August 13 & 20

August 13

Hey mom and dad, so this has been a little bit of a crazy week. We are here now with the assistants and are getting g ready for p-day. So cool thing is that I am actually typing this letter on my smart phone so pretty cool. This week has been a challenging week. We have been laying it all down on the line, pushing ourselves so hard yet with little results. They will come though.

So last week in Darwin. It feels weird with that reality sinking in. I love this place and I love the people. This will always have a special place in my heart. The people are so loving and kind. They really have taken care of me and treated me as their son.

The Darwin branch has taught me many things. I think the first thing that it truly taught me is that no matter who you are, you can serve. I have seen countless people who are maybe not the most qualified but continue to serve faithfully and bring miracles about.

The second thing that Darwin has taught me is that our Heavenly Father is mindful of all of us. It’s hot here and it has been a real struggle for me in the heat. I’m not accustomed to the heat. #canadaboy. But I have seen God work miracles as I have worked through that struggle.

It’s a humbling experience coming to the end. I look back on the last two years and I don’t regret a thing. This mission has changed me. The Lord has changed me. I think you will surprised to see the Tommy Dickson that will come off the plane. I have come to gain a love for the Lord and a knowledge that He is truly there.

 

Anywho crazy week!

Love,

Elder Dickson

Krista – Hooray my phone might die but we will email as long as we can. Dad and I were just at the beach…. a very strange sensation. What do you have planned special for the last week?

T-lots of meal appointments, members are scrambling to feed me before i go

K-That’s really kind…. it will be more than you have had your whole mission…. and for the last. Darwin PDay?

T-head to the city and take some photos

K-Awesome…. take photos of people too. Especially at your dinner appointments. You have had lots of success and it will be interesting to see how you have laid a foundation for the missionaries who follow. I can’t quite believe this. Do you know yet what will happen that eeek in Adelaide

T-no i dont

K-Are you going through all your stuff… are some things staying in Darwin? Phone about to die…. if I stop emailing know that is why

T-yeah im soorting it out

Brent- Hey it’s dad. I’m having a great time with mom. I am in beach nirvana.  We snorkeled and saw a 3 foot long sea turtle. I touched its shell and then mom told me it is illegal. Oops

T-haha only illegal if yu get caught

B-I am addicted to ocean waves. Can listen to them all day. This trip is good for us. It has been a tough haul with Jake.

T-i ggotta go love ya heaps!

B-Finish strong. You are in our thoughts and prayers all the time.

August 20

Hey mom and dad, so I am writing this email to you while I am flying down from Darwin. Sad day. So it has been a great time in Darwin. I love those members. So I did hear mom that you have been talking to sister chick! They had elder Syme and I over for dinner last night as a final hoorah.

Something that sister chick said to me really stuck out. She looked at me and said “well done thou good and faithful servant. You have truly brought sunshine to this branch”. I have to say i almost broke down. It has been a hard go in Darwin. The heat has taken its toll on my body and I am exhausted but I can truly say I have laid it all on the alter of sacrifice.

Over this last week in Darwin we have had a lot of members inviting us over for dinner. A lot of wise counsel was given to me and don’t worry mom photos were taken. Darwin will always have a special place in my heart.

So as for some lessons that I have learned this week.

This week I was asked to speak in Sacrament meeting on any topic that I would like. I decided to base my talk on Helaman 5:12. I think it is a scripture that we all know but I’m not sure it is one we truly understand. At least I didn’t.

In the verse we see Helaman giving his final counsel to his sons. He teaches
“12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation”. Now what is a foundation? A foundation is a stone or solid object set into the ground. It is immovable and will last through any situation or storm if the foundation is strong. Now to tie it back to us. The foundation of Christ is immovable it will be there whether or not we build on it. Our quest is to mount ourselves to the foundation of Christ.

Now the question how do we do that? We do this by coming to know the Saviour. It is our life quest to understand, come to know and love God. “3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” As we truly come to know and understand who the Saviour is we are slowly yet surely building upon His rock.

Now to the second part of the scripture. “That WHEN the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, WHEN all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.” Once again this scripture is instructive. Helaman teaches us here that it is when not if the hail and the storms come. That is something that I learned from cyclone Marcus. The city of Darwin has been through many cyclones and because the houses in Darwin were prepared for the winds that were sure to come and attached firmly to their foundations they did not fear.

