Lovin' La Paz

Wed Jan 20, 2010

Alrighty then. This week has been another adventure! So on Thursday we met some people, an old man named Enriquez and his grandson Lucio. We had talked to Enriquez like two days before and we were just like hey we can help you stop smoking we are coming by again to help you. So on thurs when we saw him again, he was like oops you caught me smoking. And we were like put it out! And it was ok and threw it down and stomped on it. Then we were like sorry that’s not good enough…..and he was like why? Because you have a pack still in your pocket! And he was like well… i dont know. Hermana Bohning. Said, give them to me. So he handed them over. She snuck them to the neighbour kid and he ran and threw them in the scum pond. (don’t worry we saw him do it). Then we were like alright we are all going to church on Sunday. We are coming to get you at 9. So Sunday morning we passed by and he was there, he shaved, we went and got lucio (he is about 22) and then we all went to church together. It was so cool! Just Enriquez looked like a totally different man. He hasn’t smoked since then either. So we are teaching them more and more. And since they don’t really do anything in their lives we pass everyday to get them ready for a baptism on the 30! I hope. Except one thing. Yesterday we found that lucio left to go visit his mom. And my heart broke, cuz I know he is just so ready for the gospel in his life right now and he wants to get baptized! I thought he just like changed his mind or something and wanted to escape us (cuz people will do pretty ridiculous things to escape us as missionaries, haha) but come to found out, Enriquez said Lucio was up til 3 in the morning reading the book of mormon and kept reading about repentance and forgiveness so the next day he just felt like he had to and see his mom whom he hadn’t treated very well and ask forgiveness from her. WOW. I was like woah this is the coolest thing ever! I just really hope he comes home soon! We have no way to contact him. Also Enriquez is the coolest old man, he tells us stories about his dad saving a perrito de un tigre. He makes me laugh so hard. We have to be like no you cant tell us more stories, not until next time. He also talked about when he was in jail in the 70s cuz of the political regime changing. He told us he lost his faith, and that now he knows God sent us to him to help him change and refind that faith. He knows that we are an answer to his prayers about wanting to quit smoking. The only thing is, he is a little deaf. So we have to talk VERY loudly for him to understand us. But what a great guy.

Another family we started teaching are so good, Monica and Javier, her brother is a really strong member, but his family basically disowned him when he decided to go on a mission. Anyway its cool the power of our message, the last time we were sharing, Javier wanted to listen so bad that he stayed to hear and then had to RUN to work and ended up arriving late. I felt bad but it is good to know the level of his interest. Then Another family Paula, Cassandra and their mom Delia. We programmed them for a baptism and to go to church but when we went for them they weren’t there. It was sad. BUT the two girls Paula and Cassandra (9 and 13) are so good. Me and Cassandra are good friends already cuz we have the same birthday! But they are so good, they both offered the most sincere heartfelt prayers. And then after paula taught her little brother to pray. It was so powerful! I was just sitting there, thinking, this is why I am on a mission. There is just no other way to feel this or experience this.
So this last weekend too there was an international triathlon. The finish line was RIGHT outside of our apartment. There were so many people there. It was really fun and cool. I bet you could find pics online? And yes I watched for just a little bit while we were walking to our appointments. La Paz, Entre Rios, Argentina is this rad little tourist town like beach hangout. I definitely want to come back and visit for fun someday.
I really love this area. I love the elders in my district and zone. It was fun we had a road trip After zone conference because the Assistants were coming to do splits with the other elders in la paz (haha so there were 8 missionaries in this little chapel on Sunday) but we drove like 4 hours to get back and we were squished in this van. But it was really fun. I don’t think many missionaries have the opportunities to have road trips. We missed the turn off for Santa Elena though and so the sisters just slept on the wood floor in our apt, and then had to catch a 6 bus the next morning. It was pretty fun. Then Elder Hildreth an AP , and elder Graham my Zone Leader, these awesome missionaries did divisions in our area and basically converted the whole town. It was cool to see the way really really good missionaries work, like just by the way they interact with people in the church. Elder Hildreth programmed someone for a baptism just walking down the hall at church with them. Haha its great. I really love my new area. It’s a lot of fun.
I know this is the true Church, I love testifying of that everyday to the people. I know that the gospel and the Atonement can change people´s lives. I know that I am here on a mission to help people know that. I know this is the place I was supposed to serve. I grateful for the blessings I have in my life. I am grateful for the love I feel always from my Heavenly Father. I know I am His beloved daughter. I love you all! Until next week

CHECK IT OUT!!!:

Here is a link to a cool commercial for the La Paz International Triathlon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ1BGGHMznw

and a homemade video clip that shows what looks like toward the end of the race, so probably right in the neighborhood where she is serving!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO3yYkx4M3M&feature=related

