Christmas Happiness = YOU! December 30, 2013

Alright guys, the downside of emailing in a library is we are timed, and then when all the computers are filled, we get kicked off so others can get on. SO! This is going to be a quick little email because I still have to read and respond to some others!

Basically, the best part of this week was CHRISTMAS! (: It was super duper happy! Yay! Talking to you was the best thing ever. It made me so happy. It really did just lift me up and make me feel a lot better and want to just go out and work hard. I do miss you guys but thankfully the call didn't make me too homesick (:

Not much happened besides that wonderful blessed day. Ha. After phone calls we went and worked for a little bit and then went back to Bishop Clawson's home for Christmas dinner. It was so much fun! I just love that family. They treat us like family and they're loud and laugh a lot just like us! So that's great! (: So it felt good to be able to talk to you and then to be able to spend time with the Clawsons. We played with puzzles and told what we got for Christmas and just joked around. For Christmas they got the first three seasons of Duck Dynasty. YES! So we were all quoting it and laughing about certain episodes. It was great. That's a funny show. 

I had a real neat experience during language study one day. I was just talking to myself in Portuguese and reading from my Book of Mormon and I got the most warm and comforting and peaceful feeling. And I just knew that I would make it to Brasil and speak Portuguese, but for now my call is in Ohio and I will work here and speak English (: Haha. It was a much needed feeling. But in the email that my Mission President sent me this week, he said that visas are starting to move. Yay! So who knows. They're iffy little things. So who knows how long I'll be here. By the way, transfers are on the seventh. My guess is that I'll be staying. But who knows. Ha!

Had the realization that are family is a family of adults. Uh, what? When did that happen?! When did we all grow up and move out? Huh?! Come on family, I thought we'd just live in the same house in Oregon for forever! Sheesh. But no. Mom and Dad are moving to Hawaii, Lucy is in Oregon, Cooper and Kylie are in Idaho, I'm in Ohio and Sydney is in Idaho. What is this? We've all moved out. It freaked me out. We're adults and I hadn't thought it'd come so soon.

I'm not sure yet what's happening on New Year's Eve. We haven't been told. We might find out tonight. But my guess is we'll just have to be in early. Ya! Party missionary style! Woot woot! Ha.. My New Years will be pretty lame too because I'll be asleep at 10pm and then wake up going, "It's 2014!" So.. Dumb. Ha! BUT! In a couple weeks, I'll only have to go through every holiday once! And then I'm home. So I did one Christmas, and then New Year's and then I'll only have one more of everything. Weird!

Family. Thank you so much for all you do for me. Talking to you was the highlight of everything ever! And before we know it, I'll be calling you again on Mother's Day! That'll be cool (: Hearing your voices really cheered me up. It was really funny, when I went back to the Clawsons home for dinner that same night, they all commented about how I was just cracking up during my call. I was in their guest bedroom, and they just said that they could just hear me laughing and that I sounded super animated and happy. I've realized guys, that our family is a hoot! We just crack up and laugh and have a good ol' time! I love it (: It was a very happy phone call, so thank you.

Minha família! Serio, eu amo vocês muito! Eu sou muita grata por vocês.

Love you lots family!

Sister Clara Kay Dunn.

Some things that cracked me up on the phone call:
First thing I hear from Lucy is, "You're a missionary!"
Peener meowing at me!
Teasing Sydney about not knowing math (;
Mom and Dad's hilarious Christmas ding dong ditch disaster
Cooper's message that dad forwarded to me.
And then Lucy ending the call with, "Best Christmas ever!"

This is the best family ever. Seriously. I love you.

1. Best pajamas ever! Super comfy, favorite color, way fancy. They deserved tears. And they got them (:

2.Me with my pajamas and gifts and Christmas tree. It was a happy Christmas. Thank you so much! I loved all my gifts. They were perfect!

3. Springboro Ward Missionaries! Sister Ollerton, me, Elder Rose and Elder Stewart! Elder Stewart goes home this Thursday! He was in this are for about 11 months. Wow!

4. The Sisters with Ally Clawson. She's the bishop's daughter and we're just all friends (:

5.Our creep board. Haha! This is our study area. Includes our board of everything and lots and lots of my books. Yay for studying!

6.Our area covers a little tiny town called Oregonia! We get out there about once every month. I had to get a picture next to the sign. It's like I'm almost in Oregon!

7. OREGON! I love Oregon! Really. I miss it. (Mom, I'm wearing that new black skirt. Uh, love it! Sheesh. You guys did AMAZING! Thank you!)

8.I miss my Cannon, pictures would be so much nicer. But here's a shot that I took and liked (:


Love you lots family! Hope you like the pictures. You're my favorite! (:

