Beautiful Pula

Ryan continues to serve in Pula, Croatia, a beautiful city on the Adriatic Sea.  We don't have any personal photos to show you, but liked the following coastline scene from a travel website.  We understand that Pula is a favorite tourist spot for visitors from many parts of Europe.

It sounds like the English classes Elders Dixon and Nelson are teaching are enabling them to meet new people and develop strong friendships.  They hope that this will lead to opportunities to teach people the gospel.

A few excerpts from Ryan's last email:

Subject: Ciao Ciao

Dear Family,

Things are going well in Pula.  Last Friday, we had Cowboy Night for our English students.  It was an awesome activity. Probably the most awesome activity I have been involved with on my mission.  Easily the greatest part was the cowboy dance that Elder Nelson taught to them all.  When we decided we were going to do a cowboy night, Elder Nelson decided he would teach everyone a country dance he learned when he was in elementary school.  So, virtually everyone that came (which was about 40 people) learned the "slappin' leather" dance from good old Elder Nelson.  Haha, it was so funny.  Elder Nelson and I got cowboy shirts...  We had a cupcake eating contest, bobbing for apples, hamburgers, and other stuff.  It was sweet.  The coolest part was a time when like five english students ganged up on me and started asking all kinds of questions about the church.  I got to testify a little and tell them more about what it was about, and I invited them to church.  There's some sweet people that we want to start teaching, so we'll so how that goes. 

So we went to some underground caves in Slovenia the other day.  Easily the coolest thing I've ever seen on a p-day.  They were beautiful.  And huge.  As a rule, we weren't aloud to take pictures. I went up to our tour guide and asked if we could take video of the cave with our cameras.  Haha, she then proceeded to give like a two minute speach about how they allow it but don't recommend it, because people might get the idea they can take pictures -- and the flash was damaging to the living species and the nature, etc.  So, I said okay, and since she said it was OKAY to take video, I was going to.  I went to take a video, but it was on the wrong setting, and I took a picture that flashed in the direction of the tour guide from like 5 feet away.  Haha, she was kind of frustrated, and I felt like Hades.  I appologized right after and looked pretty stupid, but the best part is that Elder Nelson happened to get the whole thing on video!  We sit down and watch that and just laugh.  Haha, it was so funny.

So lately, I've been increasingly grateful for the way the Lord builds up good men and women in this life. Looking back, much of the growth in my life has come as a result of being surrounded by good men and the teachings of good men and women who love the Lord and live His gospel. The prophets and Christlike examples from the Book of Mormon and the other standard works have guided me in my decision making throughout my life; and the examples of good men and women that have surrounded me, like Mom and Pops, church leaders, and companions like Elder Nelson, have inspired me to repent, change, improve, and grow. I am growing more and more thankful for the goodness in people as I realize what it has done for me, and consequently, enabled me to be somewhat of an influence for good here right now.  I love you peeps.  Thanks for your goodness!

Welp, I better peace out.  TTYL.  I love you!!

Love,

Elder Dixon

On the Internet in Pula

Ryan's face was front and center in an internet article published on the Regional Express website in Croatia. As Ryan reported in his last email, "This guy stopped us while we were passing out English fliers the other day. He was some journalist and he busted out his telescope camera and asked a bunch of questions and told us we'd be on the internet. And we are!"

We can't understand the text of the article because it was all written in Croatian, but I hope it helps the elders get noticed so they can find more people to teach.

We continue to be inspired by Ryan's emails. Here are a few excerpts from his last email:

First of all, we passed out a little shy of 5000 fliers for English class. Guess how many showed up to sign up... Yes, 120 people! Pretty crazy huh? We passed out twice as many fliers in Osijek where there is probably double the people, and got about the same number. So pretty much, Elder Nelson and I just signed up to be full time English teachers! haha. Its sweet, but we were aiming more in the 20-50 range. Haha laterrrrrr, we'll see how that goes!

Our first baptismal candidate is doing good. She is showing she understands what we are teaching and that she has a testimony. She's quit coffey and is committed to pay tithing. She pulled a fast one on us this week, though. She told us her family was muslim. That kind of caused some problems, because I guess if you are teaching a muslim (at least in this mission), President needs to interview them and make sure their family wont physically hurt them for being involved with the church. I guess there were some problems in slovenia once. So, we got her interviewed by way of Elder Pettersson, and I think she'll be fine. We've taught her with her family around anyway and they didn't seem to have any problems. But shes doing good. Pray for her.

Welp, Zone conference is coming up. I can't wait! I could use a solid hand shake from President Hill and some inspiring words from the leaders of the mission. How did I get through life without Zone Conference every six weeks back at home?? Idk man.

I've thought about the atonement alot lately. I love that it's real. We teach people so often that Jesus overcame sin, sorrow, pain, and death so that we could be happy in this life and return to Heavenly Father. I'm so thankful that that's true. I don't think I could ever deny that. I'm so thankful for the evidence of that truth in my life. The Savior really does forgive sin, comfort us through the Holy Ghost, and strengthen us through that same medium. He lives today and leads the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which provides the way to take full advantage of that infinate atoning sacrifice. I'm thankful for the scriptures and a Prophet that instruct us how to live according to that gospel. I know it's true!

I found out this week that Elder Nelson was part of the green barret's (barays?? idk) in the army. I guess that's one of the most elite groups in the army. Seek and destroy style... He's a stud. I'm lucky to serve with him.

Welp peeps, I should go!! Keep it real! I love you so much. Take care.

Love,

Elder Dixon

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