Christmas Call from Croatia

We had a big Christmas treat today when we got a call from Ryan in Croatia. No, he didn't call from this big phone, but our hearts were that big as we spoke with him. He sounds great. He said, "I am happier than I have ever been in my life!" Selfless service to the Lord does that to a person.

We endured a bit of technical difficulty with Skype to start out with, but that soon passed. Heidi and her family were patched in from Colorado; Dave and Angie brought their families to our house for the call. We all had a wonderful time.

Elder and Sister Manley, the couple missionaries serving with Ryan in Osijek, allowed the missionaries to come into their home and use their computers to call home. We really appreciate their generosity and all the good they do for Ryan and his companion. When I sent a message to Sister Manley thanking them for their help, she responded, "Elder Dixon was beaming when he finished his call."

Excerpts from Ryan's last email:

Subject: Merry Christmas 2008!

Hey fam!

Whats crackin?????? We are keeping it real in Osijek. Christmas is sweet up here. Croats = catholics mostly = also celebrate Christmas pretty hard core, so it's sweet.

BTW, I got that package. Idk if I told you or not. That was huge.... So we are on day 8 tonight! Haha, I have been digging the gifts... weve got a tree, and tons of gifts under it... we are loved. Weve also gotten presents from like 5 english students. Were pretty much pampered over here :]

This week i got a package from ang and my (thanks!... we are waiting til the 25th, as it were.) and letters from both grandparents and mike baser! Man, I feel so loved. Thanks everyone!!!

Welp, this week was fresh. We had a Christmas party for members slash english students slash investigators that a ton of people came to. Maja was there, pretty much the whole branch, and tons of other english students! It was fun. We played the signs game, and Croats love that...

Elder Giberson and I have been tracting in two areas lately that weve chosen and have felt good about. We havent seen much success, but yesterday we met this rad guy. We showed him a Book of Mormon, shared a bit about it. THen he started to flip through it and basically examine it. He said he had heard some bad talk about this book, but he'd have to read it for himself. We said that we knew for ourselves that this was a good book, and that it was of God. We talked about how he could know for himself through the Holy Ghost. It was such a pleasant conversation. We gave it to him, and we are going to meet with him again. I know God's guidance is in this work. Actually, this work is saturated with God's guidance, as long as we are willing to keep his commandments and submit our will to his. It really is His work and His glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

Well, I know for sure that Maja has been prepared to recieve the gospel. We are going to do all we can do to help her enter into the covenant of baptism with a burning testimony of the Savior and his work. Please keep praying for her.

Hey, so today, Elder Giberson woke up and couldn't hear very well at all out of his left ear... So, we hit up some q tips when we went shopping today, and came home, he cleaned his ears, and now he's good. Moral of the story??... We need some ear candles. It's no emergency, but in your next package, some ear candles would be greatly appreciated :] ...

This week, we went to an Adventist chruch Christmas program. It was so sweet slash erie how similar it was to a Mormon ward. They had like a primary aged group sing and give little memorized comments. They had a solid choir. There were old people, young people, and all in between. Afterwards, we all got friendshipped by like 3 people. It was a sweet program. It was a huge reminder to me that we are all the same, we're all children of God, bro's and sisters. Croats are different from Americans, but we have 50 times more in common than we do differences.

Well folks, i better go, but know that i know this gospel is God's on earth. If it wasn't, I wouldn't be as happy as I am. The gospel brings real peace, joy, comfort, strength, and guidance. Thanks for everything, especially christmas style everything. I love you so much!! I'm so excited to talk to the fam!!

Love,

Elder Dixon

Almost Christmas in Croatia

It's almost Christmas, when we get talk with Ryan for an hour!  We are coordinating with Elder and Sister Manley, the couple missionaries in Osijek, to use Skype to talk with Ryan on Christmas Day.  We are grateful for modern technology!

We are excited to hear about the miracles happening in the lives of the Croatian saints and thrilled to know that Ryan is experiencing those miracles at this special time of year.  As Ryan explains below, "Hvala Nebeskom Ocu" (thanks to Heavenly Father).

Excerpts from Ryan's last email:

Subject: Holler shot callers...

Hey!

WHat is up?? Wow, how is life? I got a couple packages @ zone conference aka pure joy. I walked into the church in Zagreb, and like 3 elders in the first couple minutes were all "Elder Dixon, have you seen your huge package?" That thing was a beast... thanks :)

So, were chattin it up in 10 days! Laterrrrrrrrrr... I cant believe ive been in Croatia for 2.5 months... Its really amazing.

