baptismal date set. It took us a really long time to get in contact with him and when we finally were able to meet him he was swamped with school and work and didn't have the commitment to stick to his baptismal date or the lessons. One of the activities that the youth did in the conference was called a missionary track where some of the youth could go out and teach someone as if they were missionaries. A few weeks prior when they mentioned that they were going to be doing this as part of the conference they asked if we had any referrals of people that we were teaching within a 30 min. distance from the Bangor church. Matthew Dorr immediately came to mind. The day of the missionary track we still had not heard from Matthew. We talked to one of the leaders, Bro. Smith, and told him the situation. We had a meeting with the rest of the missionaries and Bro. Smith told the missionaries that of the 25 people they had set up to teach nearly half of them had fallen through. We had a few hours to do our weekly planning while the youth were playing games so he asked us to pray for miracles that we would be able to build our teaching pool back up so the youth could experience teaching. As Sister Burton and I prayed we had a new idea come to our minds. We thought of a recent convert who is a girlfriend of one of the boys in our branch. We called Sister Bissel and she informed us that Devin (her sons girlfriend) was up visiting. We asked if she'd be ok with two young women coming to practice teaching the Plan of Salvation. She agreed! Not much longer after that we received a text message from Matthew Dorr. He asked if today was the only day that they were doing it. We used our brains on this one and said yes and no. That day was the only day that they were doing it as part of youth conference, but we told him that we have youth in our branch that were preparing to serve missions that want more practice teaching. He was totally up for having them come a different day. Two big miracles in such a short amount of time. That night Sister Burton and I went on splits so that we could each go with a set of youth to teach. I went with the youth to the Bissels. When we got there, Devin and Justin were not home yet. We waited a few minutes and I prayed and prayed and prayed that they'd show up. Sister Bissel felt so bad that they weren't home yet, so she played the part of an investigator so these young women could practice teaching. Sister Bissel and I sat there in awe as these girls taught and shared their testimonies. I continued to pray that Devin would show up before we had to leave. Just as we were finishing up Devin and Justin pulled in. The girls were able to share one of their favorite scriptures with Devin before we left. As we drove back to the church these two young women were beaming! They were on cloud nine. This was their first experience being able to teach and share their testimonies in this type of a setting, and it was truly incredible.
Saturday, the last day of youth conference, we did a service project and cleaned up one of the streams in Bangor. It was a blast being with so many energetic, happy youth. When we got home from the stream clean up we were completely exhausted from all that had happened at youth conference. I am used to being able to just go home and crash after activities like that, but missionary work, well, I should say fun, never ends, so Sister Burton and I prayed for energy and carried on!
Sunday was also equally incredible. It was one of the most spirit filled fast and testimony meetings I have ever attended. The youth all bore their testimonies and shared their experiences from youth conference.
I know this email is extremely long, but it is basically my journal for the week because I haven't had time to write down what I've experienced. This week was truly life changing. I am extremely excited for what is in store this week!
I think it's only appropriate that I invite you all to do what we asked our youth to do this past week and that is to leave behind your Jerusalem. As Lehi left Jerusalem and took his family to the wilderness, they left behind everything. All their wealth, all their property, every worldly comfort. But they took with them what was truly important, which was each other. There are many things in our own personal lives that keep us from seeing what is truly important. When it comes down to it, the only things we take with us out of this life are our families and our knowledge. I want to ask all of you to think about what your personal Jerusalem is that holds you back from seeing what is truly important in life, and then set goals to change that. My testimony has been strengthened a great deal this past week and I have felt the spirit so strong. I love love love being a missionary and I love this gospel! I hope you all have a great week and stay strong!
Much love,
Sister Dixon
Monday, April 28, 2014
Monday, April 21, 2014
HAPPY BARFDAY SISTER BURTON
This week has been indescribable! I don't have a ton of time today so I'm going to go straight to the good stuff.
We had Zone Conference on Tuesday in Bangor and it was incredible! We learned a lot about being better Preach My Gospel missionaries. Elder Ballard's talk in General Conference also hit on how incredible Preach My Gospel is, not just for missionaries, but for members too. One of the young women from the branch who is planning on going on a mission came with us to zone conference which was awesome! The aftermath of Zone Conference is where the good stories come in. Wednesday night we had dinner at the Arnolds and Sister Burton wasn't feeling too well. In the middle of dinner she had to excuse herself to make a run for the bathroom. It was probably the shortest member meal I've ever had.
