Week 21: First letter from India - Just a little warm

Elder Dusara's first letter from India. He's thinking he won't be playing much soccer or basketball in India.  Not sure if there are places for them to play in the area he is serving at the moment.

My area is huge. There's about 3 million people in my area. But the mission itself is technically the biggest in the world. We cover Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Northern India. But I will never serve in Pakistan,Nepal, Bangladesh cause I'm not from there. They only allow residents to serve there.

So in India there's a lot of poverty. In some areas it smells bad. There's a ton of wild dogs, cats, and cows. I've also seen two monkeys roaming around as well. Crossing the streets is like playing frogger in real life except you only live once. The weather is so hot and humid. Have you ever been in a sauna or a hot room before? That's basically what its like from 8am-10pm. I feel so gross. 

On the plus side McDonalds delivers to my apartment so that's probably how I'll survive out here. But seriously all I've eaten is toast, coco puffs, and Oreos back at my apartment. I'm waiting on getting money on my mission debit card. Today I went out to eat at the Hard Rock Cafe and I had a great burger and we were the only ones in the restaurant.

My companions are awesome. Elder Jalagam is from Hyderabad and he speaks Hindi fluently. That skill has came in handy so many times this past week. Elder Roberts is my American friend from Platteville, Wisconsin. Elder Roberts knows a little bit of Hindi so that's great too. They both have been out about 18 months and I can honestly say that I have no complaints about either of them.

This Sunday was my first Sunday in India and it was a great experience.

I was able to give a talk about missionary work and meet the members. There was about 60ish members in my branch (Delhi 4th Branch). It was just awesome to be on the other side of the world and see the same church and the same teachings. There's a lot of work to be done here. It wont be easy but I know it will be worth it.

Take care to all my friends and family back home. Happy 22nd Birthday to my brother Sanjeev Dusara. If you get married while I'm gone I'm going to kill you.

Week 20: Elder Dusara arrives in India

On Wed at 3am, Elder Dusara arrived in New Delhi.  His flight went from LAX to Abu Dhabi then onto New Delhi. On Wed night we received a call from President Hodges and were able to speak to Elder Dusara.  He sounded tired, but had a good flight and is happy to be in India. The good news is that he was granted a 2 year visa so he can stay in India the remaining 20 months of his mission.

This letter came from the mission office this morning:

Your son, Elder Ajay Amrat Dusara, has arrived safely to the India New Delhi Mission, and he is already hard at work with an excellent trainer, Elder Roberts, as his companion. Elder Dusara is happy and well and is anxious to assist in the work in his assignment working with the Delhi 4th Branch.

It is evident that you have a wonderful family, and he speaks about you with love and devotion. He will appreciate your weekly letters to him, supporting and strengthening him throughout his mission. Receiving letters from family brings joy and encouragement to every missionary. He will be corresponding with you weekly on his preparation day.
Thank you for sending such a devoted young man to join our missionaries here in New Delhi. The next two years will be life-changing for your son, and we love him already.

Sincerely,
Kirt L. Hodges

Mission President

The next letter we get will be an email we receive this Sunday. Thank you for your love and prayers on behalf of Elder Dusara.

The Dusara family

Week 20: Last day in Camarillo - Off to India via Abu Dhabi

Elder Dusara's itinerary came today and he flies to India via Abu Dhabi tomorrow.  He's excited to be heading to India finally, but naturally quite scared as well.

I finally was able to come back to the Camarillo area after being in Newbury Park for 6 days. I missed the perfect weather that Camarillo has to offer. It was great to be back to the familiar faces of my room mates and the ward members.

My companions are great. Elder Bradley is coming along well. He just finished up training this week. He's known as the chef of our apartment. He can cook and eat just about anything. I haven't seen anyone eat as much as him since my brother Sanjeev. Elder Snyder is doing great. I feel like this past week we were all able to get along well with on another and to enjoy our last week together.

I was told by my bishop that I wouldn't be able to serve out of the country because I didn't complete all 4 years of seminary. But the fact that I have my visa and my travel plans are already figured out just proves to me that our heavenly father has a sense of humor and that he knows exactly where we need to be in order to teach others about the restored gospel. I've loved being in California this past 4 months and I plan on visiting in 2 years. I know that India will be a very different experience for me and humbling as well. Those who know me know that I could use a little humbling in my life. I'm honestly so scared and so nervous for what awaits me in India. But I know my Heavenly Father has a plan for me and that if I do what I'm supposed to that I'll be blessed for doing so.

For service this past week we helped an investigator take pictures of some old medical equipment that he is trying to sell online.

