We Can Do Hard Things!

This week has been made up of highs and lows. I've been struggling this week, but I've been praying a lot, and I know that Heavenly Father knows me PERFECTLY because He has been giving me learning opportunities so that I can become more focused, so that I can be a better missionary.

Thursday: It was one of the longest days at the MTC so far. That random picture with the superhero lady was taken when we were in Manchester. It was our first day of actually proselyting!! AHHHH!! Oh man, literally, they told us to get off the bus and then meet back at the bus in three hours, and to get to work! Sister Lall and I didn't know if we should laugh or cry...haha. We were at Piccadilly square, and I swear everyone smokes there so it smells so bad. This experience was funny and hard at the same time. Because as missionaries we definitely have a "light" about us, and people can tell who we are before we walk up to them. People would cross the street, or pretend they were on their phones, etc. At first it was discouraging but Sister Lall and I knew that what we were doing was all that Heavenly Father was asking us to do, and that was just to try. But about and hour into it, we met this lady named Jane. She knows about the LDS church but she told us she wasn't interested.  We were able to get her email, and we actually bumped into the area missionaries serving there so we gave them the pass along card. Jane was in the picture we sent you with the superhero lady. She was sooooo nice!! Proselyting is such a scary yet wonderful experience! I can't wait to do more, and meet REAL people!!

Friday: Today was a really hard day for me. I was feeling really homesick, and started to realize that I wasn't going to see them for a while. Not to mention my stomach wasn't feeling well. I think I've lost like 5 pounds! So it was just a really hard day for me, But when I went to go to bed, I put on daddy's t-shirt that said Attitude is Everything! And prayed that I would make the next day better than today.

Saturday: I want to let you know that I have no problem waking up. My alarm definitely does that trick, it is soooo loud, it scares all of us awake, like literally scares us awake haha. Today I knew that Heavenly Father was watching over me. I had an interview with President Preston, and I got pretty emotional. I told him that I was really missing my family. And he told me that the pain will go more away with time. And he told me that me being an emotional person makes me a more "personal" missionary. And then he gave me a hug, which I wasn't sure if that was allowed, but I let him give me one anyway! I know that Heavenly Father has been helping me through this every step of the way, and that He will continue to help me. We also had choir today, and I'm so glad Kylee told me to join it because it really brings me so much peace. Even though I don't have a great voice, I love that I can still share my testimony through singing.  

Sunday: Sundays are the best and the most spiritual days at the MTC. They are literally my saving grace! This Sunday, I KNEW that Heavenly Father was trying to speak to me. I was having such a weird feeling and fear that one of my family members was going to pass away... Don't ask me why I was feeling that because I have no idea. But I think that is why I was having such a hard week with homesickness. But all of our Sunday meetings brought me so much peace. And the message that Heavenly Father gave me was that I need to trust Him. I need to remember that He knows what I am going through, He knows that missions are hard, but He is there to help me. I know that I don't need to worry about my family. I KNOW that they are going to be okay, that they are going to be so tremendously blessed. And I know that Heavenly Father needs me to be the best I can be so that I can help Him bring His children closer to Christ. I love the gospel, and I know that Heavenly Father knows what each of us are going through, and that He will help all of us through any trial we are going through. I testify that that is so true.

Monday: Today was so good! I was still on a spiritual high from Sunday haha! Sister Loefke and Sister Schulze and I did some "strength-training" for exercise, but we mainly just laughed and stretched haha. Sister Lall is turning into such a happy person... most of the time haha. I joke with her that I'm turning her into a morning person. She always tells me that my personality is like a Disney Princess haha. We are complete opposites, and she's five years older than I am. But I have been praying so hard that our relationship would be strengthened and it has! The Lord has blessed our companionship. A goal I set was that I want to be as obedient as I possibly can be, and I know that our companionship has been strengthened because we have been striving for that goal, and we have been praying A LOT! But i know that it works. We do so many role plays, and we are in the class room all day long, so it can make for some really longs days and tired missionaries. But we are learning so much. I love my teachers Sister Quilter and Sister Hughes. I believe that I came to this MTC for a reason, I know that I needed the special bonds that I have with my teacher. We have 107ish missionaries, and I love it because you get to meet so many people, and really get to know them. 

Tuesday: My whole district was exhausted today. Like we were delirious. My stomach is still acting funky, haha don't get me wrong, I'm still able to eat. I think I'm just not accustomed to how they cook food here. Today we had choir and it was amazing as always, and it was the highlight of my day. The rest of the day was just a routine day. Lots of classes :) 

I love the MTC! My testimony has grown so much and I have only been on my mission for two weeks! Funny thing that happened in our classes though, was that I saw Kylee's picture on a MTC Family History video. It was a while ago she was probably around 12 or 13! But I about died, I like yelled in class and everyone looked at me which was really embarrassing! But it was such a tender mercy to see her! I have Hines hair all over my clothes, Hines is here with me in England haha. Also my hair is turning green haha, I don't know what I should do, so mom maybe if you could ask Ashley what I should do?? Sister Lall is 24 so she has already gone to school and gotten a degree. She is a geologist.... So we talk about rocks.... A lot. 

