Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Email Received 10/25/09

Hola!
We had some fabulous lessons this week. We met some beautiful families who we´re going to be working with. Last night, we met with a couple who have three boys and neither they nor their children have ever really been taught about God or religion. However, upon meeting us (in the street) and hearing just a bit of our message about how we are all children of God and how He´s sent us tools to help us be successful in this life, the couple became very intrigued and even eager to learn more. So when we met with them last night, we talked about the Book of Mormon. A member of the ward and her daughter came with us to the visit. That sister´s testimony and her participation were so powerful. Together, we told the couple that Jesus Christ came to the Americas and taught His ¨other sheep¨ here. The man was obviously touched by that. He quickly asked, ¨Well, how does one come to know these thing?¨ He wanted to know how to feel the Holy Ghost. He wanted to know how to gain a testimony. What a blessing it was (and is) to be able to look him in the eye and tell him the answer to his question directly. We know the Book of Mormon is true by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power is felt as we kneel in prayer, in sincerity and faith, even if just with the desire to believe. We read Moroni 10:3-7, talked more, and before we left, we knelt as HE offered the closing prayer - having never consciously prayed before. It was truly a beautiful experience.

And HEY!!! Lindsay got her mission call!!!!! I am SO happy for her. That a´ gal Linz! Rock TX! I can´t wait to hear more. And Sis. Reas, thank you so much for your email. I love you and am so grateful for your support. And yes, I am a HUGE fan of that hymn,

Okay, time´s a´runnin´, but I had a few quick fun things I wanted to run by you all:
Randy! Last week, I was walking down the road and from someone´s backyard, I heard blaring: ¨Tuuurn around, look at what you seee-ee-ee-ee-ee...¨ Neverending Story!
Bev! You know the song ¨When we´re helping we´re happy and we sing as we go...¨ and how the second verse is just ¨tra la la la la...¨? Turns out that in Spanish, instead of ¨Tra la la la¨ it´s ¨Tra ra ra ra¨! Maisy had her mutty little paws in on that translation... I laughed so hard when I heard it though.

Everybody! Thank you again for all your support and prayers. Thank you for helping me want to do and be better. I have so so much to work on, and it´s definitely gonna be work. But knowing that I have such an amazing family really really makes an incredible difference. I don´t know if I´ve ever felt so keenly my love and dependance on you all. Thank you so much. I love you very much. And friends too! Thank you all. Really, I am taken back by how blessed my life has been for the caliber of people I´ve been able to associate with. Dandy folk indeed. :)

Grrrracias! Keep on smiling everyone!

Amor,
Hna. Lindquist

Monday, October 19, 2009

Greetings From Argentina!

Hello!!

Good news: I´m STILL alive! Isn´t that just lovely. So, my first area is called Burzaco. It´s amazing. My first companion (in the field, that is) is called Hermana Bushman. She´s amazing. Seriously! I have so enjoyed being her trainee. She´s a great trainer. She actually gives me responsibilities and asks for my input and she´s eager to work hard for the lofty goals we set together. I am such a big fan of meeting people on the streets, on the bus, and wherever else we see them. I tell you what, my Spanish background is a tremendous help. I didn´t realize how rare it is for people to come into the mission already knowing the language. My first day here, we ran around the city getting Visa stuff together, and as I was the only Spanish/English speaker, I got to play interpreter for all the fun official stops. On the other hand, my respect foe people who go on missions without knowing the language has grown tremendously. I listen to people who just barely started learning Spanish but are faithfully exercising what little they have in testifying of the Restoration of Christ´s gospel. Kudos to them!

Okay, so Burzaco is what you would get if you mixed parts of La Mesa with parts of Downtown San Diego. It´s really beautiful. The people are so kind. I don´t know if it´s different for elders of not, but when I talk to people, so far just about every single person is willing to listen, and most are willing to set a time to meet again. I had no idea people would be so receptive. No complaints here!

I´m still getting to know the investigators and members, but so far they´ve been fabulous. There are a ton of less active members here, most of which just don´t go because they don´t feel like it. It´s made me want to develop a greater testimony of the importance of weekly Sacrament meeting attendance. If only they could see what a difference it makes to learn in the house of the Lord and to partake of the Sacrament weekly: reminding ourselves of what great blessings the Lord has given us, is giving us, and will give to us in time. The Atonement is the greatest of all. Really, to think of what power the Lord gives us when we come to Him! I feel like I lack so much knowledge - and I mean A LOT - but I so so badly want to learn more and I so badly want to be a good disciple. There is SO MUCH MORE to learn and do. The best consolation I have, though, is that I know the basics to be true. Because I´ve felt the Spirit testify to me that Christ lives, and because I´ve felt His love and lived to see miracles, and because I know that Joseph Smith truly saw Christ the Lord and our Heavenly Father, and because I´ve felt joy and purity and intelligence flow through me while reading the Bible and the Book of Mormon - because I know these simple, basic things, I can trust in the Lord that everything else is true. I can trust that, in time, I will learn all that I desire to know (and especially that which is requisite that I know).

SOOOOOOOOO I HAVE TO DO BETTER! AND I WILL! Thank you all so much for your prayers and your support in whatever form. You have no idea how much I appreciate it. In the MTC, someone taught us to take our times of discouragement and transform them by remembering how many prayers are being offered for us - by children, by family, in the temple, by the Prophet, by strangers even. I pray for my family and friends and many other every day. I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers. Oh! That reminds me of a great story, but I dont have time. Ha! Sorry. :)

Oh! It{s that time! I love you all so much. Thank you very much for everything.

SMILES ALL AROUND!!

Hermana Lindquist

Monday, October 12, 2009

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Mary has officially left the United States, headed to Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has the brief oppertunity to call and let us know she was leaving before she got on her flight. Be sure to send her letters, the easiest way is by going over to dearelder.com, they will print out and deliver your message via "pouch mail". I am not sure how long it will take to deliver the letters now that she is out of the country but its FREE.