August 3, 2015

Hey sweet fam!

I´m running a little short on time, but I´m here to tell you I am doing great!  It´s been a week filled with miracles.  Here are a few:

• On Tuesday, we went to visit a less-active hermana, Hermana Angelica!  It was so great to talk to her, and her granddaughter, Debora, happened to be in town.  Debora is twenty-one and is studying in Montevideo, but she had a break from school and spent the week in Artigas!  We had the opportunity to go out with Debora on Wednesday and Thursday night, and she is so awesome.

• On Friday, I worked in Barrio 1 with Hermana Russell (from California)!  Oh my goodness, Hermana Russell is so humble and I learned so much from her!

• On Saturday morning, we had the opportunity to do divisions with two college students in our ward, Maria Eugenia (the bishop´s daughter), and Fernanda.  I got to go out with Fernanda, and we visited a sweet hermana, Hermana Mariana!  She has two kiddos, and Fernanda was able to share her testimony about the atonement with Hermana Mariana.  I felt the Spirit so strongly, and Hermana Mariana came to church yesterday.

• I´m so grateful for the members here and all they do to help us!

• I love love love 1 Nephi 21: 14-16.  I think it´s one of my all-time favorite scriptures. 

Love you all and have the best week ever.  I promise to write more next week!

Hermana Dixon

July 27, 2015

Hey fam! 

So fun to think you are on your way to Florida!!!  Enjoy your time there!  So it´s been a great week in Artigas, and I found the best talk ever this week.  It´s called “The Love of God” and is given by President Uchtdorf (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/the-love-of-god?lang=eng).

As you all know, I´ve kind of been like Ella Enchanted during my mission...I´ve wanted to be obedient, but at times, I think I´ve kind of created "shoulds" and "should nots," and these "shoulds" and "should nots" have gotten in the way of my LOVE at times.  For much of my mission, I´ve prayed to know how to obey with LOVE, how to obey by the Holy Ghost, and I can honestly say this talk has helped me out so much!  I hope you enjoy these excerpts!

“The Savior Himself provided the answer with this profound declaration: ‘If ye love me, keep my commandments.’  This is the essence of what it means to be a true disciple: those who receive Christ Jesus walk with Him.  

But this may present a problem for some because there are so many ‘shoulds’ and ‘should nots’ that merely keeping track of them can be a challenge. Sometimes, well-meaning amplifications of divine principles—many coming from uninspired sources—complicate matters further, diluting the purity of divine truth with man-made addenda. One person’s good idea—something that may work for him or her—takes root and becomes an expectation. And gradually, eternal principles can get lost within the labyrinth of ‘good ideas.’

This was one of the Savior’s criticisms of the religious ‘experts’ of His day, whom He chastised for attending to the hundreds of minor details of the law while neglecting the weightier matters. 

So how do we stay aligned with these weightier matters? Is there a constant compass that can help us prioritize our lives, thoughts, and actions?

Once again the Savior revealed the way. When asked to name the greatest commandment, He did not hesitate. ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,’ He said. ‘This is the first and great commandment.’  Coupled with the second great commandment—to love our neighbor as ourselves—we have a compass that provides direction not only for our lives but also for the Lord’s Church on both sides of the veil.

Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings, and in our livelihood. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities, and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk.

When we truly understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves us, the confusion clears and our priorities align. Our walk as disciples of Christ becomes more joyful. Our lives take on new meaning. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father becomes more profound. Obedience becomes a joy rather than a burden.”

So good, right?  How cool is it that if we have LOVE at the center of our lives, everything else (including obedience) falls right into place.  

As I continued reading, I was in awe when I realized how much God truly loves His children.  Read this: 

“Think of the purest, most all-consuming love you can imagine. Now multiply that love by an infinite amount—that is the measure of God’s love for you. 

God does not look on the outward appearance.   I believe that He doesn’t care one bit if we live in a castle or a cottage, if we are handsome or homely, if we are famous or forgotten. Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely.

