February 13, 2013 - Sister Bollinger

Hello,

Wonderful day yesterday at the Louisville Kentucky Temple.
Here’s a photo as we were preparing for the group shot afterwards.
Thank you for your sacrifices and service for the Lord in the GKLM!

Going Forward with Faith!

Sister Bolliger

Here’s a few photos of yesterday’s temple trip with Elder Dimter.

Sweet time!

Going Forward with Faith!

Sister Bolliger

February 11, 2013

Tomorrow I go to Louisville and say goodbye to the mission.  I've got my words of wisdom to say to the mission.  Which will go something like "Christ fulfilled his purpose. Are you fulfilling yours? GKLM get to work and remember if you don't have charity you have nothing."

Anyways Wednesday I'll be on the plane to California...as a Returned Missionary!  I'll be in my grey suit and possibly with my UK hat :D.

Apparently I'll be giving a homecoming talk at church when I return. Idk on what but I can certainly don't have a problem speaking.

Thanks for your letter Becca. :D Love hearing about lil Wellington.

Got to go.

Love,
Elder Dimter

February 4, 2013

:) Today I went about packing up and sending out packages. Certainly needed to take care of that.
While I was mailing out a package I found out a package I tried sending last week didn't work. They said the address was incomplete or something. I decided I'd just just mail the package I was sending out to Jen.
Well this transfer is unlike any other. Dreams of home every night ;) and of course the questions are asked what are you going to do for a career. Recently I've researched some ideas. I've got a few careers in my mind.  I'll create a list when I return and may ask some family/mission buddies if that seems a good fit for me.
While putting things away in my luggage I laughed. My companion is all you don't need to send everything of yours home. So I went about giving him things I inherited on the mission 20 ties, 5 white shirts that were too big anyways, socks, office supplies, haha my statue of a unicorn...long story about unicorns but pretty much missionaries a part of the group are those that work to improve/become the best they can be.
This week I fixed the water heater in the apartment. While it was out I decided for kicks I would boil water to take a bath.
My companion "tried" fixing the vacuum (failed) issue hardly any suction. I used the vacuum to get the space bags to condense my clothes for my luggage. Also the Mission Mom is having us work on keeping the apartment clean. The 5 things to make your apartment look nice/avoid clutter are visible with your BED, TOWELS, CLOTHES, FOOD, DISHES.
Oh did I mention how my companion and I got pictures of us in the freezer. Random fun.
Today we've gone about sliding on ice =D since its snowing quite a lot recently.
This transfer I've learned how to drive in the snow!!! Although I intend on staying around California I enjoy developing skills.
My next goal is to learn to drive the stick shift truck when I return.

Love you,

Thank your love and support. Through letters or package/$ every bit has helped my mission in ways I can't say thank you enough for. These two years my dad said would teach me about 10 years of life lessons. I'm impressed because I'd say he certainly was right.

Feel free to contact me when I return.  Have questions ready or even just let me know any stories you enjoyed most from my letters. I may have lots more stories to tell. Course I maybe more interested to hear about what ya'll have done the past 2 years.

To those out on the mission I've met. I'll miss you and be praying for you even after I'll be home. Till then I've got a few precious days left.

January 28, 2013

Dear Family,

Today my companion and I went mountain biking!  We got incredibly muddy and wet. It was raining while we were riding. We had such a blast! We went downhill at 45 mph! Then had an excruciating time as we biked back up.  :) With my companion formerly being a National Wrestler and me a former alright Cross Country runner lol we had to get out the energy and exercise. Certainly was a blast.

Last weeks adventure we ended up running in the snow. We haven't got an idea of what the next one will be yet but we may ride bikes again. Might as well use my bike before I leave.

Anyways while coming to e-mail at the Library I was stoked to see a couple guys I've talked with about the church. Hadn't seen them in a while too. Right now sitting next to one. He has a couple buddies from the Ward I'm serving in that are on missions.  He asked how I was able to manage being out for two years. Be away from the family and girlfriend. At times I am taken back realizing what I left behind. I'm grateful though for my decision to come out on a mission. I've seen the lives of others improve through them getting to hear of the teachings of the Gospel including myself.  Certainly my personality is upgraded or so I'd like to think. My love for others around me is much stronger and my desire of course to help them any way possible.

