Front Street

Week # 50

You know you are a Spanish speaking missionary in the United States when being called Señora makes you really happy.

Usually people see that we are American and don't think that we speak Spanish. Hermana Jensen especially gets a lot of surprised looks because she is blonde. I love when people start off talking to us in Spanish. Actually, what I love most is when people will be talking to us for a few minutes thinking that we are speaking in English and then halfway through the conversation say "hablan Español?!" because they don't even recognize that that's the language we have been speaking while they are speaking in broken English so that we "understand". I love the people here. I do have to say that I struggled at first with the changes in the areas, but I really have come to love the people of "Little Mexico". 

This email is titled Front Street because that is where we spent our Pday today. There are a bunch of little Hispanic stores and a cute ice cream place. It was really fun. There was a pile of machetes. Literally just a pile of machetes with nothing covering them. Not the safest.

I don't know how long this one will be because I am drained and emailing sometimes takes too much energy. This week was a long, but good one. I feel like the things that happened this week were so long ago.

I know I mentioned this a few weeks ago, but we finally were able to have the lesson with some young investigators where they taught us about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was awesome! They even made a slide show titled "LDS lesson". It was a little out of order starting with the great apostasy, but the effort that was put into it was amazing. All missionaries should prepare as much as these young investigators did.

Speaking of preparing, Hermana Jensen and I made a "Vision" or what our goal are this transfer. We both really want to help this area progress and leave it better than we found it, but recently we have had to start from scratch. It's going to take patience and hard work (and not getting sick) so we chose to base it on the scripture 2 Nephi 28:30.

"For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of me line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, form them shall be taken away even that which they have."

Line upon line. That is how it's going to happen. We made a plan to help us as well. We also put a focus on what being a successful missionary means. There is a part in Preach My Gospel that says that the way you should measure success is your desire and efforts to work hard and to help others. We may not see the fruit of our labors here and that's okay.

What I really want to email about is yesterday's Sacrament meeting. Well all of yesterday was good. A recent convert here in the branch is leaving for a mission so she had her farewell yesterday. I know that my typed words through email won't do it justice, but the Spirit was so strong. That morning I had specifically prayed to feel the Spirit in Sacrament meeting. Sometimes I just need a little reminder that He is there. The last song was so hard to sing because so many people were overwhelmed with emotion and the Spirit. I can honestly say that it was the most powerful Sacrament meeting I have been to and the strongest I have ever felt the Spirit. The words were simple of her testimony, but so so strong. We have been teaching her sisters and hope to teach her mother as well. Karina (the departing missionary) testified that she knew that one day her family will be eternal. It was so powerful and it really emphasized to me the responsibility that I have as a missionary. Karina is a convert and now she is going to be touching the lives of countless souls in Ecuador. I don't think that the missionaries who were teaching Karina in the beginning understood the consequences and blessings that would come years down the road. I just really felt the love of my Heavenly Father in that meeting. After church we went and visited a man and I again felt the love of my Heavenly Father. As missionaries we are often blessed to be able to feel a portion of His love for individuals that we visit. I felt it yesterday for that man.

Another blessing from yesterday is that I prayed and asked for a confirmation from the Spirit that Hermano Farfan was baptized. I am not serving in Forest Grove anymore so I didn't have any way of knowing until today. The Spirit also confirmed to me that yes, he was baptized and confirmed and Lourdes and Hermana Hunt emailed me today to confirm that. He was baptized by his son and they have a goal to be sealed as a family. The email I received from Lourdes made my mission. It was good to hear from her in the first place, but I could feel the joy and the love through her email. They also are going to reach out to their daughter in California so that eventually they can all be sealed together.

My heart is so full. This is why I am serving a mission.

Les Quiero,

Hermana Lauren Dickson

Pictures include my companion in the Hispanic tienda and a picture of the family Farfan for Hermano's baptism courtesy of Hermana Hunt.

Shopping in the Hispanic tienda

Family Farfan for Hermanos baptism courtesy of Hermana Hunt

Valentine's Day. Seeing others through the Savior's eyes. With Love.