Five Lost Missionaries for a day

Wed Jan 13, 2010

Hey fam. This week, as I would call it, HOly Adventure week. Super crazy. But really fun too. So on Wednesday we went to travel to our new place, and it took us all day. Through out the day I came to find that We weren´t going to whitewash an area but rather split an area with some elders already there. And we also found that we don’t have a place to live. SO, we travelled all day and finally got to La Paz. But the bus driver kicked us off at the arco, we were with five other elders. Because they are opening a new zone so the zone leaders whitewashed the area and we all had all our luggage. So basically we were out in the middle of nowhere. Cuz the bus driver kicked us off way too early. And then we asked this little hut where we could go to get to the terminal, because us sisters had to travel back to santa Elena one hour to be able to stay witht the sisters that live there. So we are hauling all of our luggage super far to be able to catch the bus to get to the terminal. So we have about 30 suitcases it seems like, when all of the sudden a truck pulls over with some kids sitting in the back and this super classy 60 year old woman asks us in perfect british English, where are you headed? Do you need help? And elder graham my zone leader asked wow how do you speak english so well and she answered, because we´re civilized. It was awesome. So they offered to throw our luggage in the back of the truck, and hermana bohning and I hopped in the back too. And we talked to their grandsons that also spoke perfect English. It was so fun. When we got there we tried to pay the man, but he said no please I just like to give service. And I tried to get his address so missionaries could go for him, but he was like I live too far im sorry. But he said we will see each other again. It was seriously a miracle, an answer to a prayer I didn’t even know I had. It was definitely an awesome experience. So finally we arrive to Santa Elena at like 9 pm. And the sisters are there waiting for us. (ps none of us of the missionaries had cellphones so we just were kinda hoping someone would come to be able to help us. We were the five lost missionaries all day. No one had any idea where we were. But we finally made it. We had no idea what we were supposed to do though. I finally called the elders and the assistant was like we are so sorry, yes please go help your district leader and his comp find you a place tomorrow it would be so great, whatever you find that is nice and that is good just take it you deserve it. Haha. Anyway so we weren’t able to find place so the next two days we just stayed in santa Elena with the other two sisters and did divisions. It was so awesome! I really loved being able to get back to work again and not have to think about all the dumb living things. Hermana Peterson made me think of me my first transfer she did a lot of the same things I did when I felt like I couldn’t speak Spanish. But we taught together and it was awesome! We had like 7 lessons with a member, 3 other lessons, 14 new investigators and 3 programados. We also were able to help some struggling invetgiators come to some decisions about where they are headed. The spirit was super strong all day, and it was a great blessing for me to be able to work with this sister- she is a sweetheart and is always working really hard. It was definitely a change too to be here rather than in santa fe capital where it would be more rare to even get let into a house. Hna Peterson and I found a family of 13, 11 kids, all super nice and well behaved. We said a prayer with them and they were all like shh, we need to listen. It was awesome! They are all 18 and younger and the sweetest ever. It was a really cool experience. Saturday the elders found a apt for us! We went and looked at it. Super tiny but really great price and good enough. We have nothing though… Then Sunday we went back to la paz and went to church were able to meet the members (the branch pte´s wife totally threw a curveball and we suddenly had the assignment to teach principles of evangelio, but it went really well) and then we were able to eat with their family too. It was really weird though to have four missionaries in the same branch! The members are super excited though I think because there have not been sisters in la paz for like 15 years or something like that. Anyway. Then Monday we went back to work again finding good deals on beds and fridges and stuff and today we have been able to figure some things out. But through all this we are spending more than 50 pesos a day to travel back and forth. We have no book of mormons to give out, we have no folletos. We have no phone and neither do our elders. We have NOTHING. Sorry it really got to me today. Not only that my comp is super depressed and is convinced she is going home. I feel a great burden right now to keep working and do all I can to keep her excited and share my testimony with her, but its really hard. Yesterday we were able to find a lot of people to teach in La Paz but, I was having to be the strength for both of us so that she would continue working, because she says she hates being a missionary. I know she has a testimony but she says it has gone away now. So then whenever we teach I feel like she just might be lying then. This is definitely a transfer of surprises thus far. Also we got money to buy things, but it is not sufficient. Ay yayay. Also there are about a million creepers in this town. Haha, a member from the other ward asked the elders when the ¨two blonde norteamericanos¨ were coming because he had a lot of refernces for us and wanted to go contact them with us. The elders were like alright lets go we can go with you , and then he said no no im too busy, and plus I have an appointment with the sisters. I have never talked to him…but there are a lot of cool places here. Our apt is right next to the port so we have this beautiful view of the river. We went tracting like halfway in the jungle yesterday, we saw a deer (the person had one for a pet) and a carpincho like a giant rat otter thing, it was actually really cute, and then also a lamb just like eating, tied up to a post.
Everyone here is from the campo and so their directions are terrible. Like the yellow house for este lado, with the fence. Its about three blocks from the big tree. AGH!! I hope we can find these people. There are also a bunch of legit gauchos walking around, with the hats pants and boots. Its rad. This place is so different than the City Santa fe, I love it so much. Im just sad we have a lot of distractions right now that are keeping us from the work. But, I do know this is the true church on the earth today. I know that jesus Christ is my Savior. I know that the power of God is in the earth and that it was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know obedience is absolutely important for everything we do. When we can show God we are humble enough to follow the example of His perfect son and the commandments he has mad to protect us, He will just bless us all themore. I have a very strong testimony of the principle of obedience. It is absolutely necessary for our growth and our salvation.
I love you all so much. Curtis you make me really proud, I am so stoked that you are such a rockin wrestler!! Nelson thats really cool you got to speak polish again, I am so excited that I can speak anoter language what a great blessing! I love you all so much. And sorry I seriously have NOT HAD TIME TO WRITE A REAL Letter. I m clearly a little frustrated by this. But I will do all I can to send some out soon. I love you guys!

