Merry Christmas from the Philippines

Elder Lundy via Skype

 

There isn't a letter from Elder Lundy this week...

Instead we were able to talk to him for Christmas.

 

We had a wonderful conversation with him and were also able to see and talk to him and his companion - Elder Valdez.

Elder Lundy is well and happy. He is currently serving in Bagabag. And yes I said the name completely wrong. When he realized that I was trying to pronounce the name of his area, Elder Lundy's smile was priceless.  We feel truly blessed having him on a Mission in the Philippines Cauayan Mission.
Thank you to President and Sister Carlos, the Senior missionaries and Members of the church in the mission. We know he is well cared for.

From the Lundy Family to you all...

Merry Christmas

 









Hey! :)

Thank you for the early birthday present! :) I am going to talk to Sister Carlos about ordering the nativity sets tomorrow in Cauayan. We have our mission Christmas party tomorrow. :) I'm excited.

Another set of thanks... Thank you so much for the packages!!! They are ridiculously incredible! :) I received the first on the 5th, and the second on the 12th. The first had the chamomile tea and bacon and gummies and bacon... the second had the Christmas tree, bacon, etc...

It’s amazing how much my body has adjusted to the Philippines. For example, I had the most amazing breakfast last p-day. I ate a whole package of bacon, eggs, hash browns, Jell-O, along with a cup of chamomile tea. (Yes I also shared with my companion ; )) After that I started to get some rather painful stomach pains and really weird bowel movements which have continued on and off until now as I continue to eat all the wonderful food that you sent me. :) :) :) I love every bite! I'm afraid of what is going to happen to me when I get home. The food there is going to tear me up bad. I'm going to have to get a rice cooker fast...

So changes this week in my mission... I am still in Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya.

 

Elder Caoayan was transferred. My new companion is Elder Valdez.

 

He is a Filipino from Laguna. He is also practically American. He can speak fluent English and doesn't like eating rice if he can avoid it. He would rather ham or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Fun information about Elder Valdez and I, we were both assigned in Paddad, Alicia in the past. He was also Elder Forrest's trainer while in Paddad. Remember Elder Forrest? I was his follow up trainer, which also means I was the missionary that replaced Elder Valdez when he transferred out of Paddad. After we both transferred out of Paddad, we were made Zone Leaders. Now, we are together in Bagabag.  

So I have exciting news!!! :) We will be having our 6th baptism in Bagabag since I got here in just 2 more weeks! Sister E----- was a special case investigator. I won't get into specifics, but her situation guaranteed that she would not be allowed to be baptized for 5 years... or so the previous elders thought. They just assumed that would be President Carlos' answer... No one ever bothered to ask President Carlos for an interview. Sister E----- is amazing. She is in her 40's and as an investigator has read the entire Book of Mormon, and also started Gospel Principles manual and Teachings of Joseph Smith the Prophet or something like that... Last lesson, she broke down in tears saying how she is afraid of what will happen to her if she cannot be baptized, and how she knows everything we taught her is true... After that I asked Elder Caoayan if anyone had talked to President about her, and he said no. I did so the following Monday, consequently she was interviewed the following Saturday, and will be baptized 2 Saturdays from that. :) She is the most converted and ready investigator I have ever seen. I am so happy for her. :)

Other than that, I don't have much to report with our work. It was really low this week since we were in Cauayan 2 days, then had a Christmas Devotional put on by the mission (all the elders and sisters in Nueva Vizcaya and couple missionaries and Pres. & Sister Carlos) and…Then add a p-day in there and that is 5 days this week down the drain. Elder Valdez and I hit it hard this past couple days and we managed to teach almost as many lessons as Elder Caoayan and I have the past couple weeks. I'm excited for this cycle. It ought to be really good. :)

So what is this new youth program/teaching plan that everyone keeps talking about? Nobody explains it... and we haven't heard anything about it...

I can't wait to talk to you guys! I have to run to Solano right now to prepare for our performance at the Christmas Party. Wish us luck, we'll need it! (The sisters want to make it Twilight themed... lol)

Love,

Elder Lundy

Families can be Forever Families!

(I was having a rough week last week and I wrote this to our son…"I just wish that something I did seemed to last or be productive. I wanted to change the world."