Pre-Christmas Talk! December 23, 2013

So here's the deal! The moment we've all been waiting for! Well.. The moment leading up to the moment we've all been waiting for! Today is a half p-day, so this email will be short, and I won't be able to write all of you individually this week, sorry! But it's because the rest of the p-day will be on Christmas so that I CAN CALL YOU! AH! You have no idea how excited and happy I am. But here's the thing: I only have 30 to 40 minutes to talk on the phone. That's what it says in the White Handbook says and that's what my President said, so it's short. I will be going over to our Bishop's house and using their phones to call. So be ready! (: I'm super duper a lot really excited! We will open gifts in the morning and then do whatever we want until calling home. Yay! (: By the way family, thank you SO much for all the presents! Really (: You are seriously the BEST family in the whole entire world. I've taken a poll and gathered information and it's true, the Dunn family wins! We have a tiny little 1950's silver tinsel tree with a light bulb and rotating color thing to shine on it, and I put all my presents underneath it. It's cute! It looks perfect and makes me happy. Although, people around here all use fake trees. Say whaaa? No. I miss our good ol' Oregon tree! That smells delicious and looks perfect! I also miss our ornaments. That's weird, but I never realized how much feeling is put into ornaments. But it's true. Lucy, I may have opened your little package that I got in the mail. I was sitting by the tree Saturday evening, and just felt like I should open that one. And I'm reallyy glad I did. It had your letter from OCTOBER 24! Hahahah! Oh gosh. I'm just glad I got it. And then the most beautiful pin I have ever seen! Seriously. I just started crying. Ha! It just meant so much to me that you and Syd thought of me when you saw it, and then you got it and sent it to me. Thank you. I wore it on Sunday. On Christmas Sunday, which was perfect because I feel we would sometimes go see the Nutcracker on Sunday, so it was sentimental to wear that ballerina on Sunday (: Thank you SO much!

Not much happened this week. Still just learning how to be the best missionary I can be; the missionary that the Lord knows I can be. It's hard, but I'm learning a lot! I don't really know what to say... Seriously. Like nothing happened this week. Ha!Sunday was great. I really felt the Spirit in all 3 lessons, which to me is super impressive! Hahah, I feel that's hard to do. But I did it! This Christmas season is so different from the rest, and I've really felt so close to my Father in Heaven and to my Savior Jesus Christ. Christ has ultimately given us the best gift, the Atonement, and so it feels good to serve Him and give all that I can. I'm grateful for this season. And I'm grateful for you family. I love you so much! Thank you for making this Christmas special, because you really have. And on Christmas, it'll be even more special by opening your presents and being able to talk to you. I'm excited!

Oh! And let Tina Westlund know that her gift was the first under the tree and that I love her so much and that she's the best! So sweet. Thank you!

Well I've got to go. Sorry, this email is pretty lame, but it's just because I'll be talking to you in 2 DAYS! Woot woot! (:

Also! There was a Christmas Mission Conference this last week, and Sister Porter (the President's wife) took lots of pictures! And I was in some of them. So I'm hoping she posted them onto the Mission Facebook page, so look for those! (:

Family! I love you! So very much! And I miss you lots and look forward to talking to you! Even though it's only 40 minutes, it will be so very happy!

Thanks for all you do for me,
I love you all,
Sister Clara Kay Dunn.

1. P-day activity last week! We went and decorated cakes at a member's bakery! Classic Disney! It's Minnie Mouse!

2. Our cute little tree with Tina's present! Since then it's collected a lot more presents. Thank you!

3. I have honestly made so many friends out here. I am so grateful for them! And I had the chance to see them all again at the Christmas Conference!

4. A family, who was baptized a year ago and just recently got sealed in the temple, took us out to lunch to the famous Golden Lamb! It's really famous around here, and around the nation. It's a hotel and lots of presidents and famous people have stayed in it (:

5.The Golden Lamb sign!

6. Sitting by the Christmas tree! And behind me are lots of presents from the people I love! Thank you!

Know that I love you so much! Can't wait to talk to you! Love you with all my heart (:

Talk to you soon! (Do you see what I did there? I said TALK to you soon, because we will be talking to each other soon, and not just read you so soon! Hazzah!) HA!

The true meaning of Christmas:

http://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/the-nativity?lang=eng

These Bible videos really are amazing. Just watched this one! (:

Merry Christmas!

Guess what day it is! December 16, 2013

Monday. And Preparation Day. And email day. And 9 days away from being able to hear your voices!!!!!! YAY! (: Oh gosh, so excited! I don't have details on that yet, but I'll figure them out this weekend and let you know next Monday. We haven't heard anything about it from our Mission President yet, but I hope he says something tonight and so I'll let you know in a week. We're having dinner over at the bishops house, so I assume we'll just go over early and give you a call then. So it'll be in like the evening over here. I think I'm like 3 hours ahead? I have no clue. But I'll be sure to figure out and let you know. Hazzah!

Let me see... What happened this week.

Bahaha. I know! So this last Tuesday, we went to teach the Restoration to a 60 year old lady and her 20 year old son. We brought a member with us, hoping that we'd actually be able to teach because in past appointments the lady just liked to talk about any and everything for an hour, so we hadn't gotten much taught. Well. Background story, the last appointment we had, we talked about the importance of prayer. And so I extended the commitment to pray as a family, and they accepted and then I asked if one of them would offer the closing prayer. They were shy and not really answering and so I asked again, and asked what was keeping them from saying it, and they didn't really give much feedback as to why not. Well we had to go, so I said that I would offer the closing prayer, but that when we came back we'd follow up on how praying as a family went and ask if one of them would say the prayer next time. So now it's the next time, and we taught the restoration, and what we believed and what they needed to know and feel to know of the truthfulness themselves. So we asked them to read from the Book of Mormon and pray. Well... She responded with the fact that she doesn't know what a "normon" believes and doesn't get why they need to pray. Then she totally kills the Spirit and points at me and calls me out for asking them to pray last time. She goes on to chew me out and tell me that I offended them and hurt their feelings and that they didn't understand why they needed to pray out loud or as a family and started telling me that I'm not a very good person for asking them to do that.. It was so awkward and very rude... She said some pretty mean things to me, so we eventually left and I apologized to the member that came, and then I just started to cry. She said some pretty hurtful things to me, and it was hard to hear. And it made me second guess what I was doing. If I was doing things right or if I was even a good missionary... I prayed so hard. And you know what? All I can do is teach and bear my testimony. If they don't accept it or believe it, then that's their decision. I'm doing what I'm supposed to do. We give commitments so that people act and can come to know for themselves, and if they're not willing to show their faith by praying, then okay. That's all I can do. It was just frustrating, and hurtful. Oh people and agency. Sheesh. It's amazing how mean people can be to missionaries. I think they forget that I'm still a human, that I'm just a 20 year old girl and still have feelings. So that was terrible. Ha!