Whitewashing! New year and new area.

Tuesday Jan 5, 2010

So every transfer I am convinced will be normal and without dramatic change. However I am continually proved wrong. hahaha.
So this next transfer will be quite an adventure. First of all, yesterday Elder Solis, an assistant called and we are going to have our area be white washed. so we have to make sure the area book is perfect and the apartment is shiny and new (which is very difficult considering our apt....haha) And i was like wow! and the Elder was like yeah and dont think its cuz your work was bad or anything, its just the Lord needs you in another place, and I was like ok..I didnt even think that until you told me. haha oh well. Our work wasnt super great to be honest. Thats ok.
So all day my comp and i were like ok who can be our comps, whats going to happen, me just thinking, whatever im just going to a new place and my comp will show me around whatever. nope, we found out last night from our district leader that we are both going to the same place, and we are white washing. I pray the elders before us had a nice pension and are going to clean it well. But holy cow! Im a little nervous! ut it should be good. I am grateful for the opportunity to be with my same comp (she is too she told me :) and the opportunity to prove ourselves mejor, with obedience and more hard work. I believe in the Book of Mormon with all my heart, and the counsel that is CONTINUALLY given is that if we are obedient to the commandments of God we will prosper in the Land. I know if I am more obedient and a better example to my comp I will be able to receive more help from the spirit and the Lord and ´prosper´in the mission- for example have way better dats. (and seriously the verses in the book of mormon that promise this prosperity, hay un monton! I never noticed until i started highlighting all the verses about obedience. But its crazy because yes the Lord will bless us with everything= but I also noticed that the people always turn wicked from these blessings. So we always have to check ourselves with pride. Im super stoked to go and check out a new area, we have already asked some people here what its like and they say its super beautiful, its a little pueblo and that its more dry! WOOHOO! i am so tired of being soaking wet. (ok sorry a little complaining snuck in there)
Alright so this new years was SO FUN. new years eve 4 sisters came to stay with us and there is no room in our apt, so there was someone sleeping on a desk and then me and hermana barriga slept on the floor. it was so fun to be able to see her again. i love her so much. we stayed up super late talking, one because of the uncomfortablemess of the floor, two for the NOISE! oh my gosh they turned up music so loud, our neighbors and were super drunk and there were so many fireworks it was crazy. we just stayed inside and tried to sleep. ha. so hermana barriga and i talked a bunch about our areas and the work. I love all of the best friends i have made here. I am super sad that my zone is changing. The missionaries in my zone here are so rad. i love them! All day new years day we went and played soccer and basketball and a little football. It was with 3zones and it was a blast. I also scored a couple goals. I was throwing around the foot ball with hermana Nalerio from uruguay, elder cristancho from colombia and elder quezada de peru. it was so fun, and cool to have friends from all these different countries. haha i sound so cheesy. alright so i have to go. but wish me luck. also mom i found some rockin shoes, so cheap and i got a suitcase my last transfer [she needed a bigger one - was determined to not take a really big one when she first went out, but came to realize she needed the space], and the package i had to pay for [she had to pay almost 300 pesos (about $80) to get her Christmas package!!- that's after I spent about $60 to mail it!!-Yikes!], thats why i have been spending money.... and i am going to the leather shop later today to order some cool scripture covers cuz the guy that does them for the whole mission is in our ward! let me know if there is anything else i can order because he does awesome work. and i want to get things like that for the family., alright

Hemana Barriga (aka 'Fiona') and Hermana Dunford

Christmas BBQ, answers to prayers, PICTURES!!

