Quick Hello

Hello!
There. Done.
CHISTE! But kinda yeah. Everything is good. Last week, I got to hear a prayer in Hindi. Nifty! We also found a girl who reminds me of Katie, and who seems just as prepared for the Restored Gospel. Katie, you are amazing. So is Macarena.
This week, we´ll have an awesome Zone Conference, an awesome baptism, and a ton of fun in between.

MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS children dear, happy days will come to you all year
If I had a wish that it would be, a merry merry Christmas to you from meeeeee!

I love you! I appreciate you mucho!

Smiles!!!!

Hermana Lindquist

Happy December!

And hears to another transfer in Monte Grande!! I´m soooo haaappy! (<-that´s sung a la Tiny Tim)
This entire week, we had training conferences for leaders in the mission (Asistentes al Presidente, Líderes de zona y distrito, y trainers). So I spent the majority of the week outside of my area, while my companion traveled about with another Hermana, keeping Monte Grande (and a city called Cañuelas) in line. I, in turn, learned for hours and hours and did practices of teaching techniques, and was reconverted to the importance of, well, just about everything: the Book of Mormon, church attendance, baptism, listening to the Spirit, and being sincere in general. Bwaa! I loved it so much!
The most important advice I could ever give to anyone: read the Book of Mormon! Whatever your motivation may (or may not) be, just please read it. I promise you it will bless your life.

Aaaanywho....Our Ward Mission Leader in Monte Grande is so awesome. He´s like what would happen if you mixed Rocky with Bocceli and a happy Ricky Ricardo with a splash of Speedy Gonzalez. What´s not to like!? Just for the record.

I´m trying to think of things to tell you, but nothing comes to mind. Hmmm. I´ve thought about how I could live in Monte Grande after the mission. I´d work with the Mensah family doing tourism, I´d live with the Morenos, and spend weekends singing at the club in Banfield with Hermano Diaz. Done. And EVERY DAY I would spend HOURS talking about gospel insights with everyone in their homes. There´s never enough time to mention all the ins and outs of any given doctrinal concept. THAT is why they must have invented mate (pronounced ¨MAH´tay). You just sit around with people, passing this cup around and philosophizing instead of taking the siesta. Okay, maybe not INSTEAD of taking the siesta, but maybe right before the siesta. I don´t know if I could ever sleep this much...

Hey! Mom´s birthday´s coming up! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!! Jonathan is getting baptized on your birthday. Felicitaciones! (to you both, I suppose.)

Random babbling done!

I love you all very very mucho, and expect to keep up the kiss-on-the-cheek way of saying hi when I´m back, so get practicin´!

Thank you very much for your prayers and support and incredible personalities and will power. Family, friends, and any mixture of the two, you are ze bessst!

Have a fabulous week! Do something nice for someone! aaaaand keep SMILING!!!

LOOOOOVE,
Hermana Lindquist

Merry Christmas! (I just can´t wait!)

I love Christmas so much. I so often think of the Second Coming. It will be like the joy and peace of Christmas times infinity! One of my favorite scriptures expresses very clearly how I feel about that blessed day:
¨And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his coming; for the time cometh, we know not how soon. Would to God that it might be in my day; but let it be sooner or later, in it I will rejoice.¨ (Alma 13:25)

This week, Hermana Norby and I were in and out of our area a lot. We had interviews with the President, which I absolutely love. The next day, we had to go to the big city. La Gran Buenos Aires! Capital of Argentina. It´s actually outside of our mission, but it´s the hip-hoppin´-est place to file documents and make your stay in beautiful Argentina as legal as possible. So that was fun. And it turns out the ¨subte¨ (subway/metro) is something straight outta Disneyland! It even smells like it! I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. I even met an American girl and shared a Book of Mormon with her (she´s been here two years, so I´m thinking she can read El Libro de Mormon alright). It was quite a strange mental shift to preach in English. I suppose it´s best I get some practice in now, that way the transition back to teaching in my own language goes a bit smoother. :)

This week, I´ll be outside of my area a ton again, because we have a week full of meetings for leaders of the mission (Assistants to the President, Zone Leaders, District Leaders, and Trainers). So my companion will get to go on exchanges with another ¨newbie¨ for a couple of days. Woohoo! She´s awesome, and I think she´ll enjoy the experience a lot. Meanwhile, I´ll be companions with Hermana Petrick again during the exchanges, because she too trained this transfer. I trained her and she already has trained her first time too! Don´t call me old on the mission. Don´t do it.... I´m still young and hip! Spry! I´m spry!