Our Sweet Son responded…)

Mom, you raised me. You helped make me who I am. You helped me learn the truth of this gospel even if it took me 20 years to learn and obey it. You are still helping me and giving me the strength to keep going every week. This past week, my companion and I completed 3 families in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These 3 families, totaling 18 people, now have the option to return to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as a family. As an ETERNAL FAMILY. I think you are wonderful mother. You always say that your family is your most precious possession, the thing you care about most. It’s the same for all of these families. Through me, you have changed the eternal destination of these families. That is going to last. That has changed these people's lives. The world doesn't matter, you've changed people. Just a little thought for you. :*

So, we had a fantastic baptism on Saturday. It was my best baptism so far in the mission. Things went really smoothly. All of the tatay's wives were a part of the baptismal service. One gave a talk, another learned how to conduct music so she could do it for the baptism, and the last gave one of the prayers. After the baptism, we had a combined YSA, and 3 family FHE (including the BML and E.Q. Pres.) at the house of one of the tatays that were baptized. These tatay are quickly being welcomed into the Branch. It’s great! our attendance every week in sacrament is over 100 as well! :) The Branch is really starting to grow. Our Branch President is also on top of teaching about/ ordaining our tatays to the priesthood. They are being well cared for. It makes me happy. This is one of my first areas where the members have cared about any of my converts and done their best to make them a part of the branch. I love it!

Ok cge. The store in Lamut, artisan carvings and such...

I have already bought you a nice but simple Nativity set. I actually thought about that way back when I was assigned in Solano, my second area... :) It’s the best one you can find unless you go to a master carver.... as I am in the process of doing. ;) Sister Carlos showed me a nativity she bought from the father (master carver) of one of our past AP's/ my first district leader, Elder Cajumban. It may be the one she posted on her blog. I don't know. I decided that I want that nativity set for my family later on in life. When I saw it, I also thought you would love it. It’s one of the only sets I have ever seen where the people and animals are Filipino. As it is carved by a master carver, it is more expensive though. The set I have is just a traditional nativity set at about 10 dollars. The set Sister Carlos showed me can be the big set, or small set. (Big/small- means number of pieces, not size.) Big is about 100 dollars or so. The small is about 75 dollars. I just emailed you a picture of the BIG set I saw so you will know if it is the same you saw on Sister Carlos' blog... I want to buy the big set for me. I kinda want one of the 500 peso sets like I already bought too though... What would you like mom?

As for your offer of money for my birthday, I would love it. I'm only in the Philippines once, if I’m not lucky. I'm gunna miss it here. Remembrances would be nice. Thank you.

So, I have a question... Where are you guys reading in the scriptures right now? Just curious. :) I just started Alma. Mosiah was sick! :) While reading Mosiah I started making a history report on where all the people were coming from and who were their leaders. It’s sick. I also learned that King Zedekiah had one son who was not killed when Jerusalem was taken, si Mulek. He also immigrated to the American continents. It happened just a bit after Lehi and his family left. :) That was news to me. I thought the only people that came over in the record of The Book of Mormon came from Lehi's family and the Jaredites... cool stuff! :)

So mom, have a good week! I'll let you know official plans about skype and my new companion next week.

 

I love you! :*

-Elder Lundy

BIG NEWS!!!!! : )

Hi!  : )

Thank you for giving the letters to Bryce and Dillon. : ) I'm glad they enjoyed it. I feel a big part of my mission has been helping my young men fellowshippers get ready to serve a mission. The majority of the young men that work with me have made the decision to serve while I’ve been with them. I know that Dillon and Bryce are still young, but I know they won't forget this. I may not be their teacher anymore, but I can still do my part to help those boys get to a mission. I love 'em.

Pertaining to the packages you have sent me... I have not received any of them yet. If they arrived back on Nov. 15, then they probably took a week to get to the mission home after that. So they are probably waiting for me there. Truth be told, unless Elder and Sister Gottfredson or President and Sister Carlos come down here for our baptism on the 8th, I’ll have to wait to transfer day to get them.

SO, I HAVE BIG NEWS!!!!! :) :) :) :) :) This is an excerpt from my report to President Carlos this week...

We didn't reach most of our goals this week, but we had a huge success. Bro. H------ D., Bro. R------ L., and Bro. R-- B. were all interviewed for baptism and all passed. R.'s son also passed the interview. All of these are part member families. The first 3 are fathers. With the baptisms of these good men, all three of their families will be completed in the church. All of these families are also starting to set goals to go to the temple to be sealed as well. Bro. R. has already tried attending our branch temple trip he wants to go so bad. He was more ready to go than most of the members... Their baptismal service is on December 8, 2012. Bagabag Chapel @ 2 pm.

