Post Thanksgiving letter

Hello! :)

So the pictures I am including were taken this past week. I don't know why but my camera always seemed to be out...

a picture of a carabao (English spelling). It just looked like a big dog in this picture and I thought it was funny so I’m including it.



a normal picture of a carabao. Just for reference, I ordered a belt made of this animal's horns. I should be getting it this week so I might be able to include pictures for you next week.



This is me, Jason, and elder Schmidt. Jason is currently our ward mission leader. He is 20. He is also leaving for his mission to Davao, Philippines on December 1st! :) Congrats to him, but sad for us. Walang Kaming ward mission leader na. (We don't have a ward mission leader now.)

Our family Christmas picture. :) left to right: me, Elder Jackson, Elder Hardman, and Elder Schmidt. I’m in a really weird apartment because we're 4 Americans. It’s like the only apartment in the mission with only Americans. But it’s really nice. We’re all close even if there is some tension every now and then about food. We are all 20-23 year old boys after all.  

I’m glad you guys had fun at thanksgiving! :) I appreciate the photo! That group looks so much smaller than it used to though. On the flip side, that is really cool that they had a group the same size in Provo. I’m glad they got together. :) The Mission President stressed the need to give thanks for all we have in his letter last week. Having family time shows appreciation for one of The Lords greatest gifts, the family.

 I actually put a little effort into food this week and I had fun with it. I made fried cabbage, but couldn't find the right sausage to go with it, so I fried up some ham and mixed it into the cabbage. We put it over rice. (Anything you put over rice is called ulam). The other thing I did was I made a double batch of no bake cookies. The chocolate peanut butter recipe you gave me. :) We loved them! Even with all the food I ate this week, I still managed to lose another 2 lbs.! I don't understand that one. O.o?  :) I’m going to be making pirogies this week! :) I’m really excited for that. :)

Elder Schmidt and I are doing something new. First off, he is being made district leader this next cycle. We are staying in the same area. The new thing is that we are going to be teaching a new recent convert/less active/investigator class every Sunday at church. I started reading the gospel principles book a couple days ago, and I ought to be finished with it on Wednesday or so. We are going to be using it to teach our class. I’m kinda excited for it. That is a really good book. I’m really enjoying reading it. It clears so much up and points out so much that you never realized. I like it a lot and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a stimulating book for growth in, learning, and understanding of gospel doctrine.

Oh! A baptism is scheduled for December 24th and confirmation on Christmas day! :) The Brother is so excited! I got to offer the invitation for him to be baptized. It was so cool :)

 I’m really excited for Christmas and New Years here. It should be a ton of fun. :)

Well, I gotta go get to work now. :) I love you all very much!!!

Love,

Elder Lundy

Week of November 20, 2011 Happy Thanksgiving!

Questions for the week:

1.         How are your investigators? Any new ones?

We did get a new investigator this week.  His wife is a member. He was almost baptized in the past but it didn't happen for some reason or other. This was 4 years ago. Since then he wouldn't listen to or talk with the missionaries. I’m learning that Elder Schmidt and I are a great combination. This Brother is slightly beefier than I am, and he is only about 2-3 inches shorter than me. But I’m still bigger. So it’s a good thing. He tends to look down his nose at the smaller elders...like our zone leaders who he completely shut down when they tried to teach him. lol. He’s really opened up to us. To me, because of my size. To Elder Schmidt because of their mutual interest in motorcycles. His wife reminds me a lot of Amanda (my sister). She has a single 2 year old girl, is built a lot like Amanda, and her husband is a lot bigger than her. They are a really nice family. Other than that, we're finding and teaching a lot of people, but no one is ready to change. My focus is on members. We really can't get much done without their help and support. So we are trying to gain their trust, and bring back and nourish the inactive and less-active families. In that aspect we are having a good deal of success. :) since we have started doing that, we have brought back 4 families for the time being, and are working with one of those families to get the father the Melchizedek priesthood and then to get them to the temple to be sealed together. I’ve really been learning that our area is not a baptizing/harvesting area. It is a planting and nourishing area. Once I realized that my outlook really changed here. The work becomes a lot easier once you know what you are doing. Last week’s letter from the president really helped me see that. Going along with that thought, Elder Hale, one of my current AP's (soon to return home) said something that really kicked me in the butt and helped me with the work. talking about missionary work and changing lives, bringing about the salvation of souls, about learning and teaching the gospel, and about being a missionary, he said "you have to want it more than anything." and summarizing the last part of what he said, "...then you have to go and do. You have to work for It." the first part is what really hit me. "You have to want it more than anything." it is all about our desire here on the mission, and in life. Whatever you desire, whatever you want, that is what your focus will be on. If you want to be a good missionary, if you want to do the lord's work and help the people of the Philippines, then that is what you will focus on. If you want to collect fun knick knacks to bring home, you'll focus on that. This week, I learned what my desire was. I learned what I wanted it to be, and now, I’m changing. I’ve prayed so hard for those we are teaching, that it’s made me cry a couple times this week. That one phrase alone will change my mission. You have to want it more than anything. I know what I want in this life, and the next. I know how to get there. Now I just need to do it.

