talk to you soon

Well the details about the phone call will come tomorrow, because I still have to work out some details. It may be possible to call by way of Skype, which would be free. However, we have to see if the internet cafés will be open on Christmas...I don`t think so. By tomorrow I will have all the information, and I`ll let you know.

I`m glad to know the family is all together now, and I`d love to see fotos of that, actually. I`ll have to owe you the ones from the Christmas activity, since I don`t have my camera on me. Actually, I can`t write many details at all right now, because it`s actually kinda late and there`s still a lot of things to take care of...but DON`T WORRY! Super Elder Lund is here. Tomorrow you`ll have the phone call details, and on Christmas we`ll get to talk about aaaaaaallll the details of everything I`ve done this week and lately. Sorry for not being able to get it all written out now, but time is time and busy means busy. I`m working hard and trying to share the Christmas spirit with everyone. Hopefully you`ll get to feel that love and that kind of "Christmas fever" this year as well.

Love you, and talk to you soon!
Elder Lund

The activities were fantastic.

Friday, we went to the nursery up in the really poor area of the zone. The clowns played games like musical chairs and things like that with the kids, and we sang some Christmas hymns as well. We had a sound system, so the kids could dance as well. After about a 2 hour program, we gave them all gifts, took lots of fotos, and headed out. There were a LOT of gifts left over as well, so we took to the streets and knocked doors, giving toys to all the little children we could find in that community. Honestly, it was a fantastic feeling. Also, not only was our president there with his wife, but also the president of the other mission (Guadalajara East). A member invited him to come along, and he brought a lot of gifts with him.

Saturday we went to the old folks home. We sang many more christmas carols this time and a member played guitar and sang old folk songs for and with them. Then we got the older ladies dancing and having lots of fun, and we served them hot cinnamon and sweet bread, and at the end we gifted each of them a scarf. The funny part was that there were some catholic priests there giving mass and prayers and whatnot when we arrived. We waited for them to finish before we started up, and they joined us! One of them sang a song with the member who played guitar, and I talked to another one for a long time. He had a lot of questions about us and said he respected us as missionaries a lot. He was really happy we came to help out the old ladies. Also, he said The Other Side of Heaven was a fantastic movie.

It was really really fun to do all these activities and it helped these people a lot. It also got the zone exited to work hard and motivated the members to work together with us. They´re planning another activity for the 28th, but I don`t know the details. Now the last crazy christmas thing Elder Juarez and I are in charge of is our part of the big mission Christmas dinner. We´ll be putting on our skit (and I`ll explain it later! :P), showing off our super cool piñata, videos of our service activity, eating, and having a gift exchange. That`s tomorrow, and then we`ll be able to return to a semi-normalish work schedule. The good news is that 4 less actives that we visited came to church on Sunday. Little by little we´re getting there.

Love,
Elder Lund

Say hi to everyone.

Yes, the barranca is pretty cool...actually it`s really cold. It`s much colder over here than in Belenes, even though it`s not that far away physically, thanks to the giant cliff. There are also soccer games every weekend, although I think the season just ended. Atlas plays there, one of the 3 first division teams from GDL. Our house is pretty nice, actually. It`s even got a couch.

My favorite Christmas traditionas have always included the calendars, the many different types of christmas ornaments, the pickle, reading a Christmas story every night, "Twas the night before Christmas"...pretty much everything. I plan on passing it all down to my children (assuming my wife lets me!!!!). I want to make sure every Christmas is a fantastic, special, and spiritual experience for my family.

I`ll let you know what I`m thinking about BYU in the next week. I need some time to process it all, because there is a lot to decide and these decisions will have a very big impact on the future.

Oh, apparently I started talking in my sleep. I have no idea what I said or why, but I did. The problem is that my companion doesn`t speak English. I`ll keep you posted on further developments...

Well everything is all set for our service activity this weekend. We`ll be bringing a huge bag of toys to a nursery with 46 poor children on Friday. We`ll sing to them (I`m directing the chorus), play some games with them (there will be clowns!) give gifts, and have a good time with them. Saturday we`ll be going to an old folks home and giving them things for the cold like gloves, hats, scarves, and whatnot. We`ll also sing to them and with them and try to share some Christmas spirit. The whole zone is in on it, and it should be lots of fun. We`re also preparing our skit for the Mission Christmas Dinner, which is the 14th. I play a rag-doll missionary, with a pull-string and ridiculous phrases. It should be lots of fun.

The Christmas Devotional was great as well. I really enjoy these devotionals...although they`re way better in the original English. The only complication was that they told us it was at 6:00, but it ended up being at 7:00, so we had to wait an hour. There was an investigator there though and he enjoyed his first chance to hear the prophet speak. We`ll see how that develops in the future.

Well, time to run! Say hi to everyone. I`m running around very busy all day every day organizing activities, doing divisions (I went to Paraìso this week, and got to meet some really great investigators of theirs and help the young Elder Jensen improve his studies), and all sorts of stuff.

Love,
Elder Lund

Barranca de Huentitan

Look up the Barranca de Huentitan. That is right on the edge of my area, which is also where the school of architecture of the U of Guadalajara is. Hence, the ward is called Arquitectura. I live near the edge of a giant cliff and my area is the size of about 2 neighborhoods. It`s the smallest or second smallest area in the mission. I like the ambient though, and there are some nice members there. Our chapel is next to the Estadio Jalisco, the big stadium where there are lots of big events and whatnot as well. It´s the oldest church building in the city, and this is one of the oldest stakes.

For thanksgiving, we ended up ordering pizza at the house of some other missionaries (with whom we did divisions). I spent the next day in their area while Elder Juarez brought his companion to Arquitectura. The object is to see how the Elders are doing, to see how the area is, to see if there are problems or anything we can help with. We plan on doing one every week with a different set of Elders. Also, in the divisions I blew the fuse of their house, because apparently you can`t plug in the iron and the water heater at the same time. Oops!

I got the Christmas package, by the way! Thank you so much. I`ve already been hard at work muching away and sharing chocolate with the other missionaries, and am trying to find time to get to the gingerbread houses. I really really love Christmastime, I don`t know if I ever mentioned that. I will be sure to pass along many of the traditions from home to my family whenever it is that I have one. They deserve to have a special time when Christmas rolls around.

Also, there is a lady in the ward who acts like Aunt Laurie. It`s very strange. She helps us out a lot though, and accompanied us to go visit a one-armed less active member who later accompanied us to church on Sunday. He`s pretty cool though. he has just had a lot of problems with his children and family members being very harsh and cruel to him which distanced him from the church for some time. He really wants to come back though so that he can be sealed in the temple to his wife.

On the one hand, zone leader is hard work. We are running around helping out the zone as well as preparing two separate activities that have to be organized and ready within the next week and a half (one a service activity, the other is the big Christmas event the mission will be doing). We`re planning on going to an old folk´s home and a kindergarden for the first activity. Among other things, we were also assigned by the president to make a piñata. I never thought I`d learn how to do that on the mission. It should be really cool though.

So while it is exhausting and busy to be a ZL, I actually feel comfortable with the assignment. My whole life I have been prepared to do things like this, and while I am very conscious of the fact that I know little and have little experience doing this here in the mission, I feel I`ll be able to do things okay. The Lord always knows what he`s doing, and I am being greatly blessed, as well as prepared for the future. And no, I no longer procrastinate so much. There`s no time to procrastinate anymore!

As a side note, there are some HUGE caterpillars here. I`ll try to get pictures later, but they`re seriously bigger than my fingers.

Sounds like you had a fantastic thanksgiving. I hope you really enjoyed it, and don`t forget to always thank God for all he has given us, because we owe him EVERYTHING. There really aren`t words sufficient to describe the enormity of the gratitud we should have for Him.

