Week 30

Sorry, but I didn’t get any emails last week!

And so sorry I assumed so quickly that you didn’t send any!

So you want to ride a bike here?!

Please understand what goes on in a missionary's mind. Our biggest fear are those horror stories you hear about being forgotten - left behind and alone - and everyone has moved somewhere else back home. Yes we all laugh at them, but really inside we are petrified that it will happen to us.

So cool that Stevie is going on out! I know he will do great! Good to know that with Lauren and Stevie going I won’t be the only one serving from the Catoctin Ward. 

Thank you about the school advice. I think that is kind of what I was leaning for - to go back and finish and then look for something in my area of study - may be international - seems to make the most sense to me.

The reason why I keep bringing up my acne is because in Taiwan, within 1 minute of talking to me, the Taiwanese person starts talking to me about how bad my acne is. I’m used to it now, the culture is rather blunt, but they talk about it lots - well at least they speak to me : )

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner!

Luckily we have a temple day coming up which means that in a couple weeks, my personal day will get messed around, so please don’t panic and worry if I’m late in getting emails out - like I did : (

This past week has been really long. We had lots of meetings and other administrative things we had to go to.  We have been ‘invited’ to do this when we introduce ourselves - touch our name tags and let the person know our purpose!  It has been a crazy challenge, and really scary at times, but it’s actually been working. Lots of people quickly steer clear of us but we know if they don’t run away when they read what our badge says that they probably actually have interest in why we are here - weird - but seems to work! So we are all to remember to be bold in what we do and everything else takes care of itself!  The Spirit rules!

I miss you all lots and love you all even more.

Thank you so much for all the support and love you all give me.

Elder Dickson

Week 28

Oh wow it sounds so cold there! pretty much the same here like 15-17 degrees...Celsius ha ha. Nice that it hasn't been as rainy recently which is really starting to feel like a decent spring!

Thanks for the screenshot of my records - good to know that the University officially recognizes that I'm on a mission. I made sure before I left that my counselor had multiple records of me being here so credits carry and I am still able to continue my work.

Something I have been thinking recently is that while I do love biochemistry, and still fully plan on it being my major but I really want to keep studying music in some way shape or form. Like I was dying back at school before being so focused on just biochem things, so would it be really dumb if I took some music classes and such? I don't know just something I was thinking about recently.

New years for Miao li... president day said we could celebrate!!...in bed...with our eyes closed. The folks here acknowledge that it is a new year, but the big thing here is Chinese new year. I hear it is pretty epic...like Taiwan basically shuts down....

Yes Miao li has lots of Ke jia (hakka) stuff. It's a little strange because back in Taidong I was picking up more taiyu (other aboriginal group). So now I know like all three languages. but I understand when people say that hakka language sounds pretty harsh. The food is okay, nothing really to rave about. Its pretty much the same. Your only choice is rice or noodles really...

Chinese Hymnal

This week was certainly interesting lots and lots of finding more people that want to learn English and inviting them to our classes. We did have one lady who we thought was a little crazy come to class and then show-up at church, but turns out she is just eccentric. We followed-up and invited her to come to family home evening at a
members house. We knew should could play piano, so we asked her to help the evening by playing a hymn. Her first time reading the music for "Be Still My Soul", and she turned it into a concert level performance - like adding her own flurries and side threads, the members just looked at us with their jaws dropped. It was really cool. she's really good at piano. so we are going to keep meeting with her and see what happens!

Also at church we had like over 100 people come, which is like huge for Miao li. We actually had people out in the hallway, and we had to use the additional back-up host and Spirit during sacrament. So yeah miracles in other unexpected ways!

Today we plan to go to a kaorou chi dao bao. (bbq buffet(chi = eat Dao = too bao=full)). We also found a place here that has a 72 oz. steak challenge like the one in Texas. We're going to tackle it as a district at the end of the next transfer.



'Old' Street in Miao li - foodie heaven at night!

When I was in Taibei during Christmas there were a lot of new missionaries listed as coming on island soon - so start praying for me to not be a trainer : )

Hope you all are having a good time and managing to stay warm!


I am still fine and alive, and it is weird to think I have been living here for like over 6 months now. Hope you all stay happy and healthy and that everything is great back home. Miss you and love you all lots!

