Elder Lundy returns from the Philippines!

 

Elder Lundy arrived at the Milwaukee airport in Wisconsin on Thursday August 1, 2013.

He spent over 19 hours traveling home.



Mom gets first hug from Elder Lundy




Dad's next



Then his younger brother.

When did he get so big and hairy?



3 Sisters and their family aren't here, but wish they were.




Amanda and some yummy bacon flowers.

Faithful Friends! And treats...



 

Taylor,  Chris and  Chad with more treats.



President Bruner just released Chris.
Chris is happy to be home...But
he wishes he was still a missionary in the
Cauayan Philippines mission.

Elder Lundy is home...and released from his mission. He may not be a missionary in the Philippines, but he is still ready to serve the Lord. I would like to thank his 2 mission Presidents and their wives for all they have done for him. Also, I would like to thank the wonderful members and people of the Philippines for taking care of our son while he served in your country. May the Lord bless and keep you safe in his care.

 

With Love and Respect,

(Mom) - Sister Lundy

 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

The Day is Here!

YES, This is the day it happenes.

 

Elder Lundy comes Home Today!

 

:)

Last letter from Elder Lundy in the Cauayan Philippines Mission!

ELDER LUNDY RETUIRNS HOME AUGUST 1, 2013!

Mom, thank you.

I love you. You have been superwoman for me these whole 2 years. You have supported me in my ups and my downs. You never stopped. Not even when you needed help yourself. I love you.

Now, I’ll see you in a few days. Please don't be surprised if I come home with much much less of everything than when I came. There are needs here that I intend to fill.

In response to what I want to eat when I get home... I’m not worried. I’ve been in Tuguegarao for 3 months now. I’ve eaten much more than my share of hamburgers and junk food. I also gained 8 pounds back while here. I'm not sure how I’m gunna feel about food after such a long flight. All in all my flight time totals over 19 hours... just something simple. I would like to have a family Mexican night soon, but not right when I get home. I’m not sure I could handle it. haha. I just thought maybe a burrito, then I just realized that’s Mexican food pala... can we just do a stir-fry with chicken and veggies and rice? That sounds safe. 

I'll do my best to get the pictures you want before I come home. :)

(I suggested that he get a picture with his new Mission President, the Manila Temple and the MTC in Manila.) I don't know where I’ll be staying when I get to Manila...

Well, we have a lot to do. I am coming home, and we found out earlier that Elder Laxamana is transferred. We got pulled out! :(

So he needs time to pack as well.

Dad, 

Thank you for the many letters you have written me every week. Thank you for your example to me. I know you have said time after time that me being on a mission has given you strength to share your testimony.

Every time I have heard you do that, I see that you are so different from all the members I know that are too shy or afraid or unfocused to say a word. You have given me the strength to give my best. You have shown me an example my whole life. You have "raised me up in the way I should go, and I will not depart from it." and I thank you for that.

As I told mom, I need to get going so Elder Laxamana can pack as well.

I love you Dad. :* see you soon! 

I love you guys! See you soon! :*

-Elder Lundy

 

HI!

Things are going well here. We are adjusting to new realizations about the work. Changing, ever changing. It’s good though.

Mom, how many times have you been out to the Gram's place? hehe You haven't changed a bit when it comes to driving. (I got lost again while driving) me on the other hand... the Philippines is much slower than America.... I’m gunna be freaked out of my mind when I ride in a car in America again. I'll be much more able to deal with traffic though. I’ve gotten used to a slower mode of transportation. We’ll see how long my patience lasts though ;) hehe.

Good job with the talk! :) If President liked your talk, you gave the right one. He knows what is best for the ward. :) I've had a ton of experiences like that while teaching in the mission. I teach a lesson that I super prepared for then afterwards I just feel, "blahhh.... did I do it right?" It’s good to hear confirmation that it came out the way you hoped or better though. :)

Release info: whatever works for President and you guys. I have no personal schedule when I get home. Sama sama na lang ako sa inyo. :)

Elder Nay: They pulled him out of the hospital last Wednesday. I was in Cauayan when the couple missionaries went to go get him. He is doing ok as far as they said. He got a little banged and scratched up, but nothing too major. That makes the second missionary hit by a drunk driver in that branch within about a year’s time. The last one happened just before I was put into Bagabag. At least this time the missionary didn't have to go home because of the effects of the crash. :) 

(Here is the link to Elder Nay's blog: http://eldernay.blogspot.com/)

Well, I need to go. I have some other things I need to get done still since I just got back from Callao Caves in Penablanca. 