In any case, I´m really hoping to see another transfer in Monte Grande, because there are so many people I love SO much, who are all just on the brink of great things: marriages, baptisms, missions, etc. etc. etc. I especially want to see the Tortajada family progress more. The Mom recently returned to church after years of being away, and her husband loves the gospel and wants to be baptized so that he can receive the Priesthood, baptize his son, and they call can be sealed in the temple next year. THAT is their goal: to be sealed as a family forever. I know that the temple is the home of eternity, and all who enter therein have eternity opened unto them in profound, lasting beauty and love. Ah! I so badly want to be here for their wedding too. Okay, but that ones a bit farther away. Who´s up for a trip to Buenos Aires next Fall? Eh? Hands, hands? Alriiiiight.

I love you all so much. My prayers tend to get long, because I´m talking with Heavenly Father about each one of my family members, and many friends and ward/stake members - all of which I ultimately consider my brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers. Thank you all so much.

Que el Señor les cuide y proteja a través de todo. Les dará felicidad, seguridad, y poder si confian. Sé que lo ha hecho para mí, y se lo agradezco cada día por esto.
Que lo pasen lindo, amados hermanos míos!

Sonrisas y abrazos,

Hermana Lindsquiisky

Howdy Do!

Hiiiiiiiii everyone!

Davíd got baptized! Yay Davíd! It was a lovely baptismal service. And
in church on Sunday, a number of investigators and less active members
came, and everyone felt so good. The Spirit does His job when we give
Him an opportunity. He testified of the truth all day. Many who
attended felt the peace and security that only exists in a clean, holy
atmosphere. What better place than the house of God? In reality, every
home in the world should have that same Spirit. And THAT, my friends,
is the goal. May we share the joy, love, and profound peace that the
Gospel has to offer in every way we can, and in every moment we can.

Some fun charlas: We´re teaching a group of teenage boys the charlas.
They´re all friends of a member in the ward here. I believe there are
many more teenagers who would be studying the scriptures on a
weeknight, happily discussing the doctrines of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ, if they just had the opportunity. Nobody WANTS to choose a
lost, confused life of crime/drugs/lo que sea. So many are steered
that way though. Why not steer them to something good? Give the
peoples an option at least!
That was my mini-rant. Just wait til I have more time to write....

Good news! The Church is true! Okay, so it´s not NEW news, but it´s
still just as important as ever. It´d be a nice front-cover article:
¨Millenium Near, People Happily Preparing.¨

Thanks everyone! I love you mucho and pray for you a toooon.

Hasta la próxima!
Smiles and sunshine,
Hermana Lindquist

Hello my dear yokefellows!

(¨Yokefellows¨ = A Paulism from Phil. 4:3)

Buenas tardes a todos ustedes, las hermosas personas que amo tanto! Things are splendid here in Monte Grande. Trees are green, streets are tranquil (and completely empty between the hours of 1:00 and 5:00p.m. - siesta!), dogs are happily eating scraps in the streets while missionaries stand on the sidewalk, clapping our hands and waiting in sweet anticipation to see who will come out from behind their barred yards to welcome us into their homes with jugo and galletitas. There´s always jugo and galletitas.

