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