We had a birthday party for a sister there.  ;)

Love you!

-Chris

Serving in the Cauayan Philippines Mission :)

Hi,

I'm doing pretty well with staying focused right now. I got 2 texts from my last Branch President in Bagabag, President Quinones, this past Saturday. His 2 texts read as follows:

"Elder, nabinyagan na pala si bro. b. You plant, they harvest."

Translation: Elder, Brother B was just baptized. You plant, they harvest.

and

"Siya na rin ang bagong BML."

Translation: He is also our new Branch Mission Leader.

I don't know if you remember me telling you about V. B------ or not. He was one of my absolute favorite investigators on my whole mission. He had a super strong knowledge of the bible, as in he could repeat chapters from memory, and what’s more, in English. It was obvious he had been prepared by Heavenly Father. He didn't just accept everything we said the first time we taught it. But when we explained it and connected it to the scriptures, no matter what it was, he believed it and followed it. Elder Valdez and I used to refer to him in our studies as "Stake President" because we could honestly see him achieving that kind of conversion and obedience and service. He has an extremely high capability. When I was transferred out of Bagabag, V------ was in a slump. He was running for election as a public official, councilor to the Mayor I think. We had already had to postpone his baptism twice, and just before I left he pretty much said he was too busy and everything was going to have to wait till after the election. We took away his baptismal date and were visiting him, but really just waiting. Then this past Saturday I found out he was baptized. After almost another 3 months of being taught after I left, he was baptized. It almost put me to tears. I can't count the hours I spent pouring my heart out to him and teaching this man and helping him change. And he did it! He finally did it!!

This was a very good boost to help me keep focused. As a result, I have this story to share with you.... :)

We are teaching a former investigator of almost 1 year right now. We just had our 3rd appointment with him yesterday night. Our weekly plans for him included teaching him about The Savior's Earthly Ministry, The Great Apostasy, & The Restoration. During our companion study yesterday morning, I told Elder Laxamana:

"Elder, I already have this lesson written in my planner from planning on last Friday, but this is not the right lesson. It’s in our weekly plans for E----. (the investigator), but I feel that this is completely and utterly wrong for him right now. But I don't know what is right. I don't know what he needs."

His reply was that he felt the same thing. It wasn't right for E----, and he didn't know either what was right. A little background for you: E---- lives in the house of our ward mission leader. Our WML is always working though and is never home when we get to teach him. Yesterday after coordination meeting we went home with our WML. He and his wife and niece all sat in on the lesson. This time things went differently. We sat down and talked for a while. We laughed and joked a little, then had the opening prayer. After that, Elder Laxamana just looked at me for guidance. We still didn't know what we were teaching and hadn't coordinated the lesson with the members since we had just gotten out of coordination meeting... funny, no? Anyway, as I sat praying my guts out a thought popped into my head, "show him why you are here. Show him why you are teaching him." I just pulled out a Plan of Salvation pamphlet and taught him being heavily guided by the Holy Ghost. I handed the lesson after a little bit to Elder Laxamana who was thinking the exact same things I was. He went off to the races with the lesson, as we had spent the whole last week in our 12 week training for new missionaries practicing and learning the doctrine of the plan of salvation. Then the lesson got tossed to the WML to answer some questions, and it came back to me. And it was just perfect. With the guidance of the Holy Ghost, we were able to answer his biggest concern about the church.

Previously he disliked the missionaries because they said this was the only true church on the earth and we have to obey the teachings of Christ to be saved. E---- got it in his head that it means that nobody else will be saved but members of the church. He was all like, what about everyone else? What if they don't know that Christ is God and they have to obey him to be saved? What about everybody else that is good and goes to church on Sunday? The Spirit just taught us perfectly how to teach him the Plan of Salvation. It was a very good lesson and I am excited to see how he progresses. :)

I am having a good time. I am happy. I know what I am doing and I will not stop. The Lord is counting on me and I won't let Him down.

I love you. :* Have a good week.

Elder Lundy

July 8, 2013 New apartment?

Hey-o!

Thanks a ton for all you guys do for me. I honestly don't understand what you all have had to deal with for school and forms and all that junk... my head has been stuck solidly in the mission clouds. But I thank you for all your efforts on my behalf that I may stay focused on my mission.

