Week One of Training (august 18, 2014 so sorry it's late)

Aloha Family!

So the news for this last week is as follows:

Monday we pulled a prank on the Elders.... Hopefully we will see no retaliation especially since I am training.  

Tuesday we had to get up really early.  to drive down to Manchester. It was a very long drive.  about 3-4 hours.  Yeah it was long.  I met my new companion.  She is fresh from Provo Utah.  In fact she knows some people I know. :)  Her name is Sister Kayla Dastrup.  She is 19 and really nice. We have already had a ton of fun together.  We had a long 3-4 hour drive home and then we had dinner with a family and that was about it.  It has been crazy, cuz I am trying to go through everything with her, explain different phrases etc.  I am not used to this. I have to explain everything. I feel like I haven't shut up for the past 5 days.  

Wednesday we had district meeting.  Sister Dastrup was able to meet all the missionaries in the district.  It was good. We ended up seeing a ton of people that day too.  We went and taught about 4 less actives and then tried to contact a bunch of people.  It was really busy and exciting.  I didn't take her tracting.  I figured I would wait a little bit longer until I do that.  

Thursday we had the glorious task of doing more 12 week.  So in the first 12 weeks as a missionary you need to have 2 hours of companionship study.  It is a lot of study. So we did some service.  We went to a members house and snapped beans.  Unfortunately, I got lost driving there.  Idk how it happened because I've been there a couple of times but we got lost so we back tracked and eventually made it there.  I was very grateful I got the GPS the next day.  Anyways, we snapped beans and washed them, so she could do her canning.  We then went to stop by a member that lived close by.  We walked in, and they invited us to have dinner.  Wow!  That was crazy!  We had a very fancy dinner with steak and creme brulee.  It was delicious.  That was god.  We then taught Book of Mormon class.  Well, to be honest I taught it because Sister Dastrup is still brand new, so she made a few very good comments.  It is very hard for me to teach all the time.  I guess I've become too reliant on my companions cuz now I need to step it up and teach.  

Friday we did weekly planning. This also entailed looking at everything in the area book and teaching what everything is.  It was a long time to show what is what.  We are also going through a bunch of things and trying to fix this area up because right now we only have well... one investigator, and I wouldn't even say she is an investigator, just a kind of investigator.  We then went tracting... in the rain... in a trailer park... yep.  I'm so mean.  We went out and I made er knock on her first door.  She did a really good job.  She was scared, but she overcame and while the lady was not interested, it was a very good experience. We then had dinner with a member who wants us to practice teaching them because we have so few investigators.  So we are going over every week now to try and get better at teaching.

Saturday went to see some less actives, and then we helped at a yard sale.  We also started to work on our area stuff getting things in line.  It is going to be a lot of work, I am glad that my companion is really good at just sitting and getting things done.  We then had dinner with a member who is struggling a little bit.  It is a little odd, they have decided to take a little break from church.  Personally, I don't think that you should take a break, but what do I know I'm just a 20 year old kid.  So anyway...

Sunday we Sister Dastrup had her first sunday ever.  It was a good one.  The members were really kind and invited her right in.  She was able to do the classic new missionary items of bearing her testimony and being really confused.  It was great! lol.  What wasn't so great was walking into church and remembering that you are teaching sunday school!  Woops.  Totally spaced that one.  So I studied during sacrament and gave one of the worst lessons ever.  But we survived, and the non-member who was there said it was good, so I guess the spirit was there to help him know what was going on.

So that has been the week we've had.  It has been really long.  but now I have a GPS so I won't get lost, which is really good because we have to go down to Manchester this next week.  And we have interviews with our mission president this week.  It is just great.  I am so excited to be on my mission and be able to serve with all my might mind and strength.  It is such a pleasure and an opportunity.  I love this gospel so much! 

Love always and Forever,

Sister Lundahl

What?! (august 11, 2014)

Hello Family! 

This week has been one of odds and whats?  Tuesday we had a good day.  I honestly can't remember what we did, I just remember it turned out good.  I forgot last transfers planner. 

Quick lingo reminder: a transfer is a period of 6 weeks. 

So we just had a transfer end on Sunday, and I have news... but that is for later.

Wednesday we had district meeting.  Well.  that was fun.  We did the training part and we related how to teach while you find to John 3.  When Christ is teaching Nicodemus. That actually was really fun.  Then we helped these members move an old sleigh out of a super old barn.  The barn was falling apart, and the member was like, oh, don't step here or here or here because you could fall.  What?    Well there were 3 of us doing the work.  Sister Welling and I and the member. I think that we had some help, because that could have ended very badly. 

Thursday we went contacting people and then we went to finally finish weeding a members garden.  It took so long.  4 weeks.  But it is finally finished.  By the time we were pulling weeds Thursday they were taller than me. :/ It was really bad.  As soon as we finished it started to pour rain.  So we ran around and had fun for a few minutes before we went to our next thing.  The member gave us some blue Twinkies for helping weed.  They looked very interesting.  So later that night we gave our to the elders.  Well.  They didn't want them.  So they put them in our bag.  SO we put them on their car.  They put them in our shoes.  So Friday we went and helped a member more dirt with the Elders there too.  We went back to the church to do planning and the Elders had to clean the font cuz they had a baptism Saturday.  Well we were on a lunch break so we may have pranked the Elders car.... yeah.  That's all I can say.  We are waiting for their response. 