Elder Dusara with Jason Holker (old neighbor)

Week 19: An quick transfer and then get ready for INDIA

As many of you, Elder Dusara got his visa approved to India this past week.  He will be leaving for New Delhi on Aug 25th.  He was fortunate enough to get a 24 month visa, which is very unusual and an answer to many prayers.  He will get to finish the remaining 19 months of his mission within New Delhi.  He is blessed to have had his past four months in California, but very excited to get to India.

I got emergency transferred to the Canejo Canyon ward in Newbury Park last Wednesday. I'll be going back to Camarillo tomorrow to finish out the transfer. This area is a bit warmer than Camarillo. But I'm sure this is all preparation for India. This was is great. There was a lot of members that came up to me during church to introduce themselves to me and to welcome me to the ward. A family that I really connected with was the Warne family. The dad is really funny and when he laughs he reminds me of Chris Farley. The son and I had a lot in common. Him and I are really big into sports.

My companion is Elder Morwood. He's from Beaver, Utah and he loves doing service for others. He has about 3 months left on his mission. He's been a great companion to have this past week. The lessons that we taught we were able to do so in great unity.

Yesterday we had a lesson with the De Ryder family with the Primary President present. They have a daughter in the MTC and they drove out to the Provo temple so they could get sealed together before she leaves to Cambodia. The lesson we taught was on strengthening the family. I bore my testimony on how important it is to stay for the full 3 hours of church. After the lesson when we were walking back to our cars the Primary President told me how impressed she was of me for baring testimony of staying at church for the full 3 hours. She then told me that this family has a history of coming just for sacrament and then leaving. I had no idea what this families church attendance was. I guess you could say that I was lead by the spirit.

For service we helped an older couple in the ward do weeding. Then we helped a less active family move to there new house. We had a ton of help from the ward which was great cause we really needs all the muscles that we could find.

Here's a picture that I was able to take with the amazing Warne family. Plus we didn't have a dinner last night and they were kind enough to have us over to great dinner and message.

Elder Dusara out

A birthday clock for his wrist

Beautiful sunset

Warne family

Week 18: A new elder joins the companionship - riding bikes again

So my area has just changed a little bit. I'm no longer covering the 3rd ward in Camarillo. I'm now covering the 1st and 2nd ward. So our area just about doubled in size. I'm excited to get to know the 1st ward more. We received a warm welcome by the ward members as well as the members from the Bishopbric. 

Elder Snyder and I also revived a new companion. His name is Elder Bradley and he's a 6ft 5in Canadian from Ontario. He's a big teddy bear. I have lost my shotgun seat in the car since he arrived. He also moved in with us so we have 5 elders in one apartment. It's going to be like this for a couple weeks and we will see how this goes after transfers on the 25th. I also rode a bike for the day on Monday and I hated it at first but then I grew to enjoy it. After I finished my 200 mile bike ride in scouts I told myself I'd never ride a bike unless it was powered by an engine ever again.

My companions are great! It's nice to have two of them because it allows us to have our different teaching styles mold together. This change happened only about 3 days ago and it's pretty entertaining. Plus during companionship studies we get to have little mini discussions about the things we studied.

These past few weeks we have been working with the Gomez family who live in the 3rd ward. The progress that the family has made together is amazing. They are reading their scriptures together, saying prayers together, and attending church together. The husband is a less active member and the rest of the family aren't members. They have 3 girls. (9,11,13). All three of them LOVE reading the scriptures and hearing more about our church. Unfortunately I'll be no longer teaching this family but I will be praying for the day that they make the decision to be baptized.

For service this week we helped a less active member organize her backyard and she gave us sunflower butter. It looks like peanut butter but tastes way better.

Los Angeles Temple

Christus at the LA temple

Week 17: Helping the members with missionary work

I'm slowly started to understand the area more and more. This past week was all sun and no rain. We are started to work with the members on their family mission plans. A lot of our member want to do missionary work, they just need a little bit of guidance for finding were to start.  When we left the Temple we were able to drive on Highway 1 and it was probably the best drive I've ever been on. So many beautiful beaches, houses, and stores.

My companion is teaching me a lot. He's read a lot of talks and finds ways to tie those into lessons or just into our studies. I believe that no matter who my companion is that there is always something to learn.

This past Wednesday I had the opportunity to go to the LA Temple and is was HUGE! Biggest temple in the world. Being able to go through it was an amazing experience. Angel Moroni is holding the trumpet in his right hand and the golden plates in his left. I've never seen any other temple have him carrying the gold plates. 

Temples are so beautiful inside and out. It is the house of the Lord. I know that one day I'll go there to be married and sealed to my eternal companion. I know that families can be together forever. The Billings family was kind enough to take us missionaries. It was about an hour and 15 minute drive with a little bit of traffic at the end.

For service this week we helped the Hernandez family move some stuff around in their backyard.