You don't have to be perfect to get baptized! And you can still have fun!

October 13, 2009 1:03:37 PM MDT

So we are preparing Ana for her baptism right now but she didn´t come to church on Sunday- she unfortunately slept through our knocking on the door. But she will get baptized the 24th, its exciting. I hope this will help her overcome all the hard times in her life right now.
we were able to bring Ladis to church though, and the people in the branch were so sweet to her, unfortunately Omar didnt come because he said he was too embarrassed to come because of his wheelchair. But I think Ladis had a really good experience.
We are practicing a hymn for District conference next month, Redeemer of Israel. There are only 6 people singing, but I guess thats pretty rockin for a Branch choir! and I play the keyboard for it so thats fun.
A really cool experience this week was when we finally committed the daughter of Juan and Mari Diaz to get baptized! Cintia agreed to get baptized on the 14th of November. Her dad will have the Melchezidek priesthood by then so he can baptize and confirm her too! That will be really good.
But we´ve been trying to commit Cintia to get baptized for a long time, so it was so good to finally figure out by the Spirit what she needed to hear. The family Diaz invited some friends, Marcos and Marcelo to Noche de Hogar, and they listened to a lesson about baptism. Anwyay they agreed to get baptized after we testified about baptism being a promise to obey God and take the name of Christ on ourselves, not to be perfect. And you dont have to leave behind your friends or stop having fun- haha you just have to have righteous fun! Anyway, I think Cintia was scared that she couldn´t have fun anymore or whatever. But we explained that we had normal fun lives before the mission, but we had joy and hope because we have the Gift of the Holy Ghost and we can be with our families forever. Anyway Cintia accpeted a date for baptism! yay!

I have been having a hard time, but my companion and I had a lot of good plans and she helped me realize that it will all be good. And then this morning my worst (literally) nightmare came true. I am staying here and Im getting a native companion and my trainer is leaving. It is seriously the SCARIEST thing ever. I dont know anything. The people of the rama and area all love Hermana Burns, none of them know me. Im just like the silent one that follows her around.

I love you all. The gospel is true.

General conference and cute babies

Wed Oct 7, 2009

Hello.
Conference was fabulous wasn´t it? I especially liked the Saturday conference (that was when I got to listen in English:) I am sad because I missed Elder Holland´s talk (my favorite Apostle) because we left to buscar Ana to attend the session and arrived late. Oh well, the blessing of receiving the talks in the Ensign! I loved how much they seemed to focus on love and service. I hope we can really all live in a way that Love is our number one characeristic and what we are known for as disciples of Christ.
The families that I talked about last week, both decided to not listen to us anymore. I am sad for that. But at least they came out and told us. We have an investigator who will probably get baptized next weeked though! Her name is Ana and she has a cute little kid named Agustin. She is super nice, but sad and looking for a change! She said she feels better when she reads and prays. It´s so good.
We are also teaching Omar and Ladis. They are old and have been together like 60 years or something and are just the sweetest people ever. It will take a little longer, but I believe they will be baptized.
Also Daniela, a sister of a member in a ward nearby, told us that she knows the church is true but is scared about what her husband thinks. She is going to ask him if they can do a Family Night on Friday with us though. I hope it works out. She just had a baby about two months ago and he is the cutest little thing, his name is Joaquin. She has four boys that are just super cute. The people here are great. My guess though is that the people everywhere in the world are great, sometimes they just don´t know it, or show it.
Also Malvinas just had her baby a week ago and her name is Azul- what a gorgeous little baby! It makes me wish I could see Titus. Haha just a note on that, Titus is a book in the New Testament and I was wondering what the name in Spanish is for that, so I looked in my Spanish Bible and it´s Tito. haha it made me laugh, sorry Lauren :)
The names here are interesting- often they are the same but they change the end letter depending on whether its a girl or boy. Facunda or Facundo, Emanuel or Emanula, Ricardo or Ricarda, Agustin or Agustina, Fernanda or Fernando, Alejandro or Alejandra etc.
Anyway. The gospel is true, it is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the way we can be happy in this life. The Book of Mormon is true, and it is SO good. I love you all.
Love Hermana Dunford

A few Questions and Answers

Sept 30, 2009

• Did you get the package from lauren and mary yet?

NO, since everything is sent to the mission home I have to wait til the zone leaders bring it out. SO Either I wont get it til the next transfer or maybe next week when they come. Sorry, it totally probably already arrived! the same is for letters they all go to the mission home since I cant get mail at the apartment. So yeah I get everything in a bunch. But its good.