Saturday we had a crazy day.  We got a violin for me to play at the baptism, well somehow the leather strap on the bottom that holds the board that holds the string broke.  I have no idea how but it did.  I tried fixing it so many times, but it didn't work.  So we called around found another violin and picked it up.  This violin is old, but beautiful.  Well as I was trying to tune it the A string broke.  So I didn't play at the baptism.  Unfortunately, I found that there was a spare A-string in the case. If I had looked earlier I still could have played.  I was a very stressful moment and I was very sad that it did not all work out.  That day we also had a wedding for a member and his non-member wife.  He is working an being able to baptize her.  We are excited for them.  They are a fantastic couple.  I really like them.  It was a beautiful wedding and reception. Well right after the wedding we went to a members house to work on our talks which we had been assigned to give the night before and we had a missed call from President Stoker!  What?  It was transfer call night, but we usually don't get calls until 9.  E called him back and he gave us the news.  SIster Welling is leaving going Senior companion.  And Sister Lundahl is staying and training a brand spanking new missionary.  What?!  I am not too excited to be honest.  training is scary.  But there are so many miracles that come from training, so I am at least excited about that.  Plus a new missionary... that will be fun :)

That is about it.  Sunday we gave our talks.  I forgot my notes for it, so I just gave what I remembered.  Then we said goodbye to people and yeah.  That is about it.  I hope things are going well at home!  I love you all and can't wait to here from you!

Love Always and Forever,

Week 2 of training

Hello Family!  

How are you all doing?  This week had been much more exciting than some previous.  Thank goodness.

It started on tuesday where we went around really just trying to see less actives that live in the newport area.  That turned out good.  Apparently there has been an ice bucket challenge going around on facebook and a Less active did it while we were there. lol.  It was very amusing.  We had dinner at a members house and practiced teaching her the restoration. :)  Then we stopped by a potential investigator of the Elders that they said we could see.  They live off the grid, but in a good way.  They have solar panels and running water still, but they are a little extreme and they plow their fields by an ox.  They are super cool.  I really like them.  

Wednesday we had interviews with President Stoker.  As always they are great.  I love having interviews.  It is just so much fun to be able to get to talk with your mission president.  Also sister Stoker gave us plan of salvation cut outs.  They are really cute. After our interviews we had zone meeting.  This transfer they want us to really focus on developing our Christ like Attributes.  The one I am working on is Patience... big surprise I know. We then went home and contacted some former investigators.  They seem really open and nice.  They couldn't meet right then, but we are going to come back this week. We had dinner with the Watsons after that.  They are so great. We also asked them for help.  The Dover Elders were having a baptism the next day and needed someone to play the piano. Sister Dastrup plays the piano.  So they asked if we were going, we didn't have any investigators so... no.  They talked to some people got us permission, so we had so find a ride cuz there is no way we had the miles to drive ourselves.  So we talked to the watsons, and they offered us a ride. :)  Thank goodness.

So Thursday comes around and we had an appointment with a potential investigator that went really well.  She reminds me of Grandma Lundahl.  We taught her and she is open to us coming back. :)  Then we went to the Watsons where they took us up to Dover-Foxcroft for the baptism.  We got there and guess what?  The original lady who was going to play came, so Sister Dastrup didn't need to play, but I still led the music.  There ya go the music sisters.  So we drove up there got to watch a baptism and came home. it is like a good 45 min drive.  So once we got home we rushed up to an appointment we had in Dexter at the library with a potential/former investigator.  He was really open and said he will be coming to church sometime soon.  Hopefully sooner verses later.  And those are all the exciting things.  Then the usual Thursday stuff of Book Of Mormon class and coordination.

Friday we went and did some major service.  We tore up the floor of a house.  It was linoleum and then some particle board stuff underneath.  It took a long time and was a lot of work.  The Elders did most of the heavy work.  We then went to a different home to pull nails out of board.... yay.... Then we did our weekly planning.  

Saturday we had a branch activity. It was a pioneer activity.  We played tug-a-war.  The Elders and sisters so 4 of us vs all the young women, young men and primary.  They won the first one, but we won the second round.  Strategy.  It works.  We then went to see a guy, he wasn't home so we tried contacting a referral.  No luck there either, so we finished up weekly planning.  and went and had dinner with the McKinneys.  She is a great cook. She asked for recipe's so I gave her the Raspberry truffle brownie dessert, but then ran out of flour, so she is going to make it next time :) It was really good stuff. 

Sunday was another great day of church.  We taught the relief society lesson and then had lunch with the Reitze family.  It was good stuff. Then we saw a less active and delivered the song the primary is singing for the primary program. :)  That will be fun.  We are going to go over it with the kids too, they weren't there, they were at their dads.  

That was basically it for the week.  Today we are driving down to Manchester for the new missionary meeting tomorrow.  It should be fun!  I am excited.  a good 4 hour trip. :) insert some sarcasm....

