October 31, 2011

(We are so humbled by this boy!  What a great missionary he is...BUT~ I wish I didn't know his apartment is infested with cocroaches! Oh my...)

Family,

   Man so many crazy things have happened this week it sounds like! Disneyland... Brendan is home... Ally is coming home... sounds like a good week! And I can't believe Tyler got his mission call. I cried a little when I read that, that is so awesome. He needs to be there.

   This week has been incredible, to say the least. So many good things are happening. 4 people were baptized yesterday, the most our little ward has seen since it was started. All the people baptized this month have become best friends. We were able to go eat a dinner at Jiang Dong's on Saturday with the 4 that were getting baptized the next day... she talked about her baptism and gave them advice like she's been a member for years, instead of just a week. Also, she met a family while walking on the street and brought them to church yesterday, she is just awesome. One of the couples baptized yesterday, Sun and Liu, they are so awesome. The gospel has changed their life. Sister Liu was interviewed for baptism by President Becerra on Thursday, and after the interview President talked to me about how prepared they are. He said she told him about how she plans on having all of her children serve missions. Also, her husband is now applying for BYU, they really want to move to Utah. They've only seen pictures but they feel so good about it. He's applying for a Masters in Law, he's a really famous lawyer in China. We found out that he is actually the reason why Google has been shut down in China. haha. Funny guy.

   This week we had to move out of our apartment cause the plumbing was so bad... and when it was fixed we moved back in for a day, and then last night we left AGAIN because it's so badly infested with cocroaches.... ah. but it's being fumigated right now so hopefully everything will work out by the end of the day.

   We might be having some crazy changes happening to the Chinese work. Right now, we are pulling as many strings as possible to get a new branch started in Alhambra... giving us 3 units to work with. Some areas of our work have tons of chinese people, but it is almost impossible to have success in those places because they are so far away from the church building. If we can bring a building to them... people would retain, l;ess-actives would come back, and many more would be baptized. 4th Nephi 1:1-2 explain how I feel about it perfectly... So many of the people were baptized because the church was brought to them, not because they were brought to the church. President Becerra is on our side as well as the branch president of the very first chinese branch in Southern California... but, it will all come down to the stake presidents, but we really feel good about it and are really praying that it will come through.

   I'll be sending some pictures home today! I'm sorry I've been so terrible at that. and about the Christmas list... Mom you know how bad I am at those, and now that I'm on a mission I'm afraid I'll be ten times worse. So bear with me :) All I can think of right now is running shoes and G's. But i'll see what I can think of.

  I love and miss you guys like crazy! thank you for the popcorn balls! I have yet to eat them... but since it's halloween they'll be eaten by tonight. Today is a special P-day, we are having a bonfire with the zone tonight, it is going to be great! anyways, you guys are great. 我爱你们。 谢谢你们给我那么多。

戴长老。

October 24, 2011

 

 

Hello!

   This week has been an awesome one. Jiang D--- was baptized yesterday, and it was my favorite baptismal service yet. She has the strongest testimony, and because of her our ward has grown so much closer together. She has really brought the relief society together, especially. She gained her testimony from the day we knocked on her door, she has been being prepared for this for a very long time. It's only been 3 weeks and she's already read most of the Book of Mormon and all of the Gospel Principles book, she wants to teach in class now! haha I love her. And she taught me how to make dumplings... so be prepared for a good asian meal when I get home.

   This upcoming Sunday we'll be having another 4 baptisms in the ward. 2 younger couples, both of the woman are pregnant and due in June :) They love the gospel and the commandments. Last monday we had a family home evening with them at a members home, and we had a really good discussion about the temple. They can't wait for that day. One of the couples that I talked about last week, Sun and Liu, were talking about when they have their baby, they're going to tell him all about "Dai Shushu" (Uncle Dixon), as soon as they said that I started crying as we talked about God's eternal plan for all of us. We bore testimony that He know's each and every single one of us, and them accepting the gospel at this time in their life is part of their own specific plan of happiness for their young family. It was such a beautiful experience! It's times like these that make every single sacrifice worth it.

  Well family, know how grateful I am for all of you! Without the things you've taught me theres no way I'd be where I am today. I'm grateful for that. I've sent some pictures of recent happenings, i'll try to send some real ones in a letter home soon! love you guys! And thanks for the pumpkin cookies this week, I was craving those!

 

love, Ben.

 

 

October 17, 2011

Family,

  Sounds like you guys are having a blast, I'm way jealous of that ramp! I still remember the old BMX days, when we built that dirt course next to our house and were always jumping. . . I can't believe Ally and Brendan are already coming home. The last letter ally wrote me was when she hit her half way mark!

  Things have been going crazy good this week. We have been blessed with some incredible investigators. Jiang D--- will be baptized this Sunday, and we also found a couple from Beijing, Sun and Liu, that will hopefully be baptized in November. The couple came to church for the first time yesterday, and the husband was asked to introduce himself in priesthood. He stood up and bore a testimony of how the spirit in the building has moved him in a way that he couldn't explain, and how grateful he was to be there. They have all been fellowshipped so well; our new plan of working with the ward closely has worked SO well. We're having a family home evening tonight with a member, and 3 investigators will be present. They've all become such good friends with each other and the ward members. We're also having an investigator dinner on Friday at a different members house. A foundation is being set for the work to explode in our ward, and just the chinese work in general... it's so exciting to be apart of! Eric B--- gave me his guitar last week to fix up and stuff... MAN i can't even begin to say how nice it has been to play a guitar again! I've been arranging hymns during lunch and I think I'll play some in one of the upcoming baptismal services, that'll be way fun. Also... our sink has been clogged for a week and so there are dirty dishes everywhere and our apartment smells like poop. A chinese man tried to come fix it this morning, but he looked at it for a few seconds, said "bu xing" which means "no way", and walked out. Our apartment has so many problems, I think we'll try to convince the mission that this apartment needs to go.

