Tonga Week 13

I don't have much time to talk today sadly. My companion wants to go see his family. Hope you all are well.

Me:
I'm doing great. I took a nap yesterday and I don't think naps agree with my body because I couldn't fall asleep last night till about 2 AM. I enjoyed Christmas. It was super nice to talk to you on Saturday. I have a new puppy named Achilles because my companion tripped and cut his ankle when we got him. I cleaned the house today and did some laundry. If anyone wants to send me a washing machine it'd be great. Just kidding! I found pickles for sale here and they are only like 2 dollars and taste good so I added pickles to my diet with the granola since I can't always get fresh cucumbers.

Companionship:
We went to the Nobles house and we ate tons of food on Christmas. They roasted a sheep and a pig. There was lots of raw fish and also kumala. (Sweet potato) We are getting along okay. We ride our bikes almost everywhere which is nice.

Tonga:
Tonga has been super super hot. It's also humid enough that when I try to take my shirt off it is so stuck to my back it doesn't come off.

I have to go. I'll talk to you when I get back or next week! Love you all!!

Tonga Week 12

This week went well. We have a baptism on Christmas Eve currently. Hopefully it works out. Transfers turned out to be yesterday and me and my companion are still here. We will be here until February and then probably a little longer.

Congrats to Caldon and Kenzie on getting married. I remember hearing them talk in Spanish through all of their first date. It was pretty hilarious. I think Lyssa and I got about 3 words out that whole night.

I finished up being sick last Wednesday. The doctor told me not to eat anything for 4 days other than liquids. You all know how much I love food so that was a real test. Saturday was the hottest day I've ever felt in my life. I never thought I would be able to sweat while standing in front of a fan inside, but Tonga proved me wrong even there!

Elder Vailea, my favorite zone leader so far went home on Friday. He lost 70 pounds on his mission bringing him down to only 360. He was hilarious. He'd do anything to help us, not to mention food clean up on everything around the house.

Language: I understand almost everything people say. Speaking is a different matter. It continues to be quite rough. I can get my point across,  but I have to drop my voice down an octave because Tongan is a mumbled and from the throat language.

Christmas: I'm not sure if I told you, but the member who is our Fafanga (feeding) on the 25th of each month is a Noble. Tongan royalty is huge here. We will be fed very well that day. I miss the snow and the cold. As well as sweaters and such. I don't think I've ever been so tan in my life, especially around Christmas!

Gym: I think I mentioned it but I'm not sure. We have Tongas only gym and track in our area. We go every morning at 5 now and my companion has lost a lot of weight. I love being able to work out like I did back home.

Food: One of our investigators, her name is Sia, told us to come over whenever we can't find food. She makes her food wonderful. Tons of coconuts, vegetables and fruit, as well as sanitary and deliciously cooked meat. I can't even tell you how thankful I am for her. Her food is the only kind I think could be close to yours mom! She even sends us with some home every time. She's around 70 years old and is hilarious. I bought a hand blender last week. It works wonderful!

I slept without my feet covered the other night. No rat bites, but I got 57 mosquito bites on my right foot and just a little less on my left. No joke itches more than anything I've ever felt.

One of our best families told us not to come back this week. I'm getting pretty use to it though. Still makes me sad. Our house is so hot and humid the walls and our books all sweat.

My facial hair has something wrong. It started growing super fast. I have to shave twice a day. Once at 5 am and again at about 4 Pm. We shower about 4 times a day and it's super cold which feels nice now.

Hanz, Izi, Emma, and Leif: love you all tons! I miss wrestling and running around with you all! Hope you're taking care of Mom, Dad and Lyssa for me!!

I know this church is true. Hope you all are reading the Book of Mormon to know for yourselves as well. Nothing will ever come unless you start.
Love you all,
Elder Lundskog

Tonga Week 11

Dear Family,

This week was good and very busy.

Me:

I'm doing great, finally starting to feel better. We got bikes and they expanded our area. Guess what?  You know that one track in Tonga? (There's only one on the whole island) that's now in my area! We plan to go this afternoon. I found Annies mac and cheese last week so me and my comp bought 9 boxes. I also got tired of getting sick so I bought every vegetable currently in season. 6 pineapples at 50 cents a piece and carrots, cucumbers, green beans, apples and pears! I've been feeling a bit better. The bikes are also very fun, they are total beach cruisers and pretty fun to ride. We go out to the outskirts of our area and it now only takes is about 5 minutes.

Companionship:

We played away in a Manger yesterday for a musical fireside. It sounded beautiful. We plan to go caroling a bit this week and next week. It's very different not having snow or at least the cold weather for christmas. We taught a bit less this week because we had a lot of meetings. The bikes have made things a bit interesting. I think he thinks that we pass a lot of potentials riding bikes, but I talk to everyone I see so I don't know how! The cleaning has gone back to about how it was the first week. 