He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our résumé but because we are His children. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. God’s love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked.

What this means is that, regardless of our current state, there is hope for us. No matter our distress, no matter our sorrow, no matter our mistakes, our infinitely compassionate Heavenly Father desires that we draw near to Him so that He can draw near to us.” 

Amazing, no?  How many of you have ever felt flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken?  Or how many of you have been selfish, proud, arrogant, or a little rebellious every now and then?  How cool is it that even though we are so utterly imperfect, God loves us with a perfect love!

President Uchtdorf then invites us to LISTEN TO GOD´S VOICE IN OUR LIVES!

“As you reach out to your Heavenly Father, as you pray to Him in the name of Christ, He will answer you. He speaks to us everywhere.

As you read God’s word recorded in the scriptures, listen for His voice.

During this general conference and later as you study the words spoken here, listen for His voice.

As you visit the temple and attend Church meetings, listen for His voice.

Listen for the voice of the Father in the bounties and beauties of nature, in the gentle whisperings of the Spirit.

In your daily interactions with others, in the words of a hymn, in the laughter of a child, listen for His voice.

If you listen for the voice of the Father, He will lead you on a course that will allow you to experience the pure love of Christ.”

Beautiful, no?  This week I´ve really been trying to listen to God´s voice!  I haven´t been perfect listening to His voice, but I´ve heard Him speak to me every now and then.  Here´s how I heard His voice this week:

• Hermana Salvatierra´s birthday was awesome!  We had a Noche de Hogar with Hermana Susana Mendina, Hermana Blanquita, Hermana Idalina, and Hermana Ivonne, four awesome Uruguayan women!  We talked about OPENING OUR MOUTHS to share the gospel (Doctrine and Covenants Section 33) and we ended the Noche de Hogar with a testimony meeting.  These four women have such strong testimonies and I heard God´s voice as they spoke!

• On Friday, I had divisions with Hermana Barrios (she´s from Guatemala and we live together).  She is so awesome and I´ve really been wanting to improve when it comes to teaching clearly.  Hermana Barrios studied about teaching with clarity on Friday morning, and during our companionship study, she shared what she learned with me!  It helped me so much and I heard God´s voice!

• Also on Friday, we had to walk to Brazil to drop off a DVD with the Hermanas in Quaraí.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the bridge that divides Uruguay from Brazil.  As I looked out onto the river, as I felt Uruguayan/Brazilian wind blowing onto my face, as I soaked up all the trees, I heard God´s voice!

• Hermana Salvatierra is learning English!  Last night, all on her own, she said, "Heavenly Father, I thank thee for my brothers and sisters in Uruguay" in our prayer to end the day.  As I heard her speak these sweet words in English, I heard God´s voice.

• For the first time, the Berneda Family came to all three hours of church!  As I sat behind Hermana Berneda in Relief Society, I heard God´s voice.

• Jessica and her Uncle Lulo are both listening!  As they talked about the peace and tranquilidad they feel when they learn about God and the message of the restoration, I heard God´s voice.

HIS VOICE IS EVERYWHERE, WE JUST HAVE TO LOOK FOR IT!

I love you all, and have the best week ever!

Hermana Dixon

July 20, 2015

Hello my sweet fam! 

Hope all is well in Layton!  I am doing well here in Uruguay, and I am just so happy today is HERMANA SALVATIERRA´S BIRTHDAY!!!  She is the best gift ever.

So life is good here in Artigas!  Here are a few highlights from the week:

• On Wednesday morning at 4:30, our zone, Artigas, had the opportunity to travel to RIVERA (about two hours away) for a tri-zone conference (Tacuarembo was also present).  President came and I learned so so so much.  He talked about the importance of organizing our area book (thanks for being so organized, mom), gave us the message of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in five minutes (and invited us to learn how to do the same so we can always teach people about the restoration in the streets), and talked about John (you should study John because we can honestly learn so much about the Savior).  I love zone conferences!