But the upside of this week! We had a zone conference and had Elder Perkins of the 70 come and speak to us. SO GOOD! It was incredible. I really felt the Spirit and received so much revelation as to what I need to do as a missionary. I loved it. And President Porter, our mission president, is so inspired. Really. He preaches the word to us missionaries! He's great!

THEN! Best thing ever! Stake Conference was this weekend, and guess who I got to talk to and shake hands with?! Elder D. Todd Christofferson! Heck yes! A living apostle! He came for our conference and spoke to us and then I had the opportunity to go up and shake his hand and talk with him for a bit. It was so neat. And I could just tell that he cared for me and everyone there. He was so genuine. It was amazing! He talked a lot on having faith and building that faith. And that we need to hasten the work, that missionary work is important at this time. And then he blessed everyone there with so many blessings! I don't have my journal on me, but it was incredible! He really is a witness of Jesus Christ. And it was great to be able to see and hear from him! Stake Conference was so great, and I truly felt the Spirit. When we go into meetings with a question, Heavenly Father always answers them. It's incredible. I'm grateful for him.

It snowed.. Again. Thankfully it's that really pretty fluffy dry snow that crunches when you walk on it. And not that nasty wet slushy snow. So it's pretty. But cold. By the way, parents, if you could get me some long johns, that would be much appreciated. Thank you! I'm the same size as Lucy, so you can ask what her sizes are (:

Well... Nothing else really happened. Just working. Trying to find people to teach. This was more of a spiritual missionary email. I try to include funny experiences, but not much happened this week... We went on exchanges with our Sister Training Leaders and we slept on the floor... After telling us that they just had bed bugs, but that they're gone now.. Ha! Oh good! It was a very uncomfortable nights rest, and worrisome that I was going to get bit. But I didn't! And it was a fun day (: I LOVE our STL's. They're super cute.

Alright. Well that's it. I'm gonna watch some Bible videos (which are the best!) and then head over to our District activity! Decorating cakes at a bakery that a lady in the ward owns (: Fun!

Love you all SO much! Really. I cannot wait to talk to you! Yay!
Sister Clara Kay Dunn.

1. Sister Ollerton and I. We went to a member's home to help make cookies to give to people, and she had some aprons laid out for us to wear, and then at the end told us that she sewed them for us! She made me an apron! How nice! (: So we took a picture in them in front of her 2 Christmas trees (:

2. Look at who I'm teaching the gospel to! (: He totally loves the Book of Mormon and says it's true. And then he told me he's waiting for me (:

3. Oh Harry! This is against the white handbook, so I'll have to tell you, he's not real. I know, you thought he was. But unfortunately he's just cardboard... ): So it was okay for me to hug him (: Hahah!

4.Here's our little dinky Christmas tree. Hahah! A member let us borrow it. I was putting it together. It's hilarious (:

i hate subjects December 9, 2013

Oh my dearest family,

HEY! (:

So this week was a suck week and a great week! But that's the life of a missionary!

Guess what?! My district went bowling last Monday and we played 3 games (wayy too many), and I got a total of 4 strikes! Ya boy! Even better, I got 2 in a row! Hot dog yo! I owned! It was exciting. I'd probably have fun pictures, but I forgot my camera.. So don't expect any. Sorry.

Um. I think I may have accidently up-talked once.. It sneaks in! Every single missionary ever on the world does it, and it just crawls into your ear and wiggles it's way into your brain and out your own mouth! NO! I will not give in to this terrible missionary epidemic! I will be myself and talk like a normal human being! Haha (: A lot of people tell me that I'm very good at being myself while being a missionary, and I honestly think it's because I just talk normal and I don't go into "missionary mode." It really does make a difference. And I will keep it that way! Even when I'm in Brazil! Which I'm still hoping will eventually happen. Haha (:

We've started listening to Christmas music and it is both happy! and also sad.. Happy cause it's Christmas music! And it only comes once a year. Sad because it brings back memories and reminds me that I won't be home for Christmas.. But it's fun. I still do it. It's very happy. I actually listened to the Nutcracker music yesterday! I was super goof and totally started smiling really big to myself, and then seriously like 2 minutes later I just started crying. Ha! It was kinda pathetic. But I'm going to miss the Nutcracker! TWICE! I'm gonna be on my mission for 2 Christmas! What was I thinking?! (; But thankfully I've seen it enough that I can see the dances in my head while I listen to the music, so it's almost like I'm watching it. Hah!