Pictures from Herman Bohning's camera that she emailed with this little note:

Hi sister dunford´s mom!!!!!!

This is sister Bohning. Your daughter is doing great and wanted to send you some pictures, but we only thought to bring my camera this week and not hers. I hope your family is doing well and enjoys seeing Carmen (and me..haha).
Thanks for the toffee recipe. And for sending me such a great companion!
Hasta luego!

Hermana Dunford and Hermana Bohning

Baptism

Delicious Argentina Barbeque on Christmas Day.
Wed Dec 30, 2009 email:

Hello and happy new year!!
I seriously cant believe that another year has passed already! its crazy. and that transfers are next week too...its nuts. I really hope I stay in this area with my same comp. I dont know if i should say that but, oh well. I think its good that every time I have thought that- at least it means I love my comp and my area!
ok a little funny thought for the day- on my phone call I said that everyone just tells me i´m fat to my face? [actually more like they allude to it, ie "here, have more to eat, obviously you like to eat!"] well luckily it hasn´t happened for a while. Anyway that's besides the point except now its going the other way. For example this man (super creeper as my comp called him) walked by so we started talking to him and talking about the gospel. I started feeling really uncomfortable because he was just STARING in my eyes. it was so weird. Anyway like always i asked if we could pass by in some other moment for his house [is this her spanish structure creeping in?] to share a message about a living prophet and the true restored church of Jesus Christ. He then said, i would only like to steal you away for five minutes so I could just keep looking at you, but nothing more. I was like uhhh,.... ok thanks here´s a folleto chau! haha it was pretty uncomfortable.
So lately it has been crazy rain season here. The other day we shared a message with some people on their porch and I began with a prayer. It was super sunny and hot. when I opened my eyes the sky was way darker and the wind had picked up immensely. It was crazy! Then it started raining. It is seriously like some scene from a movie. Like you just watch these dark clouds move SO fast and they cover the whole sky and then there is a terrible rainstorm. We have learned to always bring our umbrellas now even if its super hot sunny and cloudless in the morning.
So Christmas was super great, we had a huge asado. we borrowed this parilla, like metal grate thing, and then una chapa, like a chunk of an aluminum roof from Jesus Chiapello, the Elder´s quorum president in our ward, to have this huge outdoor bbq. It was so delicious. I have never seen so much meat for a bbq! and like good real meat too and chorizo, not burgers or anything. There is this Elder from Colombia- Elder Cristancho, the one that talked to you guys in english, that had this specialty colombian meat sauce he made that was so good, and he is going to give me the recipe. And we played soccer and some basketball, it was really fun. But I dont think i have ever been so hot or sweaty in my life. and it was so weird to have that on Christmas day.
So the other day we were feeling a little not so great, and we were about to teach a lesson with a member, and we were picking him up in his apartment, and i was like ok, I have got to pray or something to get the fire back. so we offered a prayer together and we went a taught this AWESOME Lesson. It really testified to me the strength of prayer and how quickly the Spirit can help us change the environment so that we can teach with power.

The thing also was that was had contacted a Romina and she was like yeah come back, and when we went back a different day the member that was with us, Pablo Martinez, this awesome super little guy that loves to teach and speak english, was like hey I think she is a member! anyway she wasn´t home. But we were in the same area with Pablo again when we prayed to get the Spirit and I was like hey lets go for Romina again, and we went, she wasnt there but her sister Rocio and her brother Dario were and they were both baptized, there whole family was but they hadn't gone forever because their mom stopped going and so Rocio hadn´t gone in like10 years since she had been baptized when she was 8. so we shared the story of Joseph Smith and the true chruch in the earth again today, and I could tell it was something they had been waiting to hear. Although they have been baptized, they now need the opportunity to grow their testimonies. They are going to pray and read and ask God about Joseph Smith. It was really neat too to share about how we can ask speciifc questions in our prayers to receive specific answers. Rocio was like wait what!? I want to receive answers from God. And we were like you can! and she was like I never knew that. I think everyone would be a lot happier if they could know about personal revelation and that God loves us and wants to help us. Rad. Also it was neat to see how well my compainon and I are teaching. there has been a great improvement in our unity of teaching and i feel like we are really directed by the spirit in what we share with the people. Unfortunately most of the people we teach dont want to get baptized or go to church o que sea. But we are finding new people constantly, or trying anyway, but its just a little frustrating to see this constant rotation or cycle I guess. we just keep getting newbies and then having to drop them becuase they arent progressing.
I also have been reading in the war chapters in alma agian but this time in Spanish. I really hope someday in Heaven we can watch all of these things on screen as they happened. Haha i just love these chapters they have all the good elements of an AMAZING movie, but with the awesome spiritual aspects that can change our lives! I also read in 3 nephi in the chpt about the war against the gadianton robbers. That is just powerful stuff!
I know this is the true chruch of God on the earth today. That the preisthood power is real. That the power of prayer is real. That we can be happy. That to have joy is God´s plan for us. I love this gospel and the peace, love, and blessings that I receive everyday from my Heavnely Father and form my Savior Jesus Christ.
I love you all so much and hope you have a rockin new year! do something so fun! like play beatle rock band all night! haha ok I am a little jealous of that....

