Sick

Hey All,

I've some bad news, this last week I was sick.  It all started on Monday, which of course was P-day.  So we went along doing all our stuff like e-mails and such, but the whole time I just felt like I was getting the flu or something.  So when we finally get done shopping and e-mails we come home and I had a fever of 100.3  Well I thought ok we can still try to go out.  But my comp had me go lay down.  Well within an hour I was at 101.3.  So she started to freak out a bit, and I just wanted to try and sleep.  (Yes I had taken Ibuprofen.) Well we stayed in that night.  And then I slept in a little bit and I still had a mild fever.  I did get a blessing as well.  So I had a fever for 3 days, but still went about teaching as best as I could.  My comp was going a little stir crazy, cuz i had to go take a nap one day.  But I couldn't control it and neither could she.  It was really odd.  

We did exchanges this week.  They do it with the Sister Training Leaders.  They are the equivalent to Zone leaders, but Sisters.  So I went to an area called White River Junction.  And went about teaching with a really nice girl named Sister Morgan.  She too when to Utah State.  We went and saw some really nice people and had a good time.  It was nice to just see how other sisters work together.  

I still like my area the best so far.  Even if we do have to travel 20-30 minutes to the nearest grocery store.  It is so beautiful.  

An odd thing that has been happening, is we have had tons of rain.  While rain is a free air conditioner, the problem is too much rain.  We have had severe flood warnings and the road conditions are terrible.  As I said before, most of the road are dirt around here.  So on the side of the road are lots of deep banks where the water drains away.

I have a great funny story.  So we were out and about one day and we're trying to find these less actives.  Well think we find the house so we look for a place to park.  Well she decided that she found a good place and so as she drives in we suddenly drop down quickly and stop.  I looked at her and said, you just got us stuck.  She claimed innocence but no matter how much she pushed the gas we wouldn't move.  We were partially in a ditch.  She drove us into a ditch! Well I get out of the car into the ditch and just start laughing.  We were going to have to get help or call the nearest ward member and he would have laughed so hard he wouldn't have been able to get there to save us.  Well my comp was upset, since she didn't want to call him.  Then we were saved.  This jeep happened to be coming up the road with 2 big guys who just got out to help.  They told her to turn the wheel, and she did, and then hit the gas.  And they pushed.  Then they left.  It was so nice that they were able to help us and it was definitely a miracle.  

There are so many simple miracles in our life though.  That was a big one, but just someone sending us a message or writing a note.  That is always a blessing and a miracle too.

So I'm going to try and send some cool pictures home.

Love 
Sister Lundahl

Wow, obedience is key!

Hello all!!

Wow this week has been a little crazy.  First, there is no such thing as a holiday on a mission.  We can stay for 1 hr at a members home for dinner and then we have to leave.  It is a challenge, cuz we want to socialize but it is also a blessing.  On the 4th of July that is what happened, we went and ate with the members and people, then we left.  Well, later that night as they lit fireworks, the deck collapsed.  Not just any collapse but right down the middle.  We had been walking on that exact same deck, 1-2 hrs before.  The deck buckled and there were probably about 15-20 people on the deck.  Nobody died, thank heavens, but the relief society president has 2 broken legs, ankle, and knee cap.  Our bishops wife cracked some vertebrae in her back and some cracked ribs.  Those two were the worst.  But there were some miracles.  One of the boys in the ward grabbed the grill as it was falling and saved everybody beneath.  Another lady in the ward had her little baby in her arms and somehow was able to protect him and save him.  Also, somehow her glasses ere in her hands, and she never takes them off.  They thing that what caused the problem was all the rain and the humidity caused the deck to rot, then also separate from the house.  Luckily, it is expected that everyone will make a full recovery.  SO here is my plug for obedience.  While that white handbook may be super long, those rules are there for a reason.  And as you follow them as a missionary you will be protected.

You want to know about the weather... Well it is hot and humid.  And always is.  Even when it rains it is still hot.  You can never escape it.  Unless you can find a place with AC, and not very many people have that.  At least the memorial is nice and cool.  And the church.  The rain is a little crazy, but I have heard that it has rained a little bit in Utah finally.  YAY!!  End that crazy heat. 

So there is a sister missionary who has a blog.  She is one of the older couples.  It is calledsaldyches.blogspot.com  or salldyches.blogspot.com  and guess what?  She is from Moroni!! And she know Janeen and Robert.  She and her husband are so nice and they are super sweet.  They have fed us, and drive us places when needed and help us all the time.  So you should tell Janeen and Robert, and check out her blog.  Apparently there is a picture of me on it doing Facilities Management (FM) stuff. 

