Week 9 - Last at the MTC!

Ready as I can be!  We are going to use the party stuff today so have no fear! I got all the packages that were sent! Thank you so much! I don’t know why deodorant is impossible to find in Taiwan it’s a first world country...

Hope all is well at the beach for you guys, think of me, a day of travel, and airports, and…we also said good bye to our tutor, so sad today. Tonight we will have our last class with Chen Laoshi, who is most awesome!  There most likely will be lots of crying and wailing and gnashing of teeth : (

I should be able to call tomorrow, but not for too long, so remember don’t ask for life stories.

Our plane leaves at 11:20 Utah time so it will be before then, so just be ready.

Other than that nothing new other than packing.  It doesn’t really feel real that I am leaving, but I think that will change tomorrow. Hope you have a good time at the beach!

Pray for the Taiwanese people - if I’m going there and trying to speak to them, they'll need all the prayers they can get!

 

 

 
 

Just some miscellaneous pictures of the last week of district, branch president, friends etc.

Week 8

We are all really excited as we leave on the 27^th that’s next Tuesday.  Still haven’t gotten the physical visa or passport in my hands, because us 18 year olds would lose them so fast it wouldn’t be funny. The travel office issues them the day of travel - however I know I did get a visa because they only give you travel plans if you did.

Our flights are from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles then direct to Taiwan with only a 5 hour layover in Los Angeles so it’s not too bad of a trip just a mere 22 hours.

We did get new badges - all Chinese, but we aren’t allowed to wear them yet.  I didn’t have time to take a picture of it, because it’s been really hectic, but you'll see it eventually!

We will have a devotional tomorrow (rumors of General Authority speaking), and I will be hosting new in coming missionaries on Wednesday, and we have an infield orientation all day Thursday so It'll be the weekend before I know it.

I feel ready as I can be, but it will still be challenging when I get there.  One of our teachers said her Mandarin was still not that great by her third transfer. They have a cool system of "phases".  By phase three I learn characters, so I should be able to read and write in Chinese when I get back, as well as speaking near native.

Last Tuesday we had Elder Scott talk to us. Very awesome! It was really similar to one of his talks from April 2007 on prayer if you’re curious here is the link:  http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/using-the-supernal-gift-of-prayer?lang=eng

Thanks for sending my District the cinnamon rolls which were great, but I gave myself a gnarly cut opening the box - apparently dear elder uses staples and they hide them under the lid opening!!!

We went to the Temple twice this past week and it was awesome both times.  Some new changes have been made and if you haven’t been for a while you should definitely go.

I got to see Elder Blaylock and Elder Larson before they left for their missions, and I've been seeing Sister Francis a lot in the hall ways as well.

As far as things I may need before I go - only 2 items come to mind.   Apparently I was wrong, and it does get cold in Taiwan, so a coat of some kind would be nice and of course it needs to be missionary attire appropriate.  The next thing is that apparently back packs are no longer allowed and they are changing to the shoulder messenger bags because those look more professional.   Although I grew up around D.C. and everyone uses a back pack (including you Dad) but still that’s what they want us to have. Guidelines for those are also on the website for missionaries.

Love you all!

Ding Zhang Lao

Week 7

It’s all good here at the MTC, nothing really new to report, our training schedules keep us all very busy, I don’t think we have more than 15 minutes to email even on our P-day and it has been that way for the past 7 weeks.

Thanks for asking if I want anything before we leave for Taiwan but there isn’t anything that I can think of before I leave, I’m sure as soon as I get there I’ll remember something I really want or need.

I’m glad all is well at home, Church, and work.  On a sad note one of our teachers left cause she got an actual job as teacher. I’ve attached pictures of my two teachers (Sister Chen and Sister Weinheimer) and our entire district.

 

I sent real letters in response to the Blaylock’s and Grammy and Poppy’s letters because I heard Mom’s voice in my head nagging me to do so and I wanted to sleep - so yeah.

So the Mission President asked for a letter about me? - Well just tell him how awesome I am, and don’t send him any home videos, still shudder to think what was on the one the Johnson’s looked at.

BTW, we are not using Skype for our lessons any more, don’t know why.

We got to go to the temple and do a session it was great.

The folks in the picture that always make a peace sign with their fingers do so because Peace is a nice gesture and they all think it’s 1970 in the USA.

Miss you and love you lots!