“34 Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail”.

I know that as we build upon the rock of our saviour that no matter the winds, no matter the hail or the mighty storms that will come our way we will not fear but move forward with faith. As we build on him increased peace and joy come into our life. Remember Christ descended below all things so that he can lift you above all things.

Love,

Elder Dickson

K-Oh… you made your old mother cry! That is a brilliant testimony and talk topic. I think Sister Chick got it just right, you did bring sunshine to the branch and you have had a very unique experience that not many missionaries get to be in one place for that long and build relationships. I cant wait to see the pictures!

B-Nicely done son!  Can’t wait to hear more of these stories. Two of your longest letters these last two weeks. I think you will do fine in English class.

K-Awesome! I hope you write your feelings about your mission and about Darwin when you have some time this week. It will be a treasure for you later in life and for your future family. What is on the schedule for Adelaide?

T_so im back in evandale with elder huot and elder siaw!

B-So you flew earlier today?

T-yeah i left darwin at 7 am

B-Nice, so do you work with them the rest of the week?  Is it a lot cooler in Adelaide?

K-Oh I think I love Elder Siaw ! Every picture I have ever seen of him he seems like such a kind and happy missionary. I’m sure Elder Huot is great too. Do you go to the temple this week?

T-yeah its 20 degrees colder and yeah ill be with them the rest of the week – yeah ill go this week – first time in a year

B-It averages 33C in Hawaii and is only 18C here today. I’m freezing. I’m thinking it may be a lot tougher for you. 🙂

T-so yeah darwin averages 33 as well and its 11 here

K-Do you even own a coat anymore? Getting you ready for Canada! Sister Chick sent me the picture of you with her family. I LOVE it. What a treasure. I know Darwin has been hard work but I can’t get over the relationships you built there and the good that you have done !

B-So do you spend your whole time with them or will there be some different stuff you do besides the Temple?

T-yeah i had one at the mission office that i am wearing now -so i will have a couple trainings this week but other than that normal proselyting

K-Do you also have those paintings from earlier in your mission stored at the office?

T-yes

B-Are you in an area in Adelaide or is it further out?

T-in adelaide

K- I saw Elder Ivory is going home on the 24^th. Will you get to see him this week?

T-i will see them tonight and i dont think so, will find that all out this week though – oh by the way how do you wear cufflinks?

K-Ok… now I saw your email with the VERY Important information. I will read and let you know… Cuff links… use a special shirt… we will buy one when you get home. A gift?

T-the hasletts bought me a really fancy pen and cufflinks as a goodbye gift

K-Awesome… we will shop here and you will look AMAZING!

B-Fancy Schmancy

T-haha thanks mom

K-I just read your leavers letters…. I’m really glad you get to do those activities with Elder Ivory… that feels like full circle after sharing a room in the MTC. Is Elder Ward with you too?

T-yes

K-Oh I’m glad… when you said they were going home earlier I was worried that you would be doing those activities alone… once a worrying mom… always a worrying mom! We’re getting the banner ready! I can’t wait…. HOORAY!

T-haha dont go too overboard mom

K-OH… I am trying… but you have to know that there is NO way I am not having at least one poster at the airport… and yes I WILL be that geeky mom and Drew will mock me but I claim first hug!

T-haha sounds about right

K-I am not the only one… Elder Ivory’s mom was posting stuff too! And Elder Kuru… who comes home in about a month. Now for the not fun part… cleaning the house and getting ready for school!

B-When it comes to mission stuff overboard is Moms middle name.

T-haha krista overboard dickson

K-Alright, alright… I think I have been quite restrained…. at least I have done my best. Enjoy the FHE tonight. Do you have any sisters with your group?

T-yeah sister starling and sister harrison – i gotta go love ya heaps!

K-HEAPS>>>HEAPS…HEAPS!

July 22 & 29

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

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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

July 15

14 new pictures from June and July – The tie cutting is a tradition when every missionary goes home.  Since President Parker left June 30 he cut every Elder’s tie who was staying behind.

hey mom and dad,
> how have things been going? its been a crazy week. so transfers came
> and i’m still here! exciting that i get to stay in nightcliff to the
> end! so nothig too crazy has happened regarding transfers still with
> elder syme. as for institute i want to be able to take the cornerstone
> class but the only offer those ones at the institute at U of C. Will i
> be able to travel to that one? the only thing that i’m concerned about
> is having time to work as well
> love
> Elder Dickson

Krista – Whatever you want. I thought there was a cornerstone one night but I could easily be wrong. I say register and then you can change if you need to for work. Any changes in your flat?

