The Time has Come for "Lasts"

Today, President Lopez posted over 500 photos of the Bacolod North Zone Conference. There are several of Sister Dixon, and as I looked at each one, I thought, "This is her last time to bear testimony to her zone. This is the last time for her to sing with her zone. This is the last time for her to play the piano for her zone. This is the last time she might see some of these devoted elders and sisters. This is the last time she will eat with her zone.  Next week will be her last full week of full-time missionary service, as the week after, she prepares to come home." 

I didn't think that these "lasts" would feel so tender to me. 

I can't imagine what they feel like for her.

We are Sowing

Hello everyone! 

Hmm...where to start? There's so much that happens in our week, and sometimes my memory of things that happen start to mesh together with other weeks, so we'll see how this email goes. Let the Holy Spirit guide, right? ;) 

Reslie, one of our ward missionaries, worked with us on Tuesday. For some reason, whenever she works with us we have a bunch of...not weird, but I can't think of what else it's called...experiences.. I told her it's probably to help prepare her for her mission (she's processing her papers). :) On this particular day we visited Henry, who was supposed to be baptized on Saturday. He was all happy, set, and ready to go. Even done with his interview. We felt we should teach the 10 commandments, focusing on his son, John, to help him understand the second commandment and in order for him not to wear his rosary. We thought it would be a rough lesson for John, but it actually turned out well and he really understood and hasn't worn his rosary since! The unexpected turn was that Henry kind of freaked out about the idols. We thought he understood the first time we taught 10 commandments, but apparently not. He basically said (and I'll say it the nice way), that he would not be baptized if he couldn't have his idols. We let the spirit really take it from there as we testified of Jesus Christ and His resurrection and the reason why we don't have idols. The lesson was pretty intense and we were bold, with hopefully just the right amount of love, but he just wouldn't accept it. We left with pretty heavy hearts and we've been praying ever since to know how to help Henry. We were just grateful for the tender mercy of John accepting the commandment. After the lesson, we came outside and he followed. When we got to the street he said, "Sisters, I've had a change of mind." We were prepared to hear the worst after the lesson we just had (yes, I know, we were lacking in hope), but then he said, "It makes sense! Jesus Christ lives!" Oh, what a tender mercy that was. :) 

I'm grateful for that experience because as a result, we were a lot more in tune with seeing the blessings Heavenly Father had for us the rest of the week. We discovered more fully that we experience the hard days so that the good days are more enjoyable and we recognize the tender mercies of Heavenly Father more consciously...which is exactly how Friday and Saturday were! We were blessed abundantly in finding new investigators, extending baptisms and people accepting, and having some of our shy investigators (Angie and Ellen Chin) open up to us as if they had never been shy before. And Angie even came to church! We had more members work with us, bearing powerful testimonies that really helped our investigators, had some wonderful 15 minute member visits, found some new less actives, and had a father (Brother Alcain) become more receptive to our message, resulting in almost his whole family now listening. :) We gained more patience in God's plan and timing for our investigators, learned the importance of diligence and working hard, even when tired, facing disappointment without getting discouraged, remembering that no effort is wasted and to keep planting seeds, and gaining a deeper love for everyone we met and seeing them as children of Heavenly Father with divine potential. 

I'm so grateful for the guidance of the Spirit this week in helping open our eyes more fully to the blessings and tender mercies we receive each day, despite the hardships. It reminds me of what President Uchtdorf said in April..."find gratitude IN our circumstances." I know that Heavenly Father loves each of us and He is fully aware of all the needs and concerns of His children. I'm so grateful that through the Spirit, He is able to guide Sister Tangonan and I to know how to help each of His children in their individual challenges. I'm grateful for the power of the message of the Restoration and eternal families. I'm grateful for inspired leaders, missionaries, ward members, and my companion. But most of all, I'm grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Without His constant support and strength, there's no way I would be able to do this work on my own. He truly is the master Performer, and I am just His instrument. I know that through the spirit and acting on it's promptings, we can become more 'in-tune' instruments to be more powerful and dedicated servants of the Lord. I love my Savior. I love this work. 

Love, 

Sister Dixon 

"A recent convert and her friends who swarm together to listen to us".

These children have such beautiful countenances and such tender faith.

"We did some service for a member by waxing her floor. We also gave a little message.

We call them 15 minute member visits here".

(Notice the Christmas tree!! Jessica says they start celebrating

 4 months in advance in the Philippines! )

Typhoons and Testimony

Hello friends and family!! 

We had a very wet but wonderful week! One of the strongest super typhoons of 2014 was passing the Philippines in the ocean, so although we didn't have the effects of a landfall typhoon (thank goodness), we still got a looooot of rain. But that just encouraged us to work harder and put even bigger smiles on our faces to bring light to the gloominess of the clouds and rain! All this rain also made me realize just how blessed I am to have grown up in the situations I have. I have never seen so many flooded streets, homes, yards, and just WET in my life. It was even more so than when Yolanda hit! These Filipino people are so strong and so positive with the environmental and physical trials they have to face and it's so humbling and faith promoting for me.

