Happy P Day

Hello everyone!

I´m writing from a cyber café here in Colima, Colima, México. Apparently, the mission here covers Nayarit, Jalisco (as far east as Guadalajara and half of the city), and Colima. Things have been plenty interesting here, but we´ll see how much time I have to write about it here.

My companion, Elder Fernandez, is pretty cool. He´s from Cuernavaca and doesn´t speak English. In fact, the only person I see who speaks English is Elder Talbot, who is in the same house as us, but I hardly see him aside from p-day (Mondays, btw) and the mornings/late evenings. So yeah, Spanish immersion programs for the win! As far as grammar principles go, there is little left to learn and a lot to get better at, as well as vocab and the biggest thing of course being able to understand others. I can follow conversations alright, but questions tend to throw me off. With time though, I´m sure I´ll get it.

No baptisms yet, but if all goes well that will change before too long. We have two investigators with baptismal dates and another investigator not far away. I can´t wait for the holiday season to be gone, actually, because I will finally be able to see how much work we can get done in a normal week. The holidays are shaking things up and of course not a very good sample of how day to day life will be. I´m excited to be here though.

We hitchhike everywhere we can, and if we really can´t get there by foot (pretty much just the chapel) we nab a taxi...they´re everywhere. I actually think the MTC should have classes on hitchhiking and j-walking. I´m comfortable with it, and actually kinda like it, but it would have been helpful nonetheless.

There´s two volcanoes visible from pretty much anywhere in Colima, one behind the other. THe big, close one is much more likely to kill us all than the other. We´ve also got a bunch of little villages in our area. It´s time consuming to get out there and it´s expensive for them to travel to church (and they live out there because they´re poor), but we´ll take a day or two and really work out there and see what we can do. If there are enough investigators or members, a branch can be organized out there. However, that´s still in the distance, and there is work to be done right here and right now.

It sounds like the music was interesting to deal with, at the least. I´ve developed a new appreciation for music as I find that less and less of the people I meet are educated in it. I´m sure the performances were great, and the music invited the spirit. That´s all it has to do to be a success, after all.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas, and I´m glad I got to talk to the family. Keep the faith, remember what´s most important (and do it), and you will find happiness beyond your imagination. I´m doing my best to hit the ground running here, and with any luck we´ll be able to make a big difference here in Mexico, where everyone is cool with talking about God. Especially since the Book of Mormon is a book written by some of their ancestors. They can really feel that.

So I´m trying to be diligent, faithful, and patient as I learn the language, area, and people, and I´m having a great time. I hope all is well at home, and that you are all able to live with the knowledge and happiness that comes from a Heavenly Father that loves us all. My job is to share that with my brothers and sisters, quite simply.

Take care,

Elder Lund

From Mexico!

Hello!

I have been allowed online for a second to write and let you all know that I have gotten to the Mission Home in Guadalajara safely. I am told that I will be able to call on Christmas. Take care, and know that I am safe and praying for you all!

It's finally time.

Thank you for the package!  I'm enjoying it quite a bit, especially that Mexican Dinner.  Wonderfully brilliant.  It's nice to have a picture of the family now too, and I would always love more.  I'm glad you are enjoying the music of Christmas.  I will do my best to do the same every day here, as I try to keep Christ in my heart.  I really like the "Walk with Christ" ideas, and I've also gotten some nice Christmas gifts and cards from the Bragonges, Hayes, and Christensens.  Send them my regards.

Tues, December 15, 2009

It's finally time.  This is my last week here at the MTC.  I have travel plans (SLC to Dallas, 5 hour layover, flight to Guadalajara, arrive at 7:30 local time), I have checkout instructions, I have had a health and safety meeting, and I have already seen one member of my District leave.  Monday the 21st, I will be traveling away from what would otherwise be a White Christmas, for the purpose of sharing with the people of Mexico a Christmas message more important than any other they have ever heard.  It is exciting and confusing at the same time to be so far away from both home and my traditional idea of Christmas, while feeling more Christmas spirit than perhaps ever before.

The BYU Men's Chior sang for us on Sunday.  It was very powerful.  Between one of the songs, the question was even raised as to where we were and what we were doing on the night of Christ's birth.  One of the members of the chior likes to think that he was in the angelic chior that sang to the shepherds.  As to where I was...I really don't know.  I'd like to imagine I was in one spot or another, doing various things, but I really haven't a clue.  I do know where I will be and what I will be doing this Christmas day.  I'll be on the streets of Mexico, knocking doors and handing out Books of Mormon and teaching people what Christ came to this world for, and how they can receive a part of it.  I will spend Christmas day in the service of my Lord and God.  Where will you be?

Take care of yourselves, and you'll be in my prayers.  I don't know when the next time I'll have email access is, but I will write home as soon as I can.