Yup! :) We have 4 baptisms on December 8th! :) I'm really happy that we are baptizing fathers. That has been my personal focus my whole mission. I’ve always taught the Nanay and children, but I’ve always searched out the Tatay. Up until now, I feel like I haven't achieved much baptism-wise. I know that's not everything, I know I have helped many other people find the truth. But with these 3 Tatay, it’s different. They were the last hold-outs in their families. They aren't just getting baptized either. They are being converted. This is opening up the opportunity to their families to return to Heavenly Father as a complete family. Up until now, that has only happened with one other baptism in my first area. I'm excited.

2. about coming home 3 weeks early... President Carlos may very well use me as a swing/filler. I could go home at any time to be honest. The new mission president will have no say in when I go home though. My date will be set and flights will be booked all before the new mission president arrives. That is all done a few months in advance.

3. The whole thing about transfer schedules... the transfer schedule is being shifted 3 weeks starting next year. Most mission president are choosing to extend their missionaries 3 weeks. President Carlos has chosen to send everyone home 3 weeks earlier, rather than later.

One last piece of news. Elder Dixon and Elder Badol moved out of our house this morning at 6am. They found an amazing new house in Lamut. Before they had to end their work day at 7 pm because that is when the last jeepney would leave Lamut to come back to Bagabag. Now they can actually work in their area now! It’s a bitter sweet thing for me. I'm gunna miss them, but I’m glad that their work will progress now.

I found an amazing store in Lamut. It has all the native artisan wood carvings. They have all kinds of statues of native things like carrabaos and huts and people/warriors, all sorts of dishware like plates, bowls, serving dishware, "candy bowl" with a sick stand...they have wall hangings, backpacks and shoulder bags with native decorations/patterns/colors.... They have a lot of really cool stuff there...

Well, I gotta go.

: * love you!

-Elder Lundy

 

A New Week and Zone Meeting

Hello! :)

Zone Meeting went pretty well this past week. I was rather happy with how it turned out. It was weird though. Normally Elder Caoayan has a way of saying what he wants, no matter if it’s the right time or not. When we taught the Zone he had very little to say suddenly. I taught at least 75% of it... I think maybe he just got freaked out because Sister Carlos and the AP's came and observed our Zone Meeting while President was doing temple recommend interviews. He gets really weird around them... like he has to be perfect but is so afraid of making a mistake that he essentially does nothing... basta, the Zone meeting went well.

( I gave Elder Lundy a list of reasons why I am happy) That was a very nice list of reasons why you are happy. :) I liked it a lot. We are very blessed, aren't we?

When the children were young we would have had a much larger
group at Nana's. We would have had 37 people in the picture. As all Families
do they grow up and have a family of their own. : ) So only 4 of the
Grandchildren where there this year. Mainly us old folk went to
Nana's for Thanksgiving. Another part met together in Utah
around 22 more, and 25 where scattered around the world.

Dad sent me the thanksgiving picture. I have to say that Uncle Gary/Aunt Karen's John is super pogi (Handsome) now!!! guwapo siya (he's good-looking)! No joke. :) Eric is getting flipping huge too! Does he weight lift? This thanksgiving was just a normal day for me. We didn't do anything out of the normal. It’s ok though.

Hey mom, can you possibly email me a breakdown of the Philippines flag? You know what the colors and shapes mean, symbolism... I was just wondering about that this week. They really use part of their flag all over the place. I feel like it has a different meaning other than just patriotism...

Thank you very much for the packages you are sending me. :) I feel very spoiled with all you guys do for me. :)

So transfer day is on the 13th of December. This is Elder Caoayan's 4th cycle here in Bagabag. It’s almost a sure thing he is being transferred. But after all, we don't know the mind of our Heavenly Father in these things. Anything can still happen. As it looks we are going to have a lot of transfers in our zone come December 13...

Work was a little slow this week. All of our investigators with baptismal dates had places to go like Manila, or visiting family. It was still a good week though... we reached 17 lessons. We are doing pretty well despite the slow week. As we put forth effort, we see blessings. The progress of our investigators is amazing. As we have taught them, we can see how they have changed. They have become more open. They actually talk to us now. Those people that I thought would never progress are progressing, and all because of the Lord's blessings. They have felt the Spirit, and are following it. This week we have 4 baptismal interviews. Elder Dixon will interview them all on Saturday. Elder Caoayan is in "just baptize them already" mode. I feel several of them are very ready, but some of them I am not sure about. I feel they have a testimony, but I’m not sure their actions show that they are as ready as Elder Caoayan thinks they are. We'll see on Saturday though. It’s always a good thing to get outside input. Outsiders see things that you have become blinded to.

