Whitewashing Rosario

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

welp we received news on Sunday night that our area is getting ¨whitewashed¨. They are putting in Elders in our area. I think it will do a lot of good. So then we had to wait a whole day to see where we are going. Turns out I m whitewashing an area too. My comp and i are both going to Rosario and we are going to live togehter but have new comps.(she is whitewashing too) we are stoked! i guess the new are is right down town in rosario and it is like a legit city. there are mcdonalds and subways and the wards are awesome. There is even a ward mission leader!! im excited. My president told me I have to have a lot of faith and diligence to see success in my new area. Im really grateful i get to go and still be with hna kusilek. she is the bomb. my new comp is sister peterson. She is so rad. I have actually worked with her before (that one time we were stuck in santa elena for a couple days when we had no where to live in la paz) anyway. we get along really well, she is really happy and positive and i now we will be able to do great things together.

So since we are leaving pergamino, we have been saying good bye to people. and realizing the impact that we had on them. It is such a great blessing to know that I am here helping people change their lives, feel the Spirit, be happier (even if it isn´t in a baptism, per se) The best is when we went to say goodbye to the Patriarch and they weren´t there so we left a note so they called us to wish us luck and tell us that we really blessed their lives and the ward. they also hope we keep in touch after. That was really special to me.

On saturday we ate lunch with the Stake President (son of the patriarch) and his family. It was so fun! and delicious. Anyway His wife, Alejandra Lombardo, the coolest lady ever, she told me i have a beautiful personality because its very transparent (haha i said oh because you know exactly what my emotions are all the time?) and I say what I feel. Very beautiful family. The stake pres reminds me of you dad. He is a cool guy. It made me happy because he said that he was really glad he was ther for lunch (he never is) because it was really fun and enjoyed it a lot.

ON Sunday miracle happened first of all ester and rolando came (ok the papers are done, they just need to pay for them, i dont know whats stopping them) but she came even thought the night before she said that she didnt know cuz she felt sick. I said listen you have to come, even if you feel sick. God will bless you. I was very happy to see her there.

Then yohanna came in with her friend to relief Society. I was like pointing at her and whispering, is she a member? yohanna said no, woohoo! haha so we went and had principles of evangelio and i just taught the plan of salvation. it turned out really well. she was commenting and everything. Then after sacrament (in which i gave a talk without notice and sang in a musical number haha, Brother Fernandez told me im like salt, there is a little of me in everything) i asked yohanna if we could set up an appt with her friend isabel. she said no, give her time lets see what happens. Anyway, I went to say goodbye to Isabel and i thanked her for her comments and she was like yeah you guys can come by my house anytime you want! I like leaped for joy. oh that would be great can we set a time? booyah. today at 330. im stoked. Also we have an appt with Carmen. That should be great too. I hope the elders that come, really turn this area upside down, but that they dont leave behind the people we have been teaching.

Anwyay. Im greatful for the miracle of the mission. I have learned so much. I have grown so much. And I have been SO blessed to be able to come to this place and become friends with so many wonderful people. Im sad to leave Pergamino. I love the people here. BUt im excited to go to Rosario and start another adventure and get to meet so many more great people.

I love you all and wish you a great first week of summer!

Hermana Dunford.

To obey is better than sacrifice!

Monday, June 14, 2010

Lately we haven't been seeing much success (numbers wise, people to teach wise) but our investigator Carmen came to church on Sunday and stayed all three hours this time! She is so great. we have an appointment with her in 2 hours. Im really excited. We haven't been able to teach her like we have wanted to yet, with all of the activities she has in her life it's been difficult to find a tranquilo time to teach her. But she is so amazing. She says she read in the book of mormon and really likes the church, and she loves the members and she loves us- pero todavia no me tienen convencida. With time I know the Spirit will touch her and she will know the truth.
We left on Thursday to go teach some citas we had set up- but everyone was a little miffed that we decided to ring their doorbell and distract them from the game. Thats ok. We went to our lunch cita early and make the lunch- empanadas! which luckily, being involved in the preparation I was able to tell hna fernandez i wasn't interested in having green olives in mine (their flavor is really strong and they use them in a lot of foods). And yes I watched a little of the game. My comp and I have repented and decided to not watch any more games. It is a little tough when everyone is like yeah just come in and watch it with us!

