Oh How I Love Hamble River!!

Hi Fam Fam!!
Sorry this email is going to be really short. We had such a great week though. I LOVE Hamble River. The people, the scenery, everything. Something that I have been thinking a lot about this week was charity. That charity is a gift that we must ask for! I was able to see huge miracles this week, as I prayed for charity.
Our week consisted of a lot of member work. I am so grateful for the members in this area. They are so warm and welcoming. They have a strong desire to be a light to others,and they are trying their best to find missionary opportunities.
I know this email is so so so short. But we had the opportunity today to go and visit Portchester Castle. A real castle!!!!!!! It was so amazing. It was great to do some sight seeing and finally be able to see a bit more of jolly ole' England!
I am so happy here in England. There are days that are harder than others, and I have days when I miss you! But the joy I feel here is so amazing. Being able to come closer to my  Savior is incredible.
Miracle  for the week : on Sunday Sister Velez and I had the opportunity to bear our testimony in sacrament meeting, and the spirit guided me to share why I can on a mission. I was reminded of the scripture in  1 Nephi 3: 7, that God really does provide a way. How grateful I am that God prompted me to come on a mission.... I know that following his plan isn't always easy but it is always better. And I will not quit until I have accomplished what he needs me to. Growing is so hard, but that is the point why we are here. Sometimes I have to remind myself of that quite a bit. But what a gift, that God has given us this time on earth to grow and to follow him.
My companion always tells me that I am like a Disney Princess. Haha I guess I'll take that! I really am loving life right now. I hope you have an amazing week and that you are able to see miracles.
I love you. We  got this!!!
Love,
Sister Lund

 I made a crock pot dinner

 Porchester Castle...Yep, it's a real castle!!!

Seeing Things Through Spiritual Eyes!!

Hey Fam Fam!!
This week literally flew so fast!!! So fast! But it was eventful! Friday: HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA!!! it was a pretty good day. We have been doing a lot of finding. The missionaries before us in this area weren't really teaching many people, so we have been doing a lot of finding. This evening we had correlation with Brother Handley at his home. His wife made us an English roast. They are such a sweet family. They are really trying to do their best with missionary work.
Saturday: today we helped the Shepherds,a family in  our ward, clean the chapel. It was so fun for me to be in a chapel. Since I didn't have a chapel in Welling I was so excited to have one in Hamble River. It has helped me see how  much I take for granted some of the things the Lord has blessed me with. After we cleaned the church,we went and did banner contacting in Southampton. It was fun to share the Easter initiative cards with people. Such a powerful time of the year to share the gospel.
Sunday : Happy Easter!! Easter  was so great! There are four missionaries in our ward, and we got to sing for the Easter program... It was a bit scary but thankfully my companion has a great and loud singing voice. After church we went to lunch at the Smiths home. Their house is very fancy. I felt like I was in Pride and Prejudice. It was fantastic! I really enjoyed today!
Monday : 8 MONTHS!! We had exchanges in Havant. I was with Sister Walker. She is so funny and nice, she is a really great STL. We had a really fun and eventful day. We taught  multiple people about the word of wisdom. We also got locked out of their flat so we had to climb through the window, haha! So many fun times, Missions are full of them. Something I learned from this exchange was that I need to look at others and myself with spiritual eyes. It is so important, but yet I forget it so fast.
Tuesday: this evening we met with Sister Hollis. She made us a roast dinner and cherry pie... My tummy wasn't too happy with it, but it was so kind of her!! She was telling us about her conversion story. It turns out she is a baseball baptism. I guess when David O Mckay was turning 90 the missionaries wanted to baptize as many people as possible, and I'm not really sure the rest of the background, but A LOT of people were baptized and she was one of them. Then she was sharing about growing up, and how the 60s were here favorite. She is so cute.
This week was definitely a growing experience for me. I have been studying the talk "Don't look around, look up!" And I love this part: " it is not easy for us to recognize the love of Heavenly Father when we look around with our temporal eyes, because we see inconvenience,loss, burdens, or loneliness first". This is so true, I find myself many times looking FIRST with my temporal eyes rather than my spiritual eyes. I especially love the part where it says it's not easy to recognize the love of Heavenly Father. Ultimately looking through spiritual eyes is all about LOVE. I think it is so easy for us imperfect beings to look at all of our situations, and wonder why is this happening to me, or why do I need to do this, etc. But if we do this we are "blinding" ourselves from the love Heavenly Father is showing us, and the blessings he is giving to us. I want to love like He loves, but I can only do that when I LOOK with my spiritual eyes. This week was so fantastic, and I learned a lot about myself. This upcoming week I hope I will pray  fervently that He will help me to "look up" and see with my spiritual eyes. I love you all so much. I hope you have a great week. We got this!!
Love,
Sister Lund

What A Gift!!!

