February 27, 2012 There has been a change...

A note from Mom Lundy:

Time fly’s when you’re having fun…Literally! I’m sorry for the late post, but I was flying home Monday, having been with our new Granddaughter and her Big Brother. Our Family is growing. Now on to Elder Lundy’s letter…

Hi!

So big news.

YES, I was transferred. And I couldn't be happier! I am now in Solano 2 Branch, Nueva Vizcaya.

My new companion is Elder Biating. He is also my District Leader.

This is Elder Biating. Thank you Sister Ward for the picture.

Another interesting fact about this transfer, Elder Biating and I are opening an area. This means that we are both brand new to the area. We are replacing a set of Sister Missionaries. Looks like someone has a lot of faith in us. Opening is rather difficult. But the branch here is starving for Elders.

I was a little nervous at first, since I was leaving my first area, but I can't even understand why anymore. I love this area so much!!!!!!!! And I have a great comp!

Other news:

Elder Schmidt is now a zone leader in Santiago Zone! He left Nueva Vizcaya the same time I came in, darn it! Lol Elder Molino thanks you for his card you sent him. He is back in my district again.

My area has a MacDonald’s in it!!! :) I was bummed since the one in Ilagan opened 2 days after I left... Solano is a bigger more compact city than Ilagan was.  I just love it here. :) Well, I got to go. I’ll have more for you next time!                      

Thanks for all the pictures (of my new niece) everybody!

Love you!

I've got a New Niece! Yeah!

Hi All,  This is from His Dad's letter this week. Mom is helping our new member to the family. 

Elder Lundy has a New Niece. Enjoy the pictures! :)

Elder Tangi and I made the food

earlier today. It took a while, but was delicious. I swear that is the
reason why we have p-days...so we have time to make yummy delicious
foods. :)

Funny fact, I get to see and hear from way more general authorities
here in the Philippines, than I do at home. I like it. I get to meet
the general primary president tomorrow, and next week, I get to meet
Elder Brent Nielsen of the 70's. Oh, and one of the area presidency,
also of the 70's I believe.

Happy Valentine's Day

Hello!

...

We also got all the Valentine’s Day cards. :) It made us all pretty happy. Thank you for mine mom. It’s probably the most special mail I’ve gotten my whole mission. I love you. :* Elder Deriada says "Agyaman ti adu" which being interpreted from either ilokano or viscayas, means thank you! :) Elder Tangi says "I love you Mama Lundy! Thank you! :)" and Elder Jackson says "thanks! At least I know Lundy's mom loves me. lol" That’s because he didn't really get anything from his family on his birthday. They sent stuff it’s just not arrived yet and he was kinda bummed. Thanks mom. The small package you sent to Elder Schmidt, I have pouched to him. He should get it soon. Was it the same as mine? By the way, I loved the shirt! :) Thank you!!!

Missionary (noun):

Someone who leaves their family

for two years so that others may

be with their families for Eternity.

We are all wearing our ties from you tomorrow at our zone conference in tugueguerao. :) Tangi and I are wearing the bright purpley pinkish crimsony ties, and Jackson and Deriada are wearing the matching green ones. They are all very flashy and fun! :)

As for the chocolate that was in the package, I used one complete box on a family home evening the very day I got it. We did a scripture search and the first one to where I said got a candy bar. :) It was the best F.H.E. I’ve had yet. Thanks :) as for the rest, it is being slowly saved and shared. Very slowly. :)

Grandma and Nana gave me 20 dollars for my birthday. Please let them know that I am very thankful for it. And an interesting fact for you to share with them if you so wish, $20 is what most families live off of for half a month. Families here tend to be on the larger side... small families are rare. Things are much cheaper here though so it works out ok for them as long as they eat rice with every meal. You can get a kilo of rice as cheap as 28 peso here. The good stuff usually ranges from 35-70 peso/kilo.

Thank you for the baked goods offer. I believe I will take you up on that. :) Though I guarantee it won't be more than $5-8. It would be rather absurd if you spent more than that at any bakery.

