6 Amis (Friends) came to Church!

Okay let me just begin this email with JOYEUSE FÊTE DE PÈRE !!! Dad !! Dad's everywhere !! Today is your day ! I am so grateful for you ! Ugh you have no idea. I would be long lost if it hadn't been for the men in my life. Grandpa, dad, mason, Connor, you all have filled my life with so much laughter and perspective. Thank you for helping me grow in so many different aspects. I love you 

OH MY goodness ! Let me just say this week was just chalk full of blessings! I am serious when I say there is no amount of worldly happiness can surmount the happiness brought by this gospel. So I will just start with yesterday. Sunday we had 6 Amis come to church !!! So first we had our ami Wells, he has a baptismal date for August. He is always late, so naturally, each time we meet, we ask him to show up 40 minutes before it actually begins. This has correlated progressive results. 

Anyways, we waited for him at the gare of Val de Fontenay; after some odd 30 minutes, we decided to leave because we had to meet another ami- Maria at La gare de Nogent Le Perreux. She arrive á 9h00, right on time, with her 2 year old son Gabrielle. We also had to wait for two other Amis who were on their way. You can imagine our anxiety. After Soeur Kennington and I made the executive decision to drop Maria off at the church and then come back for Wells, lassi and bakara. 

After a long walk to the church, we sprinted back to the gare, and who do we find on the way, Wells ! Walking happily on his way to church, we told him to save us seats. After picking up lassi and bakara, we all met at the church ( Joël had saved us all seats of course ) and we had a wonderful fête de Père. 

After church, I had a prompting to stay and sing in the choir. Soeur Kennington was hesitant because we hadn't eaten and we had a rendez vous in an hour, but I made a promise with God to follow my promptings. So we stayed, and it was such a heartfelt experience. The choir was so loving and we sang TOGETHER en accord! On the last song, Soeur Bigord ( membre) held me close to her as we sang a pioneer song at the end. We sang all the wrong notes that s for sure but man you could really see our smiles. 

Afterwards, we met with Allfred. An ami who is a priest. He is so interested in learning about the Book of Mormon, because if you think about it, he dedicates his whole life to searching the gospel. Needless to say the lesson was extremely spiritual. Although, by the end I was starving, it was 16h00. Well, low and behold, there was a wedding that we attended yesterday, and they left all the leftovers in the fridge !!! We were blessed with food !! I ate so many beets and corn it was delicious and African. 

Continuing on, we met with this women named Fausine, this sweet African woman that would shout amen at every piece of doctrine I mentioned. She was so spunky with her green eyeliner and all. Anyways, she said why not to baptism. Why not ?? Why not follow the Lord !! I couldn't agree more Fausine. 

I truly felt like my prayers were answered this week. I had been praying for opportunities to increase my faith. And boy did it work. We were given so much!! Not just blessings but opportunities to work !!! I loved it.I cannot explain the joys of seeing 6 people come unto Christ and act in his words, his teachings, and his atonement, truly a manifestation of his power. 

Other things that happened this week, we met with Joël and Wells at the same time. It is so fun teaching them together. Anyways, Joel said the opening prayer and mentioned Wells's name, immediately following wells shouts wjth so much vigor, AMEN. I could NOT contain myself and soeur Kennington was dying in her chair. Who on earth ??? I was crying I started speaking in English because it was too much. But fear not we continued on with the Spirit. 

Other highlights we went to a fancy restaurant with a member and it was amazing to try the amazing pizza. Yes I had pizza...... It wasn't the best decision ( lactose intolerant)  but that's why trials are here, to learn and grow  ! Lol. 

SO many miracles. Not little time. I love you all. 

ALSO if you want to send me mail is has to be sent to Les Missionnaires- Soeur Dunkley,  not just Riley Dunkley because that is not my name in the mission.  

Soeur Dunkley 

Visit to the Paris Temple!

June 11, 2018

Hello hello !! 

This week was absolute! 

