Monday we went to another area to help them search for new investigators. We found four or five people who were interested and gave the addresses and phone numbers to the Elders from that area so that they can visit them.
Augustin was coming along. He`s been reading and praying a lot. It seemed things were going well. He didn`t make it to church though. We think it`s because he was feeling sick on Saturday, but we haven`t seen him yet and without a phone there`s no other way to find out. He`s been searching for his answer. We`re praying for him.
There`s been some complications though. We got stomach infections from lunch on Thursday, and then my companion was diagnosed with a severe tonsil infection. Basically ate up Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. We should be good now though. He`s just got to get injected in the rear every day for a few days but we can work.
Today I bought some Huichol things for the family, from actual natives who come into the city to sell their goods. A necklace, a bag, and a few other things. I might get some more next week before sending it home, but I`ll let you know when I shoot off the package. I`ve now finally found a reliable place where I can send packages. Should be soon unless their are special transfers or something. Still looking for the guitar.
Well I`ve gotta run. I think my most important letter this week is to David, who asked me how he can be a good missionary. I`m sure he`s going to be greater than all of us. Thank you for your support and your prayers. They make us stronger every day and work miracles. I know we`re on the brink of one right now. Count on it.
Love you,
Elder Lund
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
I'm in that process
So we started teaching (or trying to teach) a family this week that is Cora and does not speak much Spanish. Its been quite difficult, but its kinda fun as well. Im not sure how interested they are, but they have mentioned both baptism and healings through the power of God, so theres something there. They´re a really good family. Not sure how we´re going to learn the language, but I love a challenge.
There was a bus assigned by the stake to pick up the members here and take them to church and back. The only trouble was that it wasn´t where they said it would be. My companion panicked and sent everyone off in taxis before it got too late, but upon heading a little ways down the road I saw the bus. Next week things will be more straightforward. We also found a house that would work as the house of prayer and the stake is planning on paying to reserve the house today as well. We´ll see how that goes.
We´ve mostly been bogged down with those sorts of things. Lots of families trying to become active again, and we´re trying to balance that with actual missionary work since that´s what we´ve been called to do. I´m sure everything will turn out okay. There´s other stuff I´ll have to tell you about later, but here we are plugging alog as always! :D
Floating around in the major thing, but I{ve hammered out somethings about classes. I´ll write you a list when I´ve got everything straightened out. I don´t like having to take time to do all this junk when we´ve got souls to save, but I understand its important. We´ll see what I can do.
I love you all and miss you all. Trying to be the best missionary I can and prepare myself to be the best return missionary I can be. Havent sent anything off yet but I´m in that process
Love you!
Elder Lund
Monday, August 8, 2011
Well there´s lots to tell.
Lots and lots.
Gabriel is coming along just fine. He should have his new job soon and also be able to find a better and safer apartment as well. His baptism should be this Saturday. Too bad I won´t get to see it though.
I was transfered, and am finally outside of Guadalajara. I´m also officially retired from the leadership of the mission. Missionaries don´t finish as leaders here, but rather finish training or helping other young Elders. Since no new missionaries arrived this transfer, I am doing the latter. My companion is Elder Escamilla, from Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo. Yes, that´s where Elder Cruz is from. They never met before the mission though, because my companion was baptized in February of 2010. Yes, that´s right. I have a companion who wasn´t a member when I started the mission. He´s 25. Pretty cool guy. We´re working hard here.
I´m in Tepic, which is the capital of the state of Nayarit. Here there are still native communities of Coras and Huicholes, although I haven´t run into any so far here in the city. The area is Fresnos 3, which makes us the third companionship in a rather large ward. We´re on the far edge of the city, where there are seven or eight new developments of cheap houses that have been built. It´s growing like crazy out here. It turns out that there are a lot of members, and every day it seems we find another member who just moved here and doesn´t know where the church is. It´s a challenge because the chapel is rather far away, and really expensive to go by bus (which is how most Mexicans get around), so those who don´t have a car have to really sacrifice in order to get to church with their families. The Elders had been organizing trucks to come around and help pick up the members, but there were so many this time that we needed a second truck. That second truck driver fell through Saturday in the afternoon, leaving us with nothing. We didn´t have any phone credit either to call people, so we were running around on foot all day (and later that night we got a member to help drive us around) searching for someone with a truck that could help us out. Nothing. We were fasting as well for a miracle and for the area. We got to the house really late Saturdy night and we had nothing and nobody to help, and hadn´t a clue how we were going to pick up all those people and drive them so far away. We went to bed basically leaving it in God´s hands. We had done everything we could think of.
