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

Skyping on Mother's Day : )

Sorry the picture isn't the greatest.
We needed to choose between seeing him and talking to him.

There isn't a letter from Elder Lundy today... Because we were able to talk to him via Skype for Mother's Day.

Elder Lundy was transfered to the Tuguegarao 4th ward in Tuguegarao City.
He says that it is one of the most northern areas in his mission.
He says it is hot, but he's been there for 5 days and it has rained and kept it not too hot.
Elder Lundy has a new companion. His name is Elder Talines.



 

 

 

We'll try to get a better picture of Elder Talines in the future.



Needless to say...we enjoyed talking to Elder Lundy.

He is well and very happy!

He sends his love to everyone.

 



He's being transferred from Bagabag this week Wednesday

Elder Lagarde and Elder Lundy

Hello!

Here is a little of how I’m feeling right now...

1. It may not be on the mountain height

Or over the stormy sea,

It may not be at the battle's front

My Lord will have need of me.

But if, by a still, small voice he calls

To paths that I do not know,

I'll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine:

I'll go where you want me to go.

(Chorus)

I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,

Over mountain or plain or sea;

I'll say what you want me to say, dear Lord;

I'll be what you want me to be.

2. Perhaps today there are loving words

Which Jesus would have me speak;

There may be now in the paths of sin

Some wand'rer whom I should seek.

O Savior, if thou wilt be my guide,

Tho dark and rugged the way,

My voice shall echo the message sweet:

I'll say what you want me to say.

3. There's surely somewhere a lowly place

In earth's harvest fields so wide

Where I may labor through life's short day

For Jesus, the Crucified.

So trusting my all to thy tender care,

And knowing thou lovest me,

I'll do thy will with a heart sincere:

I'll be what you want me to be.

 This is a beautiful song. Mix that with a little bit of "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" and you got how I’m feeling. I was writing letters for some of my converts here yesterday morning before church and it felt like I was ripping my heart out of my chest. I don't want to leave Bagabag, but I will do what the Lord would have me do. I feel like I’m becoming the missionary that Heavenly Father intended me to be. More and more every day I feel like I am submitting my will to His.

I kinda got to say good bye to the members. I didn't get to bear my testimony because there was line of 4 people waiting the entire sacrament, but that’s a good reason not to be able to speak. They all know my time was drawing near. They thought it was going to happen this past transfer, so when I told a couple members it kinda just shot through the ward. Elder Badol in my branch is also transferred. They all know and a couple of them are putting together a special FHE for me tonight since "activities at church are not allowed on Mondays after 6 pm" and "missionary farewell parties are not allowed." They invited all my RC families I think and everyone else just knows a big FHE is going down. :) hehe. They get ridiculous sometimes, but I love them.
(Here are a few pictures from Elder Lundy's last visit to the rices terraces)

:) I'm excited to talk to you guys on Monday! :) President Carlos has asked that we keep it to about an hour when we talk.

Well, talk to you on Monday!! :)

Love you!

-Elder Lundy

They're here!

They have arrived!

We wanted Elder Lundy to have a special reminder of his Cauayan Philippines Mission. So, when we saw a certain nativity on the Carlos' blog we knew we had found the right thing. I thought the nativity was amazing; it is even more beautiful in person. We asked Brother Arman Cagayat to carve the nativity for Elder Lundy.

I must admit I Loved it so much we had him carve one for us also.

 

Thank You Brother Cagayat!

 

You will be a special part of our Christmas from now on.

 

One for Elder Lundy and one for Mom and Dad! :)