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

New Slovenian Meetinghouse

Although Ryan is serving in Osijek, Croatia, the mission headquarters is in Ljubljiana, Slovenia.  The November 1st issue of the Church News had a nice article about a new chapel recently dedicated in Ljubljiana.  We understand this is the first new church meetinghouse in the mission.   We think that is pronounced "Lube - li - ana" with a silent "j".  Ryan is quite a distance from Ljubljiana, so we doubt he was able to attend the dedication.  What a blessing this chapel will be to the saints in that part of the world.

Excerpts from Ryan's last email:

Subject: 1 Munf in Osijek......

Helloooo!

How's it going fam? 

Welp Osijek is still great.  I told you about Maja I believe...  She is so amazing, guys.  We had the first lesson with her, and she committed to read 3 Nephi 11, and we told her she could read more if she wanted.  So the day before we met again, she called us just to make sure we would be able to meet the next day.  Elder Giberson asked her if she had read from the Book of Mormon.  She told him that she had basically read the entire thing, except she only read the chaper headings for the war chapters!!  She then proceeded to basically bare her testimony, that she knew the Book of Mormon was of God.  She said really liked Alma and Nephi and that she loved the doctrine about the state of the soul between death and the resurrection. She said that the Book of Mormon really clarified what she knew from the Bible...  She went to Bible School in England for 3ish years.  Thats how she knows such amazing english.  Were teaching her in english btw. 

So, then we met the next day to teach the plan of salvation.  We started out with the questions - where did we come from? why are we here? where are we going?...  Then we asked her what her beliefs were.  She then basically told us the entire lesson we had planned, minus a tiny bit of restored truth. She actually taught me alot - made me think of things in a way I never had before.  She covered everything -adam and eve all the way to life after death.  She included a little of what she learned ing the Book of Mormon. Basically, we just recapped and filled in some blanks, and set up another appointment.  We have met with her since, and that was a great meeting to. We had talked to her a little bit about baptism and asked her to pray about it.  We asked her when we met again what she felt about Joseph Smith, and also the Book of Mormon.  She said she had prayed and felt good that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that Joseph Smith was a prophet.  She said everytime she reads, she feels good about it.  Also, she said she feels like she should be baptised...  I was freaking out inside.  Man, she has been so prepared.  SHe has a ways to go, but she is progressing so well. She is so knowledgable.   We are really trying to help her gain a personal relationship with heavenly father - to feel the gospel in her heart, not just in her mind.  Shes so sweet .  Keep her in her prayers. 

We tracted into a sweet family last night.  We gave a brief first lesson, talked for a long while and left Book of Mormons with them.  We just talkd to Darko and Silvija (Sylvia), the parents, but they have a daughter that lives with them and two other kids.  They seemed touched by the restoration. Darko is kind of large and in charge with a huge beard, and he had buckets and bags of thousands of empty bullets just chillin in his kitchen...  Turns out hes a way nice guy, and he likes to hunt...  We are going to visit with them next week.

We revolutionized Osijek english classes, and distributed 10k fliers last week.  We sacrificed some proselyting time, but we have over 100 people attending english classes twice a week!  Thats pretty much unheard of in a town like Osijek.  Elder Nelson, another elder hear, really went to bat to make sure we got the word out, and its really paid off.  Now over 100 people a week will be meeting with us, learning English in a dedicated church building, and having the opportunity to hear two spiritual thoughts a week...  We already have investigators from English classes that started a week ago, including Maja.  We were passing out flyers when she spotted Elder Giberson. 

Btw, we do do alot of contacting and sometimes tracting.  But contacting we do alot.  We are trying to work out better ways to find.  But the answer is yes, we contact alot and tract too. 

jtlyk, I am very safe here.  It sounds like granhopper may have had a bad dream about me or something...  I feel safer here than some places in M-town.  Were pretty safe. 

