Christmas Devotional

That's pretty funny about the rebellion with the girls, I could totally see them all doing that, ya if I were you I would call their bluff too. Where do they even get money? How does Clara pay for gas she doesnt have a job does she? She should work at Harry and David like I did when I was 15 on the line, lol. That would be funny I could see her whining about that. lol Good stuff.

Well any who, wow that temple trip sounds way awesome, 45 worthy priesthood holders going to the temple! That's so crazy. It weird how growing up in the ward and then coming on a mission and serving in many wards and being able to attend PEC weekly, how much you learn and understand more about the church and how a ward works and all that. I've come to realize how awesome our ward is, and how strong it is. That's awesome.

Well, so this week we got to go down to Grand Junction again because we had a Christmas Devotional. So we drove down the night before and stayed the night there BUT it snowed like over a foot and we had to come down from the mountains so it was crazy! We went the long way because the fast way was over Douglas pass which is gnarly way high up its kinda like "the shelf" but two ways up then down. It was so slippery and of course we have little Toyota Corrollas, two wheel drive coming over a mountain pass, it was so gnarly. We drove like 35mph the whole time it was crazy! It ended up taking about 5 or so hours to get there. Once we got on the well travelled high way it was a little better, but still pretty bad and of course there are tons of stupid people thinking they can go fast, we saw 7 cars the had spun out and were in the ditch, it was crazy.

But the devotional was really good we talked alot about Christ of course read The Christmas story in Luke, watched a few little movies and sung alot. It was fun. President and Sister Christison, our mission president after they had received their call in 2007, but before they had to report to Denver went on a trip to Jerusalem and got to go the the Mount of Olives and so he gave a training on that and the atonement and when they were there they bought a whole bunch of olive oil and actually consecrated it there near where Christ performed the Atonement and gave every missionary a little bottle of the consecrated oil from those same trees that Jesus was amongst. It was really awesome. Its really neat to have. The whole devotional was awesome and very spiritual. we also got a knitted hat, and a Christmas CD. It was nice. Lots of work that's alot of hats to knit lol .

Well so that was the highlight for the week for sure, all the driving in the snow wasn't fun (actually it kinda was lol) but it was worth it. Rangely got dumped on with snow too about a foot or so, this morning we woke up and it was -10 out side brutal huh. Well I better get going, but I just want to tell you how grateful I am for Jesus Christ and for this wonderful season for us to recognize his birth and all he did for each of us. I love you very much!
Elder Dunn

Happy Thanksgiving

Hello Dunn Family! So ya not a normal pday, but we get time today for email, then tomorrow is a full Pday so ya. Good news we have a dinner for Turkey day! Pretty exciting huh? Someone finally felt sorry for us and signed up so that is cool. But as for the rest of the day, I have no idea what we are going to do. So are you having anyone over for Thanksgiving or is it just the fam? I’m not to sure how our meal will be, I hope it will be good, but it was just nice of the family to have us over, so I’m happy with that :)

Ya and to answer your question mom in your letter the members we live with are in Salt Lake for the week so ya that’s why they aren’t feeding us. But ya we live in their basement and we do share the kitchen and fridge and all that. We are supposed to have our own shelf set apart, but we have are own bathroom, that’s a must, so ya that’s kinda how it works.

Man that’s so cool about Alan, I didn’t know that! That will be so good, I love that kid lol.

Oh thanks so much for the letter and pics and package. I got them all yesterday! I was so excited! Thank you, and thanks for the food! I’m gonna get fat now that I’m not on a bike lol. Oh soo for Christmas I’m thinking about a GPS, now that I’m in an area where we drive lots and go far. It’s basically a need, my comp Elder Coley has one right now, but I think he is gone next transfer, so ya that would be nice for Christmas. I really like the "Garmin" brand they seem to work the best.

Hey and it was good to here from Clara and Syd. Man here in Rangely they get the whole week off from school isn’t that crazy!?

But ya so basically for this week the population of the city died to like half of what it normally is cuz everyone is out of town. So this week is hard for missionary work, we had our district mtg yesterday in Craig, it’s like 90 miles from here. So we drove up the night before and stayed the night. It was in the BIG city! Craig has about 10,000 and they have a Wal-Mart! Crazy! It’s funny how being in the town you get so used to it, I mean when me and Elder Coley got to Craig and saw all the ppl and stop lights and all that we were like wo! Feels like we are back in metro lol and we were complaining about traffic if we had to wait for more than two cars! lol it’s funny. But it was a fun trip, I gave a training on the power and authority of our calling and how to be a successful missionary, it went well.

Well I better get going, I love you all. Have a good weekend and make sure to eat lots for me. :)

Elder Dunn

Medford Second Ward!

I just wanted to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas. Things here in the Colorado Denver South Mission are going very well. I love being a missionary and being able to feel the spirit daily and help play a role in bringing souls unto Christ. I hope this holiday season you will all remember the true meaning of Christmas and strive to give those around you the greatest gift of all, by sharing with them the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love you all and thank you for all that you have done for me and all of your support.