T-ok easy. elder nayusan is going to palmerston and elder lu is coming
to darwin city

Brent-Benny and I have been watching Lawrence of Arabia. 4 hr movie and we are 2.5 in. I wasn’t sure if he was ready for it but he reminded me that he had watched all three Godfather movies and didn’t fall asleep like you did.

T-haha thats good to hear

B-31,30,and 29 the high for the next three days. Probably still colder than Darwin.

K-How are your investigators doing?

T-high of 33 everyday this week

K-Oh Tommy …. I will start buying you thermal layers right now. And you will be living in the basement which is cool. Maybe dad and I should trade you our stuffy bedroom

T-its crazy our bedroom is normally 27 degrees and i use a blanket

K-You are a true Aussie now

B-You will look like the new exchange students from Africa wearing their heavy winter gear end of September and October. They have no idea what is coming. Teigan spoke in church today. Br. Chipman was the visiting high councillor and Teigan his companion. He did great. Teigan is now the stake assistant exec secretary and attends high council and stake presidency meetings.

T- haha
that’ll be me! great to hear teigan is doing well!

K-So Elder Lu and who is his companion that will be in your flat?

T-elder turcotte and elder wu

B-So what is one thing you would really like to see happen or accomplish in your last few weeks?

T-i want to baptize

K-I can tell we are close to the end because I used to know a lot of the missionaries names from the Parkers’ blog but now I just can’t keep track.  Did you look at your schedule for school? Any concerns?

T-no i just dont understand the winter semester thing

K-Winter semester starts in January

B-Was looking for something a little more specific but that is a pretty good answer!

T-oh so when does the winter semester finish?

B-End of April

K-We’ll get you home, get over the jet lag and settled in school and then you can worry about looking for a job.  What is up for the Darwin zone this transfer?

B-Hopefully lots of mangoes

T-haha hopefully lots of baptisms not sure yet though

K-Any interesting branch activities coming up ?

T-no we have a missionary family home evening every monday though

B-Okay, baptisms first, then mangoes for refreshments! I’m guessing that you have done all the sightseeing on PDays that you want since you are the Darwin man.

T-yeah i have seen everything

B-
So do you sound like an Aussie, a Canadian, or a real mix with your accent?

K-Who attends the missionary nary family home evening? Do you run it?

T-a lot of people say that i sond like a hybrid

B-What is a missionary nary family home evening?  Sounds funky. Is that like narly?

T-we run it and food provided by the chanboon family. investigators and
recent converts come

B-Being serious now, that sounds great. Wonderful service from the Chanboon family.

K-That is really kind of the Chanboon family….how many people do you get each week?

T-we usually have about 15 people. the chanboons are awesome!

K-I haven’t heard you talk about them before. Who is in their family?

T-so there are 5 boys, he is the elders quorom pres. super dedicated family

B-Five boys. He beats me as super dad!

K-Gotta love those all boy families!

B-How old are his boys? Guessing not as good looking as mine! Mom’s genes!

T-his boys are 19, 18, 16, 14, 12 -i gotta go love you heaps!

B-Have an amazing week. Love you

K-Love you

 

June 24

hey mom and dad,

so i guess since ou went on a more spoiritual note i will do the same.

one scripture i have been pondering this week is the book of moses and king bejamins sermon. so as a little bit of a back story to this experience. this week a member family from adelaide was in darwn and i had worked wth them a lot. i had been over to their house for dinner.

the father is less active and from our chat ii found out that the mom is now as well. i shared with them this:

 

“4 And, behold, thou art my son; wherefore look, and I will show thee the workmanship of mine hands; but not all, for my works are without end, and also my words, for they never cease.”

 

now they looked at me a little weird thinking “what the heck has darwin done to elder dickson”. but i explained it as such. moses has had a pretty rough life. he has been subject to the decree of pharoh to kill the children. he was adopted by pharoah’s daughter. as well moses has grown up in the palaces of egypt (the most powerful and wealthy nation at the time). God shows moses here an all expansing vision similar to that of many prophets. after this account moses says

 

“Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed”

 

this brings up an interesting point. moses having seen all that the world has to offer is shown what god has created and see’s that man is nothing. the paradox as we all know is that we are nothing compared to god, his glory, his divinity, but we are everything to him. the advesary will do everything to challenge that. we know that is his purpose is to bring misery to us just like he has.