pre-baptism rainstorm from Hades

Wed Dec 23, 2009

Hello. Well I really can´t believe that it is Christmas in two days. I´m accustomed to the way Christmas is in Los Estados. Entonces, Im just like yeah whatev right now. I think its pretty cool, because really the only thing here is that I can focus entirely on the reason we celebrate Christmas anyway. Like how they celebrate christmas here is a huge dance party christmas eve with drinks and fireworks. Im thinking I like the way i'm used to it better.....And they dont really say navidad either, they say ¨Va a quedar aca por las fiestas?¨ Its just a party here. Kind of sad. But its just presents in America right? But wow, to focus on the greatest present we could ever have makes me so happy, and humble. Once again I think of the song He sent His Son. The line, He sent His Son to die for us. Really, Christ was sent willingly to come and die for us. In Alma 38 14 it says (sorry i only have my spanish book of mormon) Si, reconoce tu indignidad ante Dios en todo tiempo. We have to always remember we are nothing without Our God, and we are nothing without the mercy of the everlasting Atonement. And because we are human, we are always unworthy. But we can change! We can become better everyday! That is the great Christmas message, the great gift we receive.
Well we had our ward activity on Friday and my companion and I were so preoccupied for the presentation we were assigned and the cakes we would take. So I went with the old chocolate dulce de leche and coconut flakes route. And we spent our stinking studies cooking three cakes! (We know that its difficult for many people to afford to bring food to a cena canasta y queriamos que hubiera suficiente) And we finally figured out what to do for the presentation. mom i had those awesome ornaments [paper nativity ornaments to color I sent in her package] and so we colored those, made a star, a manger, a sheep, and a donkey and found scriptures to explain that since His birth Christ has always been teaching us what we need to do to return to our Heavenly Father. I thought it was a rocking idea, my companion felt it a little juvenile, like for primary or something. igual we did it. So friday night we are working at like 6 and it starts raining nutso hard. but then stops at seven so we go home to get all the cakes and stuff and call the bishop (it starts at 730) and he says I dont know for the storm it might be cancelled, And I was like are you kidding me? Sorry but the rain here serioulsy stops life! its a little frustrating. But, he said no its ok its still on, and Carlos Atausupa, the first counselor in the bishopric said yes its still on we´ll see you there really soon. Ok so we show up at like 7:40. NO ONE ELSE SHOWS UP UNTIL 8:30. but they just went inside to practice a song for sacrament. so finally at 915 like 10 more families come. and I was like ok im sorry we have to go...It was a little frustrating. But Im glad that igual people went and could enjoy each others' company as a ward.
OK and the next night totally made up for it. It was the baptism of Nora and ANGELA!!!!! it was so amazing. WE went to get them at 5:15 to travel by bus to the stake center (it was supposed to be a white christmas baptism, but only one other set of mishes had a baptism, but oh well at least a lot of the elders were there so that we could have witnesses) Anyway so the rainstorm from Hades decided to happen in this moment. And it was raining SO HARD. when it rains here the taxis dont go, like they dont answer their phones you have to hope to reach one in the streets. Anyway so we walked to the bus stop like 6 blocks away, with an 7 month pregnant woman and a really heavy 4 year old that can't really walk and rivers, literally rivers, in the streets that we had to trudge through. I was laughing so hard. I was using like a plastic sheet to cover my head, while carrying Ulysses. I got soaking wet. But we arrived. And the baptism was Fantastic. IT was so spiritual. After the baptism Angela and Nora both bore their testimonies. and they were so strong. Angela was just like im so happy! i feel light and i know i made the right choice. Then Nora at first didnt want to get up and bear her testimony but then she was like elder is it ok if i say something from here? and he was like yes of course. Anyway she said, I had a dream that i was supposed to get baptized and i didnt know what it meant, but now I know. I know this is the right path for me. And she was crying and i was crying. It was so powerful. And then what an adventure to get home! my comp and i waited like 25 minutes before we realized a bus wasn't coming, and then the lady that was waiting with us was super nice and we luckily found a taxi and went together and I taught her the restoration! haha it was awesome. She doesnt live in our area though. but we definitely already passed on her information. It is so cool to see the little things that happen and how it turns out to be an awesome opportunity to share the gospel. Also this guy that we invited to church randomly in the park came! it was so cool. My comp felt that we needed to contact him so we did but he was really weird and like it didnt seem like was going to fruit anything. But he came to church for all three hours and had like a million questions! it was awesome. he tampoco is in nuestro area. bueno i have to go now. But i CANT WAIT TO TALK TO YOU ON FRIDAY! woohoo! Ok and now i think it might be at like 11 or 12 your time. We are having a bbq on the beach as missionaries in the morning. im sorry i really hope thats ok! ok love you all. merry christmas!!!