Love,
Elder Lund

Quarantine!

This past Tuesday (24th, I believe?) Whenever it was I last wrote) I began
feeling sick during chior practice. I was able to make it through the rest
of the night just fine (including an amazing talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of
the Council of the Twelve!) but the next morning I couldn't concentrate on
my morning study. I went to the clinic and spent about five hours waiting
to be seen (they are very busy right about now). Eventually I was seen, and
they shoved some instrument up my nose to essentially scrape my brain, and
they tested that to see if I had swine flu.

The test came back negative, but it's only 50% accurate anyways (or so I'm
told) and I had lots of the symptoms, so swine flu, regular flu, or
whatever, they decided to quarantine me in order to keep the other 2,500
missionaries from getting sick too. Understandable, considering how crowded
the MTC is, but oh boy. Quarantine. That's not...a happy word.

So they put me in the "sickbay", aka quarantine, which is half of one floor
of a particular dorm. The other half of the floor is for those who are
confirmed cases of swine flu. We have no physical contact with them or with
anyone in the outside world. I put the stuff down they let me grab from my
room and slept for pretty much the rest of the day. I was also prescribed
TAMIFLU, which I was supposed to take at breakfast and dinner. Dinner was
always cold leftovers from the cafeteria, which in reality isn't all that
bad since we had a microwave, but when you're sick the last thing you feel
like eating is a cold french dip sandwich. That's alright though, they
provided us with whatever they could.

That included virtual classrooms. Through a desktop computer in my room and
a camera I could video chat with my classroom and try to keep up with the
curriculum. However, the sound wasn't working out at all on my computer, so
I only tried it a couple times and concentrated mostly on personal study.
My time was dedicated to reading, watching church related video content
(mormonads, general conference, seminary videos, MTC videos), sleeping, and
doing things like building archways out of the boxes our food came in.

Overall it was actually a pretty good thing that I was able to spend some
time really reflecting on what's most important to be thankful for and what
really lasts, since I was there for thanksgiving. possessions disappear,
good days can turn sour, and even good health isn't always something you can
be thankful for, which is why we should be so grateful for it when we DO
have it. What really lasts, however, when time has passed and things return
to the dust from which they came, be they possessions, money, or even our
current mortal bodies, certain things will never disappear. If I live my
life right, I can have my family forever. I will have my relationships with
others. I will have what I have learned. Finally, I will have who I am.
I'm eternally thankful for that, and for this gospel that allows me a chance
to obtain eternal happiness. That's what I'm here to do, after all...share
the greatest gift any of us could ever possibly recieve. I ask that those
of you who don't know what that is look into it. It will change your life.

/I will address everything else in my letter home, because my time is up
now!/

Okay, 8 minutes to describe my week.

Mom,

Haha, I remember how much I hated Ladyhawk and preferred Dragonheart.  Such an epic movie.  What was the Q&A session about?

Knowing the scriptures always yields benefits, even many we don't realize at first.  Glad you've gotten a lot out of it so far!  Thanks again for the notes and whatnot.

Okay, 8 minutes to describe my week.

Tuesday's Fireside was Elder Rasband of the Presidency of the 70, which was awesome.  Sunday's Fireside was by someone who is a pro at missionary work (but whose name I can't remember), and his talk answered a lot of personal questions I've had lately.  It's funny how when you really pray and search for answers, sometimes they just "happen" to find you.  There's never a wasted lesson, topic, or talk here at the MTC.

Aside from p-day, pretty much everything I speak outside of the dorm is Spanish now, which is really cool.  I hope to be able to express myself properly and intelligently, so I can really convey the value and importance of Christ's message to the people of Guadalajara.  I've got a lot more work to put in before that happens, though.

The food is starting to cycle through again now that I've been here long enough, so we'll see next week if I'm still okay with it or if I can't stand it anymore.  Either way, the food is better than what I made for myself at school.

One of my teachers, Brother De Leon, speaks Spanish, English, Mayan, French, and is learning Mandarin.  It's kinda awesome.  He's Guatamalan and recently married, and is a really good teacher.  I've taught an entire lesson in Spanish, which is 3 weeks ahead of our "scheduled" time, but that doesn't make me ahead of schedule so much as "less far behind".  I've got plenty more to learn.

I can't wait for Thanksgiving, although I don't even remember what it is.  I've been here 1/3 of my time before I head out to Mexico, and my feelings are both those of anxiety to go and a desire to learn as much as I can before I get there.

Well time is up for now, but I'm not going anywhere.  Not for a month or so at least.

Love you all,
Elder Lund

Hubla! (or so Elder Garfield says)

Two weeks are up already!  This place is a time warp.