Take care. I love you all, and will be thinking about you a lot this Christmas. I`ll try to get my own package off if I can, with gifts as well as some things I don`t want to carry around but are valuable. Hopefully I`ll be able to get that off soon. Thank you for your prayers, love, and examples. Keep the faith.

Love,
Elder Lund

Happy Thanksgiving

Hot dog burgers are basically choppsed up hot dogs on hamburger buns with condiments. I ate pretty well, actually. And yes, I`m gaining weight. I still look skinny, but I`m getting a belly, and I`ve weighed myself as well. The more acostumed I get to working out, the more I`ll fill out in general.

Concerning the water, everything turned out fine. There`s very little chlorine left in the water, but it probably killed any nasty diseases growing in the pipes. I think I`m looking a little whiter though.

So a lot has happened this last week. The hot dog burgers turned out to be part of a big going away lunch that was planned since transfers were coming up. Turns out that the ward really cares a lot for us. It really shows, because they did it again yesterday. They grilled steak and gave thank yous and testimony. There were a lot of people crying about the transfers. I`ll admit I was pretty watery as well. The ward has changed a whole lot. More people go, people are much more dedicated to helping the missionaries, and they`re just better and happier people in general. It`s been absolutely wonderful to see. I really have loved the Belenes ward and will never ever forget it, nor will I forget my experiences with Elder Wilde, Elder Record, and Elder Ramirez. We´ve been a great group of friends and better companions. I now have lots of new ties (and gave a lot away), goodbye and thank you cards, and other random gifts like christmas ornaments. If I ever come back after the mission, I`m coming back to Belenes.

Also, as a fitting end to the transfer Arturo was baptized this Saturday. He even asked to be able to share his testimony at the end of it, and said he really felt light and peaceful afterwards. I made sure Elder Ramirez was the one to baptize him. I don`t have my camera with me now (transfers) but when I can I will send photos. He got the prayer right, but had to repeat the ordenance because Arturo´s foot came out of the water. It`s fine though, and there are a number of other people who have accepted baptismal challenges lately who we have met. Also, Martín (his dad) went to church again and he liked it. There was a really good turn out at church this time around.

Now for the big news: I`m being transferred to the next zone over, Independencia, as Zone Leader. My ward is called Arquitectura and my companion will be Elder Juarez, who I met in Colima when I was green and he was District Leader. It`s really hard to leave, but I`m willing to accept the Lord´s will. I know he has much more planned for me, now that I`ve learned a lot from Belenes. I know how to baptize, to teach, to love the investigators as well as the members, and a lot of other things I didn`t really understand before. I plan on making the best of whatever I enfront now. The ward was devastated though, because the only one staying in Belenes is my greenie, and the rest of us are going. E. Wilde is going to Manzanillo and E. Record to another part of the city.

I doubt I`ll celebrate Thanksgiving in my new area, but I`ll celebrate it in my heart. Thank you all for supporting me. Just as Holley said, this isn`t just my mission, it`s the whole family`s mission. Keep praying and I`ll keep praying for you all as well. Never lose faith and never forget that love conquers all.

Enjoy Houston and say hi to Shaun and fam for me. Eat lots of turkey and make lots of memories. Drive safe as well. We have a lot to be thankful for as a family, after all. I`m having a fantastic time here, knockin´ out my best two years.

Love,
Elder Lund

Secret Aztec formula

Well, I enjoyed the secret Aztec formula, but it didn´t really clean me out. I think I´ll keep drinking it anyways for the protein and the taste. It´s pretty good with vanilla and an apple. Today a member is planning on feeding us "hot dog burgers". Not sure what that is but supposedly they´re pretty good. I´ll keep you updated.

So this week I learned the importance of arriving REALLY early to take your investigators to church. We went to pick up Martín, an older man, and bring him to church at about 11:25. Church starts at 12:00. What we weren´t counting on is that he wanted to walk...and walks slower than a turtle. We got there at about 12:45 and missed the sacrament. That means we walk about 30 times faster than he does. It´s ok though. He had a great time and plans on coming back. His son has a baptismal date (Arturo) for this weekend. This weekend is our last chance to baptize before transfers.

Also, the water cut off yesterday...so we can´t wash dishes or shower. Eww. The whole area is out, because of some repair or construction whatnot. All I know is that I´ve never been able to brush my hair without gel before. Zone conference was also this week, and they talked about attitude and being happy while you work. I suppose the effort to shape up and improve the mission has created an overly serious mindset in the mission, which I have seen. It´s important to enjoy yourself on the mission. Actually, any creative or fun contacting ideas or things to do in the house are more than welcome!

The members are more and more willing to work with us, although we´re out of cell phone minutes which makes things more complicated. However, we´ve got a good relationship established now. Hopefully we can make the most of it, since there is a week before transfers. Never miss a chance to help out the missionaries!! I´ve been here a while, but as usual you never know what will happen. Elder Record thinks I´m gonna be a ZL. Elder Wilde thinks I´m getting another greenie. I really haven´t a clue. All I know is I´m comfortable where I am and enjoying what I´m doing. Thank you so much for your prayers, I know miracles are just around the corner. A lot of them are already coming to pass insofar as my own life is concerned.

More details later, but for now its time to scoot!

Love,
Elder Lund

Also!


I am now in 2 Nephi 10 reading the Book of Mormon in Portugese!

It changes EVERYTHING!

I don´t know if its because of your prayers mom, or if its just a special blessing, but yesterday marked the third time in the mission I have been gifted shoes by a ward member. My shoes don´t look bad at all, but they always seem to have the shoes of some relative that are just my size. Now I can do church shoes, work shoes, and a spare pair.


We´ve been working on an experiment in the house as well. My companion got an "ancient Aztec power drink" recipie from a relative, and we´ve spent the last two weeks preparing it. It basically involves roasting and then grinding up into powder a billion types of beans and corn and whatnot and using it like a protein shake. Its supposed to give lots of energy, help build muscle, and also clean you out (WARNING!!!) Elder Wilde tried it...and I know the last part is true. I plan on trying some tomorrow after working out...or maybe tonight. We´ll see.


This Sunday we put a plan in action to try to get thte ward members to help out with missionary work. 7 certain members have helped out a lot, but there are two companionships in the area and a lot of people to visit. We bought them gifts and candy and made a giant thank you card (the gifts included a tigger doll, a soccer ball, yoga mat, boxing gloves, CDs of church music, a bunch of cups, and some place mats) and handed them out after sacrament yesterday. They loved it, and the members that keep promising to help us but cancelling last minute or not showing up all were saying that next time it´ll be THEIR names on the card. I´m more than happy to make more thank you cards...they just need to earn them first! You have no idea just how much of a help it is when members participate in missionary work. It changes EVERYTHING.


Concerning my future, I´m thinking more about things I want to do..not careers, but rather things I would like to accomplish. The trick then is simply knowing how to sustain myself and my family while still being able to do these things (certain books I´d like to write, things I´d like to try creating, etc.). Being a professor is one possibility, but I´m still thinking these things through.


There are a number of investigators close to baptism, but they´re not quite ready yet. Pray for them, and we´ll do what we can to help them. They want to do the right thing, they´re just missing a few pieces. I know the miracles will come though, and for now I will do what I always do: keep the head down and keep working with faith.


Love,
Elder Lund

Day of the Dead

This week we spent a lot of time looking for new investigators and using the area book to find out how previous investigators have been doing. That has been the plan for a while, but it has been the bulk of our work this week. We met a lady named Olga who says she is feels something is lacking in her search for God. We also continue working with José Angel, who lives with kidney failure and a number of other things, although things have been a little rough. He actually left to go to the hospital in the middle of one of our appointments this week. We also gave a blessing to Ernesto´s grandmother in the hospital. It was more of a blessing of comfort, because on Thursday she passed away. Arturo, another investigator, also found out that his niece died this week. I suppose it´s appropriate that now is the time of Day of the Dead.