So the suck part of this week was the fact that I was sick with the flu... Thankfully I didn't ever throw up (although I wished I would because that probably would have made me feel better), but I was so nauseous, it was unbelievable. I couldn't stand. I'd get dizzy and so sick. And my body ached and I had a fever of 100. It was miserable.. We didn't go out cause I was so bad. And I honestly slept the whole day. I really needed it. My poor companion was probably bored out of her mind trying to come up with things to do. Haha! I was just conked out. Which was good cause I didn't sleep on either nights surrounding that day. But I'm slowly getting better, thank goodness. It was just really bad that day. It's been going around though, and I shake so many people's hands it's a miracle it's taken me this long to get real sick. It was torture to have to stay in all day. I don't know how I did it before my mission. Seriously. I was going crazy. I just wanted to storm out the door and preach the word to people! But couldn't even stand. Drove me crazy. It was, however, a good day to stay in because it SNOWED! Like 6 inches that day. That is a total guess of amount, I'm terrible at estimating measurements, so for all I know it could have only been 2 inches. Ha! But there was snow! It reminded me of Rexburg (: Which I'm sure is working on getting all snowy too! Yay for Sydney and Cooper and Kylie! Lucky Oregon people don't have to worry about it (: It was beautiful to look at from the inside of our warm apartment, but being out in it the next day... no. I had on, seriously, 4 layers of everything! I need to buy winter clothes... Ugh.

Well the next day, I couldn't handle staying in again, so I forced myself to feel better, and for good reason cause it was the Lebanon Carriage Parade! (: We set up a table at a members home, and offered people free hot chocolate and then had people sign up for free DVD's (Finding Faith in Christ, Joy to the World, and The Restoration). We didn't get many to sign up, but we gave out lots of hot chocolate! (: Didn't ever think that as a missionary I'd be standing on a street corner offering free hot chocolate to people. It was a lot of fun. We did it for the 1 o'clock parade and also for the 7 o'clock. And the perks of that was that I got to see the parade as well! It was so neat! So many different pretty horses and really neat and really old carriages. It was so neat! (: And the parade at night, they had the horses and carriages all lit up. It's was so neat watching the lit carriages come down Broadway street which is all lit up as well! It was great! There were about 115 horses and carriages! They had anywhere from little Shetland ponies to really big Budweiser Clydesdale. It was beautiful! I love horses! We had dinner with a member last night who was actually in the parade! I snuck over to their barn to pet their horses. They were beautiful! I love them (:

It was an up and a down kinda week. Mainly down, but I've really learned how to make myself happy, which really comes in handy when you're not (; And I've really come closer to my Father in Heaven, and He has helped me SO much. He blesses me with strength to push through every day, and I am so grateful for that! Having that one day where I didn't go out and work really made me realize the importance of what I am doing and that I really do love it. It's SO hard. So hard! But I love it! It's a great work! I'm grateful for the chance to serve a mission!

Well familia. I love you so much! And I'm totally working on your Christmas gift, but I only have access to stores and the post office one day a week, which is also the same day that I have so many other things I have to do as well. So it's coming along slowly, so it will most likely be late. I'm so sorry! Just know that I love you and am thinking of you lots! Also, I came up with more Christmas present ideas! Yay! (: I hate shopping for missionaries, so I figure it'd be easier if I just told you what I want. I like pretty simple rings. But that are silver so I can always wear them and don't have to worry about them turning my finger green. And also.. Skirts with elastic bands would be good for me. It's just hard cause all my skirts are zip and hook, and they fit perfectly when I left. Which was dumb of me, cause if I even gained a couple pounds they wouldn't fit. Thankfully they still fit, but elastic would be nice. Ha!

And I think that's all! Love you so much! (: Miss you lots and you are the best!

Sending all the loves I've got!
Sister Clara Kay Dunn.

1.Oh you know. Just chillin out in a field in Ohio. Now it's all covered with snow!
2.Me and my companion, Sister Ollerton.
3.At the parade with my companion and Ally Clawson, the bishops daughter, who is 16 and already knows she wants to serve a mission! YAY! (: Also, I'm wearing the hat that mom made for me last winter! It's so cute and so warm! You're the best mom ever!
4.Elder Rose and Elder Stewart, the elders in our ward! Ally, me and Sister Ollerton (which is pronounced like all-er-ten)
5.And some pictures from the parade! Sorry if they're blurry. Hah! But you get the gist of it (: It was super neat!
6.The last picture was like a Cinderella carriage, it was beautiful! (:

LOVE YOU ALL!

family! December 2, 2013

FAMILY! (:

I just want to start off letting you know that I love you so very much!

So transfers were this week! Oh gosh. Let's just say I was SO nervous! Sitting in the chapel with all the missionaries, and just waiting for your name to be called, it's scary. But I made it! I got through it! And here is the news: I only moved one town over. Ha! I stayed in the same zone, same stake, I just hopped over a town! I'm now in the Springboro ward. There are two sets of missionaries, so we've been assigned to Lebanon, which is in the Springboro ward. My companion and I were doubled in`````, but thankfully that's all I know! So it's nothing new. I was made senior companion. Uh... What?! Ya. So responsibility. Yay! Just what I always wanted! Haha. My new companion is Sister Ollerton, and just like with every transfer, you've gotta re-learn how to work with someone else and find what works best for the two of us. It's definitely been an adjustment. It's hard, but we've been working hard!

