For the last time

Well it is weird that it has gotten to this point. I say weird because the mission becomes a part of your life, where you think that everything that has ever been, everything that is, and everything that ever will be surrounds you with a companion, a plaque, and spanish speakers...in other words a mission. I feel so many mixed feelings to be honest, because it is so hard when you get to a point that you have to say goodbye to all those that you love here too. As I spoke with my stake president 18 months ago he told me," now it is hard to say goodbye to your family, but just imagine how hard it will be to say goodbye to your family in Ecuador, when you leave and without any surety that you will see them again." I can tell you that it is hard to say goodbye to people that you aren´t sure you will see again they become to have similar qualities like the members of your own family.
 

For example. Bryan. My convert. As I said goodbye to him I felt love and sadness. He became just like my older brother, in one moment my brother seems like a tough guy who will never cry or anything and then in the next moment my brother cries and I felt the same thing with my brother like I did when Bryan cried... He became just like my older brother and as they thanked me for what I did it became hard to realize that it was all going to end. 

Rosalia a member from my ward in ambato. She is like my two sisters and my mom combined. She has a little bit of every single one of them and as she said goodbye to me it was so hard. 

Alfonso...is like my dad. I say that because Alfonso told me one thing, I will talk to you soon and stay true to God. My dad has always been the steady person for me in my life.

I will miss them all, but I am so grateful that I can now see my family. So as I finish this all off I want to share the millioneth testimony as a missonary.

I know without a doubt that my savior lives, and I am so grateful for him. He has taught me so much and helped me to finally understand his gospel. I know that he truly atoned for me. I think I can finally understand that a lot better, but I still have so much to learn. I know that being a missionary is a great opportunity to serve the Lord and sacrifice a part of your life to more than just yourself it is a sacrifice that changes yourself and that helps so many others. I know that God sent me to Ecuador because I was meant to be here because I truly love every aspect of it all. I am so grateful to Him for what he has helped me to do. I promise to continue forward wherever life takes me. I know the church is true and that the gospel has been restored by modern day prophets today. I know that God will always be there for us even when we fall. Jamas olvidaré todo lo que he aprendido y jamás pararé de hacer como él quiere que haga.

I wish you all blessings and happiness in your lives. Dont forget what is the most important, your relationship with God in this life. I wish you all the best and hope to see you all soon.

For the last time 

Con mucho amor de Ecuador,

Hermana Dunkley

I am still seeing miracles‏

Well hi.....I mean buenas tardes ¿como están con todo? Espero que estén bien. 

I have had the most amazing week. It was so hard and we worked our butts off. 

One of the coolest things is that we recieved a call on Friday from a member to come and visit a family with them that night. It was a really awesome experience. I dont know I feel like God is giving me these last couple of moments as a gift.  Literally we found 4 new investigators in that home that night and they truly needed to listen to our message. Their home was so humble and I felt so filled with the spirit to talk to them about how they can have in eternal family. 

I was able to see another miracle. Our Investigator finally recieved his answer, and he told us that he knew it was true, but that he was going to go to the military and that he can´t be baptized right now, but that when he gets out for vacations in three months that he wants to be baptized.  That was like a shock to me. It hit me so hard, because I wanted to baptize him this week so bad, he was my hope for the end of my mission, but i know God has a plan for everyone and I know he will make this step later on in his life. 

I think sometimes we desire things so that wee look good in front of others or other prideful reasons, but honestly all this work is what God does. Everyone of the people I have had the privelege to help be baptized out here aren't because I taught them well or nothing like that, it is only because Christ used me to get to them. Everyone of them are Christ´s converts and I am grateful I had the privelge to be a missionary. I still have one more week and I think I will just testify to you all next week!!!

and tell you about the cuy that I am going to eat this weekend...pray for me people please. I dont know if i can do it alone. I need to leave Ecuador with my intestine still working.

Love you all!!!

Con mucho amor de Ambato,

Hermana Dunkley

Ambato, Ecuador

Well I was hoping to throw a lot of quotes in herre from conference, but they arent all loaded up yet, so there went my idea. haha. Conference was so amazing I loved it so much and I was so happy. It turned out to be a conference that really helped me out. I loved when they helped me to see what I need to do. I felt it was really cool that lots of them asked us to ask ourselves questions. It has made me ponder a lot in my heart. I loved the stories that they told and all of the advice they gave us. It was a wonderful experience being able to sustain 3 new apostles. I feel like they all gained our love when they shared those beautiful testimonies. I am so exited to keep trying to apply these things in my life. This next Sunday I have to share with my ward in Ambato how the mission has made a difference in my life....the thing is I dont know how to express there isnt one thing that hasnt changed...well to make sure that that makes sense I wanted to say that everything has changed about me in the mission. The amazing thing is that it has been a change so amazing and I can't wait to keep going. 

As the time goes down to coming home I have been thinking a lot about how I want to keep the changes I have made, and conference made it very obvious to me....the goal is exaltation, discpleship is a journey. We as disciples of Christ need to be on the right journey never stop, never weary.  Keep going. As I look back on all this time, thats what I think it has been a journey that never stops. Just the scenery changes sometimes. So as the scenery changes from here to there we must go and do as the Lord commands. I am grateful for all of you. I hope that you all will be okay and keep going on.

Con mucho amor de Ambato,

Hermana Dunkley