I had no idea mom had Navajo foster sisters, that's really cool.  Elder Gishie is a great Elder and likes to tell stories about "Back on the Res".  It is strange being the only one leaving the country, but it isn't so bad.  I'm surrounded by people from all over the world, and going all over the world.

It was great hearing L. Tom Perry speak last Tuesday, it was a very powerful talk on missionary work.  It was also a real pleasure to sing for him in the MTC chior.  I wonder who will be speaking tonight.

After two weeks, I've also finally given in and begun using the juice machine.  Milk and Powerade can only get you so far, and I don't feel like having soda for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  I guess I'll just have to run the risk that the rumors are not true and hope I don't get some nasty stomach problem or Swine Flu.

Speaking of which, the quarantine building is interesting.  All missionaries who have swine flu are sent there and are quarantined for at least 5 days.  Some of them can get webcam feed of their classes, but I doubt very many people have that privilege.  There's a reason why there are hand sanitizer dispensers EVERYWHERE.

Gym is still fun, although now it is "too cold" for the field to be open (which basically means it snowed once last week, even though today is really warm for November in Utah).  I've taken to destroying all in Four Square and volleyball.  I've gotten some serious burns on my knees from four square.

My first Zone Leader left for his mission in Argentina this week.  His name is Elder Tagge and he's a great guy.  I know he'll do well.  It's strange watching so many people leave, though.  As far as new/old missionaries are concerned, my district is probably "middle aged" now.  There's a lot of very new missionaries and many of the others have left.

One of such people is Elder Ramos, who leaves tomorrow for Fresno.  He's been going to the church HS in Mexico City and is a lot of fun to be around.  His companion was quarantined, and so for the first part of today he was a temporary companion of mine along with Elder Gishie.  His companion is finally out of quarantine though, and thankfully I don't think any of those of us who associated with him have picked it up.

Other than that, class is taught more or less entirely in Spanish.  I've also taught the first lesson a number of times and am learning a lot.  Yes, mom, I've taken lots of pictures too, which I will send home soon.  Thank you all for the packages and letters (the first one I received was from another Elder...Elder Seth Babcock!)

Take Care,
Elder Lund

Here at the MTC!

Hello all!

Today is my first p-day, although it feels like I have been here much longer than a week. Of course, that's typically how week-long camps feel as well, but I get to do this 9 times. It's kind of awesome, actually.

This week has, as can be expected, largely been one of orientation. There is so much to do at all hours of the day that it took a little while to get everything straightened out. However, I thrive in busy environments, so I've been enjoying myself. The amount I've learned in just a week has surprised me, to the extent that I pray in Spanish, sing in Spanish, and converse only in Spanish during meals. I still have a long way to go, but it's an encouraging start. The firesides are also wonderful. I'll be singing in the MTC chior for this next one.

My companion for my stay at the MTC is Elder Gishie, who is from Phoenix, Arizona and is going to serve in LA. I'm the only person in my District (of 4 Elders and 3 Hermanas) who is leaving the country, actually. He's been great so far, and the District is a very good one.

Gym is fun as well. Basketball is always enjoyable, and soccer has been immensely fun...even though we aren't allowed to use our heads or slide tackle. I've had some rather painful saves while playing goalie, though. During a long day of sitting in a chair studying the Word of God , it's nice to have a break and run around.

I had, however, forgotten how much I dislike the Utah cold.

Journal writing has been rather consistant, so far, as I'm sure Ashley will be happy to know. There has always been something to write, even if it isn't always related to my day.

Thank you to all of you for your advice, words of comfort, and encouragement. I can already tell that this is going to be the hardest thing I have done so far in life, but I know with a surety that I would not rather be anywhere else than serving my God. This is the most important work in the world, and the need for it is urgent. It is my responsibility and a blessing unto me to share the truth with others and help guide them to the answers they seek about where to find true, lasting happiness. I know this Gospel is the true, Restored Gospel of our Heavenly Father who loves us, His children. His love is infinite, as is his compassion. He wants to talk to each of you, and he wants to show you how you can be happy. He sent his Son for our sakes, and it is only through Him that we can return to the Father. That is a message worth sharing. I ask that you never forget that.

Know that I think of all of you fondly, and wish for your wellbeing. I will do my best to devote all of my energy and strength towards becoming the best servant I can be, for that is what I desire above all else.

This Gospel is true. Joseph Smith was a prophet. God's church is on the earth today, and it receives his direct guidance through a prophet even today. A loving God awaits our return. His Son loves us enough to have suffered all for our sake, and all we have to do is listen to what He wants to tell us.

I know and say these things in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

MTC Address

Tanner Gary Lund
MTC Mailbox # 89
MEX-GUA 1220
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

Welcome

Herein will be posted Tanner's weekly e-mails home, once he starts his mission. He enters the MTC (Missionary Training Center) and begins his two month stay there on the 21st at 1:00 PM.