Tonga:

Tonga is good, we had Pizza from the only pizza place here on Thursday. It was delicious. Tastes like homemade pizza. The occasional hard rain storms are quite frustrating because it will be sunny and then you'll be drenched within like 5 minutes. Dogs have been more of a problem with the bikes, I like the lift my legs up approach, but my companion prefers the walk on the side of the bike and hit them if they try to bite. Our sisters in our district tried to take my flip flops, I just wore out my first pair and was wearing the cool vans ones that Luke gave me and she asked to try them on and then forgot to give them back. Eventually after walking barefoot for a couple hours they made their way back. I bought fishing hooks because we have a fishing shop in the area now, and I might not when I get transferred to a new area by the sea.

Tongan Weddings:

There was a wedding on Wednesday. It was a palangi guy from Fairview Utah and one of our best members. They met on their mission when they served in California. (Don't worry Lys, I'm a missionary and won't be finding any sisters out here;) They had a big dance for the wedding and the prince of Tonga came. Since the dance was right next to the house the speakers from the dance shook our little house and stuff fell off the shelves and we couldn't fall asleep till 1 AM.

I better go, Love you all, good luck with Christmas preparations!

Love, Elder Lundskog

PS: I will call on your Christmas next week. I think the least expensive way is using Facebook through your phone so plan to stay in a spot with good wifi.

Tonga Week 10

I think it's week 10?

Tonga:
It's hot, humid and mango season. It rains nearly everyday and the rain here is more like buckets continuously pouring. We eat Lu what seams like every Sunday, and struggle daily with contacting the members to make us food. Luckily, if really hungry we can usually find fruit almost anywhere on the trees. The mangos are delicious. We eat the skin and all and eat them like an apple.

Companionship: Things went a bit better this last week, we are teaching a Wesleyan Minister and a Baptist Missionary. Hardest lessons ever! We also decided to do a lot more service and cut the lawn for our investigators and the senior couples baked them cakes. The companionship is going well and the work is improving.

Personal: I got some nasty food poisoning from some chicken on Wednesday night and threw up for a couple days, but I guess the more sick I get in the beginning the less I will in the end because I'll be immune to everything? Who knows...maybe not. This last week was fun though and I thoroughly enjoyed the service. I also found granola, it's called Muesli or something over here but tastes the same. It's pretty cheap so I started eating that for Breakfast. I caught a massive spider the size of my hand this last week, I'll try to send the picture. Don't worry, the Tongan kids told me they don't think they're poisonous, but they told me on Tongan so who knows!

I love you all and thanks everyone for your letters! Sorry I am sometimes unable to respond to everyone!
Love, Elder Lundskog

PS: We are teaching an Olympic Archer right now and so I go shoot bows with him!

Tonga Week 9

Dear Family and Friends,

How are you all?! Sorry I have not had the time to respond to all the emails last week, the internet here is prone to go down for several hours at a time and it could today as well because it has been particularly stormy. We have gone into the Hurricane season and it is very hot. The season peaks around January and dissipates around April.

Personally I am doing okay. This last week was rough because we lost 4 of our best investigators, and it was probably the hardest in terms of food. Sea Urchin and Kupa Moa. We also had raw fish, which was seriously just a freshly caught fish put on a plate in front of us. We are supposed to dip it in lemon as we eat it. I expected running to be easy here because of the elevation, but it turns out the humidity is a killer.

Companionship is going well. I LOVE to clean everything as I'm sure you all know, as well as cook and do the dishes, but things are going better. It is definitely weird not to be having a regular snowy christmas. The companionship is getting better and so is my Tongan.

Tonga is great. It's hot, the food is rough and the kids love to randomly come in and play jokes on us in the night, but overall, it is great. Sorry I do not have much time to write today.

I love you all, and am thankful to be out here. Thank you all for your support. I know this church is true. I know if you will read the Book of Mormon, you will know of its truthfulness and gain a Testimony.

Love you all,
Elder Lundskog

Tonga Week 7

Dear Family,
     This week has been an adventure. Lots happened, I was sick until Wednesday, but on Tuesday I was so frustrated with being in the house that we left and went out to some of our investigators houses to make new appointments. On Friday while walking by the Noble of Longolongo's house the house caught on fire. It is probably one of the nicest houses here. They couldn't put it out with all the fire trucks in Tonga. It burnt the house next to it down as well. Some little kids lit it on fire!  On Friday night there was a dance on the church property where we live. We couldn't sleep until 12:30. Also, Peanut was hit by a car. Broke his back right leg. Very sad. I taped it and put two spoons so the bone had some support.