 

11 But now mine own eyes have beheld God; but not my natural, but my spiritual eyes, for my natural eyes could not have beheld; for I should have withered and died in his presence; but his glory was upon me; and I beheld his face, for I was transfigured before him.

 

12 And it came to pass that when Moses had said these words, behold, Satan came tempting him, saying: Moses, son of man, worship me.

 

i find it interesting that the very first thing that satan does to disuade or to destroy moses is challenges his divine identity. “moses, son of man, worship me”. Within our own lives we will have many times when satan comes knocking challenging our divine identity. that can come at many times, when we are distraught and feel that god has left us, it can also happen when we are doing fantastic and feel as though we don’t need god. the important part is to respond as moses.

 

13 And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee?

 

Throughout my time as a missionary that is something that i have come to truly know and cherish. I am a child of god. he loves me and will help me today. He will help you today and everyday because he knows you and the struggles that you face. It is the most important thing for an investigator to know that he/she is a child of god. it is no coincedence that the first principles in both the plan of salvation and the restoration is “God is your loving heavenly father”. I know that to be true. i love what you said dad about the prophet joseph smith. my favorite scripture from that encounter happens in the next section though.

 

7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

 

8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

 

9 Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.

 

I know that the Saviour lives. He walks with us everyday and when we can’t walk any farther he carries us. I know that as we turn to him our trials don’t nessecarily get easier but they become lessons for us. He loves us and wants us to succeed.

 

Love,

Elder Dickson

Krista -That is a very powerful testimony Tommy. I am so grateful that you have served a mission and are able to help yourself and others with the lessons from the scriptures. I think most people in the world today don’t see themselves as Children of God and that is a critical truth

Brent –

That is one of my favourite scriptures from the book of Moses. I remember my MTC president teaching it to us. The three big concepts:

1. I Am God
2. You are my son
3. I have a work for you to do

 

It is a prototype of all our relationships with God. It stuck with me from when I was 19. It becomes more profound the more I think about it.

T-

kinda figured that is better than a weekly update

K-

Absolutely! It is great t see your maturity and growth…. don’t think though that you are getting away with not telling me a couple of details of your life😁

B-

So funny Benny party story. They said no presents but Candy would be welcome. His friends went to town. This was a better haul than Halloween. Jake benefited with some shared Skittles.

Sad rugby moment. Wallabies lost to Ireland in game 3 of their test series by 1 point. I’m sure Chambers will have something to say about that tomorrow. Stupid Chambers with his Irish heritage!:)

K-

Yep…definitely a mom fail on that one, I should have said a chocolate bar…. instead giant Costco bags of gummies….he’s going to have lots of cavities with his sketchy brushing habits

T-

haha thats hilarious!

B-

Benny was worried I would steal candy. I promised I would only take it right in front of his face.

President Miles and his wife spoke in Stake Conference today. They are released on Saturday. Bore powerful testimonies. Made me think of Parkers. It would be a powerful experience to be a mission president.

K-

Did the family respond to the lesson? Do they have family in Darwin?

T-

oh is he our mission president?-

they responded well and promised they would go to church when the get back to adelaide

B-

The Calgary mission president. Released Saturday. Heard the new one is from New Zealand. Don’t know the name.

The new mission president of Vietnam is Ross Chile’s and we hung out together at UofA before I went to Sweden. Kinda cool

T-

oh wow thats cool!

K-When do you meet your new mission president?

B- His mission was New Orleans Vietnam speaking. I remember him taking us for Vietnamese food and everyone in the restaurant having to meet the blond kid that spoke Vietnamese.

T-

so he gets to the mission on the 30th has a 4 hour interview with the parkers and then the parkers leave. president marquis gets to darwin on the 4th

K-

Wow that is a tight turnover…they will probably be a little Jet lagged. Hopefully you will get your Canada Day package and you can just celebrate a week late

T-

hopefully 😛

B-

I love that. 4 hour interview and then good luck for the next three years. You will have to show the new president the ropes in Darwin.