And thus I close mine epistle. I am Elder Dickson.  (Sorry I’m studying Alma at the moment)

Week 6

Hi all,

 I found the bike order form in the mission call packet - Thanks for reminding me I had a copy.

Apparently I was the only who got the form in Mandarin.

Everyone is now requesting to have me send a picture of me on my ordered bike as it is likely to not be the right size and I’ll have my knees by my ears!

About my visa I think all is OK but they had us sign something for it.... but the person who helped process it pointed to a line a said sign here, so striving to be the obedient Elder I desire to be, I began to sign at that line, when he then said, no not that line!!! So who knows what will happen now!

We get to be escorts next Wednesday, and the Wednesday after that - so that will be fun remembering how I felt being dropped off and hopefully re-assuring all the greenies.

Today we get to clean the Temple which is why I’m emailing in the morning, and after this week it will be open, so I’ll get to go at least twice more before I will do a session in Mandarin.

You can send pictures in email, as others do it all the time, so I know it works.

It feels weird for sure being the oldest Mandarin speakers here, although we are excited because this Wednesday we get new Taiwan Taibei missionaries in our zone so were pretty excited!

Haven’t seen any General Authorities yet, when they were here for the new mission president conference, they kept that whole building on lockdown.

Thanks for asking (worrying) about my dry cleaning needs.  They have a service here for dry cleaning; I’m trying to stall out until like the week before I leave to get that done so I show-up in Taiwan with all clean suits.

Lessons are a 3 hour series two times a day with two different teachers.  Both our teachers are awesome! First is sister Weinheimer who is incredible! She is from St. George, Utah but we talked to other teachers and missionaries, and apparently she is like a legend in the Taiwan Taichung mission. The other teacher is Sister Chen, from Provo Utah, but her parents are from Taiwan and she just got back less than six months ago from the Taiwan Taibei mission! Most of our lessons end up having her talk about Taiwan, which just makes us all want to go right now! Usually we'll do about an hour of language study, and hour of teaching our investigator (so if three companionships teach, 20 min each) then some gospel oriented lesson, or coaching when the teacher picks a companionship to work with.

Cool thing that happened yesterday. We get a long walk to the Temple every Sunday, and on this one we saw our teacher sister Chen, so we went up to talk to her, and turns out she was showing around some people from China! So we extended our temple walk time by about an hour, and just talked with them - so much fun!  We even got to teach some as well!! We also began Skype-teaching during some of our lesson time. Of course when Elder Sullivan and I tried to do it, the computers were broken - figures - but in the end we were able to Skype Sister Weinhiemer’s past ward mission leader back in Taiwan. Super fun!

Good to know that the MTC will hire me when I get back - I would absolutely love to teach when I’m a RM - It would really be lots of fun. You get to be investigators for one, and I don’t know for sure but it seems like it would be very cool to help others!  I know Mandarin teachers are in demand as both our teachers are leaving because they are graduating.

A lot of routine here, nothing ever really changes except my Spirit - which is the point.  Crazy I’ll be starting week 7 soon, and in about 22 days I leave for Taiwan! Having fun, absolutely exhausted, but I love it! Miss you and love you all lots!

Ding Zhang Lao

All Chinese all the time (Week 5)

Yes! got the beef jerky - Thanks!!!

 

Kind of a crazy and rougher week, but definitely learned lots. Our District is now the 'oldest' group of Mandarin speakers.

Some kind of a stomach virus is now spreading  - so yay pretty fun just waiting for the vomiting to start.

 

About a call to home letting everyone know I got to Taipei safe - I don't know if I can call, they have changed almost every single rule for electronics and communication now, so I won't know until it happens but if I'm allowed I'll be sure to call Dad's phone cause I know he always has it.

 

We now are starting to teach people in Taiwan by using Skype, which is interesting but I have a few questions:

 

Do you pray with the people you are teaching via Skype?

How does the Spirit work that way?

Can you really commit someone unto Christ by using the internet?

- Guess we'll find out.

 

So I'm trying to send pictures but only 3 computers at the MTC actually allow you to do that, so it's a little frustrating.

 

We've been focused a lot of the time this week discussing the Iron rod and righteousness vs. obedience. I didn't realize that the Iron Rod was right next to the dirty unclean river. So the choice is, you can walk on the side with the river holding the rod, but still be close to the river (obedience), or on the other side as far away as you can (righteousness). good example are Lehi's children. Think about it, Weren't Laman and Lemuel obedient? but still looked what happened. It was Nephi who was righteous that ultimately prevailed.