Speaking of this time of year, Halloween was yesterday as well. It is indeed celebrated here (largely by youth) because of the heavy contact the country has with the US. Almost everyone has time or a relative in the States. Today, however, everyone is building up for the big holiday, which is Day of the Dead. It has to do with reconciliacion with death and remembering lost loved ones. Most stores are closed today and a LOT of alcohol is being purchased. We´ll see how that turns out.

Also, this weekend was stake conference. Only Arturo came with us to church, but he seemed to like it. President Saucedo was there and gave a good talk on new members. It was packed all the way back. Also, we now have a new stake patriarch and a new temple president. Tomorrow and Wednesday I go to leadership conference again, which should be fun but will be complicated for my companion as he stays here with Elder Wilde and Elder Record.

Time, once again, is very short. The Zone Leaders are busy right now, leaving me in charge of running district class and preparing everything else, so I haven`t time to write much details right now, unfortunately. I`m trying to get more in, but there just isn`t much time. I really hope everything is going on alright at home. I`m doing my best to complete with my job and bring God`s blessings to the people of Guadalajara, and I`ll do it with our without seeing fruits. I love you all, and hope you´re doing alright. I`ll keep praying for you and trying to be the son and person God wants me to be.

Love,
Elder Lund

Onward we go!

Faustin continues to appear interested and seems to be reading, but he didn`t go to church on Sunday. His son came in from out of town at the same time as church started, and he didn`t go to the other church service we invited him to. Tonight we`ll find out how he`s doing. Lately we´ve also been spending a lot of time with the area book, searching for former investigators that might now be ready to progress. The best one we´ve met is named José Angel. He´s an older man who suffers from renal failure (wiki it!) and has had a few dreams he doesn`t understand. He has a strong desire to know where the truth is, why he is still here, and a number of other things. The spirit is felt very strongly with him, so we´re working and praying hard to find out how to help him. He came to church Sunday even though physically he felt terrible that morning, and he showed interest in the Gospel Principles class on baptism.

Interviews with president were normal. He focused on using the area book and on constantly searching for new investigators. He wanted to work with us that day, but had to go to a meeting and so couldn`t. We`ll see if he stops by some day of this week to work in the field with us. Maybe he`ll even show up to district class.

Turning a year was a relatively quiet affair. I didn`t really buy anything special or eat anything special, but I did take a few commemerative photos. It feels really strange to know I`m halfway there.

Karina, the sister of Luz and Karol (who we helped the sister missionaries to teach) was baptized on Sunday, and she asked me to do the ordinance. I was more than happy to do so, and it was a very beautiful ceremony. They`re a wonderful family and they`re trying hard to do the right thing. I hope the ward takes care of them like they should.

We`re planning to make some thank you gifts for the members that have been helping out the missionary work as well as organize an activity to which members can bring investigators. Something Book of Mormon and time travel themed, probably. I`ll let you know how that works out. Onward we go!

Love,
Elder Lund

Yikes

Life is normal right now. We continue teaching, contacting, helping the district, and growing. I learn more each day and try to help my companion. So far the closest baptismal date is Faustín, who is planned for the 30th of October, who is essentially the Mexican "Albert Einstein", as my companion calls him. He is a marble sculptor and also is inventing a perpetual-energy machine...and yes, he has the crazy hair. He feels he needs to change his life and bring it in line with God before he gets too much older, and he enjoyed church this Sunday. Hopefully everything turns out alright, and hopefully we can find all the other people who are waiting for us and do not join the truth only because they do not know where to find it.

We also ate yesterday with a family of a mother and two sons (due to divorce). The 21 year old son is planning on going on a mission and the 18 year old is trying to decide. We all shared testimonies and had a very spiritual discussion about the blessings that come from missionary work. I`m very grateful for the opportunity here, and I know it is influencing things back home as well. It is honestly the best thing a young man can do for his family. I hope they come to understand that and go on to bless the lives of many other families as well.

Interviews are this week, and I think the Mission President is planning on coming to our area to work tomorrow afternoon...we´ll see how that is. I also turn a year on thursday. Yikes. It´s hard to believe I´m at the halfway point, especially because there is so much else I need to do and can do here. I plan on eating well and working hard that day, no more. That`s all I could ask for. I hope things are well at home...I need to take off. Know that I feel much closer to all of you now that I`m way over here than when I lived just downstairs. This is where I belong. One year more.

Much Love,
Elder Lund

I always learn a lot in conference

This week has had its ups and downs. Emiliano, a child from a different area that (due to complications) we ended up teaching, was baptized on Tuesday. He´s a good kid, and has a lot of youth left.

The down would be that right about the time of the baptism, my companion got very sick to his stomach. He ended up spending 2 days in the bathroom and I read the scriptures, ate pizza, and tried to be a little productive. I did manage to finish the Book of Mormon again (in Spanish this time) and clean up the area book a little.

We made an agreement with an investigator who went to church last week that if she came with us, we would go with her, so we went to visit Catholic Mass on Thursday. I won`t write any of the details, but there was worshipping of a little doll and blessing bottles of water involved, and I didn`t feel very good.

The one day we could work very well, we managed to have a great lesson with an investigator named Ramón who is reading the Book of Mormon from cover to cover and is very studied in the bible. He also went to conference on Saturday, met people he knew, and loved it. We also found a new investigator (a teen who isn`t living with his family) who came with his girlfriend to conference as well.

I always learn a lot in conference, and I`m learning even more from who the leaders of the church are then what they say. They`re such good examples of what we already know we should be doing. It`s something I`ve been thinking about since Elder Bednar´s visit. I listened to about 50% in English and the other half in Spanish, depending on if there were investigators there in the sessions.

Still no new house, but we`re working on it. There are a lot more options now, but we`re not sure we can leave this month. I hope so, but we´ll see.

Pray, read your scriptures, and go to church. That will always be the most fundamental.

Take care, and much love,
Elder Lund

Ups and downs

This week has had its ups and downs. Emiliano, a child from a different area that (due to complications) we ended up teaching, was baptized on Tuesday. He´s a good kid, and has a lot of youth left.

The down would be that right about the time of the baptism, my companion got very sick to his stomach. He ended up spending 2 days in the bathroom and I read the scriptures, ate pizza, and tried to be a little productive. I did manage to finish the Book of Mormon again (in Spanish this time) and clean up the area book a little.

We made an agreement with an investigator who went to church last week that if she came with us, we would go with her, so we went to visit Catholic Mass on Thursday. I won`t write any of the details, but there was worshipping of a little doll and blessing bottles of water involved, and I didn`t feel very good.

The one day we could work very well, we managed to have a great lesson with an investigator named Ramón who is reading the Book of Mormon from cover to cover and is very studied in the bible. He also went to conference on Saturday, met people he knew, and loved it. We also found a new investigator (a teen who isn`t living with his family) who came with his girlfriend to conference as well.

I always learn a lot in conference, and I`m learning even more from who the leaders of the church are then what they say. They`re such good examples of what we already know we should be doing. It`s something I`ve been thinking about since Elder Bednar´s visit. I listened to about 50% in English and the other half in Spanish, depending on if there were investigators there in the sessions.

Still no new house, but we`re working on it. There are a lot more options now, but we`re not sure we can leave this month. I hope so, but we´ll see.

Pray, read your scriptures, and go to church. That will always be the most fundamental.

Take care, and much love,
Elder Lund

I can feel changes...

Anything music related is more than well accepted here. I really feel there is a lot more I can do with my talents to further the work, and I just need to apply myself to it.

This week, we were looking at a house (because we really need to change houses now) and E. Ramirez saw some sort of light, and then a guy standing outside the house went into an epileptic seizure. We got him into the house and gave him a blessing. He was alright when we left, just sleeping. One of many spiritual experiences. I want to record more of those.