     Personal:
I have been feeling a lot better. I got bit by a Spider on my left leg on the vein so it swelled way up. The mosquitos still love me as well. I didn't do so great with exercising this last week because I was sick but will start new tomorrow. Apart from that I did get a little sick of the food this week. We didn't get like anything home made so it was a lot of bread and stuff bought from the store. I was a little disappointed this week with how I was sick so we set our goals high for the rest of the week. We were able to help a lot of people.

     Companionship:
Things have been going well. We are both looking forward to Christmas and plan on cutting down a small coconut tree to put in our MQ. Weird fact, our MQ is built on an incline because the wind only blows in one direction here. Apart from that I will be here for a while so I'm trying to be as nice as I can even when things can be slightly frustrating.

     The Work:
The work has been well. We do a lot of door approaches and one of our investigators is progressing very well, however, there's one drawback in that he makes his living growing and selling Marijuana. Nothing is really illegal here so there's not much fear with drugs. We have been trying to help him find a new job and it is progressing. We found a family that are big runners. I was very excited. They have a daughter who is 14 and is the fastest in Tonga. She will compete in the Pacific Games in 2019 and so I have started to help train her. We teach her, three siblings and their parents. All is going well.

That's all for now, I just want to again let you all know if you read the Book of Mormon daily you will gain a Testimony and know why I'm out here. Love you all.
Elder Lundskog

Tonga Week 6

Dear family,
     This week has been interesting and quite sad in some ways. We had two baptisms fall through, and I'm sick. I ache all over and they're pretty sure it's dengue fever. They told me to just rest and drink lots. A part from that, things are going fine. It was my first transfer yesterday and neither of us got moved. I have a feeling we will be here for at least another 3 months.

     Personally I am doing fine, apart from being sick and pretty sure every bone in my body is broken the week has gone well. It will be interesting to see how this next transfer goes.  This last week I ate Ota for the first time. I don't know how I feel about it, it's basically about a half pound of fish in a bowl with some seasoning. Sounds good right? The only problem? It's raw, and we have to eat it anyway. So I did my best to ignore the slimy texture and did the swallow whole approach without chewing. Anyway, this one's for you Emma, next time you think there is something wrong with mom's cooking, come fly out here.  I promise when you return you will eat everything mom makes;) Hanz, you'd love it here. Everyone drives super long bed trucks with a tiny spot for the driver. When we need a ride we jump in the back of a truck until we get there. Almost everyone drives trucks. Izi would get along fine with all the kids, guy or girl, they all wrestle and play rugby all day long.

     As a companionship things are going well, we are getting along better. We have been better about accomplishing our goals this week apart from me being sick. We scheduled two baptismal dates this week.

     A little more about Tonga-although it's brutally hot outside, our showers are all freezing cold. You get in and you hold your breath it's so cold. It takes me two hours of rinsing to wash just my whites. I will never be ungrateful for a washing machine. That's for sure. Anyway, I love you all, be thankful for what you have.

Love,
     Elder Sikoki

Tonga Week 5

This week has gone well.  We currently have about 20 investigators that are progressing. It rained a lot this last week. When I say a lot it would be hard to describe unless you were actually in a Tongan Rainstorm. There's a bit of a flash flood and deep puddles every where. I have been getting a lot of videos but who knows if they will be able to upload.

      Personally I am doing quite well. I run and workout in the mornings and then read and personal study for about 2 hours. I think I have almost completely adjusted to the food. The kids here all love me. I would say about 200 know my name and yell out "Sikoki ehh!" when I pass their houses. People have been giving us a lot of coconuts lately and they are great. We usually drink them and eat the inside and that will be fine for a whole meal. This last week I had a dream I got sent to Neuafo'ou so I'm hoping it happens eventually. Maybe I'd have more success because of my violin. It is the farthest island away and is awesome because you have to build your own house and beds when you get there. Oh, and I have about 45 mosquito bites on my ankles right now combined. Not fun! The mosquitos are everywhere!

     As a Companionship things are going a lot better. We are getting along.

Other stuff:

    

     We failed our room check this last week with a 14/21. I was extremely frustrated. 

      We have an investigator named Tai who commited to be baptized but was scared to tell her parents. So on Thursday we had quite the miracle. Tai told us she would do it if we could have her aunt talk to her parents. (Family respect means a ton here and the aunt is at the top of the respect line) We went to the aunt and she said (slightly laughing) she would go right then if we could find her a ride. The aunt lives way out in 'uta or the bush and we're pretty sure she never expected us to find a ride. Knowing we had no time I said a prayer. Two seconds after I finished a car came around the corner. I felt that was the car we needed so I got in front of it and stopped it. It turned out to be the bishops wife and she gave the aunt a ride to Ma'fanga. The parents said yes and Tai is getting baptized in two weeks and super excited. God answers our prayers. Transfers are this Sunday and I am kind of hoping I don't get transferred so that I can be here for all of our baptisms we have set up. But whatever happens is fine.