 

By the way my knees have bruises, and my pants have fade marks on the knee areas from praying so much - like all the time! - good problem I guess : )

 

Here's a quote cause Mom keeps sending me some of her favorites:
"Life is full of difficulties, some minor and others of a more serious nature. There seems to be an unending supply of challenges for one and all. our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions to such challenges, forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required" President Thomas S. Monson.

Love,  Ding Zhang Lao

PS do you remember what bike I ordered?

Best Kind Of Studying (Week 4)

What kind of companion study? It was the best kind of companion study! the chocolate milk in the photo is from the BYU creamery, and it is like liquid crack.

Oh I’m no longer the district leader as DL’s only serve for 3 weeks now its elder Gonzalez and he is the man! We call him ni fei (Nephi).

Scary thoughts, this Wednesday marks the beginning of week 5 and next Sunday means I’m halfway done at the MTC this scared me into intense language study. My goal is over 40 new words a day.

I get to be an investigator for another companionship which will be fun, but it means that my companionship is now teaching four investigators. Also when we go to the TRC (teaching resource center) all these volunteers come in, and it’s like Monsters Inc. when they’re are on the scare floor and they just go in all these doors.  Some of the investigators are members and some are not, but it’s really fun.

From my last email an English fast, to help clarify, is just a thing that was invented at the MTC and our district likes it - No English all day.

When I'm the companion doing the teaching I probably understand 90% of what the investigators say, and throughout the day about 65% of what I say is Mandarin.

Chinese is STPVO (subject, time, place, verb, object) so it’s "I today at grocery store bought food", not "I bought food at the grocery store". The worst part is my mandarin grammar still isn’t too hot, but now my English grammar is suffering!!! Tried to teach a new concept to the District in English this past week and it was near impossible.

In about a week and a half, my “generation” will be the oldest Mandarin speakers here, so that’s super crazy! It’s also weird to think about the outside world or "the mission field" as the folks from Utah refer to it, as time here doesn’t feel like it is passing. Also as more groups leave, the more I want to go as well.  I’m not completely conversational in the language yet, but if they gave me the choice to leave tomorrow for Taiwan, I wouldn’t even hesitate.

I met a returned Missionary that just came back from my mission less than a month ago, and he actually recognized me! Apparently the mission office has a wall in the mission home with all the incoming missionaries pictures posted - no pressure.

Small request, apparently there is no beef jerky in Taiwan, so if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, maybe you could send me some to get it out of my system now?

We’re all on a very rigid schedule so not a whole lot new happens here but life is still good!

Wo Ai Ni Men!!
Ding Zhang Lao

Oh also my district says thank you for the cookies you sent!

evan.dickson@myldsmail.net

My mail address until August 28th is:

Elder Evan Dickson

AUG28 TAIW-TAI

2007 N 900 E Unit 84

Provo UT 84602

You can always use http://www.dearelder.com/  select Provo MTC --Free

You send them an email and they print it out and I get it the same day instead of waiting for me to get email time which is only on Mondays.

Called to Serve - Taiwan Taipei

 

 

                  My Mission Call letter came when I was attending BYU Hawai'i

Hey everyone! This is my blog for you all to keep up with my adventures while I serve a Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Taiwan! Looking forward to hearing from you guys when I'm gone, and I'll miss you all!

 

My BYU Hawai'i "Family"

 

 

So we decided to come to Utah a couple days early, because we have never been here before. It certainly is very different, and very dry. First day we went to the Tabernacle and the took a tour of the conference center, which was really cool!

 

The next day we went to the Salt Lake City Temple in the morning and then did some shopping for some last minute stuff for my mission. I ended up getting the world's comfiest shoes. Literally the best. We got back and then got a visit from these crazy kids.

 

 

 

 

 

(Week 1 and 2) Everything has been great so far!

First day was intense (LiHai), but I'm learning lots. First companion is Elder Sullivan, from Provo. We get along super well, so it has been really fun so far.