Another thing happened that kind of popped me in the head, like something clicked finally.
We went to teach some recent converts, and right as we pulled up we saw them leavig in a taxi. But then their brothers were there who invited us to play soccer. we accepted. we played them and halfway through when we were down 3-2 hna k said ok but if we win you have to come to church.They agreed. With our amazin skills, we won 5-4. Anyway they said all right we have to go, see you tomorrow. (we aren't supposed to play soccer with members or investigators, or any sports)
I rationalized it in my head, well hey if it gets them to come to church- its ok!
Ok back tracking a little, my comp four transfers ago was reading in the bible the story of Saul and how he was commanded to kill everyone and everything. but he kept the best animals to make sacrifices to the Lord. Anwyay the Lord gets angry because he says To obey is better than to sacrifice (ok sorry i dont have the bible with me right now to quote it). I said I dont get it! if we are sacrificing we are obeying. i just didnt understnad.
Ok So now i get it. Because playing soccer was for a ¨just cause¨ it was ok to disobey, because we were sacrifiing to get them to church. Number one- this was the lesson in sunday school and number two- they didnt come. So no matter what- God knows better, and He made the rules and the commandments for a reason. So we just have to obey. And if we have faith, like i know we all do, we obey. Faith=obedience.
A really good thing that happened on sunday is that we went and worked in another area for the night and did divisions. I left with this 20 year old super sweet girl. Thank Heavens someone let us in, and we taught a married family! I had almost lost hope for being able to find such things. I am really grateful that God knows I needed that. And i dont care if they live in another area- if it is a family that will accept the gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ- it doesn't matter who teaches them.
Welp. I think thats it for now. I love my comp. Im sad because next week are transfers (you'll hear from me on tuesday) and i know for sure we wont be together again. BUT hey, change is always good, and usually, if we have the right attitude, it inspires to be even better.
Thanks for everything, i love you all.
Hermana Dunford

Scary story!

Monday, June 7, 2010

Hello!

This week, has been good. We are still struggling in finding people to teach. But you know,

we´ve had some success with the few we´ve had the pleasure to meet. Priscila. I know she feels the Spirit. She still feels confused about what is the truth, but i know she feels good. She said she would like to get baptized. We still haven´t taught the law of Chastity though... Anyway She came again to church on Sunday and she is reading the Book of Mormon, and we watched the Restoration video and she says she feels like Joseph Smith -really confused, but is still looking for the answer. We´ve explained quite clearly how the Spirit works- I guess we just need to pray and keep working until she finally recognizes it.

We also called Carmen, this contact we had in the street a while ago. I dont remember if I already talked about her, but we called her and she was like yes i am so glad you called! anyway we went to teach the plan of salvation because she told us in our contact that she lost her only son a while ago. she talked a lot and got off topic a lot but she felt the Spirit. she also said she just loved us so much and that if we were selling her something she would buy whatever it was. Luckily she bought it (haha) and she went to church on Sunday. unfortunately after Relief Society she went home to make lunch or something (i personally dont understand the schedules of meals and the siesta here) but I know she liked it.

We had a missionary work activity yesterday so the members could leave with the missionaries and get exctied for the work. We had a grim turn out. The bishop didnt even come. My comp and I did divisions, and left with a girl from another ward, who didnt feel comfortable doing any contacts (it sure is draining to just do everything alone for 2 hours, i am so grateful for companionships of unity) and my comp went with a member who doesn't feel comfortable doing any walking. At first i felt super frustrated, but I was grateful for those who did come (the rest were just missionaries from other areas) and that they were willing to help.

I just think as regular members we need to remember the importance of missinoary work. Go out of our way to help the missionaries have success in helping our OWN barrio grow. offer to bring investigators to church, dont expect anything and always be willing to give service. For those who have served missions, we can always remember the yearning and hard work we have and do (or had and did) to have good relationships with the members and see success in the saving of souls. the work truly is mejor with the work and cooperation and willingness of the members.

Alrighty then. enough on my part. people are getting excited here for mundial, and i am keeping my eyes out for a rocking jersey, and for the family who is ready to prepare for the eternities.

I love you all. I love this gospel. Everyday I thank my Heavenly Father for the blessing to be a member of the true and living chruch. I know the Jesus Christ is My Savior. I know that every good thing we have is because of Christ and the blessings that come from our Heavenly Father.

