Tommy is home!!

Tommy came home on August 28.  We are proud of him and grateful for his two years of service to the people of Australia in Adelaide and Darwin.  Thanks for sharing his journey with us.

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!

August 6 – 22 days until Tommy is home but who is counting?

hey mom and dad,

so this has been a crazy week. not much happening with the work so i figured i would make this email more of a lesson i learned this week. so to give a little bit of backstory to this. our neighbour has a really big bird cage that sits outside on the back porch with a bunch of finches. as we were leaving the flat we saw a hawk attacking the cage. it brought to both my companion and my own mind the doctrine of safety in the gospel. Sometimes we see the commandments as a cage that holds us back from seeing the world. I imagine the finch could be thinking “what the heck i see this wonderful rainforest just outside the cage but i am trapped in here”. sometimes i think we all fall guilty of that. we see the commadments as things we must do and suffer through so that we can be happy later. As the hawk attacked the cage o get the birds for a snack al of the sudden the cage became a blessing. Still though some of the birds panicked when the hawk attacked the cage while others didn’t. the question came to mind, “how much do i trust the cage”. how firmly are we built on the rock so that “when the devil sends forth his winds” or hawks we cant be moved. i wager to think that the finches that panicked didnt trust the cage, or even worse knew that there was holes and weaknesses in it. we continue to fix and fortify the cage through the small and simple things. “Keep the commandments; keep the commandments! In this there is safety; in this there is peace. He will send blessings; He will send blessings. Words of a prophet: Keep the commandments. In this there is safety and peace.”

love

Elder Dickson

Krista- That is a great lesson. I like how you took something that you saw in your life and applied it.

Benny says hi! We were all looking at your room and everyone was teasing Benny because I got all this stuff ready for you and everyone says Benny is like the poor tenant living in the corner.

This is Isabelle

Benny no longer has a room. Your mom has been referring to it as Tommy’s room. All of his decorations have been removed and set on a minuscule bed in the corner. You have displaced him!

T-haha woo hoo

K-Back to mom now… I was assuming you wouldn’t think I was calling you an evil cockroach. . We are chilling in Waterton today…. not doing too much . It is quite enjoyable. What else do we need to do to prepare for you?

T-nothing i think

what do you want me to bring hme clothes wise?

K-Whatever you want. You’re going to need to go shopping anyway. Only bring stuff that you still want to keep. I assume you have some things that are pretty worn out. If you are not bringing your ties, take some pictures. It would be cool to give some of your favorites to special people and then take a picture with them.  I’m sure that all of your white shirts are pretty wrecked and sweaty…😜 I trust you to decide. Do you think you have anything you need to ship?

Bronwyn asks…. ready to come home yet?

T-no i dont think i will need to ship anything, should have plenty of room

K-Any activities going on in the Darwin Branch before you go?

T-no thats all of them. had a pretty cool experience though. the first councilor in the branch pres. came up and told me that i am one of the best missionaries he has ever had

K-That is awesome! I’m sure you are going to miss that branch. You will have to make sure on your last Sunday that you visit with and thank the people you have grown close to.  I would assume the 19th might be your last Sunday as you will probably be going down to Adelaide that week.

T-yeah i fly down to adelaide on the 20th

K-Wow I didn’t know you had the date. That is a long time to be in Adelaide? Will you just stay with a companionship there? Do you fly home with Elder Ivory?

T-no so elder ivory and ward went home early for school – so ill be on my own -not sure what i will be doing in adelaide

K-Oh that’s interesting. Does school start that much earlier in the States? Maybe I should have lied and said school started earlier here to get you home earlier😜. I suppose not the best plan. – Well I know that the Parkers had leaving missionaries do a temple session and a meal. Not sure if the new mission president will be the same???? So with Elder Ivory and Ward gone, are there others who leave at the same time as you?

T-elder kuru leaves 3 weeks after me

K-Well I guess you will get all of the attention!!!! Just as it should be. We are getting so excited for you! You will love the YSA scene and University

T-

yeah

K-Thanks for putting the pictures on the Google drive. Are they from the Clydes?

