March 9, 2015

Hej hej!! I don't have much time to email today at all, the computers are really not great right now. We have basically like 1 computer for about 20 missionaries. It's kinda rough but hopefully it should be fixed soon.

This week was great. We played lots of sports last Pday and played some ping pong at the Gubbängen chapel. Today for pday we went to this beautiful little town called Dalarö. Superrrrr pretty. I finally got a fjällraven backpack which is SO great. I was so sick of that little cheeseball purse. Tuesday we had a mission tour where Elder Donaldson (area 70) came and talked to us about the Holy Ghost and how we feel it and whatnot. It was super great!  We've been trying to teach a lot of lessons on the street this week, but it's been kinda hard because pday, mission tour, and then we had to go to Stockholm Wednesday to get my personnummer which took FOREVER. So this week has kinda flown by.  We met a guy in Nynäshamn that was taught basically everything by the missionaries almost 10 years ago and hopefully we can meet with him this week. Our Sunday was interesting. I gave a talk!! Woohoo!! På svenksa! It seemed to go okay but I totalllly butchered a lot of the words but it's all gucci. People seemed to like it and laughed at some random things I said.....Another funny thing, all the bishopric kids like to sit on the stand with their dads and whatnot so they all squeeze on the bench and it's funny to just look at.Simple week with not a lot of time to email, more pics and details next week!  "When it comes to matters of style, swim with the current. But when it comes to matters of principle, stand firm like a rock" - Thomas JeffersonFun and inspirational quote of the week that our zone leader told us.I love and miss you all so much!! Keep on rocking it back in the states!!

Kärlek,

Syster Jordan Lund

Cat girl...not sure what that means in Sweden

Zone conference in Stockholm with Syster Poulson,  Syster Giles and her trainer.

Still crazy Jordan!

Liking those red rain boots!

Syster Lund and her companion Syster Poulson

Morning run...

Pday in Dalarö

Enjoying the warm weather

 March 2, 2015

Hej hej everyone!

I hope everything is going well back home, life in Sweden is SO great! It was so nice to get lots of emails last week and to see lots of pics of what's going on outside of mission life haha. Last Monday we came back from Stockholm and had almost 3 hours to get 15 contacts. We got all of those (and more) and got a ton of street lessons! It was crazy, but this week we have been working really hard on street lessons and they are really paying off! We've gotten investigators this week (some are somewhat shifty but that's okay) and they are fully prepared to meet with us! So cool. Something else I've realized this week is that we are always soaking wet and freezing when we meet the coolest most amazing people. Kinda a bummer for us - but 18947698% worth it. 

We did an interview thing for three cute Swedish girls (high school age) for an essay they were doing on Mormons. They asked us a bunch of questions and whatnot, we ended up teaching almost every lesson in PMG - Sister Poulson rocks basically haha. 

We talked to a guy this week that worshipped Thor..that was kinda cool/interesting. It's really awesome to just get to know what other people believe here, apparently there is a religion that believes in a flying spaghetti monster too, and they have like 300 members. Blows my mind! But super cool to see the diversity. Much respect for anyone in their religion.

We had our first ward counsel and it was cool to see how they do it in Sweden. Lots of it was tough to understand but that's okay, I got the general idea haha.

We have this really cool investigator named Peter who is quasi old, but works out all the time. He seems to be very interested in the gospel which is way cool and he wants to keep meeting with us. This past week we taught about the Plan of Salvation and he agreed with all of it and had some really good interesting questions.

We went to Nynäshamn which is part of our area and taught a practice lesson to the relief society president. Nynäshamn is one of the cutest little towns I have ever seen. Super fun to walk around and contact there. And our lesson went well so that's great too! We also had a dinner in Ösmo with a cute old couple but they were very far out into the country so we had a nice scenic drive there. And we practiced our lesson there too - hopefully improving each time. 

We attended another baptism for our ZL Saturday and had to start the font for them. President and his wife were there and we were able to talk to them about some complicated situations we have with one of our investigators. 

We made some delicious fried rice for dinner this week! SO good. 

Yesterday evening, we came out of dinner and still had to get at least 19 more contacts to meet our weekly goal. It was pouring rain and super cold and windy outside so no one was out! We were really struggling to find motivation. But I knew we had to keep going. I kept on thinking about the scripture Helaman 5:12 which talks about even when the devil sends lots of winds (literally) against us to hold strong to our foundation. We kept going, and talking to everyone we possibly could. We taught lessons to people that listened and by the end of the night, when we had completed our goal, we came back to our apartment building to find a man that we talked to, taught, and set up another time to meet with! I know that if we hadn't kept going he wouldn't have been there and that would have been a lost opportunity. I know that everything happens for a reason and that everything is in the Lord's time.

I love and miss you all so much! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY. It's the greatest, even when times can be tough.

Kärlek,

Syster Lund

FINALLY IN SWEDEN

Monday, February 23, 2015

Hej hej! 