The next morning was her Birthday.....well barfday would probably be a little more fitting. She was still super sick and could hardly keep water down. She at least was able to get up long enough to open her presents. Then she was back in bed. I got ready and did my personal studies when it hit me. It came super fast and unexpected but I too lost just about all that I had eaten. Not long after that we got word from several other missionaries of similar symptoms. We found out that both the zones at zone conference were sick, which adds up to about 40 missionaries! We narrowed it down to the pasta salad being the culprit.
All is well now and we are all recovered and back to business.
Saturday we had a branch activity. It was a Lasagna and Pie bake off. The men make their best lasagnas and the women make their best pies. The missionaries had the privilege of judging this year.....lucky us!
Sunday we had the best Easter ever! Mike and Michele, our off the grid best friends, came to church!!!!!!!!!!! We were beaming! We had a big choir program for Sacrament Meeting and they absolutely loved it. Sister Burton and I taught the 4-5 year olds in primary and we taught Relief Society. It was a very full day! The Spirit was just so strong all day. We had a big Easter dinner with Sister Beth Ellison and her family. Tons of yummy food and good company. At the end of the day I looked back on all that had happened that day and was so filled with gratitude for the many tender mercies of the Lord. We are being so blessed out here. I have never been happier.
That is all I have time to report for this week, but I want you all to know how much I LOVE being out here and how much I love the gospel. I have never found so much happiness than I have as I have given my all to serving the Lord. I hope you all have a wonderful week, and I hope you had a very happy Easter.
Peace and Blessings,
Sister Dixon
We had Zone Conference on Tuesday in Bangor and it was incredible! We learned a lot about being better Preach My Gospel missionaries. Elder Ballard's talk in General Conference also hit on how incredible Preach My Gospel is, not just for missionaries, but for members too. One of the young women from the branch who is planning on going on a mission came with us to zone conference which was awesome! The aftermath of Zone Conference is where the good stories come in. Wednesday night we had dinner at the Arnolds and Sister Burton wasn't feeling too well. In the middle of dinner she had to excuse herself to make a run for the bathroom. It was probably the shortest member meal I've ever had.
The next morning was her Birthday.....well barfday would probably be a little more fitting. She was still super sick and could hardly keep water down. She at least was able to get up long enough to open her presents. Then she was back in bed. I got ready and did my personal studies when it hit me. It came super fast and unexpected but I too lost just about all that I had eaten. Not long after that we got word from several other missionaries of similar symptoms. We found out that both the zones at zone conference were sick, which adds up to about 40 missionaries! We narrowed it down to the pasta salad being the culprit.
All is well now and we are all recovered and back to business.
Saturday we had a branch activity. It was a Lasagna and Pie bake off. The men make their best lasagnas and the women make their best pies. The missionaries had the privilege of judging this year.....lucky us!
Sunday we had the best Easter ever! Mike and Michele, our off the grid best friends, came to church!!!!!!!!!!! We were beaming! We had a big choir program for Sacrament Meeting and they absolutely loved it. Sister Burton and I taught the 4-5 year olds in primary and we taught Relief Society. It was a very full day! The Spirit was just so strong all day. We had a big Easter dinner with Sister Beth Ellison and her family. Tons of yummy food and good company. At the end of the day I looked back on all that had happened that day and was so filled with gratitude for the many tender mercies of the Lord. We are being so blessed out here. I have never been happier.
That is all I have time to report for this week, but I want you all to know how much I LOVE being out here and how much I love the gospel. I have never found so much happiness than I have as I have given my all to serving the Lord. I hope you all have a wonderful week, and I hope you had a very happy Easter.
Peace and Blessings,
Sister Dixon
Monday, April 14, 2014
HE IS RISEN
We had an awesome week this week!
Monday we had a FHE with Sis. Price. She is quite the crafty lady and loves to make jewelry so she got out some of her beads...which was more than I've ever seen in my life... and we made necklaces. It was awesome.
Tuesday we had a great opportunity to talk to Jim and Leanna. They are good friends with the Leemans and have been taught by missionaries in the past. We were able to have a great discussion with them and set up another time to meet with them (which was supposed to be tonight, Monday.....but they just cancelled about five minutes ago....missionary life up close). We also stopped by the Pratt's on Tuesday and they are just awesome. Elijah, the one who informed us that we had a future in bread making knocked out some more quotables. His mom was saying how he doesn't like to do chores and he agreed and said, "Ya I consider myself to be a fun loving guy". This boy is nine years old and hilarious. It was probably one of those moments that you'd 'have to be there' but it definitely got us all laughing.