Serving in Salem . . . & Woodburn

Week #49 

You know you're a missionary in the Oregon Salem Mission when you actually get to serve in Salem!

Just when you think that you will have a normal week . . . I was in a trio for the 5th time of my mission! Emergency transfers aren't my favorite, but this one was super fun actually. We have been with Hermana DeRobles in Salem. Well, we have been in both Woodburn and Salem which has been . . . Interesting. Having two huge Spanish areas 30 minutes away by freeway is stressful, but we have made it work. We had two correlation meetings and two district meetings and I feel like we need two Pdays to recover. We went to Sacrament meeting three times yesterday which turned out to be awesome. (An English ward where all the missionaries were asked to sing for a young man leaving on a mission, next the Salem Spanish Ward and then back to Woodburn to their home Spanish Branch). I received personal revelation that I wouldn't have without the emergency transfer. Heavenly Father really does know where we need to be. 

It's probably a good thing that this companionship has only lasted a week. We have way too much fun. Not many pictures to prove it, but my journal entries have been pages long this last week.

The week started out pretty normal. On Monday after Pday we went over and contacted one of our investigators that we haven't been able to find for a while which was good. Tuesday was Valentine's Day! We went and "heart attacked" the members' doors and it was a lot of fun. One of our members has a crazy rooster that can kill so we only put it on her fence and we only got caught roughly 6 times (out of 23) the whole day. For us, that's pretty good. I really wanted to wear something with hearts on it for Valentine's Day so guess what I wore. The only piece of clothing that I had with hearts was a nightgown I got at Walmart for fun. So I wore it. No one could even tell, though I do think my companion thinks I'm even more crazy now.

We met a man at Dutch Bros. He was so excited to see us. It was hilarious. He saw our tags and said "Sister missionaries! Have you been to the temple!?" I wish that I could imitate his voice through email, because it was so funny. He was so excited. He told us that he was pretty much Mormon and knew about all of the missions in Oregon. I really wondered if he was a member at first because he knew so much. He is friend with a member of one of the English wards and so he did come to church yesterday. We talked to him for a little bit and I've been thinking about him a lot this week. Maybe his friend's example of going on a mission will help him come even closer to the Gospel so that he can partake of the wonderful blessings.

Wednesday we got a call from Hermana DeRobles and got the news that we needed to be in Salem that night so from then on our streak of crazy weeks this transfer continued. We started off with a doctor appointment and didn't stop laughing from then on. It's like a week long exchange. There was a baptism in Salem on Saturday that we helped with. Of course we all know what bad luck I am with filling the fonts. The water would not heat up at first. It's the curse of Hermana Murphey!

This week we contacted some referrals. We have two new investigators that I am so excited to teach. We also contacted another one and the conversation went something like this:
Hermanas: We are looking for Acosta
Acosta: Oh I don't know who you are looking for. 
Hermanas: Oh, well what's your name.
Acosta: Acosta. . . but I don't know what other man you are looking for. . .

My mission (with all of it's hard and funny moments) has become such a blessing to me. This week in one of our district meetings we talked aobut why we decided to come on missions. We then talked about why we have decided to stay. Wehn I try to think back and remember deciding to come on a mission, I had a lot of reasons. Good reasons, but I've realized that though I had good intentions I really was thinking a lot about myself as I prepared. I thought about the experiences I would have, the friendships I would develop, the language I would learn. There are a lot of "I"s in there. It was not intentional at all, but it is easy to think that as you prepare to become a missionary. The reason I want to continue to be a missionary is much less about me. It's become about the people. My family here and my family at home. Most of all, my Heavenly Father. I'm very imperfect and I have to constantly remind myself that that is and should be the reason. If I keep it that way, then it truly is a blessing. And not just to me.

I'm staying in Woodburn with Hermana Jensen for another transfer woot woot! We have so much work to do and I am so excited to keep working here. Elders are taking over the Salem area that we are covering right now so we will only be in Woodburn again. Other news on Transfers is that I'm going to be an abuela! I found out that Hermana Hunt will be training! I'm so excited for her!

