Christmas Card

Hi,

If there is any kind of Christmas card that will help you to remember the true meaning of Christmas it is the one I received a couple days ago. I got a card from Ed and Pat. This is when you realize you have been gone awhile. I taught Ed and Pat in Castle Dale about 15 months ago. Ed is older and called the bishop one day asking to be baptized. He is in his 70's. His wife was a less active member. We taught them and they were golden and such wonderful people. What Pat told me is that Her and her husband Ed had gone through the Manti Temple recently and been sealed together for time and all eternity... Insert a massive jump for joy and leaps of excitement and that was me. Wow that was a long time ago and so much has happened for them. That was one of the highlights of my mission. Saying goodbye to them was so hard but Ed was ready for baptism he was committed and Elder Doane and I had a great friendship with them. I really Love Ed and Pat.

Christmas season is in full swing and we have many Christmas parties and activities to attend. This is a great time of year. Mission Christmas is the best i love it!

The Church is True
143 Family can't wait to talk to all of you in 6 days
Elder Ian Dyer

Wave your in the parade

Hey,

This week marked the completion of a long unfulfilled dream. Elder Chadsey and I were able to be part of the annual Christmas Parade in Fredonia. Not a big deal but it was fun. We rode on a truck with lights and wore Santa hats as we waved to all the people. The Bunting family took us around. It was fun. We had to of the kids walk along side and pass out a ton of pass along cards the cool ones that promote Mormon.org. The mission has told us to flood the earth with Mormon.org cards so that is exactly what we did. As Elder Harlan says a very seasoned missionary parade veteran he says "parades bring baptisms." The phone hasn't exactly been ringing off the hook but hey who knows.

This week we had a neat experience with an investigator the other missionaries were teaching. Elder Ware was feeling pretty sick and had to stay in the apartment. We decided it might be nice to help Elder Harlen for a bit cause they had some appointments. We ended up seeing a man they had been teaching from Puerto Rico and about 50 years old. Don't ask me to spell his name Lets call him brother Pico for right now. Brother Pico had been taught everything and was awaiting his answer to joined the Church. We had no lesson plan going in but ended up having an amazing lesson. He felt the spirit so strong as all three of us bore our testimonies to him. We all left with a good feeling and new that Baptism was in his future. He was the funniest and nicest guy. He was Catholic and super spiritual. He knew his stuff. He explained to us he hadn't got the green light yet and was more on the Yellow/red area. He called the other missionaries the next day and said "Elders I've got the green light!" His baptism was the very next day. He was prepared and it was a blessing to be able to teach him. I wish he was ours! We went to the baptism and we were able to recount the last days experience with him and share again our testimonies and how grateful we were to be part of his conversion. His baptism was great. The water was cold but it didn't phase him Elder Ware a little but not Brother Pico. 

I'm a little sick with the cold right now cause after the lesson we didn't have a car. The other missionaries had to put ti in the shop. the only ride we could get was from someone on a Ryno. The Ryno is kind of like a cross between a jeep and a Quad. It has for seats and sound like a ferocious lawnmower. Anyways we didn't have jackets and as fun as it was we were cold. The Ryno was even decorated for a parade in Kanab they had earlier that week. It was a priest who drove us around on it. We must have looked ridiculous 4 guys in shirts and ties riding from appointment to appointment on a decorated Ryno. It was fun but know I have a cold ugh. 

Well that is about the week. Meta's funeral is today so that kind of puts a downer on preparation day. 

The Church is True 
143 Family
Elder Ian Dyer

Sister Meta Lindsley

Hi,

 

Interesting week to say the least. If there was ever a week you wanted to experience the ups and downs of missionary work this was it. It had everything some things better then others.

 

The first and most unfortunate event that occur ed was a friend Sister Meta Lindsley passed away. She was in her 60's and our neighbor. We spent quite a bit of time over at her house visiting with her. She herself was a saint there were always non members at her house and she was one of those do anything for anyone type people. Elder Chadsey and myself grew to Love her very much. It was a sad day we had seen her a few weeks ago and the very next day we stopped by again and learned she was in the hospital. She was in St George and we were not able to see her cause she was so far out of our area. Thankfully this last week the mission had a zone conference and after we were able to go see Sister Meta. We had been so worried these 3 weeks and we were finally able to see her. She was in unconscious when we were there but her daughter assured us she new we were there.. We came with her Daughter and son. She was in the ICU and not looking so good. We had the opportunity to give her a blessing and it was definitely from God. She is in a much better place and I know she is better. Never thought I would have to deal with a death of someone very close on my mission. She was a friend and was so nice. She lent me her guitar so I could learn to play and sing her a song. Hopefully guitars are in Heaven to and I can follow through on my promise one day. I know the Plan of Salvation is real and this was all part of God's plan for us. We loved Sister Meta a lot sad to see her go.

 

We had many Miracles this week as well. Last night our appointment canceled and we got back to Kanab out of things to do. We parked behind the pizza hut to figure out our next move. it was about 8. we were in the deepest thought possible when you are smelling those sweet smells pizza hut has to offer. The phone rang and it was the other missionaries. they were with someone who Elder Harlan and Elder Ware had taught before and told us she was finally ready to be baptized. We had time right then so we rushed over. Her name is Carrie and she is ready. she is in her 30's and after a year and a half is ready finally to be baptized. She only has to quit smoking and we gave her a blessing to help with that. It was a miracle.

