Celebrity Ryan

We had a wonderful surprise this month by seeing Ryan as a featured attraction in the January Ensign magazine, page 7. He and another Elder were teaching some Ukranian people. Photographers from the Ensign took their picture. These are real investigators, with real missionaries. What a thrill!



It is wintertime in Croatia, but as far as we can tell, it is similar to Utah or Idaho. For example, the temperature in Osijek is 36 degrees Fahrenheit at 11:00 PM Sunday, one degree warmer than Salt Lake City, Utah, at 3:00 PM Sunday. Cold, but not too bad!

Some excerpts from Ryan's last emails:

January 5th:

Subject: dearest family and friends...

WHAT EP??

Hey fam, how are we? I hope your good! So, there's not much time... Ill try to say all I want to say!!!

But let me give you a little peek into one of the greatest hours slash one of my favorite hours of my life... Elder Giberson and I were tracting, and I had the feeling slash idea slash prompting by the Holy Ghost (so I learned) that I should share with somebody that they were a child of God. So I asked a couple questions to Elder Giberson to figure out how to say what I wanted to say. We rang a doorbell, and when a lady came out she was walking to the gate through her mini yard, I decided to say it to her. Since it was kind of a new approach and I'm a flaming genius, I tripped over my words, but eventually got it all out. She let us in, (whether out of pure sympathy or because of the Spirit, Im not sure. Probably slash hopefully the latter.) and we got to know her. Her name is Ružica (Roo-ž-eetsa) - that ž is like j in jaque. She has a husband and one daught and one son. We got to teach her a full lesson about Christs gospel on the earth today and share simple, sincere testimony. Her husband was there for half of the lesson. Such nice people... We gave them a list of the questions of the soul that can be answered by the Book of Mormon, invited them to pick their favorite, read the verse or chapter related to it -- they were written on the paper, and pray about it -- to pray to know whether or not it was true. She said she wants us to come back in 2 weeks so that she could read the whole book. I hope her husband, Ivan, (eevahn aka john) will read and pray too. Pretty much, I walked out of that house feeling pure joy. I took a picture of my planner, because we accomplished our goals that day for new investigators. In the future, that wont be uncommon, but this week, it was! I cant wait to meet them again! Pray for Ružica and Ivan... Ivan looks like a short version of the dad on Boy Meets World. And their kids name are cory and tapanga. jk... :)

So, transfer rumors are already beginning. The thought crossed my mind of leaving Osijek. I realized then, that over time, I have grown to love this city, and more than that, I love the people. President told me in Ljubljana when he extended this call here that he had to tear people away from their areas -- that they didn't want to leave. Im not going to lie, after my first week or two in Osijek, Im not sure I believed that. It's not the most beautiful place in Croatia, and the branch is mini. But, this place has become a part of me. It feels like home. I love the members of our branch so much. I love the people in Osijek. I may cry a tear or two if I have to bounce. I let president know I would never ask him to keep me in an area, but I would welcome with open arms a call to stay in Osijek. Is that bad?? I wish you could all meet these wonderful people...

So, president taught me something in our interview the other day. He was talking about how missionary work really is the most enjoyable when we want to be like the Savior. When we do that, we wake up happy every day, knowing that we will be doing the Lord's work... because that's what we want to do. I can honestly testify that the happiest times in life are when our wills are aligned with the Lord's, and we follow his commandments and guidance with courage.

Welp, it's cold up in here. I rock a scarf and dugi ivans (long johns... heh!) every day pretty much. It snowed like crazy on New Years day. It was a winter wonderland. When it snows again, were going to make the sweetest croat snowman.

Im going to the Ljub this week to get my work visa finalized. So ill be up there on wednesday and thursday.

Welp, fzam, you guys are the bomb digity. Thanks for all you do for me. Your examples make me want to be better. Jtlyk, I am happier than hades. I pray that you are too.

Cuvajte Se!

Love,

Elder Dixon

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January 12th:

Subject: Dobar Dan, Dobar Dan!

Hey, what ep?

So, sometimes, I use phrases like what ep, bfe, and puh inadvertantly, and people dont get it. So, its nice when I read my emails and my fam uses them too and I can prove to my district that I don't just make this stuff up and Its used by at least a few other peeps. Haha, I just showed Elder Jensen mom's email w/ bfe and I was like "see??" haha

Osijek is the bomb.com. We are starting english classes again this next week. We had a sign up day on thurs and 50 more people signed up, so we will get to meet some more sweet people tomorrow! Last wk and part of this one we got out 8000 fliers, mostly in mail boxes, so its nice to see some pay off :)