I'm so happy that Eric finally got his eagle done with. It’s done! Feels good, doesn't it? haha :)

Well, I don't have much else to say right now. I’m still kinda brain fried from this week, literally and mentally. Here’s my excerpt from my letter to President Ralf:

This week was interesting. It’s been very challenging trying to train and focus on the work and find a new apartment with a very short deadline. I think we did it though. :) We'll know for sure on Wednesday when Elder Mills comes up to Tuguegarao to solve our housing problem.
We have been studying "Teach People, Not Lessons" this week as part of our 12 week training. It went really well this week. We watched "Training Missionaries"..., then we did the exact same thing with the role plays. Elder Laxamana was the missionary and I was playing one of our investigators and also had the role of trainer... it was amazing. By the time we were done with the role play we knew exactly how our investigator was feeling and the Spirit had just washed over us so strongly... it was a great feeling. :) Elder Laxamana has really gotten to know the area well these past few weeks. He'll be ready to go by the end of the month. No worries.

So the apartment problem is interesting... the owner wants to raise our rent. We already had to find a new apartment so we can add more missionaries to our area come July 31. President told us to just look for a new apartment that can fit 4 elders instead and that we would just move as well instead of paying for 2 separate apartments in the expensive heart of Tuguegarao. We have been spending around 3-5 hours every day looking for an apartment this past week because pres. gave us a deadline of Wednesday this coming week. It’s been super hard. But on Sunday morning we were out tracting and looking for apartments and we hit the jackpot! It’s a reasonably priced 1st floor apartment of an immensely large and beautiful home right in the perfect place in our area. We were blessed.

Well, that’s all I can think of right now. I’m really just tired of sitting at a computer. We just passed the 2 hour mark. It’s time to go. I love you all! Have a great week! Amanda, Bridget and mom, I love the pictures! Thanks! Eric, congrats bro! See you guys in a few weeks! Love you!

-Chris

July 1 2013

 Wow! Sounds like you guys had a great week! :) I’m a little jealous, but I could eventually make it back there on my own. (We went to Michigan's U.P.) I on the other hand have had almost 2 years here in the Philippines... that's a hard place to get back to... :) I'm glad you guys had fun and had a good break from everything. :)

1.   How is the training going?

The training this week was superb. We had a great time learning together. We had our "blahhhh" moments when we got sick of studying, but overall we had a successful week studying and practicing teaching the message of The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We both learned a lot. I combined a story/verse I found in my recent study of the Bible in John 7:16-17:"Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will , he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."

to Moroni's Invitation in Moroni 10:3-5 "

Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

and Joseph Smith's story and it put a previously not progressing investigator to tears. She felt something... :) The winds are changing. We are starting to see little signs of progress in our ward. We have a vision and a goal for this next month. August is going to be a glorious month for Elder Laxamana here in Tuguegarao. July is member-prep month. :) :) :) The Broadcast last night was awesome!

2.   Are you Happy?

I miss President Mortimer. :) gotta love his catch phrase "are you happy?" yes mom, I am happy. I am rather healthy. I am doing my best and the ward is doing more than their share to make sure that we are kept well fed. :) take a look at the picture of a yellow sheet of paper. That’s my dinner calendar. Show that to your ward members and tell them these members have much less to give than they do... see what results you get for your missionaries. :)

I covered personal info for privacy.
Wow they are really feeding them. :)

3.   What new thing happened this week?

We met an inactive family with 31 members as tatay tells us. We are teaching them 2 times a week now and the ward looks super interested to help us. They are all volunteering to go visit this family. :) The broadcast on missionary work last night was awesome. It put things in perspective very well.

Additional info:
I bought a new belt because my old one had separated into 2 layers and looked really shabby. My new belt put a line of black around my polo. : P
I love you all very much! I must go now. I have things to do. :)
Love,

Elder Lundy

Teach to Train and Train to Teach

Reading all the letters from family and President Carlos today was hard. I was pretty much holding back tears of joy and sorrow through the whole thing. It was a roller coaster. Wow! 

Questions:

1. Tell us about your new companion?

Elder Laxamana is from Batangas. He is 20 years old. He had to wait for 7? months to get his mission call. He is remarkably an only child. He knows his purpose and his testimony is strong. This is gunna be a fun cycle. :) yeeeheee!!!!

