The Greatest Week ...

Elder Dixon's emails continue to be very inspiring. They are the highlight of each week. This week was no exception, as Ryan proclaimed, "it has been pretty much the greatest week of my mission." We are so gratified to hear that he is working hard, teaching good people and growing stronger and stronger in the power of God.

The following photo is a Roman arch in Pula. What deep history is there! For us in Arizona, where something that has lasted over 100 years is "old", the historical richness Ryan is experiences must be breathtaking.

An excerpt from his email:

Hey Fam!

How are we?? Btw, sorry I'm late but happy b-day to Rachel and Ty! You guys are tight. In 2011, let's have a sweet group b-day party... K? K. It was nice to hear from my bro's Todd and Spencer in the past weeks. Such studs. Thanks for the e-mails. God speed as Miamaids pres Holly. Scarlet Pimpernel style. haha.

Welp, it has been pretty much the greatest week of my mission. That seems to be happening alot. First off, I'd like to bare a brief witness too that missions are so dang fun. Besides all of the other miraculous, good, testimony fortifying, peaceful, joyful, spiritual, etc. things, missions are such a blast and so tight. So many random, funny things have happened this week. From investigators falling asleep in lessons narcolepcia style (is that the right word?) to drunks dancing while playing a Brother Wach type flute to 70 year old grandmas screaming at us about mafia conspiracy theories, it's all happened in this past week. Though the funness of a mission isn't the most important thing, missions are such a blast.

Along with all that stuff, came alot of success this week, including 2 baptismal dates. Elder Nelson was reviewing our numbers this week before calling them in to the Zone leaders and said, "We've got a lot to be thankful for". That's the troof. The Lord has blessed us with wonderful opportunities, experiences, and blessings with what seems like little effort on our part.

We got another awesome investigator this week. He got an english class flier from us in the past week or two and saw the name of our Church on the bottom. He called our number from the flier and told us he wanted to meet with us. It turns our hes lived all over the world and been a part of all kinds of religions, and since he moved back to Pula he hasnt had anyone to really talk to about God and spiritual things. He really missed that, and was praying for something along those lines and got our flier. We met with him. He speaks really good english and is very intelligent. He LOVES to meet with us. It was crazy how excited he was to talk to somebody about the gospel. His hands were shaking he was so excited. We gave him a Book of Mormon. We talked and he was full of questions. We met another day and he read us all the things he enjoyed out of the Book of Mormon. He read all over. He was like "Alma was a very interesting man" haha. He loves the Book of Mormon. He came to church on sunday. We are going to talk to him more about baptism this week.

So, if I had to sum up our experiences this week, Id have to refer to Doctrine and Covenants 64:34... "Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days." The Lord has really blessed Elder Nelson and I this week. It seems like all we did was try. We simply tried to have "the heart and a willing mind" --and I think we even fell short of that-- and the Lord put people in our path and worked on the people of Pula. I love him and am so thankful for his kindness. It's a miracle that we can repent. I can't comprehend the goodness of that gift, nor the debt I owe to the Savior.

Welp, I better roll out. But I love you. Thanks for the love and support. I hope Angie and Heidi are doing good with their respective babes. Keep it real.

With Love

Elder Dixon

Pula

Sorry about the delay between updates. Ryan continues to have great experiences in Croatia. He was recently transferred to Pula, located on the Adriatic Sea east of Italy. While Osijek was almost as far east as you can go in Croatia, Pula is at the far western end.

Ryan says this about his companion, Elder Nelson:

Elder Nelson is the man. It's so sweet to work with somebody who has a spirit of urgency about him and is excited about the work to be done. Elder Nelson served in the army in Iraq and other places and graduated from BYU in law. He's older, but an h-core stud. I love working with him. Truly the man.

We thought you would enjoy the following photo we received from Ryan this week. The photo of Ryan and his alter-ego was taken in Osijek.




Here are excerpts from our last two emails from Ryan:

Monday, February 9th

Subject: Werd up!

