It All Ends Here.............Last Email March 23, 2015 Returns home with Honor on March 31, 2015 after 19 Months!

.....like Harry Potter. 

I know, I`m sorry, I had to. 

First thing is first, I`ll be in next Tuesday in Salt Lake around 12:30. I am flying into terminal ONE, so don`t think it`ll be the terminal with the famous escalator...it`s the one with the hallway. Haha just so you know. 

This last week was a great one! We had Leadership Counsel Meeting in Montevideo with all of the zone leaders and hermana training leaders in Montevideo with Presidnet Smith. We focused mostly on learning more about the Gathering of the House of Isreal. President Smith wants us all to become EXPERTS, to help members to think about it ALL THE TIME, because we ALL take part in it. We are the people of the covenant, and we`ve got work to do! It was great. I couldn`t help but feel a mix of emotions as I sat there for the last time with this group of missionaries. All of us have around the same amount of time in the mission. We`ve all been in it together from the beginning. We`ve been in it since 2013, when Uruguay changed with HOY ES EL DIA (today is the day), to 2014, when we lengthened our stride by following the prophet`s cry for missionaries and members to unite in AHORA ES EL MOMENTO (now is the moment), to now, 2015, as we live the parable of Doctrine and Covenants 101, and we build the towers, and listen to the LORD`S cry to ID INMEDIATAMENTE (go immediately) to save His vineyard, because it is His, and He bought it with His blood. I said not goodbye but my "see ya laters" to a lot of them, including Hermana Paris who was there. 

We had divisions with Hna Trendler and Hna Petty in their area, Barrio 5! It was Hna Trendler`s Hump Day (9 months), so we ate a cake, bought some pizza at the end of the night, and burned a sock haha. Some great sisters who have taught me so much! 

Rene is still set for his baptism on Saturday! It`s going to be awesome. He is a mission miracle, and progressing more and more every day. 

I love this mission. I love Uruguay. I cannot imagine my life without it. I cannot imagine how my life would have been had I not come. I stand all amazed EVERY DAY at how much the Lord loves me and has blessed me. As if He hadn`t blessed me enough in my life, with an amazing family, in an amazing place, with amazing friends, with his AMAZING Gosepl, And then, He prepared me through varous experiences so that when the time came in 2012 that He called me, I would be humble and ready enough to accept the call to serve. Imperfect, loca, little me. He called ME, and permitted me to come to this beautiful country with these beautiful people, to come to TRULy understand this beautiful Gospel, and come to TRULy know the beautiful Atonement of our amazing Savior. In my quest to "save souls", the Lord taught me how to save mine. He taught me how to change. My heart is so full. 19 months. The best thus far. This really is the best mission in the world, no question. I gave it all I had, and I have one more week to do some more, and I leave the rest in the hands of the Lord. 

I love Him. I know He lives. I know my Savior lives, and loves us. I know He suffered for us, died for us, and three days later, I know that He rose from the dead with "healing in his wings" to bring salvation to all who would hear Him. I know Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ. I know it, I feel it, I know it as if I was there. I know that through him They restored Their Gospel to the earth. I know that it IS the way to happiness in this life, and the next. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know of its power to change. I know, more than anything, that the Atonement is real. That my Best Friend saw my face, and suffered my pains and my sins so that I can return to Him. I know that HOY ES EL DIA in which the Lord is hastening His work. I know that this work is true, and beautiful, and real. I love Uruguay, and its people, and its mate, and its gauchos, and its horses, and these crazy, stubborn, easily offended, loving, giving, selfless, FAITHFUL, loyal, affectionate, AMAZING Uruguayans. 

My heart is really confused, but mostly so, so happy. I love this work, I love this Gospel, I love this country, I love my Savior, 

but also, 

I love you, I love you, I love you all. Thanks for everything. 

see you next week! 

Hermana Dolan 

Here Am I..................March 16, 2015

Heyyyy kiddos! How is everybody? How was your week? mine was good, as are all of them! I did divisions with Hna Reed and her "daughter" Hna Valenzuela from Mexico. She is the cutest ever! I was with her all afternoon. It was a great divisions. The four of us had a really amazing study where we talked about Missionary Work and the Atonement. How grateful I am to have had the opportunity to get to experience the Atonement, come to know, come to love it, and come to let it change me. Even more grateful I am to have been able to walk even a tenth of the path that the most perfect human walked. 

René is still going strong! We taught him tithing this last week, and also Word of Wisdom. He accepted tithing immediately and already has zero problems with the word of wisdom, and kept saying "how amazing that you`ve come to share this with me and these beautiful blessings." He is so prepared. A serious miracle. We also had 123 people in church!!!!! A total record. Our goal going into the beginning of the year was to get it up to 115 (it was around 80 and 90 normally). We`ve gotten to that once or twice, and this last week beat it! It was amazing. Together with the Elders, the bishop, and the other ward leaders, we`ve been working really hard to build unity and get "all of the strength of the house" to get to work in the rescue, and the results have been so rewarding! I am in love with this ward. It is such a pleasure to be here. 

