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