2.         Are you and Elder Schmidt staying well?

Elder Schmidt and I are doing as well as can be expected. We’re taking turns getting each other sick. This weather really doesn't help any. It’s probably the reason why we do get sick in fact. It’s always wet here. I just got my big box of vitamins from the mission home though, so I’m good. We’re both on the mend. We’ve gotten each other sick two weeks in a row now. :/ we're ok though. Don’t worry.

3.         What service project did you do this week?

Service projects here are practically non-existent. They don’t help spread the gospel here. They are of no worth. People just took advantage of it in the past, so now, we don't do service projects. So to answer your question, I haven't had a service project since I arrived. Really the only time we do anything like that is after a natural disaster, or so I’m told.

4.         Has the Map arrived yet? Still trying to figure out how long it actually takes to get there.

I got the map! Thank you! It has the area for ward 1 and 2 on it. We’re going to hand fill it out with brngy and prk info. I taped all the pieces together and its up on our wall now. :) We also got your thanksgiving cards! They both came into our hands on November 15th. Plans changed and the AP’s were able to bring our mail out to district meeting. :) I got "dear elders" from Steph, Bishop Arnold, and Amanda Kuehn. Also, just to let you know how I mail stuff home... I just use regular Philippine mail. I go to the post office, give them what I want to mail, they weigh it, and I pay whatever number they throw at me. No receipts or record of it either. :/

5.         By the weather reports I send it seems it rains almost daily. Does it really rain daily?

Yes, it really is raining like the weather reports say. It’s not always hard, but it can be furious at times. It’s pretty much just constantly wet here. Fun fact about the weather: it’s constantly in the high 90's here. It got down to 79 the other day and we were all freezing! :) lol

6.         Anything new or cool happen?

Hmmm, well as of last p-day, I had lost 10 pounds. I’m going to lose more when the hot weather comes in. all my belts are way too big now, but I ordered a caribao belt from the amazing Bro. Pete, and I should get it this next week. it’s a belt made from the horns of a caribao, or water buffalo, and is going to be 50 inches long, adjustable to practically any size(smaller than 50 in. ;) ) it’s really cool. It should be jet black in color. I’ll send you pictures when I get it. My pants waists still fit though because of the elastic in most of them.

7.         I know that the Filipinos don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, will the Mission Home and Elders/Sisters?

Pretty much only the American missionaries celebrate Thanksgiving. We don't usually get to go to the mission home, but I’m sure they will be celebrating the holiday there. They do love their parties and food. lol. :)

8.         I hear that there are some really big spiders and bugs there, Have you seen any?

I haven't seen many big bugs other than cockroaches. There are some pretty big butiki, or small lizards, that crawl all over your walls and ceiling. The frogs here come out when it rains, and they can get pretty big too. Same with the snails. The dogs here are all small and mean, but cowardly. I hate the dogs here. We carry our umbrellas just in case we need them to defend against the stupid mga aso. aso is Tagalog for dog. I carry a rock or two in hand or my pocket most of the day as well. they all run if you throw a rock or act like you are going to pick a rock up to throw at them. Funny story, we tao po'd a house, standing just inside their gates, and got cornered in by their 7 dogs. We almost had to battle our way out but the owner came out cuz she didn't want to get into legal trouble with her dogs attacking people, especially Americans.

