New Homecoming Video - Elder Sanjeev Dusara

Lovely video created by Rajina Dusara

He's Back Home...

This will probably be our final mission update/post.

The time has gone by so fast these past two years.  It's amazing to have our son back home with us.  We are so grateful for all those who took care of Elder Dusara in India. For making his life just a little more easier so we could sleep better each night.

The photos below show you that our house is just as it was two years ago, full of many of his closest friends (not all could come over).  It was so good to see these kids (many after two years as well).  Of course we had to visit Red Robin before coming home.

Today we will venture out to the DOL and get his drivers license , a new
phone, and also some new clothes.  I'm sure elder Dusara has a new XBOX to set up and configure today as well.

Our family has been blessed in so many ways to have, not just one, but two missionaries serving the Lord.  Thanks to all of you for your love and service to our family, and for all your prayers on our behalf.  May our Heavenly Father continue to be in your thoughts and prayers and look after your family as he has looked after ours.

Welcome Home!

With David Lee across the street

A mother's hug like no other!

Time for a real burger

A new toy

House full of friends again

Much needed sleep

Welcoming committee

Week 101: Can't believe this day is already here...

I cannot believe the day has actually come! I never imagined that I would be coming home in such a short time. 2 years just passed by "like nothing". Something that has been going through my mind this last week is,"How am I going to finish off the last week of my mission?".  I actually never thought my last week could have ended so well. Elder Bunga was so helpful to me this last week. He kept me focused when I was not so focused and I also did the same for him. His new companion is Elder Bandi (One of my favorite missionaries). Some people/missionaries, like to measure success by baptisms or lessons. Elder Bunga and I did not have so much of those this transfer but we were able to achieve something far greater in my opinion. 

On Saturday I was on exchange with Elder Pushparaj in their area. We had a basketball activity in the morning and we had so much fun the YSA's that came. It was insanely hot the morning and as the day went on it got worse. We received a call from the Sisters asking us for help in shifting their apartment. They have been living with no power for 3 days and they wanted to get into their new apartment as soon as possible. So Elder Kumar, Peterson, Pushparaj and I went and helped them (It was still super hot). We were able to finish the work at about 6pm and it felt so good to finally give some meaningful service again (LIFT). 

Yesterday was possibly the best Sunday I have ever had! Elder Bunga and I gave our Sacrament talks together(His was good, mine was rough). It was also the first time I have seen all the YSA's we have been working with come to church together. Our sacrament attendance yesterday was actually the highest it has been all year I think. During the classes I just kinda sat with all the YSA's in one room and talked with them about life and their futures. All their concerns were just opened up and they finally could speak freely. All of those guys have very strong testimonies and I know they are going to lead the branch's here in the coming years. After church I was called into the sacrament hall and I was told that we are going to be having my "Farewell" Or "Send-off". Everyone was laughing and there was actually a mother who came to the stand and said that she would love to have me as her son in-law hahah. I did not know they loved me and my companion so much. It was awesome to see the YSA's one by one come up and share, "Because of Elder Dusara, I know how to play basketball and I have more of a desire to serve a mission". The rest of the day I just spent time with the YSA's and we had some really good appointments to finish off the day. Today will be remembered forever and always.

Cant wait to see everyone again! 

One Last time,

Elder Dusara

Week 100: The end is near

So many things happened last week and I have no idea where to start. So we were able to finalize a new apartment for the 4 of us and it is right next to church. Five weeks of apartment searching came to an end:) We extended a baptismal date to brother Jay Kumar. He read the Book of Mormon and generated some questions to ask us and we just straight away taught lesson 1 and all of his questions were answered. He accepted the date and is now working towards mid June. President Berrett came to town and I had my 2nd to last interview with him. He gave me some great tips on how I should finish off the last week of my mission. He helped me a lot in that interview and gave me the strength and motivation I need to finish strong. Today we went to this awesome place like 2 hours away and we took some nice photos as a Zone.