 

Another miracle was amazing on happened on our way to zone conference. Elder Harlan had ripped his pants in the back super bad! He was in a desperate situation you might say. Luckily I remembered I had a thread and needle in my backpack. Elder Harlan was relieved and was able to fix his pants on the 1 hour drive down. I didn't know why I still had the needle and thread in my backpack but I kept it there just in case. I guess that is how Nephi felt when the Lord told him to make a separate set of plates because the Lord knew Martin Harris would thousands of years later lose the 116 pages of the Book of Mormon manuscript. Nephi didn't know why he needed to make another record but he obeyed so things later in history would work out. Because Nephi kept the other record we the Book of Mormon could be completed. Haha I hope that made sense cause thats how we all felt in the car. It was silly but a miracle none the less.

 

The Church is True

143 Family

Elder Ian Dyer

Ate like kings...

Hey,

I know you are all wondering and yes my belt loop survived! We ate 3 dinners. The next big challenge will be Christmas.

Transfer calls came and Elder Chadsey and me are going to go be the next AP'S! Just kidding we are staying here in the Cane Beds. Haha I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. It's hard enough getting enough sleep as a regular missionary and I know the AP'S get less. That is reason enough to not want to be one. Being just a regular missionary is nice cause you don't have to worry about other missionaries you get focus 100% on your investigators and area. It's nice to be able to put your head down and go to work.

I'm happy I get to stay here it helps with investigator trust when they are not constantly having to spill their soul and life story to a new stranger every 6 weeks. 

This week we found a new investigator named Phillip. He is a former member of the FLDS. He lives in Kanab and his girlfriend called us last week. This was a true blessing cause being the holidays lots of people cancelled on us. His girlfriend just called and said " Hey my Boyfriend wants to be Baptized. When can you come over?" we started teaching them and they are coming along well. When you have an FLDS back round one of the 12 Apostles has to interview you so it's kind of a big deal. He is doing great though.

Today we are going on a hike with our favorite non member Red Bear. He is our neighbor. He isn't one to hear about the Church but he loves to hang out with us on mondays. He is going to take us out hiking today. Red Bear is a funny guy one of a kind for sure. I'm excited for a hike and so is my waistline.

Well thats about all

The Church is true 

143 Family

Elder Ian Dyer

Staying

Hey,

Happy Days I'm staying in Cane Beds for the Holidays. This is the last Thanksgiving and Christmas that I will have as a missionary. These holidays scare me the most cause I only have one belt loop on my belt left... It's not that bad I only had three left to begin with. Hopefully some snow will show up soon. It's still short sleeve shirt weather.

Still not much to report other then the baptisms last week. Victor and Mekyle did great they had flawless baptisms. They are going to be awesome missionaries one day. They are already sharing it with their friends. Elder Chadsey and I are so Proud.

Still same old same old here. We have been tracking a lot and praying for miracles so I'm sure they are on the way.

The Church is True
143 Family
Elder Ian Dyer 

Kids These Days

Hi,

I'm late to emails so here is just a quick note. 

 Mekyle and Victor are getting baptized on Saturday. They are pretty awesome kids They make me laugh. The are super bright to and are helping their family more then they know.

Work here is slow but I still love it. Transfers are coming up and I'm worried about being sent away again.  

The Church is True
143 Family
Elder Ian Dyer

Burnt Pants Best Friends

Hi,

I burnt my pants! Always check the irons setting before you iron your pants. My Favorite pants are now in the trash sad day. The iron melted them but it is okay cause I found some replacements in the thrift store to day for 1 dollar that should hold me over quite nicely.

Today we decided to spend prep day in Kanab with the other Elders. One of them is Elder Ware who I came out of the mtc with. It nice to be able to hang around him cause we get along good. We all decided to go to the best friends pet sanctuary and go on a free tour. It was kind of cool but its odd to be in a place where most people there believe in putting the needs of animals above our human needs. It was still nice to go and play with some dogs. They brought out this one I can't remember what his name was but he was a cross between a Lab and a Baset Hound. He looked like a giant weiner dog. He was my favorite. It was cool they drove us around and showed us the place its the largest animal sanctuary in the country I think is what the tour guide said. They animals have a pretty nice place some cats have a room bigger then I ever had back home. I like Dogs and everything but some people just go way to far. They have a creepy pet cemetery to that they showed us. I definitely want a Dog one day but I'm not going to be strange about it.

This week was quiet we didn't do to much for halloween. We just hung out with the ward cause we were not allowed to go out and teach that night. Missionaries aren't allowed out on halloween here unless they ask permission for a ward activity. We probably could have just gone to Colorado City cause they don't celebrate it at all there.

The other day we ate at the local Colorado City hot spot the Mary Wives Cafe. Yep no Joke that is the name. The have a sweet menu. One of the sandwiches is named the Shadrack. It led me to wonder where the Meshack and Abendigo Sandwiches were. Its a Bible reference.

This week we have been working our butts of to find new people to teach and we haven't been to successful lately. The people we are teaching right now are pretty solid. One of my Favorites is Mekyle and Victor. They are brothers about 10 and 13 years old. They live with their Grandparents who are less active and they are great to teach. The Grandma doesn't like that the two brothers fight and wrestle alot. They say it's how they show their love. That sounds familiar cause that is the same cause in my family. I clearly remember Alison breaking Dad's rib once and a wrestling match after every family dinner. Anyways it was funny and they are a great family who are great people and progressing in the gospel so well. We are praying a lot to find more people and I know the Lord will provide.

Sounds like everything is going well at home. I can't believe Alison is moving! I'm gonna miss her a lot.

143 Family
The Church is True
Elder Ian Dyer