TURNING OUTWARD

This week has been AWESOME......very long but so incredible. That is just the way week one goes.
So Tuesday started off nice and early with our drive to New Hampshire to meet my new companion Sister McVey. She is from California and she is great! Her family recently moved to Spanish Fork, about a year and a half ago which is pretty exciting! This transfer is already off to a great start.
This week has kind of been a blur, but it really has been such a fun week. We found two new investigators that are super solid!
I wish I had time to write all the incredible things that happened this week, but just know that so many great things occurred!
This week I saw so many ways that God exists. I wanted to share a few of them, and I hope that some of you were a little more aware of His existence this past week. Obviously being in Vermont during this time of here it is hard NOT to believe that there is a God. The beauty that surrounds us never ceases to amaze me. I was also even more aware of the little ways that He answered my prayers and allowed little things to fall into place throughout each day.
To quickly get to my goal for this week, it is to turn outward. This week I want to encourage everyone to turn outward, whatever that may mean for you. For me this means that I am going to put all my focus on others rather than myself, especially in my prayers. I know that God already knows what I am in need of and what my desires are so I am going to put all my energy into praying for those around me. I am nearly out of time so that is all I have for this week! I hope that everyone can turn outward this week and to reach out to those who need a hand :)

I love you all!
Sister Dixon

THE LAST TWELVE WEEKS

I have very exciting news! I'm going to be a mom again!
I am very excited for the opportunity to train another new missionary. It will be a very fun experience reliving in a sense the first twelve weeks of missionary life for my last twelve weeks.

As new missionaries enter the mission field they begin a training called "The First Twelve Weeks". During these twelve weeks missionaries begin to learn how to recognize the promptings of the Spirit. They learn more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how this gospel is for everyone.

Just as there is a twelve week training for new missionaries, I feel it important to have a twelve week training for aging missionaries.  I have put together different topics for each week that I feel will help me become a lifelong missionary and disciple of Jesus Christ. Although I only have twelve more weeks to wear this precious name tag that bears Jesus Christ's name, I have a lifetime to become like Him.

During the next twelve weeks I want EVERYONE (who wants to) join me in this little experiment.

Week One: Evidence of God's Existence

I feel that this is something that is important to start with. How can we become more like God or our Savior Jesus Christ if we don't truly know who they are? Just like being grateful helps you to see more and more things you are blessed with; recognizing different ways that proves God's existence is a way to truly understand that He is there. This morning in our companionship study we sang this primary song which I felt was perfect for this subject.

Whenever I hear the song of a bird
Or look at the blue, blue sky,
Whenever I feel the rain on my face
Or the wind as it rushes by,
Whenever I touch a velvet rose
Or walk by our lilac tree,
I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world
Heavenly Father created for me.
He gave me my eyes that I might see
The color of butterfly wings.
He gave me my ears that I might hear
The magical sound of things.
He gave me my life, my mind, my heart:
I thank him rev'rently
For all his creations, of which I'm a part.
Yes, I know Heav'nly Father loves me.

Especially living here in Vermont, I am very aware of the beautiful creations God has blessed us with. During this week I wanted to invite you all to pay special attention and seek to recognize the different ways that you recognize God's existence. It can be with anything! Be creative.

I want to hear from all who are participating in this experiment, to see how you have witnessed and recognized evidences of God's existence this week. My mom will post on her Facebook page the experiment and then all who are participating can comment/post on her page the ways they have seen God's existence. https://www.facebook.com/jone.dixon
 If you aren't friends with my mom on Facebook....you should be, but if not please email me your experiences!

I love this gospel with all my heart and I want everyone to share in the happiness that I have felt being a missionary. I hope that you all have a great week and enjoy the beauties of Gods creations and His existence.

Sister Dixon

FALL IS HERE

Well I'm sorry this little email is super short! I just went on an incredible hike with our district!

We have zone conference this week and Elder Wilson of the Seventy will be coming! It is going to be an incredible week! Happy Fall!......It is here!

LETTING THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG

We had an awesome week this week.
Monday we had a BBQ with our Ward Mission Leader, Bro. Peden and his wife. It was a blast. They live in such a beautiful area. So we grilled hamburgers and enjoyed dinner and the beauties of Vermont as we ate at their picnic table in their yard.

Tuesday we had another great day of service at the thrift store we volunteer at. You should be so proud, I haven't bought anything from there for three weeks. I don't think I've paid more than three dollars for anything I've ever bought there.....but still, this is one of the BEST thrift stores EVER! We went to a Bible study that night with Sharon, an awesome girl that recently joined the church. She is going to Johnson State College and she has been part of the Christian Fellowship group for three years and they have a Bible study every Tuesday evening and she invited us to go to it. It was pretty awesome. We'll probably start going regularly. The people there are great!

Wednesday we had our first official lesson with Judy and Josh. We extended the invitation to be baptized and they accepted! Pretty exciting. They came to church again on Sunday and loved it. Josh even joined the choir.

We had a great day Thursday doing service for one of the members. We helped rip off wall paper on a house they are getting ready to move into. It was great!

Friday was also awesome! Sister Considine told us about a First Friday event that happens the first Friday of every month in her town. She got it all set up so that we could do a family history booth. It was great! We got it all set up and it was perfect because she knew EVERYBODY!!! It made it so much better because a lot more people stopped by because there was a familiar face. A funny part of this event was that when we were told where we could set up, we realized that they put us right next to missionaries from another church. It all went well though and they were extremely nice!

Saturday and Sunday were a solid days filled with appointments and lots of great experiences. We were visiting one of our investigators, Jean on Sunday night and she said she had a surprise for me! She loves to give each missionary something unique as a gift. I think I got the best gift yet..... I got a cat food bag! ha ha it is probably the BEST thing I have ever seen. She saw a lady that was selling bags that were made out of the heavy duty cat food bags. She saw one that was blue and thought of me! I feel so loved here.

It kills me to see how fast time is flying by. I can hardly believe it. I feel like I just got to Lamoille and now we are less than two weeks away from the end of the transfer!

We have so many great things to look forward to this week! I hope you all have an awesome week and know how much I love you!

Keep being amazing!
Love Sister Dixon

LABOR DAY

Happy to report another great week here in Vermont!
I got to go on exchange in Montpelier with Sis. Brown. We came out at the same time so it was fun to get caught up on all that we've experienced on our missions.
The best part of the week was definitely interviews! President and Sister Stoker are incredible. We had a great zone meeting too. I love the meetings we get to have as missionaries. There is nothing better than being surrounded by tons of missionaries! I LOVE IT! It's so motivating and encouraging.

Friday was just filled with miracles. We were walking to a members home (which was about half a mile away) to do some service. On the way there we street contacted, and taught two lessons! It was so awesome! On the way home, the miracles continued. We had just turned the corner when we hear a little boy yell "Sister Blume, Sister Dixon!" We turned around to see that it was TJ one of our investigators sons. We had been trying to set something up to see them that week, but nothing was working out. The timing was perfect when we were walking home so we were able to have a lesson with them too.

Sunday again was great. The two people we had met the week prior that came to church last Sunday came again this Sunday. We weren't able to meet with them this past week due to appointments they had, but we get to see them this week, and they want to be baptized!

We have a very full week ahead of us and I am so excited!!!
I hope you all have a wonderful week! HAPPY SEPTEMBER!

Sister Dixon