Elder Dunn

Rangely, CO

Hey there fam!
Ya I did get your letter mom, thanks :) That was crazy about that bear lol I couldn’t believe that. So while you’re getting new carpet and moving the TV and all that, you guys should just buy a new TV! Right? It’s about time to don’t ya think? A nice big 52in flat screen HD TV, that’s what you should do lol. Man that’s crazy about Bro Schmidt, ya he was in there for a while, but I think Bro Whitney will do really well.

Man 12 baptisms this year, that’s way awesome! I always tell missionaries out here of the success there and what’s going on and all that, like me and Elder Bragg were talking about that last Wed. at the temple and talking about how we wanna serve in the Medford ward. lol Man and I just read my comp that paragraph about the zone blitz, that’s so awesome! That could be put together so well and have people follow through with it and make it happen. That’s way awesome.

Ya I have heard from Seth, he has written me two or three letters and sends an email every once and a while. He is doing good and loving it. He had his first baptism last week, and I think what he was saying is that it was in the ocean! And he did the baptizing so he said that’s every missionaries dream in his mission and he experienced it his first or second transfer. Way cool.

So I got transferred and I’m basically in the middle of no where! The town I’m in is called Rangely, and about 2,000 people live here. There is one stop light, three gas stations, one grocery market, three liquor stores, this place called Burrito Express AND a Subway. lol And that’s it! We also cover another town called Dinosaur that is about 20 or so miles away, it has 200 ppl there and we usually go out there once a week. But they do have the "B & B Restaurant" and they have a 2 pound burger and if you eat it all you get your pic on the wall, so I’m probably gonna have to try that. lol But its way crazy here. The closest set of missionaries to us is like a two hour drive and that’s to a town of 10,000. That’s where we have our district mtgs but we only have one district mtg a transfer cuz it’s so far. Everyone here drives big trucks and wears Carhart clothes and hunts. It’s pretty awesome. Oh man BUT check out my pic! Dinosaur is about 4 miles from Utah and about 18 from Vernal. Everyone in town goes to Vernal for all of their shopping and all that cuz everything is way! outrageously priced. Its crazy cuz they have a monopoly on it so they can put the prices to what ever they want and unless you wanna go to Utah (or even can in my case) you pay what they say. Every once and a while some members will go to Vernal and ask us if we need anything so that’s good. But Friday we have a zone conference that’s going to be in Grand Junction so we have to leave Thursday for a road trip to GJ, so that’s like a little over 100 miles and then we will stay the night with missionaries and do zone conference Friday then drive back. So while we are there we are going to do some shopping and stock up on anything we need cuz it’s a lot cheaper there.

So there are two wards we cover out here so that’s cool. We live with one of the bishops, the Millers, they are really nice. They live in "La Mesa" oooo! lol That’s basically the richest neighborhood here so everyone out here says that when we tell them where we live. lol Its funny. Well that’s a little bit about Rangely. Well I’ll talk to ya next week! Love ya Elder Dunn

1455 La Mesa Cir
Rangely Co, 81648

Changes

Well hey hey! So we are in a huge snow storm right now! It started last night and hasn’t stopped, they are saying we could get up to 14 inches so ya we have about 7 now and it’s still coming down. So that’s cool. It will be fun to go out into it tomorrow, today is good cuz its pday so we don’t have to be out there.

Well ya lots of changes, we were right they took two wards and made one ward and two branches. Pretty crazy. Some people are upset about it cuz they have been in the Lakewood ward for ya know like 30 years (cuz everyone here is older lol) so ya that’s the excitement going on here. My area has gotten alot bigger. So ya but transfers are this next Thursday so and I have been here 3 transfers so I might be getting moved out of here. We will see what happens. I’m happy either way, I don’t really have a preference right now.

Man that’s crazy that Stewy is back. And about Chanelle, that’s cool, and Chris Pederson too lol that’s crazy. I didn’t know he was that old? Weird lol

Ya mom so that was a zone conference. lol and ya I eat alot of spaghetti, that’s a standard I think. So ya but as for what I miss I’m not sure I was thinking about that the other day actually and I want some good pancakes. I haven’t had good pancakes in a while. Or some nachos with homemade guac and salsa that sounds good too. But we get a fairly good variety out here so that’s good.

So that’s crazy Jace is here? There is..or was a diesel school in my ward, there is a younger member I’m close with here that goes to it actually. I might have to ask him if he knows him that would be crazy. Side note about this member that is cool, he served his mission with Jody Zimmer! They were buds on there mission kinda crazy right :) Well I better get going, but things are good here just lots of snow. lol Have a good week!
Elder Dunn

Snow in Colorado

Snow in Colorado. So we got some more snow last night, nothing too much, just like an inch or so. I think it’s mostly melted by now, but it’s still pretty cloudy and chilly. Hey, cool, glad you liked the pics. Ya so it’s a Casio Exilim. I think it’s like 9.5 meg or something like that. It’s pretty fun. So ya thanks for the advice. I really appreciate it. Ya things are good. I guess I’m hanging in there :)

Things around here are going good, still struggling with some new solid investigators. And this week there are rumors about things happening in the stake. The other ward we share the building with is hurting for membership and such, so word on the street is that they are splitting the Alameda ward (the ward we share the building with) into two branches! Then giving us the Lakewood ward part of their boundaries so our ward gets a few more members. So ya pretty crazy stuff, we will see what happens.