So fíjense! A part of my letter to President Stapley this week:
¨And a happy (Mon)day to you President. This week in Monte Grande, we met a good number of our weekly goals, and we exceeded a few as well. It was a good week. A couple of hard moments, but that´s what makes good weeks possible! My favorite moment was finding and teaching a couple who have both been searching. They´re friends of a various members of our ward, so when we showed up on their doorstep (at the request of one of those member friends), they warmly greeted us. The husband...has read the entire Book of Mormon. He had prayed before to know whether it was true, but never felt he received an answer. We taught him and his wife the message of the Restoration and invited them to be baptised in January. They so badly want to know the truth. The lesson was filled with the Spirit, and the two of them are praying to know the truth, but this time, they´re praying with ¨real intent¨. I don´t know how past times went, but I believe these two are ready. The Spirit has been so kind to them, and to us.¨
And considering another man we´re teaching, I wrote the following:
¨The first time we taught him, he paused the lesson to light some incense by a tiny statue of Buddha, next to a picture of the ´sagrado corazón´, also some mystic stones and many other semblances of idolatry and confusion. We´ve taught him for three visits or so, and each time, we´re seeing that he´s more and more in tune with the Spirit, and less and less concerned with ¨weirding us out¨ (for lack of a better way to describe his seemingly intentional attempts at performing uncomfortable ¨religious¨ rituals). Haha. But really, he is progressing so well. When we invited him to be baptized, he said yes. Yes, because he knows that the Holy Ghost is leading us, and he knows God has a path that is true and good. His testimonies expressed at this time were touching.¨
The latter example of an investigator´s experiences is one of my favorites. Really, every person seeks something. Many don´t know what that is. Many try to fill their spiritual desires with any number of metaphysical, mystical, or other theories, concepts, and relics. While we can find truth in nearly everything, the only place to find pure, unadulterated truth is in the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Every question has its answer there. Every search eventually leads there. But not everyone will find it. And no one can find it on their own. In Preach My Gospel, there is a quote to this effect: ¨To be known, the truth must be stated.¨ What responsibility we then have, we who have found truth! Speak with the tongue of angels, speak the words of Christ. That is the way to bring Heaven to earth. I know it is! I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is so pure and so true and good.

Thank you all for your amor and apoyo and ejemplos! I love my homeland mucho. ¨I luf my adopted cuntree¨* as well!
Have a happy-go-lucky week, everyone!

Love,
Hermana Lindquist

*Raise your hand if you know where the quote´s from! Dad, I know your hand is immediately in the air. Muchos kudos! :)

Love and smiles from Monte Grande,

Hermana Lindquist

Mary's Contact Information

***Pouch mail instructions***
You MUST either send post cards or you can send a letter that is a SINGLE sheet, folded into 3 panels and taped at the bottom. NO ENVELOPES!!!

Sister Mary Lindquist
Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150
USA

To send packages to Mary, you will be sending them to the mission office in Argentina. The address is:
Sister Mary Lindquist
Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission
Quintana 447
1846 Adrogue
Buenos Aires
Argentina

You can also send letters to Mary at a website called DearElder.com
It's a free and easy way to send letters. If you need help with this, let me know.

Transfers!

Mary got a new companion and was able to take some pictures at the mission home!

BURZACO!!

Almost exactly a year ago, I arrived in Argentina and came to my first area: Burzaco. Today, I write to you from the same. How deliciously nostalgic! I have been asked to train a new missionary, and so while I await her arrival, I am working with the Sister Missionaries in Burzaco. Once my new companion arrives, it´s back to Monte Grand! The city and I will miss Hermana Hill like crrrrazy, but I know she´ll keep working miracles in LA PLATA! (Another of my beloved Stakes here in La Argentina.) As for me, I´m cramming anew, reading the mission manual along with the other books and manuals that describe the mission and its rules, and I´m going to do my best to read through all of Preach My Gospel anew, so that I can help this new Sister Missionary get off to the best start possible.