Thursday was life changing. We had a Sister's Meeting with all the Sisters in Maine and part of New Hampshire. It was INCREDIBLE! We heard from so many awesome women and we were all so uplifted. I left my study notebook at the apartment so I can't spill all the incredible information we recieved that day into this email, but I will definitely share it soon.
We went on exchange after the Sister's Meeting and I got to spend all day Friday with Sister Houston. We had a car fast that day so we got to walk to all our destinations and it was glorious! The weather was so nice! That night Sister Sutton drove us to Bangor to exchange back. Sister Burton came back from being with one of the Brewer Sisters with a bag of soda cans to add to our collection of returnables. Sister Sutton noticing the bag of cans inquired about them and we informed her that we are collecting cans so that we can build up our ice cream fund. She had three huge garbage bags in her suburban filled with cans and she gave them all to us! We were in heaven. I think we'll be getting ice cream this week.....and probably every week. It was funny too because the next morning we went for a little jog down the street and made ten cents in twenty minutes! We each found one can to add to our collection. We are making bank here in Milo.
Sunday was great too. Church was incredible and so many people came. After it was over we looked outside and IT WAS SNOWING! I thought we were done with snow, but then I remembered I'm in Maine. All is well though, it's a beautiful day today.
We have another great week to look forward to. Zone Conference tomorrow, and Easter on Sunday! And every happy thing in between! So very excited!
I absolutely love the Easter season because of what we are celebrating it for, the Resurrection of our Savior. I want to add my testimony to the prophet Joseph Smith Joseph "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, that he lives!" I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and not only did He die for us, but He lives for us. I love you all and I hope you have a very happy and safe Easter week! You're in my prayers.
Sister Dixon
Monday we had a FHE with Sis. Price. She is quite the crafty lady and loves to make jewelry so she got out some of her beads...which was more than I've ever seen in my life... and we made necklaces. It was awesome.
Tuesday we had a great opportunity to talk to Jim and Leanna. They are good friends with the Leemans and have been taught by missionaries in the past. We were able to have a great discussion with them and set up another time to meet with them (which was supposed to be tonight, Monday.....but they just cancelled about five minutes ago....missionary life up close). We also stopped by the Pratt's on Tuesday and they are just awesome. Elijah, the one who informed us that we had a future in bread making knocked out some more quotables. His mom was saying how he doesn't like to do chores and he agreed and said, "Ya I consider myself to be a fun loving guy". This boy is nine years old and hilarious. It was probably one of those moments that you'd 'have to be there' but it definitely got us all laughing.
Thursday was life changing. We had a Sister's Meeting with all the Sisters in Maine and part of New Hampshire. It was INCREDIBLE! We heard from so many awesome women and we were all so uplifted. I left my study notebook at the apartment so I can't spill all the incredible information we recieved that day into this email, but I will definitely share it soon.
We went on exchange after the Sister's Meeting and I got to spend all day Friday with Sister Houston. We had a car fast that day so we got to walk to all our destinations and it was glorious! The weather was so nice! That night Sister Sutton drove us to Bangor to exchange back. Sister Burton came back from being with one of the Brewer Sisters with a bag of soda cans to add to our collection of returnables. Sister Sutton noticing the bag of cans inquired about them and we informed her that we are collecting cans so that we can build up our ice cream fund. She had three huge garbage bags in her suburban filled with cans and she gave them all to us! We were in heaven. I think we'll be getting ice cream this week.....and probably every week. It was funny too because the next morning we went for a little jog down the street and made ten cents in twenty minutes! We each found one can to add to our collection. We are making bank here in Milo.
Sunday was great too. Church was incredible and so many people came. After it was over we looked outside and IT WAS SNOWING! I thought we were done with snow, but then I remembered I'm in Maine. All is well though, it's a beautiful day today.
We have another great week to look forward to. Zone Conference tomorrow, and Easter on Sunday! And every happy thing in between! So very excited!
I absolutely love the Easter season because of what we are celebrating it for, the Resurrection of our Savior. I want to add my testimony to the prophet Joseph Smith Joseph "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, that he lives!" I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and not only did He die for us, but He lives for us. I love you all and I hope you have a very happy and safe Easter week! You're in my prayers.
Sister Dixon
Monday, April 7, 2014
WE THANK THEE O GOD FOR A PROPHET
Oh what a week!