So because we were doubled in, we're both new to the area, and don't know much. But thankfully the Springboro ward is AMAZING! They work so hard for their missionaries! So for Thanksgiving, the bishop had us over for breakfast. It was amazing! It felt like we were part of the family. It was comfortable and a lot of fun. And the bishop is such a hard worker! He's helped us out a lot since being here. I'm really grateful for what he does for us missionaries! Then we had dinner with an investigating family! It was a lot of fun. We ate, played a game of dominoes, ate dessert and then shared a little thought. It was a lot of fun. We'll be going back there to see how it goes. From what we saw, and what we've heard, we may just be planting seeds, and not quite harvesting them yet. They're moving soon, so all we can do is be great examples and show them what the church is like (: Then we went to a members home for dessert. It was us, and 10 other couples and lots and lots of children running around. It was great! It was just a giant family together for Thanksgiving, and they included us, and it was so great (: I was grateful for them. It was a lot of fun. We got talking on missions, cause every male had served, and 2 women have. So it was fun to get talking. It was a great day! But let me tell you, I was so full and I am so sick of pumpkin! Pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin everything! And I don't really even like pumpkin! Unless they're Anika's cookies (: But ugh, I'm sick of it! That's all we've been getting since October! Haha.

I did, however, miss a couple things on Thanksgiving. Including: watching the Macy's Day Parade with the family, and then watching the Dog Show! Missed that. And I also missed green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and mom's super delicious mashed potatoes! And also taking a nap. Oh gosh. I was so full, I just wanted to pass out. But instead we went out and worked! One Thanksgiving down, one more to go! Ha.

We helped an older couple get Christmas decorations out of the attic, and then we helped them set up and put lights of and decorate their tree. It was so much fun! And made me so happy. I feel like I'm a part of the Christmas spirit! And like it's not just passing over me. So that's good (:

Lebanon is so ready for the gospel! In one day, we found 4 new investigators! That is like more than we found in 3 weeks in Miamisburg. Ha! They may not all be solid, but we're doing our best to spread the gospel!

Well that's about all the news that I have for this week. Not much happening. I miss Miamisburg, but I love Lebanon. It's an old historic town. It's so cute! And it's all decorated for Christmas! I love it. We were walking the streets down town to get to some less active member's homes, and it's all decorated and they even had Christmas music playing in the streets! It was so happy! This Saturday is the really big historic Carriage Parade! It's apparently a big deal where people from all over come to see. We're working on how to talk to people at that. It'll be fun! Oh! Speaking of it being so cute and old fashiony here, they filmed a movie here this week! It's a corny Hallmark movie, called "Christmas Spirit." It aired last night. The story sounds supppper corny, but look it up cause it was filmed right down the street from where I live! Cool! (:

Well that's about it! Love you all so much! I miss you during the holidays, but the members here are doing a great job at making us feel welcomed and at home (:

In case you've been wondering, for Christmas, I want cute matching pajamas. Like where the bottoms match the top. And is all cute. But isn't too like thick or heavy, cause I want it even for Brazil. So something light. And also socks (dad!). And pretty pretty pretty please, that little photo album full of photos! Seriously. I've been out 4 months! Hahah. I just want pictures of your beautiful faces! And that's all I've thought of so far (;

Love you lots! Thanks for everything! I'm glad I have you.

Sister Clara Kay Dunn.


And also! The most important thing ever! My address!!!

499 Lakeside Drive #3
Lebanon, OH 45036

So send all mail to that address please! Thank you! (:

Also, I forgot to mention. We replaced a set of elders in this ward. And moved into their apartment.. Yep. We took boys apartment, and I can totally tell it was boys living here! Do they not care that there is nasty grime all in the bathtub?! Or all over the sink? Does that not bother boys? It was gross. Ha. I've started showering in my flip flops. For sanitation and for good practice for Brazil. Hahah! (:

"Adventure is out there!" -Up.

This town is just so cute! So I took a picture of a train. Yep!

Lebanon! It's pronounced not like the country! But it's like leb-eh-nen. If you say it like the country, you're saying it wrong! Haha (: But here's a cute little street downtown that is all decorated, lots of red brick and wreaths and Christmas banners. It's cute.

Okay, so get this! This is a picture of me, Sister Clawson, Sister Guy, and Sister Ollerton (pronounced like all-er-ten). So Sister Guy trained Sister Clawson. Sister Clawson trained me. Sister Guy trained Sister Ollerton. And now Sister Ollerton and I are companions! Wha...?! Weird. We're all
family. Me, mom, grandma, and aunt. Ha!
Not many pictures, sorry! Hopefully more to come. Who knows (:
I have the most beautiful family in the whole entire world! Holy cow! (:

You guys make me so happy! Haha. And don't worry, I'm working on my Christmas picture for you to hang up! Hahah!

I love you so much. You could not believe how much I miss you. It's incredible I've made it 4 months. Hah! I can do this!

I love you lots. Lots and lots! You guys crack me up! (: I'm glad you took a picture with it, because so did I! We must be related or something. Hahah!

Transfer news, getting hit by a car, Olive Garden and parties! November 25, 2013

So.. I wrote everything down to tell you.. And then I forgot it at the apartment.. So that sucks.