Excerpt from letter to President Stapley (our amazing, loving, and faithful Mission President):
We have an investigator in Monte Grande who was very excited for his baptism and had studied everything and was quiting smoking and everything great, so it seemed. We stopped by his work one rainy evening last week and he told us he didn´t want to learn anything else for a while and that it was clear it wasn´t the right thing for right now. We were shocked. After much internal prayer and calming words, Hermana Hill and I were able to convince him to meet us again in his home. When we went to that cita, it appeared he was still a bit ¨desanimado¨, but we started off reading Helaman 5, with an Hermana from the ward who accompanied us. The investigator mentioned that he´d need at least a couple of months before being baptized. A bit after reading, I felt my companion needed to speak, and I needed to keep quiet to let her. Keeping quiet is hard for me. But when Hermana Hill opened her mouth, I realized why I had felt to do it. She taught simply the doctrine of Christ, that the hermano needed to have faith, repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost. The Spirit entered the conversation. The investigator started speaking and again began making excuses and straying to other conversational topics. I looked at him at one moment, opened my mouth, and the Spirit filled it. I testified to him of what my companion had said, explaining that he already had faith, and he already had repented, and that he could not resolve his problems - personal, familial, etc - without living the Gospel as he had learned it. I felt and knew that the Spirit had revealed to me his thoughts, in a way. It was amazing. He looked at us and said, ¨No se preocupe, hermana. Entendí. Me bautizo en dos semanas¨ (Don´t worry, Sister. I just understood. I´ll get baptized in two weeks¨). Rarely have I felt the Spirit so strongly in teaching. I learned that it has to do with being humble and allowing the Spirit speak. I hadn´t any idea how to resolve this problem, neither did Hermana Hill. There in our most desperate need to know how to help this beloved brother, Heavenly Father could use us best. I need to be a better instrument in the Lord´s hands. Working on it!

And HEY! Happy birthday DAD!!!! We had preparation day today (Wednesday) instead of Monday, so I didn´t get to tell you beforehand. But hey, you get the whole year! So FELIZ CUMPLE!!! And guess who else cumplirs soon....Brandon too! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! October sure is a good month. :) You know who ELSE? Marissa Gardner! FELIZ CUMPLE AMIGA! If I´m forgetting someone right now, my apologies. And to you too, happy birthday!

Thank you, family and friends, for all your goodness and enthusiasm for life. Thank you for your prayers, thank you for your letters. Thank you for working hard and living every day with faith. That in and of itself is HUGE. Así que, les felicito, y más, les agradezco. MUCHAS GRACIAS!! (So, I congratulate them, and more, I thank them. MANY THANKS!!)

UN ABRAZO GIGANTE Y MIL SONRISAS, (A GIGANTIC HUG AND THOUSAND SMILES)
Hermana Lindquist

Hello young lovers wherever you are.....

....lovers of missionary work, that is.

I love missionary work so much. Hermana Hill and I have been fighting this week, like loco. So many people are kept from salvation, because they´re simply afraid of ultimately minor, temporal things. Satan is so astute. Sometimes I just want to shout repentance (like Alma wanted! In chapter.....I´ll get back to you on that). People cannot be truly happy under the weight of sin. That´s what makes the Gospel such a tool for peace. Through faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, people are cleansed from sin and at PEACE. Peace and joy and love. That´s what everyone wants. It´s amazing.

Thank you all for your love, support and prayers. They are felt and very appreciated. I hope you can feel my prayers, and the prayers of many investigators and members here who ask the Lord to be with you, my family and friends. The Gospel makes the world a network of love!

I love you!

Hermana Lindquist

Loor al Profeta!

Raise your hand if you´re happy that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ restored the true church to the earth again! Is your hand up?? Get it up there!! And if it´s not, send me your address and local representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would be humbled and grateful to visit and explain why your hand should be up. For ¨what do we hear in the gospel which we have received?¨ A voice of gladness! A voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of truth out of the earth; glad tidings for the dead; a voice of gladness for the living and the dead; glad tidings of great joy...Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.
Let the mountains shout for joy, and all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas and dry lands tell the wonders of your Eternal King! And ye rivers, and brooks, and rills, flow down with gladness. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; and ye solid rocks weep for joy! And let the sun, moon, and the morning stars sing together, and let all the sons of God shout for joy! And let the eternal creations declare his name forever and ever! (Doctrine and Covenants 128:20-22)
And let everyone reading this letter raise their hands!!!
Haha, okay. You can put your hands down now. :)
Besides, you are an agent unto yourself. Man, this last week, I had studied so many themes that were beautifully analyzed throughout the General Conference. One of the greatest was of agency. My favorite study: Ephesians 6:12 (10-18) + Alma 48:12, 24 + Amla 57:20-27 + 2 Nephi 2 + D&C 58:26-29 = We fought before this life, and continue to fight now so that we may be free to anxiously engage ourselves in good causes. If we don´t act, we will be acted upon. Heavenly Father created us for greater things than that. Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins and took upon Him our weaknesses and infirmities (physical, spiritual, emotional, etc.) so that we could be free to follow Him into eternal life, eternal perfection, and eternal happiness. I know the Church is true and that Christ lives, directing it from above and within. He has called Thomas Monson as Prophet for these years. His voice is the voice of the Lord. What a statement, ¿no? But it´s true! God Himself said so. Ask Him about it. :)

Gotta go! Smiles and thanks to you all!