Week 27

Thank you so much for getting all the pictures from my “homies” Great to know I’m in their thoughts at Christmas!

"a river runs through it"

Skype worked! Yea! Kind of an empty interesting feeling afterward, but once I got back into doing all the work we have here all I could remember was that I was lucky enough to see all of you and talk to all of you.  Something that surprises me - I hate doing nothing…One day we had some down time and I just knew I needed to be doing something, before I knew it, I was actually shaking I was so uncomfortable not doing anything.

The Taiwan member that let me use his laptop to communicate with you is Zhu Di Xiong.  He just came back from his mission. He is super nice and a strong member. I know you guys want to send him something to say thanks and I tried to hit him up and see if there is anything he would want from the USA, but he caught on pretty quick to what I was doing and shied away…I'll think of something.

So you guys overheard me talking with Zhu and you were impressed with my language skills - that’s only because he speaks really slow so I can keep up : ) Yes the language is...still coming. But I think about where I was 6 months ago, and well its improving so that is the goal right?

This week was certainly interesting. Our English class is down to just a few people and our service projects have slowed way down too - so I guess we have lots of time trying to find people. Anyways we still are working very hard.  I seem to have a collection of badges now...changes in the format throughout the mission...I prefer the bi-lingual ones at the top and I think these are the ones we'll stick with.

"Multi-Pass"

The next time I email I will be in my 4th transfer on island. Time is really flying. It does go by faster the more you do the work though.

I hope the trip to the temple goes well! Thank you for selling my motorcycle and transferring me the money for all the rest of my unused dongxi (stuff) that you sold.

I hope you all have an absolutely amazing New Year and set good New Year’s goals!! Have an amazing week!

Week 25

Elder Dickson's Ward family back home sent him some Christmas wishes!

Week 24

Thanks for the picture of the snow you're having at home...snow...I miss snow...though it is still warm here so I can't really complain...still not sure how calling home at Christmas works. President Day is his weekly letter sent out a statement about all the rules, but not how it works. I'm sure he'll explain when we are at our Christmas party.

Yes "Lee Meow" is how Miaoli sounds - thanks for setting the bar higher! I haven't heard of the  flying cow ranch, but I'll ask around.

The Western Side Is Still Tropical

Really neat that NHK news reported on Taidong last week. Taidong does have a lot of yuan zhu min (native) people there. They are pretty cool, kind of strange clothes, amazing rituals, some of the folks there are really scary and carry pointy sticks and knives everywhere they go. Their food is a lot like Hawaiian food.

I'm glad the sister missionaries are really hitting you up. As a missionary let me warn you, if you give a missionary an inch they will include you in everything they do - well a lot of them will.

Early November was a rather rough time for me. Everything was going wrong and yeah one day I just had a total break-down. The letter I sent was from the beginning of that day, so yeah I am much better now, so have no worries. Yes the blessed wonderful miraculous ever spectacular talent show is pending for December I hope you could feel the sarcasm from that : ) Luckily you have to sign up and Sister Day is the one in charge so she'll make sure it is strict and to the rules, so there won't be any crazy surprises. As far as Sunday pasta day goes - I don't cook for everyone in my new area - yet.

This week was kind of the same as always. Like I hope you realize how much everyday feels the same. I think that is the most frustrating part in missionary work is the feeling that I am reliving a day over and over again. All that and it feels like nothing is even happening. This coming week should be busy though. Lots of meetings

Elder Dickson with President and Sister Day

and conferences and stuff - a little ironic cause all the meetings are about improving to be better missionaries!  I am using this time to learn what I can, see what works and what doesn't, so when I am running the show, it'll well run.

This past week, just lots and lots of finding. lots of talking to people, which I still am getting used to. I live with three other people, and having another person around me at all times...well lets just say I have been trying to create moments where I at least feel alone, but nothing works so far.

Here is a list of movies I wish I could watch but can't:
A Christmas story
Its a wonderful life
The Grinch
elf
The Santa Clause
Jingle all the way

I hope you all enjoy these and be sure to watch them for me. I miss you all and love you all lots. Hope you have a good week!