Well! I found out today that I am being transferred! Transfers are tomorrow morning, so I'll find out where I'm going then. I'm scared. And nervous. But excited. Kinda. Ha! I am not however being transferred to Brasil. I wish! But I STILL don't have my visa.. I'm not so sure I'm going to be going there after all. So many people in the ward have been telling me they don't want me to ever leave and that I should just stay here in Miamisburg for the rest of my mission. Hahah. They're all so nice. But I think they jinxed me (; Now I'm leaving just not to Brasil. Hopefully some day that will become a reality. Cause right now it just seems like a dream I made up and it's not going to happen..

Well lets see what happened this week.. My friend, Emma Hansen, reported to the MTC this Wednesday! I received an email from her on her first P-day there! She's doing awesome. She leaves for Singapore in a week! She's super pumped! I'm excited for her (:

So every Friday we have Weekly Planning. Which is just planning for three hours of things that will happen during the week. Well our zone decided to do it all together at the church. It was different. And awkward because there were 20 missionaries there at the church, and there was a funeral going on! A bunch of missionaries equals loud and goofing off, and a funeral equals quiet and sad.. So it was a bit weird. But basically all they did was quarantine us in little rooms to do our planning. Instead of in the comfort of our apartment. Ha! We were in the tiniest room, for TWO hours! I felt like I was in prison. It was hilarious. We had to take brakes every so often. Which worked out well cause I got to talk with my missionary friends (: Well when that was finally over, we were all in the parking lot, and as I was backing S. Clawson out in the car, I like to mess with her and run into the car so it looks like she hit me (it freaks her out. She's not the best driver, so it's hilarious to mess with her), well I did that and like 10 missionary heads all turned to look at me with the most worried looks ever! They thought that S. Clawson actually hit me! Then I just started laughing and they realized it was a joke and everyone just started cracking up! It was so funny, S. Clawson was so embarrassed, it was cute.

Then I had one of the best nights ever! We had dinner at Olive Garden with Mariah, Shelly, Lauren and Valorie. Which is the group that was always at Mariah's lessons. Basically we're all just family, and it's happy. So we got together and had a blast. I love them SO much. It doesn't even make sense how much. It was so cute, during the dinner, Mariah just randomly said, "I love you all." It was the sweetest thing ever! I'm so blessed to know them. It was fun (: Valorie asked if I was going to move to Ohio after my mission, ha! No. And she said that's alright and that they'll just start a "Sister Dunn Visit Ohio Fund." Which I'd be okay with! (: Then the next night was Laurens Sweet Sixteen Birthday Party! And it was hoppin! We helped set up lights and Valorie had done a great job decorating, it was beautiful! It was just a giant dance, and it turned out great. S. Clawson and I did our missionary work by setting out Pass-A-Long cards on all the tables (: Hopefully people took some! Lauren wanted us to convert some of her friends. Hah! But it was so fun. Hanging out with them all again before I leave. Mariah introduced us to her boyfriend! Who just got home from his mission in Mexico! And they are adorable together! I'm so happy about her. She's doing AWESOME! So that was a lot of fun (:

Other than that, not much happened. I have a Transfer Journal, which is basically just a missionary yearbook. You have other missionaries sign it and families sign it. Have them write a little something and then put contact info so I can reach them. It's nice, I like it. So I got all the missionaries and everyone to sign it. It's been fun here in Miamisburg. I'm sad to leave.. Mixed feelings. Knowing that I won't see Mariah, Shelly, Lauren or Valorie for awhile is a sad thought, and I don't like it. Hopefully I'll get to see them tonight.

I have done nothing with my hair! It's the same.. And the ends are so gross and my split ends have split ends! AH! I've gotta get it cut. I kinda want to just chop it all off! But I don't have the guts to do that. So I'll probably get it trimmed.

I'm so jealous that you get to go to the temple! Seriously. I miss it SO much! I'm dying out here! Going to the temple would seriously help me out. I need that kind of upliftment, and yet, I can't. It's not in our mission, so we can't go. I honestly cannot wait to get off my mission to finally go to the temple! Whoa, okay, when I just wrote mission, it was weird, like I forgot that I was on a mission! Ah, what?! I'm on a mission, weird. Oh gosh. Ha.

I'm sad about the holidays.. I'm hoping it'll just seem like another day and it won't really set in that I'm missing out on Thanksgiving dinner and traditions with my family.. Cause that's hard just thinking about it. Ha! And also.. So because I am still staying in Ohio, I found out that our mission president doesn't let missionaries Skype home.. They can only make phone calls. When I found that out I almost started crying. Like seriously?! So don't get your hopes up of actually seeing my face.. You may just be hearing my voice.. Sad.

Well I've gotta email some other people and then I gotta go pack up all my crap.. Yuck. Not looking forward to that..
I love you all so much! Thank you for all your prayers. You are seriously the best family ever. I couldn't do this without you! Yesterday marked my 4 month mark! Can you believe it?! I've already been out 4 months. Crazy!

Love you all,
Sister Clara Kay Dunn.

--My district! (:
--We're just goofs. Ha!
--Seriously, feeding my so called "friends" is scary! I went up there and there were zero ducks, and I just threw a piece of bagel, and before I knew it, I was surrounded! They're freaks! Haha. It was exciting.
--I don't know if I've mentioned Angela a lot, but here's a picture of her and I (: She loves feeling the Spirit and is doing great! She's a sweet woman.
--Sister Sofele and I (: She's my best friend. Basically it's just hilarious to be around her. I think the elders think we're weird. Which is saying a lot because elders are weird. Ha!
--Aunt Val (Valorie Guerrero) and I (:
--Shelly, her dog Ryker and I. Seriously, when I grow up, I want to be Shelly. She's incredible and the BEST member missionary.