Fun facts: there is no carpet in the Philippines. Only tile, cement, or dirt. Rugs are common though. Just this past Sunday, we released a brother from being Sunday school president. The odd part...he has been dead for over 3 months now. We are losing our 20 year old ward mission pres. to his mission in the southern Philippines next week (Americans can't serve in the southern Philippines anymore...). So we won't have one anymore.

We have Christmas lights strung up in our apartment now! :) It’s really fun. :)

Enjoy the pictures! :)

 Lastly, thank you so very much for sending me mail and packages! I appreciate it all very much!!! Also, thank you for teaching me how to cook!!! :)

What a view...

Elder Lundy

Hello from the Philippines.

Isn't this beautiful!

Elder Lundy's wondeful companion.

Week of 11-13-11

Hi All,

I’m running out of time sadly, so this week I have to skip straight to the questions.

1. How are your shoes holding up in the wet climate?

My shoes are doing pretty well in the wet climate. As long as I keep up on polishing them, they should stay nice for a long time. I actually use my sandals a lot here. At least 3 days a week. They are so nice.

2.  What is a Zone meeting like?

Zone meetings are just like district meeting but longer with a little more material. And the zone leaders, the other companionship in my apartment Elder Jackson and Elder Hardman, teach zone meetings. It’s always gospel and teaching instruction in some fun or creative way.

3. Do you have to wash your clothes by Mag-Laba (hand) or washing machine?

I found the words on Elder Hamblin’s Mother’s blog. I think he is located just south of you in or near San Mariano. His companion is Elder Cajumban.

 We have a washing machine here, but it’s all plastic and nothing like the ones back home. But it’s still nice. No dryer though, just a spinner that spins fast and spins the water out of the clothes. As for Elder Cajumban, (the "j" sounds like and "h") he is my district leader. Elder Hamblin, his comp, is an awesome elder. He is a really great guy. And he is really familiar, kinda like I knew him before. It’s weird. I like him.

4. What’s new with your investigators? Do you tract much or are you teaching more right now?

Nothing new with investigators. We're working a lot with inactive families, and planting a lot of seeds while tracting.

5. Have you made friends with any of the primary children in the ward? I know that the ones you left here really miss you.

 I don't know primary children here. We only deal with teenagers and older unless it’s an investigator or less active family.

Funny facts: We have a 20 year old ward mission leader, and a 20 year old young men’s president.

I got my first Filipino hair cut today. It looks good. They actually used a straight blade razor on me at times....it scared me a little. lol. I'm all good though.

Thank you everyone for your letters!

I look forward to them every week.

Love you!!!!!!!

Elder Lundy

Part of Elder Lundy’s letter to his Dad…

Dad said: “Yesterday started easy enough with an Eagle project for Kaden Peterson.  We were working to clear overgrowth from light posts on a cross country ski trail at the Lapham Peak Park (just down Highway C from the Ellsworth’s).  Not back breaking work, but a lot of walking in between the posts.  We must have hiked about 3 miles, clearing brush, etc. along the way.  Fortunately the weather was clear, dry, and not freezing.  We had a good turnout – about 30 people.  I think it went pretty well. “

Elder Lundy’s response: “Kudos to Kaden for working on his eagle project! How are Bryce and Dillon by the way? And Krystal Stoltenberg? I miss them a lot. Can you give them a hug for me next time you see them."

Dad said: “Yesterday afternoon, Mom, Eric and I went to look at a house with Sister Nicholls.  It just came up on the market last Monday.  On paper it was everything we wanted, and even from the road it looked pretty good.  We got inside, and found all the floors are sloping and uneven.  Even though it was 3 acres, the back of the property was rather bowl-like.  There was even standing water in the bottom of the bowl, as we had 2 days of rain last week.  No usable land, whatsoever.  So we keep looking.”