So pops asked what Bok Bok means. Sorry i didnt explain last time... Bok (Boak) means hi or good bye - either one - in Croation. Bok bok is just like happier i guess. You say it fast bok bok! You know what else is cool? For the teenagers to do the slang "whats up? nothing", Croats say "Where are you? I'm here" Its tight! Im bringing it to America...

Osijek is great. We met with Maja again. We ran into her randomly on the street before then and she told us she had been obeying the Word of Wisdom for a week and a half! (We hadnt seen her for a few days due to zone conference slash english and stuff) She said she felt so good. Im so happy to see her living that commandment, b/c we gain testimonies as we live the commandments. We met with her, and we feel she doesnt yet have a very strong testimony of the Book of Mormon. I think what kindof happened was that when she read the Book of Mormon, she found it perfectly matched her beliefs. She never had to really seek out to see if it was true, because she agreed. BUt when she found it didn't exactly - as far as the Godhead and stuff, the seed wasn't very deeply planted and got scorched in the sun, if you will... But, this brings about an opportunity to put the gospel to the test, to experiment on the word and see if it is true. We all have to get to that point just like Joseph Smith - Have a desire to know. Then, when we put forth effort through study, pondering, and prayer, all with faith, we WILL get an answer. That's what we all need -- a witness through the Holy Ghost - the sure witness that Jesus is the Christ and that His Gospel - the one way to true happiness - is here today in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. THat's what I want for Maja. I really don't know all the reasons she wanted to delay baptism, but I do know that this is Christ's perfecting pathway to Heavenly Father, and I know that the Atonement is real, and that Heavenly Father wants each of his children back in his presence, experiencing all of his blessings for eternity. Therefore... it's my/our job to do all I/we can to get his children back! It's the purpose of life in a nutshell... PLEASE PRAY FOR MAJA!

So Zone Conference was the bomb. THe meeting was inspired slash so applicable for our Area. Mission records were matched this last month or two since our last zone conference as far as baptismal dates and new investigators and other things. Miracles are occuring here, folks. The other part of zone conference, we had Christmas skits. Each district made a skit. We kindof decided to dodge the shame and rock a video instead.
Haha, it might be the funniest video Ive ever seen. Hopefully Sister Manley didnt tell you too much, because I want it to be a surprise when it pops up in the mail. Its quality footage... All I can say is my experience from the Euporea Concert and the Nutcracker proved valuable in producing this beast... :]

Word made it to Osijek that David Archeleta put out a cd. Is that true? How is dat?

My language is improving. I understand more, and speak a little better. I heard some spanish the other day, and I have officially lost my spanish. I could hardly pick out words. Its been replaced slavic style.

So, last sunday, the 2nd counselor in the district presidency came to talk to us. His testimony is so strong. He was just such a good man and leader. Its so amazing to see how the fruits of the gospel are the same where-ever you go -- it creates deeply rooted good men and women. I see it alone in our branch here. He gave a wonderful talk and lesson @ church. Then he gave a wonderful setting apart for a member who is the new executive secretary for our branch. People would thank him and compliment him, but i heard him give the same response at least 3 times. He said "Hvala Nebeskom Ocu", which means, "thanks to Heavenly Father". It was so cool to hear how this awesome strong good man gave all the glory and credit to God. He truly knew where his real strength lyed, and gave that source credit. I truly know that anything good that has come from my life has come from God. He is the author of all good.

Welp, I better peace out.  I love you guys more than you can imagine. Take care! Merry Christmas!!

LOVE

Elder Dixon

I Love You, Osijek

The photo below shows Ryan standing in front of graffiti that proclaims, "I Love You, Osijek."  Although we can't imagine Ryan ever painting graffiti in this way, he certainly shares the thought written on the wall.  He loves serving in Osijek and is delighted that he and Elder Giberson will continue there for at least the next transfer.