Some ideas for my christmas package: If you could send knee highs that would be great. It is going to get REALLY hot here and to wear knee highs would be the best by far. Also peanut butter- haha they dont have it here. maybe just like a small jar. Also some perfume. Degree sells some body sprays that are like 3 bucks. And my companion said that when it gets cold i will die without long johns. so if you could send some. I dont think my leggings will be sufficient.

• Do you shop for groceries on your pday?

Yes we do.

• Do you and your companion buy food, cook and eat together, or do you each do your own thing?

Yes my comp and i shop cook and eat together. I really like the system, but not all companions do it that way so we´ll see.

• How often do you get fed by members?

WE eat with the members about twice a week. Always with the Branch president on Tuesdays and Elsa an investigator on thursdays.

• Have you worn your jumper yet? = )

yes i have! once. But i am waiting til it gets really hot to wear it more, so i can just wear a t shirt underneath. There are extra rules here about clothes than there were in the mtc so I am having a little bit of difficulties figuring some things out...but hopefully it will be ok. I have to tuck every shirt in. Whatever its fine. But I guess I still wish I had more button up shirts. Maybe I can find some here to buy.

• How long has your companion been out and where is she from.

the next transfer is Hermana burns last transfer. She is awesome. She has helped me a lot.
She is from texas. she is a ballerina. She went to byu for 6 years and will finish up this next year. she is 25, and beautiful and kind. We get along really well!! I am so scared to not have her as my companion anymore! hopefully we are together again next transfer in Rafaela.

• Is her hand OK by now? is she wearing a cast, or what?

she had little brace things on her fingers and they are off now. We went to the hospital for her fingers and its social medicine. BAD NEWS. Never ever ever vote for social medicine. Her fingers dont seem to have healed correctly. SO I dont know. But i think she might be ok.

• And how are you doing, health wise. Are you feeling good and keeping those headaches under control?

I had a headache yesterday acutally but I think its gone now- didnt last too long and I think it was also because I am getting sick. But i think that is passing too already. Lets hope. the weather has been really strange here! really hot and really cold!

My spanish is improving but it is still difficult often to say things. But the Spanish here really is very different. but I think it is very beautiful, I was just talking today about how I am so glad I got called here because the spanish is the best here. and the people are so great. I just need to learn to talk more. Because honestly when you learn a new language, Often in the translation the personality gets lost. and I feel like that happened to me. Im kind of bland. I hope i can help people see im fun and good! hahah it is really hard...but its ok.

Families want to be together forever!

Wed Sept 30, 2009

Hello family!
This week was really good. We found two really good families to teach! The Familia Pautasso- Carlos, Maria del Carmen, and their two kids Morena and Maximo are so nice and really receptive to the message. I am excited to see them tonight to teach them the Plan of Salvation. Also the The familia Heit. Mariano, Andrea and Lucia. They are also super nice, and I can tell they want to be with their family forever. Ok I´ve noticed that is what everyone wants actually! And I love that I am here sharing how people can receive that blessing.
We got ¨broken up with¨ three times on monday. Sergio (he is going to get baptized someday though, I know it) Gladys, and Maria Laura (I guess this time for real). But Sergio, pulled the ¨I dont know how to say this¨... and then said well But come back in like a month, and I will try to keep reading. Then Gladys had her husband come out and tell us that they didn't want us anymore and that she was sick on her bed. (through the window we saw her at the table)
and then Maria Laura wished us both happiness in the future with our families. I was sad, but also somewhat amused at the way they were So similar to break ups in real life. But it made it easier because now we can focus our time on people that do want to change and get baptized. And everyday we are finding more people! Its awesome.
The other day we were walking and all the sudden somthing hit my face and it hurt. And it stuck to my face! It was bird poop. Sick! luckly it was a chunk that just flicked off. Everytime we talk about it now my companion and I just laugh So hard!! Hermana Burns has had many close calls, but luckily she has never been hit yet.
On our way to District meeting yesterday we got on the wrong bus, and accidentally took a tour of our town! we were also unfortunately very late.
People think often times we are from here, but then I start talking and they ask where we are from. Hna Burns really speaks castellano so well! And then i come in.....Luckily I think its just my accent that really gives it away. But honestly, its crazy I have been in the country for a month already! I remember when I would say I have only three days in the country.
I love having two and half hours to study every day. It is really such a great blessing. I was reading in Mosiah the words of King Benjamin, and the boldness and Spirit with which he speaks are truly amazing. I love that he just comes out and says, it doesn´t matter why people need things or how they got in the state they are in, we have to temporally and spiritually uplift them and help them! And everything we have isn´t ours anyway, all things we have are God´s, All blessings we have to give aren´t ours.
I hope this weekend in General Conference we can listen to the words of the Prophet and The apostles of the lord with the same hearts that the people of King Benjamin had. That we can allow the Spirit we feel to make a change in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually. (Mosiah 5:2) I know that the words they will speak are the words of God. I know that they have spiritually prepared to give us what we need at this time. I know that we can spiritually prepare and ask questions that will be answered through the Spirit and personal revelation when we listen to their words. I ask that all of us turn to our Savior Jesus Christ, and be cleansed of our sins. That we can gain a hope, because Christ has overcome the world (John 16:33). That we won´t be in despair because we have been forgiven of our sins (Moroni 10:22). That the world can be a better place when people use the Atonement to change their lives (Ether 12:4).
I know that this is the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that we can grow and learn and be strengthened in all things through our Savior. I know we can have the faith to change and receive the blessings of being a better person, even though change can really hurt sometimes.
I know that Heavenly Father knows each one of us, and loves us with a perfect love, and that we can pray to Him always to tell Him our problems and He will always listen.
I am so grateful for my life- I have received so many blessings, blessings that I haven´t even recognized. And they just keep coming. We are truly indebted eternally to our Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ.
I love you all. I pray for you and your successes.
Love Hermana Carmen Dunford