Also, this week we met a lady whose husband recently died. She didn`t seem to be too sad about it, but she did decide to gift me a complete suit with a really nice shirt and a tie. I was pretty surprised, actually. That combined with the two paires of used shoes I have been given lately is almost a whole complete wardrobe I have received out of the charity of other people. I`m sure they will be greatly blessed.

Bruno just doesn`t seem to feel the need for the gospel. He wants to improve his family and get closer to God, but he really doesn`t seem to feel the need to complete with commitments to do it. Hopefully that changes soon, but we´ll have to see. The other family seemed all good, except that they didn`t show up to church. I suppose it was a trial week. We`re gonna keep pushing forward though doing everything we can to improve, putting faith in Christ and that God knows what he`s doing.

Also, they`ve now sent another Elder to be companions with Elder Wilde, so now we´ll be dividing the area again, rearranging the beds, and letting the ward know we`re four instead of three again. It`s complicated, but I`m used to complications. It`s almost fun, to be honest.

I can feel changes up ahead, but of what kind and when, I don`t know. I can just feel that what I`m learning and experiencing now is preparation for something in the future. Whether true or not, I know I personally am changing. Hopefully in this period, we can manage to see a number of other people change their lives as well. It has been some time. It`s also a great experience to be a trainer. You get a whole different outlook on companions, missionary work, life and families...everything. I can`t wait until he has his first baptism.

Interviews and general conference are soon. I`m pretty excited, actually. There is no hunger for the word of God like the hunger you find on the mission. It`ll also be a great contacting opportunity, inviting people to hear a prophet of God. I`m also close to finishing the Book of Mormon again.

I`m glad everyone is safe. Take care, and enjoy every minute of family time possible.

Love,
Elder Lund

P.S. Elder Ramirez broke our water heater because he plugged it in outside of the water. It melted in his hands and almost burned his face off.

On the brighter side...

The week has been, as usual, quite interesting. Elder Brown left, putting me in a trio with Elder Wilde and Elder Ramirez (greenie). I also spent tuesday and wednesday in a leadership conference, where I learned a lot and participated a lot. Once again I saw videos of J Tyler and a number of others, and it was an overall good experience. However, it meant I didn`t get to see Bruno this week, so we really don`t know what`s happening with him. He didn`t go to church either.

On the brighter side, we met a family (a reference from the ward) that says that they want to get baptized and find where God wants them to be. The girl had a priesthood blessing (she has kidney problems) before we found out about them and is determined to be baptized. We met them briefly Saturday and they went by themselves Sunday (and they live WAYYYY out in the boonies) so this could be very, very good. We`re going to do everything we can to help them feel God`s love and find these answers to their prayers and doubts.

Independence day we couldn`t do anything, and had to be in our houses by 7pm. We were also prohibited from going to any independence related activities. We ended up making french toast though, which was pretty tasty. Apparently, at midnight everybody in Mexico gives a big shout. I didn`t hear anything, but I think everyone screamed louder and in more unison when Mexico scored goales in the world cup.

So tomorrow I complete 11 months. I don`t want to be halfway done with the mission, but if that`s how it`s gotta be, that`s how it`s gotta be. Hopefully I can do much more than match what I`ve done up until now. I`m also trying to figure out how to implement my talents more in the work and implement more of who I am into what I do. Ideas?

Yep, I keep in pretty good contact with everyone that writes me. I always try to respond to every email I get. Ashley seems to be having a good time getting a footing on college, and I know the job opportunities will come.

Well, time to split!

Love,
Elder Lund

Life as a trainer and DL...

I haven´t had a constant sunburn, but I`ve had something close to it. Every two weeks or so I go a day without sunscreen and that`s how I turn out. I don`t really peel though, which is nice.

Life as a trainer and DL in a district with lots to do and a house with lots of complications has been interesting, and fun at the very least. The trick has been trying to be efficient, work hard, and get things done when you have to leave the area at least once a day to take care of things. However, I`m getting used to the idea, and I just need to be prepared to jump on every tiny chance to do real in-the-field missionary work that I see. Also, things are just getting more and more complex. I`m not worried anymore though, I`m learning to roll with it.

Elder Brown, who is the senior companion for Belenes 2 (since we had just split the area and became 4 Elders instead of 2) is getting transfered, but no one is coming in his place. That means Elder Wilde becomes my companion again. So now I am a DL who is training an American and is in trio with another Elder in a big area teaching 2x the normal amount of investigators. I have the feeling this is going to be my definition of "normal" for the next year. Trust in the Lord, obedience, and hard work will bring about the necessary miracles. That`s probably something I`m being taught a little more...to trust in the Lord`s arm.

Bruno has taken a little stumbling block, as late Saturday night we found out he had a doubt about the death of Laban in the Book of Mormon, and as we were resolving it his crazy uncle who talked for 30 minutes straight about how all religions are the right one showed up, and Bruno was already way late to go pick up his wife. We didn`t see him Sunday, so we`re going to go with him as soon as possible. He`s a really good guy and wants to do the right thing, so we need to do everything we can to help him.

I also found out last night that leadership conference will be tomorrow and Wednesday, which means Elder Wilde and Elder Ramirez will be left alone for two days while I`m gone. I`m excited for the conference though, as I could use the boost and I plan to learn a lot and apply it. Like last time, it will be a lot of instruction...and odds are I`ll see Elder Christensen on the big screen again.

Other than that, the electric bill issue has been taken care of now, but we`re looking for a new house because we don`t want to have to go through that again in a month, and the house is small as is.

Mexican independence day is this week, and it`s the 200th anniversary as well...so that will be very interesting. There`s a big party at the church Wednesday night, but I`m sure we`ll have an early curfew that day. We have been contemplating making french toast or something to celebrate, since we clearly can`t be out partying and food makes everything better.

Enjoy the BYU game! Sounds awesome, and I would love to be there. As far as soccer jerseys, I like Real Salt Lake, 1860 Munich, FC Schalke 04, and the US National shirt.

I`m too young to become over the hill! I still have more than a month before that happens. The problem is that time goes by faster and faster the longer you are on the mission! Thank you for all of your love and support. I am learning and growing and trying to work hard and enjoy God`s work.

Love,
Elder Lund

Crazy week!

Hey!

The new comp´s name is Elder Ramirez, but he´s definitely not Mexican....okay, his dad is from Guanajuato, but he`s a white boy from south Texas. He`s really nice actually, we get along well, and he`s already got a good foundationas a missionary. The only trick is really just getting him speaking Spanish more, and especially with so many things to do.

It`s been an absolutely crazy week, as I`ve been getting a hold of the whole trainer thing as well as completing my DL responsabilities (I spent what was about a full day outside of our area helping out the sister missionaries with an investigator and doing the baptismal interview as well) and also an activity where we went to the temple and invited people in the street to come to the visitor´s center and see a little presentation. There were two ladies who were very interested, and one even cried during the movie on temples. She may very well be baptized in the future. It was actually a lot of fun to do all of these things, but it really, really cut down on time in our own area, as well as time to help out my companion. Then again, that`s just sorta the way things go here and we have to make do with the time we have. Plus, we both got sick with the flu. Quite a welcome I gave the greenie, huh? He´s doing great though.

Other than that, I meant to mention that this last transfer, we made a zone shirt, which has the name of the zone and our names on it. I think I`ll send the photos in a nother email just in case. It looks really sweet. Elder Flores, a relatively young Elder, drew it all. It has a little picture of the temple on it and Minerva, which is like Guadalajara`s version of the statue of liberty I suppose. It also has wings on it, which has to do with a story that sort of became our zone teme. It`s about a bunch of ducks who wanted to fly, took flying lessions from an eagle, and then after completing their course ran back to their mom to tell her they could fly. The point, naturally, is that we need to "leave flying" from every class, every conference, every study and immediately apply what we learn. It was pretty cool, I must admit.