The zone is working really hard to reach our goal. This week, we not only reached our goal of 140 lessons (20/companionship) but passed it! :) Our OYM's stayed the same.

This past week I went on splits with Elder Dixon in Lamut. The splits went really well. Elder Dixon and I got in a couple lessons, and we worked on our goal of turning OYM's into lessons. Right at the end of the day as we were heading back to the highway to catch a jeepeny home, we decided to OYM one more house. Not only did we OYM, it turned into a lesson, and a new investigator. :) After that, we went home and had a good long talk about the splits and how elder Dixon and I are doing as missionaries. Elder Dixon opened up to me and told me that he respects and trusts me and told me to be completely honest and give all the advice/feedback I could think of. We talked for about an hour and a half on this topic... The next morning he was studying at 7:30 am instead of 9am... That extreme diligence didn't last for too many days, but I can see that he is applying most everything we talked about and is doing a lot better. I respect him a lot for making those changes.

Being a missionary is a wonderful blessing. :)

I got the letter and pictures/drawings from the Harpers this morning! :) thank you! I love it! I'm putting them up on my wall later tonight.

Well, I love you! :)

 

I gotta go shop now. :*

 

bye!

P.S. Oh... MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! People are starting to get really into it here. :) haha

One more thing I forgot... my release date is being changed I believe. Our mission transfers and incoming batches of missionaries are changing next year. All missionaries that go home in 2013 in Philippines Cauayan mission will go home 2-3 weeks early... there will be exceptions, but as I have no American batch going home, I think my date will be changed and I’ll be put with some other elders... we'll see what President Carlos does. :)

2nd Thanksgiving in the field

Hello!  :)

This week was a good week. Work this week seemed too short. I feel like Monday should be another couple days away.

Last week, Elder Caoayan and I fell short of our Zone/Mission Goal of 20 lessons and 20 oym’s. This week we started off slow, at least for the oym's. Around Thursday night we realized we only had 1 oym and 10 lessons. We decided to take some action. The result, we met our goal of 20 lessons exactly, and fell just short of 20 oym, ending with 19. The more we strove to meet our goals, the more we looked for and saw people to teach. As we looked, we saw more opportunities, we taught more lessons, and we obtained new investigators, and we ultimately fulfilled our purpose. I wasn't ready for Monday to come because I was happy in the work and I just wanted to keep going. Preparation Day became a distraction that I didn't want. Up until now, I never thought I would say those words...

You know, as I gain more experience and learn and grow, all my leaders just keep getting smarter and smarter. The same thing happened with my parents ; )

As I finished my letter to President Carlos about our work this week, I said this to him:

I'm reminded of the words/catch phrase of my old bishop, now Stake 1^st Councilor, President Mortimer, "Are you happy?"

The answer to that question depends on how you use your agency. My answer right now as a missionary is yes. Why? I worked and gave my best these past 3 days. I used my agency in the way the Lord would want. I am happy.

Elder Caoayan and I have our first Zone Meeting tomorrow. We'll see how that goes. Sister Carlos has prepared a guide of lessons for District and Zone Leaders to use to teach their lessons. It is to develop a Mission-wide training schedule for the missionaries. It takes all of the challenge out of making a district/zone meeting. It also takes away a lot of the learning on the part of the district and zone leaders. I'm disappointed about that. I liked it better the hard way, back when I was first made district leader. I think it would be better if they just gave us the topic to prepare, but I guess this is what the missionaries need. Heavenly Father knows best, and I trust the Carlos' to do what He wants them to do.