K-

One last bit of Canadian pride! You don’t have any Canadian missionaries left in Darwin so you will have to represent

T-

yeah so i get to take him around and show him darwin

K-

That will be a great opportunity for you. You are the king of Darwin!

B-

Hope he takes notes. Right now probably no one in the mission knows Darwin better than you.

T-

woohoo!-

so apparently president parker has already told him about me

K-

Don’t break any traffic rules! How long are they In Darwin?

B-

I assume he bragged appropriately about you. I am Dad biased!

T-

two days

haha, its just having been here for almost a year, i know my way around

K-

It’s a big position of trust to be a zone leader over 3000 km from your mission president. He believes in you.

Nope…way more than that

T-

thats a good thing 🙂

K-

Of course it is but you have had to work with a new to zone leader, greenie, new senior couple and new mission president…that takes skills

B-

Mad Skillz friend!

So I am multitasking. While emailing you At the hospital i have also been texting people to speak in church. Just nailed down a couple of youth. I am soooo popular in the ward.

T-

haha im sure people love to hear from you

i gotta go love you heaps

B-

Since April 2016 – everyone’s favourite.

Have an amazing week. Enjoy that new president

K-

Love you heaps…I think I am going to say that forever….thanks Australia!

June 17

hey mom and dad,

how are you? so nothing too crazy this week. we found a couple new investigators and are still moving the work forward. nothing too crazy. i’m super excited for taylor and billy! thats so good that he will be able to keep serving!  i dont have his email from home. as well everybody is getting married before i get home haha

Love Elder Dickson

Krista –

So lots of talk at the dinner tonight about your flights and when you get home. I think people just think about missionaries when they are sending another one off. Is your greenie still doing well. Has he adjusted to the heat or has it cooled down a bit?

T-

yeah he is awesome! –

do you already have my flights?

K-

Yes, I though get you might have heard. We got an email on Tuesday. You fly out at 6 am on August 28th from Adelaide. First to Sydney… then LA then home. The layovers are not too bad a couple of hours or 3 hours or so. Because of the time change even with tons of time in the air you actually arrive in Calgary the same day at 5:00 pm. I think you r something like 19 hours on the plane plus layovers. you are going to be one tired boy!

T-

dang, i haven’t heard anything yet

K-

So I assume you will fly to Adelaide from Darwin sometime before the 28th. You will probably hear those details when your new mission president comes up to Darwin. Tell me about your new investigators

T-

so we are teaching two aborignal brothers from tiwi and one guy from liberia

K-

Where is Tiwi? Are all your investigators young? How are your other baptisms from Darwin doing. John and Peter and Jun?

T-

so tiwi is an island north of darwin, and yeah they are doing good

Brent-

Got your flights and it kind of freaked me out. Got a little excited. Taylor did awesome. 404 people in Sacrament meeting today

K-

I didn’t even know there were islands there. Are they mainly aboriginal? I loved some of the pictures you shared last week. Especially the one of you and Serina with her art. That will be very special

T-

holy, must have been his good looks

B-

Posted the picture of you with the joey and got lots of response.

T-

she said she wants to do one more for me

B-

We are now sharing Ron Swanson advice from Parks and Rec. a high level of dude conversation.

T-

haha always listen to ron

K-

That is very kind of her. She is really talented. Does she do it as a business?

T-

no she just does it for fun, since i am the longest serving missionary in nightcliff she sees me as her son so she wanted to paint for me

K-

It has been a cool thing that you have been able to develop relationships with the members in Darwin. One of the advantages of serving in a small branch.  Have you seen the Farrer’s while they have been there?

Taylor – How are things going so far! I just had my talk and we are hanging out around my house. What is new with you?

From Taylor.

T-

man was your talk good? –

yeah i have seen them but only for a short time

K-

What is the plan for PDay this week?

Taylor-

Well my opening line was “my family has problems “

T-

haha sounds about right and probably clean our flat

K-

The other day Drew was going to have some friends over so he totally cleaned the house… it was because the girls were coming over too. He said he wouldn’t have cleaned for just the guys. I totally want the girls to come over all of the time. My house would look GREAT

T-

i otta go love you heaps

B-

Have a sweet week. Love you

K-

Love you heaps… we are so proud of you. Work hard and care for that greenie!

