finally, a picture of miguel y maria

holy beautiful is Colonia, I Love Uruguay.................

So this picture is funny on it's on, but the best part is that Hermana Paris and I had no idea the Elders had decided to provide us with this beautiful photobomb. Also, we're drinking this most beautifully delicious Apple soda called Fagar. Mmmmmm. (aka the only reason why I survive without Dr. Pepper)

settle in folks, it's dunking time!.................March 25, 2014

COLONIA! 

Haha, shocker. 

No but really, we were both so surprised. Why? Because we are BOTH going to stay. 

It really was a surprise because it is SUPER rare for companions to stay together more than two changes; especially sisters. But, President Smith told us that since we get along great and are having success, he wasn't ready to split us up. So Hermana Zumeta and I are staying together for a third change! No crazy twist surprise changes folks, haha sorry. 

But anyway, now let's get to the important stuff! 

Wednesday was awesome! We had set up an appointment with a former investigator and invited a member named Julio to come with us. But (shocker) the appointment fell through. So as we're trying to go through our minds to decide where to go instead, Julio goes "let's talk to those women at that bus stop." So we go over and start talking to them. Questions start about the church and everything, and then Julio tells them where the church is. Then they both go "we've always wanted to look inside that church but it's always been locked! It's so beautiful!" So we invite them to go with us right then and they say "HECK yeah!" Okay so not exactly like that.....haha they were two old ladies. But we gave them a tour of the church while talking ABOUT the church, and invited them to find out more. One, Silva, was more receptive than the other, because the other was SUPER Catholic and couldn't understand why we don't worship Mary and Joseph. But we set up an appointment with Silva this week. Yay for Julio Porley! 

That same day, we had the Family Home Evening with Veronica and her friend Carolina, the one who was at Vero's house the week before and seemed interested. Well slowly people kind of just started inviting themselves.....Elder and Hermana Figares.....Mary....the Elders....so we knew we couldn't teach lesson 1, especially because Carolina had told us she didn't want it to be anything heavy. So we decided to share a Mormon Message, and while thinking about which one, we decided on "Forgiveness lifted my burden," the one about Chris Williams, the man whose wife and two kids were killed by a teenage drunk driver. It talks a lot about the Atonement and Forgiveness. We didn't think it would be TOO heavy.....but turns out Carolina was in tears the entire time. After watching it, she told us she has somebody who really hurt her, but it's just not easy. We talked to her about the strength the Savior can bring to her. Veronica commented and said "I've always been a believer that everything happens for a reason, but especially today. I don't know what it was that made the Hermanas decide to show this video and talk about this topic, but it was exactly what my friend needed to hear." The Spirit as SO strong, and it is so cool to be able to be an instrument in the Lord's hands to bring a message that someone needs to their heart.

And then, after Mary and the Figares left, I don't even remember what it was we were talking about, but Carolina starts laughing. And you guys, her laugh is the BEST THING I HAVE EVER HEARD. Hahaha it's like a cartoon! We died laughing, but then what made it better, was that I don't know how many of you have heard my laugh when I laugh so hard I can't breathe, but basically nothing comes out but a squeal. So then everyone starts laughing at my laugh. Well my laugh makes Carolina laugh harder, and then her laugh made me laugh harder, and then we all just laughed until we were literally crying. It went on for like 20 minutes. I don't think I've ever laughed that hard. So great. 

I love the mission. 

Pray for Carolina that we can help her progress! Por fas. 

Okay so anyway, best part! 

We had a BAAAAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPPPPPPPPTTTTTTTIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSMMMM. 

They finally got D U N K E D. 

Brian and Angela got baptized! It was so wonderful. They were both so happy! P.S. Angela has a huge fear of water....that was fun. Haha but she got through it like a champ and they were both confirmed official members of the church on Sunday! It was also awesome because they had asked Elder Gomez, the one who started teaching them with his companion when they were living in General, to baptize. Elder Gomez had had 3 changes without any real progressing investigators because El General (pronounced like an H") is a hard area, and finally he got to see the fruits of his labors. Little Elder Gomita was so excited! 