So it just started raining. Hardcore. Dang it. All my clothes are hanging out side to dry as I washed them this morning. At least I used fabric softener with and anti-bacterial in it. They won't smell, but I’ll have to hang them in front of a fan all night to dry. : P

So funny story, S—D------ is the oldest daughter (21 years old) of H------ D------, one of our investigators with a baptismal date. On fast Sunday, she got up and bore her testimony. She talked about how we just baptized her best friend, sister L---- M-------- and how her dad is getting ready to be baptized and how Heavenly Father answered her prayers. When people get nervous or cry, they have reactions. A lot are almost unnoticeable Sister S-- however had a hilarious reaction. : ) Whenever she started to cry, or got nervous (as this was her first time ever talking at the pulpit on Sunday) she would promptly crouch/duck down behind the pulpit. She would usually stay there for 5-15 seconds then pop back up and start talking like nothing happened. She did this several times. The next Sunday she was a speaker in sacrament. I was also a speaker. Yes, she did it again. : ) Only this time I got to see her the whole time. I almost bust out laughing the first time as I wasn't expecting it. Thankfully she was facing the other way when she ducked down and didn't see me. :) She is a great girl. Oh! She has also decided to serve a mission and her dad is going to let her! :) Most parents who are not members tell their kids they have to finish college first. Bro. H------ on the other hand gave her permission. :) Tatay is progressing! :)

I hope you like the pictures. I don't think I mailed you these... I don't know.

The one with me and Schmidt is at his farewell. They took it while I was still crying. It doesn't show too much though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The one with me, 2 elders and a sister is a family photo. she’s our Nanay in the mission. She ended her mission with 3 of her sons in the same zone.
The 3rd picture, I don't remember what it was. I hope you like it though...

I love you mom! In the words of an inspired man, "Are you happy?"

Have a great week! :)   : * Ingatz Palagi

-Elder Lundy

P.S. Happy Thanksgiving!!! : )

Love you all!

This year, I thank the Lord for two blessings in particular.

One: my mission.

The other, YOU! :* I miss you guys! Have a great Thanksgiving!

Just a thought, a combined letter from family and friends would be sick. ;)

Love,

Elder Lundy

 

Zone Leader council

Hey,

Yup I heard the news. I was in zone leader’s council when the voting was being counted. (USA elections) President Carlos kept giving us updates so we would know what was happening. That is some good advice for H------ D------. I realized much the same things this week during our weekly planning for him. If we rush him, he will not be converted. He will only answer the questions. To help convert him, we need the Lord's blessings. A blessing is a great idea... I don't know why I didn't think of it before...

I think the elders in my zone right now are doing pretty well. You do more than enough, mom. I’ll let you know if there is a need though. Diana’s marriage is going to be fine Mom. Don’t worry about it. As long as the ceremony happens in the temple and they are both worthy and ready... nothing is wrong. Nothing could be more right. Nothing else matters. Don’t stress it. I’m learning more and more on my mission that if nothing is wrong, there is nothing to be fixed. There are always little things... but what really matters to our Heavenly Father? The parties, celebrations, the food, decorations, or as a missionary... who's name goes first on the teaching record, who is the "senior" companion, who's opinion is right, etc... Those things DO NOT MATTER. We do things the Lord's way, and that brings happiness that no party or "triumph" in a contest of opinions can bring. I honestly don't know why I said that, and I know you already know that... but it is true nonetheless.

That’s crazy about their snow. Amanda sent me pictures... I’m sitting here in the computer shop burning up. It’s probably about 90 degrees in here and the fan doesn’t ever point at me...: P it’s so weird that people have snow when I’m sitting here and my blood is boiling. I’m afraid of snow when I get home. I’m gunna die my first winter home...

 

So I was a surprise concluding speaker this week in sacrament. I found out Saturday afternoon at lunch so I had at least a couple of hours to prepare. I spoke on The Book of Mormon. It was really good. It was probably one of the best talks I ever gave. I forgot my Tagalog book of Mormon so I just used my English. I first reviewed the introduction to the book of Mormon. That’s the funny awesome part. I had just finished saying that I forgot my Tagalog BoM, and then I immediately read the first paragraph of the intro and translated it word for word perfect into Tagalog as I read it. Translating from a book is so much easier than a running translation of what people say. I translated for Sister Carlos and the couple missionaries a few times... gosh that was hard. After I defined what the BoM is, I used verses from the book of Mormon to show why we had this additional record and why the prophets had written it, its purpose as pertaining to our belief in a Christ, and why we need to read and study them, and what they mean to us as LDS's with a belief in the restoration of the church of Christ through Joseph Smith. Some of the verses I used were:

 

1Nephi 19:23 "And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.",

 

2 Nephi 32:3 "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.",

 

and others. my main source was the writings of Nephi... my favorite part was when I explained that we have the scriptures, and more especially the book of Mormon, to convince us and help us believe in the Christ that was to come to redeem the world if we but followed his commandments.