2. How is the OYM going for you?

I'm not sure if I understand this question... oym = open your mouth. It means talk to anyone and everyone that you see and share the gospel. My effort there is much higher than it used to be. We are seeing results from it. We have gained 4 new investigators over the past couple weeks because I opened my mouth. We are improving.

3. Did you get to teach many lessons this week?

This week I was in Cauayan on Tuesday and Wednesday so we didn't have any work those days. Monday was p-day, so we only had a FHE. 7 lessons total.

4. Did you get to say good bye to the Carlos’?

I had a couple moments with President Carlos while passing in a hallway in Cauayan. I just sent him a final email before he goes home. It’s been a little emotional around here.

5. What new and wonderful things did you learn this week?

I learned that I didn't know what I was doing last time I trained Elder Ardon. haha. Poor kid. Glad he turned out alright! :) lol. Elder Laxamana will get a much better training. I also learned that I didn't know all the roads and shortcuts as well as I thought I did. We have been doing a lot of walking these past couple days and my back is getting a little messed up. But it’s ok. I'm doing rather well overall.

6. Did you keep the baggage scale to weigh your luggage?

I didn't keep the scale. I would have, but the screen broke during my flight over to the Philippines. It wasn't usable. : / it’s ok. They have scales at the mission home that I can use.

7. When will you get to meet the New Mission President? Will it be when you leave?

I get to meet President Rahlf within the first 2 weeks of July and then a last time when I go home for my final interview. 2 times, that’s all that I will get to talk to him I think...

8. Will you be giving away most of your clothes before coming home?

I will most likely give away a lot of my clothes before coming home. If I can cut out a luggage on the way home, I’ll do so if it’s just clothes. There are a couple elders that I want to give stuff too as well... so... yup.

 :) love you guys! 

-Chris

 

 

Last Cycle in the Mission...

Mom,

(I found a really good deal on a used tent for Elder Lundy.)

Thank you for cleaning up a tent for me. :) I am excited to use it. :) 4 man pa! yehee!

(We gave his Grandma’s some news and told him of their reaction.)

Nana and Grandma are so cute. :) I'm excited to be able to go visit them this summer when I get home. :)

Question: Transfers are this week. Will either of you be transferred?

We got the transfer list text this morning. Elder Talines is transferred. I will have a new companion for my last cycle in the mission. I will also have a new mission president for the last 4 weeks of my mission. It’s a weird feeling.

Question: What are you living in right now?

We have a full house to ourselves. It is well cared for with full locks on all doors and a locked and cement walled in property. Most of all, we have the Lord's protection. :)

(Elder Lundy added the last part because of Mom, I don’t like living in a big city.)

I love you. I gotta get going. We have a bunch of other stuff to get done before the day is over.

Talk to you next week!

 -      Elder Lundy

My dear mother,

How are you doing? It sounds like you are happy. That sounds right in line with who I know you to be: a mother whose greatest successes lie in the successes of those she loves and has given her life to. It sounds like there are a good amount of successes happening in our family right now. I'm happy for you all and it brings joy to my heart that good things are happening with you all. :)

You asked some questions so let me try to answer some of them... well hopefully all of them to some extent...

1. How is the work going?

Just pray for us. This is how the work is going right now.... Hey President, I'm looking forward to tomorrow's Zone Conference. I need a boost. I know how important this work is. I want to do it. It’s killing me though how little is happening. We tract in the morning, we go to investigators and others we are trying to teach, we constantly ask for referrals, but in the end I can never teach. I'm willing to give everything to know what I’m doing wrong, or what I’m not doing that I need to do. There is still someone that I need to help, but I can't seem to find them. There is still something I need to do, but I don't know what. I feel like I have wasted a full cycle of my mission doing nothing, and here at the end of it right when I want to give 200%. It’s hard. I notice small miracles from our efforts, like when we found a new apartment last Sunday because we decided to go tracting before we went to church. I know the Key Indicators are important and when you are giving your best to not be discouraged, but when I only get to teach 4 lessons a week something is incredibly wrong. I think, "Maybe if I give just a little more I’ll find my best friend right around the corner just waiting for me to teach him."
I doubt you'll have the opportunity to read this before Zone Conference tomorrow, but I’ll still be waiting for my answer tomorrow. It never really matters if I voice to you the question, because through you the Holy Ghost always gives me my answer. I thank you for that, President. I love you. Thank you so much. See you tomorrow.