I'm not really sure what happened. Oh yeah !! Soeur Dorton ( the one that I sang with ) and soeur Egan were transferred:( it was the absolute worst ( also I realize I use that word all the time so I apoligize.). Wednesday we helped them at the train. Lots of tears but they will do so great :) 

Soeur Kennington and I went to the temple this week with the most precious ANGEL in the world. Her name is Madeleine, and the three of us are vraiment just three peas in a pod. Anyways, we went to Versailles, after we visited the visitors center we went and sat in the gardens next to the statue of Christ. I peaked over and saw her reading the book of Mormon it was the cutest thing. 

I also gave my first talk in church this week !!! I talked on how charity is crucial in the Gathering of Israel. It was super brief but I will finally say that my French is really progressing. I now understand almost everything. It's pretty spectacular what the gift of tongues can bring. My talk really strengthened my testimony on charity. It makes everything so much easier !! No one can physically participate in the lords work without charity. Just as it is described in 1 Corinthians 13, it will profit you nothing. It is so important, do you want to know why? Because we were all gifted with the light of Christ, therefore we can depict the light of Christ in the acts of each other. So make sure to pray for charity ;) because it will bring out that light within you to others. It also makes the work plus facile. Every time someone denies the gospel, it is SO much easier to have a heart full love rather than thinking wow they're frustrating lol. Anyways, moral is pray for charity and it will make life easier. 

We had a baptism Sunday. It went to beautifully:) it was for a man named Angenor who was taught by Soeur Dorton and Soeur Egan. He was so happy !!!!!  Loved it. After we had a repas and Joel made this extravagant fish and it was absolutely divine.  Love that man. He continues to progress every day. 

This week I really felt the presence of the lord in all my doings. I know he is there. And I know he is placing people in my life not only to help them grow closer to God, but me as well. 

Read 1 Corinthians 13!!! 

Love you all. 

Love my family soooooo  sooo  much. . 

Soeur Dunkley 

Passing of my Grandmother....

Hello everyone:

As I'm sure you all know, my beloved grandma passed away last week. I'm not going to lie, it's been a while since I've been affected by a sadness like that. It has been a hard and enduring week, but I will say that so many miracles have come from it. And I know that she is right here walking along beside me to see them. 

I actually found out the news rather quickly on Tuesday.  A friend of mine sent an email as soon as he heard, so I found out by that source. It was so hard hearing about what had happened. But it made me so grateful for the blessing of know her and all the things she did!! She was so adventurous! Traveling all over the world, and taking advantage of every culture. I am so grateful for being with her. I loved her so much, I wasn't afraid to be myself around her. I remember all the days when I was tired from school, just coming to their house and laying in bed with her while she talked to Martha on the phone Haha, they were so funny those two. I loved every moment with her. So many days where we would just go look at all the rocks she’d collected, she would ask a million questions but i didn’t mind. She loved all my friends who came over to hear her stories. I’m grateful those who could meet her. What a woman. So spunky and sassy. Her favorite guilty pleasure were those store bough orange rolls. I remember bringing her some on her bday. We had some good times her and i. On the day that she passed, I wore one of her scarves in honor of Her, and guess What... we were walking on the rue, and I stopped to talk to this man. He immediately grabbed my scarf and said what is this? Are you a scout? It was the first time anyone had noticed the scarf. It brought me sooooo much hoy to tell him that no I wasn't a scout (lol) but I was a missionary for l'église de Jésus Christ des saints des derniers jours. He was so interested in our message. What an experience. Grandma look at that !!! He loved it. 

Anyways we spent the whole day out on P-day because being in made it harder. With that said, we worked very hard and long. But it felt good. We found little ways to serve others so that we could keep the day going. 

Wednesday was the day I received the call from my Mission President. He and I talked for a while just about the importance of holding on to those we love and holding on to the principles we  cherish. I compared it to the iron rod. For moments like these I am grateful to be holding steadfastly. President told me that my the song I sang with Sœeur Dorton,  "consider the lilies"  was played for my grandma. You have no idea how much comfort that brought me!!! To know that she heard!! I am so full of gratitude. That song will forever have a significant meaning to me. On that same day, Soeur Bakly bought me a little macaroon because everyone knows I love those. It was so sweet of her. 

We met with Joel again. Due to personal circumstances we had to tell him he needed to wait to be baptized. He was pretty discouraged. BUT he has so much faith. I am so proud of how far he has come. I have never met a person pray as sincerely and earnestly as him. 