Elder Lundy Said: “that's too bad about the house...always seems to go like that. Look at the bright side. I’ve seen families twice the size of ours living in a bamboo shack with a dirt floor, no running water, no toilet or shower, no stove or fridge, and only one bed for all of them to share. The rental may not be what you want but its more than most people here could ever hope for. I’m in one of the nicest places around and your rental is far better. You get a new perspective on what you really need when you see how people live here."

From The Cauayan Mission Blog...

Monday, November 7, 2011

Two Awesome New Missionaries!

For a long time we had only one missionary scheduled to come in October and that was Elder Lundy from Wisconsin. We worried about how he would get to Cauayan on his own. There are a few flights each week but not on the day he was to arrive in Manila. In fact, the next one would be two days later. So when we got late word that Elder Daluman would be coming at the same time from the Manila we were thrilled. The two of them met at the Manila MTC and then boarded the all-night bus ride to Cauayan. Elder Daluman is really outgoing and speaks good English and so the two got along just fine. In fact, they were said to say goodbye the next day when it was time to head off to their first areas.

We already love and respect these two wonderful missionaries! Welcome to the best mission in the world!



Elder Daluman and Elder Lundy



Elder Lundy and his trainer Elder Schmidt are assigned to Ilagan

Posted byPresident and Sister Carlosat8:49 PM0 comments

More Photos from Quarterly Interviews and Zone Meetings



Our newest elder--Elder Lundy with his trainer, Elder Schmidt

Posted byPresident and Sister Carlosat7:52 PM0 comments

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Mission Home Pictures

Mom said:  The time difference between us now is 14 hours. We just changed our clocks this morning. President and Sister Carlos mailed us a letter with contact info and also telling us how happy they were to have you in the Mission. They enclosed a picture of the two of them and you. It brings a smile to my face.

Sister Carlos, Elder Lundy, and President Carlos

Thanks for the time difference notice mom :) I was wondering about that actually. I'm glad the Carlos' sent you that letter with the pictures. They gave me a copy of them too. As per the size difference...yes. It’s always like that. I haven't met a single person here my size. I met one man who was my height two Sundays ago. Plenty of people are as big around as me, but they are always like a half foot or a full foot shorter. The average person here only comes up to my neck/chin area.

That is awesome about Scott! :) tell him congrats for me! And good luck with the language ;)

Scott received his Mission call!!!

Mom’s questions:

1. How is the Nanay's family doing this week? (The family with 2 inactive sons and Nanay not a member?)

The Nanay's family is doing well yah. Her son is doing well. We worked a lot with him this past week. We taught about 10 lessons with him. His family is still accepting lessons, but only nanay is getting much out of the lessons.

2. How is it going with the Pebenito family?

The Pebenito family is coming along. We had to take a step back and reteach some lessons, but I think they are starting to get it. They can definitely feel the spirit when we are there. Sadly, it’s rained the past 2 Sundays and rain is an automatic excuse for Filipinos to do nothing and just sit at home. So they didn't come to church either Sunday.

3.   Did Tatay Delfin's wife come to church this week?  Do they have any children?

Nanay Delfin hasn't attended a lesson since she promised to come to church and didn't. Tatay's family pretty much told him that they are all catholic and should stay that way. So he has stopped taking lessons for now so as not to break his family apart. He says he still knows it is true and wants to be baptized but he has to work things out with his family first. They have 2-3 kids. I’m not sure, they never come to lessons.

4. How often do you need to ride a tricey?

We tricey at least every other day. We do it when we have to get somewhere specific fast. But they are more expensive so we try to stay away from them. Also, they are the only transportation running at night. All the jeepneys shut down by 7 or so. So if we are far away from home at night we have to take one to get back home on time.

5. What are you eating besides rice? What do you put on your rice?

Well, everyone says I’m not eating enough, and I guess they are right. The belts I came out with are now all 2 inches too big on me, and my abs are starting to show (only the top ones). But we only eat rice when we want. It’s a nice area and we can get most of what we want here. I made a fried rice dish with a sweet chicken longisa, egg, and rice. It was pretty good. Other times I usually just put some creamy soups over rice.