June 12 Pictures

Tommy Pictures June 5

April 2

hey mom and dad!

so first of all its great to hear about dalllins mission call! he will do great! so it has been a pretty normal week. lots of finding and teaching. we had a little miracle this week we were struggling to find new investigators and out of the blue a potential called us and said “i need direction in my life”. so naturally we taught him the plan of salvation the next day. super awesome. its going to be exciting to watch general conference this weekend. i heard they got rid of the high priests group and elders qoroum. the other reason it will be exciting is that president parker has been called as an area 70. so this last weekend he was in salt lake! crazy! as for the cyclone clean up its pretty much back to normal so back to normal proselyting. elder arnaud as well goes home this week so he will be staying with us as of wednesday night. its been a great week

LOVE

Elder Dickson

Brent – The magic words, I need direction in my life. Music to your ears I bet. Dallin is very excited. We are fired up for him. The other big news since we wrote is Maddy is engaged. Her fiancé is named Hunter and he has grown up in the States but his mom is from Calgary. I knew her at UofA. They are getting married in August. Not sure where yet.

After a week of us away mom deserves a break.

T- right before i get back 😛

haha seriously

B- Yup, things change. Your brothers are bigger and Maddy married. Mom put the deposit down for St. Mary’s. we are going to talk to Layton and an academic advisor there to figure out best classes for you to take that will count for everything

T- ok sweet i can ask sister lea to write a letter of reference and see if president parker can do the same

B- Good idea. Your mom is a smart one, a keeper!

T- haha yeah it will be good everyone will be humble

B- Tell me a little more about your new investigators.

T- so the solid one we are teaching his name is gavin. he is indigenous and is really excited about the Plan of Salvation

B- Nice. So how did he contact you?  Beats knocking on doors to find people!

T- we invted him to sports night and he just texted us back

B- So how did you find out about President Parker as an area authority?  Will he be serving in Nevada?

T- he will be in nevada and elder lea told us

B- Very cool. One Elders Quorum makes sense. It will be a mix of Elders and High Priests. I think it will really benefit smaller units. I really enjoyed the solemn assembly. Can’t wait for you to see it.

T- yeah it will benefit us in darwin soo much

B- The other big change is no more home and visiting teaching. Instead you are assigned someone to minister to. It looks similar but home visits aren’t essential. Every quarter you report to your leaders how the family or families are doing. There are asking for a higher level of service.

T- yeah i heard about that, it sounds awesome

B- I’ve been home teaching McCues since with you. Stevens even longer.

T- so some changes soon

B- Tomorrow we are back to school. There is still a foot of snow on the field and cold all this week. No idea when rugby will get outside. Getting tired of the soccer centre.

T- dang hopefully it will go soon

B- Maybe play with snowshoes. Raptors are 2 games up on the Celtics for first in the east. One week left in the season and they play one more time.

So any new finding initiatives? Are you able to open and see all the pictures I’ve been sending?

T- yeah i have seen all the pictures and go raptors! i gotta go love you heaps

B- Have a most awesome week. Love you

For the record Krista is in Kallispell and was watching Black Panther when Tommy emailed – but she did text me that he emailed 🙂

March 4

hey mom and dad,

so this has been another crazy week in the darwin zone! so the first crazy thing that happened is we held three sacrament meetings yesterday! so when investigatrs can’t come to church in the morning because of work president has myself and elder salcedo hold a 20 minute evening sacrament meeting. its pretty spotaneous. so we got a call from darwin city elders’ investigator asking if he could do it and we dropped everything and went and ran the meeting. that was crazy. as well this week mohamed dropped us. he has run into some pretty rough family issues and he needed to focus on that. but the exciting news is that we were able to put our investigator simon on date for the 31st of march. he is a 42 year old man from china. he has come over to get his masters in accounting and is planning to bring the rest of his family over soon. so crazy but great week. who is drew taking to grad?

how are the raptors doing?

Love Elder Dickson

Krista –

Drew says …. a girl…. so communicative…. actually Drew is taking Emma Giustini from Chaparral Ward… he is being a 17 year old putz about it all!!!!! That is too bad about Mohammed but exiting about Simon. How did you find him?