Les quiero,

La Hermana Lauren

Last pictures with Woodburn District before transfers

Elder Bankhead, Elder Beard, Elder Patterson, Elder Kehl
Hermana DeRobles, Hermana Jensen, Hermana Dickson

Hmas DeRobles, Jensen, Dickson & Elders Bankhead, Beard, Patterson, Kehl

Serving in Salem

Zone Meeting

Surprise photo from Alicia Marin (a member in their branch. Surprise photos are the best!)

Last night with Hermana DeRobles

A Change of Heart

Week #48

You know you're at an LDS missionary zone conference when they use boxes of Book of Mormons as the door stopper. 

This week we had zone conference. The missionary department has changed the schedule so that we have interviews and zone conferences every transfer now instead of every other transfer. We get to see President Tateoka way more which I really like. We also have had a change in our missionary schedule. We plan in the morning now and we have a little more responsibility to plan effectively. A lot of our training at zone conference was focused on planning. Planning has never been a strength for me so it really helped me. Hopefully by the end of my planning I will be a "master planner". 

We also talked about having a change of heart. Fully giving our will to the Lord. Some things these last few months have really tested my testimony. I feel like it is a never ending battle for me to have a change of heart and have the humility that I need to give everything over to Him every night in prayer. I worry, worry and then worry some more about investigators, friends, lesson, etc and so it is hard to sleep sometimes. I'm learning a lot about real intent and a sincere heart. I have had to make it a daily thing to remind myself, and even sometimes write down, my real intent. What I intend to do to receive the help and blessings that I am praying for. It's a daily thing that I have to do and it takes away a little bit of stress knowing that I am doing my best to do my part.

This week we tried to do some contacting of people in our area book that we don't know or haven't been taught for a while. We knocked quite a few doors (even once two doors down from missionaries of a different church. . . ), but the only return appointment was . . . Iffy. The conversation went something like this.

Man: My wife isn't here! mi esposa no está

Hermanas: That's okay, how are you doing? esta bien

Man: My wife isn't here! mi esposa no está

Hermanas: That's fine . . .is there a better time that we could come back tomorrow when she will be here?

Man:Sí, en la tarde

Hermanas: a las 3?

Man:Sí, a las 6

Hermanas: . . . Okay . . .

Tarde (afternoon) starts at 12 and I'm still not sure when it ends. I've been told that when it gets dark it is noche, but it gets dark around 4:30 here and everyone is saying tarde up until we go in for night at 9. It depends on the person. It's so confusing.

I am constantly amazed at the dreams people have. Sometimes they are . . . a little out there, but a lot of the times that is how they get their answers from the Spirit. We talked to a recent convert this week and she shared her conversion story with us. She told us about how she dreams of staircases, all made out of different material. Wood, glass, concrete, and even one with flowers. There is always a white door at the top of the one with flowers. When she got baptized she started up those stairs so she has interpreted it to be that this is the path that Heavenly Father wants her to go. It's really cool. 

Hermana Jensen and I figured out that we both have "teaching voices". We both talk out of the sides of our mouths. We did role plays just to see if we could duplicate them. We ended up laughing. That's usually how things end up with us. Laughing our heads off. That's when I do my ab workouts. We get transfer calls on Saturday, but I am 99% sure that we will be staying together. I don't want either one of us to leave. Is it bad to pray for that? We have so much unity that we both prepared training lessons for District meeting this last week on the same topic (the power of missionaries), even both reading the same talk to prepare. Comp unity is on point. 

So this transfer hasn't been all peaches and roses. My companion and I have been constantly sick and between doctors orders to not talk/move it gets kind of hard to be a missionary. That is why we have to stay together. We have so much work to do still. We also have had some awesome priesthood experiences through blessings because of it. Hna Jensen received one this last week in Spanish and it was one of the most powerful that I have been present for.

There was a little comedy this week as well. My companion got a package from home with some CDs. We were listening to one of them and it has a bunch of cool hymn arrangements that I really like and then number 13 comes on . . ."Won't you come see about me. ." As in "Don't You Forget About Me". Not quite a missionary song. Yeah, we won't be listening to number 13 for the next 8 months. The Elders had to come over to our apartment to give a blessing which usually isn't allowed. It is probably the only time that they will ever be in our apartment, so they all conveniently went to the middle of our living room and did a full 360 (turn) while they waited for me to grab a chair. It was funny to watch them. They really like my Jesus wall ( a wall in her apartment that Hma Dickson decorated -focused on Christ).