Love the Christmas package!

Wed Dec 16, 2009

oh my gosh mom, the package was so amazing!! thank you thank you thank you!! the clothes are so perfect, everything. you know me so well. and yes of course i already opened it all!! and my companion wants a toffee recipe. so yeah could you please send that for next week?
So sweet. This week we have a baptism! a beautiful young mom angela who just got married (its so crazy cuz she is only 22, has two kids 4 and 2 and is about to have her third and the four year old has epilepsy, we are just in such different places her and i). anyway and her mom too! we are going to start working with the husband, norberto. Anyway they are super strong and fieles. I am so excited for them, they had their interviews today and passed!
It is so crazy to be working in a ward now, we had ward council and I was just like agh crap I dont know what to do, i dont know how to work with a ward?! Anyway. We have a christmas dinner this friday and my comp and i are trying to cook up something good to show the ward a good time. its tough sometimes they are always talking about the old missionaries and how funny or nice or animated they were. which im like, hey im pretty darn animated. its cool though, i feel like I already have a lot of good friends here in this place. i love all the people i meet. missionaries, investigators, ward members. it's so neat.
yesterday we shared a message with someone who hasn't been to church in a really long time because she cant stop smoking and can't take the sacrament. anyway we promised the Lord will help her and we started reading in 3 ne 18 about the importance of the sacrament and anyway i kept reading and i was like oh the next verses are so good its talking about how if Christ is our rock we can overcome the gates of hell. yeah totally misunderstood but realsized a litte too late., anyway so i had her read them, she was like wow son fuertes. I was like oh my gosh I dont want to tell people they are going to hell!! haha anyway so I turned to helaman 5 12 to see the blessings of having Christ as our rock. it turned out well. but it was like a terrible feeling to share something asi and then realize it was the exact opposite of what i wanted to share just because i skimmed the verse and didnt understnad the spanish well.
Anyway my companinon and i received some extra strength to start fresh and be hard working. and its much better now. I love my companion a lot, I think because i understand her so well, i was just in her shoes of wanting to go home.... Anyway But it was funny a member of the ward who served a mission como hace 3 anos found out that we both have such little time [as missionaries so far] and he was like man if the mission pres wasn't a member i would have said he was drinking to have made a decision asi. I was like haha yah thats what i thought when i found out. but then he said no it really must mean you were just really prepared well. I guess so... i still dont feel like it, but i know with the help of the Lord and the power of my calling I can be a powerful teacher of the word of God. what a blessing. I love testifying to all the people that I know this is the true church on the earth today- that the same church that Christ established was restored by a prophet of God!
ok i love you so much and i am going to call on christmas day como a las 10 en la manana your time. great. I will write again next wednesday. love you so much! chau

Hurray for fumigation.

Wed Dec 9, 2009

OK this is going to be a super short letter.
Alright this week was pretty uneventful. But a huge miracle hapened. I complained a little to my mish president about the bugs in my house and he hired someone to come and fumigate it! and so now there are just dead bugs! it is much much better. I really felt the love of the Lord and of the Mission President in this moment.
Mom thanks for the letter and dad too. Tell curtis good job and that i need to join him in his diet. [he is working to get down to 189 for wrestling] Tell mary to keep up the institute! Good job with the race dad and lauren! [They ran the 'Colder Boulder' 5k together] I'm super proud of you guys! good job with the christmas house mom! i really really really wish i could be there to see it. its like my favorite thing ever. Also, we have to go to bed at normal time on christmas, and here they celebrate it at like one in the morning. so we won't be doing anything with members. Sorry! im trying to ask people what their traditions are....but they say they eat and dance in the middle of the night with fireworks.
Also i should be getting my pakage friday at zone conference. thanks mom!!!
I love you all. One thing that has been really helping me. is the book of mormon. With real study in it every day I am realizing the importance of daily study, righteousness and the atonement and the spreading of the gospel. I compel all of you to read it as well.
Sorry this letter isn´t very good.
I love you all
hermana Dunford

Santa Fe, New Companion, BUGS!!!, summary of lost email.