Bye!

ok mom this is for you. I dont have time to open a new window haha.

ok so i am doing better. Thanks for everything. yesterday doing those contacts was rough. i am pretty sure it was the most rejection i had gotten in a while. but i still am learning to get used to it. anyway. I bought some tights today, really thick and good, im excited, I know they will keep me warm.

ok i just want to share this story. but you have to promise not to freak out. im totally fine and we are being way more careful now.

the other night we were walking down a street that we ALWAYS walk down at night. these guys like whistled at us and we just said hi to get them to stop and then this really fat really drunk guy from the other side of the street came down and started talking to us. I was like ok well thanks and we tried to keep going but he grabbed my comps coat and and we couldn't go. I felt ok when a woman came down thinking she was going to calm the situration. she didnt. she unfortunatley was just as drunk and they kept asking if we were with god. and i was like we have a folleto for you and i tried to give it to them so they would take it and leave us alone. they wouldnt. then she whips out a knife and keeps saying she will hurt us. I was like oh my gosh!!!!!!!!!! then one of those guys game over to stop her and he just like hugged her and hna kusilek yelled run! i started running but freaked out when i saw her chasing us. i stopped so i could go the other way (it was hard to think straight i was so scared) and she stopped and came back at me with the knife. she had it up to my face and with the fence at the back of me i had no where to escape. sister kusilek came back and were just trying to talk sense into her. then the fat guy came and was like all over sis k and we couldnt leave! she was yeling at us if we were virgins and i just was like yes yes half crying. and we were so scared the fat guy was going to do something. finally she said im not going to hurt you and said she wanted a hug. we hugged her then we ran as fast as we could to leave. we were surprised at a couple things, one, that none of the guys helped us or did anything to stop the people, then two that the drunk lady ran so fast and so straight to catch us. but i am so grateful everything is okay. i know God protected us in that moment. i have never been physically threatened like that before (te voy a lastimar! she yelled) and i know nothing stopped her fulfilling her word except God´s protection. our mission presidnet knows and the event seems like a movie now or dream. but we never walk anywhere in that area at night and we are so much more careful now. anyway kind of an exciting story i guess at best. we told our bishop and he laughed.

welp i love you all. and dont call the mission or anything with worry. i just thought you might want to hear the story.

ps can i have your cheesecake recipe? and maybe a pie recipe too? apple or somehting. ooh and peach! i would greatly apprectiae it.

We are all beggars

Monday, May 31, 2010

ok so today for pday we went to Arrecifes to eat this huge asado out on a farm. it was really fun. even though the meat wasn´t as good as I was hoping, it´s ok, at least i can say i tried cow intestine. not that delicious, haha. We also got a pretty good idea of just how much of the cow they cook. I saw some hooves and teeth and a big hide hanging around. It was so beautiful and very crisp. It was a fun day on the farm.

Last week we were contacting and I saw this beautiful couple walking along, and you know people like that are a little intimidating, but i knew I had to contact them. The woman was very interested and said we could pass by whenever because she is always there.

We passed by on Thursday and taught The restoration, and she understood perfectly. Then on saturday for our return appointment she couldn´t attend us because the testigos had passed by and she was about to leave to go to their meeting. I was freaked out. my heart sunk. but still i asked if she wanted to go to church with us the next day. so we went and got her and on the way there she said she didn´t like the meeting of the testigos so much because she ¨didn´t feel something¨. I rejoiced internally. She really liked the church I am pretty sure. She had a lot of questions but i know she felt something. After she invited us to eat with her and Dario her boyfriend. (they have plans to get married but not until december) anyway it was so fun. I love priscila. She is so great and I already consider her a close friend! Even though she was our only investigator in the church it felt like a great blessing after a long week of many many disappointments and well yeah.

Sunday I gave a talk too, and I gave it on charity. I was reading in Mosiah 4 and felt compelled to share it with the ward. The verse the really struck me is when King Benjamin says Are we not all beggars? It is so good. We truly are- we are all the same before God, but when we are humble and obey Him we will receive blessings. I know that all of the people we see can use a smile por lo menos. In verse 26 it says that we need to nourish people temporally and spiritually, so even if we feel like we can´t give something of monetary value, we can always share our testimony and help them feel and know that they are also children of God, who loves them infinitely.

I love you all and I know this is the true church of Jesus Christ and as His disciples we must give to and love others as He loves us.

Bye!

Sister Dunford

Stake Conference visitors

Monday, May 24, 2010

Hello. This has been a week medio dificil. Well the past couple weeks have been like that. The investigators that we do have, lie to us or are jealous or just aren´t progressing at all, and then the investigators that we don´t have, well there are a lot of those.... We just keep working and hoping that with our obedience and talking to a lot of people we will be able to find the people that have been prepared to receive the gospel. It is just tough sometimes to have the animo to keep going. Another frustrating thing is that a lot of people we do contact do not live in our area. we contacted this family the other day- so awesome! but they were roadtripping from cordoba. The dad said he owned a panaderia and that the elders went there all the time to eat but he had never talked to them. Anyway they were super nice and gave us their direction. hopefully that information can get passed along.