So, on wed night we went to Zagreb to sleep for a night before i went to Slovenia on thurs to pick up my volunteer visa (ive been a tourist here until jan 3rdish). Elder Giberson and I are genious and missed our train to the 'Greb and so we picked up a bus later that left at 9 and arrived in Zagreb @ about 1 oclock a.m. style. Want to here the cool part? There was a stop at a city called Slovonski Brod (Slow-voan-skee Brode) and 3 people came on - 2 men and 1 woman. The woman sat next to me after the 2 men had sat down behind me. I was hesitant to talk to her, because my croatian still isn't quite to that flawless level yet and it was going to be a lengthy bus ride. But I decided to open my mouth and hoped that the Lord would back me up. We actually talked for a long time! THe conversation was in and out about the church, and I got to give her a Book of Mormon. I explained it to her - who wrote it, how we use it, and that it testifies of Christ. I shared a small testimony. When the two men who were with her saw I had given her a BoM, they asked if they could have one. I was like, sure! I only had one other copy, but I gave it to them shared a little about it and invited them to read it. I showed them all the questions of the soul. It was sweet! I hope a planted a seed for them and for Slovonski Brod where there aren't missionionaries right now. I know that if we are promted to talk to somebody and we open our mouths, God will fill them with what needs to be said. He will always help us accomplish his work!

Hey, so have you guys seen me in the January Ensign??!!! There's a picture of me teaching in the first presidency message.... Elder Jensen and I were on exchanges on a day that the Ensign people were scheduled to come to Croatia, and they took pictures of us teaching these Ukranian people! It was sweet!!! Pretty dope, huh???

So, Ive got to bzounce, but I love you!!

Peace out,

Love,

Elder Dixon

Christmas Memories in Osijek

It seems like a long time since we talked with Ryan on Christmas Day, but we still feel the great spirit he exuded as we spoke with him. As a new year dawns in Croatia, we are so delighted with the work he is doing and the good experience he is having.  Ryan's description of the first baptism service he attended in Croatia brought tears to our eyes and warmth to our hearts.

The following photo shows Ryan with Dario, a "friend of the church" who has been attending meetings in Osijek for several years.  We are sure that Ryan and his companion will continue to add to the positive relationship Dario and others like him have with the Church.

Excerpts from Ryan's last email:


Hey fam!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! 2009... crazy... Man, it was so nice to hear your voices.

So, Christmas was dope here in Osijek. Christmas eve, we went to the house of one of the other elders investigators. His name is Ivan (eevahn). We sang christmas Carols, talked, and Elder Jensen played some hymns on the piano. Elder Jenson talked a little with them about the Restoration. They are such awesome, nice people. It was Ivan, his wife, and their two kids who are in their 20s. It was a legit missionary Christmas. Along with that came my first nasty missionary food experience. They had this potatoe salad that was sliced potatoes and this dried fish with some kind of dressing. It wasnt terrible, but definately not great. The bad thing was she kept loading up our plates. I would ration my soda, so I could take a sip after every few bites. We would finish a plate and then she would be all "Eat! If its good eat!" Then, she would proceed to dish it up for us. This happened 3 times or so, and then the bowl was gone. We thought we were good then, but then she brought out another full bowl, and we all had another serving. I thought I was going to die. It took some serious mental strength. But Im alive! And the cool night with them made up for it.

It was a sweet Christmas. We went and visited some members. We went to visit Nikola (the one who gave us fruit that i told you about on the phoner). Hes the guy who gave me an F+ on my first talk out here. That was my favorite Christmas visit, maybe. He has a kind of abrupt personality, and teases people alot and stuff. Hes hilarious and we love him, but you usually dont see his soft / happy side. But you could tell his was grateful we came on Christmas to say hi. He doesnt have any fam here in Osijek, and when we came he had been watching this american movie from the 70s with subtitles on tv. Probably the loneliest Christmas ive ever seen. But he smiled and was happy to see us. We just talked for a while, and I think we did some real good in those few minutes.

Last saturday, we had a baptism here in Osijek!!! It was for a guy named Bernard Vildman. It was such a sweet meeting. It was way low key style. There was probably 12 people there including the 6 missionaries, but it's cool to think that that quite event that not very many people knew about was sealed in the records in heaven... God was aware of Bernard and his willingness to follow Christ by entering into that covenant through baptism by the correct authority - Christ's authority. And the next day, he was given the Gift of the Holy Ghost by that authority and now has the opportunity to have its constant companionship on his journey back home... It's truely amazing. During the prelude music, I looked over at Gordana, - his wife who is already a member - sitting next to him dressed in white, and she was crying. Im sure the throught crossed her mind that someday she and her husband could be married for time AND eternity and be a forever family. Those were some amazing moments that I hope I always remember... I also had the chance to give the talk about baptism. I hope it was ok!

So, Elder Jensen told me that Gordana said something about me... She said she was sure that I had Indian ancestry. I laughed and was all, "why?" Then, he said she could tell I was indian for sure, because of my nose! Haha, pretty random eh? The Dixon nose never ceases to amaze...

Welp, I love you. I hope everything is going great. I pray for you every day!!

Love,

Elder Dixon