 

The faith of men is weak if we have not proof. The book of Mormon is proof.

It is the words of Christ through his holy prophets unto the salvation of souls if we but obey his words.

How can we know his words, how can we obtain salvation if we don't read the words of Christ?!

How can we strengthen our faith if we won't read?

How in the world will we know what to do if we won't use the guide the Lord has given us?!

 

It was a great talk. I felt the Spirit so strong. President Quinones had to have a member give me a "times up" gesture to get me to stop. :) lol.

 

It is times like that that I am happy to rely on my own experience and the experience of our family to teach with power and authority.

Thank you very much for the packages you have sent! :) I’m super excited to get them! :)
Mom, I love you very very much! Get better and have a great week! To be honest, I just feel lucky to have you. One of the sisters in my zone had a mother that passed away this week. she is remaining in the mission to continue the work, as that is what she believes is what her mother would want her to do...I’m glad to have a mother that I know would feel the exact same. I love you Mom. Feel better soon!

Love,
Elder Lundy

Farewells and the work continues

Hi,  :)
This past week has been challenging with transfers and the farewell fireside. It was weird seeing Elder Schmidt go home. It was hard on the work, time-wise, as well. BUT, we are still having progress with our investigators. Our 3 tatay are doing rather well. R-- and his son A----- got moved back to Dec. 1. They missed church once. They were really sad, but are still excited and KNOW the church is true. I feel like Bro. R-- and A----- would have been ready by their date. Bro. R-- has an especially strong testimony. He knows the church is true. He just ran into trouble getting to church once because of the business
he owns. We are having him wait because this isn't the first time this has happened with his church attendance... Our other tatays are also moved back, one(Bro. R-----d) because he was having a little trouble with receiving an answer to his prayers, the other(Bro. H------) because he is very slow on the pickup and has word of wisdom problems. On the Less-active side of things, we should have 2 more tatays return to activity next week. The area is doing really well and we are really starting to get the support of the members in our lessons. We also contacted an amazing referral this past week, Bro. -.-. The last person I met like him was inactive, had word of wisdom problems, and law of chastity issues. When his father died, he turned his life around. He became active, dropped all of the worthiness issues, served as ward mission leader until he was able to serve a mission. When I look at -.-., I see that same person. There is a specific resemblance in their looks and the fact that both of their tatays died recently....I'm excited for the work this cycle. :) So, within the next week or two, pictures should be on the way. :) I found DVD’s to use and a picture developing shop willing to put all my pictures on the discs :) About "this stuff below" in your letter...yes, I do like it. I usually find that it is really  applicable to my current situations in the mission. Especially the spiritual thoughts... I don't really look at the weather anymore though. I just know how the day is going to go by looking outside. It’s more fun just letting it be a surprise now... I need to go now to get my pictures ready for the printing shop to burn to my discs...

I love you mom. :* I hope you feel better soon. I’ll be praying for you.

-Elder Lundy

 

The Mission is growing!

I hope you liked the letter I sent you from President Carlos. :) I sure did.

(President Carlos' letter tells about the changes that will occur with all the new Missionaries that will shortly be entering the mission field. Here's part of the letter..."1. The Philippines Area will receive an additional 804 missionaries. There is an average of 188 missionaries per mission so that number is more than the equivalent of 4 missions! No mention of new missions being created as of yet, but you see the writing on the wall.

2. The Philippines Cauayan Mission presently has a complement of 180 (that's how many we are supposed to have if all of our slots are used. Right now, we have 150 missionaries). Our new complement is now 250!. That is 100 more than we have now. While the missions around greater Manila (Manila, QC. QC North) maintains their current complement, our mission along with the other "provincial missions" are going to receive the bulk of these increase.")

 I was flipping out when I read it. I feel like I only know a 1/4 of the mission as it is. It’s about to get really BIG! :)

The work is going well. I thought at first it wasn't going well. We only got 9 lessons this entire week. But it was good pala. We had a baptism of one of our investigators. Sister Shaner should be putting something on her blog about it. ;) We had a bunch of people at church as usual.
This week in particular was super busy.
Starting last Monday was p-day.
Tuesday-district meeting,
Wednesday- normal,
Thursday- weekly planning,
Friday- observe weekly planning in 2 areas,
Saturday- our baptism and we went to a baptism in bayombong,
Sunday- normal,
today- pday again,
tomorrow/Tuesday- district meeting again,
Wednesday- farewell fireside for my tatay Elder Schmidt,
Thursday- transfers in Cauayan,
Friday- weekly planning........... It just never ends for the ZL's:) hahaha

Fun- I ate 1/4 of a 20'' pizza and only had to pay 50 pesos for it! :)

The Shaner's also brought a ton of stuff for our house. We were missing a ton of stuff...

