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Atlantic ocean in Angola (taken by Sister Merrill)
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Month of January
Hi Family and friends! I have really enjoyed worked with Elder Yeanopolus and things are going great and we are working hard. This area is big and we are walking everywhere and we walk on sand all day long. We are teaching some cool people like Geraldo and Linda who are just finishing up with their documents for Marriage and want to get baptized, Geraldo left the province to his birth province to get his documents, we are hoping for a miracle so that they will be able to get the paperwork so they can be baptized soon. Nelo, he has been investigating the church for the past 6 months, he has a strong testimony. He is trying to get permission from his mom to get baptized as he is 17.
I found out that I will be flying home from London alone, so that will be a long flight. On New Year's Day we played soccer. I am living with 3 Elders Elder Quezada who is from Mexico and Elder Almeda who is from Angola and Elder Yeanopolus from the States.
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Elder Almeda
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I worked with Elder Almeida when he was just a member in Viana, so that was cool to meet up with him again. I also had a division this week with Elder Domingos whom I served with in Lubango. It was great to catch up with him and walk together probably for the last time. Church was great as well, I really like the Bemica Branch. This area has huge houses and so its a bit of a change from walking on the trash through the poor neighborhoods to now walking on the sand in the rich neighborhoods. I guess the closer you get to the beach the more wealthy people you can find.
We had our Zone meeting, which will be my last, it is nice to be with Elder Yeanopolus as we are on the same page as far as working. We met a guy who is a doctor here and were able to teach him the first discussion on the Restoration, it was a great experience and very peaceful. We are hoping to meet with him again soon. We were able to use the internet at one of the sister's homes in the Branch, which is nice because we do not have to pay for it! She made us food, pizza and noodles.
President and Sister Merrill are awesome! We are currently at the President's house right now and Sister Merrill is making lunch for us and then we are going to have a Zone activity.
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Eating at Zone Conference
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With the Zone
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Also we have another lady, named Victoria who is living with a member Jose and they are planning to get married next week so they can be baptized. It seems like we are always having to wait on Marriage Documentation in order for couples to be baptized here in Angola its an on-going situation.
One of our members named Jose almost died this week, twice. He got Typhoid fever and his blood turned very dark and his whole body pretty much shut down. His wife Victoria started pouring cold water on him in the bathtub. He was taken to the Hospital and barely made it, but he is pretty tough and made out alright. We have been visiting him daily, he could literally go at any moment. He has been sick off and on. We happened to show up at his house the day he almost died, he told us that today was supposed to be the day of my funeral.
I gave my farewell talk here in Sacrament meeting yesterday at church. I talked about the importance of serving a mission. I know I will be giving my homecoming talk in Sacrament meeting there soon too.
Luisa from Lubango came up to Luanda as her mother had passed away. She called me and wanted to meet up. I got to see her one more time and give her a hug goodbye. That really made my week. Seeing people from Lubango really means a lot, especially that family, they are my favorite family by far...her kids are so fun and they always ask the best questions. I love a good question! She also gave me a gift to give to you, mom.
Well that is the main news for the area and the Missionary work that is going on here right now, we are still in the hot season...their summer so I am looking forward to some cold weather there. I am so excited to see all of you again as I prepare to leave next week.
Love Elder Dunkley