Hermana Lindquist

And again I say, how glorious is the voice we hear from heaven, proclaiming in our ears, glory, and salvation, and honor, and immortality, and eternal life; kingdoms, principalities, and powers! (D&C128:22)

Subject? Like I Need a Subject!

I have no time! But check it out: This week I heard the song ¨Polvo en el Viento¨ while walking in the streets. Yes, Kansas´ ¨Dust in the Wind¨ but in Spanish. Hna Hill and I appreciated that. I ate butter sandwiches the other day. I thought it was cheese. My veins were so sad when they ound out. We trapped the biggest spider of my laugh the other other day - comically big! I didn´t even fear it, it was so big (more like a cartoon).
I dreamed I was in space with some missionaries and there was a musical theatre and aliens that wanted to eat some meat, but I chose mozzarelly pizza (meat and pizza are so Argentine). When I get home, I expect to hear ¨Terra´s Theme¨ from Gone With the Wind. You can mix any random food, put it on top of a crust with a hard boiled egg and make it a ¨traditional¨ Argentine dish. The man who washes our clothes has demanded that we return after the mission and kiss him on the cheek like every other civil person would do. Our rules make us weird, but they protect us. :)
I absolutely love Argentina!

We taught José and Cynthia the message of the Restoration of the Gospel. José felt a fire within him, but had never experienced something like that before, so he was very confused. He actually went to wet his head with cold water. He said he knew that what we were teaching him, about the Book of Mormon especially, was true. He didn´t really understand everything we said (in part for our accents, I´m sure), but he knew that it had to be true. We all looked at him - his wife, mother-in-law, taddling daughters, Hna. Hill and I--surprised and humbled by how strongly he felt the Spirit. And this all within a meeting of about 10 minutes. We are very excited to go back and teach him more about the guidance the Holy Ghost can give him as he makes and keeps sacred committments with his Father in Heaven.
The Church is true. I have read the Book of Mormon, pondered in its message and the way we came to have it in our day, and I know it is true. Joseph Smith truly was a Prophet. There is no doubt in my mind. I look forward to the day when I can personally thank him for his faithful fulfillment of his mission. I hope to serve my mission with as much faith in Christ and His words. It is Christ word´s to which I owe all of my happiness. (Alma 44:5)

This Saturday and Sunday, we get to hear from living prophets! Enjoy!

I love you all oh so much!

Hermana Lindquist

p.s. family, many Argentine families think you are beautiful. VERY beautiful

Hiya Family!

A short list of some top sights this week: A dead man, a three-legged dog chasing a car, fried meat smeared with mayonaise (actually very common), and an African lion. And yet the best moment was when someone saw a picture of Joseph Smith´s first vision and asked sincerely, ¨Could this be true?¨ Yay for the diversity of the mission!
Pity time doesn´t permit for the many stories and lessons learned in a day, much less a week. Let´s just have a big dinner when I get back and we can talk about everything! For now, the African lion story. In short, we were walking down the road, turned the corner and out of nowhere, flashing lights and a circus tent! A real, ol´ fashioned Dumbo/Big Fish-stlye circus tent with carny trailers and inhumanely caged animals and all! It was one of the biggest, most exciting surprises. We basically screamed with glee (glea?) as we came closer and examined the gaudy signs proclaiming the arrival of the ¨Circo Magico Houdini¨. It was so perfectly movie-like! And then, yes, there was a giant African lion pacing back in forth in a tiny barred cage. I was newly grateful for the quality of life for the animals at the San Diego Zoo.