2. When do Pres. and Sister Carlos leave?

President and Sister Carlos leave on July 1, 2013. They will spend an hour discussing mission affairs with President and Sister Rhalf and then leave for home.

3. Last week you sent a picture of you in a cave? What’s with that picture?

The picture was taken just because it reminded me of the part of the movie "The Testaments" at the end with the bad guys all in a cave. I had also read a lot of the lines that they used in that cave scene the past couple mornings in my scripture reading so I just took it for laughs and giggles. That was part of our district field trip to Callao Caves in Penablanca, Tuguegarao. They have it there for presentations in the caves. I was facing a bunch of rock benches while standing in the picture...

4. Why were you in a boat in the other picture?

To go to Callao Caves, we had to cross a small river in a boat. And that wooden "canoe" had a big motor on the back... haha :) true Filipino style. :)

5. Is your health improving?

I'm getting bigger again and I can't stop! haha. All of my new shirts that I had fit are starting to get a little snug... they feed us sooooo much here that most of the time I just don't want to eat. It’s getting to a point where it is affecting our work. It’s ridiculous. Overall, I’m doing good. Just tired. Always tired.

I'm focused as I can be with everyone reminding me all the time that I go home in.... 50 days from today as my batch likes to remind us...I will not work like when I just got here. Mostly just because I followed and did nothing to contribute... but I’ll do my best ;)

I love you and I hope you all have another productive week! :*

Elder Lundy

A day late Brown-out

Hey!

It's Tuesday morning... not preparation day. We had a brown out yesterday... yup.

Question: 10 push-ups hmm, didn’t you use to do a lot more?

Answer: Push-up's/shoulder report: I popped my shoulder this week. All the sudden my range of motion improved. It can now move/rotate anywhere my other arm can. The only difference is it is weaker and hurts a bit. It’s getting better though. I used to be able to do 30+ straight no problem...

Question: So what did the Bishop feed you 2 on Tuesday? Did he carry thru on his joke?

Answer: I was on splits when we were supposed to have dinner with bishop. I was the one that left the area. But, they cancelled dinner. They took us out to a restaurant the next day instead. I am getting fat with all the dinner appointments here. I have at least one day every week with 2 dinners. The members know it; they just want to feed us. They are all like, "I know you have a dinner appointment but just drop on by and we'll feed you too. This work must make you really hungry..... (Slight protest from me and Elder Talines)..... OK elders, I’m cooking you food and we are going to wait for you to come so we can eat dinner together. That’s that. Thanks for agreeing to come to dinner! :) "

I really like your quote this week mom. :)

Quote: “Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It’s not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it’s when you’ve had everything to do, and you’ve done it.” ~ Margaret Thatcher

I gotta get to district meeting. This took longer than usual because we had another brown out this morning while I was emailing. :P 

That’s the picture I sent you while sitting at a computer.

Love,

Elder Lundy

Here are some more pictures. I wish I knew something about them. 

Crossing the river to Callao Caves

Callao Caves in Penablanca, Tuguegarao

June 3 2013

Sorry Everyone,

There wasn't a letter from Elder Lundy this morning.

If we get one later I'll post it.

Have a great day, and God bless you!

Nanay Lundy

Memorial Day 2013

Here is a better picture of Elder Talines and Elder Lundy.

Hi,

Answers to questions from Mom...

1.     How’s my missionary guy doing? Well, sick, gaining weight?

I'm doing well. I managed to do 10 push-ups this morning after doing all my laundry so I guess it means that I’m getting stronger. My shoulder hurts just a little more than usual right now though. I am gaining weight back. Tuguegarao is killing me! We usually eat at McDo at least once a week, and usually have 4-6 dinners with members every week. This past week I got into a situation with a less active family with a birthday and couldn't refuse a dinner with them. We already had a pre-scheduled dinner that had already been cooked, so we ate 2 dinners with members that night. It was awesomely terrible.

(Guess Pres. Carlos wants Elder Lundy to gain some weight back before he comes home.)

2. How hot does the thermometer say it is getting there in Tuguegarao?

When I left the house this morning it read 35 degrees Celsius. That’s what, 94 Fahrenheit

3. Have you eaten anything new this week?

I haven't eaten anything new yet, but Bishop said he would prepare either snake or dog for us on Tuesday night for dinner. Elder Talines doesn't like exotic foods very much so he was joking with us ;) we'll see what happens...