ALso a really good thing that made me feel a bit happier was on sunday. There is this menos activo in our ward who is pretty crazy but hilarious and we really love her. anyway we walked past her house on friday and her and her husband were outside and they were like come here! so we went inside and chit chatted and invited them to stake conference. they came too! then we ate lunch with them after and that was really fun. they really liked it too. but the husband Hector who isn´t a member was really apalled at all the kids with cell phones and that were playing around and not listening. I honestly didnt really know what to say. But luckily he enjoyed it and they both saw a lot of people that they knew. including that edith hugged the bishop and we found out they both got baptized on the same day like 18 years before. that was neat to see. I really feel that they may be on their way to activity and baptism. The only problem is that Hector prefers to talk about things from the US and not necessarily de la Iglesia. My comp and I also sang in the choir for both sessions, and it was well frankly like the worst choir I´ve been in. The director wasnt too pleased with our efforts, which well. It doesnt matter I just think we all need to try and thank people that go out of their way to give service. I think we need to also be gratfeul to those that help us even if it seems like something little to us. Also I think we need to be especially aware of the blessings that we receive from our Heavenly Father and be sure to always thank Him.

I know that this is the true church of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I also know that when we obey Him and do His will and stand as His witness we will be blessed in all that we do(even though sometimes we don´t always see the success or blessings right away) We don´t understand the plan God has for us sometimes but we can trust in Him and His Justice and mercy. I love the verses in Mosiah 4:9-10 (creed que el hombre no comprende todas las coasa que el Señor puede comprender)

I love this gospel and I love all of you. I hope you enjoy your fun vacay in Florida! sounds like a blast. dont forget to buy me a souvenir. haha jk :)

bye!

Want Blessings? Obey God!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Welp, I guess everyone forgot that my pday changed to mondays as I received no news from anyone, but thats alright.

So This last week was my birthday and it was really great. On wednesday my comp and I had fun buying whatever treats we wanted because ¨it was my birthday¨. Then on Thursday, no one really remembered, except this one family that made me a delicious cake. And then Agustina, the girl that got baptized, she and her aunt and her cousin each bought me a little piece of jewelry as a present. It was really great! I felt very blessed to have people here that cared.

Also, on Friday we had a zone conference, it was so good! Everytime we have one, I have mixed feelings, like oh man I am a terrible missionary and i need to be so much better. But Then I also feel like yes I can do it! Lets go and baptize everyone we see!

This time I still felt both but, I always try and be positive and have the faith that if I work hard God will help us make up for the weaknesses we have have and the strengths we lack. Besides, Jesus commands us to be like Him anyway- perfect.

I also got my package! IT IS SO GREAT!!! I am stoked. I love getting packages. And I love sharing all the treats with the people from here. They love seeing anything from the States. and they are all obsessed with mms for some reason.

ON saturday we had some frank lessons, and I just felt really tired after, like it takes a lot of strength from my Spirit. We had a lesson with Eva, this woman who is just so great, but since her marido left her, she says she has no ganas to do anything. She said, my whole life people tell me that I will receive blessings, but and maybe this is bad to say but where are the blessings? when are they going to come?

I said, have you ever thought that God is wondering, when is Eva going to obey my commandments?

Then I said, sasha (her grandaughter who is so precious) if we want good grades what do we have to do? Study she says. If we want to receive money, we need to work. If we want to receive blessings, we need to obey God. she said she really will read the book of mormon. She also says she likes everything we say. Unfortunately, she wasn't there when we went to take her to church.

Then we had another lesson with Ester and Rolando. We said, ok last time we set this date so you guys can get married. and it passed. and you still aren't married. Then we taught about revelation. And we said, Listen This time you have to choose a date to get married, and then you can go to God in prayer, and ask is this what you want? and if He says its ok, then no matter what happens you can get your papers, you can pay the money, because God says its ok and wants it to happen. So they said now by june 4th and then get baptized the fifth. At the end, Rolando offered a prayer and it was so great. I realy hope that everyone can have the faith and complete with their part so that finally they can be married and baptized!

