God Truly Shapes us!‏

Hola!

Primero...(First) Happy Birthday Hunter! and good luck Hunter, Jonah, and Kim Carr on your missions! so excited to read about all of your experiences!

Anyways to this week. We had to say goodbye to Presidente and Hermana Ghent this past week which was really sad because they have been so helpful.  This past week we had a follow up with them on our training in the mission and preisdent Ghent said that I have been able to learn a lot out here and that my Spanish is really good. I am not quite sure he has heard my Spanish...but my companera understands me so I guess we are good? haha anyways he was really helpful and was able to tell me some aspects of the language I can study and so I was really excited because I have been needing someone to tell me what to learn and focus on because aveces I have no idea where to start! haha.  But, we welcome to the mission President and Sister Christensen and their daughter Katie this week! We have an opportunity to have a meeting with the president within the first couple of weeks that he is here to get to know him, but as president Ghent taught us the moment our president stepped on the soil and recieved the passing of the cell phone he was sustained president of the mission. haha  So we don´t really have any large meetings or anything right out on the bat.  Anyways really excited!

Entonces...opps so this past week we had the chance to take two of our investigators on tours in the church and wow the Spirit was really strong.  This was the first time I had been through a tour with an investigator and it went really well.  Anabel is blooming and my companion and I can truly see her growth in the knowledge of this gospel.  She is so intelligent and wants to know so much.  She also knows this church is true so we are looking forward to her baptism in 2 semanas (weeks)!   The second investigator has been a little more difficult because he has challenges with the Book of Mormon.  He has attended our church for 1 year with his girlfriend and he really likes aspects of our church more than any others, specifically the Catholic church, but he continues to struggle with the Book of Mormon because he relies a lot on the Bible which is amazing, but it means he doesn´t want much to do with the book of mormon.  When we had the tour with him it was so spiritual and the Spirit testified to my companion and I as we listened to his prayer that he knows this church is true. So we will see how he continues. 

One of the many blessings of my mission has been that I have changed so much in 2 short months.  I don´t even know how to explain it.  One scripture that I read today and really liked showed me a little bit into how the Lord works and shapes us it is Doctrine and Covenants 101:1-5  “Verily I say unto you, concerning your brethren who have been afflicted, and persecuted, and cast out from the land of their inheritance—I, the Lord, have suffered the affliction to come upon them, wherewith they have been afflicted, in consequence of their transgressions;  Yet I will own them, and they shall be mine in that day when I shall come to make up my jewels. Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son. For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified.”  I really thought this was interesting because it reminded me of the example people use of how so much pressure has to be put on coal for a diamond to be created right? So if this is what is done to make an amazing or marvillosa diamond come forth, than it makes sense that God would do the same to shape his servants.  He wants us to return to him and the only way we can do that is if we experience hard things, because these hard things shape us into the better people who serve more, share more, and most importantly love more.  I am very grateful for my companion.  She has shown me what it means to give your all to others and really just to forget about yourself.  I have found when I don’t think about myself my Spanish is so much better.  Sometimes it is funny, but it is really just God teaching me.  So as the scriptures say and as our leaders say serve others because you are serving God. But also love others so you can show your love for God.

Thank you all for your emails and your prayers and your love and advice.  I have really loved learning from my family in the states as I learn out here as well. Please continue on and share your experiences with me as I share my experiences with you all! I would love to hear what it is like for you all as you share with others too!

As always, Le Amo de Quito

Hermana Dunkley

Rollercoaster Ride‏

I figured I would start out this email with an awesome photo for an awesome week! Today is offically two months in the misión so two things that are amazing, interesting, and awesome about Ecuador and the people.  Everyone in Ecuador greets with one kiss on the cheek.  It is awesome and you get used to it really quickly.  What you don't get used to is when a random guy in the street tries to kiss you on the cheek and you don't know what to do so you make sure there is a lot of space between your faces hahaha.  Second thing is that the people of this country love there country and whenever there is a futbol game you can tell by the swelling amount of people who wear there jerseys and you can tell when they win because all of the cars in the streets honk their horns like a billion times.