We've met some really great people out here.  They are slow to accept the gospel but we are working with them all the time!  But they are great. 

There are so many miracles out here in this area.  It is said that if we were worthy we would be able to see the angels sitting in the treetops here at the Joseph Smith birthplace.  I think that Elder Worthlin said that.  I feel so blessed to be serving here.  This place really is sacred, and it is amazing to be able to learn the history and to share it with others along with my testimony.  Not only do we talk about his birth here, we also talk about his whole life.  And that can be a little daunting teaching older members of the gospel about Joseph Smith.  But I am constantly learning more.

The greatest thing about a mission is seeing people come closer to their Savior!  Here it can be hard to notice people's improvement since they are set in their ways, but we work with everybody, and love everybody, and are learning how to feel our Saviors love for people as well.  It is so cool to be talking with a person and to walk away feeling like you already love them as a child of God.  It was also a little odd the first time, but I'm learning. 

So I forgot my camera cord, so no pictures today, but definitely go to Sister Dyches blog and check it out. 

I have been doing M-100's 3x a week.. Or really I am starting to do them 3x a week this week.  But the journey of 1000 miles starts with 1 step right?

So today I was reading in Alma, in the war chapters.  And who doesn't love the war chapters?  Great stories and super cool tactics.  But it struck me how they were always fighting for liberty.  No matter what, even if there were dissenters in their mix, it was always for Liberty.  So that is my July 4th good plug.

So cool fact, our site director used to be a mission President in Germany.  He is a really nice guy and his wife is superb!! She is so sweet and loves everybody like her own and she is just so kind!  And right now he is talking to a former missionary in German. :) Course I have no idea what they are saying, but hey, it is cool to hear. :)

I haven't had a chance to practice my french yet, but the site directors wife went on her mission to France so maybe we can practice, but she claims she has forgotten it all. 

I love you all!  And can't wait to hear more from you!  I pray for you all and love every one of you!!

Lots of Love,

Sister Lundahl

Pictures

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First Full Week

Hey everybody,

Wow, everything sounds super crazy at home.  I'm sorry that the AC isn't working, I know that I would be dying.  But hey, at least there is no humidity to keep you hot no matter where you are, even in the shade or basement.  The heat permeates everything.  

But I am learning to love it.  My companion and I are really learning to get along.  I think that we will be able to help the people in this area a lot.  The only real problem is having enough time to visit everybody on our list.  We made a list of everybody who we need to see and there were 48 people.  I don't know about you but with 17 hours at the visitor center each week, plus 2-3 hours a day for studying, plus trying to get everything to match up with their schedule, it is hard.  We are constantly going, and we need to do splits to visit everybody, only i just got out here a little over a week.  It is frightening.  But I know that somehow i can do it.  If we can find people who will be able to go on splits with us.  

But awesome miracle of the week, well there are 2 but this one was amazing!  So there is a man in the ward who is going through some hard times. Well he has in his ear an earring.  And while we were teaching him Sister Fratcher decided to bring it up.  It was crazy, because nobody has told him about it before, plus there was a recent convert there who had 2 sets of earrings and we gave them both a for strength of youth pamphlet and she read that and next thing we know she was taking them out.  It was crazy!! Then the Brother he took out his earring as well.  He has been wearing that earring for about 40 years, and he just took it out.  We thought we was going to rip his ear to have to get it out, but he didn't thank heavens.

Another miracle was when we were out on Saturday.  We were going visiting contacts, and all of them were not interested.  It was really disappointing.  So Sis. Fratcher said, lets go visit Chip, he has been one of our reffereals for a while.  So we decided to go, and he lived in the middle of nowhere.  Literally.  Nowhere.  But we made it to his house and of course his road is super muddy with lots of potholes.  One thing to note, most of Vermont roads are not paved.   Well I said we are not going on that road.  Our car would not make it.  No more goat paths.  (My comp took another girl on a class 4 road once...) So we tried another part of the driveway, but it was worse, so my comp was about to give up when we see a jeep coming up the drive and it was struggling.  So our little car would have died.  But In the jeep this punk looking kid asked us if we needed any help.  He was Chip's son so he turned around and drove to get his Dad.  We were surprised.  Never judge anybody by their looks.  So he comes back and he dad is following him in his truck.  Long story short we give him the first lesson at the end of his driveway. and it was amazing.  As we told the first vision, the sun came out and lit us up. And the moment he stepped out of the truck, he said, oh, I have goose bumps.  I know this was meant to be.  I know you were supposed to be here.  The only problem was his friend was there and he is a new born again christian.  And he basically thinks we believe in false prophets and in a nice way told me as such.  I told him, in a nice way that the only way to know the truth is to pray and find out.  He said, God told him to be a born again christian.  So as long as his friend doesn't anti Chip.  Then we will be extremely blessed if this man joins the church.  

