Week 99: Mission Accomplished!

First and foremost, I just want to let y'all know my flight into Central Wisconsin airport (CWA), is scheduled to land at about 3:50 on Wednesday afternoon. My Mom actually took this same flight into CWA last month when returning from some business travel. She found out that this flight almost always arrives about a half hour early. So, if you were to get to the airport around 3:15 you will have a little time to spare, if not then sorry for the wait, lol.  I invite everyone to come, it should be a fun time and I look forward to seeing you there!

Now that that is out of the way I would like to talk about my final week as a missionary!

As glorious as one would hope it was, it was filled with just walking around, packing and deep cleaning the apartment. After careful consideration and some math, I was able to squeeze 2 years of memories into my suit cases and carry-on bag.  The hardest part of this week was trying to clean, and pack everything simultaneously. 

There was a night this week when we were out pounding the streets, then all of the sudden with no warning it started pouring.  In the space of 30 minutes the streets were flooded with 2 inches of rain. It was pretty intense.  Needless to say, I was completely soaked - through and through. 

Throughout this past week we also set a mission record for moves.  We had 8 this week, so most of the time we weren't walking and talking, we were helping people move.  That took up a ton of time, not to mention it made the time fly by.

The highlight of this week happened on Sunday, right before my exit interview with the Mission President.  I got to see Ken S again. He was the fellow that I baptized. The second he laid eyes on me he burst out crying, I can't lie I could hardly hold the tears back either. We only got to talk for about 20 minutes. He is getting ready to receive his endowment.  He has progressed so much. We shared stories, and exchanged addresses.  He shared one story that really struck me.  The picture we took of he and I in our baptismal whites right before I baptized him (I had my Mom & Dad send him a framed pictures). He says he looks at it every day.  It sits on top of his tv, he said other than his dog, that the picture is his most prized possession.  Words cannot describe how I felt. My heart is full. After a long hug, and words of encouragement from both sides, we went our separate ways.  I also got to see Ashli, the woman I taught who was baptized during the same baptismal service. The whole day was just awesome!

After all that fun, I had my exit interview with President Browning, we talked about my plan, and some council for the future. He closed by giving me a blessing. It was a beautiful experience I will never forget.

I would like to finish my very last weekly email with my testimony.

When I left for the mission field, on January 4, 2017 I was really kicking myself for not paying more attention in my Dad's Sunday school class. Why? Well I basically got to the MTC and didn’t know anything - let alone how to teach the lessons.  However, through exercising my faith, and continual prayer not only was I able to learn the gospel of Jesus Christ, but I was able to developed a testimony of every aspect of it. 

Through the course of my mission I endured some losses. The loss of loved ones, friends and even my wingman dog. While these losses all hurt, it made manifest to me of the truthfulness of the Plan of Salvation. Tue plan that our father has designed for us so we can return back to Him. I have had the privilege during my hard times to reach out and help others with the same problems. While death is still hard to deal with, knowing where our deceased loved one are takes away the sting. It may not fill that empty gap, but it sure is comforting. 

That brings me to my next point and that is the blessings of a Forever Family.  I cannot wait to live with my family forever. Through the Plan of Salvation and following the Gospel of Jesus Christ (faith, repentance, baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring until the end) that we will be able to live with our families forever. 

Brother and Sisters, I want you to know that I, Elder Connor William Dickinson, I KNOW, without a shadow of doubt that every aspect of the gospel is indeed true, I know that Christ lives, and is our perfect judge. I know that Russel M. Nelson is a prophet of God.

These last two years that I have devoted my life to serving a 2-year mission and they been the best 2 years of my life.  They were definitely not the easiest, but they were definitely the best. I cannot replace the things I have learned. I will never forget those I met during this great adventure. 

I am happy to report that I may have changed the lives of others, but most importantly the change that I have endured, the lessons I have learned have been a key factor in me saying that... I am eternally converted to the Gospel. 

I would like to close by telling you I know that anybody who abides by the teachings of Christ, coupled with the Book of Mormon and Bible will also developed their faith and will be entitled to all the blessings stated above. 

Granted this passage of scripture from the New Testament - when Paul was beheaded (granted, not the best intro, but stay with me), is perfect for the context of my mission....

6:  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

7:  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

This sums up my mission perfectly.

Until we meet again. I love you 

Elder Connor William Dickinson signing off.

Week 98: Two years? Where did it go?

Well people, its offical. This week marks the first of many lasts on the mission. 

Wednesdays,

Thursday,

Fridays

Saturdays,

Sunday's,

Real Prays,

Fast and testimony meetings,

District meetings,

     It didnt seem like much until I put it into typing. This week has been a pretty good week. Finding(tracking, and street contacting), are defiantly not my favorite forms of missionary work, but aside from cleaning the apartment, it is really the only responsibility  that I have, Oh other than member dinners! The high lights of my days lol

     I'm pretty excited for a Prays back in Tucson for once. I will be able to play ball! If I'm being honest that may be the only reason I am evenly remotely excited for that haha. But oh well, next play will be spent emailing and final trip preparations. So this is my last real pday! Ill try to live it the best i can.