Anyways I think I have finally seen the rollercoaster affect of a misión.  Because this week I experienced so many highs and at the same time so many lows.  First the low.  We were finally able to serve someone last week and she is catholic and very patinent about her church, but when we taught her about prophets she was pretty interested and understood the importance of them.  Anyways this week we followed up with her and decided to share another message and we asked her if she would be willing to pray to know that this message is true....well she didn't really like that she told us how she respects all religions but doesn't want to change.  She believes that because the catholic church has been around longer than ours it is correct.  It was hard because after that lesson we knew we probably wouldn't be teaching her again.  

The good thing is that we met Anabel.  This is going to be the name of my first child I have decided...boy or girl....just kidding.  But Anabel has been so amazing.  We have only had two lessons with her, but she has such grand faith in Jesús Christ and in this church.  I truly felt guided by the spirit when I talked with her because everyday I have prayed for one el don de lenguas ( the gift of tongues ) and two the gift of discernment. (discernment is too complicated in spanish...) while we were teaching her I just felt at the end that I needed to ask her if she believed this church and our message to be true. And she said in spanish its true si i know its true.  Wow.  What an experience to truly see someone who has been prepared by the Lord to recieve this message.  It truly made me start to ponder my life and all that I have done.  At times I feel bad because I know I should have done more...like learn more piano because yes it is hard when your bishop asks you to play in church and you have no idea what the song is because it is in spanish...luckily I can just play the right hand the people of ecuador are very forgiving....and like pay attention when I was learning spanish...basically many things I have seen that I should have done differently.  But if there is one thing that I have done right in my entire life it is come on this misión at this time to this place.  Because truly there is a time and a place for everything. There is a reason we meet people, talk to people, and learn from people.  There is a reason we have challenges and weaknesses.  At times this can be extremly hard to understand the most asked question ever...WHY? but the importance is that we have been given the opportunity to learn and grow in this earth and our purpose here is to return to live with Him.  So endure to the end and count your blessings in the mean time.  Show your love for others as he has shown his love for you.  I love you all and miss you in a great way.  Because I am here where I am supposed to be with the people I am supposed to be with.

love from Quito,

hermana Dunkley

Waterfall in Ecuador

Pictures of Ecuador

Love from Ecuador

Ok first to answer my mothers questions of the week!  The weather is so funny here all the locals say that you have four seasons in one  day and it is totally true.  You never know if it is going to be really hot or really cold, but the good thing is that everything is interesting.  It rains about 3 to 4 days out of the week and usually it is just drissly so as long as my hair isn't straight we are good! Plus elevation is crazy high so I am fine when I'm walking but when we run I run like a grandma because I am heaving it is totally funny. So I live in this apartment that is 4 stories up in a little building.  It is actually quite large we have a small kitchen a huge living room and one room for beds and the other for closet, because girls need lots of space, and a bathroom it is really nice. Oh and lastly I feel awesome it is so funny I haven't gotten sick at all thanks to my Heavenly Father because if I was sick this first couple weeks it would be excruciatingly more hard. hahaha. And actually I take that back it is not funny because God has been on my side and supporting me the way I need to be supported this entire time.

Ok now to the good stuff.  Well as expected this week was extremely hard, but it was extremely rewarding, and extremely joyful. Today we went to a waterfall and it was the coolest experience hiking up in the mountains of Ecuador.  I have a ton of pictures!!!  It is so different being in the work and learning and growing and being in a place where at times you have no idea what is going on or what people need from you, but the blessing I have is that I love this people so much.  One funny thing that is a blessing in disguise is here I am gringita to everyone.  There are some Ecuadorians with white skin, but they are really surprised when they see me.  One chica called me barbie and I almost cried in gratitude....haha just kiding.  But it is a blessing because it has pushed me to talk more.  They have more curiosity with me and they want to hear me talk and so I just start talking even if it doesn't make sense and they just say si to be nice...haha.

