It was the Best of Times!

The last two weeks have come and gone. At times, I was almost stressed to the max. You see, we had been keeping track of which missionaries were receiving packages and letters from home since Thanksgiving. We found that there were about 68 missionaries who had received only a "minor something from home", like a box of granola bars, or a person's medication, or had not received anything at all. There were 29 missionaries in this last category.  President Olson and I had reviewed the list. We had received a few packages, as well as gift cards. He decided who was the most needy to receive a package and a few gift cards, and then he said, "I'd appreciate it if you would just take care of this". I was concerned that the 29 wouldn't all receive something. So, one day, Elder Lund and I decided we would make a few more care packages. Hearing that we were doing this, Chris and Mandee, decided to also help with gift packages. Emily and her children also became involved. Then, Mandee posted our need on Facebook. My niece Michelle became involved. Mandee's sisters made packages as well. My sister Marsha jumped in to help. Michelle posted it on her web page. Teacher's at her school started to help. Mandee started to receive packages from people she didn't even know. This all took place within a 24 hour time period. When it was time for the packages to be picked up by the zone leaders, we had all but two gifts. I raced to the store and bought a few more ties and included a little bit of money with them. Then, literally in a flash, the packages were all picked up and gone.

Somehow, I was so exhausted that day. I came home from the office and just told Elder Lund that I just had to put myself in "timeout". Many of our missionaries come from homes where parents don't want them to serve. Or they come from half way around the world and sending packages costs a fortune. Or the parents think they are old enough that they don't need to do something for them, or parents just don't care, or they come from countries where they don't celebrate Christmas. Whatever the reason, every missionary would come to the office looking for something. One parent called saying that her daughter had emailed that everyone was getting a present and she was sitting there crying, wondering why her mother hadn't sent something.  That mom finally did send something. Another Sister missionary contacted her mom and said she was worried that her companion wasn't going to receive anything. That mother rallied and brought a package to the office just for the companion. Thanks to many of you who helped to give them a package. One missionary came to my home  after Christmas and his eyes literally lit up when he said, "Sister Lund, I actually got something! Who was it from?" And I just said, "You know Elder, just someone who loves you." Thank you, to each of you, so much for dropping everything you were doing to help those 68 Elders and Sisters.

On another note, many missionaries came into the office yesterday to bring the last of baptism reports for the year 2011. It was fun to see them and to realize that we are at the close of 2011. I read an article wherein the author said because he had just turned 40 he went to the dr. to get a complete physical, check the heart, cholesterol, blood pressure, etc. He then went to say that he was doing a "spiritual" physical to see if he is doing things that would raise his "spiritual blood pressure", things like listening to music in the car that may drive the spirit away, he was checking for "spiritual cholesterol", does he read his scriptures and ponder their meaning daily, or does he get so involved with other "daily" things that his spiritual body is getting "sludged up. I started reflecting on this past year. As his doctor told him, "He was in pretty good shape, but he could always do better". I have had some incredible blessings and experiences this year, but I could always do better. I know that I am going to have a great loss and void in my life when I am released in June. I need to make plans now as to what I must do to keep my "spiritual" body in good condition.

As a last note, Hortensia, the mother who went to court, just received clearance from the First Presidency to be baptized. She is being baptized today and will be confirmed at church tomorrow. What a neat way to end one year and begin another. I have thought that tomorrow when I take the sacrament will be a good time to repent, and become clean again, and start the new year fresh, just like Hortensia is doing. Isn't it amazing that Heavenly Father provides a plan whereby through the covenants we make at baptism, we can do just that, repent daily, and weekly partake of the sacrament and become clean again?

Happy New Year to all of you. I hope we will all recognize the blessings Heavenly Father is sending us each day. Thanks for your love, prayers, and support.