Side note: we ate dinner at a member’s house last night. I ate a truly Filipino meal for the first time! :) They made tilapia baked in a potato and vegetable mixture. The tilapia was left whole so it was a fun experience eating it. I’m glad I worked with fish with you before though. It helped dissecting it much easier. They had a soup and fried eggs to go on the rice too. It was great. Down side...everybody here, unless they are rich, have us eat with our hands. Do you know how hard that is to eat rice and other stuff, that doesn't stick together, with your fingers!?!?! Not easy! But fun none the less :)

 6. Is it true that you can't get milk there?

We can get weird types of milk, but not milk like you can buy back home. They have powdered milk you can get though. I don't bother with it.

7. Will you have Elder Schmidt as your companion at the conference at the mission home in December? In other words when are transfers I figure Schmidt will leave the area since he arrived in June or was that July?

Since elder Schmidt is on the new training schedule with me. We will be together for twelve weeks in this exact area. So until partway through January.

8. Your apartment looks pretty nice and clean...that is all except your bed room. Hummmm ; )

What happened? 

About our apartment, we had just finished cleaning it on p-day and we were doing laundry at that moment. ;) but I am told that we have pretty much the nicest apartment in the mission with running water, 2 showers and toilets, and a microwave.

 P.S. Does it help to get the weather report for your area?

The weather reports help a lot. Thank you! I will do my best to remember to let you know how long it takes to get mail. I have a saying that I use with people here in the Philippines...."if you do your best, god will do the rest." it’s as true as I am a missionary. I love you! Have a good week!

The 3 Birthday Elders and their Companions.

Littuko or Rattan Fruit

The fruit, locally known as littuko in the Philippines, it’s from the rattan tree. The snakelike fruit is small, about 1.5 inch in diameter.The skin is beige, not smooth but of a soft woody texture, and with overlapping layers. You press, the skin breaks open and inside is the fruit — stoned like the rambutan and the soft watery texture of the flesh is not too dissimilar either.

Pictures from Elder Lundy's Life in the Philippines:

This is our kitchen area

Dinning room and living room

Study area

bedroom

We share our apartment.

I asked Elder Lundy a few questions his answers follow…

1.     How are you (health, emotionally, socially)?

 I am doing pretty good health wise. I’ve been feeling rather tired come 8 pm lately, but I think it’s mostly my eating habits which I am fixing. I’m shopping better and getting better things. All the food groups. Part of it is that we eat breakfast in the morning by 8, eat lunch between 12-2 and then don't eat again till we get back to the apartment at 9.

Emotionally I’m doing far better than most elders, especially the new ones. I actually want to be here. Sometimes the work makes me sad, and maybe a little discouraged, but I usually just end up feeling sorry for the people that won't listen to us. But the Lord always knows what you need and lifts your spirit. :) I’ll say more about that later.

Socially, fairly decent! :) Sometimes I have a hard time keeping myself from zoning out because of how hard it is to understand some people here. But I’m getting the language. People around here are funny. I can't go anywhere without someone calling me malaki, guapo, americano, or laughing at my name. malaki is big, guapo is handsome...they think all americans are handsome and rich, I’ve had several daughters offered to me already, lol, you understand what americano means I hope ;) , and Lundy is pronounced like the Tagalog word "landi" which means flirtatious and has a female reference to it. lol. :)

 2.     What new things have you noticed about the area?

Fitting two grown men in a tricey is a very difficult feat. If the people give you a miryenda ( just means snack) they expect you to finish it unless it’s huge and for everyone. Usually it’s just for you though, they won't eat. Hmmm, you can make at least one ward out of all the inactive people in just one of the barangays in my area...we have at least 4-5 barangays in my area. A little more specific about my location...I live in purok 4 in baligatan (barangay) in IIagan. Ilagan is a "big city" kinda like a county, a barangay is a city or village like Hartland or Delafield, and a purok is a neighborhood within a barangay.