• Jessica (the girl who looks a lot like Linds) is so awesome.  I love having the opportunity to know her and share the gospel with her!  This past Monday, we shared the Book of Mormon with her and she is reading!  And on Saturday, we learned about the gospel of Jesus Christ together.  As a mission, we are really trying to teach with the Book of Mormon so we can use Jesus Christ´s words, not our own words.  It was so cool because as Jessica read about the gospel of Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon (we used 2 Nephi 25: 23, 26; the definition of repentance in the Guide to the Scriptures; 3 Nephi 11 and 18), she basically taught herself!  She is awesome.

• Yesterday there was so much rain!  So much.  I wish you could see these crazy storms in Uruguay!  Not a lot of people were able to come to church yesterday (including two members who were going to give sacrament talks), so I had the chance to give a last-minute sacrament talk.  The mission really teaches us to stay on our toes!

• This morning was so fun!  We made a little banner for Hermana Salvatierra, blew up some balloons, and gave her soup packets (one thing you should know about Hermana Salvatierra is she loves soup--she eats it for breakfast, snacks, and dinner)!  This afternoon, we are going to eat in a buffet in Brazil.  Should be a super fun P-Day!!!

Well, that´s all for now, I love you all so much, and keep up the great work.  You guys are the best.

Hermana Dixon

By Hermana Susana Mendina

July 13, 2015

Haha hello family!!!

So funny story!  As Hermana Salvatierra and I were writing this morning in the chapel (we write here in the family history center), the power went out in the chapel!  So here I am again in the afternoon, but I don´t have much time!  Life is always a big adventure in the mission!

Well it sure has been a good week.  Like REALLY good!  I can honestly say I am in love with Uruguay and I am in love with Artigas Barrio 6.  The members here are absolutely incredible.  

Here are a few highlights from the week:

On Wednesday night, Hermana Salvatierra and I went out with Hermana Idalina.  It just seemed about everywhere we went, nobody was home!  I was just praying in my heart we´d be able to find someone, and we found Hermana Mirta!  She is a less-active member, and we loved reading 1 Nephi chapter 16 with her!  This chapter is INCREDIBLE.  In this part of the Book of Mormon, Nephi breaks his bow and doesn´t know what to do.  In desperation, he builds a new bow and then asks his father where he should go to find food.  We love comparing this to the need we have for spiritual food.  Just as Nephi couldn´t survive without food in the desert, we can´t survive spiritually without participating in the sacrament.  We felt the Spirit so strongly with Hermana Mirta and we were so grateful for Hermana Idalina and her testimony!

There´s the sweetest lady, Hermana Mariela!  She is a teacher and works all week, so it´s really hard for her to give us lunch.  But this past week, she had vacations!!!  She made us the most delicious lunch and treated us like princesses in her home.  She also went out with us and we visited a sweet twenty-three year old girl, Jessica!  Jessica looks a lot like Lindsay.  One day as we were walking, I saw her and wanted to let her know she looked like my sister!  So we ended up talking to her and it turns out she has a lot of questions and is wondering how she can find peace in her life!  Anyway, we visited her with Hermana Mariela and it was an awesome lesson.  Hermana Mariela testified the gospel of Jesus Christ truly can give us peace.  When we have no idea what we should do, the gospel can always help us.  We are so excited to visit Jessica again this night!

As a mission, we are studying John!  This morning, I read John chapter 9.  In this chapter, Jesus Christ heals a blind man.  As I was studying, it came to my mind I should read the story about Alma the younger (someone who was spiritually blind).  It is so cool to compare these stories...Jesus Christ can heal those who are struggling physically and spiritually!

Hermana Susana Mendina (our neighbor) is so awesome!  She went out with us to visit the Berneda family and she shared 2 Nephi 31:20 with them and made a little card that had the scripture written out.  It was the sweetest gesture.

I sure do love my sweet companion, Hermana Salvatierra!  I have been blessed with the best companions.

I am loving life as a missionary here in Artigas Barrio 6!

