Jorge....what it's like for others to go through the process of Baptism...

Sunset in Lubango

Hi family! It is a bit rainy over here!  We woke up with the power out and raining hard.  I love the sound of the rain waking up.  First off, Mom I can’t believe you broke your finger in Cancun.  And that is great that you were able to go back to the Orphanages again.  Those iguanas looked cool, they have big lizards here and the other day one almost attacked Elder money!  I think my hand needs to be re-broken or something it hurts when little kids pull on it, we will just see when I get home.  It happened my first transfer here and it swelled up pretty big, but no need to worry.  I listen to the song “Have I done any good in the world today, such a great song, the mission makes me realize the important things that matter, and that is mainly doing what is right and being happy.  I am down here with some great missionaries and we talk a lot and are very close.

This week was absolutely fantastic Elder Money and I saw the miracles of the mission.  We also have a new Elder , Elder Garn  who flew to Angola with me!  He is replacing Elder Wilhelm who is going home.  We prepared Jorge for his baptismal interview, and he passed the pre-interview with flying colors, he has made so many changes in such a short period of time than I have ever seen anyone do on my mission.  We have such a strong connection with him.  I feel he is one of the reasons why I am here in Lubango.  Lessons come easy but progressing investigators are very hard to find.  Thank goodness Jorge showed up!  I want to come back here in 10 or 15 years and see him and his family.  It’s going to be awesome!  Elder Wilhelm gave his interview and was blown away, he asked if President Marques could baptize him and that his friend Henricks, who introduced him to us, to confirm him a member of the church.  So this Saturday and Sunday will be such a neat experience.  I honestly can’t wait for him to become a member of the church, it is going to be awesome.  He talks with President Marques all the time and they have a great relationship, so it will be a wonderful change for him to become a member. 

We also met an older man named Teodoro who has a lot of questions, but they are some of the best questions I have ever received on my mission.  Sister Lassalet from Luanda called and said that a member Juaquin Gonsalves was in the Hospital and we left to give him a blessing and what a miracle that Teodoro was in the bed next to him!  We explained to him about Priesthood blessings and he was able to witness the blessing we gave Jauquin.  We couldn’t believe what a blessing it was that Teodoro was there.  When a miracle like this happens you get a confirmation that you know that it was meant to be.  So awesome!  With Joaquin hey found out that he had 2 blood clots in his brain and had to have brain surgery he is now recovering and  doing OK.

We are still teaching the Primary and the Youth each week, we are excited for Jorge to hold a calling in the church!

Playing with the kids on the street

So another week has gone by and it was another great week of miracles.  Everything played out the way the Lord intended and the way we had planned also.  So Jorge and Elder Money and I were talking with Jorge at his house and we were in his living room and then after the lesson we came out and in front of his house facing outside the door there was the prettiest rainbow… ever, that I had seen here in Africa!  We pondered for a moment and talked about the rain and how it cleanses the earth and then comes the rainbow.  Jorge was like, that’s a sign from God,  symbolizing my baptism.  We smiled and were like yes it is…it was a wonderful moment.  I love Africans because they take time to feel and notice the signs of God and really listen.

On Saturday we got Jorge there and ready for his Baptism.  President marques was going to baptize him and Jorge was very nervous and he was emotional.  We got the font filled and Jorge changed into his white clothes and we were about to start but we couldn’t’ find Jorge.  So we went  looking and I went into the room behind the Baptismal font and I found him in the dark room praying and it was the first time I realized and felt what it’s like for another to go through this process.  I walked with him and felt something different about Jorge something I didn’t notice before.  It was an incredible experience.

Jorge was now baptized and after the Baptism, Elder Money and I sat in the front of the Chapel and reflected on how Jorge joined the church.

Some kids were playing soccer in front of us so we joined their soccer game with the flat ball as the sun was going down and just enjoyed it. 

I love Lubango so much.

River in Lubango

Jorge was confirmed a member on Sunday and it was a remarkable day.

I know that the Lord works in marvelous ways, and it’s not my will, but it is always His.  I know that He can only touch the hearts of our investigators, as He touches mine, a testimony I’ve learned is something that keeps on growing and doesn’t stop, I am so grateful to be here in Lubango, this is my favorite branch. 

I have never felt closer to the Lord and the members than here.

Wherever you care may the Lord watch over you.  I love Angola and I love my mission.

Love, Elder Dunkley  

Arafat...Zola...Broken fingers?

Pano (cloth) Angolan material they made my tie with!