You have been an excellent missionary . You have worked so hard and influenced so many people. You should be very proud

Brent -I just got to Jakes house. He of course has pulled all his books etc into the main room. He seemed interested in me for a minute but now is more interested in TV. He is enjoying some quality antique roadshow on PBS

T-haha

K-I’m going to hand over to dad now I need to go… love you heaps

Mom

B-I see your team Canada rugby shirt is still around. Will that coming home with you? I wonder what Waterton issues are pulling Mom away. Falls theatre or Big Scoop. 🙂

T-yeah its coming

B-Drew got one for Grad. He will be representing somewhere in the world.

T-awesome!

B-Uncle Dave has a shaved ice machine he brought to Waterton. So we were enjoying various flavours of snow cones. I liked Pina Colada. It will probably be kind of weird being back in Adelaide after being away so long.

T-yeah i gotta go love ya heaps

B-Have an excellent week. Love you

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

 

July 8

hey mom and dad,

so first question what happened to the truck? i might have been told but don’t remember. some of the tings i appreciated the most were canadian things like all dressed chips! as for this week it ha been great! still the same amount of chaos but i don’t break just bend! 🙂 haha so it has been an awesome week. we have been teaching an aboriginal family and they are progressing really well just need to get married so we have that underway! as for the new mission president, he is very different from the parkers but awesome as well. very buisness style

Love

Elder Dickson

K-Interesting!…. business style? What does that mean in the missionary context? The truck is long gone…gave up the ghost. Dad has been driving Grandpa Dickson’s old van…AKA the “man van”

T-yeah so he runs everything like a buisness, more articulate.

K-Well that will shake some things up. With you at only 7 weeks or so I guess you will just get a taste of the new focus. Is the family you are teaching related to the mob that was baptized and being taught in Malak?

T-yes they are cousins

K-Had you seen the article I sent you?  What did you learn at Zone Conference this week? I’m sure the new mission president was a bit nervous and feeling like there was a lot to learn and do.

T-yeah i helped them put it together! we didn’t have a zone conference just a meet and greet

K-That’s awesome. I will have to save it. Does your new mission president have a blog or Facebook page like the Parkers?

B-June 2017 Grandpa Dickson offered us their Ford Freestar van because they wanted something smaller. I think you drove Grandpa from Edmonton to uncle Shane’s in that van. In honour of the original man va we called it man van 2.0. A few days later I took the truck in for some repairs and it would cost way too much to keep it running. So we donated it to the kidney foundation. Feb of 2017 we bought a black minivan at an auction for $750. The Jakevan. I am afraid it is ready to die so I jumped on the opportunity to buy the new car. Will probably try to sell the Jake van. See if we can get something for it. Haven’t even talked with mom about it yet. All dressed chips …. excellent.

Jakes dinner at the hospital was chicken, mashed potatoes, and broccoli. Also ice cream. I suggested he start with the ice cream and he did. I had some Licorice. Something wrong with this picture. Benny was usher and did the count for the first time in church today. He took it very seriously. I watched from the stand. I was proud of him. God knows what he is doing with the Aaronic Priesthood. Boys learn and are given responsibility step by step.

T-haha sounds about right-yeah i remeber getting a talking to by coy for not getting the count right

K-Speaking of national foods like all dressed chips. What Australian foods are you going to miss the most?

T-do you have my schedule for uni yet? – do you have the times i want to look into enrolling in institute

B-Drew volunteered you to walk to work or take the bus since he feels he will need a car to get to work.

K-Yes I was just looking at it tonight. First term you only have 4 classes. English, Math, Human Kinetics ( like the science of gym with activity) and psychology.
You  start classes at 8:30  and the Latest you go until is 2:15

The next term you have a full load – 5 classes. English, history, another Kinetics course and Astronomy and Biology.

Those courses should give you a basic first year base so you can go any direction you want

T-ok sweet so i want to be taking institue as well, im looking at the
website but not sure which to register for -of course drew did

B-Pretty sure they run a couple institute classes at the seminary building at night. That way you don’t have to go all the way to UofC

K-Can you access the institute schedule from there? If not I can find one for you so you can look. There are some chunks of time in the day too like MWF first term  you have a break between classes. I will put your schedule into a chart and send it next week so you can see.