But Sunday morning a member arrived who is almost never in town (they live in the woods, I think) and her husband has a truck. We ran out to see them and they were more than willing to help out. I lead one truck that picked up 24 people, and my companion lead another that picked up 22, and we got them all to church on time. That was just among investigators and less actives without the resources to travel to church every week. Aside from that the active members went and we ended up being about 70 people from our part of the ward. There had been hopes for a house of prayer out here for some time now, but the Stake President wanted to see if there were really enough members to justify it. He was certainly surprised to see so many people just from our area in church, and agreed to give it the green light. Tomorrow he will be asking the Area President (who is already informed about the situation) for a unit number, and Wednesday we have a meeting with him about it. It´s very possible that we could have our own branch by the end of the month. Another gigantic miracle after a difficult trial of faith. We owe God so much for providing transportation and preparing the way. We´re also working with two families that are very excited about the gospel and are working out the details with their marriages.
In other news, the President tells me that the extention has been approved, and I have permission to do whatever is necessary to take care of finances, housing, and classes for school. So I´ll be writing you about that soon. Gotta run for now. Take care and make sure to say hi to all my RHS friends and especially Joe´s family for me. I miss you and love you all, but I know that will just make it all the more worth it to work hard now and really enjoy my time with you when I get home.
Love you,
Elder Lund
Gabriel is coming along just fine. He should have his new job soon and also be able to find a better and safer apartment as well. His baptism should be this Saturday. Too bad I won´t get to see it though.
I was transfered, and am finally outside of Guadalajara. I´m also officially retired from the leadership of the mission. Missionaries don´t finish as leaders here, but rather finish training or helping other young Elders. Since no new missionaries arrived this transfer, I am doing the latter. My companion is Elder Escamilla, from Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo. Yes, that´s where Elder Cruz is from. They never met before the mission though, because my companion was baptized in February of 2010. Yes, that´s right. I have a companion who wasn´t a member when I started the mission. He´s 25. Pretty cool guy. We´re working hard here.
I´m in Tepic, which is the capital of the state of Nayarit. Here there are still native communities of Coras and Huicholes, although I haven´t run into any so far here in the city. The area is Fresnos 3, which makes us the third companionship in a rather large ward. We´re on the far edge of the city, where there are seven or eight new developments of cheap houses that have been built. It´s growing like crazy out here. It turns out that there are a lot of members, and every day it seems we find another member who just moved here and doesn´t know where the church is. It´s a challenge because the chapel is rather far away, and really expensive to go by bus (which is how most Mexicans get around), so those who don´t have a car have to really sacrifice in order to get to church with their families. The Elders had been organizing trucks to come around and help pick up the members, but there were so many this time that we needed a second truck. That second truck driver fell through Saturday in the afternoon, leaving us with nothing. We didn´t have any phone credit either to call people, so we were running around on foot all day (and later that night we got a member to help drive us around) searching for someone with a truck that could help us out. Nothing. We were fasting as well for a miracle and for the area. We got to the house really late Saturdy night and we had nothing and nobody to help, and hadn´t a clue how we were going to pick up all those people and drive them so far away. We went to bed basically leaving it in God´s hands. We had done everything we could think of.