--Posing at Laurens birthday party. S. Clawson, Mariah, Deerdra (a friend) and me (:
--Me, Deerdra, Mariah and her boyfriend Andrew.
--And Mariah and I (: She is my best friend. She is incredible and I love her so much. She is why I'm in Ohio. And I am so glad that I got to meet her and be a part of her conversion. I'm sad to leave her.. But I know the work I'm doing is great. And the Lord needs me somewhere else.

                           

package, pancake, thanksgiving and tornadoes. November 18, 2013

My dearest family!

I just want you to know that I am so nerdy that I make a list of things that I want to write about it my email.. However I kinda slacked on that. And then I was going to bring my journal with me so I could look through the days and write about them, but I forgot to bring it. So... Suck! This will just be from memory, so this email may not be the best.. (:

We're teaching the Recent Convert Lessons to Bella, the 11 year old who was baptized October 26, and the lesson was on missionary work! And you know what she said?! She said she wanted to serve a mission and be a missionary like us! (: How cute?! It was really happy.

MOM! I GOT MY PACKAGE! THANK YOU! (I hate caps, but it's the only way I can express my excitement and yellingness). It was so exciting! I LOVE my Portuguese hymn book, it's so cute. And reallyy helpful for my language study. Thank you! And ALSO! I LOVED the scarf! Ah! I freaked out when I opened it. It's perfect! I just really like elephants. And S. Clawson was SO grateful for her gift too! You are too sweet. She was like super honored and speechless. And she loves her scarf as well. We wore them the next day, it was fun (: Thank you for that! Basically I have the best family ever!

Momma! I made pancakes for lunch one day! They were super delicious. And while making them, I just turned to S. Clawson and was like, "I just want you to know... That I am the Princess of making pancakes. My mom is the Queen, and she taught me her ways." (: Then she asked what I did to make them so delicious and perfect, and I said, "I follow my mom's recipe. I add love." (: I love you mommy!

Yesterday we had an early Thanksgiving dinner with the Baker family, Joel and Valerie. They're the ones who are closer to our age, Joel served in the same mission with Cooper. It was a lot of fun. Joel's family was there, and Valerie's parents, so it was like a legitimate dinner. It felt like I was a part of the family, I liked it. And it was super delicious! Valerie even asked what my favorite pie was and made it for me! (: So we all gathered together and ate, and then went around and said what we're grateful for. Of course, I'm grateful for my family! And I'm also grateful for a healthy body, that will do what I want it to, and is strong and healthy. As we were leaving after church, I waved to Shelly Johnson, who is the lady that was at Mariah's baptism, in the wheel chair. And she is unable to fully move her arms and hands, and I waved to her and realized that she couldn't wave back.. But she is incredible, and she just gave me the biggest smile ever and I knew that was her wave to me. I love her so much. She's an incredible woman.

We surprise visited Shelly Johnson, and Mariah was there too, and when Mariah opened the door, she was just like, "WHAAAAAAT?! NO WAY!" We haven't seen her since her baptism, which is WAY too long! And we all just freaked out and were so excited to see each other! She was just called as a ward missionary! AWESOME! She's the best, and is thriving in the church.

There was a tornado last night! We had tornado alerts on our phone, and the city sirens were going off. It was really stormy last night, with wind and rain. It was terrible. We had to stay inside for a bit. But luckily we were safe and it didn't get too close to us. But it was exciting! Then once we got home, S. Clawson and I worked on our mad worm skills. It was awesome! And we had wayy too much energy. Haha! (: We have fun. Which is important on a mission!

Well that's all I can think of... Kind of a scattered email. My bad. This week was actually really hard, but I find the best in it (: Or try to. It's easy to just stop trying and give up. But as a missionary, you can't do that. So I just keep pushing through. Transfers are on the 26, so next Tuesday. So don't send too much mail, cause who knows if I'm staying or going. We'll see. It's kinda taking a toll on me that I still don't have my visa... It's just hard knowing that my call was to Brasil, and that I learned Portuguese and that I should be there, but am in darn Ohio.. It's hard. I just have to remember that Heavenly Father has a plan for me and I just need to trust Him and work my hardest no matter where I am! I just hope that dang visa comes soon! (:

I love you all so very much. You are my life. And I'm grateful to know that our family can be together forever. I'm grateful that we have the gospel in our lives. And that as I serve my mission you are all so supportive. That means a lot to me. Thank you. I love you with all that I am. I miss you. And pray for you daily.

I love you,
Sister Clara Kay Dunn.

The first one is for Sydney! We were driving to visit a less active, and we drove by this and I just yelled to Sister Clawson, "STOP! Pull over!" She freaked out and pulled over and then I nicely told her that I had to get a picture with this sign. Ha! (: So here you go!
Mirror pictures are so dumb, but we tried so many different ways and these turned out the best. Don't judge. Ha! So this is Sister Clawson and I in our new scarves! (: Cute!
Then we got distracted and just started taking weird pictures. Hah!
Old Fashioned Movie Star status (:

Love you all!