Excerpts from Ryan's last email include:

So, things are going pretty good here.  We've had some issues with Maja's baptism coming up.  She finally came to church and loved it.  While she was there, though, we could tell she had some problems understanding or accepting the nature of the Godhead, because of some stuff she said.  So we met her in the middle of the week to talk to her about Baptism, but she started talking alot about her beliefs about the Godhead.  She has some false ideas.  Pretty much, we spent almost two hours talking, bearing our testimonies, and trying to relate to her that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are seperate beings united perfectly in purpose, and that they are not the same individual.  Elder Giberson is the man, and explained those things so perfectly.  You should have seen  him... All in all, she said that she wasn't ready to be baptised.  She said she hoped that we werent disappointed.  We had to explain that we were devastated!  But she is no lost cause.  I know that Satan took a step in, and that he doesn't want Maja to enter into this covenant.  She is still meeting with us and keeping smaller commitments, but doesnt have a baptismal date for now.  PLEASE PRAY FOR HER!!  I want to sent a mass email to every person who has ever prayed before to pray for Maja to gain a sure testimony and enter into the waters of baptism by covenant - to really come unto Christ.  I don't know what may come in the future.  But I do know that the Savior has the power to change hearts and that the Book of Mormon with the Holy Ghost has the power to convert souls to the Savior.  I read a quote by President Eyring that I heard this week.  "Faith is not just to know that Christ can do something. Faith is to know that He will do something."  I know Christ will change Maja's heart, and change us for the better if we have faith and do all that we can do to bring that change about. 

I've been impressed lately with the real power of change the Savior brings through living his Gospel or applying his sacrifice for us.  The savior has the power to bring about real change in our hearts.  Real change for the better, real progress towards Heavenly Father's presence in heaven.  The Gospel is true and real, and the Jesus Christ lives today!  I love that the atonement of the Savior is real!

I love Elder Wirthlin.  It is sad that he is gone.  But Dad put it in perspective for us all.  He's simply continuing God's work with other men of God on the other side.

Welp, Peace Out, Cuvajte Se! Važi? Važi...

Late, I love you.

Elder Dixon

Thanksgiving in Croatia

Thanks to Sister Manley, who requested Claudia's pie recipes earlier in the week, the missionaries in Osijek ate home made pie for Thanksgiving! It sounds like the pie made lots of people very happy.

Excerpts from Ryan's email:

Subject: Happy T Giving!

Hey fam!

It was nice to hear from you! Thanksgiving sounded fun with all the fam - the nephews, the neices, the cousins... so tight. Thanksgiving was pretty sweet in Osijek. We couldnt find a Turkey, so we had a Croatian delicasy... Sarma. Its like sour cabbage wrapped around like seasoned beef in soup. It sounds bimm* style, but it was actually pretty good. Plus, we had mom's pies... puhhhhhhhh... It was so good. But not quite as good. They were made by human hands, not clodhopper hands, so they werent as good. But they were close enough and i loved it. I think you got a pick of me with my arm around this guy that looks like steve nash with a mustache and wings and a jacket??? Thats Dario. Hes come to basically every activity since 2002, but has never gotten baptised. But he loved moms pie. He ate every kind and like 5 chocolate pieces. I think you got a pic of Lydia too -- shes got blondish grayish hair, and she made the Sarma. Shes an awesome cook. One of my fave members.

So, I got a call from President Hill this week... and... Im staying in Osijek! With Elder Giberson! Im excited man. Im done adjusting to Croatia and oriented and stuff, so now we can really get some work done. Elder Nelson is going to Pula on the coast, and Elder Jenson, our District leader, is staying as well and is going to train the only elder coming in this transfer. It will be sweet to have the new elder come in. We are such a young district.

So, I will be here for at least 9 more weeks. We have 9 wk transfers. So, if you want to mail something right to our house, send it here:

Elder Dixon
Josipa Hutlera 25
31000 Osijek
Croatia

That would work the best. If you send it to the mission home, we have to wait till we see President again, which can be like a month. So Heidi, that might work best with those BBs that i love :)

Yeah, the Manleys are tight, btw. I see them nearly every day. We are at least in contact with them everyday. She loves mom. And mom's recipies.

Its cold here but the weather is randomish. I dont really need a coat today! And it snowed like a week.5 ago.

Maja came to church this week!!!! We see her at the church 3 times usually, but it was so nice to see her walk through the door at 10 oclock on Sunday morning... She really enjoyed it. Our members liked her. Maybe too much haha. They kind of asked her lots of questions. They like to do like testimony checks to investigators, and can be kind of in their faceish. But Maja is strong ha. It went well. The talks and the lessons were perfect. She still is having trouble with understanding the importance of quitting cappuccino and has some issues with hanging on to her old church's beliefs and stuff. So pray for her!! She needs it!! Pray for us too!! We need it like its nobody's business.

I hope everyone is doing good. Its so good to hear from you all. I know this Gospel is true. That's my greatest joy... that it's real! I love it.

Cuvajte se! aka Take care of yourselves! Love you!

LOVE

Elder Dixon

*Explanation: "bimm" is Ryan's acronym for "barf in my mouth"