 But one quote from President Thomas S Monson that has helped me get through the week is this," Love is the very essence of the gospel, and Jesus Christ is our exemplar.  His life was a legacy of love.  The sick He healed, the downtrodden He lifted, the sinner He saved.  At the end the angry mob took His life. And yet there rings from Golgotha´s hill the words" Father, forgive them for they know not what they do" a crowning expression in mortality of compassion and love."  When I read this quote I remind myself that I need to continue to look out of myself and my lack of abilities in this language and as a missionary.  I remember the importance of doing your best to show love to your investigators and the members of your ward and really to every person you pass by on the street.  At times it is not easy, but in order for us to truly be like Christ we must try to do these things.  I love this work and even though it is hard for me to eat the entire plate every time we have mamitas and on some days a dread lunch...God has blessed me to eat the one thing that I do not like each day.  And also he has blessed me with members who understand that my stomach is small and are so kind to let me eat less haha.  I am also blessed to have rice everyday I never realized how much I love rice!!! haha.  But everyone will be proud of me to know that I have eaten an entire fish and shrimp and tomatoes...I still don't really like tomatoes or fish that much but I love shrimp when Hermana Cabrera makes it!!!....but it is so much better because I can do it!!! haha anyways what matters is that I have been able to teach people in Spanish and they have understood me.  And I have been able to teach with the spirit and witness the spirits work in other peoples lives.  I love this work and will never give up! Remember when you are down or troubled that there is one person who lived that has felt exactly as you have and more.

Si se puede! and my spanish word of the week is chistoso because as my companera explained to me comico is the gringo way of saying funny! so only say chistoso all of you!

Love From ECUADOR

Hermana Dunkley

 this is my new investigator his name is perezoso (LAZY)

Quito Ecuador Mission Home

Hermana Dunkley and her Mission President Ghent and Sis. Ghent

Chillogallo, Ecuador pictures

Hermana Dunkley and her two Companions

Chillogallo, Ecuador

Chillogallo, Ecuador

que bueno! It is Monday again! Wow well this week has been crazy.  There is nothing like your first week in the field.  Here are a few emotions crazy, nervous, loco, excitement, sadness, and humility.  I have probably had to experience some crazy hard things here just in the past week, but there is no place I would rather be!  I am in Chillogallo which is a sector really close to the Mission home in Quito.  I am still in Quito, but considering how long the city is 26 miles, it is no surprise that I am in Quito! My trainers name is Hermana Flores and she is from Bolivia! It is crazy because she only speaks Spanish, but the amazing thing is we can communicate even though it is difficult sometimes! She has helped me with so many things everyday we pick a new thing and learn how to say it in English and Spanish. She is so patient and I love her so much! We also got a new companion today Hermana Dominguez from Ecuador and she is going to be with us for two week maybe and then she will leave for Peru! Anyways the weather here is so cold.  I wear so many clothes in the night but during the day it is fine.  Anyways back to the important stuff.  It is amazing how different things are when you get into the field.  I don't know what I expected, but it is hard to come into a place and have to learn so much about your investigators, your members, cada persona.  It is so hard for me to see people who need help and mine and I can't tell them every little thing I would like to in their language, but I am learning.  Most importantly is that I can understand almost everything people say. And if there is anything I have learned so far it is that listening is extremely important. People are more responsive to others who listen.  But my first day in the field was crazy we had several lessons and we walked everywhere and I invited someone to be baptized and she said yes!  The blessing for me has been while I am talking to others and doing the work I forget what day it is and what I have done wrong and what I need to improve on and instead I remember to look outwards.  If there is anything I need to learn while out here it is to be more like Christ and stop thinking about myself.  I think one of the biggest weaknesses I have is that I often think of my own problems when I need to more importantly focus on my investigators needs from me.  I am so happy to be doing this work! And I cant wait to do more to help the people in the Mariscal Barrio! I love you all and remember that no matter what is going wrong in your lives DIOS LES AMA MUCHO.  God loves you so much and he desires you to turn to him so he can help you.  If there is any lifeline that I have found I cannot leave without it is his.  Buena Semana! Hasta Luego

Hermana Dunkley

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ECUADOR

Hola! we are in Ecuador!! Probably the most amazing thing to ever happen! Made it here safely with all of my bags so that is amazing!  We drove in through the most amazing hills and soon we will get to have pizza! so I am a happy camper!   My Pday will be on Monday and I will be able to talk to you more than! Here is the group I arrived with and My mission President! It has been such a crazy and wonderful week and I cant wait to tel you more about it! LES AMO MUCH

Hermana Dunkley

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Last day at the Mexico City CCM