Fuses, Spirit, Facebook and Snow! November 12, 2013

Minha Familia! (: Oi!

So as you may have known, yesterday was Veterans day! So the library was closed, so that's why I'm emailing on a Tuesdayafternoon! (: Hope you didn't miss me too much! (;

Mom and Dad! THANK YOU SO MUCH! My Halloween gift was delish! And super cute! You guys are the best parents ever! Thank you (: I didn't know Harry & David made Moose Munch bites. They were perfect! I could just pop one on my way out the door! Or after my lunch. They were super duper good! And Sister Clawson is thankful too! I shared. And she loved them. Thank you! It was a very happy halloween!

Let me see... What happened this week...?

Well Sister Clawson and I now know how to fix our car problems. I don't know who's idea it was to give all the cars to sisters and then expect us to be able to fix them when needed, but some of the girls out here have no idea what there doing. I, on the other hand, am so grateful for my father! Dad, you taught me how to take car of my car! And how to check things and make sure everything is going good. Thank you! (: We had to add brake fluid, coolant, fix our tire pressure, and fix a fuse. I didn't know some of that, so thank heavens the elders in our ward were so willing to help and teach us! Yay! (: Apparently one of the elders parents both work with cars, so he knew what he was doing. So awhile back our car ran out of battery, and we had to get someone to jump us. Sadly he didn't quite know what he was doing and he blew a fuse before he got our car running again. So when that happened, our clock and radio and cd system was shot.. We have been driving around not listening to music and not knowing what time it was for about a month! Well you can fix that! And now I know how! You just gotta find the right fuse in the car and go buy new ones. Elder Anderton, the one who knows cars, taught me how, and showed me what I would need to do. I'm golden now if someone ever blows a fuse! It's fun to have music in the car now. Hazzah! (:

Sister Clawson and I are doing No Shave November! Except.. It's getting gross, so we may make it No Shave Half November. Hahah! Who knows. We'll see who has the longest leg hair (; Ha!

There was a baptism for two 8 year olds in our ward, and we got an investigator to come! It was a big deal! We found out about it an hour before the actual baptism, invited Angela and she came! And you know what?! She totally felt the Spirit! She was bawling like the whole time. And prior to this, we had explained Priesthood blessings and asked if she would like one, and she said she would. So right after the baptism our elders gave her a Priesthood blessing and she just bawled. She felt the Spirit so strongly! She said she felt so good, and full of good feelings. It was incredible! In the moment of it all, I started crying, of course, and then through mumbled words and tears extended baptism for December 14. She said she would work towards it! It was a big deal! She's been meeting with quite a few missionaries, so this is a big deal! Excited! (:

I finished my journal and now I'm into my new one! I'm debating on if I want to send it home because it's heavy and will take up weight in my luggage. I journal every night! I love it and am so grateful for it (:

Sister Clawson and I were asked to speak at our ward's Youth Standards Night. We talked about honesty and integrity, and we did an object lesson that included Starbursts. The youth loved us (; Hahah! It was fun. It's great getting to know the youth, they're powerful when it comes to missionary work.

DAD! I had dinner at the our Stake Presidents house, because they're in our ward. Unfortunately President Valencia was away in meetings, so it was just us and his wife. But she told me that someone had posted a commented on a picture on the Cincinnati Mission facebook page. And so she looked it up to tell me, and it was you! (: You are so cute! Cheering me on through Facebook. I love you (: Sister Valencia thought it was cute and was excited to tell me. Ha.

It snowed last night! Like legitimately! We woke up and looked out the window, and what did we see? So much snow covering all the trees! (; There was probably a good inch. It was beautiful! We had to scrape the ice off our car. But it warmed up today, with blue skies and sunshine, so it's practically all melted now. But it was a fun surprise!

That's basically been it! (: It was a good week! I'm loving the work out here. And I'm really loving the people I work with. One man in our bishopric came up to me and told me he hopes that my visa never comes so that I can just stay here. It was a really nice thing of him to say. It's nice knowing that the members appreciate us and see the hard work we do. Because it is so hard! I've never had to work harder in my life, and it's tiring, but in the end, it is SO worth it! I love it. The work of Salvation is a rewarding work! And I'm grateful for the opportunity that I have to be a missionary! (:

I love you lots family! Thanks for all the support! You're the best family in the whole wide world! I miss you, and pray for you every day.


I love you
Sister Clara Kay Dunn.

1. Sister Clawson and I in our Halloween outfits! (:

2. Just posing in my Halloween outfit!
3. This is Elder Anderton IN our trunk trying to find the right fuse that we needed to replace. Haha! It was dark, cold, and raining! And we was so willing to just help and climb into our car. Haha! (:

4. Swing set in Oakwood! It was so cute, I had to take a break and swing for like 2 seconds. I'm a REAL missionary! Hahah!

5. One of the elders let me take his bike for a ride. It was so much fun! Haven't done taht in months! It was a lot of fun.
6. However, getting off was a challenge. It was a boy bike, and I'm a girl, and so I had to carefully and strategically get off so that my skirt didn't come up to my waist. Hah!
7. This is how we transport elders and their bikes. We just shove them in the back of the van and close them in. Ha!
8. Tried getting a picture of the snow and the pretty sky this morning. It turned out alright. It doesn't give it justice. It was beautiful!