 One of our investigators, Marlyn, lives in an area where we have to cross a flowing river. Marlyn sent us a text, telling us not to come because the river might flow too high, but I remembered what Cheyene, our recent convert who worked with us the day before, told me. She said that when Sister Arcinas and I were teaching them, it was raining one night and Elsie said, "oh, it's raining. They probably won't come." But low and behold. We came. They said that's one thing they were able to determine our message is true. Because despite the rain, we were willing to face the wet and share the Gospel. We kept that in mind when Marlyn texted us, and we faced the river! And it didn't even turn out to be that bad. :) It was raining pretty hard though and we arrived soaked to Marlyn's house. Marlyn was SO excited to see us and we could tell it really meant a lot to her that we had decided to come, despite the long walk to her house, rain, flood, river, and endless mud. :) It really strengthened my testimony of the importance of forgoing something comfortable (like staying in the city to proselyte--much less wet and muddy), and turning outward to help the one. I love this dear sister so much. :) She's scheduled to be baptized in November. :) We had quite a few other experiences as we proselyted in the rain, but I'm running short on time so I'll have to tell them when I get home. :)

 One last thing though, for general conference, the entire stake including the missionaries, attends the stake center to watch. I saw Sister Legaspi, who is currently assigned in my area of Silay where I was assigned 1 year ago, and she told me that Ann Marie, one of mine and Sister Solomone's investigators, is getting baptized on November 1st! And then she went and found her and brought her to me!! I was so excited! I really felt in that moment the importance of planting seeds no matter where and when because the harvest will come eventually! Even if it's almost exactly a year later. :)

 I know Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers and loves each and every one of us. I sure felt that love a lot this week as prayers and questions were answered in General Conference and as we visited the sweet Filipino members and investigators this week. Despite their challenges that come in innumerable ways, they sure know with all their hearts that Jesus Christ loves them and cares for them. I sure do love and care for them as well. They have truly come to be my family here and I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else than in their homes and with their families, sharing the message that can bring light and hope and love and comfort to their lives.  

I hope everyone has a great week! HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY GRANDMA WARBURTON!!! Sure love you and hope you have a great day! And happy anniversary to Grandma and Grandpa Dixon this week! How did I get blessed with such wonderful mga lolo kag lola! ;) 

Love you all and I'll talk to you next week! Palangga ko kamo! 

Love, 

Sister Dixon 

Forging the rivers in the Philippines...with that beautiful smile!

It's a good thing she is a good swimmer! :)

"Perform Miracles and Where you are Planted, Bloom!"

Hello everyone! 

Wow, what a week! Not gonna lie, the best part of it was going to the Manila Temple!! After almost 18 months of not entering the temple, you sure gain an appreciation for the house of the Lord more than any other way. How very blessed we are to have such a place where we can go for revelation and to get away from the noises and distractions of the world. The reason we went to Manila was to get fingerprinting for our visas, and afterwards had the chance to go to the temple, all before heading home the very same day. It was a pretty exhausting day, but we had so many awesome experiences as well. We got to see Sister Winward, our batch mate from the MTC who went to Iloilo! It was a very happy reunion and she is doing amazing. :) We also met a sister named Rich Rifereal who works at the airport who's the only member of the church. She told us several experiences she's had in sharing her testimony and example with her boss and co-workers...she's amazing and we were all very inspired by her. She served in Bicol mission and her very last convert was her grandpa! How neat is that? She ate dinner with us at the airport, and as we were leaving she said, "Perform miracles and where you're planted, bloom!" Even though we were only with her for maybe an hour, I could definitely feel and see that she has followed her very own advice in her life and work field. She's amazing! 

On the plane and in the airport we had quite a few awesome finding experiences as well. Several of the missionaries ended up sitting by someone on the flight or talking to someone in the bathroom who lives in. their. area. One of those cases was with Sister Van Slooten. The ride to Bacolod is about an hour, so she was able to teach the entire restoration lesson to the man sitting next to her (who lives in her area!) and he fully committed to come to church on Sunday. How awesome is that? The man sitting next to me actually slept most of the trip, but when he was awake, I was able to talk to him for a little bit and give him a Restoration pamphlet. He was a very nice man and said he wouldn't mind having the missionaries visit him when he's not busy with work (he's the President of a company in Iloilo). We had several other amazing things happen on our trip, and it was just awesome to be with so many other missionaries. The elders and sisters in my batch are such powerful, dedicated servants of the Lord, and I could feel such a force of goodness coming from each of them and their examples. How did I get so lucky to be sent to this mission with such incredible missionaries! I truly believe the Philippines Bacolod mission is the best mission in the world. :)

 

Our trip to Manila left us out of our area for a few days, which was kind of a bummer for our area, but we had several blessings in being able to do member exchanges more than once in order to visit all our investigators and still have some awesome experiences with our lessons and investigators. And on Saturday, Rosene Tacuyan was baptized and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday. :) She's such a sweetheart and such a strong part of her family. Her brother and dad will be following soon with their own baptisms, so we're pretty excited about that. :) 

I'm so grateful for my mission. I don't think I'll ever be able to fully express just how grateful I am that Heavenly Father guided me here, and how much love I feel for the Filipinos, my call as a full-time disciple of Jesus Christ, the Gospel, and of course for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know He lives and that He is the head of this Church. 

I hope everyone has a fabulous week! I heard conference was great, and we're looking forward to seeing it this weekend. :) Love you all so very much! Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers!

 Palangga ko kamo. :) 

Love, 

Sister Dixon 

Manila Temple

Sister Canimo was one of Jessica's trainers.

 She is home now from her mission and working across from the temple in Manila.

The baptism of Rosene Tacuyan