Oi todo mundo!
It is crazy to think that I am now sitting in Nebraska, when roughly 48 hours ago I was in Utah. WOW! This is probably the coolest and craziest reassignment ever to happen to a missionary going to Brazil. Seriously, of all places in the United States that could possibly have been the place to go, Nebraska was where the Lord needed me. Aside from how bizarre that seems, this has already turned out to be a major blessing. One being that I just had P-Day on Friday and now I get another one out in the field on Monday. Chea.
So much has happened in the past 3 days I don't know where to begin. Well for starters I had a super cool experience in the airport when I was checking my bags to the airline. On the way to the airport I was kind of bummed because I was never going to be able to speak Portuguese again for who knows how long. I mean, yes in the field as a visa waiter I still get language study, but it is not the same as being fully immersed in the language. So as I'm standing in line, I don't know how but somehow I heard Portuguese behind me. It kind of took me back, and I said to myself, no way I just heard that. I turn around and there were probably 4 or 5 Brazilians. What. Are. The. Odds. I turn to the Sister I was flying with and then shout out, "They're speaking Portuguese!", and then we both turn and I started talking to this older man in the group. I think I kind of freaked him out too by how I just turn around and started speaking Portuguese to him. We had a decently long conversation and we even shared a short message about the gospel. This was so crazy for 2 reasons; I am not good at all with talking to people I don't know, and I thought it was so crazy how the first people I talk to, in the Salt Lake Airport, happened to be Brazilians. After pondering on that experience, I am thoroughly convinced that the Lord placed them in my path to help me realize that I will eventually get to Brazil and that he hasn't forgotten about me and the sacrifices I made to learn, or start to learn, Portuguese.
The mission here is so amazing. I am in Lincoln Nebraska, in an area just south of the University of Nebraska. College football is everything here. Just like soccer for Brazil, Nebraska football shuts down the city and you can hear the stadium for miles. They announced a primary activity, and people went and complained because it was scheduled at the same time as the football game. Super funny. My new companion and trainer is Elder Cortez, and he is the
bomb. He is from the bay area in northern California and he is a visa waiter too! What a blessing to be paired with someone who is also trying to keep up the language! The Lord truly looks out for his servants. He is a pretty chill missionary yet still is a super hard worker and has so much knowledge. The crazy part is he has only been out for 2 transfers and is already training. Right now we are in a trio with an Elder Bellows from Mesa Arizona. He has about 2 weeks left on his entire mission. He is so trunky, but when it's time to work and study you could never tell that he was about to go home. He is so hardworking and is not afraid to speak to people which I hope to learn from him. We also have a mini-missionary from Iowa right now (yea the mission covers Nebraska, and parts of Kansas, Iowa, and South Dakota) so our apartment is crowded. 4 people in a 1 room building. It's so crazy but way awesome at the same time.
The first night was no excuse to take it easy. We went out and had a lesson with an amazing man named Terry, my first Investigator. He moved to Nebraska from Kansas at the beginning of the summer and has had it pretty rough since then, more than happens to a lot of people. On Wednesday he just up and walked into the Church, and he said it was the hardest decision of his life because of how crazy his life has been. So, we started teaching him. He is the man. He has been studying the Book of Mormon for 6 years now, and he knows it is true based on the research he has done into Meso-Amarican history and Archaeology. He was investigating ancient civilizations in the Americas, and kept coming up with loose ends and didn't know how or why civilizations separated by thousands of miles and hundreds of years would have the same legends unless there was a base culture they came from, something he could find no records of. Then he found the Book of Mormon, and he said all his loose ends tied up and he knows it is true. We are working with him now to gain a spiritual testimony of its truth as well, and I know he will because he is already extremely religious, and believes that God is a real being. He has amazing faith in our Heavenly Father and Christ and I just love him so much. He even came to church and said he wanted to come on Sunday even before we extended the invitation to him. He is so eager to learn and find truth. The coolest part was it seemed like every single talk or lesson was somehow directed to his needs, and these people didn't even know him, his needs, or the things we had talked with him about. I know that the Spirit was there on Sunday and impressed upon their minds the things they needed to say to help Terry and answer his questions.
So much more has happened I can't even express it all. The next amazing thing happened when we went to try and see an inactive member of the Ward. We knocked on the door, and it turned out that the person we were looking for had moved and left no forward address. When at first it seemed like a bum deal and I thought we were going to leave, Elder Bellows the super experienced missionary asked this woman who answered the door if she had ever met with the missionaries before. She said no and he explained our purpose and message, and asked if she would be interested in listening to us. She said yes! Her name is Angelina and she is married and has several kids. Her and her husband invited us over for next Saturday since they are going out of town. What an amazing experience. I learned that when it comes to spreading the gospel, you really do just have to open your mouth and it will be filled. Because of that bold missionary we have a new potential Investigator and someone willing to hear the message of the Restoration and the truth of what we go around trying to share with everyone.
The ward her is super awesome and they work so well with the missionaries. We still have to work to get help finding people, but that should be expected. Why would they give us the names of their dear friends if they do not think we are diligent and effective missionaries? so at our dinner appointments today we are going to share a wonderful spiritual message and see if that will gain their trust. That is also what is crazy. They always want to help us with food. One member bought us groceries on Saturday. Every single night there is someone signed up to feed us, and some nights the members are double booked. I know the Lord blesses those who help his servants, and I am so grateful for their sacrifices. Keep feeding the missionaries! I know when you do you are blessed extremely and in ways you might not even recognize.
I am so grateful to be a missionary. This truly is an amazing time to serve the Lord.
Until next week! Tchau tchau!
Elder Dimmick
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