People maybe feel it's true, but don't feel like changing?

Wed Sept 23, 2009

Hello from Argentina! This week has been busy and full of lessons and contacting and the Spirit! Last Thursday was a crazy rainy day with a ton of wind. My umbrella turned inside out! haha ok that was random. Anyway. I am so grateful for the faithful members of the branch here and their willingness to help with the work. Hermano Valiente is always willing to go with us to lessons and give his testimony of the gospel and the blessings he has received from it! What a blessing. I think it helps for investigators a ton to see regular people that live the gospel in their lives and receive blessings with everything.
We taught a lesson to Maria Laura who said she doesn´t believe in God but she prayed and said she felt good, and the next time she had read 3 Ne 11, and remembered it all really well, so we went forth teaching the plan of salvation and her and her boyfriend Guillermo seemed to really understand and agree that we have to be obedient to receive blessings and be baptized in order to return to God. Then all of the sudden at the end Maria Laura said no, There is no (at least the was the gyst...i think). It was sad. We are going to go back, hopefully she can feel the Spirit and recognize and know that we truly do have a perfect Heavenly Father that loves each and every one of us.
We also taught Sylvana, who said she read and prayed and knows that its true. What a great feeling to know that someone else knows that there is a better way to live! We then taught her about temples and the blessing of being sealed to our families forever! I love sharing that. We then set up an appointment to return and teach her whole family.
What´s hard is I think a lot of people can feel that it´s true, but they maybe don´t feel like changing, or that they can´t. And that is the miracle of the Atonement that I know to be true. We can repent every day to change and be more like Jesus Christ, our Savior and perfect example.
For alittle bit, I felt like I didn´t know how to have faith for others (well of course Im still learning...) but I read a verse (I don´t remember the verses!!) But that it says we need to have charity for the people and have hope in the Atonement. So I need to love the people and know that the hope the Atonement gives is real and that it can work for them. THat and fervent prayer. I am learning SO many things. yeesh. I have so far to go. SO far. But it is the process that makes us stronger. And we can all be strong in the gospel if we want. And if we don´t want, we have to pray for the desire.
I love you all so much. The gospel is true. The priesthood is real. It is from God. The Book of Mormon is the word of God, and we will be judged by its words. So we have to study everyday! I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God.

Love Always, Hermana Carmen Dunford

First talk in Church in Spanish, the Members are great

Sept 16, 2009

Hello! Well the days are definitely getting warmer as spring approaches and I´m getting a little worried for how hot it will be in the summer. Oh well- I´ve got a little while before that happens.

This is seriously the scariest hardest thing EVER!! The first two weeks were truly very hard for me. It is so hard to be here! Especially when people think you are stupid because you can´t understand them. Or when you can´t say what you want to say. Or your personality changes because you can´t talk! its very difficult. But I have been praying tons and talking to my companion and gaining more strength everyday. Whenever I feel especially down I know all I have to do is love God, and work hard and I will be able to say I did all I could. So far I can say I have done that! I think so anyway... haha. I also sing the Lord is my light, then why should I fear? by day and by night His presence is near.