Sister Burton and I are both staying another transfer here in Dover. This is the first transfer since October that things have stayed the same. We are exciting for some stability ha ha ha.
Lots of great thing happened this week. It's finally beginning to feel like Spring! We still have a couple of feet of snow to melt away, but it feels great outside!
I'm going to blast out some miracles that happened this week, because I want to make sure I have time to talk about GENERAL CONFERENCE!
We were blessed with many unplanned opportunities to do service this week. It was awesome. One was with Sister Pratt. We were in Brownville and decided to stop by. We noticed that their driveway needed shoveling so we whipped out our shovels from the trunk and got er done. We then were able to go in and visit and help her with some dishes. She is recovering from surgery so she couldn't keep up with the household chores. We had a similar opportunity on Thursday when we were in Dover. Our Relief Society President is expecting a baby and has had some difficulties with her pregnancy so we were able to stop by and do her dishes too! We got to do service again at PAWS and at the Bissell's farm which is always a blessing. We had an awesome experience with the Leemans. They are great member missionaries who are always inviting their friends to learn about the gospel. Their friends Eddy and Suzie that we had had dinner with before invited us to their home with the Leemans to have dinner again. It was awesome. They are such great people and it is incredible what happens when members and missionaries work together.
Now to Conference.......MIND BLOWN! It was so good and I'm so sad it's already over. What were everyone's favorite talks? I'm not sure I could say that I had one absolute favorite because they were all SO good. I think the one that was just for me was Elder Bednar's in the Sunday Morning session. The entire Sunday Morning session was just amazing! I was hardly able to take notes because I was completely locked in to everything that was being said. I am just so speechless with the amount of inspired information that we received this weekend. We are so blessed to have living prophets and apostles who guide us today. And we are so blessed to have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so blessed to have an incredible family who has raised me to have faith in my Savior, and I know that I get to spend eternity with them! If you have yet to watch conference I strongly urge you to do so! It changed my life and I know it will change yours too! I also encourage all of you to apply Moroni's promise to everything that was said this weekend. "Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam, even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."(Moroni 10:3-5)
I am so happy to be a missionary right now at this exciting time! I love you all and I want you all to know how much I love this gospel and how much I love being able to serve the Lord. I have never been happier.
Sister Dixon
Sister Burton and I are both staying another transfer here in Dover. This is the first transfer since October that things have stayed the same. We are exciting for some stability ha ha ha.
Lots of great thing happened this week. It's finally beginning to feel like Spring! We still have a couple of feet of snow to melt away, but it feels great outside!
I'm going to blast out some miracles that happened this week, because I want to make sure I have time to talk about GENERAL CONFERENCE!
We were blessed with many unplanned opportunities to do service this week. It was awesome. One was with Sister Pratt. We were in Brownville and decided to stop by. We noticed that their driveway needed shoveling so we whipped out our shovels from the trunk and got er done. We then were able to go in and visit and help her with some dishes. She is recovering from surgery so she couldn't keep up with the household chores. We had a similar opportunity on Thursday when we were in Dover. Our Relief Society President is expecting a baby and has had some difficulties with her pregnancy so we were able to stop by and do her dishes too! We got to do service again at PAWS and at the Bissell's farm which is always a blessing. We had an awesome experience with the Leemans. They are great member missionaries who are always inviting their friends to learn about the gospel. Their friends Eddy and Suzie that we had had dinner with before invited us to their home with the Leemans to have dinner again. It was awesome. They are such great people and it is incredible what happens when members and missionaries work together.
Now to Conference.......MIND BLOWN! It was so good and I'm so sad it's already over. What were everyone's favorite talks? I'm not sure I could say that I had one absolute favorite because they were all SO good. I think the one that was just for me was Elder Bednar's in the Sunday Morning session. The entire Sunday Morning session was just amazing! I was hardly able to take notes because I was completely locked in to everything that was being said. I am just so speechless with the amount of inspired information that we received this weekend. We are so blessed to have living prophets and apostles who guide us today. And we are so blessed to have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so blessed to have an incredible family who has raised me to have faith in my Savior, and I know that I get to spend eternity with them! If you have yet to watch conference I strongly urge you to do so! It changed my life and I know it will change yours too! I also encourage all of you to apply Moroni's promise to everything that was said this weekend. "Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam, even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."(Moroni 10:3-5)
I am so happy to be a missionary right now at this exciting time! I love you all and I want you all to know how much I love this gospel and how much I love being able to serve the Lord. I have never been happier.
Sister Dixon
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