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