First Email from Mexico City

December 27, 2013  8:42 pm

Hola mi familia!

Well, I just got to the MTC here in Mexico City safe and sound. The flights were good. I sat next to an old mother and daughter from Mexico City who were spending the holidays in Miami. I didn't get to share much of the Gospel, but I let them know I was a missionary and I got to practice my Spanish with them. The driving was a little sketchy coming over, but the trip to Puerto Vallarta last summer prepared me well. We got our packets and have started the registration process. We had Costco pizza for dinner! Excellent stuff. I had to get another Hep B shot, but oh well. They also were handing out Spanish Scriptures here for those who didn't have them which were pretty much all the missionaries in my group. At least I got mine engraved and got to highlight them beforehand.

I promise to be more formal in my future letters. I'm just trying to get a lot of stuff done right now.

I love all of you, and have fun at the BYU Game tonight!

Love,

Elder Lund

Off He Goes...

On Friday, December 27, 2013 at 5:00 am we headed to the San Jose Airport to drop off Marcus for his flight to Dallas and then to Mexico City. We all felt an amazing sense of peace and gratitude during this time. It is a blessing and an opportunity to serve a mission.  Godspeed Elder Lund!  We love you! (posted by Jennifer)

Elder Marcus Anthon Lund--Officially A Full-Time Missionary

December 26, 2013  Lund Home - Carmel, California

Before a missionary departs on their mission, he/she is given a priesthood blessing called a "setting apart" which bestows authority to preach the gospel as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Our Stake President, President Green, came to our home and visited with us, taught us much, and then pronounced a beautiful blessing upon Marcus.  I knew this would be a special time, but truly the spirit was present and this will be a time I treasure forever.  Scott, my father, and my brother Greg also participated in the blessing. Afterwards, Marcus was indeed "ready to go" and could have hopped on a plane that instant to get down to Honduras.  It was a wonderful evening and especially meaningful at this Christmas season. (posted by Jennifer)

Receiving the Mission Call

I received my call on August 30^th, 2013. It was quite a remarkable day.  Victoria was visiting for a few weeks before she headed back to BYU and we were really hoping the call would come while she was still in Carmel.  Our Stake President, President Green, had called on August 22 to let my mom know he saw online that I had been issued a call earlier that day and that we could expect the letter from Church Headquarters the next Thursday or Friday.  Well, the mail usually comes no later than 4:00pm, but on this Friday the mail truck didn’t show up until 6:00.  We saw the mail truck and I ran out to get the mail.  I held up the large letter from the mailbox and my family all screamed.    Victoria and I helped the grandparents set up Skype and face time and when all were connected, it was time for me to open my call.  

It really was a moment of great anticipation, and when I read aloud my call to serve in the Honduras San Pedro Sula West Mission, my family cheered. I know this is where I am supposed to be serving.