July 22
hey mom and dad!
so it has been a crazy week. so first the mission switched mobie
networks and forgot to take into effect the katherine elders. so we
had to drive to katherine with their new sim card and find them. total
nightmare 😛 second we got smartphones this week. so they aren’t fully
operational yet but will be in about two weeks. as to answer some of
the questions. no i haven’t heard anything about going down to
adelaide yet. maybe ill hear about it towards the end of the transfer.
yes president will come up to darwin in about two weeks so i will get
to be in one more zone conference. so overall it has been an awesome
week. oh i forgot to mention we also moved flats as well. so great
week. lots of fun and i love the people.
Love
Elder Dickson
Brent – Moved flats. Are you in the penthouse now? That is a bit of a drive to switch SIM cards. I guess you will get a bit of time with the new smartphones. Why did you change flats?
Krista – New flat? Boy I thought you would just have a relaxing last few weeks
T-the flat we were in before only allowed for four missionaries on the
lease and we had 5
B-Dress up the greenie as a Koala and say he was your pet!
K-You had 5 for a while…. did they just discover that? What is your new flat like?
T-yeah they just looked at the lease. its brand new, straight up like a penthouse – oh as well the man you saw n mormon newsroom has been asked to be on
the “light the world” world wide video so we went and filmed it with a
member yesterday
K-No way… that is fun way to end your mission. Is it in the same area?
B-Definitely not as fine as the bedroom waiting for you. Mom has done good work. How long is the drive to Katherine? Who are you teaching this week?
K-Super cool… Elyssa?? Did he sing? Will the video be at Christmas?
T_yeah so the video will go worldwide for christmas, its him speaking some lines.
K-That’s great… who filmed it? Did you get to watch the whole thing? Oh and take some pictures of your new flat
T-brother pickford, our branch misson leader filmed it and sent it to
church head quarters. the will put it all together -ok will do
B-Will you be doing splits with other companionships this week?
T-possibly but haven’t planned them yet
K-That will be cool to know someone in that video. What is your password for your gmail account? I need to set up an ICloud account for you so yo7 will have a phone when yo7 come home… you get my old phone for the moment but it is still pretty good!
B-So super mom found magical headphones for Jake. They are made of hard foam and bend and twist without breaking. Where have these been the past few years. I can’t count how many he has broken. Of course now that I have said this I will jinx things and they may break. Three Jake sleeps until he goes to his new house.
T-like his oil rig laptop?
B-Good point. I am more optimistic about these. Didn’t cost as much either. (for the record Jake broke them a few days later)
K-Doyou have any special PDays planned for your last few weeks? Are you still teaching Elyssas cousins ?
T-moving, cleaning flats – yeah they are progressing slowly but surely
K-I am liking these new cleaning skills … maybe they will rub off on your brothers. So what would you say was one of the most important lessons you have learned on your mission?
T-divine identity, hands down.
B-
What do you mean? Tell us more.
K-Hmmm…. that is something that is very easy to forget about. Especially when you are struggling. I actually read the conference talk from last April about that this morning. The “Am I a Child of God?” Talk
T-I think that is something that we are taught ever since we were
children but don’t quite grasp (or at least i didn’t) i know that i am
a son of god. that is the greatest truth i have learned
B-Nice, we keep learning more about what that means our whole lives. It is a truth that Satan always attacks.
K-Ok another mom question….tell me about a companion that you really enjoyed or who taught you something important
T-i think elder ellingson taught me heas about patience. nt from him
being bad but being atient together
K-Do you have a companionship n that you think you would like to stay in touch with?
T-probably all of them
K-Awesome…Drew and I were just watching a zombie movie… his only request for the movie choice was NOT a musical… oh well… a mom can only push so hard.
B-Double header. Bribe him for a musical. No musical, no car? – So Benny was in Waterton for the week. He could have stayed longer but wanted to come home with Grandpa. Now he is under the Great Eye of Mordor (Mom) who will put him to work. Foolish boy.
T-haha thats awesome! i gotta go love ya heaps
July 29
Hey Mom and Dad,
so this has been yet another crazy week. thats good to hear that jake
is settling in to his new place. so we had mlc this week to discuss
the rules and it is exciting to see that president marquis has
definitely been called of god. yeah i am emailing taylor, he is just
slow at emailing back. so just a busy week full of meetings and
finding. Sylvester and Oletta are doing great! they are just working
on getting marriage papers sorted so they can be baptized. other than
that, nothing too out f the rdinary other than these awesome photos
brother pickford took while we were filming Elyssa!
Love
Elder Dickson
K-So what has President Marquis been discussing about mission rules? I can see the pictures on Google Drive… that is one handsome missionary!!!!
B-So what are some of the new rules? Or is it just reemphasizing rules you already have. So I’m sitting on the lawn outside Jakes house. He is doing good so I am staying out of the way. I will go in and help them with shower and bed routines. The neighbors must be wondering who the dude is sitting on a lawn chair all day.
T-haha im sure he is loving the lawn!
K-I am helping Drew do mission paperwork…. he is basically done and just needs to do the interviews.
T-When does he want to do the availability date?
B-I suggested Nov 3 but apparently he wants to come to Mexico with us at Christmas. 🙂
K-He says the first week we are back from Mexico… So January… he says papers in the beginning of October…. we are sitting together in the family room and he is desperate to see this new movie about Christopher Robin from Winnie the Pooh …l even though he is over 6’3” he is still my little boy
T-haha tell hime to be a man and forfeit mexico ;P
B-Who loves his Frosted Flakes!
T-nah just kidding
B-A trip to not be missed. Mom the trip planning machine will make it epic.
K-I drive dad crazy with my trip planning but I have a feeling that when it is -20 everyone will be happy to be in Mexico. I booked our flights this week so we are committed. By that time you will be craving some heat again!
T-yeah i will be missing it
B-She does not drive me crazy. Our trips are always awesome and they wouldn’t happen without her.
Speaking of which, on Aug 11 mom and I are heading to Hawaii for a week. Grandpa Steed very generously gave us air miles and his condo. This is our recover from Jake in hospital etc trip. We could use a break. She is making plans as we speak.
K-So I never heard what rules President Marquis is emphasizing
T-dang that’l be exciting!
K-So with Jake and Waterton and our trip I am going to try and spend this week cleaning and organizing for our missionary to come home!!!! Do the Marquis come this week or next?
B-Now that is a Steed mom in action. I have no idea what needs to be done to get ready for you Don’t you just come home, we pick you up, and you are home? I’m sure I will find out this week how wrong I am. 🙂
T-the come up on th 13th – thats what i thought too
K-So 2weeks to get those Darwin Missionaries in shape😀���� Isnt it already the best zone in the mission?
B-As men we obviously know nothing.
T-oh of course – yes dad
K-Ok you sarcastic men…. just be happy that you will have a bed to sleep in, a desk to study at and a phone to call your mom on!!!
T-haha – i gotta go! love you heaps
Elder Tommy Dickson 