It snowed three days straight!

February 2, 2015

It snowed! For three days straight it snowed here in Pamplona, and it was a ton of fun, because it was Elder Noovaos first time ever seeing it fall, and so we were having a blast all week, and today for preparation day we had a snowball fight, and made Elder Noovaos first snowman, which he later tackled to the ground. It was a lot of fun. Apart from the fun however, we also used the snow as a tool, because we were able to stop by a lot of people and they let us in, mostly out of pity, but also because they were all home since it was so cold. On top of that, we had a ton of members pitch in and give us rides everywhere, and so we got to go a lot of places. It was a really great week.

One experience was that we knocked on the door of a menos activo JAS, who Elder Noovao said had only been there once in the thousands of times they passed by during the last two transfers, and he let us come in, and we had one of the most spiritual lessons I have ever had. It was incredible, and he was really happy to see us because he had been going through a rough time, and he said that us coming was exactly what he needed, just so he could calm down and feel the spirit. It was really neat.

Another great thing was that after church on Sunday, the whole ward went outside and had a snowball fight, even some of the older members. It was a ton of fun, seeing all the ward laugh and play in the snow, just like normal people. (For some reason, all the primary kids ganged up against me and my companion...) We were all laughing and just having a really good time. The secretary of the ward got it the worst though. He was thrown by one of the bishopric and the elders quorum president into the snow, then pelted by his kids and wife. It was a blast.

Later, after church yesterday, we stopped by a family we visit often, because we didn’t see them in church, and since our other visit had fallen through, we stopped to see them. Well, right after we got in, took off our coats and sat down, the visiting teachers came, one of which is a recent convert who I still didn’t know, and so we got to know her a little. The other visiting teacher came with her boyfriend though, who happens to be the elders quorum president, and once he realized that we couldn’t get a word in edgewise because the three ladies were all talking, he had us go with him on a surprise visit to a menos activo lady, and we had a really great time getting to know him a bit more, and we also didn’t have to slog through the snow, because we were in his car. It’s really nice being in an area where most of the members have cars.

Well, I really didn’t mean to write so much just about the snow, but it really helped us out, and it was a blast seeing Elder Noovaos reaction to everything too. We also had zone enfoque this week, so that was fun to go see a different city and everything. It was just really a great week.

Thanks for all you do!

Love,

Elder Dixon

"Good thing I have a really good companion..."

January 26, 2015 

This week was really good. In my prayers I hardly have time to ask for anything because I just give thanks for letting me be here now, with Elder Noovao. It really has been an incredible week. I’ve never felt the Spirit as much as I have this past week. It was truly incredible.

We’ve been working a lot with part member families, and recent converts, and we have been so blessed in our work. On Friday, for example, we went to an eating visit with some members, and while we were there, we asked for references, and they asked us about a menos activo in our ward they haven’t seen for a while. Well, since we didn’t know them, we pulled out the ward list, and as the sister was going down the list, looking for the name, she kept stopping and asking about a bunch of other people, and telling us to go visit them. We ended up with a bunch of references, and instructions to ask bishop about a few more people. It was really great. I’ve never had anyone give me so many references at a time. The only bad part about that visit was that we asked for the references at the end then they took another 45 minutes giving them to us, so we were there for almost two hours...but I’m not really complaining. It was really neat though. It’s just been a ton of fun here so far, even though I’m still completely lost. Good thing I have a really good companion who knows where we are!

Oh another neat thing about Pamplona is the castles. They’re everywhere! It’s really neat. Still haven’t gone to one, but it’s in the plans for next week. Yay!

It also snows here, and was the first time my companion has ever seen snow fall. He loved it:)

Thank you all for your support!

Love,
Elder Dixon

 Ricky and Elder Noovao

 

I just got transferred to...PAMPLONA!!

January 21, 2015

Well, just so you all know......I just got transferred to...PAMPLONA!! I’m now companions with Elder Noovao, from New Zealand, and so far we have been having a blast. he’s only been in the mission a little while, but he is a spiritual beast, and, turns out, was one of the elders in Cornellá right before Elder Frederich and I, so that’s pretty neat...we stayed up late last night talking about all the people there and his converts and everything....I didn’t even ask him about himself ‘til this morning. He’s really great though, and rearing to work.

So ya. Oh, btw, Sorry this is late, my train got in last night to Pamplona a little late, so we didn’t have time to e-mail until now. But I made it safe and sound, and got two references while I was on the train, so all is well:) It was kinda hard to leave Cornellá, after working so much there, and getting to know so many people, but I am really excited to work with Elder Noovao. He is really great, and in the short time we’ve been together, I’ve been able to see that he is a really hard worker, and we are going to see a lot of blessings here for sure. I’m really looking forward to working with the people here. It’s a lot different from where I’ve been before, but so far, I like it.

I want to share with you a little of what Elder Frederich and I were able to do in Cornellá. Together, we made over 150 changes to the ward list, updating it. We found quite a few part-member families, and were working with them, and we also have been working really hard to try and make San Boi (a pueblo we worked in a lot) be a good place to put a branch in someday. While I was with Elder Frederich, I learned so much, and grew a ton. He is a really good missionary, and a really good friend of mine as well. It’s a good thing he is going to BYU after the mission, so we can hang out afterwards. It’s really weird to think that this is his last transfer.

It’s kinda weird to think, but 6 of the 10 companions I have had, are already home, and my trainer is about to get married... I still can’t wrap my brain around how fast the time has gone. The mission really is the best.

Anyway, I hope you all have a good week.

Love,

Elder Dixon