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