So President Wilkey has left the mission.  He is now out and free.  He have not met President Stoker yet.  Although, President Wilkey came to the Joseph Smith Memorial before he left, so here is I picture with me and him and his wife.  They are awesome and I can't wait to meet President Stoker. Here is a funny picture with him.  

I haven't been able to give tours yet, but i have read the book with all the information and I feel like I could give an adequate tour.  As long as i have the spirit with me I could give anybody a tour.  

Well I love you all, and know that you are all amazing!!

Lots of Love,

Sister Lundahl 

Hey Family!

How are things going?  Things in Vermont are crazy.  So everybody keeps pestering me for a schedule, so here is basically what we do.  Basically every morning we wake up, then do exercises, get ready then we have personal and comp. study.  Then we are in the Visitor Center, or on chat, or learning about the birthplace.  Then we are out proselyting. It is pretty crazy.  And super busy.  We have 8 towns in our area, and some of them we have to drive 20+ minutes to get there.  Most of the roads out here are still dirt, and central air conditioning is  really new.  Or non-existent. So basically, we are withering driving all the time or on chat.  

But the training broadcast said that all missionaries will be able to be online now!!  That will be crazy.  I wonder how they are going to do that.  

The weather is a little crazy here.  Since it is so humid it will get super hot and then it will be pouring rain.  It is bizarre.  It kinda feels like we are living in the canyon.  It is crazy green and the forest is super thick.  It reminds me of Fangorn Forest.  It is super thick and comes all the way to the road in some places.  All the roads are super windy.  

My companion is Sister Fratcher.  Guess what?  She also went to American Fork High.  She is a year older and was in orchestra with me in Junior High.  We are still learning about each other so it can be hard to teach.  But we are learning.  We are not very similar.  First off, I like to run, and she doesn't, so instead of being able to run in the gym I am trying to do all the strength training things that I've learned over the years.  So if you want, could you send me some workout ideas.  I really need to figure out some more things.   

In this mission they are super big on miracles and so every night we write down some of the miracles we noticed in the day.  One miracle was that one of the ladies for who we do service said we could teach her the lessons.  She is in charge of a community dinner once a week and we have been volunteering there.  She is so cool.  Basically after Irene, the White river flooded.   Many people lost their homes and crops, etc.  Well she started a community dinner, during that where all the people could come and eat every day.  Now that that is over, she does it once a week.  And that is where we help serve.

She lives in a town here that reminds me of the town in Gilmore Girls. It is called Woodstock. It is small, and has a town square area, and a little theater.  When we drove up I loved it.  It is so picturesque.  But I haven't taken any pictures of it yet.  Also, there are quite a few covered bridges out here.  It is actually kinda cool. 

The "mountains" here aren't mountains.  They are little hills that people build houses on and that the roads have to wind around but that is it.  We live in a little apartment right behind a plumber place.  In a little valley type thing. There are 4-5 apartments and 3 of them have missionaries.  2 of the missionaries are couples, but it is very nice.  It has lots of space and is pretty. 

 We will be getting our new mission president this week sometime.  We are all excited.  Hopefully we will be able to learn lots.  

My mailing address is 

PO Box 194

Sharon, VT 05065

Sincerely,

Sister Bridget Lundahl

Hey everyone!  

Bridget's new haircut!!(sorry it is sideways)

Life is super crazy in the MTC as we are doing our visitor center training, and I am learning that it is much harder than everybody else realized.  First Sister Welch one of our teachers said that the reason we are called to visitor centers is for 2 reasons: 1st that we are called because when our pictures come up they can see the light of christ in our eyes.  And second they can see our testimony of the Atonement.  Talk about frightening.  We are called to be the face of the Church for that reason.  I never knew that.  

Also as we are in the mission field we don't just have one area where we are tracking or serving.  We are literally serving the world.  Because we are at the visitor center getting referals and online chatting with people and finally we are taking calls on the phone.  We are talking to people who want to know more.  We are recieving revelation faster than those in the field because we need to receive it for those who we only have a few minutes with.  It the beginning I never realized how hard being a visitor center sister was.  Because not only do we do all that we also give tours and have to relate everything we see to the gospel.  Yesterday we were practicing this and we took everyday objects and related them to things.  For example we had to relate the "Gospel Blesses Families" to a Garbage can or "The Great Apostasy" to a fire hydrant.  Then we had to go out to different missionaries out and about and relate something on them to a principle we had already decided on.  So I related a watch to faith.  It is so cool how much I am learning.  