Yup! :) We share a house with Elder Makiling and Elder Dixon. There are 4 of us. :) It’s fun.

I never go to the mission home now unless we absolutely need to, like for training and zone leaders council and transfer day.

Fun fact, when you use a washing machine to wash your clothes here, you spend just as much as it would cost to buy new garments....might as well just buy new ones and not waste your time washing! :) lol

OK, well I got to get going! I love you guys! :* have a great week!

-Elder Lundy

There was sunshine today -

Hello!

There was sunshine today and I am happy. :)

Funny thing...President Carlos' letter was much the same as yours and Dad's was this week. I think the Lord is trying to tell me something... :)

Sickness isn't getting me down. I keep getting sick. There is nothing I can do about it. I just keep working on.

The work here is good. I am still getting fewer lessons than I am used to, but the work is better quality and conversion is slowly taking place.

Tatay R-- and his son are doing great and progressing towards their baptism. I love them to death. I had an image sweep into my mind last time I taught them... I pictured Tatay in temple clothes facing me, smiling. Everything else was white. If I had to tell someone what Heaven was like, I’d describe that moment.

Tatay R----d is progressing a little more slowly than we anticipated, because of his house renovation. He is still doing great and is really trying to find out if the church is true. He wants it to be, he just doesn't know yet.

Tatay H--- is a big old teddy bear. He has a bit of a speech impediment. His girls are his biggest weakness. He has 2 daughters and a wife, all of whom are members. He loves them and they love him to the point that they are doing everything they can to show him the truth.

Sister L---, 19, friend of Tatay H----'s daughter, is going to be baptized this Saturday. She is ready to go! :)

As a total, we hit 17 lessons this week, even with me getting sick and losing my voice for a couple days. I think I told Bridget a little more about that...

Well, I gotta go.

I love you guys! :*

Bye.

-Elder Lundy

 

Being a ZL in Bagabag

Hi!

 I'm sorry I didn't write last week. I got a brown out. 

Eric sent me a letter about what he plans on doing with serving a mission early. It absolutely put me in tears. I know it’s what he should do; it’s what I want him to do. When I realized that it means I might not see him for 4 years I started bawling. It hit me like a brick wall, even though I know this is right for him.
I'm doing fine right now. That picture was taken on transfer day 4 weeks? ago. I don't think I lost too much weight. The Carlos' took really good care of me. Work is going really well here in Bagabag. We have 5 investigators with a baptismal date as of now. 3 of them are husbands in a part-member family. :) One of these 5 will be baptized next week on the 27th. She is extremely ready. This week we got 15 lessons. Last Sunday we had 10 investigators/less-actives at church. This week, even with going to church in Solano, we still got 5 at church. It was great.

Conference was amazing too.

It was what helped me calm down this week.
I felt the Spirit so strongly this General Conference. It was unlike any other time. I loved it. It’s so much better as a missionary. :)
I love you so much.

:* I love you!

October 8, 2012

No letter at this time.

Here is a link to hear 182nd General conference:

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2012/10?lang=eng

A new week in Bagabag



My Tranier, Me, my Kid, my Grandson
Elders Schmidt, Lundy, Ardon and Bundy

 

Questions I asked Elder Lundy:

 1. How are your ears holding up with the traveling you will be doing over the mountain ring to go to the mission home?

My ears are pretty good. No major problems. The ride down here with Elder Gottfredson was a lot quicker than normal so no major prob's. It was nice.

2. Now that you’ve been doing the Zone leader thing, what do you think of it? Is it easier or harder than District leader?

As a zone leader you are expected to know a lot more and use a lot more judgment. It’s hard, but not as hard as preparing a district meeting every week.

3. Which senior couple is over your area?

There are no senior couples over my area. We are the outer space zone of the mission. The Gottfredson's originally were supposed to be down here, but their apartment fell through so they got put in Alicia.

