Miracles in NYC

HEY. Holy cow. A week packed with GOODNESS. It might have been one of my favorite weeks on my mission. I don't even know why... There was just so much goodness. So stay tuned ;)

Today is TRANSFERS. Aaaaaaaand... I'm staying in Manhattan!!  :)
And so is Sister Brown!! WOOO. We are so excited for this new cycle.
No more trio! No more being over two areas and two wards!! Back to
normal. Wow! I'm seriously SO excited for a new cycle.

Okay WHERE to begin. ..

YES! Yes yes. Richie!! Remember Richie? The one who works on Wall Street? We had the most perf lesson with Richie on Monday night. Lots of cool things were talked about and the spirit was there. Here are just a few cool things. So Richie said to me in this lesson, that something I had said in one of the previous lessons really stuck out to him. I was like "what? Uh oh. What did I say....?" And then GUESS what he said.... He said that when I said to him "maybe you are the one that lives in a bubble." it changed his WHOLE mind. Richie said he was just about to tell us in that lesson that he wasn't interested anymore and that he didn't want to waste our time. But when I "got all fired up inside" and explained to him how we aren't in a bubble, he had a whole new perspective. Richie was like thank you for opening my eyes. In my head I was jumping for JOY. I had no idea I had reached him in such a way. Our lesson was so good.


We asked Richie why he is continuing to meet with us. And what he
expects out of these "missionary visits" Richie said that the whole
reason he is meeting with us is because he was looking for something
more in his life and when he was walking by the temple he was like
wow. This looks amazing. And then came inside and there we were. He
laughed and then said "I honestly don't know why I am continuing to
meet with you... other than it makes me feel good." (#theSPIRIT is
working in him) RICHIE is so prepared. I think it's pretty stinkin amazing that he is willing to humble himself to learn more about the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He has all the money, anything he would ever want and here he is wanting to learn more. (Blessed is he for being humble without being compelled to be humble) I LOVE teaching Richie.

On Friday I got to go to Mission Leadership Council, (MLC) because
Sister Smith, who was our third companion, is a Sister Training
Leader. (Haha I always get put with the STL's) but I love it. President Morgan is a BOSS. I could listen to him speak all the live long day. He is so filled with the spirit and I just learn so much from him.

So I am currently reading the New Testament and I wish I could explain to you the insights I'm having. I LOVE the scriptures so much. I promise you when you STUDY the scriptures that is when you enjoy the scriptures. I used to never like reading my scriptures.. (#honest) .. But now that I'm literally studying them it's like my favorite thing. (Maybe that's just because I have zero entertainment right now so that's my entertainment hahaha.) but really my testimony is being so strengthened from daily scripture study.
DO IT. Dare you.

THOUGHTS:

So something I had been thinking about for a few days this last week, was how TIRING missionary work is. I sometimes wondered why I was putting myself through this. Why I  couldnt take a nap, why I couldn't just RELAX for a second!!!!! I was a bit frustrated to be honest. But... just when I had some doubts, god stepped in and gave me some answers. And you know HOW he gave me those answers??? THE SCRIPTURES. It was insane. One day I was studying and I was just looking up footnotes and clicking on random links on my iPad and I kept feeling a reoccurring phrase In my mind. Like everything seemed to be pointing to this. And that was to NOT BE WEARY. (Which is tired.) Here are some verses that just screamed out at me.
Helaman 10:4
"Blessed art thou, (abbey), for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments." (I replaced the name Nephi with my name) but WOAH if that wasn't god
talking to me then I am not even alive.
ANOTHER
"Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the
foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that
which is great." THIS WAS straight up personal revelation for me. I NEEDED those verses. God understands me. Heavenly Father knows me. He knows exactly what I'm feeling. He KNOWS me better than I know myself. He KNEW that I needed to somehow read those verses. 

SNOWWWW

This shows our personalities perfectly!

 

I LOVE my Heavenly Father.

NEW INVESTIGATOR:
JAY. Jay is amazing. He is from France. He is a musician. And he has zero religious background. He talked to two elders at an APF that we did at Columbus circle. And then the elders gave us his number because he lives in our area! We met with Jay and gave him a church tour. WOW. Best lesson ever. Best investigator ever. He is SO sincere. He had so many questions and we had so many answers!! I can't even remember everything that went on but what I do remember was saying the closing prayer for that lesson and praying that Jay would feel the truth of our message and that he would be blessed and I was so overwhelmed with LOVE. I could literally feel gods love for Jay in that very moment. It was one of the most spiritual prayers I've ever said. Tears filled my eyes and I was like NOo why am I crying!!! Hahaha. I somehow held it together.
And all I can say is I LOVE MY MISSION.

ONE LAST MIRACLE.
So Sunday was fast Sunday and one of the things I fasted for was to be able to see more miracles in our area! I was just feeling the need to RECOGNIZE more of the miracles that happen daily! Well I fasted the whole day and then eventually prayed and broke my fast.
I KID YOU NOT .. 10 minutes after I broke my fast, a man walked into
the church named Holdon. He came to the 2nd floor which was right
where we were. (Nobody ever goes to the second floor so this was cool that he came right where we were) well anyways Holdon walked over and me and my two companions just smiled. He goes "hello I'm Holdon and I want to learn more about your church, where can I go to do that" WHAT. You guys what. These kind of things don't just happen!?!? He walked in out of nowhere. And magically came up to THREE missionaries!!! We were like OOOOO. You are in the RIGHT place. :) and then we got his contact information and taught him the restoration and hooked him up with a Book of Mormon. Holy smokes. Prayers are answered. So cool. Can't wait to see what happens with Holdon. Pray for him :)

I have been realizing lately that we have so many single men to teach. HAHa. Makes things a little tricky. But hey, I'm not complaining. We have people to TEACH. So blessed. I feel like the heavens were opened up to us this last week. It was gooooooood. :)


I love you all. I love the gospel. I love my mission.

LOVE Sista Dunford