You guys, I really cannot describe to you the miracle that they are. When we met them, Brian very adamantly said he did NOT believe in God. He didn't have any faith. Nothing. He told us that the first two or three times. But we knew better, so we pushed. With time, his answers turned to an "I don't know," until they became a "yes." Both he and Angela are racing on reading the Book of Mormon now. They've already got like a gazillion friends within the branch, because they're awesome, and in a year, they'll be able to become an eternal family. I love them. Angela is so sweet and humble, and Brian just teases me relentlessly. Watching their progression has been amazing. MIRACLES ARE REAL! 

I am so grateful that the Lord touches the hearts of His children, so that they can have a change of heart, and, like Brian and Angela, take their first step to His Eternal Presence. 

Always remember, no matter what your circumstances may be or what dreams you think you can't achieve or who you think you can't become, with the Lord, EVERYTHING is possible. I knew it before, but I didn't truly know it until i came out here. And for that, I can't even explain my gratitude! 

I love Colonia and I am so glad I get to stay here with Zumetita. 

I love you, I love you, I love you! 

Hermana Dolan 

We're the coolest.....The zone went today for our last p day and took an old fashioned photo in a place that does them here in Centro. WE're pretty awesome! March 17, 2014

I'm gonna marry Uruguay..................March 17, 1014

Hey, hey, hey my friends! I hope everybody is swell! Thank you so much for the emails and support and prayers! I have the coolest bunch of turds for friends....but seriously. 

So I'm going to try to not take ten years to write this email. So if it's a little shorter than normal....that's why. 

But, what a great week! 

Mostly because I am just a little tiny bit in LOVE with Colonia. 

So Wednesday, we needed to start teaching the commandments to Brian and Angela so they'd be good for their baptismal interview. Angela ended up not being able to come (we had the lesson in the church), but Brian did. We had already planned for Daniel and Elehem to be there, so they showed up to. And you guys....Elehem and Daniel are the BOMB.  D I G G I T Y. We sit down, and they of course start asking Brian those get to know you questions. And then we said we would wait on talking about the commandments until they were both there....so Daniel I guys just takes that as his cue to just sit, and tell Brian how it is. Tell him his conversion story. Tell him about the trials that they went through after getting baptized, but mostly talking about how those trials were 100% worth it and now they're preparing to be an eternal family. Daniel is the best....and also, I wish there were someone from back home here who could agree with me on how stinkin' much like my brother is. It gets more and more apparent every day. It freaks me out, but in a good way. Maybe that's one reason why I love him so much. Sweetest part....he says to Brian "those Hermanas sitting right there are angels. Did you know that? They are angels, or that's what we consider them to be. Literally angels." STOP WHAT I CAN'T EVEN. 

But anyway, I think it really helped Brian a lot, and it was good to be able to get to know them because now they can be friends at church. :)

We also had lunch with familia Alvarez last week, and my finger nail polish was starting to chip away, right? So Daniel walks up to me with a super concerned look on his face, and I'm wondering what the heck is wrong, and he pretends like he's about to cry, and he goes "Hermana....it pains me to see your nails like that, so if you want some more nail polish, I'll give you mine." hahahahaha. So many things he says, I just go "are you sure you're not my brother?" loooove them. 

Friday, we had planned to go to Veronica's house to help her daughter, Jasmine (10) make some things for school and also talk to Veronica. We got there, and Veronica had a friend over but obviously let us in anyway. We sat down at the table, and just started to do our thing helping Jas out and everything. We found out Veronica's friends name is Carolina (please do not say it like we say it in the states....haha.) We didn't pressure her or attack her or try to go into a lesson. Instead, she slowly started to ask us questions about the mission. She's 22, and so funny! When we would tell her some of the rules of the mission, she would throw her hands in the air and go "me muero, me muero!" Which means "I'm dying, I'm dying!" haha. But then, those questions led to questions about why we are serving. Which just so happens to be my favorite question to answer! Because it always leads to questions about the church and the Gospel, which she in fact did ask. And this was the coolest part....somehow, the subject got to the work we do for the dead in the temples. We let Veronica explain it to her. And when she explained it to her, and how the work we do gives people who have already passed on a chance for eternal life....Carolina starts C R Y I N G. And then we explain some people who have gotten baptized whose spouses are dead, and how they now have the opportunity to still be an eternal family....and she starts crying again! And then when we finished saying the prayer before leaving....she starts crying again! She is awesome. she's a really strong personality, but at the same time somebody who's really sensitive. She is engaged (holla) and we're going to have a family home evening with her and Veronica this Wednesday. She is awesome and I really hope we can make something happen! 