We also have been chatting with people online on mormon.org.  If anybody has questions we get them.  And these are the questions people don't ask the missionaries, or take their time to ask them.  We get them as the get to know you q's.  It is very interesting.  Then at the same time we have to communicate the spirit to them over chat or phone.  And somehow we are able to do this.  

This is a picture of our district.  Their names from left to right; bottom: Elders Jensen, Kelley, and Cosman

Back: Sisters O'leary, Kim, Lundahl, Sumsion, Brother Evans, Sisters Noble, Kasparian, Miller, Harline.

The Elders have already left for their missions, but we all leave this next week.  So I leave at 3:30 am on Monday.  And I can buy a phone card here.  So you don't need to worry about that.  If you want to send me anything you should send it today, because I will not be able to get it Monday.  

Oh yeah,  miracle of the week.  So yesterday, we were taking calls for the first time.  And while we were waiting we kept getting spanish speakers for some reason.  And we had to keep having our teacher take the calls since she speaks spanish.  And all of our chats were ending early or people were just leaving and it was getting annoying, and depressing.  So I sat there and I prayed, asking Heavenly Father to send us someone who was prepared and wanted to learn the gospel. And 3 min. later we got a call from a man in canada looking for friends and help!  Of course we referred him to the missionaries and got his e-mail so that we could stay in contact with him.  It is crazy how we are able to influence those around the world just by sitting in one room. 

I am honestly excited to be a Visitor Center sister now.  I love it and I am excited to get out into the field.  

With our Visitor center training we are going to Temple square.  We already went once but we are going again on Saturday.  And we will be the ones giving tours with the sisters.  We will teach and share the gospel and invite others to come unto Christ.  I am so excited as we will be practicing and actually helping real people.  

The Lord puts different people in our life.  Everyone you meet the Lord is preparing somehow.  They need this, and we might not be the person who they are converted with but one day it will happen.  They say it takes 8 contacts with the gospel before people are ready to accept it.  So we might be that first one or the seventh or even the eighth and be helping them on their journey.  We don't know. All we do know is that we need to help them.  And that they are children of God.

I love the Gospel.  I am excited to share it with the world.  Because I will be doing just that not just to those in NH but everywhere. This is his truth and we as missionaries are here to share it with all!

one of the things that they have told us to do on the mission is to expect miracles. well one of the sisters here is from colorado and as you proabably know there is a huge fire going on over there.  Well the fire started 1/2 mile away from fer house and they didn't know if  it had burned down or not.  But she prayed and prayed and while her neighbors houses were burned, hers was safe.  And she will have a house to go to when she gets home.  It was such a blessing to know that while we are here, our families are protected by the Lord.

Love,

Sister Lundahl

First Letter Home!

Hey Everybody!!

Craziness has been going on here at the MTC.  We just finished our last day of field training and are now moving on to the great beyond, AKA visitor center training.  So this week we will be transfered to a new district and will be focusing on all that good stuff.  This week I will be going to Temple Square and serving in a call center.  Not to mention all the studying and classes I will be in.  Our days consist of studying, studying, and teaching.  Then more studying.  

So I mentioned last time that my comp went to AF.  Well we also were in a class together.  We had World Religions!  We were in the same class,  that is why we kind of knew each other, but didn't at the same time.

Here is a picture of the 2 of us.  So the picture wouldn´t send so I sent it in another e-mail. 

So we get 2 p-days today!  This is because we switch into a new district and with the visitor center training we will be getting another p-day. Also in case you were wondering, my eye is doing better.  It was infected or something so the doctor gave me some antibiotic drops and now it is good.  I have seen a bunch of different people in here it is crazy how everything happens.  I will look for David when he gets in here.  But he may not recognize me. 

 

So in my comp´s letter home she has to send a miracle of the week or day, and I think my miracle of the week was when my comp and I were able to connect in a lesson and were able to teach together.  I´ve been having problems speaking up and helping teach, but we were actually able to do it. 

 

Right now i feel like a piece of clay.  And the Savior is the potter and he is trying to take oyut all the bad so that he can make me into something amazing while in the MTC.  Unfortunately it is taking a bit of work and it is hard to let go but I know that if I just let him mold me I will become a greater person.

 

So I got my hair cut.  It is completely different.  I cut off probably about 12 inches.  So I donated it again.  I hope you all like it, welL, actually you can´´t see it since the computer I´´m on right now will not let me upload it. So you will just have to picture me with short hair and layers and looking good.  I´ll try to get a picture to you somehow.

 

Love you all tons,

Sister Lundahl