On Thursday night I was made district leader. The district itself is outstanding. The people are Elder Gonzalez, Elder Leo, Elder Nelson, Elder Carbine (Who was Elder Blaylock’s roommate at byu), Sister Tracy, Sister Beazer, Sister Nicholas, Sister Thornley, and My companion (TongBan), and I. I normally would hate the job, but they are so great, they make it really easy.

One little request, maybe please less care packages, some of the members in the district do not get as much from home, and its not good for their morale, so if we could just keep it lighter that would help me a lot. Still thank you for the ones you did send!

The teacher gave me a mandarin name. Ding. Like the doorbell sound Ding Dong. Its pretty legit to say. On Friday we started teaching lessons - completely in mandarin, I was surprised how well we could do just after two days of being here. There's usually about 6 hours of language study a day, plus we have to use it as much as possible, so by the time I leave here I'll know so much. already had some language slip ups, when the "investigator" asked when we should pray I said "good morning, good afternoon, and good night" instead of just morning afternoon and night. another one is that when I meant to ask the branch president how he was Sunday morning, instead of saying Jintian (today), I said Mingtian (tomorrow), so I asked how he was tomorrow ha-ha.

I can only use the email on my pdays which are Monday, so sorry if that's not enough, but obedience brings blessings, exact obedience brings miracles.

Miss you guys lots. Love you all!

evan.dickson@myldsmail.net

 

  

(Week 3) Hey!

Sorry for the email issues! it was extra crazy last week.

We began working in the Teaching Resource Center (TRC) where we get to talk to members who speak the language, and its kinda like when the elders would visit our house - except in Mandarin. Elder Sullivan and I walked in, and turns out the volunteer was from China! Zhong Guo Ren Shuo Zhong Wen Hen Kuai!! (Chinese people speak Chinese very fast!) it was really fun though!

We also had about 20 missionaries leave from our zone/branch which was a little sad, because they were our mentors, but as most of them are going to Taipei, I'll see a lot of them not too long from now. The district is still going great, and I'm still the district leader - it’s not too bad, and the branch president seems to like me.

Most recent language slip up: so in Mandarin, it’s basically all statements - to make something a question you add a "ma" at the end of it, however, I often forget the ma, as my sentences are getting longer, so during TRC I may have told her that "she needs to repent!" instead of asking about repentance.

Other news, this Wednesday marks the beginning of my fourth week here, which is crazy! once that week is over it means two things: 1. I'll only have 23 months left on my mission. but even scarier 2. Only a month until I’m in Taiwan! I definitely do not feel like I know the language well enough - oh and fun fact, I keep studying the language when I’m in Taiwan so not only will I be able to speak Mandarin, but I’ll be able to read and write it as well.

We have this super super super nice, BOM, PoGP, and DC triple combo that’s all in Chinese characters, that I still haven't opened, but one day I'll just pick it up and read it like it’s all no big deal - I just know I will be blessed to make that happen.

In what little spare time I’ve had, I've been thinking more and more about school after my mission - nothing crazy serious, but I still really want to return to BYU Hawaii as of right now, but if its too tricky with my classes that I need, BYU Provo itself wouldn’t kill me for a semester. Provo itself still sucks though - it’s so dry here it’s killing me - I feel like a raisin and I also miss trees, and thunderstorms.

My companion Elder Sullivan is still the man, no other companionships get along in our district like us although the whole district gets along super well.

We tried an English fast as a district - which as it sounds, means no English all day long, only Mandarin - it was super fun. We all loved it so much were doing it at least once a week now but its intense. I love love love the language so much, and the people are the coolest. I wish I could be there now. I love the new friends I have in Asia already and so does God - that’s why he made so many! There is a distinct possibility that when I come back you will all have to de-Asian me, who knows.

It’s just really fun that i understand most of what people say now - like a good 70%. All my prayers are in Mandarin, missionary purpose, and Joseph Smith first vision from memory are all in Mandarin. It’s weird praying in English now like I instinctively start my prayers with "Qin Ai de Tian Fu" (dear heavenly father) and then have to correct myself. That’s happening a lot with just everyday phrases as well. I no longer say thank you, sorry, hello, goodbye, we, us, you, meet, prayer, Holy Ghost, Jesus, Joseph Smith, God, heavenly father, etc. in English. it just comes out in Mandarin out of some kind of instinct - I don’t even think about it!

Must be Yu Yuan de En Ci!!! (gift of tongues). Miss you all lots! Love ya!

Ding Zhang Lao