4. Tell us a little more about Elder Talines – Please.

Elder Talines is 20 years old. He is the second missionary in his family. He is smart. He is a metal band ruffian that turned his ways around. He is currently engaged to his girlfriend... yup.

5. Does your area include Libag Sur? Or the University of Saint Louis?

I don't know about Libag sur. Our church is in St. Louis, but that’s not my area either. There are 3 different wards/branches that use this building. My church time is 2-5 in the afternoon..., it’s weird...

6. Is the river south of the city a clean river? Is it in your area?

The river is a brown color, but you can still swim in it... part of it is in my area.

7. Do you cover the area south of Cagayan-Apayao Rd.?

I have no clue. You can log into lds.org and go to their maps. They have settings where you can select the area of a certain ward or branch and it will outline it on the map for you. I’m trying to get one printed today. I have no idea where the boundaries are...

8. Do you have a message you wish to share?

Alma 36:3 “And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.”

This verse came as revelation as to what to share to a heartbroken Nanay whose youngest son just left on his mission. This is a good verse. :)

9. I was looking at the city and it truly amazes me how much farm land they have enclosed into the city between the houses. Do a lot of different people farm the land, or is it owned by just a few people?

Not a clue. I haven't seen any farmland in my area. Very little is farmable where I am. Sorry, I feel like most of my answers have been to the effect of I don't know....

An interesting thing happened to me this week. On Saturday morning at 4:45am we got a phone call. The phone was closer to my bed so I grabbed it still half asleep. My immediate thoughts were, "Who's in the hospital? What happened this time?" To my relief it was nothing like that. The Linao Elders were holding a Missionary Workshop that morning at 8 am. Their zone leaders backed out last second so they needed to find a replacement. They called me hoping that I could do it for them since I was the closest missionary to them and I had just finished being a zone leader and was used to doing that sort of thing. I agreed out of pity for them, then spent the next 12 hours of my life preparing a one hour presentation, giving a one hour presentation to a bunch of youth and YSA's, then working with them for an afternoon showing them and helping them apply the things me and the other speakers taught. We finally got home at 5 pm. It was ridiculous. We lost a ton of work because of it, and missed a couple of first appointments with some potential investigators. I was rather upset about that, but there was nothing I could do about it once I decided to help them out. I was stuck. Oh well. Keep on keepin' on.

Well, I love you! :* I hope you have a great week.

Chris

He must have had a good day...
Our Family saying
 "The dirtier you are the better the day" :)

Hello!

Note to all who may be in attendance when I step off the plane... Mom gets first hug. Dad, second. Siblings next. Then all else may stampede and beat my body to crap with hugs and the such as you wish. :) ;)

(Elder Lundy is happy he wanted to be stepped down to be a follow up trainer and he was.) I saw when Nay was stepped down as well. It was awesome!!! He is Elder Sogari's new companion! Elder Sogari is the elder from Fiji that I gave all my old pants and shoes to. He was in my last branch in bagabag-lamut branch. Elder nay is a great missionary and just the person that he needs right now. :) I’m so happy for them.

Pictures, next week hopefully. I forgot all of my memory cards and camera earlier when we left the apartment. Sorry. I'll get you a better one of me and Elder Talines soon. :)

So Tuguegarao 4th Ward is amazing. This is my first area that has had a missionary correlation meeting and a dinner calendar. The Bishop and leaders all see that I mean business and that I’m not just another elder coming through and its changing their view of us. They see that when we ask for help, things happen. It’s not just a waste of their time. I'm making a concerted effort to learn all their names and I like the results. In this ward, we are in the heart of the city and stretch into the outskirts. There are a ton of missionaries here in the city mismo. There are three sets of missionaries that use my church building alone. I would honestly say that the church is just as strong here if not stronger in some areas then the church in Wisconsin.
How have I grown this week? I learned how to better be obedient but not to alienate those around me, but rather bring them with me step by step. :)
Bridget just told me all about getting to talk to Hamblin, Shackelford, and McGuffin. It was so cool! :) She thinks that she will be able to get me into their apartment in September. :) I knew all those guys! :) That was cooler than cool. :)
I'm over being trunky. :) I honestly think that you are more trunky than me, mom. :) hehe :* but I understand.
I love you guys and I can't wait to see you guys again. At the same time, you can't make me leave here. This is my home. I’m lucky. I get 2 homes now. :)

Till next week,

Elder Lundy