Copy/Paste

Yo so this week flew by but was one of the jam packed weeks of my life. And such a great week holy moly! So basically Monday night was sweet we visited a member and just sang hymns the whole time that was fun! And then we had a great FHE with Martha and Verna they crack me up.  

So Elder Gonzalez of the 70 visited our mission! That was fun and he taught us so many great things!! I will share with you some important things that I learned about Agency! So he started reading in 2 Nephi 2:13,26 "Men are free to act for themselves and not to be acted upon." He taught us about 3 things, 

1. Doctrine is the why

2. Principles are the what

3. Application is the How

Basically our day and age is run by technology and how we learn at a young age to Copy and Paste. But Elder Gonzalez taught us that if we understand the Doctrine and Principles correctly we can teach in our own way or style. So therefore we don't have to copy paste what we see others do. We can just be ourselves! Isn't that just awesome! 

He basically taught us that as we teach principles there are some concerns that come up. And instead of us trying to figure out how to help the investigator with there concern. We can just turn to the investigator and ask what THEY can do to fix there own problem. Therefore giving them there own agency to fix there own problems. While we are just the instruments in helping them along the way. Then after they think of there own idea to fix the problem we tell them that it is a great idea! and then hold them with High Expectations to do it! 

This may seem simple as you read this, but it was an eye opener to me. Because before we would go in and the investigator would have a concern and I would think of all these different ways to help them. But I wasn't allowing them to think for themselves how to fix it! This is such an awesome thing. Like I am excited to try out when I am a father also I think this is a great way to do things!

As the Prophet Joseph Smith said "We teach correct Principles and let them govern themselves" 

Well other than an awesome MLC and Zone Conference. We found some guys who were playing ball Wednesday night. And these dudes were actually really good at basketball so we went and changed and played with them. I gave them some licks! It was so fun to compete.. lol they Couldn't believe that a white kid knew how to play ball! After we were able to get to know a lot of these dudes and we are going to teach some of them this week! Basketball to Baptism! :) 

Also the latest counsel given to missionaries from the prophet is to focus on the rising generation! So basically we have been trying to teach teens and young adults! it has been fun. We are teaching this teenager named shakem and luckily his cousin came to visit him while we were there. So we taught them both. They are both doing well and both came to church!! so that was sick. 

My birthday on Sunday was actually surprisingly the best birthday ever. Church was just so spiritual and we were able to have some investigators there. Then we went to the Macs for lunch. And they surprised me with a nice meal and some champaign! it was so nice of them. Seriously nicest thing ever. And they even made homemade coconut ice cream for dessert! I am so blessed! They rest of the day we were able to teach some lessons so overall it was just a solid bday! thanks for all the b-day wishes it means a lot!  I am a real man now! lol 

Well here are some good vibe pics of the week.

Elder Gonzalez!

Yo.

So basically we went by Merissa the other night and she is unsure about the whole baptism coming up again. It was seriously breaking my heart. I didn't know what to do. I feel like in life when ever something good is going to happen Satan always has to try to tear it down first. Merissa didn't come to church so were not sure where she is at. She didn't even answer her phone when we called. So hopefully we can go over and see whaguan wit her! 

On the bright side though we have been working our tails off to still see success. We have been teaching this rasta man named Mark. He is so cool. He builds houses. So we contacted him one day and we have been teaching him a lot. He is so awesome and humble and keeping commitments!! 

He has gone from smoking 30 joints a day to now only about 2 a day! He is progressing fast. He have been over twice to help build the house with him. And he is teaching me some great things about construction. Also he came to church and loved it. While at church a prompting of the holy ghost came and confirmed to me that he is in the right place and that he fits in well with this branch! He loved it and said he would come back next week as well so overall that was so awesome!! 

Also we have just been prepping for this week. Because Elder Gonzales is coming to visit our mission he is a member of the 70. We are excited to here what he has to teach us on how we can be more effective instruments in this work. 

I feel like this week my testimony was strengthened in the little things. As we would smile to people on the street or help a old lady walk across the road. Or bear our witness that the Book of Mormon is true to someone who seems lost in the world. It is a wonderful experience to be on the lords errand. And brings so so much joy. 

Love Elder Dixon

Greenies and Trunkies

Well this week was just crazy! But overall a great week! Monday the new missionaries came in and boy are they green as ever! My heart goes out to them because they have know idea what they are getting into. The training was fun. I think the best part is when we were driving in the car to go to drop them off. We told them to go and contact this person they were scared to death. We didn't actually make them do it but it is just funny to see the new missionaries. 