So when you hold that sacrament meeting do you just do it in their home? I didn’t know you went to both wards. That makes for a big Sunday

T-

we dont go to both wards we just held two different evenng sacraments on for the sisters investigator and one for the elders investigator. sounds like typical drew 😛 we met simon by just talking to him in the city. we have been teaching him for a week and he didnt accept baptism at first but he finally did

K-

That’s really cool. Have you heard about Teigan yet? He has to come home tomorrow for surgery. He has a cyst that has to be removed on his back. Apparently Brother Simpson had something like that before too. He will be released and then probably go straight to Puerto Rico once he is healed… about 5-8 weeks. It is good that Taylor is around.. they can be buddies!

Oh… had a thought as I was looking at Elder Fiu’s pictures which were awesome last week…. do you still have a camera?

T-

oh dang no i didnt hear about teigan. yes i still have  a camera but im just not the best at taking photos

K-

Ok good, yes poor Teigan… his mission journey has not been without speed bumps .  Hopefully Taylor will get his call this week. Aunt Christina is hoping for tomorrow on her birthday

T-

i could totally see him going to the islands

K-

I agree, that or the southern states. So any plans for PDay today? We are getting close to your birthday too… I sure hope your package gets there in time!

T-

haha yeah crazy to think that i will be 20 eh? yeah so we are having a district p-day and we are going to play board games at the chapel

K-

Awesome… so hopefully no poor losers. Which district are you with today? So with transfers next week do you think you are staying?

T-

so i think that i am definetly staying. president was joking with me gthis week on the phone that he needs me to permantly live in darwin and get a job here so i can be the darwin zone leader forever. we are going to be with the darwin city district

B-

Raptors are doing awesome. First place in the east and a legit contender to win the east. It will be pretty hard to beat Golden State. Though Houston is in first in the west and some think they can beat the Warriors. I don’t.

K-

Ok I guess we will see… you never know! Maybe you can be like Elder Atkinson and be the king of Darwin like he was the king of Katherine. I’m glad you love it so much. So still thinking about family history… pretty sure you are related to Elder Hymas….

B-

I am emailing you from Stake Priesthood meeting. Just sustained Cam Rice to be ordained an elder. President Craig is now introducing the new Deacons. Some things don’t change.

T-

wo do the rockets have on their team? –

haha so how am i related to elder hymas?

B-

Br Mandan is now teaching us how to sing better. Mom would be fired up. Me not so much. 🙂

K-

You will have to look on Family search but through Grandma Steeds line…. the Cooks… there is a big Hymas line that has a lot of Mormons that settled in Utah and Idaho…. if you are related it will be like 7th cousins or something… not like a long lost brother or anything! What was the funniest thing that happened to you this week?

B-

We are learning to conduct. Adam Sorenson will be upset giving away his secrets. –

Br. Manden just asked for a priest from each ward to come up to learn how to conduct. I just volunteered Drew so he is up front standing by Liam Baines. Tragic mom is missing this!

T-

haha brother manden is the man

haha, who is on the rockets?

K-

Oh. Drew will thank  you for that!!!!

Who will be the crazy board game player in the district? What is the best game!

B-

Out of nine priests conducting Drew was tallest by 3 inches.

Rockets have Harden, Chris Paul, Aliza, can’t remember first name. And Tucker who was with the Raptors last year. They are great. Watched them win a close one over the Celtics last night.

T-

we play a lot of risk, it gets intense

B-

I’m sure instead of killing and conquering the world you are converting instead. LDS Risk

T-

nope i will destroy all

B-

Be sure to create alliances and then crush them when it serves you best.

K-

Risk is a recipe for disaster…. I think every Risk game in Waterton ended with someone mad… I guess you need the missionary spirit to survive!

B-

So is the rain still coming strong. This is the most snow I have ever seen since I moved to Calgary

K-

Ok… my advice is completely opposite to your dad… don’t make people feel bad by alliances….I guess I really am the girl!

T- so the rain has slowed down a bit

ok i love you i gotta go

B-

You are the best. Love you

K-

Love you heaps!!!

 

Jan 29, 2018

hey mom and dad,

so the news that you have all been waiting for is that i haven’t been transferred. Its still elder salcedo and i together and elder fiu has joined our companionship and we are finishing his training. Elder atkinson and sister hsiao are leaving the darwin zone. we are getting elder justin from tahiti in katherine and sister shakespear and elder tyler are training. yes i have got my bank card and it has definitely cooled down a lot. the sad news this week is that rikki did not get baptized he had some concerns come up and a famiy emergency in perth but we are working with him still. Nothing too crazy this week other than the fact that we have had 40 inches of rain in darwin this last week. totally wet

Love

Elder Dickson

Krista – im sad about Rikki but glad to hear that you got your bank card. That sounds like a lot of change in Darwin. Are you happy to be staying?