I’m feeling much better now, I don’t know what I had, and I wasn’t able to go to the Hospital. I don’t know them as well as the ones in Luanda, anyways it’s all good now, and I just hope that I never get sick again.  The tie I was wearing at the Baptism in the photos is actually an Angolan pano (cloth) that is very traditional among everyone here. I bought the cloth and asked an Angolan lady at a market if she could make me a tie and a shirt and pants, she did a great job!! It’s straight up Angolan! Really cool! So Domingo who was just baptized is really humble and he is so excited to be a member and Jorge we have been working on still and he has changed so much he should be getting baptized here in a couple of weeks.   So, Dad actually Elder money and I taught the youth the same thing this week!! music!! Ha-ha... We are on the same teaching schedule! We read the hymns and talked about them and read scriptures of why it’s important to sing. I was thinking the other day of how much I miss music, I heard some Billy Joel here and it made me really miss home! I miss the classics too... and Journey and I miss drumming a lot. This week was a lot better than last week... being that I wasn’t dying of some African sickness haha... Well so we had some changing events this week, particularly in one investigator named Jorge.  Elder money and I have noticed that he has changed immensely, and is completely a different person.  That is exactly what the atonement of Jesus Christ does for each of us in our lives, it takes us and strips us of our natural defenses and shows who we truly are. It’s something that as watching my investigators go through encourages me to change more with them each step of the way.  He has gone from being a drunk and a drug user, to a completely new life. Even in our last lesson with him he told us his friends said to him “Jorge you are a completely new person”.   He understands the scriptures at a level that most Angolans don’t get, he is truly elect, and if you would have asked me if I thought he would have joined the church when I first saw him, I would have never even guessed.  It goes to show that the Lord has taught me that I don’t know what a person can become, but the Lord knows and I should not judge because they are Heavenly Father’s children, and he knows their full potential, just as he is doing with me.  So he is pressing on very strong and it seems that he will be baptized this next month! We are very excited; he will be a strong member.

Marketplace

Elder money and I have been helping out a lot of people with talks lately, it seems like when a member is going to give a talk they will call us and ask for help, we have pretty much been writing every talk... hahaha... but that is what it’s like when the church is so small, we have to be the force behind driving it until it is self sustainable. Well it’s funny, because we get there and they say you don’t have anything to use for my talk and we always say, well do you have a Book of Mormon, and they say yes and we say that’s all you need. They are always so shocked but we help them with the scripture study guide.  I can’t wait for the Branch to spilt and eventually have more and then a Stake and on and on... but that will only come with time. This week it also rained a ton, thank goodness Mom that you sent those shoes because I don’t think mine will last the rest of this week!  We also got our water heater fixed! It’s been about 6 weeks that we have gone without hot water! So that was really nice, we are also still waiting on our bikes, but we should be getting them soon.  It is so great to see someone’s life change and it is such a blessing, I can always find one thing, (blessing) that the Lord wants me to know he has given me each and every week, and this week it was Jorge, this Wednesday we will be going over to his house to cook lunch for him, we just found out he doesn’t have a Father or a Mother. His Mom died when he was 7 and his dad left him after that, so he has grown up with no one and it brings him down sometimes, emotionally. He is an amazing person and has come so far in his progression in such a short time, don’t give up on anyone, especially the ones that you love, Also Mom don’t freak out but I may need surgery on my hand, I think I broke 2 fingers when I was in Cassequel (Luanda) and I got an x-ray at the Hospital and the Doctor said it was fine, but it grew back wrong and I’m pretty sure I’m going to need it re-broken, but anyways I can probably do that back at home.

Dad that is so cooolllll! I can’t believe Brother Johnson videotaped Kito and Miloca, I LOVE THEM!!! Ahh I will try to watch the video but, I don’t have head phones, I’ll try to find someone here who has a pair. I’m so excited for you and the trip you guys are going to do in Cancun!! soooo awesome!

We had several spiritual experiences, Elder Hyde and I. He is an AP Assistant and we set a goal to find a new family, and so we knocked doors and we found a nice humble guy named Arafat and when we sat with him he had told us that he had said a prayer that morning for God to send him a sign and we showed up, so awesome! He has three kids and is separated from his wife and has tried to commit suicide 3 times now, so we got there just in time and so we are praying that his heart will be softened.

Also Elder money and I found another guy whose name is Zola!  He has such a nice house, Portuguese built, on the mountain. We sat with him and he straight up opened with us he told us he needs our help. He is 25 and married and has a kid on the way, about 5 months. He explained to us his temptations and the things that bother him. So we are going to help him straighten up his life... he also drives an Infinity! Also Elder money and I just got transfers and we will be staying a 3rd time together... 18 weeks with a companion is a long time, but we are excited at least to be out of the heat of  Luanda.. Anyway such a wonderful week and at the start of this new transfer we have 2 awesome new investigators already.

 I wish you all the best week... ate proximo! chau chau!! Elder Dunkley

Statue in Lubango