As I have said. This week was difficult, but I am so happy. I could not have gone through any of my trials without this gospel. With that said to everyone who reads, I know with surety that this is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. The same gospel that he originally established on this earth during his time. He is our Savior and Redeemer. He knows you and I just as we know ourselves. I am so grateful to share this truth with others. I love you all!!!! 

Il Fait Chaud! (It's Hot)

Bonjour !!!! 

This week was so spiritual. Great experiences. By the way I would just like to say how grateful I am to have all of you. Thanks for the love and constant emails even though I never have time to respond lol. It means a lot. 

Monday 

As y'all know we had an amazing time at Napoleon's Chateu de Fontainebleau.  C'était très bien et très chic. 

Monday night we met with the Dezverges for soirée familiale.  Here they eat portatos with honey Dijon mustard BUT it's SO MUCH more spicy. So, we were dying lol. Xavier told us to smell the bread bc that apparently helps, anyways we went around the table smelling bread how bizarre. 

Tuesday we had crepes with a member and prepared for our MUSICAL NUMBER which I'm pretty sure you all can see because it's on Facebook. 

Friday 

ZONE CONFERENCE ! okay Soeur Dorton and I ( not my companion) sang Consider the lilies. Shout out to Brigham 

It was such a spiritual and stressful experience as we had three days to learn it and my goodness with our busy schedules we were having a tough time. BUT it was so powerful, even though I messed up a bunch lol, typical. 

Saturday 

We met with Joël encore. It was not our best lesson. He had so many questions that none of us had the answers to. It was very overwhelming. We left feeling a bit discouraged. But he called us that night and out of the kindness of his heart he invited us to his house for dinner Sunday night. 

Sunday 

la fête de Mère!!!!!! It was so precious !!!! So wonderful. The young women sang a family prayer and yes yes I did start crying. In fact it made me miss my family even more than when I Skype them 2 weeks ago !!! What !!! Anyways, the primary kids handed out flowers for all of us. I felt so loved. After l'eglise we went to chez Joël with his son Matisse, who is 15, we bonded over Minecraft. He prepared a MASSIVE feast haha. He is so into cooking, almost more than me. But for real, We had fish, chicken, individual baguettes??  quelquchoses comme ça. During the dinner he played the bongos for us and then let  me have a spin !!! If Connor taught me anything with those drums in the house it's how to keep a beat. Lol. Anyways, the significance of that dinner follows; so the mother of Matisse, has been going through a series of traumatic events, needless to say that have had the effect of the adversary in their lives. When we visited we saw a light appear in Matisse and Joël that we could tell had been long kept in the dark. We shared a video from President Nelson ( the one regarding the plane crash), and y'all !! He was struggling a lot with baptism and having others tell him not to go forward with it. Afterwards, we talked about that spirit that was surrounding the dinner table. He and Matisse talked about the peace they felt, you guys!!! That's the holy ghost!!! I couldn't stress it enough. Haha, he then turned to his son and said Matisse, it is so important that we read this book together. He told him that he carries the book wherever he goes, because it is his source of comfort. It was so admirable. I was in tears. 

The mission is hard. It's really tough being rejected or not being able to communicate to the best of my abilities. But I cannot put into words the amount of love I have for the work, and the joys I have felt from opening my mouth and sharing the truth with others. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, as taught in 2 Nephi 2, there is opposition in ALL things. With that said, we have to experience the pains in life to even be able to recognize the joys. That's how important they are. So appreciate the bad, and treat them as learning experiences, treat them as opportunities to excel and enlighten !! 

I would also like to say thank you to all those who have served and continue to serve our country. Being memorial day, I find more appreciation for our freedoms since living outside the US. We met a man today who wore a DDAY shirt. We talked about the significance of what happened at Normandy. It was a very honoring moment to be able to discuss with him what had taken place. I am FULL of gratitude if you couldn't tell. 

I love you all so dearly. Thanks for your prayers and thoughts. 

By the way, because yesterday was fête de Mère there was a MASSIVE sale of flowers at the grocery. So this whole bouquet was for 1 euro. It's cool we deserve it. 

Soeur Dunkley