I fried my speaker as well, and my hot tools don't fit into Melissa's adapter, so I think I'll have to go find one. I don't know if you could look and let me know the progress of my Bank account because I have zero access to it! My card works here so that isn't a problem. I just don't know what the balance is in my account. Oh ya and a I met one of Julie Pew's friends here at the MTC his name is Toby Nolan, he came up to me! I love being a missionary, and learning about the gospel. As hard as it can be at times. I refuse to give up. I KNOW that I can do hard things, and that when I feel like I can't the Savior and Heavenly Father will be right there to help me. I love the gospel with all of my heart. And I love you all so incredibly much! Please don't ever forget it.

Love you all!

Sister Lund 

First Week

AHHH! Where do I even begin... I have so much to tell you with so little amount of time, so I will try and fit as much info as I can in here!! Leaving you at the airport was the weirdest feeling I have ever had. It was hard yet so easy because I knew I was embarking on an adventure to serve the Lord. I met people as soon as I got to my gate, and it brought me sooo much comfort. There was twelve of us flying from Salt lake to Florida, with only 4 sisters, and 8 elders. I sat by another sister, and a lady sat in between us. It was really fun to get to know new people, and I felt like my mission was actually beginning. The sweet old lady let me borrow her coloring pencils... which was probably a bad thing because in the middle of the flight they fell off my table.... I felt so bad, I lost one of them but she was so nice, she didn't mind. When we landed on the tarmac of the airport in Florida we were stuck on the plane for an hour because really bad weather. When we got off we had a layover for about two hours. Man oh man, the flight to Manchester was long... My seat was in between really really tall elders, so i didn't have a whole lot of room but it was totally fine, all part of the experience. I forgot about how the pressure changes in the plane, so when I went to drink out of my water bottle it exploded all over me so my dress got completely wet, but it was hilarious!! The elders probably though that I was such a goof. It was a breeze getting through customs at the airport. We were picked up by one of the MTC president's assistants, and then we got on the bus. Sister Benson was my buddy throughout the whole time traveling and it was so fun getting to know her, she's from Utah so I think I made a friend. When we arrived at the MTC we walked through the doors and sat in the main room and got all of our paper work and all of that stuff. All of us just wanted to take a shower, because we had been traveling all night haha. The first day felt like the longest day of my life! I definitely had a flood of emotions. I felt homesick and was really worried that I was going to have a really hard time. My companions name is Sister Lall, she is from Guyana. She didn't show up until late on the 17th so I was kind of stressed out! But she eventually got here. Sister Lall and I are complete opposites. I'm a morning person, she's not, I'm bubbly, she's not, I'm more of a spiritual thinker, she's more of a logical thinker. SO Heavenly Father definitely put us together for a reason.The weather has been really nice here. The people in England say that it isn't normal that there has been so much sunshine. So I like to think that Heavenly Father knew that I needed sunshine to brighten my mood for the first week in the MTC! We are so busy here at the MTC, that I feel like we don't even have time to think. I've had a hard time adjusting to the meals here. My stomach has been pretty upset at the MTC, so I've lost some weight. They feed us the weirdest things. And they just cook a lot differently here. I swear we eat potatoes at every meal.... yucky haha. I love being a Missionary! It brings me so much joy!!! It is SOOO hard, I have never been so uncomfortable, but I also have never had a stronger relationship with the Holy Ghost and with my Savior Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father truly does watch over his missionaries. I already have cried in one of my lessons... I have a feeling I am going to be an emotion missionary haha, My companion likes to make fun of me for it haha. But it's crazy how the spirit really does take care of our lessons, as long as we pray for it. They fed us fish and chips for the first time.... It's a no go for me haha. I've been running a lot for exercise here, it definitely helps with stress. I've been running with Sister Schulze from Germany and Sister Loefke from California because My companion doesn't really like to run. Heavenly Father is always giving me growing experiences. On sunday we were asked to prepare a talk on the atonement, and immediately I knew I was going to have to speak. So in Sacrament meeting when President Preston  called my name, and the names of 5 other missionaries I wasn't surprised. It's funny because I honestly don't remember what I said in my talk other then I remember that I shared a few scriptures. But it definitely was a growing experience. I didn't realize how many people were at the MTC until I stood up in front of everyone haha. We had personal time on sunday as well, so Sister Lall and I walked around the MTC ground, and the temple grounds. The temple is gorgeous!! My district is really fun, however the elders can get a little distracted haha. The thing that I have been thinking about  A LOT this week is what daddy always says... Attitude is everything! Because as a missionary it truly is. We are the ones that have to wake up and decide how we are going to choose to feel that day. Because with being a missionary comes a lot of emotions, and it can be really hard to work through them sometimes. SO Attitude really is everything... Thanks Daddy. I want you to know how much I love you. I pray for you every single day, and I know that Heavenly Father will bless all of you while I'm in His service. I know how much he loves each and everyone of us, and I am so grateful for this opportunity to be a missionary, because I feel that love so much deeper now. I love you so much. Make it a great week!

Love, Sister Lund