I also saw my first Mary and Joseph Smith shrine this week. Just so we are clear. Latter Day Saints do not worship Joseph Smith or any of the other Saints. We believe only in worshiping our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We went to visit a less active member though and she has a full blown shrine. It's crazy how easily things can be misinterpreted. That is why it is so important that we have a living prophet to guide us and teach true doctrine.

I got my blood drawn this week and I wasn't sure if I was going to freak out of not, but I was fine. The funny part is that half way through, my companion quietly went out into the hallway and sat down. We are always supposed to be in sight and sound of each other so she just sat there. When we got home we walked in and my companion said "I need to lay down". I'm the one who got my blood drawn. I just laughed at her. Apparently she doesn't do needles. It wasn't the most pleasant experience because the needle was huge and he couldn't find my vein for a while, but it was all worth it when I got to laugh at my companion as she lay on the floor trying not to pass out. On the medical side I was also offered some illegal Mexican medicine this week. Translating the box is my next task in language study. The same member that gave it to me was surprised at how much weight I have lost on my mission because of being sick, but then told me not to gain it back or I would be "gorditia", aka fat. I love the members here. They are brutally honest though.

I was torn apart yesterday on my Spanish because I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting. There is a member who sits in the congregation with a notepad and pencil and writes down every mistake that he hears. So the first person to come talk to you is always him. It's really funny. Sometimes it's mean, but hey, we are learning more because of it. I talked about baptism and missionary work. Very appropriate for a missionary. I read the scripture that is on my missionary plaque at home. 

3 Nephi 5:13 Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of Him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life. 

I re read that scripture often. Do our actions show that we are all disciples (followers) of Christ? We are all called to declare His word so that all can have the blessings of everlasting life con our families and with our Heavenly Father. 

Tender mercy of the week:  I got to see my mission President and his wife jump rope. They are really trying to motivate us to exercise daily.

Los quiero,

Hermana Lauren

La compañerisma

I live in a trilingual city

Zone Conference

Memory of the mission call one year ago February 14th a "Valentine from the Prophet"

Silence. When the Spirit Speaks.

Week #47

You know you've been sick when all of your journal entries this week include the words "gripa", "enferma" and "NyQuil". 

This is going to be a short one. We only had 2 days of working this last week because as my companion says, "la gripa has plagued Woodburn". Everyone is sick. Out of six missionaries that serve in our branch, none were well enough to go to church yesterday. Apparently half the branch didn't go either because they are sick too.

We had a zone meeting this week. This zone is so much bigger than what I am used to in Forest Grove. We talked a lot about the Spirit and the power of silence in lessons. I have such a testimony of silence. At the beginning of my mission silence terrified me because I thought it was my turn to talk and I had no idea what was even going on. I love silence now! It's when the Spirit gets to speak! (It also helps a little that I now understand the language.) We get to listen to the Spirit and to our investigator. Who knows, maybe they have something they want to say, but they need the time to get up the courage to say it. Go read Helaman 5:30. One of my favorite (well right now, it constantly changes). 

"And it came to pass when they heard this voice, and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul"

I received a blessing this week. I'm so so grateful that we serve near Elders who hold the Priesthood. My testimony is constantly growing of the power and love that you can feel through blessings from the Priesthood of our Heavenly Father. In each of my journals I have written something that was said in a Priesthood blessing during my mission. They are all different because they were given for different sicknesses and worries, but they all came from my Heavenly Father.

Next week I'll have more, I promise. We are hitting the ground hard the minute we aren't sick anymore. We have too much responsibility to do anything different. 

Los Quiero,

Hermana Dickson

Sickly Sisters Still Smiling 

Salem, Woodburn and Keizer

Triumphs & Testimony- "He knows us by name"

Week #46

You know you live by train tracks when you wake up from a very nice dream to your windows shaking. Really though. The trains are so loud.