Saturday was Angela's birthday, so we ate asado at the Aquino's house, and that afternoon we first taught tithing. Phew and let me explain something about that. Brian and Angela are actually married, which doesn't happen often in Uruguay that two young people living together are already married, they don't drink, and they don't smoke....that is literally a needle in a haystack in Uruguay haha. But because of that, we just KNEW that tithing would be their challenge. We practiced all week and prayed harder than ever that they would recognize the blessings of tithing and accept. But guess what? It was just as easy as every other lesson has been with them! Haha. THey are so fun to teach, because they just drink everything up that you teach them. They have a desire to learn more, and they just look at you while you're teaching with that desire in their eyes. 

Afterwards, what Angela didn't know was that all of the younger couples (which is like...4 haha. But still.) in the branch, and us missionaries and a few of the other younger people, had a surprise party waiting for her! It was a perfect way for them to get to know more people in the branch. I'm not worried about them one bit! 

They literally are a miracle. Especially Brian. I am amazed every time I think about the fact that the first two lessons we had with them, Brian very adamantly and very stubbornly told us "no" when we asked him if he had faith or believed in God. And to go from that, to him doing most of the talking in the lessons, to even while we've been teaching the commandments have him say "yeah, a commandment is something God gives us because He loves us and wants us to live with Him again." All that in only a few weeks! It's amazing how the Spirit and the Book of Mormon can really change people and soften hearts. 

Funny story of the week (technically it's from last week): So it was Veronica's birthday. So like the nice people we are, my companion and I buy her a gift. Right? Right. So nice of us. We buy her this really pretty necklace. So cute. Right? Right. Here's what happens: 

We go to give it to her. She opens it, then goes "I need to tell you guys something....have you noticed how i never have necklaces or earrings or jewelry of any kind on? Here's why: I have a phobia." She has a PHOBIA of jewelry! Literally! Ever since she was a little girl. When Jasmine pulled it out and the necklace touched Veronica's hand, she snapped it away like a snake had just bit her. Never in my life have I heard of a phobia of jewelry! Haha she felt sooo bad though. I just said "clearly Hermana, we just wanted to make you die of fright on your birthday." Oh gosh you guys, never in my life has that happened! Bless my heart. But it's okay, we bought her a flower vase instead which she was supes happy about because she said she didn't have any. So funny. And her mom is Mary....so we go and tell Mary, and she just laughs and says "you didn't know? what are you trying to do to my daughter?" Oh boy oh boy haha. 

my favorite part about the mission: watching not only how investigators, but also members who had fallen away, progress. One of our less actives, Marita, went from NEVER going to church, to last week needing our help to help her prepare her lesson in Relief Society. Not only is it so special to watch them progress, but to see them get excited at their own progression. To watch their lives change, and change again, if needed, through this Gospel and through repentance and through starting to understand the Atonement. Kind of like only in the mission, have I truly started to come to understand the Atonement. 

I truly love the people here. I can't even believe how much love I feel from my Father in Heaven, that He loves me enough to have sent me to these wonderful people. More so that they could teach me than the other way around. Changes are next week, and we have no idea what will happen. Someone please say a prayer for me that I get to stay here at least one more change! I'm not ready to leave yet. My heart breaks at the thought. 

Time is going way to fast. Colonia is beautiful. Uruguay is beautiful. The people are beautiful. God is good. 

I love you, I love you, I love you! 

Hermana Dolan 

Megan's package arrived with her San Diego sweatshirt, and her Dr. Pepper licorice (they don't have Dr. Pepper in Uruguay) March 10, 2014