The thing I'm looking forward to least is prolly coming home and now having normal Mondays... oh well welcome to the adult life right?!?

There was only really one highlight this week. Being that I had already finished my my plan a week early, my companion Elder Innskeep  still has to finish! No , that's not the highlight. Well, while walking to the library, we found Douglas! He wants to be baptized! Sadly since we are unable to teach, we had to pass him off. But we not only did our jobs, but we exceeded all expectations!

Other than that exchange, we didnt have much happen this week. When it comes to finding, there is not much more to say other than the fact that we walked... miles, and miles. On the bright side of that we prolly talked to well over 400 people! 

Unfortunately we were in able to watch the Christmas devo. We ended up having dinner during it.

My home coming talk is coming along about as fast as a snail on a glue trap. (Just made that up lol). But that pretty much explains that haha

I am so sorry I don't have much other to talk about.. 

This weeks message that I would like to share is found on lighttheworld.org 

I won't have it here, but you can copy and paste the link above.

The lighttheworld initiative, is something that all are welcome to participate in, this year, instead of an act of service they have a set of 4 videos.

Week one is light the world

Week two is light your community

Week three is light your family

And week for is light your faith

Each week it has something for us to do for each of the respective weeks. 

I just ask that as we enter this holiday stretch of the year that we remember the reason for the season, the very reason I decided to serve a mission. Jesus the very Christ. He gave all, so that we may be able to live with him and our Heavenly Father again. He is the Prince of Peace, our savior.  This Christmas is  also about spending the so very precious little time that we have, with our families. No matter how big our families are or how little. Make room for one more! Jesus Christ.   He should be a part of our everyday ordeals. So,

Will you strive to make our Savior and redeemer a part of your family,? Will you make  your relationship with him more personal? I will.  And I know you can to!

I love y'all, and can't wait to hear from you!

Love,  

   C.W. Dickinson

Week 97: T-Minus Two Weeks...but Who’s Counting, Right?

Well well, well, it’s that time of the week, I guess. It’s that time of the week that will only come around two more times!

If you haven’t heard yet, I will be getting transferred to an area in the Binghampton Ward, in central Tucson.  You may have heard of it before, because it borders Campbell Ward (one of my old areas).  Also, you might remember it, because that is where Elder Hiener got transferred to.  So, the ward currently has two areas.  So, me and another Elder who entered the mission the same time I did, Elder Inskeep, will be White Washing the area (two new Elders transfer into an area at the same time).  We will be finishing our missions there and will be closing the area and shuttering the apartment. Super weird, right?   Well, we are both really looking forward to it!  It should be a good end to a successful mission!

So that is the big news of the Week.

This week was lackluster, compared to other weeks of my mission, with the exception of Thanksgiving.  Thursday we were able to attend two dinners with two families from the Clifton Ward. Only one problem, they both made some killer food.  At the first dinner with the B___ family, everything was just spot on!  I, as you can imagine, ate waaayyy too much, lol.  After that, we visited some families until our next dinner appointment at 5:00.  My goodness, this time we had dinner with the B___ family (different family – both start with B). Let me tell you, this Thanksgiving dinner had had all the essentials, plus Smoked New York brisket... oh my goodness.  I could hardly move by the end of the night.

We had a lesson with M___, during which, we committed her to living the Word of Wisdom - again.  We emphasized the importance of following Christ by quitting smoking.  It went very well, but sadly, she asked me to baptize her on December 8^th - but I’ll be in Tucson.  But hey, at least she will still be getting baptized! 

Other than this, the only thing that really happened this week was some service at the Taco Shop.  We poured epoxy on out on the top of the service counter, which made it look killer!  We also put up some more FRP panels.  I was also able to do some painting some on the outside of the building.

Like said before, this week was pretty lackluster.  I am sorry this is such a short email, but I do have a quick story I heard this week.

Sunday during Elders’ Quorum, we discussed a member’s story that goes as follows:

A Dad was speaking in Sacrament Meeting.  When the meeting was over, the father walked down to where his family was sitting. His daughter ran up to him giving him a hug and said "Daddy, I love you and I like you."  Wondering about her profound statement, he asked what she meant. 

She said "Well Dad, we have to love every one. but we don’t have to like them or the things they do."

This story hit me pretty hard.  I think this 5-year-old has it more figured out than most of us, lol.  That was just a cute story that has really stuck with me this week. 

No matter how someone may have wronged us, they are still one of Heavenly Father’s children.  We don’t have to agree with what they do, but no matter what we should still love them.  After all, the greatest commandment is to love his children, even as we love Him.

I am sure the next two weeks will fly by.  That being said, this is all I have for this email.  I sure do love you guys and can’t wait to hear from you!

I hope you have a wonderful week!

love,

Elder C.W. Dickinson