I know this is the true Church of Jesus Christ and that only through Him and HIs gospel and His Atonement, can we be happy, and can we be saved and return to live with our Heavenly Father. I know the Book of Mormon to be true and that it truly testifies of our Savior. I love this work and I love the people that I get to work with and serve and be friends with. Thanks to you, my family, I know also, that I have a strong force backing me up back home. I love you all!

Love, Hermana Dunford

No Change this Transfer! Pictures!

Tuesday May 11, 2010

Hermana Kusilek and Hermana Dunford

So yeah, this transfer will be my first transfer without change. My companion and I will be staying in Pergamino together! I am so excited. but they did take the other sisters out and so our area seriously just tripled in size. and now since we haven´t worked in four days because my cp has been sick, we have a lot TO DO.

Thats ok, we are really excited. We set a lot of goals this morning for companion study to be able to be a lot better, this transfer, we are looking at it as a great opportunity to be better than last transfer. my comp is also very excited to be with me when i get my package. haha.

ps it came, i will get it tomorrow or friday. booyah i am so excited!!!

ok so there isn´t much to say i am just going to send fotos ahora.

this is weird, i have never not had a change before! welp its pretty great though and its for a reason. until next week. thanks for the phone call, it was so great to hear everyone. i love you guys so much!!

Power of a Priesthood Blessing

Wed May 5, 2010

Honestly I am just going to write a little note this week. Cuz we are talking on Sunday!! Woohoo!! I will call at 8 on Sunday evening. so 5 your time. it should be in this moment anyway. There are four missionaries that will be using the phone and i am calling last.

Ok so this week, we had a bit of a scare because on friday we went to teach Agustina and she said she was really confused and didnt know what to do because she really liked going to catechism before she started listening to us and that she wasnt going to get the holy ghost on sunday. I was like ok we cant tell you what to do but God can. And haven't you received an answer that this is the true church? and she said yes, but I like the other one too. Anyway i was like oh crap. That night we went home and prayed fervently to know what we could do to help want to get it. The next day we returned and we able to talk about what a basic testimony consists of. She was much happier the next day and was happy to say that she was excited and ready to get the holy ghost. She truly has a testimony and we were able to bring her to the church. She didn't seem that excited to go but hey, after talking about princesses and our favorite holidays she was very excited. yesterday we saw her again very happy and ready to talk more about el don del espiritu santo.

Her cousin got really sick, Alan. My comp said, i know if we get a member to go and and give a blessing they will feel the power and get baptized. So we asked the Patriarch to go with us to the Hospital. He is one really strong man of God. it is really rad to have the Patriarch in our ward. He went and gave the blessing- The parents of Alan, that had before treated us actually kind of rudely. were super nice. I had never seen anyone so greatful. They definitely felt and recognized the presence of the Priesthood of God.

This Patriarch Lombardo, he is so great. He served a mission a long time ago. president Kimball came and visited him, and with the gift of tongues they were able to have an interview, speaking in english and spanish. Also he had a book of mormon that he signed and Presdent kimball said I am proud of you. It was really neat to hear the testimony of the Patriarch. He is also the best at always friendshipping the investigators we bring to church.

Great week! I love you all.

Hermana Dunford

Show me your faith by your works!

Wed April 28, 2010

mom you mentioned last week that you hope its getting colder- oh yes it is. haha the other night i couldn't sleep well for lack of warmth. something about finding the right temperature on the mission has been a bit difficult for me., oh well, por lo menos i get to wear scarves right now, i love scarves. (scarfs?)

On sunday we got to see the baptism of Agustina and two other girls, it turned out really well, even though the water in the font was cold! the calefon in the church doesnt work i guess. But it was a success. The best part is that Agustina's mom came too, and she said she really was hoping she wouldn't like it but that she actually really did, she felt really good, and wanted to know why we are always so happy. we shared the plan of salvation with here and i can tell she really liked it. We kinda of jokingly said after the baptism and its your turn next! and she was like well,,, and then i said no, but seriously. We will help you be ready. the next day i told her she needed to get married, and she was like all right, like what should i do what do i need to do? woohoo!! thank heavens for the Spirit- its the only thing that moves this work forward.

