Ashley has Opening Night tonight!! Three cheers!!

Ashley has Opening Night tonight in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Coat!!!  She says it's the most dance intensive show she's been in!  Don't break a leg Ashley, but do your best!  She has a piano recital tomorrow for her students at the Layton Library.  Her family is so busy!

     Annette has a blog!  Her family drove cross country and back from Arkansas.  Amazing, that is a long way.  They saw 4 National Parks:  Mesa Verde, The Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Yellowstone.  They went to Albuquerque, New Mexico--a special family place, and had a fluke meeting with Andrea and her family at the Temple!

     Andrea and her family are settled in Sacramento.  They've done a terrific job and are down to the final last details of hanging pictures, etc.  The kids ride the bus to school and have enjoyed their first week. 

     Amy and her family went on a weekend retreat to see the sights at CEU, Price, Goblin Valley, etc.  Little Grace will get to see where her Mom went to school and her Dad played football, and all the places the Schmidts had great experiences at.

     Darren and his family finished Education Week at BYU.  Teaching the youth, and adult classes in family, parenting and marriage was exceptional!  There was a line for his autograph!  They sure had a variety of camps this summer for the kids and the whole family!

     Brent finished Matthew and is on to writing for the new edition of Jesus the Christ!  Wow, I loved that book.  Dad gave it to me when we were first married and we read it together.  Then I read it with the ladies in my ward just before we left home.  Their house is being framed and they have picked out all the color schemes, and all that fun stuff!

     Dad and I are having a great time.  We had zone temple trips this week and next.  Two zones on Wednesday, the San Geronimo and Las Caobas, and today we had Independencia and Las Palmas.  We pulled the clothes for them and handed them out then stayed for the session today.  We have been teaching the Youth Sunday School class for August.  It is on marriage and family.  What a great family we have!  And what great families you each have!  We love you so much!!

I have a testimony of the importance of families and of working hard to be part of Heavenly Father's Family.  (Tengo un testimonio de la importancia de familias.  Son eternas!  Ustedes son mi familia.  Agradicia por cada uno! En el nombre de Jesuscristo, Amen.)

Con amor,

Mom & Dad

Artículo y video del Campamento de Diáconos en Bonao

Hi kids, take a minute and view especially the U tube short video.  Today the seniors took the day and rode by guagua (small bus) from the CCM (MTC) to camp Bonao.  (We worked Saturday so we could be out of the office today.)  Camp Bonao is the church's camp in this country.  It is set up like Heber Valley Camp in Utah.  They held EFY there  a month or so ago, and they just held Deacon's camp there.  They are trying to build up a stronger priesthood base in this country.  They began with the young people, the deacons!.  See what you think.  It's pretty awesome!  You are each of you supporting this wonderful world wide church!!!  We are so proud of you and all that you are and do!  The Church is in good hands with you!!

Love,

Mom & Dad

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Rob Dunford <rrdunford@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, August 19, 2013 9:32 AM
Subject: Artículo y video del Campamento de Diáconos en Bonao

Several of you have asked to see the video of the recent Deacons' Camp event, ECOS, at Bonao.  Over 600 young men and their leaders participated in a first-ever, 3-day experience planned and carried out totally with the wisdom, hard work, and inspiration of our Dominican brethren:

 

·         Article (in Spanish) on the event, with the video, in our Church Newsroom of the Dominican Republic, prensamormona.do

·         The video by itself on YouTube: http://youtu.be/Ps_w37GQR1o

 

A big Thank You to Sister Jill Johnson for her skillful editing. Feel free to share these links.

 

Love and best wishes to each of you,

 

The Dunfords

 

P.S. There is more English information on our blog, jilldunford.blogspot.com

Erickson Newsletter Article July 2013

Hi all! 

     We've had a great month.  We welcomed a new senior couple the Clawsons from Kaysville, Utah and 12 new missionaries who we oriented in two separate days since some who had been waiting for visas were finally able to come.  This picture was taken in our apartment at a dinner welcoming the Clawsons and saying farewell to Elders Reeder and Pitti in the office.  We go to the office everyday. We took blueberry and strawberry muffins for Memorial Day, took the office to a buffet for my birthday, served up the cake the mission presidents' wife had her maid make me from my birthday, and we brought Mom's apple crisp and cherry cobbler for the 4th of July. 

     Jim is working hard at teaching the Aaronic Priesthood lessons each Sunday.  These strengthened youth will be the future leaders in this area.  Today I played a do,re,mi scale as one of the four sister missionaries assigned to our branch, Sister Moronta from the DR begins to lead our branch choir and wants the singers to try for their parts:)   Yesterday the AP's and office elders invited us to go to the Aquarium with them for our P day. We had a great time. 

     What a blessing to be on a mission and have a great family at home that are "baking us up" as Dad once said.   

Quick Update on Everyone

Hope each of you is fine, pray for each other.  Annette's been to the hospital with her pregnancy. Caleb is doing double duty.  His folks finished up with Walmart and have gone home. Ashley and Kelland are each in a performance, he the Complete Works of William Shakespeare comedy, and she in Joseph and the T.color coat.  We were sorry to hear that Jake's grandpa passed away recently.  Hope we told you all that Jake spoke at his grandpa's funeral and did a wonderful job.  He and his grandpa were very close.  And Amy played the music and Grace sat nicely and didn't have to be taken out:). Andrea & Ross move this next week, he sold their car, washer and dryer in just a day!  The trouble with her jaw was discovered.  Amy & Jake are hosting a family dinner tomorrow.  Grace finally likes baby food and is almost crawling on knees!  Darren & Jolynn finished EFY at Jordan Institute with 422 kids and 39 counselors!  Patrick sang in the talent show and was in a skit.  Maylin and Cameron watched the kids not in school.  Brent & Judith are busy getting their house built, finishing translating Matthew and documenting notes and commentary, gardening, and are preparing to move to Idaho.  We love you all so much!!

Mom & Dad