We`re also looking for a new house, because our house is tiny, has no gas, and they want to charge us a fortune for the electric bill. I`m under orders from the President`s wife to not pay the electric bill OR the rent until all that gets sorted out...which means they`re gonna cut our lights soon. I suppose we`ll just figure out what to do in the meantime. Whatever we do, it will probably involve moving out within the next month.

Also, we`re teaching a guy named Bruno, who is twentysomething and married (since Feb) who was taught by Elder García (my ex-ZL who went on divisions with us one day) almost two years ago. He now has plans to be baptized next Saturday (the 18th) and wants his wife to get to know the church as well. She looks really young, but enjoyed church on Sunday.

Well time is, as usual, out for now, but I do read and take interest in everything you write! I`ll pray for you of course, and I know without a doubt that everything will be alright. God is trying all of us at the same time right now, but that just means he has some really big blessings planned just on the horizon, keep doing the simple, small things and God will give the peace that the world can`t give.

Much love,
Elder Lund

Well...

Well I´ll start with what I need to share, and then I´ll get started on your list of questions. I do need to be more specific about things, after all.

So anyways, we´re working with a family of 12 now. The main character is Rafael, who recently got out of surgery for a brain tumor. He can`t speak and is in a wheelchair, and his nephew who lives in the states and is a member asked for us to visit him and give him a blessing. They want us to come by every other day if we can. Rafael is great, and the rest love to learn about the gospel and are willing to do whatever it takes to help their brother to get better.

Also, I will be getting a new companion tomorrow. Elder Wilde is staying here as well, but that`s because we´ll now be two companionships in the ward again. My companion will be a brand new, shiny and green missionary. I don´t know his name or even at what time I´ll get to see him (or if he´s Mexican or not), all I know is that it will be my job to train him while continuing as DL. Trainers have a big impact on the missionaries they train, so this will be a big responsability for me.

I bought a watch today, by the way. I have been relying on the phone, but now that we´ll have to share it I need to have a functioning watch and the one I got before entering the MTC broke a while ago. It´s pretty cool looking, and was decently cheap.

I still don´t know what to do when I get back. I know I love music and writing and inventing/creating things, and that philosophy classes were fun. I have an interest in archaeology, history, language study, and many other things as well. The trick is that I can´t really to much career studying while here, because I have other, really important things to do. Suggestions are always welcomed.

No, I don´t generally mention the "beautiful Guadalajara women"; but believe me....they exit. The other day someone mentioned to me that the new Miss Universe is from Guadalajara, and it doesn´t surprise me in the least. No, I`m not really trying to think about that sort of thing. Yes, sometimes they hit on me. No, I don`t have any plans to come back for anyone. It would be interesting to run into a Tapatía at BYU though...

Guadalajara is at the same altitude as Utah, more or less. Here during the summer it has been hot and dry, but more dry than anything. The sun is strong, but dry heat doesn`t bother me as much as Colima or home, but I do have to remember sunscreen. It also rains for a couple hours two or three times a week.

Time is out, but there will always be more to tell you and I´ll do my best to give more details and answer more questions next time. Take care of yourself. Also, who are the current missionaries at home? What is the ward doing to help them out? We`re always in desperate need of ward helpers on this side of the border.

Lots of Love,
Elder Lund

The big 1 - 0

Well, here I am sitting on the big 1-0. Ten months in the mission, which means 14 left. Transfers are also next Sunday, so who knows what sort of craziness might go down. All I know is that we are working hard and well together.

Ernesto was baptized on Saturday, and it was a great service. We had lots of pictures of the temple up and sang a special number half in English and half in Spanish. He said he felt great, and it was a wonderful feeling for me as well. I also did my first baptismal interview this week for the Elders in my district, and it was a great experience. I hope everything turns out great for them, and I`m getting accustomed to the crazy schedules that leaders often have with interviews and activities (we helped the Sisters with an activity Saturday as wells) and baptisms and whatnot all the time. It´s actually sorta fun.

Other than that, it´s just a lot of gaining more experience, learning more about the things I teach, meeting and helping more people, and moving forward in the mission and in life. I don`t suppose anyone has any career suggestions for me? That much is my biggest concern for the next year, as I´ve only got that much time left to figure out my major. It´s not really a worry right now, but I do know I need to keep thinking about it or the answer will never come.

I hope everything is great at home. The shoes are fine, the pants are fine, the apartment is clean (gasp!), and the food is great. I`m going to try to learn a trick or two so I can cook up some latin tastiness when I get home. For now, I simply continue marching on as a member of God´s army. Happy birthday again, and I hope you enjoyed the temple.

Love,
Elder Lund

I'm still young, right?

Well Ernesto will be waiting until this coming Saturday, but he feels sure about this baptism. He wanted to wait a week, but we talked to him in the morning today and he says he feels good. We´re trying to arrange for Elder Shumway (Mr. Broken-foot) to baptize him, because he may be able to walk at that point. We´re going to do our best to make it a special one. It feels like it has been a long time since Victor was baptized. Also, this week I will be doing my first baptismal interviews as District Leader, as everyone in my district has a baptism planned for this weekend.

Everyone here is getting ready to go back to school as well, which is kinda crazy. Did I really head off to BYU 2 years ago? It´s really hard to believe. Saturday I complete 10 months in the mission as well. I`m still young, right? RIGHT? A year ago I was working in systems engineering in NASA. Now I´m in Mexico preaching the gospel and I speak Spanish. I wonder who I´ll be a year from now.

So first of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!!!!!...since I won´t have another chance to say it before your birthday. Make sure you have lots of fun and send me pictures. I`m sure life with half the house missing will be interesting as well. Just keep in good contact and pray for strenght/comfort and you`ll be alright. In fact, the house will be even easier to clean! No but seriously, take care of yourself and stay close to heavenly things. God will bless our family greatly, as He has already done.

Well that dreadful hour has come again, and I want to look over my class again. Say hi to everyone for me.

Love,
Elder Lund

A little time today...

So I`ve got little time today, but I`d like to comment that the leadership conference was fantastic. In total it ended up being 22 hours of instruction over the course of 2 days, but I think it was definitely worth it. I learned a lot of things that I can apply and teach to the district, and I think we`ll be able to see a lot more success soon.

Also, there`s a series of videos taken from live missionary work called "The District" that is often shown a lot in the MTC to show good examples of how to do certain things. The interesting thing is that in this conference we were shown The District 2, which was filmed in San Diego. It was badly dubbed into Spanish by the Assistants and Secretaries, but it was a fantastic aid. Also, a certain Elder Christiansen is there as one of the most prominent missionaries. Yes, that`s right, I spent 2 days watching examples from a good friend`s missionary work. It was actually really touching that way. He`s doing a great job.

Other than that, there`s a baptism planned for this Saturday. His name is Ernesto and he wants an eternal family. I`ll tell you more when I have more time, but we`re just working hard and praying that it will all work out. I`m not the best missionary, but I`m still trying, and the point is I won`t let myself stay down. There is much work to do, many miracles to see, and many lives to bless. We`ll be visiting Ernesto tonight to do a family home evening and making sure all is set for Saturday. For now, I need to go.

Love,
Elder Lund

DL adventures

It`s been quite an adventure so far as DL. This weekend we went to help the Sisters in my district knock doors, because they´re opening the area and they have very few people to teach. There are also two activities planned for next week within the district. However, I won´t be able to attend one because I´ll be in what is called "concilio"...not sure what the translation would be there...it´s not "council", but the idea is that it´s a meeting that happens each transfer. Normally all the zone leaders go and they learn from the President, sometimes guest speakers, and the Assistants. However, the President is starting a new format. Today is just ZLs, but Tomorrow and Wednesday district leaders will go as well. I believe I will see Elder Peña, Elder Talbot (DLs), Elder Rosas, and Elder Tovar (ZLs) there. I`ll let you know how that turns out.