In 1 Samuel 3:16, it says: 

4 That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here amI.

I love the simplicity of this scripture! The Lord called Samuel, and Samuel answered the call. I hope that everytime the Lord has called me, I have answered, simply and boldly "HERE AM I." I hope to never miss a call from Him. In this scripture, Samuel didn`t even realize it was the Lord speaking to Him, but He answered anyway. Many times, we may not be sure whether it`s the Spirit speaking to us or not, but whenever it`s a call to do good, we should always have the answer "Here Am I." Many times we won`t know WHY the Lord is calling us. Samuel simply heard his name, and answered, without knowing the reason for the call. We won`t know the Lord`s reasons behind everything, but when "the Lord called Megan",

 I hope until the day I die that it can be said of me "and she answered, Here am I." 

I love you, I love you, I love you! Talk to you next week! 

Hermana Dolan 

me and Hna Caquias

patria gaucha

Didn`t even talk about it! It was awesome. Basically Uruguay meets Rodeos. It`s incredible. and they build replicas of houses similar to the ones they lived in wayyyy back in the day. Here`s one of them 

Endure the crosses...............March 9, 2015

Hey fam and friends? Long time! How was everyone`s week? My week was good like always. All of them are good honestly. My email won`t be very long because I don`t have a whole lot of time. Lots to do!! 

Renè came to church again and is still excited for his baptism. He is just busting with desire to learn and he drinks it all in so fast. And he`s got all of his little old man friends in church already. He automatically walks in and sits with them. It does my heart good when i see someone all growed up and not needing the missionaries because it means they`ll progress in the Gospel all on their own. :) We are working a lot with less actives and a lot of them are also progressing and bringing themselves closer to Christ by returning to His fold. It`s amazing to see the changes that the Gospel works in people. 

I was studying this last week 2 Nephi 9:18,which says:

  

18 But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel,they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom ofGod, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world,  and their joy shall be full forever.

I was thinking about what it means to "endure the crosses of the world", and it makes me think of the Savior. When He had to carry the very cross that He`d be nailed to up the hill. The cross placed over Him for the sins of the world, and the wickedness of blind men who just didn`t want to see the Son of God even while looking right at Him. And it makes me think that it is impossible for any one of us, who have a desire to know Christ and become like Him, to not have to walk somewhat of the path He walked. We must all take upon us our own crosses. The sins of others and bad decisions they have made will often place them over our shoulders. Sometimes trials and circumstances out our or anybody`s control will place them upon us. But in either manner, we have three beautiful promises:

1. In remembering the Holy One of Israel and all He endured, we can know that He understands. He can help lift our cross because He did it all alone first. 

2. We will inherit the kingdom of God. 

3. Our joy will be full FOREVER. 

So don`t you sweat it, whatever burden it is your carrying. Endure it, trust in God, and remember the eternal joy that is awaiting you. 

I love you, I love you, I love you! 

Hermana Dolan

They accept....................March 4, 2015

Last week, I saw someone writing on their motorcycle....with a sheep in their lap. A sheep. a full grown one. It doesnt get any more Uruguay than that. 

also, pday is today because of the PATRIA GAUCHA. It`s the gaucho celebration that they do here in T-Bo, since gauchos originate from here. it`s basically a deal of cowboys and old fashioned things and really good food, and it`s all this next week, but today its only 20 pesos (less than a dollar) to get in. It`s about the closest thing there is to a rodeo, and since i love rodeos....i`m stoked. we`re going this afternoon.

Hey folks! How are you all doing? I am doing awesome. This week was amazing, just like all of them are. And guess what? On Saturday, i completed 18 months. Can`t believe it. In the mission, when the hermanas who came to the mission with an elder go home, the elder for his last 6 months is jokingly called an "hermana fiel" (faithful sister....serving 6 months extra haahha). So anyway, for this month, i also get to be an "hermana fiel." Rock and roll! 

So now i am with Hna Caquias. She is awesome! She`s from Hna Gruden`s group, so she`s also a semi newbie. But she`s got a lot of desires to work and she`s stoked for TBO, even though her first area was Montevideo so it is a HUUUUUUGGEEE change for her. i think she`s going through culture shock all over again haha. She has to learn the area really fast since I`m leaving early so we`re jumping right into that. 

Also, Renè accepted fecha for the 28 of March, and went to church again on Sunday! He`s excited about his date. Please pray for him to remain strong, because he is so ready! :) we`ve also been able to find some new investigators this week, which has been really great. 