T-  i am really happy that i get to stay, it will be awesome

K-

I’m glad  you are happy. Do you have to go pick up missionaries today at the airport? Where is Elder Fiu from? Tell me a little a bit about him

T-

elder fiu is from brisbane but he is samoan. he is a great leader and will be a leader very soon

K-

You have been in a trio three times. That is a little unusual. It seems like your zone leaders train quite a bit. Did you get your other package from Adelaide? It has the new pants in it

T-

zone leaders train a lot and no i haven’t got the package yet

K-

Ok…any other interesting transfers? Do you know anything about the new Elder and sister coming? Is Rikki now in Perth? Will you continue to work with him? We are having our home teachers now but I told them you take priority so I’ll keep emailing. They were amazed by the 40 in of rain. That is hard to even imagine. Are there some dry creek beds that become rivers?

T-

i don’t know anything about the new missionaries, i dont even know their names. rikki is just in perth for a little while and then we will work with him. yeah a lot of darwin flooded. tell the home teachers i say hi

K-

Absolutely! Is the flooding typical for the rainy season?  Drew is almost done exams now. Just physics left. I think he will be happy to be done. So I think I get to talk to the priests quorum for a short bit next week about your mission. What would you like me to say? What is important in your mission? As a missionary?

T-

yeah its pretty typical. um just tell them it is the largest land mission in the world and covers 1.2 million square miles. (not sure in km’s)

K-

What about some of the culture of your mission? What do the Parkers emphasize? What advice would you give priests heading out on a mission?

T-

in our mission we are OCD missionaries Obedient Consecrated Diligent. I think the biggest piece of advice i woukd have would be to start book of mormon study now.

K-

That is awesome! This won’t surprise you but we are not all that sure we are presenting but I think so. Especially as we are starting to have lots of different missionaries going from our ward.

T-

how many are out now?

K-

You, Taysia, Carter, Teigan, Parks, and now calls for Garrett and Jackson

I think Taylor has been medically cleared now and he is getting papers together. He is still working at the movie theatres.

T-

thats great that  taylor has been cleared

K-

Jackson is going to the MTC in the Dominican Republic which means all 4 of Joel and Allison’s kids have not gone to the Provo MTC.

T-

dang thats crazy

K-

Grandpa just arrived and is telling us about crocodiles. He was interested in your rainfall totals. Really the fact that you are in Darwin and in an interesting weather spot is HEAVEN for him

T- haha yeah kinda figured

K-

Any pictures this week?

T-

no ive been really busy

K-

No problem. I think you are suffering a little bit from  not having  Elder Ellingson. Didn’t he take lots of pictures?  so do Elder MacDonald and Elder Siaw stay in your flat?

T-

yeah so they wil stay and yeah he took lots of photos

K-

So Drew made cookies this morning for his and dads home teaching families and after he was finished the kitchen looked like a bomb went off. It reminded me a little bit of you before your mission. I still remember when the Farrers had their flat inspections and you passed. Miracles really do happen. Let’s just say I am counting on it after I looked at your brothers rooms

T-

well i passed the last ne too!

K-

Do the Leas do flat inspections too? Do they still have the Croc prize?

T- no they dont have the prize but yes the senior couple inspects

K-

I am impressed that you pass! I would have never believed it 2 years ago!  When do the Leas go home. are they about the same time as the Parkers?

T-

yeah they will go the same time

K-

That will be a big change for the mission! Do you know anything about the new mission president ?  You will have him for 2- 3 months?

T-

i will have him for about 2 months

K-

Now we are talking Costco’s… grandpas next favourite topic. Debating the virtues of all the various Costco’s and their locations… oh this is the life! He still buys croissants and chocolate muffins for us on a regular basis. Costco in Darwin?

T-

no, sad….

as we are speaking it is raining cats and dogs in darwin

K- Oh well… you will have to wait to get home to have the joy of chocolate “ muffins”.

Ok…. take a picture sometime this week and send it to us so I can show grandpa… He will be thrilled!

Think you must be gone…. love you heaps!