So there are two upcoming baptisms planned, and we`re praying that everything works out alright. One is Ernesto, who is the husband of a member (Blanca). She`s dying of diabetes, having about 3 years more life left, and the family wants to be eternal. From what I understand, Ernesto wasn`t too interested in that before, but he`s changing. He`s a very good guy who has had a hard life. The baptism is planned for the 14th, and we`re doing our best to help him achieve that goal.

The other is Rodolfo, a friend of a member whose name is Hugo. Rodolfo was a heavy alcoholic with a job in house construction and many, many family problems. He wants to stop drinking, fix his life, and be in good standing with God. He had a baptismal date of this weekend, but we`ll see if it gets pushed to next week, based on the number of things we need to teach and that we can`t see him very often. We`re going to make the attempt, however.

There are, as always, others I could mention, but time is always a restricting factor. Just know that there is always someone to help.

This week was youth conference here, where youth from all over Jalisco, Nayarit, and Colima come to Guadalajara each year. As it happens, it takes place in the stake center here in Lomas, which just happens to be in my area. We also just happened to have a meeting with the bishop friday, which was when the big ending dinner was. We saw the Mission President there (he came for his daughter) and I got to see a lot of people from Colima, including Jorge and Tonantzin. It was a very special moment to see them again, especially after having left Colima so suddenly (and in the back of an ambulance).

Another thing of note was that yesterday, heading from church to lunch (where we planned to break our fast), some guy on a bike rode by and stopped to hand us the two cold sodas he hand in his hands. He didn`t explain himself at all, he just gave them to us and rode off. Angel for his charity or devil for tempting us to break our fasts early, I`m not sure...but God bless him anyways. It was interesting, to say the least.

The Elder with the broken foot is doing okay, he`s just working in the offices now. He goes home soon, actually. As far as shoes go, I`m doing alright currently, but in these next weeks (when I have time, that is) I will shop around for another pair. Currently I am house shopping as well, as the President has asked that we move from where we live right now.

Honesty, I am still quite lost concerning my BYU major/emphasis, but I know I need to be getting on that. I have more or less a year to really decide and take the first steps necessary to have classes, etc. ready when I come back. I`m sure I will figure it out though. Everything comes in its own due time, and God provides the aid necessary for every challenge.

Love,
Elder Lund

So...

So a couple things: one is that shortly after writing home last week, I learned that I`m the new District Leader. Oh wow. That means taking care of other companionships, teaching a class each week, planning things for the district, and taking inventory of the numbers. I only found out when I called my Zone Leaders to ask who I should be reporting to every night. They told me I should be reporting to them, because I was the DL. SUPRISE! My first class will be today, so we`ll see how that goes. I think I was gospel doctrine teacher at BYU for a reason, and this is part of it.

Later this week two Elders from my district went running in the morning and one fell and broke his foot. He will be unable to walk for 4 weeks, and only has 5 left in the mission, but refused to be sent home. He`s now in the offices, and I was transfered to Belenes to take up his spot. My companion is Elder Wilde, an Elder with just about a year in the mission from "The Factory" (Utah). It has been very interesting so far having a white companion, it`s not something I`m used to. There are more Mexicans than "Gringos" here in the mission. It`s still the same zone, and even the same district, but I do have to learn the area again.

Spanish hasn`t been too much of a problem anymore, I feel fairly comfortable with it. Sometimes my English fails me, actually. My health is fine, although I need to eat more greens since they`re not a huge part of the Mexican lunch menu. Lots and lots of starch and grease and meat. Tasty, but I need to make sure I get my vitamins. Other than that, I`m doing fine so far.

So this area is huge. I know I said Residencial was big, but Belenes is HUGE. It was also a 4 missionary area (the zone leaders used to be here, actually), but now there`s just the two of us to work with the investigators from both companionships and cover the area. It`s actually pretty fun, but it`s an awful lot of people we`re responsible for. I would estimate it`s about 2x Merritt Island. That`s what hitchhiking is for! The weather is just suddenly rainy, but we`re too far inland and too high up for hurricanes, and unlike Colima, here we have no volcanos to hear about.

I heard from Elder Babcock (Seth) the other day. It seems like he`s been having a hard time. It would be great if you could pray for him and help him out.

Things should be on the upswing very soon, and I know God will bless us in His own time. Thanks for the scriptures as well, they`re great and I completely agree.

Love,
Elder Lund

Tortas Ahogadas

There`s a food here called "tortas ahogadas". They`re sandwiches with french dip type bread and drenched in some sort of salsa. The name literally means "drowned sandwich". I dunno about the idea of soggy bread, but I`ll probably give it a try soon. Also, my area containes the richest neighborhood in all of Guadalajara, as well as some of the poorest. It`s quite a contrast. The rich people are gated off and we can`t get in, and most of the poor are extremely catholic. However, we`re trying to do the best we can. Still no baptisms lately, and no prospects at the moment, but we`re going to keep working and see what turns up.

The temple was wonderful, and I did understand everything fine in Spanish. It`s not that big of a temple, but it`s still the House of the Lord. Wednesday were interviews and we spent the entire day there because they had a lesson plan workshop as well which took forever. I learned a lot, but it did take a lot of time. That and the temple cut a day and a half out of our work week, but I think we learned some valuable things we can apply in the future. My companion completes 6 months in the mission on David`s birthday.

The warts are dying but are still here...but at least there are no other health problems. Just holes in my shoes.

If/when it is reasonable to ask such of thing, I`d like a jersey of one of my favorite soccer teams (but that`s more like a Christmas present, isn`t it? I`ll let you know anyways)

Teams i`m interested in:
US National
Real Salt Lake
Real Madrid
1860 Munich
FC Schalke 04


Well it`s time to take off for now. Happy BIrthday to David!!

Love,
Elder Lund

Nothing...

Hey, happy independence day! I totally didn´t realize it until today, actually...so obviously I did nothing special. We continue to work hard searching for people to teach and getting wet in the rain.

Some good news is that the Mission President decided to let us go to the temple tomrrow! It´ll b the first time in a long time. Up until now we were not permitted, but now there´s been a change in policy. Also, interviews with the pesident will be wednesday. Other than that, really nothing much has happened this week. I´ve been keeping track of the world cup, and my predicted winner of Germany is going strong. Too bad I can´t see it though, but oh well. The nice thing is that with the world cup out of the way, we´ll be able to work more freely.

Thinking in terms of other missionaries, as I understand it, the majority of my friends have completed a year, and Christ Dinehart will be coming home before too long. I am currently at 8.5 months. Hopefully I will be able to do much, much more good here before my time is up. I don´t really know what I will be looking forward to upon coming home other than my family, but right now I´m focused in trying to make the best of the time I have. Pray for me, and I´m sure I can work miracles here with the help of God. It seems like you all enjoyed your weekend. Also, be strong. The family´s challenges right now are bringing about the many blessings God is preparing for us in the future. Take care.

Love,
Elder Lund

What's up?

Yes, I`m still in Guadalajara, I`m just no longer at the extreme north end. I`m even still in the same district, actually. Things are interesting here in a house made for 4 when there`s just two of us. We`re also in charge of 2 areas that are closed, so if there is a reference or someone asks for the missionaries we go to teach them. Basically it feels like having 3 areas. We have 2 investigators in one of the areas that are progressing a lot and are almost ready to be baptized, but sister missionaries will finally arrive to take over the area on Thursday.

I lived in the far northwest end of Colima, and although I know the city very well, I spent most of my time in an area of pure houses, so I don`t think I ever passed by a garbage dump. It`s a wonderful place though, and I miss it a lot.