Yesterday we had District Conference and we came down to the big chapel in Saidapet to meet. I was participating in the choir because I thought it would be a great way to know the branch a little bit better. So to conclude the meeting we sang the first 3 lines of the "Spirit Of God" and the congregation joined in the end. When the congregation joined with us I seriously thought I was going to fly to heaven or something. I felt the spirit so strongly and I almost started to cry. I always knew that song was awesome but I never knew it was that awesome haha.

After the Conference we were approached my a sister from a different branch and she introduced us to her friend Christopher. She said that they were going to be getting married soon and that she wanted us to teach him and prepare him to hold the priesthood. We went up into a little room together and started to ask questions to get to know him a little bit better. The spirit started to work within us and his concerns were all laid out and we started to teach the Restoration because we knew that would be best for him. As we closed the lesson we ask the sister to bear her testimony and that's when things got real. She bore such a powerful testimony of the restoration and of the prophet and you could see this brother start to break down and burst into tears. I looked at the brother and I said " You are very lucky to have such a Christ-like friend, you follow her example and your life will change". Lives were touched that day!

The next experience is more of a miracle. Elder Bunga and I were talking about our vision for the next 6 weeks in this area and what we want it to be like. We noticed that in our finding efforts we have not been doing all that much but are always blessed with new people to teach. We said a prayer before we went asking for an opportunity to teach someone new. Every appointment cancelled and it kinda sucked. I knew that there was still more that we could do so we called some people trying to set appointment's and we fixed our area book. Before we went to bed we received a call from this random guy asking us if the Elders were still living in Chennai. I said yes we are. He was actually taught by Elders like 7 months ago and he wanted those visits to continue! His name was Joseph:)

See you next week,

Elder Dusara

<P-day Hiking Activity Photos>

Week 99: I understand why I am in Chennai

For the longest time I have been thinking about why I was called to labor here in Chennai? I mean I had it great in Dowelaiswaram, I had people ready for baptism, I had 16 plus investigators, my area was small, the members were giving referrals almost every day. I thought that was going to be it. Elder Singh and I for sure thought that the branch was going to bring a parade for us right before we left because they loved us so much. 

All of that changed, and now that I am in an area that is very large, our investigator pool is building but it has not crossed the double digits yet, the members are giving some referrals not a lot. All this time thinking and wondering what I might have done wrong and what more was to be done? I found my answer yesterday when I was on exchange with Elders Quorum President.

On Saturday we had an Elders Quorum activity at the main building in Saidapet. When the announced that we would be playing basketball for the activity 2 Sundays ago I was looking forward to it the whole week. The time came and we woke up super early and took a cab to the church. We were the only ones there for like 30 minutes and I was starting to get discouraged a bit. We had contacted all these YSA's that I wanted to meet so badly because I heard they were all really cool guys, but were for some reason or another not coming to church. 

After about 45 minutes people just started to come. Our branch president was there, and then all the YSA's showed up almost at the same time. We played 2 good games of 5v5 and had a blast. I was able to become friends with everyone and it was just a great thing that needed to happen. Every area I have been in I have been trying to activate and find the YSA's. For some reason I have not been very successful until this day because none of them were ever home. Now they know that Elder Dusara loves cars and bikes and is not a weird guy. Seeing these brothers interact with the Elders Quorum President and Branch President like family was one of the greatest things I have ever seen on my mission.

So yesterday when I was on exchange with President Billy Issac(EQP) I was talking with him about the same things I am telling you. He actually told me that all those YSA's that came to paly basketball were actually super excited to come to church and to see me. He said that maybe I was sent to Chennai to help these YSA's come back. He said that he has a been apart of this branch for 10 years and he has never seen an Elder get so close to the YSA's in such a small amount of time. When he told me this I was just slapped (spiritually) because I think I was "Looking beyond the mark" as Jacob says in Jacob 4:14. I was trying to finish my mission trying to do something new when I should have just looked at where my success was found in all my other areas. Now I understand why I am here:)

Someone Proposed to me yesterday:)

Elder Dusara

Cinco de Mayo Chennai style

The "Big Smooth"

bball with the YSAs in Chennai

Week 98: Mother's Day in Chennai

We had the opportunity to visit with both Elder Dusara's yesterday. It's safe to say that Elder Sanjeev Dusara has grown in the gospel and in his love for his fellow man with his experiences the past two years in India.  The person who used to spend more time playing video games daily and caring about his own needs is not the same person that will coming home to us in three weeks.