T-yeah i can access from here

K-What is the website?I will look here and tell you which courses work or once you get the chart it should help

K-Any of the night classes in Sundance will work. I will quickly look at the U of C classes

T-all good no rush

B-So then go take a class at uofc at night. Might be cool to meet different people. You can drive or take the train if necessary. We will make it work.

T-ok sweet i think that would be a great opprotunity to meet people at well

B-How about mom and I look at the schedule this week, give you our two cents next week, and then you choose what you want to take and where.

T-sweet

K-Ok I looked. It seems like the classes that would work for you first term would be:
1)  Evening Classes at the Sundance building
2) Friday classes after 10:30 at the University
3) Evening classes at the University.

B-Might be cool to have Drew come with you to a class. His plan is to regularly attend the YSA Ward with you when you come back. There was talk of him going today but I thinks his friends bailed. Might be kind of nervous going the first time. I really want him there with you rather than hanging in Sundance Ward teaching primary.

K-ok awesome thanks mom you’re the best!

B-Hello, who found you a cool man van 2.0 or PT cruiser. The coolest in used vehicles

T-haha yeah i’ll bring him along, get him super involved

K-No, ignore your dad…. you were most correct  to praise your mom…nothing like buttering me up😀. Do you have any PDay plans?

T-haha clean the flat, and shop

B-Hopefully it doesn’t take the 3 hours Benny and I took to clean the basement yesterday.

T-i remember going to the ysa ward for the first time, i was like ” no
way, im out of here”

K-What are you going to do about shipping things like your paintings? Do we need to put some extra money in your account so you can start sending things home?

T-haha no we divide and conquer-nah i can fit them in my suitcase

K-Just wait till Benny gets to clean out that room for your stuff… he is going to be SO happy!

B-Bring a Koala home for Benny. It can stay in the basement.

K-Ok…has the new mission president announced a new focus or theme for the mission?

T-haha i don’t really have much stuff other than souvenirs and stuff i
have picked up and been given -no he hasn’t announced anything

K-Well with next week being the last transfers it should be exciting. Will you stay in Darwin and then just fly to Adelaide a couple of days before you go home ?-Oh… did you get your package?

T-yeah i will fly to adelaide with like 5 days left – gotta go love you heaps!

K-Wow…that is starting to feel real. Finish strong.

B-Have a great week. I’ll eat some all dressed chips for you and you eat some amazing mangoes for me.

 

July 2

hey mom and dad,
so this has been a full on week. we have been running around getting
everything together for the switch over of mission presidents. so as
well a crazy miracle happened this week. elder dudfield (area 70) was
in darwin on sunday. he came for a family vacation but had heard the
story about a family that had been baptized here. he is going to put
their story on lds.org! so you’ll see about darwin online! as for the
work this week we are teaching a new family. their names are
sylvester, oletta and sylvestina. they are cousins of a family
previously baptized. they are doing awesome! crazy week. stressful
week. right now is probably the most tired and worn out i have ever
been in my life but the lord is defintly blessing me with renewed
strength.
Love
Elder Dickson

Brent- Good to hear you are exhausted!  You are supposed to be cause you are doing good stuff. Is Elder Dudfield a General Authority?  I just arrived at the hospital and mom and I did the switch so she may not see these right away.
Drew has no work tomorrow because with Canada Day on a Sunday Monday becomes a stat holiday. He is going to see the fireworks tonight.

T-yes he is, we had an hour long interview with him, elyssa and irene.
he loved it.

B-Nice. So do you know the cousins of your investigators?  When does your new president arrive?  What are your plans for him. The new Calgary president is from New Zealand. I guess the sisters in our ward met them yesterday and the mission presidents wife went on Splits with them. That is a strong start! Cutting edge news boy. 7 minutes ago LeBron James announced he is signing a 4 year deal with the Lakers. We shall see who else goes there. Chris Paul signed an extension with the rockets and Paul George signed an extension with Thunder. I love LeBron but very glad he is in the west away from the Raptors.

T-yeah we know the cousins really well. so he is already in adelaide and
flies up to darwin tomorrow.

B-What will he be doing with you on Darwin?

T-dang lebron

B-Not sure what to do. Really like LeBron but have always hated the Lakers. First world problems

T-who else do you think will go to the lakers?