We had a week of ups and downs and all arounds. We´ve established some new goals for our area, and Hermana Hill and I are so excited to work together and bring help, healing, and happiness to our brothers and sisters in Monte Grande. I´ve decided to start over as if I´m brand new on the mission, but with the advantage of some months of experience (given, I still feel like I know very veeeery little). I reread my call letter and am beginning Preach My Gospel anew. It´s SO good. Read the introduction and think of about planning family home evenings like District Meetings. Good stuff.
I know obedience and humility make us worthy of the blessings of Heaven, and I know that faithful prayer and work are the way to call down that celestial help. I am convinced of the reality of Jesus Christ and His Atonement. I need to study both much more. I wonder if we´ll ever, in all eternity, understand the impact of His immortal sacrifice. I just hope I can live in sincere gratitude to Him forever. I love Jesus Christ and Our Heavenly Father. And I love His children! Sadness and disappointment are dreadful distractions to the supernal peace and joy that God has in store for all those who love Him and desire goodness and righteousness. Look for good. Nourish and cherish it. And ¨keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side; keep on the sunny side of life!¨
Spring is here in Monte Grande, and life is good and beautiful. Fine and dandy!

Thank you for your prayers and support. I love you all so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I´ll never be able to say it enough.

Smiles and rainbows!

Hermana Lindquist

Rockin' and a rollin'

The first time we met Fulana (yes, I changed the name), it was late a night and she was clamoring to gather some plastic bags and enter into her cement-walled home. We greeted her, she responded demonstrating a bit of frustration with the day she´d gone through. She then sighed, shook her head, and said, ¨Just a minute, chicas¨. She wrestled with a tangled mass of keys, found the one to her home, and opened the door for us. Well, she opened the door first to harness her seven frenzied dogs and store them in a room a bit further from the front.
Once we entered, she slammed the cigarettes on the table, shrugged her shoulders and began to tell us of her whirlwind life of problems: renters that don´t pay, family that have died and left nothing for her, health that limits her dreams and ambitions, and - most distressing of all - a heart full of ¨ravia,¨ hate, sorrow, anger, and everything she avioded in her youth.
I don´t remember what we said to her that first time. We taught her to pray. I remember that. We prayed together. She prayed. We pleaded with her to understand that she is a precious daughter of God. She doubted. Can´t says I blame her; she didn´t know any better.
The subsequent visits were filled with expressions and love and tenderness, and we emphasized much the love of our Heavenly Father and the sweet peace the Gospel brings. We read to her Christ´s words to the Nephite nation in the Americas shortly after His resurrection: ¨Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning¨ (3 Nephi 11).She felt impressed by the Spirit - although she didn´t fully realize it at the time - that Christ really drank from the ¨bitter cup¨. The venom of oppressed years that she felt she had been drinking became, in her eyes, a cup the Lord had shared. The truth is He did.
We visited other days with sisters from the local ward (congregation). It was amazing to hear these sisters´ testimonies of the changes they´ve seen in their lives as they came to understand the cleansing, supporting power of Christ´s Atonement.
In a few short visits, Fulana´s countenance began to change drastically. She began wiping down the table before we´d visit. Then, she started having crackers ready for us. One day, she didn´t complain at all about anything. Another day she was saying good things about many things. Her jokes became more positive. Her smile became more radiant. She began to rearrange her tiny room - a goal she´d had for months. She had at one time given up on her talents; now, she was making little paper maché flowers to sell in the street. They are beautiful.
Now, when we see her, she is cheerful. She is happy.
The difference? She began to pray every night. She prayed with faith. She also took real interest in the scriptures. The Book of Mormon contains so much hope. Yesterday, she came to church for the first time. She found there the family she had missed so terribly. I am so humbled and happy to see the changes she´s made. I loved her from the start, but now I´m so happy because she loves herself, and she knows not that God loves her too. What a tremendous difference that knowledge makes.

Smile at everyone. Love them with all ya got, and teach them principles of love and faith. That way they can love themselves and see the value they have. I know that the Lord always sees our value. Always! He wants so badly for us to see and understand it as well. I know that the principles of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, as taught by modern day prophets, teachers, and revelators in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, really make all the difference in a person´s life. By applying these things, with faith in Jesus Christ, we can progress toward eternal life - life as God knows it. Life with our families and friends, in perfect harmony and joy for the rest of all time and beyond. Sounds pretty sweet to me!