Family Dixon,

What ep!! How is my kin??... Haha. Man, such a quality week in Pula. Real quick, here is my address, Mom-hop.

Elder Ryan James Dixon
Bartolomeo Dei Vitrei 12
52100, Pula
Croatia

Guys, I love Pula. I love Elder Nelson. I should just send you the letter I just sent to President just to show you how happy I am to be here. I could I guess, but I would feel like I was jipping you guys out of an origional or something... But, jtlyk, i dig Pula. And Elder Nelson is the man. It's so sweet to work with somebody who has a spirit of urgency about him and is excited about the work to be done. Elder Nelson possesses those qualities. Our goal is to make this place a branch by the end of the transfer. That means we will be making contact with a male somebody in the next couple weeks or so, so we can teach him, baptize him, and help him on the active path of endurance to the end. Or we will get Deni (Denee), an inactive member, active again. One of the two or both. Please pray for a priesthood holder in Pula.

So this past week, we had a program about Joseph Smith for which we passed out 5000 fliers. Guess how many people came... Yes, four. Do you know what's tight about that?? That's four more than I have ever heard of coming to an activity like this. We started out, introduced ourselves, stated our purpose word for word, explained we were Christians, introduced the story of Joseph Smith and watched the Joseph Smith movie. Afterwards, we bore our testimonies and invited them to learn more. We told them how they could know it was true - through the Book of Mormon. We even said that we teach four lessons and invite people to be baptized. There were two people in there that seemed to be really touched. Unfortunately they werent touched enough to give us their information... But! They took alot of information about the church, including a copy the Book of Mormon, a pamphlet about the Plan of Salvation, the March issue of the Ensign, and other quality stuff. The Book of Mormons have our number in them so we are hoping they will be in touch.

All in all, I know that none of our effort was wasted. It wasn't perfect, but we did all we could. We gave these people a clear oportunity to hear the gospel. However, while I was watching the movie with only four people who weren't members, I was feeling a little disappointed. I wondered what I could have done better and thought about my short comings associated with this presentation. While I was thinking about that, my mind caught hold upon a thought, like Alma did after seeing the Angel. I thought about the compensating power of the Atonement and also its power to remit our sins and mistakes. I felt as if Elder Nelson and I had done all that we could do, but we still fell short and made mistakes along the way. I felt the quiet confirmation that the Lord was pleased with our effort and accepted our sacrifice. I felt his love for me. I felt like Alma. "And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!" Isn't the atonement wonderful? I know it's real, because I've felt the peace that comes from it's application in my life. I've felt the same way that Oliver Cowdrey felt at one point in his life. The Lord said to him, "Cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things. Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?"




Monday, February 16th

Subject: Welp, I love Pula!!

Obitelj Dixon kako ide??!! Pozdravi from the coast!

Jtlyk, I got Angie's package! President came down for interviews and hooked me up with some Dunn love. Thanks dawg. American candy for life...

So, it's been a sweet week. The were 3 people at church this week that weren't members. So sweet... Elder and Sister Pettersson were in Slovenia this weekend, so Elder Nelson and I were in charge of Sacrament Meeting.

Welp this week, I gave a talk about the Holy Ghost at church. That was a good review for me. The gift of the Holy Ghost is such a priceless gift. I'm so thankful for the comforter, guide, messenger, and helper that the Savior and our Heavenly Father left for us while we are physically apart. It teaches how to live so that we can get back to them. Not only that, but how to have peace, happiness, and success in this life. I'm thankful it teaches us in our minds and feelings and in our hearts rather than in some other way!

So for my b-day, Elder Nelson and I hit up the only legit Mexican Food Restaurant in Croatia, convenieniently located in Pula. It was pretty quality! It doesn't even approach Rosa's or something like that, but it satisfied my Mexican cravings and we will be going there oft.

Welp, I better go. I love you all. Take care in the USA. Peace in da
middle east!

Love,

Elder Dixon