Ummm, I just spent 900 piso on my groceries for probably a week and a half. We get our funds twice a month (funds are available for withdrawal from a bank on the 1st and 15th of every month.), and we get 2800 pisos each time. So basically we live off of 1400 piso a week, which is about $32. What we don't use on food, we spend on transportation to our different areas and appointments. Sadly we have to buy a ride to church every Sunday because it’s so far. It’s in Centro. I don't know how detailed your map is... though it’s probably better than any map we have. The map of our area in our area book is hand drawn by a previous elder. lol :)

 3.     How are your skills coming? I.e. Conversational, teaching? Tell me about your tracking/investigators?

My conversational skills are still lacking a bit. I have a hard time understanding the people here because they mumble, take shortcuts in their speech kinda like conjunctions I think i.e. can't, won't, shouldn't, and are really quiet speakers. I can usually come up with something close to what I want to say though once I understand what they are asking. My teaching skills are improving rapidly as I teach more and learn how to teach the lessons in Tagalog. I’ve taught word of wisdom, part of the restoration, faith, and born my testimony many times. Though when I teach it’s different from when I’m just trying to talk to somebody. The spirit is definitely there. Everything always goes all quiet and still and everyone pays really close attention to what I have to say. I know it’s partly because I don't speak too well yet, and they are trying to understand, but they have understood everything I’ve taught and it’s touched them.

After one lesson last night, the nanay of an inactive member we are teaching walked us out to the road. She isn't a member of the church. Two of her sons who are in their late 30's who are elders are inactive. we got one of them to go to church with us earlier that day. His mother came to church with him cause she was worried about what he would do. We watched over him and made sure he had a good time at church. (It was the first time she had  ever attended church). The rest of the family isn’t members. We talked some more with her and the last thing she told us before we left, was that she loved us. "mahal ko kayo" in her words. She isn't a member but she feels the love we have for her family. She was very receptive when I taught about families and how they can be together forever. It was very cool.

Another family we are working with is the Pebenito family. They are a family of 8 with children ranging from 1 to 15 years old. They really lifted our spirits! Do your best and the Lord will make up the rest. That’s kinda been my motto on my mission, and it is soooo true.

The last investigator we are teaching was handed down through 3 other sets of missionaries and is almost ready to be baptized. He’s had a trip to get here though. He recently had a word of wisdom relapse. He is a really awesome individual though. He looks all tough and rough on the outside, but on the inside he is just one big softy! :) He really wants to do this for the right reasons. The first testimony I bore in the Philippines was to him and his wife. His wife had never before committed to go to church, but after I bore my testimony, they asked her if she would, and with tears in her eyes said yes. Sadly, she didn't make it, but that’s the most she has ever done with the missionaries. I know that when you honestly try and put all your effort into the work the spirit will accompany you. For me, at that time meant bearing my testimony since that was almost all I could do at that time. For other more experienced elders, that means doing much much more. That’s something I just learned/realized as I was typing.

 4.     Our Elders tell us you spend most of the morning studying and that you don’t get out doing proselyting until almost lunchtime because you are over- seas – is this True?

 I spend all morning and early afternoon studying. I eat; prepare myself for the day till 8. 8-9 personal study time, 9-11 companion study/new elder training, 11-12 language study. usually we spend a little more time in all the study times and take a couple breaks so we don't finish that and finish lunch till 1-1:30

5.     What are the rain storms like? Are they long, light, heavy, muggy?

 The rainstorms are wet. Well, it’s always wet here. A lot of puddles don't usually ever dry. lol it comes heavy, light, just like home so far. Nothing different except for the never drying puddles cuz it’s so humid there isn't room for the water in the air.

I love you all and I hope you all have a great week! Share the gospel with someone new and let me know about it. I have a special request from dad though. I would like you to write your conversion story for me. Most everyone here is catholic, like you were. So it’s of super interest to me. Besides that I’ve been meaning to ask for it since I got to the MTC but I kept forgetting. I couldn't remember it, and it’s something that I am really interested in.

I love how the mission is changing me. Several months ago I would have never picked up a book of Mormon to read it for fun, or even because I wanted to learn something. Now I just open it up and ask the lord what he wants me to learn today. It’s one of the best experiences I get on my mission. Well, I’m really out of time now. I gotta go give a FHE for a less active family now. I love you all! Remember, the lord makes up the difference only after you have done all you can do!

-Elder Lundy