Wednesday December 2, 2009

Hermana Dunford and her new companion, Hermana Bohn...?

This is me and my new comp. and ok it took me forever to up load it!

Ok so I just wrote this awesome good email that was really spiritual and good and i was so excited to send it and my session timed out or something and it deleted everything. im angry now
Heres a summary: there are a million cockroaches in my apartment, and a billion spiders EVERYWHERE. they are all really big. I am scared constantly
Im really inadequate as a missionary. we dont have investigators. we live next to a beautiful river. we have a chapel and the ward is nice. I can know what i need to do because of the spirit, thanks to 2 ne 32: 1 through 5. my companion is good, we both dont really understand spanish very well. People cried when i left my last area.
I feelweak and dont know how to do anything but i am just trying to be worhty of the spirit through obedience.
I love you all.
Hermana Dunford
I know that this church is true.

[here is a an additional bit about why the bug issue is so bad for her -this was in her note to me]: AGH!! and serioulsy mom the bugs are really an issue. now 5 times in the mish i have had nightmares where I wake up screaming about like a spider in my hair or somthing. last night i fell out of my bed. (im in a bunk) it's so embarrassing. but it was so real my dream. I just sat there and cried, luckily my comp was super nice. I dont know. I dont know what to do. I know there are bugs everywhere but it is seriously bad here.

Senior Companion - AUGH!

Tuesday November 24, 2009

OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am going to be senior comp. I cannot believe it. I am going to be in my third transfer nothing more! AGH!!!! I am so scared.
haha ok I had to get that out.
OK but seriously. I am wondering what I have to learn. Like why am I going to be senior comp already? I´ve got a lot of growing to do i guess....I am going to Santa Fe, and I am pretty sure that my companion I know from the MTC and she is super nice. and already knows spanish thank heavens because she worked in a law firm in guatemala for a year or somthing. But yeah cuz i still dont understnad spanish very well. For example we were teaching yesterday and the lady was like yeah i have a terrible sin after we explained that baptism is for the perdon of sins. Anyway she went on to explain what it is and I was like ok whatever i dont understnad. After the lesson my comp told me that she killed her husband!! agh. But whatever I guess if the Lord trusts me to do it, I can do it.
Ok this week was really different. But also very good because I feel like I learned a lot. We had a district activity and it was so good. the elders in my district are so awesome. I am really going to miss them. There is a program here in Argentina called Casi Angeles (almost angels) and so we did a skit called casi Elderes. It was so funny. we incorporated a lot of things from the culture. Like the elders went to the boliche on saturday night, and then said they couldnt go to church in the morning because it was raining. and then one elder was drinking mate during his talk. It was hilarious. For my talent with my comp we did Hakuna Matata. NO one really thought it was funny. but oh well. Hahah anyway, after the elders did somthing else too. they lip synched to a song by Il Divo. it was so hilarious. Regres a mi. Return to me. I laughed SO HARD. Also the grandson of my branch president danced to billy jean exactly like michael jackson. it was hilarious.
Ok so sunday, we went to a baptism and it was so good. Haha i made brownies with dulce de leche and coco again and everone scarfed them! haha everyone told me that i had to make a double batch the next time, and then another lady told me that i am going to be able get married after the mission. thats good to know. haha. The man that got baptized bore his testimony and it was so strong. He said that he wasnt sure if he had a testimony of the prophet. but right before his baptsim he watched a question and answer session in argentina with Elder Bednar. I got to watch a little part of it too. it was so good. Anway this guy said he know that Heavenly Father answers prayers because he received a testimony right before his baptism that he was an apostle of the Lord.
I know too that Heavenly Father answers our prayers. Elder Bednar answered a question about how it is to be an apostle of the Lord and he said he felt completley adequate. Exactly the words I want to use to describe how I feel as a missionary. But he said that no matter what happens the Lord will help us do anything, if we put our trust in him. It hit me so strong. I too know that Elder Bednar is an apostle of the Lord and that the preisthood of God is back on the earth again today.
We were listening to my ipod and the song how could the father show the world played. I really ask all of you to listen to it or read the lyrics. They are so simple and so powerful. I felt the spirit so strong. Right now its my comp and my theme song. she is trying to learn it in english.
Another thing that happened is that i was reading in Helaman and read three verses that really made me feel the comfort from God that He loves me and wants me to be happy. It was so cool!! Because I had just prayed specifically justo antes that i could find scriptures to help me feel better. I know that if we can pray for specific blessings we will receive them.
I know that this work is of the Lord, and because it is His work He will help us. I know now more than ever that the Book of Mormon is true. I know it was written specifically for me. I love to know that and feel that comfort in my life. I know obedience is the key to feel happy in this life.
I love you all. Happy Thanksgiving! Its this week right?
haha i cant believe that christmas is in a month cuz it is still SO HOT HERE. :) and so humid. everything is wet. all the time. haha ok. this isn´t a complaint, its just factual information.
My comp served in santa her first area. she told me it has a heat that is unbearable. welp i guess we´ll see! haha ok love youall.