But Sunday morning a member arrived who is almost never in town (they live in the woods, I think) and her husband has a truck. We ran out to see them and they were more than willing to help out. I lead one truck that picked up 24 people, and my companion lead another that picked up 22, and we got them all to church on time. That was just among investigators and less actives without the resources to travel to church every week. Aside from that the active members went and we ended up being about 70 people from our part of the ward. There had been hopes for a house of prayer out here for some time now, but the Stake President wanted to see if there were really enough members to justify it. He was certainly surprised to see so many people just from our area in church, and agreed to give it the green light. Tomorrow he will be asking the Area President (who is already informed about the situation) for a unit number, and Wednesday we have a meeting with him about it. It´s very possible that we could have our own branch by the end of the month. Another gigantic miracle after a difficult trial of faith. We owe God so much for providing transportation and preparing the way. We´re also working with two families that are very excited about the gospel and are working out the details with their marriages.
In other news, the President tells me that the extention has been approved, and I have permission to do whatever is necessary to take care of finances, housing, and classes for school. So I´ll be writing you about that soon. Gotta run for now. Take care and make sure to say hi to all my RHS friends and especially Joe´s family for me. I miss you and love you all, but I know that will just make it all the more worth it to work hard now and really enjoy my time with you when I get home.
Love you,
Elder Lund
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
l know i will see him again.
To the Ramos family:
I had the privilege of meeting Joe in High School. We shared a few classes and I think I was his TA in one. He was always very intelligent and witty, but also had a big heart. We got along well, and became good friends. We esepcially spent a lot of time together in the summer of 2009 before I started the mission, playing videogames, board games, and watching anime with our group of friends. Sometimes we talked about the deeper and more important things of the universe as well.
I'm glad joe had the chance to know the gospel and to live it for a time. I know he was not very active in the church, and from what I remember it had to do with a few youth who were not exactly the best example for him and did not treat him very well. I've felt sorry about that many times, even though we still hadn`t moved to Florida when it happened. Throughout the time we knew eachother, I always maintained the hope of being able to help him return...to help the whole family. I stopped by your house a few times in hopes of being able to share a short message about families, but I don't remember having been able to tell you about it. Please receive my parents in my place. I hope they'll be able to help your family in ways that I wasn't able to. I know that God lives, that Christ loves you and that He has prepared the way for you to see Joe again...and I hope to see him as well.
"Now, concerning the astate of the soul between bdeath and the resurrectionBehold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life. And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow." (Alma 40:11-12)
I testify as a representative of Jesus Christ that it is possible for your family to be eternal; it's possible to be with him again. God has provided the way through the His Gospel and His Priesthood. Your family, through the sealing ordinance, can be eternal. But it all depeneds on your willingnes to sacrifice the world and live worthy of that promise. My parents will be there to help you in anything you need. I'm absolutely sure of it. They won`t fail you.
Please forgive me the times I have not been there for Joe, the times he has been sad and I haven't been able to cheer him up, and the times I couldn`t help him overcome his challenges. I did my best and I'll always remember him. He is a special child of God and he loves you. He is thinking about you and wants the best for you. Remember that the commandments are the bridge between you always. When I return from Mexico, I will be at your disposition for anything you need. One thing I'm learning to do hear is love God with all my heart and to love others as myself. Please take care.
With all sincerity,
Elder Lund
So all I can report from this week is that we took Gabriel to the church employment center and helped him search for a job, and we also put him in contact with the ward employment person (or whatever that calling is called). Her name is Matilde and she does a fantastic job. They'll be visiting a mechanic today to see if he can help Gabriel out, because he doesn`t want to work on Sundays anymore. Please pray for him.
We also sent the missionaries to find his family in Indiana this week. His family has had some hard times, especially because his brother needed help. Apparently his whole family went to church this week. He's ecstatic.
Other than that we're simply forming ideas to help the zone and the ward, but I'll tell you more about them once we've got things moving. Just know that we have many, many plans and we're being very innovative. You gotta do everything you can to make a difference.
Transfers are today. As always, we'll see what happens. I'm going to talk to the President about how much I can do to decide my classes, housing, and how to take care of that application. I'll let you know when I find out what can be done.