It is so good to finally be here!!! Just a quick overview: I have been assigned to Västerhaninge and my trainer and companion is Syster Poulson. The area is super small and we basically walk everywhere. Sometimes we take the tåg (train) to some families that live a little ways away but other than that it is all walking! Everything is relatively close and we have the temple in our mission! Which means that we also have all the temple missionaries so that is cool too!

The flights over here went relatively well. Except for that last flight when I called you and I was almost in tears. The Lord really softened the heart of the workers there or they would not have helped us and ran down to get our passports out of our carry ons. The plane was delayed basically an hour - whoops. BUT WE MADE IT! We got to Stockholm and did some tours and what not. Took some pics, I'm sure the presidents wife sent them to you. By the way, the president and his wife are the nicest people ever. We also went to a baptism that evening which was pretty cool. We came back to the mission home and ate dinner and passed out right after that, we were so exhausted. Syster Hong and I slept in really comfy bed so it was a great night of sleep. We woke up the next morning and were still pretty tired but had breakfast (got some cool mittens :) ) and went to the church for more training. And that is where we met our trainers! We had to stand up and read off basically another call letter and then we were assigned an area and a companion. All the trainers are super cool - but mine is the best. Her name is Syster Poulson and she is from Tehachapi California which is cool. We get along really well and we both have a super positive attitude about this area and the mission in general. IT'S GREAT!

So Västerhaninge is amazing. I love it. It is so small and so cute and it is just so awesome to be here. We've had dinners almost every night and the members are super supportive and loving of the missionaries (especially the sisters)

Our apartment is so small - but it is sufficient for our needs. It is one huge room and a small portapotty size kitchen and bathroom. Oh and our shower... you stand in the bathroom and hold the knozzle over yourself. hahah it's different but interesting haha the whole bathroom gets wet and it's just....great. Our first day we locked ourselves out...my trainer felt so bad that she didnt remember the keys. It was totally my fault too. So we went out and contacted (without coats) and then got too cold so we went and chilled in the temple until the assistants brought the keys to us. Turns out the president was in the temple at the same time...needless to say, we booked it out of there as quick as we could. 

I tried this thing called kebab..apparently is a big thing in Sweden. Not too shabby actually! Also, apparently crepes are Swedish pancakes and that the french took it from us...who knows haha.

We play soccer on Thursday nights with a bunch of cool African guys..it's awesome. Oh also, there are all sorts of people, religions, and ethnicities here...it's cool.

Funny moment: The elders had this really great baptismal service for one of their investigators and she is way cool. She is a super cute, young, black lady and she had the cutest outfit on before we slapped some baptism clothes on her. Anyways..she came out of the water and in her testimony to everyone she said..I quote, "That was the f%&#ing best of my life!". Needless to say the elders probably didn't cover language with her hahaahah

Spiritual experience of the week: Syster Poulson and I seriously talk to almost everyone we can...and we had a Book of Mormon that we both highlighted our favorite scriptures in and we decided we wanted to place it. The whole day had gone by and people just kept giving us the hand and saying nej and whatnot. So 8pm rolled around and there weren't too many people out but we decided to cruise over to the train station. We ended up talking to this guy named Bozedal and he seemed really interested in the Book of Mormon and agreed to meet with us again!! He asked how much the book was...haaa we just told him he could have it (obviously). Anyways, it was really cool and we might be meeting with him tonight. 

Church on Sunday was good! I could understand some stuff...except for the Hispanic Spanish is super hard for me to understand right now haha oh well! I said the closing prayer in sacrament meeting..it seemed to go okay! I met a lot more people and it was just really good! 

Oh and I found out this morning that I have been eating moldy bread for 4 days. WHOOPS. Needless to say, we tossed that.

THE LANGUAGE: It's coming. We talk to so many straight up Swedes all the time so I get lots of practice. Syster Poulson is really impressed (not sure why) with my Swedish butttt really it's not that good. But I love it. I love Språk study and studying the language all the time. I just really enjoy learning it. So basically when I don't understand something someone on the street or in church says, I just turn to Poulson and she translates for me haha.

"You've had eternity to prepare for this mission, and you have eternity to look back on it, but you only have 18 months to live it". It's hard work, and it can be hard not to get down on life when it is cold, dark, and people don't like you. But I know that this is the time that I will remember for the rest of my life, and I want to live it in such a way that I enjoy looking back on it. I want my head to hit the pillow every night knowing that I did everything and anything I could to help the people in Sweden that day. 

Love and miss you all SOOOOO mycket. I can't wait to read through your emails :) Gud var med dig tills vi möts igen!

Syster Lund

Watch out Sweden...here come the new sister missionaries and their trainers.

Syster Lund and her trainer and new companion, Syster Poulson

ARRIVING IN SWEDEN...Ready to go forth and serve!

Syster Lund arriving at the Stockholm Airport

Touring Stockholm

Visiting the Stockholm Temple

Syster Lund with her new companion and trainer, Syster Poulson. They will be serving in Västerhaninge II.