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Hermana Dixon

July 6, 2015

Hello my sweet fam!  How are you all doing?  Well, it´s been another week filled with adventures!

So I´m not going to lie, sometimes the mission is HARD.  But it´s good it´s hard!  This week, a lot of things kind of just bunched together and I felt so weak.  And I was just wondering why the mission is so hard for me sometimes!  On Thursday morning, I just prayed with all of my heart I would be able to find something in my personal studies to help me out.

Let me just say, God answers our prayers!  I just opened up the scriptures afterwards and found 3 Nephi chapter 17!  You guys should read this chapter because it is INCREDIBLE.  In this chapter, Jesus Christ is visiting all the people in America.  And these people are weak like me!  And they don´t understand everything either!  

This is what Christ says to them (and what He says to us as weak humans):

1  Behold, my time is at hand. 

2 I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time.

3 Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again.

Oh my goodness, how great is it Christ understands we are weak!  How great is it He is so patient with us and just tells us to keep trying!  And if we don´t meet all of our goals TODAY, He lets us know we can always prepare ourselves and try again TOMORROW.

Here´s what happens next:

5 And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes roundabout again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastlyupon him as if    they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.

6 And he said unto them: Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you.

7 Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy.

I love that when Jesus Christ saw their tears, he had COMPASSION for them.  And I love it when he says if we are "afflicted in any manner" He can help us out!  

I would just love to share a few ways Christ has shown his compassion on me this week and has healed his weak servant, Hermana Dixon!

• I know Uncle Tom knows the Bueno sisters.  They are two sweet women in their nineties and even though they´re weak with age, they light up everyone´s life!  Guess what???  This week, they were kind enough to give us lunch!  Their niece cooked for us!  She made us ravioli con tuco and an awesome dessert (it was kind of similar to dirt and worms).  I honestly cried a little bit during the lunch because I was in awe two ninety-year-old women sacrificed so much to give us a nice lunch.  The people in Uruguay are incredible.
• Another story about FOOD!  On Saturday night, Hermana Salvatierra and I had a bit of time after our lessons so we began looking for less-active members in our list.  We couldn´t find a house, so we stopped by a bakery to ask for directions.  We began talking with the owners, Angela and her husband, and it turns out they have some relatives who are members!  They also have a Book of Mormon.  We invited them to read some scriptures in the Book of Mormon, and then we let them know we´d love to return another day to buy some sweets from their bakery!  And they just began piling a bunch of baked goods and sandwiches in a paper sack and gave us all of that food free of charge.  I almost started crying again because the generosity of the Uruguayan people just awes me.  
• Yesterday was a super interesting day but it ended so great!!!  There is an investigator, Griselda, who we haven´t been able to visit for quite some time.  We were able to have a lesson with her last night, and we loved sharing the plan of salvation!  Hermana Salvatierra and I felt the Spirit strongly, and we invited her to be baptized.  God gave us such a grand miracle to end an interesting day.

So I guess what I´m trying to say is Jesus Christ is so COMPASSIONATE!  I invite you all to look for all the little miracles He puts in our paths daily.  I testify in the hardest of days, there are always so many blessings.  Christ and our Heavenly Father know us perfectly and LOVE US!

Keep up the great work, and I love the new house!  You guys are awesome!

Hermana Dixon

June 30, 2015

Hey sweet fam! 

This week has been AWESOME!  We have changes, but I will be staying in Artigas Barrio 6 with Hermana Salvatierra!  Woo hoo!  This is the first time after my training I won´t have a change of companion, so I´m excited!

The people in Artigas Barrio 6 are so awesome, and I especially love our bishop and his family, the Duarte family!!!

Here´s a little experience about them!