Anyways, that is all for now!  I love you all!

Love always and Forever,

Sister Lundahl

Hello family!

I'm going to change up my e-mail a little this week.  I figure you all pretty much know the daily schedule of missionary work by now.  So I figured I'd share some other things.  

The best part of being a missionary is being able to see the Atonement work in others lives.  It is amazing to see them make changes that bring them closer to Christ.  My testimony of the atonement has definitely increased.  I know that through the atonement all things are taken care of.  All things are covered and the lord is watching out for each of us.

Another great part of being a missionary is having a companion.  I mean come on, how often in your life are you going to have an assigned friend. lol.  It is with my companions that I have learned how to give more and to share better.  To be open and love.  I have been very blessed with the companions I have had, because they have been such examples to me.  

No matter what people do, no matter what people say.  There is only one way to eternal life.  And that is by having faith, repenting, being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.  That is our purpose as missionaries, and I know that it how we can be happy.  I have seen the effects of it in others lives and in my own.  Enduring to the end may be the hardest step, but we know the prize at the end, we know the reward.  And it is worth it.

Ok.  Enough of my soap box.  I'm sorry I forgot my camera today so no pictures, but I just want to let you know I love you all and I am very grateful for your support!

Love always and forever,

Sister Lundahl  

Redneck wedding? (july 28)

Hello!  Family,

 

How are things going at home?  It is so good to hear from all of you.  So the good things of this week include so very odd event. lol

 

Monday we had an awesome district p-day with playing ultimate Frisbee and wiffle ball.  I am not the best as wiffle ball, but I can at least hit the ball now. :) We also had a meal apt with a member and I am sure that I saw a bear!  but my comp didn't so alas  I cannot confirm it.  I will need to keep on the look out, because I really want to see a bear on my mission I've seen a bunch of foxes and turtles and groundhogs and porcupines etc.  But no bears...yet. Or any moose.  But I'm not sure I want to see a moose.  Anyways.

 

Tuesday we had zone conference.  Crimany! it was great!  We talked about our purpose as missionaries and had some great times.  It was so cool to gather as so many missionaries and to see the growth as a mission.  There are a bunch of missionaries going home soon that I have worked with and I am so glad that I have been able to serve with them.  This zone conference was longer than any I've ever been to in my entire life.  It was great though.  Very inspiring. 

 

Wednesday due to zone conference we do not have district meeting, which throws the whole week off. but we went and weeded for a member.  We uncovered another row of onions.  And next week we are going to be uncovering the peas.  It has been a process to get everything weeded for her.  She is really old and can't do it herself anymore, but we are glad to help :)

We saw some Less actives and we also went visiting teaching.  We also got really lost.  It was bad.  we ended up using a ton of miles because of it.  We had some good times and we were able to meet some great people even though we got lost.  :) 

 

Thursday we had an appointment with an investigator, but he didn't show up.  We have been teaching him at his grandma's house. We saw a less active.  Her father just passed away, and she is dealing with it surprisingly well.  She is a sweet lady.  We were supposed to have Book of Mormon class, but nobody showed up.  Which was a little sad because we had a pretty good lesson planned.  We had coordination too.  So a member went to the beach.  She wanted us to come, but of course we couldn't.  So she said she would bring us something back.  So, of course, beach equals sea shells!  She brought us a sea urchin shell too.  So cool!

 

Friday we went Visiting teaching.  And weekly planning.  Oh weekly planning. That takes a very long time. But we chugged away at it.  And then we proceeded to go some less active members and we had a meal appointment.  We had a meal with some members who invited their friends to be taught the missionary discussions!  What!?  It is crazy.  We are so excited to teach and help them!  They are great.  We will see them this next week. To help break up the stress they decided to psycho analyze us.  It was really funny, and pretty good.

I also picked up the moccasins that I ordered.  They are pretty sweet.

 

Saturday we went and I met one of out investigators.  She is a very... interesting lady.  She is very nice and has a talking bird.  She likes to smoke a bit too.  So we smelled pretty good the next little bit especially since we went to a wedding after.  Now this wasn't any typical wedding.  This was a classic redneck wedding.  Camo and pink and orange were the colors.  The men wore camo shirts and jeans and the girls wore this odd shirts with jean shorts.  It was a very odd wedding because as soon as the vows were said, they groom and 2 groomsmen pulled out the beer and started chugging.  Yeah.... Nothing too crazy happened.  We were there to help the member, whose daughter was getting married serve and clean, etc.  It didn't get out of hand, or we left before it did.  It was interesting.  I really made me glad for the knowledge that we have.  We have a God who loves us, and we are able to have a family that can be together forever.  What more can we ask for?  If anything, it strengthened my desire to get married in the temple.

 

 

Sunday we taught gospel principles. That was fun.  WE taught the word of wisdom.  Oh my. I just want people to know that caffiene is not against the word of wisdom.  That's all. We had some good discussions.  That is all the exciting stuff.  The rest is just lessons with less actives, etc. 

 

It was a great week.  We had some intersting times, and some great times.  You never know what a mission is going to bring. :)

 

Love always and forever,

Sister Lundahl