Speaking of marriage, we went and did a noche de hogar with ester and rolando (we ate chorripan- so good! its just sausage and bread, a little like a brat) and we were talking about how faith is so good and in the scriptures we see so many miracles because of the peoples' faith. And we asked, and you guys have lots of faith right? yes yes of course. So then we flipped to James chpt 2. and we read, and i said, so we can sit and talk about faith and how much we have, but without our work, without action, our faith is dead. So we pulled out this calendar we made called calendario de fe y accion, and we said. So what are you going to do so that your faith isn't dead. Choose on this calendar one day in may when you will get married. Rolando was just kind of looking at it and i was scared for some reason, and right when i was about to say hey its ok, we will ask you tomorrow. my comp looked at me and said hey we need to stay until they choose. and so i said ok we are waiting here until you pick a date, i will sleep on the couch. then my comp said and i will go sleep with the dog. and rolando just kept looking at the paper. and ester said im ready whenever then finally Rolando looked up and said I have to call still for the papers, but if they are ready i will pay and we will get married the 8th!! oh my gosh ester was practically crying cuz she was so happy. and my comp and i of course are thrilled. he said too he doesnt want to wait, but also that he wants that both my comp and i can be there, because maybe for transfers one of us will go. I love this family. SO MUCH. we are praying now for the papers but we haven't yet received word.

Speaking of people that I get along with well, there is a recent convert here from the dominican republic and he is so cool. (ok he is black ) he runs a carniceria, and his friends are so cool too, they like all have friends that play major league baseball. it is really cool to see them speak spanish. we have taught his friends and they have accepted to read and pray, i hope success comes from it. Also Camilo is making us lunch tomorrow, it should be really good.

Welp, i have no news yet on calls for mothers day. but i can tell you im stoked. when i get some info, you will be the first ones to know. if i find out next wednesday right before i write you.

ok love you tons!

Sister Dunford

Craving alfajores!

Wed April 21, 2010

hello family. I just have some little things to share

On Monday, my comp and I were in desperate need of some alfajor [fancy cookies] action. So we went to a kiosco and I bought Terrabussi, it wasnt that great. I took a bite and was like oh man! My comp said let's go get you a capitan del espacio (best kind ever!!) and i was like alright. Im so glad we did. We ended up talking a little more to the woman and she was just about to close for the siesta and so she let us in and we taught her! haha i knew my cravings for good desserts was not in vain.

We have been teaching Agustina the sobrina of Maira (the girl that stopped us in the street last week) and she is so great. She is getting baptized on Sunday and we are so excited. When we talked to her cousin about getting baptized too, Candela, she said "but I was already baptized". Agustina said yeah but you have to be baptized again in the true church of Jesus Christ. If only everyone had that attitude and belief. I guess that is why I am here- to help them gain that.

The other day we walked by a car of young men, who found it necessary to honk incessantly at my comp and me. She said, gosh we are like dogs or something! My comp is a SUPER rubia, and apparently I'm beautiful here too. haha its nuts HOW many people (ok, men, boys) stare at us everyday.

I love the power I have as a missionary to just talk to whomever. The other day a lady was like hola que tal, and I stopped and just knew she somehow knew the missionaries, more from then just having seen them in the streets. I asked her how and she said she was baptized. We made an appointment, went by and literally, five minutes in her and her mom and me and my comp act as if we are old best friends. Another time we passed for a menos activo, who now calls us her conejitos (little bunnies) o hijas, o lo que sea. She wants us to pass by all the time, unfortunately her husband is only interested in learning about our lives in the United States, and she hasn't found the fuerza to get to church. But really, I love the power the gospel has, in uniting people in their beliefs and ya, are great best friends. It is a miracle in my eyes. I have to aprovechar these situations always as I serve the Lord and truly am set apart to talk to everyone. I have never felt a love for so many people. It is a really really cool feeling.

On Sunday I taught Gospel Principles (I still can't believe I can whip up a lesson unprepared and do a good job -if i do say so myself- in another language, what a miraculous blessing) and it was cool to hear the testimonies of a lot of the recent converts and the investigators that are preparing for baptism. I also gave a talk, and I gave my testimony on how the Book of Mormon is truly the manual for our happiness in this life and for the eternity. It tells us to keep the commandments of God (mosiah 2.41, alma 41.10, 2 ne 1.20) It helps to have more love in our hearts (4 ne 1.15, moroni 7. 46-48- this scripture is the bomb"!) how to repent (mosiah 5.2, alma 5.26, alma 26.13) and it teaches us to share the gospel (alma 36.24, helaman 6.3)

I do testify that this book is the manual for our lives- how we can receive the blessings of happiness and prosperity now, and how we can gain eternal life. I know that the words are so important, for through them, we will be judged. I hope we can learn the stories, gain a knowledge of the examples and doctrine, and pray for the revelation on how the teachings can be applied to our own lives. I love the book of mormon with all my heart.

Bye! Hermana Dunford