Wednesday we spent the whole day basically driving people places. We started at 5 am and didn't get out of the car until 6 Pm. All I can say from that is I have every hymn memorized :) 

Wednesday night was probably the trunkiest night of my mission. We had dinner at the mission home with all the missionaries going home. That was super fun but they were all talking about home! haha well the testimony meeting was amazing. One of the Elders that bore his testimony that really touched my heart. He said in tears "I have got to serve our savior Jesus Christ for two years.. (he paused).. I am so grateful to have been able to serve the lord Jesus Christ." Though it was simple words and a simple testimony. I am so grateful as well to be serving our lord Jesus Christ. 

The next morning we picked them up at 5 am to drop at the airport. And it was sad to say bye there was some cool missionaries leaving us.  Luckily two Elders that I love got stuck in st. Vincent so they missed there flight home because of a storm. So they flew here. And the last few nights they have been with us. E. Moli and E. Tulikahakau are awesome elders! That night we went out to dinner with them and President! That was fun President bought us Pinacoladas!! woot woot! 

Friday was a great day as well we did meetings for 5 hours over Skype with the leaders of the mission. I taught on the importance of planning and focusing on the doctrine of Baptism. I felt like it went well. After words president gave some good feedback. He said I am good at asking inspired questions that really bring the spirit. 

I love compliments. So this week I tried to give as many compliments as I could! It is fun to do. People just light up when you compliment them on something! :)

Overall Merissa is doing great. Her daughter Keonna is doing great too! they will be baptized on the 25th that will be a great birthday present! Also we have an investigator thats name is chris that came to church for the second week in a row and that was boss. 

Oh and also another sick thing that happened this week is I got to go to Black Rock to visit some people. I love seeing Dawn she is so awesome!! She cooked me some lunch!! And I also got to go visit some others. Little Eph is doing well. And also Lynda is still strong in the gospel and her family is being taught. 

I am loving being out here. This week flew by! Well i love you all have a blessed week. 

Greenies

Dropping off some missionaries at the airport 

Good Bye Elder Duncan 

"Stopped to take a picture because I live on a beautiful island!!" :)

Dinner with the departing missionaries 

Driving all over the island

Goodbye Elder Spencer

Dinner with the President and

Elders Moli and Tulikihakau 

Service! Building Houses :) 

DAWN!! 

Ephraim :) 

So happy to see me :) 

Elder Moli and Elder Tulikihakau 

Sister Hope is doing great!  

Lynda is doing great! 

Staying Irie

Well this week was pretty sweet I guess as usual! We set a baptism date with Merissa and her daughter Keonna for Feb 18th so that is exciting!! Also we had a dude named Chris who is about our age came to church which was sweet! Overall just a good week. We taught MLC and that went well we talked about the Flame of Faith and how to teach only the Doctrine of Christ. one of my favorite quotes from Dallin H Oaks. 

“We do not preach and teach in order to

bring people into the Church’ or to increase the

membership of the Church. We do not preach and

teach just to persuade people to live better lives.

. . . We invite all to come unto Christ by repentance

and baptism and confirmation in order to open

the doors of the celestial kingdom to the sons and

daughters of God. No one else can do this.”

Well besides that the greatest thing I did this week is do all of the logistics for the new and departing missionaries. Which was super hard I will send you a pick of it. haha

Well love you all. Stay irie.. 

Jake's Birthday is on the 26th of February and his companion Elder Kuru's is tomorrow on the 10th. The celebrated today :) 

D&C 84 20-21

This scripture sums up the whole week! 

20: Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest. 21: And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh. 

We have taught Merissa and her family just about every day this last week. And president was back on the island so he asked if he could come teaching with us, to see her. The lesson Friday night was so powerful. We bore solemn testimony of the restoration and the eternal nature of the family. 

I felt prompted to share D&C 84:20 and then gave Merissa a promise. I promised her that if she would come to a baptism that was at the church on Saturday, she would feel the spirit and get her quote on quote answer. It was a leap of faith to say that but the scriptures are the word of God. And that in the ordinances of the priesthood the power of God is there! She came to the baptism with all the kids. And man was the spirit so strong it had me in tears during the baptism. After the baptism we went to Merissa's house and asked her how she felt...

She said she got her answer and that she is going to be baptized!! what a blessing. 

We asked her to pray about the day so she will get back to us on that but how grateful I am for God. And how he answers prayers, and how he loves his children. 

This week was awesome as well because we had the guadeloupe elders fly in for trade-offs that was fun. And we have been prepping for transfers. 

Loving life and this mission. 

love yall

Well here is a pic of us painting ole marthas house. And driving president herrington's car!! #APlife