4. Are you sharing an apartment with Elders Dixon, and Makiling?

Yes. It’s a ton of fun! :)

5. Is Bagabag like your first area, in that they are already decorated for the – Ber months? (Christmas season)

Nobody is decorating yet. They play Christmas music every now and then, but that’s it. It feels like Christmas with getting to see all of the people back from Solano 2 though. :) I love being so close to them! :)

6. What part of Bagabag do you cover? ) Is it the lower part or the upper part. I was looking at the area on Google maps and it has a very open area and a populated area that is all called Bagabag.)

That whole area is my branch. In our branch, we have 2 sets of missionaries. Elder Makiling and Dixon cover the north part. Elder Caoayan and I cover the southern part from Bakir down to Solano 2 area.

7. How many lessons did you get to teach this week?

We taught 17 lessons this week. Work is good here.

I’m sorry. I’m out of time. We spent too long at the apartment this morning getting other stuff done. I promise I’ll write more next week. I love you very much!

Have a great week!

-Elder Lundy

I 've been transfered to -

Well Mom, it’s a good thing you asked all those questions because I have great answers for them! :)

Elder Caoayan and Elder Lundy

  1. Did you get your Absentee ballot in an email this week?

I got the Absentee Ballot today. BUT, it’s a photocopy of a form some gal in Hartland marked up, and a bad copy at that. I’ll print it off though and get it out soon.

2.  How are you feeling? Are you better now?

Pres. Carlos and Elder Lundy

I got sick the morning of transfers. It was flipping ridiculous!!! I slept that night at the mission home (for 14 hours straight daw) and the following night as well. It was awesome! I got to sleep in the General Authority room at the mission home, and the Carlos' gave me amazing food, and I got to spend all Friday with the AP's because I had to wait until Saturday for Elder and Sister Gottfredson to take me to my new area. Wow! :) lol. I am doing a lot better right now though. Back to work as normal. :)

3. Where are you now? Are you in the same area?

I am now in Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya!!! :) The next area north of my last area here in Solano 2! :) :) :) I got to see my Branch Pres. from Solano already and a lot of other people too! :)

4.  Did you get to teach a lot of lessons this week or are you opening a new area?

Sadly, because of all that happened, i got to teach very few lessons this week. My work in both areas totaled 3 lessons. Yup.

5.  What is your companion’s name?

 My new companion's name is Elder Caoayan! :) haha ;) it’s pronounced the same as the name of my mission, it just has a different spelling.

6. Are you training him?

I am not training him. I am actually a junior companion again. It’s a weird feeling. He is my senior comp.

7. Length out on his mission?

He has been out on a mission for almost 18 months now.

8. What’s your area like?

My area is a populated stretch of highway surrounded by rice fields in the valley of a ring of mountains. :)

9.  Do you know who Elder Arden got as a companion?

Elder Ardon's new companion is.... ELDER BUNDY!!!!!! :) hahaha :)

10. Are you a District leader?

 I am no longer a District Leader. The Lord saw fit to make me a Zone Leader in one of the farthest areas from President Carlos, Solano Zone. I'm not sure how I feel about this. Everyone says that being a district leader is way harder, but this is a huge change for me... I only have 2 more companionships in my zone now than I did in my last district, but its weird being zone leader. There are a ton of meetings to go to all the time. Its gunna cost a lot on travel money. :/

11. Did you get to see Elder Hamblin? How is he doing?

 I got to see Elder Hamblin alright. Hamblin is doing good. I get to see him again in just a couple weeks for ZLC! :)

12. How’s Elder Schmidt? Isn’t he on his last cycle in the mission field?

Schmidt, Allen and Lundy

Elder Schmidt is doing great. He is the zone leader in the Bambang Zone, the next closest to me, and just a tad bit farther away from the mission home than I am. Yup, he goes home this Oct. 30th I think. I’m gunna cry like a baby when he leaves...

13. What’s your apartment like?

My apartment is ok.  It needs to be cleaned, of course. : / there are 3 air conditioners though...but my comp doesn't like to use them because it raises the electric bill: P

14. What ward/branch are you in now?

I am in the Bambang-Lamut Branch; there are 4 of us in this one branch. Me and elders Caoayan, Dixon, and Makiling.

I'll see what I can do about writing the Peterson's. The Stoltenburg's just wrote me and all said if I loved or cared about them at all I had to write back soon... haha :) ... so I will be writing them soon...

I love you Mom! :*

Dad, I love you! :*

I have to go now. We have to do our weekly planning before p-day ends so we can get to our FHE! :)

 

Love You!

-Elder Lundy