It hasn`t been hard to keep up with the World Cup. The whole country stops functioning when Mexico plays (and every goal for either team is a universal scream that can even be heard when showering) and everyone talks about the other games as well. I keep moderate track of what goes on (as I do love soccer) but largely because it is a great conversation starter. Any stranger here becomes a friend once you start talking soccer, and friends are always a great thing for missionaries to have. The only downside is that we can`t really do ANYTHING during important games, because the country is literally paralyzed. Nobody is in the street, nobody wants to talk or let you in the house. It`s been a challenge, but a humorous one. Now that the US and Mexico are both eliminated we`ll see what happens.

It`s been quite a first week as senior companion. There is this thing of other areas and investigators we will lose, the fact that there wasn`t really anyone else progressing when I arrived, and we`ve started to contact a LOT. So far we haven`t seen many prospects (and a lot of false addresses), but I`m sure we will find some elect families soon...after all, we led the zone in contacts. Other challenges have been helping the bishop with a baptism for a normal 8 year old child that took out a lot of time and energy, the fact that it has stormed and even hailed 2 this week, and last monday the lock to the house got jammed and we couln`t get in all day. I also have a hole in the sole of my shoe. However, I`m not discouraged and we`re going to keep working hard. I know the Lord is planning something important for me to do.

Today we went to play basketball and go to some batting cages as a zone. It was a lot of fun, but I`m exhausted and very sunburned. I`m guaranteed to die of skin cancer!

So keep praying, help the local missionaries as you would help me, and be actively engaged in a good cause, and you`ll feel great! Everything here will turn out just fine.

Love,
Elder Lund

Happy Father's Day

Well, while I didn´t do anything in particular on my birthday, it has been a mildly interesting week. Saturday I spent the afternoon on the roof of one of our investigators house who is getting baptized soon. He´s just waiting for his cast to come off now so that we can get his arm wet. Due to that injury, he asked us to help out with sealing his roof. Here in mexico every single house is made of bricks or cement (not including the aluminum and wood shacks). There has been a water leakage problem, so what we did was basically mix a sealant with cement and layer the roof in that to cover up any and all cracks.

There was zone conference this week as well, and also a special conference with the zone leaders because the area president came here to the mission to give some instruction. I´m going to do my best to apply it, but it has been a good week of spiritual strengthening and learning by faith.

Also, guess what happened today? I got transferred. After a week and a half in Nuevo Mexico, I´ve been transferred to the area next door with my new companion, Elder Luis. He´s from Oaxaca and also speaks Zapoteco. The big thing with the change is that I´m now senior companion. The big in-charge. Now is when, more than ever, I need to make sure I do things right, avoid bad habits, and exercise my faith and everything I know to make a difference. It was stated by Elder Johnson, the area president that there is no limit to people who are "the elect", those who will listen, change their lives, and convert to the gospel. The ONLY inhibiting factor in this mission is what the missionary is willing to do in order to find and teach these people. Time to see how strong my faith really is. It has certainly been an interesting birthday.

Also, happy fathers day!!!! I hope you enjoyed it. Keep working hard and have faith in the Lord, and he will continue to bless us abundantly (and abundance means "more than we need or can use"...in otherwords, enough to share!). Take care, and much love.

Elder Lund

Happy Birthday!!!

Well after getting sent to Guadalajara in an ambulance, I´m now finally in my new area. I didn´t even go back for my bags, the Elderes in Colima packed them and sent them. I arrived in my area wednesday at noon, more or less. My companion is Elder Guzmán, who is from Chiapas (maps are useful) and also speaks Tzotzil. I´ll see if I can pick up any of that while I´m here. My district leader is from Cuzco, Peru. Cool guys, both of them.

Guadalajara is cooler than Colima. It is also more Catholic. Even still, I also get the strange feeling that I´m in Utah or California every once in a while, and it keeps throwing me off. We´ve got an upcoming baptism as well (apparently he had been very resistant, but he told us he felt ready to be baptized the other day). His name is Filiberto, and his wife is a member. The only complication is the cast on his right arm that can´t get wet. We´re working that out though. I have high hopes for this transfer. I feel there is very much good that can be done here.

As my birthday comes up (and also the 8 month mark) I have been thinking about how fast the time has gone by, what I would have done better, and what I intend to do in the future. I am still young, but old enough to make a real difference, with respect to both age and time in the mission. We´ll see how things go in the near future.

Thank you so much for continuing to write, every bit of information is a real blessing to me. I love you very much, and know that everything will work out for our profit and blessing. The time has flown, and now I´ve got to go.

Take care,
Elder Lund

Now a new chapter...

Thank you for sharing how you see me as a missionary and son, and yes that was exactly what I looking for...although the response was even better than I anticipated. I will be sure to do my best to live up to that expectation and more. Right now I am actually in a hospital in Guadalajara. Don`t worry, nothing is wrong with me. My companion just had a stomach infection that was a little agressive and complicated, so they moved him to a hospital here in Guadalajara. I think he`ll be able to start eating solids tomorrow though. I`ve been with him almost every moment since we brought him to the clinic in Colima on Friday morning. The only exceptions are when they president had me sleep at his house last night and when he took me to eat today. We`ve been doing alright though, and we certainly have had the support of the ward. Many, many members visited him and supplied me with food. Now that it`s over, it has been a touching learning experience.

Whenever Elder Peña is released from the hospital, we`ll head back to Colima and I will pack my bags so I can come back to Guadalajara. I`m being transferred to the big city, in the area of Nuevo Mèxico in the stake Lomas with Elder Guzmàn, who has been in the mission almost a year, more or less. I`ve spent some time thinking about how I`ve learned and grown in Colima...the people I`ve met, the experiences I`ve had, and I`m very glad for the experience. Now a new chapter will start, although it will have to mean being companions with someone other than Elder Peña. I consider him a good friend. We`ll have to visit Cozumel as a family some day and swing by to say hi.

Well I should get the President his computer back so he can go home and get some sleep. Thank you so much for helping me to grow into the person I am, and I promise to try to become even better in the future and be the son you`ve always deserved. I know I will find my life`s calling soon, and be able to use the many things God has blessed me with and you have helped me to develop to bless my family and fellow man. I love you all very much, and say hi to them all. I miss David a lot as well, but I`m sure we`ll be able to spend a good amount of time together once again. Take care of them all.

Love you much,
Elder Lund

Oh, funny happening

Ha, I didn`t even realize that it`s memorial day weekend.

Well this week we had interviews with the president, as well as his wife (more of a conversation about what we learned from Elder Bednar) as well as some teaching practice with the asistants. As usual, I enjoyed it. The President has prescribed me peanuts to help improve my personal study in the mornings. Yeah, don`t ask.

Victor, an older gentleman who works in construction (but is so talented he makes cement an art) was baptized on saturday, and he and Claudia were confirmed on Sunday. It was a very special and reverent baptismal service.

Transfers are also next week...let`s see what happens now that I will have 4 transfers in the mission field (7.5 months overall, if you want to count it that way). The whole country is also super geared up for the world cup.

Oh, funny happening. Last monday, Mexico played a game against England. They lost 3-1, and everyone here was heartbroken or angry. I only realized later that I changed out of my t-shirt with the british flag on it just before the game ended up starting. I think if I hadn`t, I might have been lynched O_O It`ll be interesting to see what happens if the US and Mexico play each other in the world cup. If worst comes to worst, I can at least pretend to be from Argentina or Spain. The most interesting part is having a friend in the mission (Tyler McCombs!!) in South Africa. Things must be fun over there right now.

I`ve got a question or two for you now: What do you imagine I`m like as a missionary...or in other works, what sort of missionary do you think I am? and what sort of person do you see me as when I come back?