Okay. So. So many things this week. I can't write about most of them, but when I get home, ask me about my journal entries from January 23-29. The good thing is that I think that I have laughed more this week than any other on my mission. So they aren't all bad things, I promise.

I cried this morning. Sitting curbside with my laundry basket and I cried. I locked us out of our apartment. And our car. An hour and a half before our apartment manager gets here. Usually it's because I miss Forest Grove. This time it's because I'm freezing cold and it smells like weed. 

I hit an opossum on Tuesday. It was huge. Fat. Easily 2 and a half feet long and then the tail. It decided to stop right in front of our car. We were driving back from dinner in the dark on the highway so even though I slammed on my brakes we went right over it. Our TiWi told me that I was driving aggressively. Not because I slammed on my brakes, but because we went over the opossum. That was a fun phone call to Elder Burke in the mission office. Just another thing for people to laugh at me for. Hermana Jensen and I found out we scream like men though. When we hit the opossum we both yelled awkwardly low - so like men. :) You learn something new every day.

I'm trying to remember what else happened this week. Honestly I just have a song running through my head from this weekend. "La Vaca! La Vaca!" It's literally just a song about a cow. We had a branch party this weekend to celebrate eight years as a branch. As always that includes food and a DJ. We are so white. We tried though. some members tried to help us dance. specifically Hna Torres. She kept getting mad at me because I was so bad, but honestly I just laughed the whole time. It's really funny to see some videos of us dancing next to the natives #americanos. It was really neat though. The branch president has pictures of everyone who has gone to the temple in those eight years. IT was a good reminder that the goal isn't baptism. The goal is the temple. For families to be sealed for eternity. Baptism is such an important covenant, but it isn't the end. There are more promises that we can make and more blessings that our Heavenly Father wants us to have. I can't imagine not having the blessing of a temple sealing for my future children.

This week we have had to do more dropping people so at this point there isn't anyone really progressing. We do have some young investigators who are going to start teaching us the lessons. They aren't able to be baptized yet so this is a way to continue learning and growing their testimonies. Today at church they asked us if they have to wear skirts like we do . . . one of them is a boy. . . It's going to be really fun. I am excited.

We also had a worldwide broadcast this week for all of the missionaries. It was like a mini general conference (aka Christmas for missionaries). We were trained on the basics and how to remember to keep our lessons simple, but powerful. The most powerful part for me personally was the opening prayer. It was given by Elder David A. Bednar, a living apostle. I think that was the first time that I have heard a prayer from an apostle. I've heard apostles and prophets address people at conferences and meetings, but I've never heard an apostle address our Heavenly Father. It was a very special experience for me. It was just another witness to me that we are all children of our Heavenly Father and He wants to hear from all of us.

He really does want to hear from all of us. He knows us by name and knows our needs. We have talked a lot about prayer this week. Multiple members and investigators have shared their testimonies with us about experiences that they have had as they talk with their Heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father has been working on me very hard these last few weeks. I honestly don't want to share this, but for some reason He wants me to. So I'm going to. I was really struggling in my last area. More than anyone there or at home knows. I tried to explain it to a few people and they wanted to help, but they couldn't fully understand and I didn't know how to help myself let alone how others could help me. Depression is not foreign  to me. The Spirit warned me before my mission that it is something that I would again struggle with, even as a missionary. I've been trying really hard to keep it out of my emails. That helps me - to try to focus on the good.

This is the greatest work. This work brings the most joy. I know that. In the First Presidency message to missionaries in Preach My Gospel they promise us that "more happiness awaits [us] than [we] have ever experienced as [we] labor among His children". I have come to really depend on that promise. I have come to really, truly understand what it is like to depend on Christ. So when I say that no one in Forest Grove or at home could really understand, that's okay. I have a Heavenly Father who always understands and a Savior who felt the same things that I feel. It's easy to feel a little lonely when I re-read that promise in Preach My Gospel countless times, hoping to feel that joy and to not have it come, but my Heavenly Father knows that loneliness that I feel brings me closer to Him. Maybe I need to experience loneliness to be able to feel and appreciate the happiness that will come. Heavenly Father knew how long I needed to be in Forest Grove. He also knew when I needed to leave. I honestly felt a physical relief when we got transfer calls. Not because I wanted to leave, but because the Spirit confirmed to me that I needed to; so that I could feel the promised happiness. I'm doing so much better here. I miss the people so much in Forest Grove though. P-days are hard because it's easier to miss them when I'm not busy working, but I know that I need to be here.

