All is well here after that big eathquake last Tuesday. I don´t know if you heard

of it or not, but it was really, really big. It was of magnitude 7.8. They classified

it as a real earthquake, not just a tremor. The earthquake here in 1985 that

destroyed half of the downtown area and buildings and roads and everything

was 8.1. Close. My companion and I didn´t feel it because we were walking

fast to catch a bus. But we passed through the metro station and everyone

was standing around and looking and they closed the metro. WE noticed

something was happening, but didn´t stop to ask. We should have, everyone

later said that the ground moved like a big swingset. back and forth, rocking,

for about a minute and a half. They said that in later days there were about

40 replicas (aftershocks), though they were smaller. I didn´t feel them. The

people are getting a little more antsy for all of these earthquakes, because the

last one was in december and that´s just way too frequent to have 3 months in

between big tremors. We heard that it even collapsed a few buildings in other

states and that it splashed a bunch of water out of the giant water tanks on top

of all of the houses. It took out cell phone service too for about 5 hours, which

was frustrating. But life continues as if nothing has happened. Thats the scary

part. All is well with us. We were asked by our mission president to prepare an

emergency plan for our area and zone. Also we found out that there was an

earthquake in Chile (again) on Sunday. Truly it is closer to the second coming.

I am super excited for general conference too. IT should be good. We´ll see if

they say anything about the signs of the times, because it is now the times, i think.

Well that´s about all the exciting news, in addition to the news that we baptized

2 kids on Friday and confirmed them on Sunday.

Love you tons,
Elder Bunker

Hello all,

Well all is well here in Magdalena Contreras. I am loving the food, the people,

the view, and the mountains. We are up in the mountains with streams,

rapids, forests, and such. It´s a lot of work, but it´s so worth it. The weather

today is perfect, the sun bright, the wind slight, the temperature comfortable,

and my attitude positive.

The attached photo is just a snapshot of what we ate a week ago. The

little dishes have chopped onion, cilantro, a red salsa and a green salsa.

The big one has tortillas. We ate something called Carnitas. It is pork

chopped up in little pieces and cooked. Then you put a few spoonfulls

into a tortilla and throw on salt, lime juice, onion, cilantro, and salsa.

It´s so tasty. This was in the house of some members who invited us

over to eat with them (remember that in Mexico, the main meal is at 2pm).

I´m feeling greatly fantastic to be working for the Lord in such an amazing

place with an amazing climate. I really can´t complain of anything. There

is no better thing that I could be doing.

I hope all is well with you. I wish you many blessings.

Love Elder Bunker

PS... WHO´S READY FOR CONFERENCE IN 2 AND A HALF WEEKS?!?!?!?!

yes, i still play the piano for sacrament meeting. I´ve done this in all 3 wards that I´ve been in.

They´ve all enjoyed it too because no one else really knows how to play the piano. they always

sing a capella, and it sounds pretty bad. Luckily all of my investigators will be able to have me

playing the piano during the sacrament meeting.

About your thought, it is the plan of salvation. If you remember, Aaron also taught the king the

plan of salvation as the first thing he taught him. The same thing with Ammon and the king.

The plan of salvation is the lesson that best answers the questions of the soul. I think our zone

conference will be about teaching the plan of salvation as the first lesson and teaching it well

so that the people will accept a return appointment.

Well last night they gave us information about transfers. I´m getting transferred to the Contreras

ward and my companion and I will be the Zone Leaders. It´s a whole lot more responsibility and

time. I was sure surprised and shocked, but I accept it. There are about 150 missionaries, 25

district leaders, and 10 zone leaders in the mission. It´s pretty cool because I´ll get more personal

time with President Chavez. He is incredible. Very spiritual. I love to just sit there and listen to

him talk. I´ll get to see and participate in the inner workings of the mission. It will be interesting.

We´ll see how it goes.

Well that´s about it here. I love you much and hope that everything is going well there.

Another thing I learned from the atonement in my studies. Barrabus was in jail for homicide.

How interesting that the romans liberated from death he that killed (barrabus) and killed He

that liberated from death (Christ). Just food for thought. sometimes we do things backwards

too. Like with the commandments. Sometimes we complain that it´s hard....we kill the

commandment that was created to make us free, and we adopt the contrary lifestyle

that enslaves us (for example, word of wisdom).

Love you,

Elder Bunker

push along push along push along..

Hello all,

Sorry it has been a while since writing. Time goes by so fast now.

The other day we were walking from one appointment to another and this guy was outside of his VW bug trying to push it. We stopped and offered our help, and he accepted. We started pushing and asked him how far. When he told us, I thought, wow...that´s pretty far. Oh well, we have a little bit of time. So we just pushed and pushed and pushed. We ended up pushing the car about a mile and a half. We finished exhausted, but feeling good. The funniest part was when we passed about 3 different churches, all with people nicely dressed and standing on the sidewalk. I imagine it was quite a sight: an American and Mexican missionary all dressed up in tie and slacks and backpacks and everything pushing a VW bug. They all just stood their watching us as we passed. I felt pretty good putting the gospel in action.

Yesterday we got to see our Recent convert of about 20 days receive her first calling as the secretary in the primary presidency. Her daughter, another of our recent converts, is 12 and last week she received her first calling too as 2nd counselor in the beehives presidency. It is such a joy to see that kind of progress in our former investigators--now members. This is the greatest work that exists.

I love being here. But time sure does go too fast. Before I know it, I´ll be getting off the plane thinking about what I´ve done in the mission...that makes me want to get even more in gear and work work work. As President Eyring mentioned in his talk during the last general conference, the Lord will give us strength to keep working even past the point of exhaustion. Work until you´re tired. And then work some more. Work is the only thing that advances us, progresses us, etc. We can talk about vision, plans, goals, dreams, etc, but until we ACT and WORK, nothing ever happens.

I love you all and hope that you can gain strength from Christ´s example in the Garden of Gethsemane: At the point of exhaustion and in agony, may we pray ever more fervently, that our Father may send his angels to uplift and strengthen us.

Have a great week!
Elder Bunker

another earthquake

Hello all,

All is well here after the small earthquake (tremor). It was 5.4 (or 5.6..not sure) and the epicenter was close to Acapulco, a beach resort here in Mexico. It felt like being on an airplane when you hit turbulance. up and down, up and down, only we were sitting in chairs around a table on solid ground. It felt really cool. Luckily nothing was damaged or shaken too much, just a few christmas tree ornaments fell and broke in teh house we were at (having a family home evening). They said that this one was a big one compared to all the others. And it lasted longer too. It happened Saturday night about 7:45 pm and we are still on alert for aftershock, but I don´t think anything will happen. It was a great experience though, crazier than anything else I´ve ever passed.

Well thats about all the exciting news. Still working hard and enjoying it.

Love you all

Elder Bunker

another earthquake

Hello all,

All is well here after the small earthquake (tremor). It was 5.4 (or 5.6..not sure) and the epicenter was close to Acapulco, a beach resort here in Mexico. It felt like being on an airplane when you hit turbulance. up and down, up and down, only we were sitting in chairs around a table on solid ground. It felt really cool. Luckily nothing was damaged or shaken too much, just a few christmas tree ornaments fell and broke in teh house we were at (having a family home evening). They said that this one was a big one compared to all the others. And it lasted longer too. It happened Saturday night about 7:45 pm and we are still on alert for aftershock, but I don´t think anything will happen. It was a great experience though, crazier than anything else I´ve ever passed.

Well thats about all the exciting news. Still working hard and enjoying it.

Love you all

Elder Bunker