Love,
Elder Lund
P.S. Song of the day:
I'm sorry, I heard about the bad news today. A crowd of people around you Telling you it's okay And everything happens for a reason
When you lose a part of your self To somebody you know It takes a lot to let go Every breath that you remember Pictures fade away but memory is forever
An empty chair at all the tables And I'll be seeing you when all my days boil down But it's better where you're going anyway
I'm sorry I heard about the bad news today It's really hard to get through Tough times and long days But it really just depends on the season
For now we'll say goodbye We know it's not the last time I've lost the best part of my day But it's better where you're going anyway
This is the last thing I will remember It's better where you're going anyway
New Found Gory -"Sonny"
I know I'll see him again someday.
I had the privilege of meeting Joe in High School. We shared a few classes and I think I was his TA in one. He was always very intelligent and witty, but also had a big heart. We got along well, and became good friends. We esepcially spent a lot of time together in the summer of 2009 before I started the mission, playing videogames, board games, and watching anime with our group of friends. Sometimes we talked about the deeper and more important things of the universe as well.
I'm glad joe had the chance to know the gospel and to live it for a time. I know he was not very active in the church, and from what I remember it had to do with a few youth who were not exactly the best example for him and did not treat him very well. I've felt sorry about that many times, even though we still hadn`t moved to Florida when it happened. Throughout the time we knew eachother, I always maintained the hope of being able to help him return...to help the whole family. I stopped by your house a few times in hopes of being able to share a short message about families, but I don't remember having been able to tell you about it. Please receive my parents in my place. I hope they'll be able to help your family in ways that I wasn't able to. I know that God lives, that Christ loves you and that He has prepared the way for you to see Joe again...and I hope to see him as well.
"Now, concerning the astate of the soul between bdeath and the resurrectionBehold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life. And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow." (Alma 40:11-12)
I testify as a representative of Jesus Christ that it is possible for your family to be eternal; it's possible to be with him again. God has provided the way through the His Gospel and His Priesthood. Your family, through the sealing ordinance, can be eternal. But it all depeneds on your willingnes to sacrifice the world and live worthy of that promise. My parents will be there to help you in anything you need. I'm absolutely sure of it. They won`t fail you.
Please forgive me the times I have not been there for Joe, the times he has been sad and I haven't been able to cheer him up, and the times I couldn`t help him overcome his challenges. I did my best and I'll always remember him. He is a special child of God and he loves you. He is thinking about you and wants the best for you. Remember that the commandments are the bridge between you always. When I return from Mexico, I will be at your disposition for anything you need. One thing I'm learning to do hear is love God with all my heart and to love others as myself. Please take care.
With all sincerity,
Elder Lund
So all I can report from this week is that we took Gabriel to the church employment center and helped him search for a job, and we also put him in contact with the ward employment person (or whatever that calling is called). Her name is Matilde and she does a fantastic job. They'll be visiting a mechanic today to see if he can help Gabriel out, because he doesn`t want to work on Sundays anymore. Please pray for him.
We also sent the missionaries to find his family in Indiana this week. His family has had some hard times, especially because his brother needed help. Apparently his whole family went to church this week. He's ecstatic.
Other than that we're simply forming ideas to help the zone and the ward, but I'll tell you more about them once we've got things moving. Just know that we have many, many plans and we're being very innovative. You gotta do everything you can to make a difference.
Transfers are today. As always, we'll see what happens. I'm going to talk to the President about how much I can do to decide my classes, housing, and how to take care of that application. I'll let you know when I find out what can be done.
Love,
Elder Lund
P.S. Song of the day:
I'm sorry, I heard about the bad news today. A crowd of people around you Telling you it's okay And everything happens for a reason
When you lose a part of your self To somebody you know It takes a lot to let go Every breath that you remember Pictures fade away but memory is forever
An empty chair at all the tables And I'll be seeing you when all my days boil down But it's better where you're going anyway
I'm sorry I heard about the bad news today It's really hard to get through Tough times and long days But it really just depends on the season
For now we'll say goodbye We know it's not the last time I've lost the best part of my day But it's better where you're going anyway
This is the last thing I will remember It's better where you're going anyway
New Found Gory -"Sonny"
I know I'll see him again someday.
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