But have no fear! Elder Lund is here.

Writing a day late (with permission from the President) because we didn`t have time yesterday. We had to shoot down to the offices, the class went long for some things we had to resolve, and we had appointments at night. But have no fear! Elder Lund is here.

So Carlos was baptized on Monday. It was a fantastic baptismal service with lots of people and the spirit was felt very strongly. His wife was also there and she seemed very proud of him. He was confirmed on Sunday. All has been okay on his end. I´ll get pictures to you soon.

Transfers are next week. They still haven`t been finished, or so I`ve been told, but I`ll put my money on going to Puerto Vallarta. I`m usually bad at guessing things like this, but who knows. It`d be nice to get the hammock out again. Here in the area we´re working with the ward mission leader, trying to plan a mini MTC for the ward with mission calls and everything. There´s also a movie night activity for the stake planned for this weekend.

Oh, and EFY is coming to Guadalajara for the first time. Crazy, no? We´re trying to get some investigators signed up for that. We´ll see how that goes...it should be awesome for them. There´s also some sort of single adult EFY. That would be cool to do coming home. Also, oh snap. I don´t like talking about home to people anymore because it´s not that far away! Yikes!

I´m super sore from working out too...Elder Flores is a beast. We´ll see if I can keep it up and inflate these little plastic arms a bit.

So I`m thinking about mathematics with respect to career choices. I don`t know too much about the requirements in the field of computers, but I´ve always had lots of ideas about programs and ideas about how to make the most out of the internet, since its an obscenely powerful tool with a lot of potential that the majority of us don`t make the most of. I think the church is doing a lot of good things with technology and the internet, but I`ve thought of a lot more ideas lately.

No time to write much more since we have an appointment and I still need to register one of our investigators for EFY, but take care and know that I love you. I`m super excited for all the changes that are happening and will be happening soon.

Love,
Elder Lund

P.S. Hopefully those who I can`t really write or who I have no contact with are in possession of my address, so that they can send me stuff (err...I mean....stay in contact with me?). I got the package yesterday (THANK YOUUu!!!!!!!) and will fill out the paperwork ASAP.

God is the one who changes things.

It`s actually fantastic to know that our family is blessed with a strong history of faith on both sides. I´ve wanted to learn more about my family history for some time now.

Tuesday and wednesday of last week were leadership conference. This time there was less watching J Tyler and more practices. My companion and I were asked beforehand to give a demonstration of how to introduce someone to the Book of Mormon. I had a great time, recognized a good number of things I want to change in the way I work, and we also got to go to the temple. I learned some important things about how to help out the zone and the area (since our job is to turn it around). Honestly, God is the one who changes things and works miracles, but we`re putting a lot of faith into the work and trying really hard to do things right, and we`re seeing progress. There were baptisms this week and within a month I really believe there will be baptisms every week. These are the Lord`s people and He is preparing them. We simply need to have faith and do our part, praying for His help, and He takes care of the rest.

Take Carlos for example. He`s an older man of 68 years who has been smoking and drinking all his life. Yesterday and last week, however, he came to church in a white shirt, well shaven and with his hair combed, and had a great time at church for the second time. He will be baptized today. Britanny was baptized at last on the 5th. I`ll try to send some pictures. It was a beautiful service and it really has helped strengthen that family, which has been through a lot. She`s acting different too...more mature, actually.

Tomorrow is zone conference, and I`m in charge of it. I have to give two themes (prayer and the BoM) as well as run and organize everything. It`s crazy, but also crazy fun. That`s what I`ll be spending all of today doing (and getting ready for the baptism).

In other news, one of our investigators, Yuri, just had her baby and is now on bedrest for 40 days. They´re super excited and happy, even though it`s a lot of work. I can`t believe I have friends approaching that stage. Crazy. Also, there`s a young man who is the only member of his family who we`ve taken under our wing and comes with us to lots of appointments all week. He wasn`t planning on going on a mission and his friends are bad influences, but he`s changing a lot. His name is Toño.

Well I`ve gotta run. Love you lots, and take care!
Elder Lund

We threw a baby shower!

This week things have really started rolling. I do think it`s possible that we`ll be able to get to the point fo baptizing every week if we really concentrate on it and spend a lot of time on our knees and in our books. There are three baptismal dates this weekend for the zone, and one of them is the long-awaited Britany. Her dad is able to walk a little, but still won`t be able to baptize her, so they`ve given us the official green light to organize everything. It will be Saturday at 5, along with the baptism of her 8 year old cousin (who also wants me to perform the ordinance since his dad can`t either). We`re starting to bury (or more correctly God is starting to bury) the reputation this zone has had for a long time and change things, and hopefully it continues. The missionaries are good and trust in the Lord, so honestly I can`t take much credit for the success.

I spent Wednesday in divisions with Elder Cruz (a different one), who is one of our new district leaders. He has only been on the mission for six months, but is doing a great job. We talked a lot and he had a lot of questions about how to be a good district leader. It`s humbling that he asks me those types of questions, because honestly I wasn`t a particularly good one.

Thursday, we threw a baby shower for Yuri, one of our investigators who is about to give birth. She and her significant other had a good time and were really able to break the ice with the members. They also spent an evening at the house of our ward mission leader and they had a great chat for hours. We need to go see if we can find them though, because they didn`t make it to church Sunday and I`m pretty sure because the baby came. Exciting! Also, she`ll be getting married to her boyfriend soon as well. I`ll let you know as things progress.

That same day an older man called out to us on the street, and said he wanted us to help him get baptized. He visited the church 30 years ago in Tijuana, and he ran into the missionaries not too long ago and they gave him a pamphlet. We brought him to church, he loved it, and he wants to be baptized on the 14th. Super exciting. We still need to pray a lot for him though, because we need to help him stop smoking.

Friday was our big "Flag Day" activity, where we mixed the themes of the Mexican Flag and the Title of Liberty. There was a rally, a flag-making base, a vido, and some games of volleyball. Margarita, one of our investigators who really wants to change but is rather shy, went to the activity with her son and they had a blast. A less-active named Maribel brought her kids and also had a great time. We´re really trying to help these people out on all fronts. More than anything we need to pray for them, so that God can work in their hearts, minds, and lives the things we simply are not able to do or sometimes fail to do.

Pleas pray for our investigator named Sofi. She really wants to go to church and change her life and family by coming unto Christ (she even wants her son to be a missionary), but she needs to find a different job. Her plan was to quit her job today and start searching for work. We´re praying that she finds a good one that will help her provide for her family and at the same time be able to spend time with the family and dedicate Sundays to God.

In other news, zone leader council is tomorrow and wednesday, and we`ll also be going to the temple. Super excited! Also, the asistents asked me how long I`m willing to stay in Arquitectura. Perhaps I`ll be here quite a while longer. I`m ok with that though, because I`m finally figuring out how to focus the missionary work here. Elder Flores is learning a lot and coming a long jsut fine. He`s a very happy guy and gets along well with people.

Well gotta run. Love you all lots!

Elder Lund