Week 23

Sorry I forgot to bring my camera to the internet café' this morning...haha long story of a sleepy companion, and me forgetting from being tired of waking up all night thinking I was going to vomit (no worries I didn't, just an over zealous Sister in the ward made us way too much food, and every time we would stop eating she would say (hai mei chi wan le!) meaning there was still food there to eat. oh man I felt so so sick...)


New Chapel

Miao li is as far west and south as you can get from Taipei, so once again I have to wait for someone to be going to the mission office so they can bring back our mail. Two people went the beginning of this week, so I guess your packages haven't come yet. I will get to go to the office on the 14th, so at the latest that is when I will get them. Thank you so much for sending whatever are in the boxes through! Chocolate here is really expensive, and after moving all my stuff and myself - I think I traveled as far possible in the mission - it cost a lot of money for trains and transfers, plus I like to save my money for like...food haha

Oh man I miss Christmas so much! Its actually pretty chilly here right now though - well like 50 degrees, but super wet and super windy - doesn't add up to happy missionaries or happy Taiwanese. I really wish I could watch Christmas movies though - no one here celebrates Christmas - even the members are like "eh" about it. I'll send pictures of everything soon, as far as pictures of the apartment I don't know if I can, just like I'm not allowed to tell you the address. I'll find out.

Glad to hear lots of people are over for Thanksgiving! My Thanksgiving was....well non-existent as most USA holidays are here. So I know how Jillian must feel as she celebrated while working in the hospital. I miss watching TV though, so just remember that I haven't done it in two years when I get back, so I have an excuse to watch a lot - and sleep. I don't feel like I have gotten a good nights rest in 5 months. Crazy I passed the 5 month mark on my mission, and have been in Taiwan for over 3 months - absolutely nuts how fast time goes - trying to make the Lord's time count so I'm still focused.
New ovens?! I just learned how to use the old ones! But if you are buying new appliances for the house I don't imagine you all are moving anytime soon, so it works for me. As far as the office, I can use it! in 1 year and 7 months haha

Interesting that you guys get NHK News there and as far as the Taiwan special reports that you mentioned, remember what they show you....and then remember I am also on a missionary budget. So when I get back home like everything is going to be super nice. USA has a waaaaay higher than average standard of living. Though like every single person here has iPhones - even if they don't have running water - so I guess that was their choice. I hope my family will all come back and visit after I return and I can show you all around, don't worry though, it isn't too gross as long as you BYO-TP.

Miao Li (Lee Meow)

Companionship is working great. My companions last companion and he didn't really get along - so right now we are weeding through lots of stuff that kinda slipped through the cracks because they were dealing with that. Elder Chen thinks he is going to leave after this transfer which would mean I'd have to know the place pretty well. But still working hard! so have no worries!

Miss you all and love you all much! Let me know if you have any questions!
 
Oh also thank you for the long underwear - that totally saved me this past week!

Week 22

I was shipped off elsewhere, I'll let you make your guesses! I'll give you a hint, I'm not on the east coast anymore, so that rules out Hualian and Yuli.  I'm as far west and south in the mission.

I am in.....

Miao Li! sat on a train for like 8-9 hours and am literally right on the border of the Taizhong mission. I joke that President Day doesn't want to see me, so he keeps sending me to the outskirts of the mission, that or I am secretly a Taizhong missionary.
 
I already love it here though! the members are super nice! One of them has the same last name (Chinese) as me! My mission given name is super rare so that is really cool to have another Ding in my home ward.

Our branch had a thanksgiving day party in Taidong right before transfers. I don't know why but we seem to celebrate holidays like 5 weeks early, so yeah I have been super confused, plus the weather doesn't change here, so it is really throwing me off.


Monkey See...

Had some turkey and they also had mashed potatoes. I am definitely missing the US every time we try to celebrate our holidays.


My new companion is Elder Weng! He is an ABC from wild and wonderful West Virginia! pretty cool! Morgantown to be specific! Make sure to tell Grammy.



There are a total of 4 Elders in our apartment. Its waaaaay nicer than the one we had in Taidong.  The area has more city stuff like one way streets and many more people to talk with.

Hope you guys are really giving thanks this week - I am!