This week is also the primary program, the Lakewood and Alameda youth are combined cuz they are both small so we are all meeting together and I guess our mission president is coming as well so ya exciting stuff. I’ll fill you in on what happens.

So ya, things are good here, oh I bought a sweater at Ross the other day cuz I didn’t have one so ya, well I guess you bought it for me cuz I used your card. lol So thanks, it’s just what I needed, how did you know!? :) Have an amazing week!

Elder Dunn

Lakewood Colorado

October 14, 2009

Well another week gone by, as usual things are still good here in Lakewood (lol I feel like I kinda write the same things every week, I hope its not too boring) So remember how I said the weather was perfect? Well this last week has been way cold. We got our first snow about and inch maybe inch and a half and it didn’t get above 30 for two days straight. Pretty crazy. So there is one saying here in the Denver area, "if you don’t like the weather wait 5 minutes" meaning you never know what it’s gonna be like, cuz today it’s like sunny still, kinda brisk, but supposed to get to 66 so and tomorrow will be the same I think, so the weather is just kinda messing with us. So we are still tracting a lot here still struggling for some investigators. Oh man!! Exciting news so finally!! after about a year after Elder Perry came out with the 20 lessons, our stake is going to receive training on it! So that happens tomorrow, so all bishopric and auxiliaries and their counselors are to attend. So that is way awesome lol but... our bishop is going to be out of town tomorrow, so he won’t get the training, sooo hopefully everyone else gets pumped up about it and can get him on board with us. So that’s good.


October 7, 2009

Well hello! So things here in Colorado are going good, the weather is definitely changing that’s for sure. But for the last two days we have had the perfect in between weather. Today is sooo perfect, clear blue skies, the leaves are all orange and yellow and red. And snow on the top of the mountains and like high 60's low 70's. I’m loving it, it kinda makes me home sick though it reminds me of Oregon. But I guess it’s supposed to start getting colder by the end of this week so I will have to enjoy it while it lasts.

So today was temple Wednesday so that was cool, every first Wednesday of the month the Denver metro area you get to go to the temple so that was awesome as usual. I got to go in the same session as Elder Bragg. I sat right behind him to make sure he didn’t fall asleep lol. He just came back to the metro area like last week so I haven’t seen him in like 6 or so months so that was fun to get to be with him and fill each other in on what’s going on at home and all that.

I sent you guys a letter yesterday, so you should be getting that in the next couple of days. I sent a SD card with a few pics and videos on there. You will probably need to transfer them all over to the comp to see the videos so ya. That should be fun :) well that’s all I got going on here hope everyone is good and having a great week love you all!

Elder Dunn


September 30, 2009

Well yup it’s another pday. Things are still going good here in Lakewood, Colorado. Wow I totally didn’t even recognize Lone Pine, that’s so crazy. It looks really nice now. And ya I did hear a little bit about the fires those pics you sent didn’t work though I don’t know I’m kinda short on time but I’ll have to try to check them out later. I also heard about the flu in Medford? There is this phone number you can call called "tell me" and they give like top stories nationwide and some missionary listened to it and it talk about Medford on there. Pretty crazy. So what’s up with that? Well ya not too much new here though, we are really trying to focus on the 20 lessons in this district and most of the zone too. Trying to get ward leaders behind us on that. So that’s what we have been doing. I think we are making progress so that’s good. But ya things are going pretty good. Just trying to work hard and be happy :) Have a good week.
Elder Dunn

Oregon Rain

Hey there, hey so you got my card? That’s good. So did you guys watch the DVD of Ragged Mountain? What did you think? It was pretty fun. So ya and I hope those pics work too, I have had those made for like a couple months but never got around to sending it out. Those are all pics from my first sd card it was a 1g. lol and now I almost have my second card filled up and its a 8g, so ya lots more pics. lol I’ll have to find the best way to get them to you guys. Well so we got our transfer calls last night and both I and my companion Elder Crunkleton are staying here in Lakewood this transfer. So no changes for me. There are lots of changes in the zone being made though, so it is always fun to get to work around and with new missionaries. So that will be cool. Well it has started getting cold here last night it got to 36 and right now its a lot like Oregon, 50 cloudy and just a light misty rain thing going on. I like it, it reminds me of home and its good for a change lol It’s funny to see missionaries that this is their first winter and they are like from Arizona where its 80 in the winter and see them whining and complaining about how cold it is lol and it’s only around 50, its funny. I think of Oregon where people wear shorts year round and just put on a jacket if it gets cold, kinda funny. So this week, as others, flew right by. We are just incorporating splits each week with the high priest so we did that this week, lol I say high priests cuz there aren’t enough elders in the ward to make a presidency, but ya so we do that every Wednesday from 7 to 9 so that’s good. Last week I also got to talk to a guy that had the swine flu so that was kinda cool lol. Well things here are good. Hope you’re all doing good. I’ll talk to ya next week :)

Elder Dunn