Well, that’s about all I have this week. The work is hard and good. We hit 54 lessons this week! A mission high for Elder Deriada, and me as well I guess. :) We even had 2 days this past week where we got pure punted and didn't really get any lessons. My Tagalog is coming along. I still get nervous when I go on splits with ward members since I’m the one that has to teach everything, but I can do it most of the time. I know enough to teach essentials and get along.

It’s clear I have a long way to go, but I feel comfortable with pure Tagalog when necessary. There are days when I have trouble with my Tagalog, but I discovered it’s purely because of my diligence and effort. As soon as I realize what’s happening, I say a prayer (repent) and work harder. Tagalog just flows after that.

It’s amazing when I get in a lesson and I can really feel the spirit. As soon as I start saying what I’m being prompted to say, my Tagalog just flows out so rapidly and strongly I can't believe it’s coming out of my mouth. I love those instances, because I know without a doubt that in that moment, I am doing and saying exactly what my Heavenly Father wants me to. You feel His love for you and those you are teaching so strongly. For a few seconds, I’m not looking at them as Elder Lundy; I’m looking at them through Heavenly Father's eyes. There are some days when you just do things right and you get a hangover effect with that feeling. I love it. Sadly though, we are all human, we all sin, and thus pull ourselves away from that feeling. It’s a feeling worth anything to have though.

This picture is...  part of the family I used the candy for in the F.H.E.

The other one is me and my favorite Ward Mission Leader/fellow shipper, --------. He is just waiting for his mission call now! We are so excited!!!

I love this kid. He can speak like 5 different languages. It’s sick. We speak in English together and he helps me with my Tagalog too.

cge. time na. kailangan ko na umalis ngayon. I love you all!!!!!!! :*                                                                 Happy Valentine’s Day!

-Elder Lundy

February 6 2012 It finally got there...

Hello! :)

Things are really busy around here. We are teaching an average of 45 lessons a week. This week, we got 3 less active/inactive families back to church, and our one investigator family. :)

I received the package you sent November 19th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't gotten to open it up yet, but I got it earlier today when the couple missionaries came shopping in our area. It looks like its all good and nothing should be missing though.
Thank you!!!! :)

I got Amanda K. and Taylor Merlin's b-day card to me today too! And Bryce and Landon Peterson’s letters to me! I’ll write back soon. I actually carry Bryce’s letter around with me. It stays in my backpack. I pull it out whenever I need a pick me up. I know I was those boys teacher to help give an example to them, but sometimes I feel they help me more then I helped them...

Questions and Answers:

1. Do you have to drink out of a filter bottle to drink water? Or can you drink tap water where you live?

1. We have filter bottles, but I don't use it. I just drink water that comes out of our filtered tap in the kitchen, or buy bottled. But yah, I’m drinking a bit more soda now because it’s just easier than worrying about if your water is safe or not. It still makes me feel a little sluggish, but you just deal with it. Oh, that reminds me, can you send me the talk about caffeine from some general authority in the church? I don't have time to look for it.

2. How are your investigators coming alone?

2. Investigators. The ------ family is coming along. They are all showing an increased desire and are actually coming to church now! :) We have several others, but all are moving very slowly.

3. Where is Elder Deriada from?

3. Elder Deriada is from Davao city, Davao, Philippines. He is about half done with his mission.

4. Is Elder Tangi as much a character as he appears to be in the pictures I've seen of him? Was that him with the mud war paint on his face in the cave with you and Jackson? Tell Tangi that the Haka dance he led at the December zone conference looked cool.

4. Elder Tangi is a huge character! :) Yes, that was him with the mud war paint on his face in the caves. He is a hoot and is a pure joy to be around. :) His aunt, Sister Tatafu, was in my batch at the MTC and I knew her. She was really cool too. She went to the manila mission.

Oh! We are getting a McDonalds in my area!!! It opens on the 14th! Just 8 more days!!! I’m so excited!

I went on splits this week for the first time out of my area. My comp was Elder Cledera. He is my district leader and a past zone leader in the Cauayan zone. He is super cool and amazing.

Well, I love you all! I hope you all have a great week!

-Elder Lundy