Hi Fam Fam!
Wow this week flew! It was a fun week. Lots of sunshine, and great views. I love my new area, and I'm excited to share what I learned this week!!
Friday: A year ago today, I got my mission call. That is crazy! It feels like yesterday. I remember opening my call, and so many emotions were flowing through me. When daddy yelled out ENGLAND, LONDON SOUTH, I was shocked. England wasn't even a place I though of. But so many amazing  things have happened here on my mission. I was called to be a missionary, and I  am assigned to serve God here in England.
I feel like my brain is spinning a bit! Whitewashing and training is definitely a different experience. But I am enjoying the journey, and I'm learning a lot. Something that I told Sister Velez was that if she learns anything from me I want her to remember that we do "all this" for our Savior. I have loved reading Alma 26 these last few days! I just thought it was really cool that I opened up to this chapter, and was able to remember why I do "all this", on my mission call anniversary! We had a dinner appointment with a couple in our ward: the Mitchell's. They are really nice. But let me tell you, the accents here are harder for me to understand!! Haha during dinner Sister Mitchell said something (that I couldn't understand) she walks outside, and picks up something, and walks back in with a tortoise. Hahaha. So that gives a tiny picture of what the DA was like. Haha me saying about a hundred times "wait what?" 🙈
Saturday: today we had interviews in Portsmouth. They were really good. It's weird to be in a new zone, with new missionaries!! It's great! Through training, I am starting to relearn the basics of missionary work. It is refreshing. But also kind of hard to switch your habits!
Sunday: It was Portsmouth Stake Conference, and they got a new stake presidency so Elder Sabin, and Elder Moriera were there. I really enjoyed the conference. The spirit was really strong. We are just trying to get used to our area! We are seeing lots of miracles though!
Monday: I love sharing the Easter Initiative! It is so powerful!!!! I felt like a successful missionary today. We worked really hard. And it was fun! Sister Velez is so funny! She literally waves to everyone we pass! Haha so cute! I've started to do it too, she also sings everywhere we go, and I've kind of started to as well. 😊 today she turned to me and she was like "Sister Lund, I think one of the reasons you are my companion is because I need to lighten up. You're crazy in a good way" haha I just laughed. I am kind of crazy, but you've got to have fun!
Tuesday: these days are just flying by! We had lots of adventures today! We got really lost today, and ended up in two different cemeteries, haha I don't even know how! But I don't mind getting lost, I think there is always a reason,  cause we met some really nice people who accepted Easter cards!! I think Hamble River is so beautiful!!
This week really I have learned a lot about myself. I have learned that you know what, I can do hard things. I have learned that when I was set apart, that I literally was set apart and given the tools and power to accomplish the work that He has for me. What a gift! I have learned that being humble is so important. I am not perfect, and I make mistakes, but I am going to let those mistakes shine! It is okay that I don't know everything, or I'm not the best at something! I have been blessed with other things. What a gift! I have learned that our Father in Heaven is "concerned not just about our comfort but even more about our upward progress" (Pres. Eyring) . He wants us to progress, and learn. What a gift! But I think the thing I loved learning the most this week, was that my Savior and redeemer really truly is by my side. He is guiding me. He is putting people in my path. He died for me. What a gift. He lives, and He is risen....WHAT A GIFT! I am so blessed, and I have been given so many gifts. I love you so much. I hope you have a great Easter, and that you remember Him. We got this!!
Love,
Sister Lund

Hamble River is so beautiful!!

Come As You Are..But Don't Stay As You Are!!