B-Kwahi Leonard wants to be traded from the spurs. They aren’t getting along. But I wouldn’t trade him in the same conference and have to play him a ton. He is a feee agent in a year and says he wants to go to the Lakers. There isn’t really any big names left.

T-so why would lebron go to the lakers? money?

B-The Cavs aren’t good enough and won’t get better. Some people think he is hoping to attract other players. Others think it is to be close to Hollywood. He is starting to get involved in movies and other such stuff

T-dang crazy #spacejamround2

B-Changes the balance of power a bit. The Raptors will have to deal with Philly and Boston. They need to get tougher. LeBron was in their head and they kept losing to him. So what is the plan when the mission president arrives. Mom is going to be in tough with no Sis. Parker blog to follow.

T-still not sure. gotta take it as it comes
when he gets here.

B-So today Bishop Steed and I had to do tithing on our own. No clerk to help us. But we were big boys and made no mistakes we know of. Taylor went down to Waterton this weekend for a last hurrah!  He flies Thursday. Billy went to the temple this week. He was in Raymond today and leaves Thursday too. Bishop Steed said he looked and sounded great!

T-awesome!

B-So tell me something that you love about Darwin, something you will really miss.

T-i love the people, particuarly the members

B-The nice thing with social media is you will be able to keep up those contacts. So did you take a moment and sing O Canada yesterday?

K- Ok my mom nature is now taking over … take care of yourself my tired and stressed boy…. delegate some responsibility, eat well, excercise. You can do this! I hope when the mission president arrives it will be joyful, not stressful. Can you isolate what is causing the stress?

B-Maybe Tommy is a missionary with two months left and wearing down a bit :). Thank goodness for moms who worry more than dads.

T-i gotta go love you heaps!

B-Take a nap today and then get at er!
Love u proud of u

K-Love you heaps… take care of yourself!

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

June 11

hey mom and dad,

so it has been an emotional week. this week the parkers as you know were in darwin. we got our “final counsel” from them and it was amazing. as well we saw them off at the airport and i totally broke down. told myself not to cry but didn’t go so well :p. any ways things have been going really well here. nothing to crazy happened this week, except i got our new companion! his name is elder nelson (not related t the prophet) he is from texas and is a gun! super awesome! so other than that nothing too crazy. heaps of blessings and miracles as always but normal week.

Love

Elder Dickson

Krista-

What does it mean he is a gun? I’m getting emotional thinking about the Parkers too😢 Is Elder Nelson a brand new missionary?

Make sure you write down their counsel so you don’t forget. Did you get a picture with them?

Brent

Nothing wrong with feeling emotional about the Parkers. Working hard in a righteous cause brings you together.

T-

gun means he is sooo ready to work hard. we got a zone picture together

K-

Awesome… tell me a little more about him. You are back to two Americans…. building those North American bonds!

B-

Drew played well in the selects game. A UofC coach came up to him and asked if he would be interested in playing for the Dinos next year. Drew was thrilled.

T-

thats awesome for drew!

i didn’t even know they had a team

K-

He’s our second rugby star… not sure Benny is going to follow in both of your footsteps though. When I suggested bringing out Spike Ball for him and his friends for his birthday he said…. well mom these people are not exactly athletic, they are geeks like me! Not sure I classified Spike Ball as athletic.🙄

B-

I gotta go. I’m off to get a computer tablet for Jake. Surprise. He broke his. So glad you are doing great. Take care of that Texan. I’ll leave you to Mom.

K-How many missionaries do you have in the zone now? – What is up for this week? Any investigators?

T-

nah nothing too crazy this week. just finding, finding and finding

K-

Have you seen the Farrer’s yet? Jake is now expressing his displeasure that there is no Domino’s pizza at the hospital. Me too!!

T-

yeah we have just for a short time though

K-

Did you get your package?

T-

no not yet

K-

Oh well… you will have to pretend that Canada Day is not July 1st….. what were some of the pieces of advice the Parkers gave you?

T-

they talked about regular FHE, temple attendance, ongoing conversion, don’t delay marriage –

i gotta go love you!

K-

Love you heaps…. this is the best part of my day today!