Our obispo, Obispo Duarte, is incredible!!! This past Sunday, we taught him and his family El Recogimiento de Israel! It´s super fun starting out the lesson by spreading out a bunch of candies and asking someone to gather all the candies, but WITHOUT using their arms or hands. Sometimes people use their mouths or feet to gather the candies, but it just ends up being so awkward. It just shows the Lord truly needs our "brazos" to do His work! Anyway, after teaching El Recogimiento, we had the opportunity to meet with our obispo Saturday night and talk about the people in our ward who want to progress to go to the temple! And then on Sunday, our obispo accompanied us! We had two citas fijads with our obispo, but they both ended up falling through. So we ended up visiting a ton of less-active members whom our obispo hasn´t met yet (he lives in the area of Rama 5, so he still doesn´t know the area of Barrio 6 super well). I can honestly testify the Lord´s plan was for our citas to fall through, because it was incredible to see our obispo interacting with all the less-active members. He had so much love for them and even had the opportunity to give an hermana a priesthood blessing (and she really needed it)! So yeah, he is awesome!!!

Also, I loved reading in 1 Nefi 17 this morning.  You guys should read in this chapter and think about building up whatever spiritual goal you have!!!  Here´s what I learned from my studies in this chapter today:

 Although this chapter talks about Nefi building a boat, we can really apply it to whatever situation! This morning, I applied building a boat to building my mission...making my mission what the Lord wants my mission to be! First off, in versiculo 2, I learned I should live every day of my mission "SIN MURMURAR." Second off, in versiculo 3, I learned God will always provide me with the necessary nourishment and strengthen me...but only if I continue keeping the commandments and rules of the mission. Third off, in versiculo 8, I learned I should build my mission "según la manera que yo te mostraré" aka I should realize really my mission isn´t MINE, it´s the Lord´s! So I will do my best to follow the Lord´s will for my mission.

Well, I sure do love you guys a lot, and it makes me so happy you´re loving the new ward in Layton!  I especially loved the story about the little boy looking over his mom´s shoulder.  So funny!  The Berneda family is doing great, and our investigator, Paula (we found her by accident because she lived NEXT TO the reference) is super AWESOME!  She loves hearing about the gospel and is praying to know if the restoration and the Book of Mormon are true.  I love seeing God´s hand working in our little area!

Love you all,

Hermana Dixon

June 22, 2015

Hello sweet fam!

Well, it´s been another great week in Uruguay!!!  I loved hearing four of you gave talks in sacrament meeting, because I did as well!  On Thursday, our bishop assigned Hermana Salvatierra and me to give talks about missionary work.

Missionary work covers so much, so I kind of had no idea what I should talk about!  But on Friday night, it all came to me!  Friday happened to be day of the grandparents here in Uruguay.  It´s so cool Uruguay has a day especially for grandparents, no?  And also, on Friday night, Hermana Salvatierra and I had the opportunity to do family history here in the chapel!  I got to see some beautiful pictures of Grandma and Grandpa Dixon and I decided to do a rerun of my farewell talk.  I decided to talk about my sweet Grandma Dixon!!!

So you may be asking how exactly Grandma Dixon relates to missionary work?  I explained my grandma was born into a Congregationalist family, but when she was in her twenties, she began working in a laboratory and noticed some Mormon scientists who had distinct lifestyles.  I explained these scientists then invited her to church, and when she went to church, the members accepted and welcomed her.  And the members presented her to the missionaries!  

I mentioned through these scientists and through these loving members, my grandma´s life was changed (and the lives of her six children and many grandchildren for that matter)!

I then shared the story of Abinadi...Abinadi´s efforts didn´t seem to make too much of a difference.  Although he preached with all of his heart to tons of wicked priests, only one person, Alma, decided to listen.  But you know what???  Alma preached the gospel and brought many people to the waters of baptism.  And who knows?  Maybe these people had children and grandchildren as well.

I am so grateful for the people of Artigas because there are so many Abinadis here.  There are so many people who are willing to share their testimonies to help their neighbors, friends, and family members.  This gospel is so beautiful!

The work is going great here and I love my life!  Thank you for letting me be a missionary, and the gospel is so so true!

Have a great week,

Hermana Dixon