The studying of the scriptures has left me an indelible impression on my spirit.  They are true.  They are not just books.  They are words that Christ wants us to search and seek to understand (currently reading Issiah :D).  Recently I've asked around which books should I read when I return. I have in mind of reading the Doctrine of Salvation and finishing reading Jesus the Christ.

Love you all,
Elder Dimter

p.s. Look forward to seeing ya'll :). I have stopped using ya'll when I speak. Don't worry. I should be normal when I talk for any of those curious if I got an accent...nope. :) Still same Californian accent or Western accent.

January 22, 2013

Yesterday was Martin Luther King Day so we didn't e-mail.

My sinus infection lasted the longer than any previous one. A week of swollen lymph nodes, sweating at night, dehydrated, pain swallowing especially eating  bloody mucus. Anyways. None of that now! Totally appreciative. I took azithromycin I was prescribed and it helped a bunch.

Got back to cleaning up the apartment and washed/waxed the wonderful car. Just showing some appreciation for what Elder Despain and I have.

Yesterday we went running while snowing around 8 am. It felt great to be out running again. Fortunately we didn't freeze lol. Though I nearly had icicles hanging from my nose.

This week I had dreams of being back home or on the airplane. I was in astonishment when I awoke. All in due time. I won't forget this wonderful mission. Those missionaries coming in have so much to look forward to. There seems to always be miracles that come in little ways each week. All that you need to do is consider the blessings.

There are some good things happening in the mission field. This week we were asked to work on improving as missionaries. We all could use a healthy dose of a call to repentance. Though we are missionaries we work to being better in every way.

I pray for you all. Individually.

Love you
Elder Dimter

January 14th, 2013

Wow. I got sick with a Sinus infection. Just called the mission doctor. Didn't help my immune system got messed up not long ago with the stomach virus. Certainly as I've had time being sick I've counted my many blessings. Had some dreams one of which I saw dad just like how he used to look then saw briefly an angelic figure in the dream and awoke. Of course.

I had a priesthood blessing by a dear Brother in the Ward I regard as a wealth of knowledge and joy. He is a happy Hispanic man who says I feel like a son as does his wife. They enjoy feeding us and they have 4 boys and a girl. Their baby boy is so precious and makes me think consider how not long ago he was in heaven.

My companion turned 21 as of yesterday so I enjoyed seeing the Bishop call him up to bare his testimony during sacrament.  He bore his testimony on the 1st Article of Faith.
Later on at church as the Bishop asked what the Ward could do to help us missionaries I pointed to my companion and we sang him Happy Birthday. :D!!! His smile got so big. Though he says he is shy he soaks up attention like a sponge.

:) I am blessed. I can feel a gratitude already of these two years. A couple dozen people have gotten blessed to come into this fold I've taught. Surely the Lord blessed my companions and I. Along with those that followed me.  I have much to write down...when I return of these precious 2 years. I pray the many new missionaries that will come into the mission of the GKLM will find the joy in the service I've found. Amongst all opposition that comes. I tell these new missionaries consider singing the song "If your happy and you know it...clap your hands" or whatever favorite Primary hymn. That along with many others cheered my soul.

With Love,
Elder Dimter

p.s. I return Feb 13, 2013 during the night if you didn't know or remember. This week a member here informed me his family forgot he was returning along with the Stake Presidency. :)

Look forward to hearing from and seeing those who plan to attend my homecoming. Big hug to Grandma and Mom! Thanks for teaching me so many lessons in my life. From your examples I grown in understanding of how to teach others.

January 8, 2013

Dear Family!

The reality that I'll be going home is sinking in more as each week passes by.  Especially in this last coming month.  As I'm sure your feeling the same.
Well I have quite a bit to pack.  My companion tells me I should start sending stuff home...which isn't a bad idea.
I've got a bike that I may try to sell but I've considered possibly shipping it home (its a Specialized Hardrock bike that has road tires and nice upgraded pedals.)  I bought the bike from my trainer.
Anyways this week I got really sick with the stomach virus. Thankfully I'm feeling better.  I got the virus on New Years.
Oh on Christmas Eve my companion and I got locked out of our apartment. That was sort of funny. We had to drive a while away to get the keys back.
Had a great time giving service to a family this week that moved in not to far away. The family came to church and all. Even went up to speak at church for Fast and Testimony.