  Well I planned on sending some pictures today... but I just realized I forgot my camera. I'll try to go get some developed today that I can send in a letter home. So be waiting for 'em! P.S. am I getting garments for Christmas?... 'cause these are no longer garments... they're grayments. Anyways, love you guys! Have a good week!

 

Love, Ben.

October 11, 2011

 

  Dear Familia,

   Happy anniversary mom and dad! that is exciting. 28 years.

   This week was transfers so that's why I'm emailing today. I didn't get transfered, but Elder Tseng in our district did so we had to help him move. I'll be with Elder Wong at least one more transfer, maybe 2. I'm thinking I won't be leaving this area at least until my year mark, maybe a little after. Then i'll finally move out of this apartment! haha. I've been here since the beginning.

   I wanna see pictures of the ramp! Reminds me of the good old days of building the half pipe off the fence... and mom yelling at me when i tried to snowboard off the roof. Good times!

  This week has gone really good. The lady that I talked about last week, Jiang D---, is still progressing really well. Better than I've seen anyone progress on my mission so far, and it's all because of our ward members. We've been working with them more closely, and they've really started to get more involved in missionary work. They've taken her and really made her feel welcome to the ward, she's excited to be baptized. She's already read up through 2nd Nephi, and believes in the restoration. People really are prepared to receive this gospel, and it happened to be right now for her. I'm just glad we were prepared to receive her when the time came.

  September was kind of a rough month for our district and zone, everybody's numbers dropped really low. Nobody really knows what happened, it just ended up that way. But nobody is discouraged. Everyone has an even greater drive to keep working. The month of October is looking good for us now, I'm excited. Yesterday we were able to get all the chinese elders together and take pictures and stuff, but I forgot my card reader! So i'll have to send them next week.

 Well I hope everyone is doing well at home, especially Noah! I remember those days, sometimes they were rough. Elder Wong is a lot like Noah sometimes, we get into the same type of arguments. But I always win, just like I did with Noah :) haha. I love you guys, keep staying righteous.

Love, Ben.

October 3, 2011

  Well I'm super glad you guys had a good time with Eric! haha. He called me Friday morning, "Hey Elder Dixon where do you live? do you think your mom would let me stay there for the weekend?" Man that kid. haha. He's a good kid, and he'll be a good missionary soon! We took him out on splits with us a couple weeks ago.

   I loved conference so much this weekend. I was able to receive answers to questions i've been wondering about, and that has been a blessing. I really loved Henry B. Eyrings talk Sunday afternoon, I don't think I've ever seen him get so emotional, I loved the spirit he brought. As well as Hollands as well.. it's so true! kids need to stop being dumb! So Noah and EJ, when your friends want you to be dumb, don't be dumb. Keep your standards as high as mom and dad think they are! haha. I loved Sister Daltons talk as well. I've always loved her just because of that EFY experience I had with her. I mean... Of course I can't really take heed to what she said yesterday right now... but it was still good. It really made me want to be better missionary now so I can be a better father later. 

   Have you guys had a chance to read the new Ensign? I think it is my favorite one yet... the power of the Book of Mormon is so real! We found a nice old lady named Mrs. J knocking inbetween sessions on Saturday, and last night we were able to take her on a tour of our church building. She just came to America from Beijing, and is very interested in religion. She hasn't been baptized in any church yet, but she's read through the bible multiple times and has quite a bit of knowledge. As we were introducing the restoration to her, she cut us off and started to tell us all the hardships and trials that have led her to come to America. She explained she still didn't know why she was here, she has no money and can't speak english. After she said that the spirit was really strong in the room, and we testified that the reason she has been led to America was to find the Book of Mormon. The spirit was really strong with us, but she just took the book and set it to the side and continued to talk about her life story. We asked if she'd read it and she said "yeah if I have time." We were kind of disappointed, we thought for sure that the spirit had testified to her that it was true! At the end of the lesson, we asked if she'd say a prayer for us. Turns out she had never said an audible prayer, and really didn't want to say one. We finally convinced her to say one, and almost immediately as she said the words "Heavenly Father" she burst with tears and she continued to have a hard time speaking throughout the prayer. She knew what we were saying was true, and after that was really excited to go home and read the Book of Mormon. She's scheduled to be baptized by the end of the month :) we're really excited about her. It's been kind of hard for us this transfer to find people to teach. I don't know what it was, but as soon as Elder Wong got here almost all of our investigators dropped us. Things are finally starting to pick up though, as we're trying new ideas and working with different members in the ward. As long as progress is being made, we're doing alright.

  About the shoes, I think it'd be best if I just went and picked some out so I can get the right size and stuff. That would be great. and thank you for the blender! I've been craving smoothies for months.

I love you guys! please pray that we'll be able to find more people to teach this week! Thanks for everything.  

Love, Ben

(This young man, Eric, lives in Ben's Mission.  He spent Conference Weekend with us.  Heading to Conference with Brad and Cami!  He is currently filling out his mission papers!)

 We played lot's of ping pong!