HUGE cucarachas and the lady with eighteen dogs. Yikes! But YAY for a BAPTISM.

Wednesday November 18, 2009

So Last Friday we had a baptism! Everything went well and it was a real spiritual treat. I am so glad that Cynthia realized the blessings she can receive from being a member in the true Church of Jesus Christ.
My companion and I made a cake for the baptism. and a miracle happened. haha we made the cake and it was super dry, and we couldnt get it out of the pan. but with the cake fell in two pieces bottom and top, and then we scraped the bottom out, so to put it back together we used dulce de leche but it looked really shady. haha. and then we put a bunch of dulce de leche on top and used coconut on top. the coconut here is so little it looks like parmesan cheese. but since it was SO HOT, the duluce de leche started to melt and we had to put it in the fridge. Ok so i was really sad thinking that the cake was a disaster and that it was going to be really embarassing. but we went and after the baptism everyone started eating and everyone asked who made the cake? it is so good!! somehow it was super moist and really really delicious. en serio, un milagro. something really little but it meant so much to me, that it turned out. Cuz yes i was praying.
Cynthia´s dad made it just in time to after work (he works for an ambulance) to baptize her, and he had to do the ordinance three times! luckily she was super good mannered about it all. Her dad said, she had too many sins, i had to do it three times! it was a good laugh.
The weather here affects EVERYTHING THE PEOPLE DO. its kind of frustrating acutally, if there is rain, nobody does anything. So yeah friday night right before the baptism it rained un monton! so nobody came except the families, but it truly was really beautiful, I am so grateful that everything turned out well, cuz i had no idea what i was doing!
So there is a woman we are teaching and she has 18 dogs. its nuts! I dont know if i already talked about her. But she knows each one of them by name. Everytime we pass by the dogs go nuts and are everywhere. My worst nightmare basically... haha not really, but yeah. Its crazy that the mission so far has taught me to be more tranquil, like whatever happens happens. I am still trying to get used to being soaking wet with sweat however.
For lunch we eat meat and pasta or salad. The salads here are shredded carrots, tomatoes, salt, hardboiled eggs, and oil. or some sort of mixture of those kinds of things. very different! But usually pretty good. and they put bread in the middle and everyone just pulls off a chunk and use the bread like a shovel. entonces, i am eating way too much bread ;).
There are bugs. HUGE cucarachas. Fortunately not any in my apt todavia pero en la calle siempre. La otra dia habia una araña grande en las espalda de un contacto. My companion just like went over to her knocked it down and stomped. But yeah i am trying to get used to seeing bugs all the time.
We were returning to the apartment (pensh) and i looked down and there was a huge cockroach on my shirt. it scared the crap out of me! so i screamed and hit it off and we were in the middle of the street. I really need to learn how to control my fear of bugs.........my companion got a kick out of it though! everyday many things happen that just make us laugh alot. it is usually my naivete with the culture and the language. The spanish is still a huge struggle. But whatever, I can teach, so thats what I focus on. But sometimes i speak in spanish and throw in english words. right now its my focus to not say 'like' anymore during lessons. Already there has been a huge improvement!
haha. its fun to to help my companion with english, there is a program that the latin missionaries have to do, so i get to be an english teacher. I never knew how difficult it is to explain some things, like phrases that we say all the time but really cant translate. that is how things are in spanish too but luckily Im getting the hang of it better.

Also WE ALMOST GOT THE STANDARDS THIS WEEK!!!!! agh we lacked ONE person in the church. and we seriously did todo posible para tener cinco en la capilla. it was super frustrating again. But oh well.
I know that Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restauration and that the same church that Jesus Christ Established is back on the earth!
What a great blessing. Almost everytime we teach the first lesson, I can feel again the Spirit testify to me of these things.
I hope that we always strive to build our testimonies and feel the Spirit everyday. It's important to know these things are true so we can know that the priesthood is on the earth and we can be sealed with our families for eternity! And always live in a state of happiness (mos 2:41)
Its also important so that we know the choices we make now affect our eternity. we need to remember the duration of eternity. (Enos 1:23)
Ok i love you all!
Until next week!