When someone finishes their mission here, the day before they go home they are in the mission home all day. They have a self sufficiency class, go to the temple, final interview, dinner, final testimony meeting. Since i`m not going home with anybody, I got to go with my group that`s finishing. We don`t need to talk about the self sufficiency class....haha. 

But the temple was the best experience I`ve had in the temple ever, and it was my last time in the one in Montevideo. So many emotions stirred inside of me. I was excited. Nervous. Anxious. Because there was where I would talk to my Father, and give Him my report for these 18 months and my promise for what i would accomplish in this last one. How is my report? Is it accepted? Is my work accepted? And in His house that day, I was filled with the sweetest confirmation that He is proud of what I`ve done. That I`ve done well. That I gave it all I had. That assurance was reconfirmed in the final testimony meeting when Hna Smith shared that confirmation she received in her heart as she heard each of us bare the testimonies the Lord has given us in this time in His service. I am so thankful I get even MORE time. :) 

Apparently when people are finishing their mission, anything goes....haha because after testimonies we were in the mission home with President and Hna Smith, playing ping pong and eating SO MUCH FOOD (seriously, hna smith just kept whipping it out. including quesadillas and salsa. i wanted to cry of happiness), until abouuuuut...midnight. Haha it was the best. I have many fond memories of moments passed in their home with them. I am so thankful for them and for who they are.  

I cried when I said goodbye to Hna Chen, the only other sister finishing with me, before they took her to the airport to go home to Guatemala. I`ve known her my whole mission and she is one of my truly dear friends. And then Hna Gruden and i cried again when we said goodbye....i love that Grudy. she is seriously my best friend. And then Hna Caquias and I came back up to TBO together, to continue in the work. :) And that`s the best part. 

Anyway, lovin TBO, loving the Lord, loving life. 

I love you, i love you, I love you! 

Hermana Dolan 

Hey errbody.................February 24, 2015

So first thing is first....Hermana Gruden is leaving :( I`m honestly not too happy about it and neither is she, but I know that it`s for a reason. She`s going to be serving in Montevideo, and the Hermana whose place she is taking is coming here with me. Her name is Hermana Caquias, which may sound Latina, but she`s American haha. She`s actually from Hermana Gruden`s group. One of my other companions, Hna Sump, trained her for a change, and then another Hermana finished her training and she`s coming from being with her to be with me. So basically....I`m the "bottle breaker" again! (that`s apparently what it`s called when you`re the companion after someone`s "Mom"). Fifth time going strong! So she is my official assassin. I`m sure it`ll be awesome! My ELEVENTH companion. 13 in total, if you count my companions from the MTC. That`s 13 people I have to keep track of the rest of my life. That`s a lot of work! Haha no just kidding it`s awesome. They`re all different and all amazing, and I`m thankful I was able to learn from so many people. I LOVVVVEEEEEEE Hermana Gruden. She is my best friend and I am SO thankful for the amazing change we were able to have together. She is an incredible missionary and I know she will kill it in Montevideo and the rest of her mission. I am so thankful for her. 

On Thursday I got to do divisions with Hermana Petty. She is just now finishing her training. She is amazing! And she has had some similar challenges that I had during my training, so it was really rewarding to be able to use what I learned during those challenges and help her apply them. But she really is an incredible missionary, even if she doesn`t recognize it! 

On Saturday, we had this A M A Z I N G conference with 5 of our zones and Elder Viñez of the Seventy. It was my last conference :( Which I didn`t think would hit me, but when we started singing our mission song (yep, we`re so cool that we have a mission song), called "Hoy es el Dia", I just started bawling. I love my mission, and I love THIS mission, and I am so blessed to have been able to be a part of it. During a part of the conference, Elder Viñez asked some of us to share our feelings on the Atonement. No discussion about doctrine or anything like that....just pure feeling, and how it has helped us become better people and better missionaries. I shared my testimony, and I just became so overwhelmed with gratitude for the powerful effect the Atonement has taken in my life during this year and a half. It has changed me completely, and carried me through the most difficult times. I love my Savior and I love His Atonement. 

The coolest part was that after the conference, we got to watch Meet the Mormons! JK, everybody ELSE got to watch Meet the Mormons, while the Zone Leaders and Hermana Training Leaders had a "counsel" with Elder Viñez for an hour and a half. I definitely got the better end of the deal :) He truly is called of God. The Spirit was SO strong in that meeting, and I felt so strengthened and uplifted and inspired. I am thankful for Elder Viñez. He`s amazing! 

Other than that was a lot of other miracles and blessings, just like what happens every week. I mean, it`s the mission! And I love it :)

I love you, i love you, i love you! 

Hermana Dolan