Love you all,

Elder Sikoki

Tonga Week 4

Dear Family,

Life's good out here. Today is a national holiday because it's the day the laws of the land were made.

Personal:

This week has been good. On Sundays out here we aren't really supposed to leave church property because in Tonga Sunday is a family day. So yesterday was quite boring. I studied all day. We were brought a feast to eat that night. By feast I mean it. 4 coconuts, 2 chickens, 8 big sweet potatoes and about 5 pounds of Lu. Not even an exaggeration. I'll try to send a picture. I have been exercising in the mornings and decided my bed was to soft so now I sleep on the wood frame and my comp sleeps on 2 beds. I have been more focused on learning the language this week than rushing anything. It definitely paid off. I understand about half the things people say and can get a general idea of what they said. I play my violin for firesides almost every Sunday and at most family home evenings.

Companionship:

We did well this week. Still frustrating at times for me when I feel we could work better, but none the less it's going well. Things are improving. 

Other stuff:

This last week I gave myself a haircut. Good thing I never plan to be a Barber. I'm starting to excel faster and faster at the language. Last week with the ward mission leader we hit a dog in his car. I was terrified and the ward mission leader didn't even stutter while talking.

We have two investigators the missionaries have been teaching for about 1 year now, their mom won't let them be baptized and she lives in New Zealand. They are ages 12 and 14 and they live with their aunt. They are more knowledgeable in the gospel than most of the members here and are extremely smart. We did a fast last week that they could be baptized and that their mom would say yes. It was seriously a miracle. She called the next day, before they had even talked to her and told them they could be baptized.

That's all for now

Love,

Elder Lundskog

Tonga Week 3

Dear Family and friends,

     This week has had some serious ups and downs. I'll start with the downs. This week I have really come to be close friends with my slingshot. We have implemented late night discussions and with it late night dogs. I have been nipped a couple times but not hard enough to draw blood. The dogs get shot as soon as there are about 5 feet away. The other day we were chased by 12 about the size of Skye and I only take comfort in that I think I can climb fences faster than them.

     I still wake up at 5:30 and go Workout. I do my run and then come back in and shower. Sometimes the shower doesn't work though because it runs on rain water and it hasn't rained much. We have been getting more spiders in our MQ lately. They make Tarantulas seem like decent creatures. These ones are massive. To be honest everything is bigger here. The people, mosquitos, spiders, flies and dogs. The Papaya is huge as well as the Watermelon. I am sorry I didn't take many pictures I didn't have much time this week.

      We went to a zone conference on Tuesday. I figured out what my companion said about us not doing anything the way it's been done in the past. Our numbers are at the top. Last week we taught about 50 lessons. On Saturday alone we made 27 appointments for this upcoming week. My comp said that we need to slow down, I told him we could soon as we got to around 200. He is starting to like the harder work more and more I think. I track our time everywhere we go. About 50% of the day is traveling so I started organizing appointment times based on location. I hope to get around 75 lessons this week and 10 baptismal dates. Hopes are high.

      Our zone leaders are Tongan. Mahe and I make bets over what they stole every time they come do a room check. I'm getting pretty sick of coming home and having all my food stolen, so I started something new, I only buy fruits and vegetables. Now they don't touch my food. Fact is, neither does my companion. I can buy a huge bag of pears, apples, and carrots for about a dollar US money right now because they are in season.

     We aren't allowed to play sports, with one exception: touch rugby. Let me tell ya...it's a blast. For sure my favorite sport. I think I'll try to find a team when I get back. I play every night with a group of about 20 sixteen to twenty year olds. The funny part is I teach them while we play and after. On Monday I gave them all a Book of Mormon. Only about 5 are LDS. I think they will all get baptized before I leave the area. Or at least I hope.

      The food is getting better. I have just been eating everything they give me and hoping I can keep it down. I miss the MTC food to be honest.

     Language is still super rough. I am frequently laughed at and responded to very rudely by the old ladies when we go out tracting. "Kātaki te ke foki ki Amelika palangi!" (Please, go back to America white man!)

       That's about all for now. I hope every thing is going well back home for you all. I love you all and wish you the best. Whenever you feel like complaining about your living conditions remember there are people that live in a shack with dirt floors that have children that squish the cockroaches off the ground and then eat them. People that have never seen a shower, and still remember to read their scriptures and say their prayers. I haven't heard one complaint since I've been here. I love you all and would like to bear my Testimony  that I know I was sent here for a reason. Looking back, even when it gets super hard here I still know I been raised and had experiences that God has wanted me to have to be better able to adapt to this mission.

