Desafios

Hey everyone,

Before I begin i want to say "Happy Birthday" to Jean (my brother-in-law). I hope its a good one,

So... this week... wont lie, its been hard and good and full of new experiences. The mission is a rollercoaster. 

This week all of our baptisms fell through. None of the people with a baptism goal showed up to church, and we dont have much time before their baptismal date. Nobody said missionary work was easy. Please be praying for the people who are listening to the missionaries right now. they need all the help they can get. And if you have missionaries in your area offer them your time and prayers, they also need all the help they can get.

I am starting to understand how much missionary work really is the front lines of the battle we are fighting in this world against the advesary, the comforting thing is that we know who in the end will turn out the victor.

I wanted to share something cool that i got to see this last p-day. I havent had a chance to send a picture, but maybe for those who are reading this if you have time you can look up. Its called the Árbol Milenario or in other words the Melenial tree. it is a tree that is incredibley old. it is in the polmac forest near chiclayo. this tree has split in half and fallen over, but it has a unique ablility to turn its branches into roots and for that reason it is still living. i was looking at this tree and i noticed how the branches dissapeared underground and reamerged as smaller tree a small distance away from the origional trunk. and how no matter what obstacles it encountered it continued to grow. 

I wont take the time to make the connection, but i want to invited everyone to ponder this idea. that faith is like a seed, and sometimes we are expecting our testimony to grow tall and perfectly straight with symetrical braches and the whole 9 yards, but life isnt that way, we face obstacles, we are subject to sin, and we have trials in this life. Although this tree in the forest has grown in the most unorthodox way it is by far one of the most magnificent trees i have seen.

I wish i could share more of a mission experience but im out of time

Thanks for your letters (Brandy Mayo i just got yours this week, Im excited for you and all the decisions ahead!!)

Always turn outward and Keep smiling!!

Love you all 

Elder Bunker

ps its mango season!! seriously the best!! haha I have had mango like 3 times this week. (it also means its the begining of the rainy season... haha wish i had photos of what happens in our house when it rains...one of our hallways doesnt have a roof...)

pps we are also due for El Niño this year. (giant flood) should be fun. only happens every seven years from what i hear. 

ppps im still learning the customs here. I learned this week never to turn down food even if you are full... they get really offended here if you dont accept food. they usually understand when we tell them we cant drink coffee, but to turn down a plate of chicken... wow. that, and i learned that brushing your teeth in the kitchen is not ok.