Thank you for the poem-story, it`s very true. We`re working a lot to unite the ward and get a ward mission plan in place...and I think next week there might finally be home teaching assignments! Ooh how exciting, huh?

Well anyways, it`s time to take off. Thank you for everything, and enjoy your time with dad if he gets to stop by before leaving.

Love,
Elder Lund

Leave with no regrets.

This week was another slow one, but we are seeing success. Claudia, the mother of Jorge and Tonantzin and the daughter of Gloria, was baptized on Saturday. She won`t be confirmed until this coming Sunday due to stake conference, but it`s something really special to be able to see the family linked by 3 generations. They`ve changed a lot and seen a lot of blessings. We also have seen how an investigator who decided to pay his tithing ended up having so many work opportunities afterwards that he didn`t know what to do with it all. Little things like that all the time. This investigator, whose name is Victor, is planning to be baptized this weekend. I ask that you pray for him, his well being, and that his family might be attentive to the promptings of the spririt and find their own testimonies.

Stake Conference was good. It was the first one this stake has had, as it has only been a stake for a year now. The Guadalajara temple president, his wife, the mission president, his wife, and a 70 (Raimundo Morales) were all there. There were very good talks about the temple, missionary work, the perfectioning of the saints, and the atonement of Jesus Christ and the importance of understanding it and applying it to our lives. There was also a young convert who spoke about how he has decided to serve a mission, and his family has thus rejected him completely and refuses to help him in any way. He`s trying to get his things together to go, but he`s going anyways with a firm testimony that what he`s doing is right...with or without a collared shirt or dress pants. He leaves in 2 weeks.

We are 2 weeks away from another transfer, and I think it will finally be time to leave. Where I`ll go, who will be my companion, what will be my assigned task (if any), I don`t know. However, I`m trying to learn as much as I can while I`m still here, and leave with no regrets. If I stay, I`ll still be glad to have done all of that.

Thank you for the pictures and the talk. David looks really grown up now, and Ashley is almost an adult! I`m going to try to print them out so I can have them in the house. I`ve also bought some pants, so now all I have to see is how long they will last me. I still haven`t had to use the funds from home, but I know that they will always be there when I need them. I do need to use the money from the grandmas to buy myself a birthday present, after all.

Well time is definitely up for now. Thank you for everything, and I think of you often. Stay strong and stay faithful, for God is watching over you all. I have felt it.

Love,
Elder Lund

It`s going to be a short p-day

This week Eduardo was baptized on Friday. He`s 15 years old and it really seems to me that he`s going to serve a mission. The baptism almost didn`t go through, due to a whole lot of complications, including lost keys, missing baptismal clothes, delayed arrival of the Bishop, and a WHOLE lot of other things. However, we ended up just postponing the baptism until that evening, and Eduardo was baptized along with the daughter of the bishop. It was a very special experience, and an example of how perseverance pays off.

The other incredible event was the visit of Elder Bednar on Saturday. We left Colima at 2 a.m. to be in Guadalajara, ready and seated, by 8:30. The trip isn`t actually that long, but we needed the time. The meeting itself was absolutely wonderful. We were made to feel comfortable, willing and eager to learn and participate, and attentive to the promptings of the spirit to answer our questions, spoken and unspoken. Much participation from the missionaries was asked, and I gave a commentary on part of one of the talks we were supposed to read before coming. Elder Bednar is very warm, very humble, and also very direct. I learned an incredible amount from being in the presence of one of the Twelve, but what I learned was from the spirit itself...as he said it should be. The trick now is to permanently apply it to my life and grow into not only a better missionary, but a better person in general.

I miss...photos of the family! That`s all I can think of at the moment. Just missing the family! The material things, after all, don`t really matter. It was wonderful to talk to you.

Well I really seem to be out of time today. It`s going to be a short p-day, but that`s alright. Missionary work is a lot of fun anyways. I love you very much and hope all is well amidst these many changes. As Elder Bednar said a couple of times,"If you just focus on being good girls and boys, everything really will work out". It really is true, too. That`s faith for you.

Love you very much,
Elder Lund

La Campana

I´ve written down some of my stories from the mission, but I need to be better about writing in my journal. It´s never been a strength of mine, but I´m trying to get into the habit because yes, these two years are full of stories. Just yesterday, for example, we went to a lesson and watched two drunks argue about whether one showed up at 3 am last night and crashed in the other´s chair without asking permission or knocking the door. Later, one of them tried to convince me that Jesus doesn´t have a body. It ended up being a very funny discussion. There are lots of little things like that in the mission, and I´m going to love being an old grandpa telling stories to my grandkids. One day, that is...

My companion is the same and I´m still in Colima right now, but I get the feeling I will be changing soon. I´ve been here a while now, after all. As far as food is concerned, I just tried "salchichas a la diabla", which are sausages chopped up with tomatoe, onion, ketchup, and a puree of mayonaisse, sour cream, and I don´t know what else, as well as chipotle. Eaten (of course) with tortilla. Spicy and tasty. I almost don´t notice spice anymore, but this one was a little hot. I liked it.

I´m going to write home later this week with instructions on how the mother´s day phone call is supposed to work out. We can call either the 9th or the 10th, but it will probably be the 10th. We now are allowed 40 minutes to call home. Surprising that 1/2 of my phone calls home will be through in a week, isn´t it?

Know that I´m having a great experience here, and that I´m growing a lot. I will continue in my quest to serve God the way I should and the way He wants me to, and I know the blessings and recompense will come, in my future as well as for the family. I´m trying to convince my companion to visit the small pyramid that is here in Colima (across the street, actually) one p-day, btw. It´s called "la campana". google/wiki it! There are some interesting cultural things about ancient Colima, like burying the dead with little clay dogs to accompany them on their way to heaven. That's why there´s two giant dancing dogs in one of the roundabouts here, supposedly. The volcano continues to fume and spew lava every once in a while. I am told it can´t reach us here, and that it´s always like that.

I laugh in the face of danger.

Again I must leave you without promised photos, as once again I am in the lame, USB-eating cyber café. I´ll see what I can do next week.

Love,
Elder Lund

The Face of Love

I've seen your face on stained glass, in colored lights
In pictures of you looking to the sky
You've been portrayed a thousand different ways
But my heart can see you better than my eyes
'Cause it's love that paints the portrait of your life

The face of love
The face of love
You look more like love every day

I've read your words in the pages of your life
And I've imagined what you were like
I may not know the shape of your face
But I can feel your heart changing mine
And your love still proves that you're alive

You are the face that changed the whole world
No one too lost for you to love
No one too low for you to serve
So give us the grace to change the world
No one too lost for me to love
No one too low for me to serve

Let us see... let us be your face

Sanctus Real - The Face of Love


I`ve put a lot of thought lately into who I am and who I want to become, long term and short term. One of the things I have realized and come to comprehend even more is that every talent I have, I have for a reason. Only now I am starting to see how I can use all of my feelings, thoughts, preferences, and talents to serve God. The trick is actually applying them all.

I`ve seen a little more of heaven in everyday life though, including a woman whose marriage was saved, prophetic dreams, and of course people completely changing who they are. There is no better place to be right now than in the mission. I know that the harder I work, the more adversity I will see. The more I learn, the more the world attempts to confuse and blind me. The more I share and serve, the more certain forces try to push me to selfishness. Yes, oftentimes I fall. I am weak, I am young, and I am definitely foolish. However, little by little I am seeing my divine potential.

I really hope that all of you are alright at home. Never hesitate to write me with any concern, stressor, or problem. I love you (all of you, of course), and pray for your wellbeing. The Lord will protect and edify you in your trials when you turn to Him, and He has already blessed our family beyond measure. Know that I`m doing just fine.

Abraham 1
Doctrine and Covenants 121; 122
2 Corinthians 15

Love,
Elder Lund