      To all those out there that are struggling with your faith or your testimony: I invite you to pick up a Book of Mormon. I invite you to kneel down and say a prayer. Pray to understand.  And then began to read. Read 30 pages. Underline the different things the prophets know are true. And then dig deep. Could a boy, with barely any education write it? Or is it a work of God? Need even more proof? Look up at the stars. Think of every miracle of life around you. I testify that if you do this you will know. The day you stop,  you will began to doubt. Stay consistent. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

     Love, Elder Lundskog

Tonga Week 2

Dear Family and Friends,

I saw my first spider here about two minutes ago. I still have the chills. I thought it was fake and plastic so I went to grab it and it crawled right next to this computer. They make tarantulas look small! It's like a giant hobo spider the size of your palm and legs like your fingers!! Also found a dead molokau on the grass in front of our MQ two days ago. Those are scary!! Also, the dogs here. They are crazy. I have began to carry a club in my bag to hit them on the head with when they try to bite me.

In regards to the missionary work, this week had a huge pick up. All the missionaries think I have to much energy because I always like to be out trying! My companion said he had never had numbers as high as what we have. We have four progressing investigators and about 15 appointments with different people set up for next week. I am excited to be out.

The language is going slow. I am trying my best but still get frustrated because of the slang I did not expect. They always use it and it doesn't really make sense. I went to church for the first time yesterday because conference was last week. I also gave my first talk. I have never been so nervous. It was only about 5 minutes long and i don't think I made many huge mistakes!

Now for everything else: The MQ here was super dirty so I have cleaned it. I also make my bed and put a Book of Mormon on it every day. My comp hasn't ever done that and I'm pretty sure he thinks I'm the weirdest person ever. Also, I get up at 5:30 still to workout. That doesn't help the weirdest companion ever thing!

Love you all,

Elder Lundskog

Jacob has also befriended a puppy named Peanut who goes on his morning runs with him every day, and the elders have gotten a computer installed nearby so that they no longer have to walk an hour to have access to their emails.  It sounds like he is really starting to adjust to the area, and though he does still see some food that is a little unusual, he is adapting to that as well.  He's excited to see the work moving forward, and he's working very hard to help it along.

Tonga Week 1!

Jacob has arrived safe and sound in Tonga, and it seems as though he's already in for quite the adventure.  For one thing, the food is very different.  He described it as "chainsaw butchered" because the animals seem to be cut up and served as is-bones, sinew, fur and all, and they are expected to eat all of it.  He doesn't quite speak Tongan on the level that he can communicate effectively with the native people, but it's off to a good start and I think he will be able to speak with them before too long.
He will be starting off on the island Tongatapu, which is the main island, in Longolongo.  He says it is about the size of a smaller Utah town, and doesn't feel much like he is in one of the most remote places in the world at all.  The buildings themselves are very different from those in the states.  He is staying in a fairly minimalist house with floors that tilt back and forth.  When he first got off of the plane, he thought that the airport was a barn.  Many of the homes are four plywood walls with a metal roof.  There are animals that no one really owns all over in the streets, and when you get hungry, you just go pick one up.
It sounds as though it will certainly be an adjustment, but he is eager to see the work there move forward.

MTC Week 6 and On to Tonga

Well, Jacob is officially off to Tonga!  He departed the MTC on Sunday and traveled until about Tuesday morning.  He had about a twelve hour layover in New Zealand, so he had plenty of time to call home and give me a call as well.  He definitely seemed excited to be out of the MTC and on to his next adventure!  The language is still a little tough, but he is getting a handle on it, and his testimony was clearly strengthened by his time in the MTC.  I believe he's going to be a wonderful missionary to the people of Tonga, and that he is fully prepared to serve them with all of his heart, might, mind, and strength.  More to come when I hear back from him about his experiences in Tonga-Hopefully via email this Monday.

MTC Week 5

Dear Fam and Friends,

Things are going well here. Although I have to say the MTC is basically one big plague. I'm surprised they make you get immunizations because if you can survive the MTC you're probably immune to everything!! Thank you all very much for the Trader Joe's food. Especially the mangos Grandma!! Sorry I have not been able to hand write many letters, I never knew the MTC could be so busy. We are supposed to get flight plans today, I am so excited!

Summary of the Week:

-Tongan got a lot harder, we started doing skype calls to Tonga to teach lessons and I barely understand a word.

-Elder Robinson sprained his ankle and it's huge. 

-I know how to pray but accidentally said please waste the food instead of bless it in front of our whole zone.