Hi Fam Fam!!!
Oh my goodness... where do I even begin! Soooo much has happened this week! So excited to share with you my journey this week in Jolly Ole' England!
Thursday: We didn't have much time in our area, because we had a few appointments to go to! Not much to report!
Friday: Wowzers... today we had a Zone leadership training at Presidents house. It was so fun! It was kind of weird though since I am training a new missionary, I won't be an STL anymore, so we got to meet Sister Honeycutt's new companion, Sister Bradshaw, she is super nice. She has been serving on Jersey, the Channel Island. Haha she got off the Island!
Saturday: So Sister Honeycutt, Sister Bradshaw, and I are in a Trio companionship until moves. Being in a trio is strange! You have to keep track of an extra person! The best part about today was that we got to watch General Conference!!! It was SO needed. Haha traveling to the Wakeley's (senior missionary couple in the ward) was an adventure. We missed the bus, and it comes hourly. So we had to walk to their house. It was so fun! I haven't seen so much grass and mud for a really long time! Being in Welling you just get so used to all the buildings! Conference was so uplifting. I am always so amazed... each time I go into Conference, I always go in with questions, and they ALWAYS are answered. I love how our Heavenly Father works. Also we found out Moves today! I'll be training my sweet new missionary in Hamble River, in Portsmouth!
Sunday: For some reason my alarm didn't go off this morning... so Sister Honeycutt and I accidentally slept in a little bit. Whoops! I'm triple checking my alarms now! We got to watch some more General Conference today! But this time we watched it at the flat, and the Erith Sisters came over, and we had pancakes! You'd be proud of me daddy. I'm a pro at making pancakes now haha! JK. We dropped by Maureen's house to say goodbye to her and Christian and the Family, sadly she was the only one home! It was so good to say goodbye to her. She was such a SPECIAL person!
Monday: Last day in Welling. I can't even believe it. This place has become home, and I've met so many amazing people here. But I know the Lord has assigned me to serve in another place and I'm excited for a new experience! We got to teach Wilfred this morning! He was sad that I was leaving, he wishes I could stay longer, but he knows I am on the Lords errand. Wilfred will always hold a special place in my heart. He has taught me to always follow the Savior no matter what trial you are going through! Now hopefully through his example, his family will get baptized!! I was able to say goodbye to sweet Pam Mackinnon. Oh Pam... I love her. She has become one of my eternal friends, and I know one day she will accept the Gospel! I also was able to say goodbye to Francesca! She told me the next time you see me I'll be a member, and before you leave I want to go to the temple with you! I just thought to myself this is what missions are all about!! How cool is this...people are coming closer to their Savior! It just is so amazing!!
Tuesday: Move Day!! Oh my days, craziest day ever! Haha if you only could have seen me... The sisters helped me get on the train this morning, but as we were waiting for the train at the station, I just looked at Sister Honeycutt and was like "My bags are too heavy, I'm taking stuff out!" She was like "here?" Haha so I unzipped my bag, and started handing her clothes and random items haha! But hey they were lighter! I got on the train, and rode it all the way to London Victoria train station (which by the way is in central London, so it's a busy place!) I was soooo nervous to go through the station by myself with all my bags. Sadly no one helped me with my bags, but that's okay I gained muscle! 😊 I then got on my train to Lingfield. When I arrived at my station, I threw my bags off the train, and jumped off haha! Then realized I had to climb 2 flights of stairs with all my luggage to get to the car park. Thankfully people saw and helped me!! Then the office staff picked me up, and drove me to the temple! I was able to do a session at the Temple which was AMAZING! I know that God knew I really needed this right now, I just am in awe at how He works. Then after the temple all the trainers (4 sisters, 3 Elders) had training on how to train. So that was nice.
Wednesday: new missionaries arrive!! I am so nervous/excited!! When the bus pulled up with the new missionaries my heart skipped a beat. This is going to be a hard/fun/growing time! We were able to have lunch with them, and then they went into interviews with President, and then they had training. We had a devotional, and then we found out who we are training! I am training Sister Velez, from Bakersfield, California! She is so sweet! But she is also really smart! Haha some of the things she says I'm like " wait, what?" But she is ready to be a missionary, so it'll be great!  We had to travel to Portsmouth this evening. And that was an adventure. We got into our area late, luckily the Elders were there to pick us up... since we are whitewashing we have no idea where ANYTHING is!!
Wow I have learned so much this week. I've learned that when we trust God, miracles happen. We are asked to do scary things sometimes, but he will always place tender mercies in our path. I have seen that a lot this week! I am loving Hamble River so far! I haven't seen much yet, but I am excited to explore, and to meet the people here! It is a nice change to be out of the city. In the mornings instead of the sound of buses, I get to hear seagulls. It is a dream boat! Oh man Portsmouth has an amazing feel to it! The members here are so kind! One of the daughters of a family in our ward, she already drove us to go grocery shopping! How sweet! I think a phrase from Conference that I am pondering a lot on is from Elder Holland. He said "Come as you are... but don't plan to stay as you are". I love this. God is always willing to meet us where we are at, but we need to know and remember that this life is about change and growth! I hope you all have an amazing week. I love you sooooooooooooo much! We got this!
Love, Sister Lund

 My cute gown right before my barium tests

 You should have seen me carry all these by myself

 I got my baby today

 Meet Sister Velez

 I was able to do a session in the London Temple

 The view from my flat

 My flat!!