So, they dont celebrate Halloween here, but they rock whats called the Day of the Dead.  Its a catholic holiday, and 99.999999% of Croatia is catholic. They go and but bokays (heh...) of big flowers and candles on deceased relatives graves, and it looks sweet.  The gaves here all have giant head stones, so everyones grave is like a monument.  But theres so many candles, its sweet.

I better bounce.  I hope everyone is doing good.  You are in my prayers. Take care.

Love

Elder Dixon

The "Official" Missionary Picture

Ryan's missionary picture is now hanging on the wall of the church, flanked by pictures of his missionary buddies. We walk by and say hello on the way to our meetings each week. Ryan knows how his Mom touched Eric's face each week. Now that is happening to Ryan!

If you look really close, you can see the reflection of Mark in the background, snapping a photo of Ryan's photo!

Some excerpts from Ryan's last email:

Subject: Holler from Osijek..............................

Hey fam!!  How are you??  I just read some quality e-mails. 

Thanks for the comment about what Elder Eyring said, pops.  I've felt that silent prayer you mentioned about the gift of tongues.  I didn't have like a singular, out of control experience, but I feel like I'm getting help with the language beyond what my own work can produce.  We only have 30 minutes to study the language a day, and I feel like its a miracle any time I notice improvement. The gift of tongues is real.  Ive experienced it in miniature ways.  So thanks for the prayers... Thats where it starts!

So things are sweet in O-town.  We experienced a sweet miracle this passed week.  We were passing out fliers for english classes (which ill mention later in the e mail) and this girl named Maja approached Elder Giberson. Shes 25ish.  She told him she was interested in learning more about our church, and she also wanted to go to a church meeting.  So Elder Giberson set up an appointment, so we could share a lesson with her.  We shared a lesson with her about the restoration of Christ's true church.  (She lived in England for 3 years, and speaks almost flawless English, so we were teaching her in English).  She was really accepting of it, and was truely touched.  I know she was.  It was obvious she had a desire to know if what we were sharing was true.  We shared an English and a Croatian copy of the Book of Mormon to read and to Pray about.  She is so tight...  We can't wait to meet with her again.  Remember to keep Maja in your prayers.   When we discussed w/ her her religious background it was obvious she has been prepared to hear and embrace the gospel.  THe Lord is so mindful of all his children, and wants them to come and experience the fulness of life and happiness available through the restored Gospel.  His greatest work and glory really is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

We also met another flawless English speaker the other day.  He is a professional, free-lance interpreter.  We started talking to him @ a cross walk and then found he knew English, and kept talking.  One of the first things he said was that he was an Atheist and there was nothing that we could do to change that.  We talked about random things (he is brilliant and liked to talk) but the conversation always returned to the Gospel.  There was one time where he was talking about all the problems today in society, especially in croatia -- like how young people dont have good role-models and how they all want more now, and other problems that society has.   When he paused, I said, "What do you think the solution is?"  He then proceed to take the Savior's name in vain, and paused for a second in order to think of
an answer.  Before he said anything else, I was all, "I think that's the solution, too".  Haha, it was funny.  But he was such a cool guy, and was actually warming up to us.  We are going to visit soon.  We are buddies. His name is Mirsad (Meer-sahd)...  That literally means, "Peace Now" in croatian.  Hes the man.

So, I have a message for Eddude.  So sometimes, after English Class, we go get coffey with 3 or 4 of our students.  Aka elder Giberson and I get orange juice or something and they get coffey.  But I was showing this lady named rosemary the pics of our family. I keep them in my bag to show to random people.  Its a sweet little friendship builder...  But Rosemary was checkin out the fam, and she was like "Who is this?  Is this your Brother?  Hes a pretty man."  Haha, she loved him so much. After freaking out for a little while about how 'pretty' Eric was, she was all "Send Eric big kiss from baka (grandma) Rosemary!"  hahaha, it was priceless...  So, there you go Ed  :)

Welp, it's time to go, but keep Osijek in your prayers!  You are the best family in the world x 10 ^ 1906373640389.  I pray for you guys everyday.

Take care.

Sa Ljubavi,

Elder Dixon