Biggest highlight was probably Sister Reid, she was teaching a lesson and has been a little sick, she coughed and blew snot all over her investigator!! I didn't see it but our teacher told us about it!

I am feeling good. I have been sick and my ear wouldn't pop for about three days. I went to the Doctor again and he just gave me some decongestant and it immediately (30 minutes) popped. I have never played so much basketball in my life, and it seems like we do a thousand push ups before bed. Today we got temple breakfast and it tasted great compared to the cafeteria food. Please never feed me a wrap. I have had about 60 here. No kidding. 

Love you all, thanks for the letters and pictures!!

-Elder Lundskog

MTC Week 4

Family, how's life?

MTC is busy as usual. To give you an idea of my schedule: 

5:30-Up/Run 

6:30-Shower

7:00-Breakfast

7:30-Class

12:00-Gym/Lunch

1:15-Class

5:30-Dinner

6:00-Class

9:30-Personal Study

10:30-Bed

Anyway, all this sitting around is not at all what I thought missionary service would be like. Frequently we fall asleep in our 11 hours of class time a day so we have found new games to play to learn vocab words. For example: Whoever gets the word first gets to flick their companion with a towel. That ended when we got so good we began to draw blood. Next we tried whoever wins gets to shoot a marker into a water bottle from across the class. Originally that was super hard, now however we got so good it has no competition. Now we just write them on flashcards and try to guess. This new no adrenaline way of learning vocab has a very strong effect on Elder Robinson, who frequently we will find snoring in the back of class.

I'm very excited to get to Tonga, the MTC is good, but the lack of any adventure or physical activity has me going crazy. I've started doing pushups to failure in class when I get tired. When I first started I'd get to about 40 and stop. Yesterday I made it to 135. Should give an idea of how tired you can get.

This last week one Elder in our district just kinda gave up. No one could get him to do anything. He laid on his bed for about 3 hours. The branch president asked me to go in alone and talk to him and not come back till I brought him to the classroom. At first this was very frustrating. He pretended to be asleep for about 45 minutes while I kinda sat in there and talked. Then I pulled on my motivational speeking skills and finally got him to get up. The other day i was working out and doing pull ups. I was wearing my gloves and Elder Howard(6 foot 8 inches, 340 pounds) thought I was wearing boxing gloves. He came up and started jumping all about and then said open fist only. Before I could ask what he meant he got me in the right cheek. I think he meant it to be a joke, but I'm pretty sure his arm weighs more than half my body. Just kidding, but close. I feel fine but was very startled. Supposedly fights between companions are quite frequent in Tonga, and are to be taken in a brotherly way. This news was acctually quite terrifying, which has me running faster in the mornings haha.

We all miss Elder Nonu and are anxious to get to Tonga. Thanks for the pictures Hanz, Emma, and Izi! Love you all!

-Elder Lunskog

MTC Week 3

Dear Family,

This week has gone well, but like everywhere has its set backs. Technically I only have one companion, but I really have 4. My entire district. We got some sad news on Wednesday. Elder Nonu would be going to Tonga this Sunday for unknown reasons. He feels like a true brother to me and I will be sad to see him go. Then we got a letter from his Mom that his Aunt was dying and had been taking mission discussions for a while. She wanted to be baptized by Nonu, and had been waiting. She went into a deadly liver failure Wednesday and is expected not to live more than another week. Nonu will be there right in time. Total travel time for his trip will be 73 hours.

Food-Not too bad, I really have figured out how to go healthy at the MTC. Yesterday while running Nonu and I saw a whole bunch of elders walking with suitcases to head off to their missions. We asked them which room they were in and went and "raided" the food they left behind. We also got a mini fridge. Nonu carried the fridge down the 4 flights of stairs at their dorm and carried it back up our 4 flights so we could refrigerate stuff.

Arm- Not too bad. Definitely healing. Anxious to be able to use it like I used to.

Language- is going a lot better. We did our first lesson yesterday without notes.

Challenges- I love it here. The bonds are very tight that you form with the Polynesian people. They know how to love and care for their friends and brothers. I do have a sore throat right now but I think that I lucked out because most of my entire dorm is sick and a lot worse than I am.

The Idaho State 5A wrestling champ came on Wednesday. He is on our same floor. Him and his room are going to Texas and are the only ones in our dorm that are not going to islands. We set Elder Nonu up to wrestle him. The wrestling champ said "I'll do it, it won't last long." We didn't even see the Idaho kid the entire match. It was hilarious.

I play the violin this Sunday in church, it will just be one of the MTC ones. Soon as you can find me a violin it will be great!!

I love you all, time flies here and is really just a matter of attitude! Let me know if anyone wants any junk food. We have all gone off sugar! We have so much food though!