I feel like at this point I am just rambling, but my point is that He knows us and He listens to us when we pray. My mission has brought me to my knees more than ever before and I know that He is listening. He doesn't hear Elder Bednar's prayers any louder than mine. We can't understand how He does it, but He hears and knows us as individuals. My testimony is so far from perfect, but it's growing.

My blog is named "The Salem Missionary Triumphs" right? (I'm honestly am not sure because of 'mission brain') I think being able to share this is a small triumph for me honestly. I'm focusing on the little triumphs, the tender mercies.

One of my tender mercies this week is our knew "Jesus wall". I decided that we needed more of Christ in our apartment. I've spent most of my lunch times and night times the last few days going through magazines and making a "Jesus wall". It's something so little, but it's already made a difference. A little triumph.

Los quiero,

Hermana Dickson

Newly decorated apartment wall

Locked out of the apartment and car

"White" Hermanas - dancing? Trying anyway.

"Ye Know Not, but that They Will Return and Repent. . . and I Shall Heal Them"

Week # 45

You know you're in "Little Mexico" when you eat more than 30 tortillas in 5 days. . . Honestly I've lost count. It's probably over 40. . .

So many tortillas. I'm loving it. We'll see if the scale loves it as much as I do. My stomach is re-adjusting back to Mexican food. So far so good.

This week was hard. Starting Tuesday we decided to do a car fast for the morning. Well it ended up the whole day because we came home sick before dinner. And the next day. And the next. We literally came in and passed out on the floor. Coats and boots included. We did make it out to some lessons and to our meetings, but even on Friday we were zombies at district meeting and sports night. The Elders offered us peppermint gum. . . not a blessing, but peppermint gum. It's okay. We are feeling much better now. 

We actually had a really good week considering that we were sick. The last couple of days we worked really hard to make up for it and we got pretty close to our goals. We had 7 (investigators) at church! That's a record for my mission I think. It's really hard being sick as a missionary. If we were home, we wouldn't feel guilty, but as a missionary we want to be out working and sometimes it's hard to remember that Heavenly Father wants us to take care of ourselves too. I said this in an earlier email way back in my training, but I really believe that one of the biggest trials for missionaries (well at least for me) are the limitations of our bodies. Our spirits are like "Wooh! Let's go! OYM! -open your mouth!- Find the humans! Teach the humans! Help the humans!" and then our bodies say "let's be sick today, let's be tired". It's a struggle. I feel like it takes away my agency. BUT Heavenly Father understands and knows what we can handle. 

We had interviews with President Tateoka this weekend. I love interviews. I didn't cry this time. That's a record. We get to talk about the area and investigators and then really about whatever we want. President and I talked a lot about Forest Grove and everything that I was able to do there and learn there. He told me that the area has changed and grown since he got to the mission and he thanked me. Honestly sometimes it is really easy to feel like no one will remember you and that you really didn't help anyone. We really don't know the effects of our efforts. I grew a lot in Forest Grove, but I have seen this transfer bless me so much. Change is good if we open ourselves up and find the blessings. 

We stopped by a less active's house on Saturday night and literally the whole family was there. We were able to have an awesome lesson and the mom told us about a dream that she had. She told us that the Spirit warned her that she has a responsibility to bring her children to church. And they all came to church! Everyone! It was such a tender mercy and having a hard week of being sick.

We have had a huge focus on using the Book of Mormon in everything that we do. I've definitely seen that help. We just started a reading chart with some of our investigators. Every night that they read they get to fill in a square and it ends up making a picture. I'll send a picture when I am done. I have loved reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish. It is so special to read it in a different language. It makes me focus more and so I get even more out of it. It's amazing how you can read a verse and feel like you have never read it before. Yesterday in branch council our branch president pulled out scriptures and read us 3rd Nefi 18:31-32. I've read that scripture so many times, but the Spirit was so strong. It felt like the first time. I love that scripture. I love that we can always return. Christ can literally heal us. Sometimes we are the one that needs the healing and sometimes we are the tool in His hands to help heal others. 