As a parent, what a wonderful moment when you hear one son provide guidance and counsel to the younger son as he embarks on his two year mission.  What a blessing to have two sons who have put God first in their lives. Both of their lives will be blessed along with those who they spend time with on a daily basis.

A Mother's Day wish

Week 97 photos : The beach - Chennai Style

Chennai beach - Spring Break requires clothes

Missionaries from Chennai zone

Titanic memory...?

Week 97: A week full of randoms

There is no such thing as random. I just wanted to make that clear. So my companion and I have been unlucky this week with bus strikes and hospital visits, not to mention are area is very far away and the fact we are not even living in our own apartment kinda sucks. A couple days ago I was a little bit down because we were not able to teach anyone and we just stopped by this little shop to get some dinner for the night.

 As I was standing on the side of the road I noticed a very very small woman walking towards me and it looked like she was very sad also. I have no idea why, but I was prompted to do something. What to do I did not know. As she got closer I did the unthinkable...I smiled:) When I smiled she warmly smiled back and I just was overcome with happiness and remembered that we should be happy all the time. Small experiences like this can invite so much joy and happiness into our lives and in those around us. Try it.

So Elder Larsen and I were on exchange 2 days ago and we really had no idea what to do. The appointments cancelled and we both did not know the area as well as we would have liked. Elder Bunga called us and told us that there was a less active brother who wants to introduce us to his friend. Very happy we called a cab and immediately went 30 minutes away to meet both these brothers. Turns out that the less active brother has not been at church for about 1 year and the friend he introduced was actually the CEO and Founder of this development group. 

He spoke to us with a lot of power and authority and told us why he wanted to see us. In return we spoke to him and told him our purpose and why we were here at this time to meet with him. The main reason why he wanted to see us was so that we could teach him English. I was a little confused at first, but took the opportunity to turn the discussion in a more spiritual way. I told him that if he could read the Book Of Mormon out loud he would not only see a difference in his English, but he would also come to know more of his savior. 

He has already planned out the days he wants to see us. And he sends his driver to come pick us up. I feel super rich when I with him:) 

One day!

YOSO

Elder Dusara

Teaching english to CEO

Week 96: Two baptisms in Chennai (Jennifer and Akshaya)

So...I kind of emailed you like 4 days ago so not a lot has changed since then. We did in fact have 2 baptisms on Sunday. The Baptism of Sister Jennifer and Sister Akshaya. We have been preparing her for this past week and she has done everything in her power to make sure she was ready for that day.

Sunday was really awesome and kinda sad because I was still expecting to wake up in Dowelaiswaram somehow and see all those individuals I loved but a change had to be made and I was so lovingly welcomed by the members of Chennai 4th branch. Elder Ravindran and Elder Sommer have actually told me about this branch before since this is where they served. I knew this branch was pretty awesome and I was not even surprised when I arrived. 

All the leaders are communicating with each other and we had a Branch Correlation Meeting after church and Elder Bunga and I were able to get some information about some members we can go find and bring back. I was actually called to give a talk 10 minutes before the meeting even started and I felt like I needed to speak about the importance of families. I quoted a song that was shown to me by a member and it was actually from Fast and Furious 7 (The Tribute Song), " How could we not talk about family, when family's all that we got". I felt like it was a great talk because I also talked about my family as well so they could understand.

The Baptism service was actually kind of scary. The water filter decided to be lame and stop working like half way as the font was filling up and we were all trying to figure out what the problem was. This happened right as the baptism candidates were told to be escorted. A couple members just opened up this reserve water thing in the ground and we all brought buckets and started to throw water into the font. It took about 20 minutes but thanks to the help from the members we were able to have some great baptisms. My companion and I were not in the photos because things were running a little behind and lets just say that some people were not really thinking straight-____-.

Here are some photos of our district and the other. 

Elder Dusara

Baptism of Jennifer and Akshaya

Filling the font manually

Filling the font manually

Chennai district

Baptism of Jennifer and Akshaya