Ofa Atu, Elder Lundskog

MTC Week 2

Family, I'll give you the basic update. I was really worried I was going to get a companion and district that would be very hard to get along with and not social. Now I wonder if they ever do not shut their mouths! MTC is good, don't know if I mentioned but my entire Dorm (all four floors) is islanders. The islands are: Kiribati, Tonga, Samoa and the Marshal Islands. And a couple New Zealanders. Tonga is the smallest island. The ratio of palangis (whites) to pacific islanders is 1-10. I am the smallest here by far. Majority of them do not workout, but one wakes up and runs and works out with me every morning. His name is Elder Nonu. Pushups are to easy for him so he does decline pushups with me on his back and can amazingly do 30 reps. If he's feeling really good he does my companion. I didn't believe it till I saw it done. Frequently we get attacked in a joking way by the Samoans. They all brought squirt guns and water balloons. 22 is the person limit in the elevator, but we only had 15 in it and somehow it broke. Only stuck for about 45 minutes before everyone realized we weren't in class.

Dad-you talked about the novelty of the MTC has likely worn off. It has, but even the MTC here is a very different place because of the people. They are the most selfless people I have ever seen. One elder only brought one pare of shoes because that's all he could afford and they wore out. So one of the islanders gave him his nice pair and now he wears his old ones. If you could please send a size 11 shoe that fits a little wide I'm sure it would be appreciated. Take the money out of my savings to pay for it. Another example of selflessness: One elder was sick and couldn't go to class. One of the islanders offered to stay with him. He never complained or asked for a switch for the 6 hours we were gone. In which he missed lunch and dinner. Our dorm is the only one without vending machines. Why? Because in all Pacific Island cultures everything is shared and I guess the last group of Tongans picked the vending machine up and shook all the stuff to the bottom. So we asked the sisters to use our card and buy a vending machine mini pizza for the elder that stayed with the sick elder.

Mom-I finally found the diet section of the MTC and it actually has really good food. You'll be happy to know I also started my thank you cards. But that takes a while. Are you still calling Lys every night like you promised? Hope so! I also will never think our home is to loud again. By no means send any junk food. We have 6 costco sized boxes full of it. No kidding. Why? Because two nights ago a huge group left for the field at 1 am. Everyone puts all their food outside the door. Me and elder Nonu were the first ones up so we got it all! Seriously close to 60 pounds of candy no joke. You'll see when I send home Pictures. I sent a letter home to the PO box two days ago. Hope you get it.

Emma+Hanz+Izi+Leif- Love you all. Thanks for the pictures! Send more!

I love letters. dearelder.com would be great if you want to send more. I have time from 10:30-11:00 to read them because it's supposed to be lights out but the Samoans on the other side have a huge tag war around that time and you can't sleep till they quiet down.

I love you all,

Elder Lundskog

MTC Week 1

Well everyone, Jacob has made it safely to the MTC.  He had his first P-Day on Friday, and sent us home a few emails.  He seems to be enjoying the experience and his companions.  He will be departing the MTC for Tonga on October 4th, which seems much closer than I thought it would be.
This is what he had to say about his companions, his roommates, and the language:
The language is coming along. It is easier than I expected but still extremely hard. I live in the same room with the entire Tonga mission for the next little while. There's five of us. I'm currently 122 pounds. The other four in my room are all above 270 and less than 300...so imagine how I look! My companion is Elder Gardener. He's cool. He's white and from vernal! He likes to hunt and fish and played football.
He didn't seem to have much time for a long email this week, so there isn't much to share about his experience so far, but we should be receiving another email from him tomorrow and I'll do my best to keep this blog updated!

Farewell Talk

Malo e Leile brothers and sisters…in two years I might be able to say more but for now I sure hope the Gift of Tongues works well because there is no Tongan google translate. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Jacob Lundskog and I have been called to serve for a period of 2 years in the Tonga Nuku’ alofa mission. I want to rewind to my life about 3 months ago. I was sitting in the car with my mom, she asked if I had any preference where I go and I responded: No, not much, I’ll go wherever I get called, but if I could have a preference I’d pick somewhere with lots of little tiny islands, hardly any power and lots of coconuts. Let’s just say I believe my Father in Heaven hears more than just my prayers.