This week was interesting! Lots of lessons taught, lots of people talked to. For example, we went on divisions with members of the relief society. I´m pretty sure that is the scariest thing I´ve ever done. I didn´t want to be without my companion! But of course everything turned out fine. I went with the Relief Society President, Hermana Caro, and Mariana, 18, who is always willing to help out the sisters. We stopped by some inactive sisters and invited them to come back to Church. We then stopped by a reference. They let us come in so I was like ok teach about the Restoration and bam. Anyway, they´re talking and I can´t understand hardly anything so I keep teaching. The members bore testimony, and then we invited them to church. I comitted them to pray also, because they can´t read so I wasn´t exactly sure what commitment to leave them. But they were listening and seemed to understand and agreed to come to church. Anyway I started to try and set up another appointment and Hector Cejas just said I´ll see you at church. So I was pretty excited to have taught a lesson with a member and be able to do it (kind of) without my companion. We were at home that night and then we realized that they weren´t a reference, but that Hector and his wife Facunda are members, less active. Ha! So the lesson didn´t count for numbers. but it defnitey counted for something, Hector did come to church on Sunday and the members all gave him a warm welcome. I´m pretty sure he said something to that effect while I was teaching, but I seriously had no idea.
All the things that people tell us, I hardly ever know! And then later my companion tells me. and it all makes sense.
On Sunday we ate at the house of Muslim. I had no Idea he was Muslim until my companion just told me. But it was a really good experience- he and his girlfriend served us a very good lunch of fried potato things and chicken and bread, then dulce de leche with cream, and cake for postre (dessert). The people feed you and feed you so you have to eat slow or else if your plate is empty they will give you more! My companion sat next to Abraham and he kept putting more and more food on her plate. We felt pretty sick after that meal but we laughed pretty hard. He is such a nice old man- after Hermana Burns offered the prayer to bless the food he was crying! And although he said he has his god and doesn´t want to learn more, his girlfriend seemed very willing and is going to get taught by the elders in her area! Cool- so many nice nice people here.
We have been teaching Claudia- She is catholic and has four of the cutest kids. She is so eager to learn more about Christ and HIs gospel, and when we started talking about the Book of Mormon she asked if there was a place she could go to buy one! We were like no, we have one here as a gift for you! It was cool. She prayed about Joseph Smith and said she believes he is a prophet, but many others are prophets too like at the same time. I took the opportunity to bear testimony that There is only one true church of Christ on the earth and that it has the priesthood of God and that we have to be baptized witht that power in order to return to God and be worthy! I love this gospel.
We have had more lunches wth members, lots of bread (yum) and meat. I had milonesa for the first time- very delicious. That was with Elsa- she lives with her boyfriend of 20 years so she isn´t a member yet but has to wait for her papers of divorce before she can get married to raul. It is crazy how long people have to wait to get divorced here and so then dont even worry about it. Marriage is just not a big thing down here. It´s sad.
We had torejitas which was lettuce and i dont know what with egg put into balls and fried, looked kind of like meat balls. Also rice with mayonaise. they eat lots of mayo here it seems like. That was with the Acostas, the branch president and his wife.
We have hamburgers patties we grill up for lunch sometimes. They are so good! Seriously the best, and its just from like a frozen little package.
The area we serve in is very nice and clean. It is mainly neighborhoods and a little bit of a down town area. I really like it. My companion tells me it is a very nice and clean good place. I feel so blessed to start out in this place because it makes it easier to adjust with all the tough other things to deal with being a new missionary!
The president of the Elders Quorom is very nice and dedicated- he goes out with us at least twice a week in order to teach investigators or contact. His testimony he gives is very strong. I know the members make A HUGE difference when teaching others about the gospel. I challenge each of you to volunteer to help the missionaries and be willing to have your friends learn about the gospel!
Oh yeah I gave my first talk on Sunday in Spanish. It was only to a congregation of about 15. But It was on missionary work and I think it went well. luckily people comment on my ability to be able to speak pretty well and that they can always understand me. Phew!! the gift of tongues is real!! I´m so grateful for the help I receive from my Heavenly Father every day.
I know this gospel is true and that the scriptures are the word of God!I know that I can be be with my family forever. Which is the greatest blessing of all to me because I love you more than anything.
Love Always
Hermana Carmen Dunford