Thank you for all your families support and love. I hope to have a good homecoming.
I only had one phone call for Christmas or else I would have called you all.

I must hear about Sarah's baby as soon as someone finds out the news.

Love,
Elder Dimter

P.S. I miss you Jen (the woman that sort of waited two years for me...my girlfriend =)

December 17, 2012

On 12/17/12, Brian Dimter wrote:

So, the good luck continues! Last night Kristine and I went over to Sheri and Ken's place for dinner. On our way home there was a SUV which ended up changing lanes and hit the drivers side doors of Kristine's white Honda Accord as I was driving. We were going like 70-75 on I-5 heading back home and nobody was hurt and there was no damage done, except to our car.. Yeah, accidents suck, but I feel lucky we weren't hurt and their car wasn't even damaged..we just have tire marks from their car and our doors are indented.

Brian Dimter
_______________________________________________________________

Snap!  That is intense to hear you got into an accident like that.
Thankfully not hurt.
Boy I can tell you I am lucky.  A couple weeks ago I hydroplaned
while going to church on a SUPER curvy road. Thankfully my driving
skills/tires/car got back in control before hitting the metal what
you call ems that prevent cars from going off the road.

I've got my 3rd "special project" missionary in a row.  Lol just being
honest (I've always avoided writing negativity in my e-mails for the
most part but I figure why not just tell it how it is at this point).
This kids got tons of stories from back home.  Unfortunately though he
barely speaks to people out and about.  He can barely give a card to
someone.  I'm notorious for giving anybody a card and sharing a lesson
with. Anyways so my wonderful MTC companion who is now the Assistant
to the President got a chance to come down to do a Blitz. He asked me
how many baptisms I'm estimating for my last 2 transfers.  This week
we've got two baptisms this weekend if the interview goes well with a
crazy 11 year old named DJ.  The 9 year old is legit smart named Zach.

Dang the library is closed.  Got to go.


Love,
Elder Dimter

p.s. I'm praying for you.  Love ya!

Flight Plans (Shortened Version)

MISSIONARY TRAVEL

KENTUCKY LOUISVILLE MISSION

DELTA AIR LINES      

DATE  FROM           TO             DEPART  ARRIVE
_____ ______________ ______________ _______ ______

 13FEB LOUISVILLE KY  ATLANTA GA     1015A   1139A

 13FEB ATLANTA GA     LOS ANGELES CA 150P    352P
 13FEB LOS ANGELES CA OAKLAND CA     430P    554P

December 10, 2012

Christmas is in 2 weeks!  I can hardly believe it.
Well time to eat all that Christmas candy mom and Sarah sent me and see how much weight I can gain. ;). Just kidding.  I bought a body fat percentage scale at Goodwill recently.  My companion is a Wrestler and well I ran Cross Country. We are both eating less and ahah we went running and froze from humidity chilling our bones.
Today just so happened to be the first day of snow...=)

STORY...While driving back from an investigator near the Ohio River we decided to take a rarely driven road.  This road is a dirt road that is 15 feet from the Ohio that has a 85 degree decent into the Ohio that goes for 25 feet.  After driving 5 miles on this skinny dirt road we ran into a waterfall that had water flooding the dirt road and falling into the Ohio River.  It was a beautiful sight but certainly not worth having any problems.  I turned the car around and...guess what!!!  I turned around safely.  Now consider your life.  How can you can relate that to life?  Consider what the missionary sitting next to me could represent.  Also consider what the waterfall can represent.  Oh and of course...what about this straight and narrow road.  =)

My heart goes out to all those in which I've taught and am currently teaching on my mission.  Whether they are investigators, recent converts, missionaries I served with, the members or simply the people I give a mormon.org card out to. I know that we each are searching for happiness. Happiness I know can be found through being on this narrow path.  That narrow path Christ talked about is with the Church that truly has the Priesthood, which gives us that chance to truly make a covenant with God.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints does have that. I am a witness this day of the fact the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored. As we learn more about the Gospel I know we can find greater faith and happiness. A mission has changed my outlook on life as well as my understanding of the Gospel and my ability to recognize the spirit.

Love you each,
Elder James Lee Dimter

p.s. Have a great week