I would like to start with the scripture Alma 37:6 “ Behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass,” So what are the small and simple things and what great things can they bring to pass in our lives. The answer is quite simple and seems to be the answer to every starting question of every Sunday school lesson, Prayer, Daily Scripture study and Choosing the right. President Monson said

“ these suggestions are not new, they have been taught and repeated again and again if we incorporate them into our lives however, we will have the strength to withstand the adversary, Should we ignore them we will be opening the door for Satan to have influence and power over us,”

Let’s start with Daily Scripture study: Now I will admit that I am no poster child for scripture study. When I was younger I remember hearing those stories where people would be flipping through the scriptures and they would stop on a random page and a verse would be highlighted that had the answer to all their life’s problems. SO naturally my scripture study would consist of me opening up to a random page and waiting for concourses of angels to sing hallelujah while I read the solution to my life’s woes. Sadly it did not work like that and I would end up turning to the exciting chapter where omner begat Kish and kish begat riplakish and riplakish begat kishkumen and so on. Well I am happy to announce as of last week I don’t do that anymore. (haha just kidding dad) We are taught of great spiritual and temporal blessings we receive through consistent scripture study. With consistent (key word consistent) scripture study we are laying the foundation upon which are testimonies may grow and flourish. I love the analogy Elder Bednar made when he said

"if you and I are focused and frequent in receiving consistent drops of spiritual nourishment, then gospel roots can sink deep into our soul, can become firmly established and grounded, and can produce extraordinary and delicious fruit,”

Wasn't it the best feeling when in school the teacher would announce that the test was an open book test. Well brothers and sisters life is an open book test and that book is the scriptures. Heavenly father sent us with a manual on how to navigate through this mortal probation and return safely to his presence. Daily scripture study may seem a small and simple thing but it has the power the change our lives and the lives of our families.

Next daily prayer: I seriously LOVE prayer. Wow what an amazing gift that is. Not only do we have the scriptures to help guide us through life but we have a 2 way communication to our heavenly father, our creator, who has a plan for us and wants us to succeed. President Monson councils“To those within the sound of my voice who are struggling with challenges and difficulties large and  small, prayer is the provider of spiritual strength; it is the passport to peace. Prayer is the  means by which we approach our Father in Heaven, who loves us. Speak to Him in prayer  and then listen for the answer. Miracles are wrought through prayer.”

Lastly Choosing the right every day. Well that sounds simple enough. Yet the consequences of not doing so can bring us farther from the lord then we would ever want to be. Elder L. Whitney Clayton said:

“Keep your spiritual compasses before you constantly. Watch them carefully. Don’t allow yourself even a single degree of deviation from the strait and narrow path. An error of just a degree or two will make a huge difference over time,”  

Here is an example Elder Uchtdorf would use to teach young pilots this principle "Suppose you were to take off from an airport at the equator, intending to circle the globe, but your course was off by just one degree. By the time you returned to the same longitude, how far off course would you be? A few miles? A hundred miles? The answer might surprise you. An error of only one degree would put you almost 500 miles off course."

President Hinckley states that it “is the way with our lives. Instead of following a steady course we [can] be pulled from our original destination. If the movement ever so small is continued that very small movement becomes a great gap and we find ourselves far from where we intended to go.”

Doing these things is easier said than done. The trick is to make it a habit “we 1st make our habits then our habits make us” Everyone including myself finds it a constant struggle to make these things an integral part of our day to day lives but they are essential if we want to stay on the straight and narrow. Elder Uchtdorf counsels

“try and keep on trying until that which seems difficult becomes possible and that which seems only possible becomes habit and a real part of you”

I have been so blessed to have been taught the small and simple things through primary, Sunday school, and young mens lessons. I want to thank all my teachers throughout the years in my various wards. Im sorry for all the times I was Chatty Kathy during lessons which seemed to occur too often but your example, effort and love were felt. There are so many  who have been such examples to me who probably don’t even know it but your faithfulness in your callings and acts of quiet service do not go unnoticed and have taught me what it is to be a true disciple of Christ.

Heavenly father has blessed me with some of the greatest friends who are examples to me every day and truly make me strive to be a better person.

I am So grateful for my parents who have done and sacrificed so much for me and are the reason I'm standing here today. And for my siblings who look up to me.

I am most grateful to my father in heaven and for my savior Jesus Christ who suffered all because he loves us. I feel that love everyday in the world around me. I'm so grateful for my heavenly father for giving me a chance to bring the good news of the gospel to the Tongan people. I'm willing and I have faith that the lord will shape me into the servant he needs me to be.   I pray that we may remember that we have the good news of the gospel in our lives today and if we only remember to do the small and simple things then the greatest blessing heavenly father has to give may to come to us and our families. I’m thankful for the Book of Mormon. I accept and believe it to be true. I didn’t just suddenly decide to follow it blindly. Like millions before me I have read and can testify of it’s truth. My witness is born of faith not based on the discovery of any physical evidences  or lack of it. My witness, obtained through faith coupled with honest and sincere prayer is more than enough proof for me to accept and believe. I hope that you too will exercise the faith and put forth the effort to know if its truthfulness. And now brothers and sisters I hope this is not a goodbye but rather a see you later. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.