Provo Missionary Training Center

Syster Lund and Syster Hong

All Sweden Bound Missionaries

Just in case you didn't know where Sweden is.

Best Companion Ever

The huddle...

The Systers are here.

Study Time

Twins by accident

Showing off the haircut.

One Month Mark!

Practicing kick-boxing moves

Twins again...

Tomorrow, February 16, marks the big departure day for Syster LUND and all the other missionaries heading to Stockholm, Sweden.  After six weeks of language training, she is excited to start her mission.

WEEK 1 QUOTE:  "If you are in your comfort zone you are not growing, and if you are in your growth zone you won't be comfortable."

WEEK 2 QUOTE:  "It is sooooo hard to be a missionary but it is SO REWARDING. I love having the Spirit with me always and I know that the trials and challenges I face will build character and help me better teach the gospel to people. I just love it...Just a quick thought: PRAY ALWAYS. I have prayed so much since I have been here and it is so great. It's wonderful to know that Himmelske Fader is really there to hear us and answer our prayers. But in order for him to answer them, we need to have a sincere heart - meaning that whatever the answer may be, we have to be willing to act on that answer. Just keep that in mind."

WEEK 3 QUOTE:  Life is so great here, I love being a missionary! Times get hard and gloomy sometimes, but I know my purpose well enough to know that there is a reason I am here. Thanks to you, Dad, I have not even ONCE considered going home. The thought hasn't even crossed my mind and I am so grateful for that!! We had a lot of great talks this week (Brother Allen and Elder Kacher) but I just want to share one thought. I've really been trying to develop more Christ-like attributes as I continue through my mission and to help me with that, Sister Johnson (Relief Society) said, "Seek the attention of men not by being a character, but by having good character." And that is exactly what I am striving to do.

WEEK 4 QUOTE:  Life is going onward and upward! A thought I really liked this week was that we have "One shot, so make it count". We have one shot on earth, one shot to be a parent, one shot to be a friend and for me, one shot to be a missionary. I want to make this shot count BIG TIME. It motivates me to be more focused on that shot knowing that I am not here for myself but for the people in Sweden who's well-being and eternal life I hold in my hands.

WEEK 5 QUOTE: 

Something that I really liked this week is actually a talk that I read from Elder Holland that he gave at the MTC a few years back. He told a story of how he was on a rag tag basketball team that made it to the finals and that although they were down their coach pulled them aside and said essentially this, "I know you are giving it your all, I can see that. But these next 20 minutes are the most important in this game. We can rest all we want after that, but for these next 20 minutes I need you to go out there and give it everything you have, put it all on the table." And that is exactly what I am striving to do. I don't want to leave anything behind. I want to give this mission my all in every way I possibly can. The more I consecrate myself, the better missionary I can become and the more I can help people to have the same joy we have in the gospel.

Test 2

Farewell 12-28-2014

Mormon.org Profile

About Me

I am a student at Brigham Young University studying Business Management/Marketing. I have one younger brother, and two Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs. I like hanging out with friends and family playing games, watching movies, or being physically active outdoors. I love playing tennis, hiking, running, volleyball, and just having fun. I was involved in various leadership positions in high school including Sophomore and Junior Vice President and Advocate Parliamentarian of the Associate Student Body. I was also the CEO of the nonprofit organization Kids Helping Kids and helped raise $185,000 to help benefit the needs of people both locally and globally. I love to listen to music, dance, and make great memories with the best of friends.

Why I am a Mormon

I am a Mormon because I love the light it brings into my life. Although I was born into this wonderful church, I have had to build my own testimony on various aspects and principles of our gospel. Going through high school and college with the foundation of Christ has blessed me in so many ways. The standards set in the For Strength of Youth have kept me on the straight and narrow and keep me from straying too far from the truth. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church and the fulness of the gospel can be found within its teachings. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the Lord and restored this gospel to the earth for our profit and learning. I am grateful for a modern day prophet who leads and guides us today. I am grateful that our Latter-day prophet, Thomas S. Monson, is worthy to receive direct revelation pertaining to our present day world. I know that the Book of Mormon is the true word of God in accordance with the Bible. I know that the only way to be saved and gain exaltation is to be baptized so we can return to live in God's presence. I am eternally indebted to our Savior, Jesus Christ, for his Atonement so that all mankind can be cleansed of their sins and stand blameless before God at the last day. That is why I m a Mormon

How I live my faith

I participate in my community and ward by setting an example for the truthfulness and light of the gospel. I have been Beehive and Miamaid president and 1st Counselor of the Laurel class. I served as the Bishop's Communication Assistant and Relief Society Teacher in my student wards at BYU. Within these callings, I have made and printed sacrament programs, attended Bishopric, Ward Council, and PEC meetings, and taught the beautiful women in my Ward Relief Society. These callings have helped me focus more on others and care about the general well being of people I love. I am able to learn and grow through these duties and I am forever grateful for each opportunity I have to share my testimony and knowledge of the gospel.