I'll never fully understand the Atonement, but I can say that I am learning more gradually how I can access the redeeming and enabling power of the Atonement. I'm learning through my triumphs and I'm learning even more from my errors. It is such a beautiful gift.

Los quiero,

Hermana Dickson

P.S. SUPER BIG MIRACLE! I just found out! Remember the Farfán family? Their dad just said yes to baptism! They are going to be an eternal family! I can't even express how much joy this brings so many people. So many prayers are being answered! He is listening!

Hermana Jensen and Hermana Dickson

This is an average drop note from the one and only Hna Dickson. I like to keep things interesting.

The Blessings of Change

Week #44

You know you're in a new area and you don't know the roads when TiWi yells at you every 5 seconds.

I feel like I am on exchanges . . . This is weird. All I've known with a name tag is Forest Grove.

My district is all really young in their missions. All have been in their missions for 6 months or less so I am old compared to everyone. I still fell like I just started my mission. They are all like "your Spanish is awesome" and "so when we are as old as you . . . " It's weird. They all seem to be awesome missionaries though. I'm excited to serve with them. I got here and was told that we don't have district meetings in Spanish, so we are changing that this week. I'm excited.

My new companion is Hermana Jensen. She came out with Hermana Hunt so she is straight out of training. She has so much confidence! I love it. We are going to get this Spanishing thing down in "Little Mexico"! We laugh way too much though. Sister Carbine drove me to my new area and traded me with Hermana Stockett (I miss you Hermana Carbine!) That first day we had service with Jeff at the cemetary next door. We learned about larping and how the the people passed away. It was interesting. The snow came again this week and so we got to walk again. We got to talk to so many people though. I have so much more energy here. Transfers are hard, but are so needed. I feel like I am restarting my mission. It's so exciting. I really miss everyone in Forest Grove. I keep thinking "I need to tell Lourdes this next time I see her" or algo así. So it is hard when I remember this isn't just exchanges. President Loza told me that he thinks I'll be one of the missionaries who gets transferred back. It's not very common, but I wouldn't complain. 

I love the members here. They are so loving and welcoming. I feel bad because I am so overwhelmed with new streets, people, companion, etc so I don't remember their names, but they seem to understand. We are at a member's right now doing laundry and the Hermana just walked out of her room and said "I have a sweater for you Hermana". This is literally the second time I have met her. She's so cute. Her name is Hermana Imelda. What's really cool about her is that I met her son in the MTC and he told me to find his family. It's such a small world.

This week feels like it was the longest of my mission so far. I'm getting to know the investigators and members slowly and my companion is amazing. Miracles are going to happen here. I did not want to leave, but I've realized that I needed a change badly. This change has given me new energy and I have been feeling so sick recently and it's gone now. Already seeing the blessings of change. Change is good! We just have to humble ourselves a little bit and have patience to wait for the blessings that will come.

Hermana Jensen is my second companion to tell me that I speak Spanish in my sleep. Well . . . I either just babble with a Hispanic accent or she just doesn't understand what I am saying. Probably the first one. People have asked me if I have started dreaming in Spanish yet. They say that means I am learning well . . . well yes, I have dreams in Spanish. They usually consist of other people speaking and I'm crying because I don't understand anything. . . Gift of Tongues is real though. I have felt it.

I feel like this email is super scattered. . . sorry.

Have a wonderful week!

I love you all,

Hermana Dickson.  

New Companions. Hermana Jensen

Silly Sisters

My last picture with Hermanita Margarita

Hermana Hunt painted this pot for the cactus she gave me for Christmas. She is so talented!

Snow Canyon and our cinder cone at home on one side. . .

. . . Haystock Rock. "Build Upon the Rock" on the other.

Home is where the heart is. A perfect gift for a girl now with two beloved homes.

Hermana Dickson: Watercolor by Sister Carbine the younger.