I love you all oh so much and look forward to a bright future tomorrow, the next day, a year from now, and ¨to infinity and beyond!¨ (I always knew Buzz Lightyear was inspired.) :)

Muchísimas gracias por todo. Les amo un MONTÓN!!

Hermana Linksquidsky

Just enough time to tell ya I´m alive

And there ya have it! I live! But yeah, I have about thirty seconds. Sorry! And this week was soooo good! We had a baptism, a birthday party for a woman who´s been alone for years, a tango-singing competitcion in the chapel, many an inspiring lesson, and a total renovation in Hermana Hill and my´s weekly planning methods. We´re are bound and determined to help the most people possible and in the best ways!

Happy Aniversario de la muerte de San Martín!! He´s a big deal. Ask half of South America about it.

I love you all mucho! Thank you for everything!

Hermana Lindquist

p.s. Brandon, my buddy Ida says to say hi to you. She´s from Trujillo, and you served there, so you´re practically already best friends. There ya have it!
Mom, I learned this week that you´re amazing. I´ll write later. If not, remind me to tell you about the lunch with the Pederson family. It´s code.... :)
Dad, could you please send me your chocolate cake recipe. I´ll try my hand at it....
p,p,s the song Total Eclipse of the Heart has been chasing me. Today, we literally ran away from it. The music video was playing in the restaraunt we were in. Talk about temptation to watch t.v.! But, like good ol´ Joseph of Egypt (who I´ve been studying and am completely in love with), we ran!

I´m doing it the lazy (or, at best ¨hasty¨) way again. Here´s a copy of my email to President Stapley:

Dobree Dyen! (that´s Russian for ¨Good morning¨)

We had ourselves a merry little week...We made this plan to help more investigators to attend church: have the members drop off daily invitations. Basically, we prepared ¨invitation count-downs¨ and asked members who live near investigators to go by every day in the week and leave one of the invitations. For example, Hno. Garcia left an invitation on Fulano´s door that said something like ¨four days til church!¨ (with a little scripture attached). The next day, he left Fulano ANOTHER note that said ¨three days left!¨ And thus a note was left everyday to remind Fulano throughout the week to prepare for church. Many members very happily accepted the challenge and some did it for last week, while others are doing it this week. We´re hoping that this will help the investigators have church on their mind throughout the week. THEN the member goes by to accompany the investigator on Sunday. Yay! We´re still in the middle of the experiment, so we´ll let you know how it goes.
This week, our focus is getting those lessons with members! We´ve seen too many miracles from involving members to NOT do it. Many of our investigators have been so well integrated with the members of the ward. It´s a beautiful thing, and we´re looking forward to seeing more of it.

Happy times in Monte Grande. We know there´s much in store for the people here, and we´re hopeful and optimistic for this week.
¨Por tanto, muy queridos hermanos, hagamos con buen ánimo cuanta cosa esté a nuestro alcance; y entonces podremos permanecer tranquilos, con la más completa seguridad, para ver la salvación de Dios y que se revele su brazo¨ (DyC 123:17). Joseph Smith was quite the motivator, and I believe what he said! We are determined to do all within our reach, and I know that the Lord will reveal His arm. I LOVE this work!

Thank you so much, President, for your guidance and advice. Monte Grande (and we the missionaries of course) sends you much love and smiles gallore. :)

Hermana Lindquist

Yep yep yep. Thaz wha´ I dun tells hem.
MOM! Do you have a corn bread recipe? Preferably one from generations past...We´re teaching this man who is a chef. He actually has a specialty in American foods, but he wants to make sure he uses REAL recipes, and not imitations. Cinnamon roll and oatmeal cookies are also happily received. :)

The Church is so true. We´re teaching a young family who has searched so long for a place with pure religion and the truths of both the Old and New Testaments. They began searching ever more diligently for the fulness of the Gospel with the birth of their son a few months ago. More than anything, this baby´s father wants his son brought up ¨in truth and righteousness¨. However, as individuals and as a family, they´d passed through much deception and disappointment. When we began teaching them, they clung dearly to the doctrine of the eternal family. They know the Bible so well because of years of study led by the Spirit. So well, that when they learned of Joseph Smith and the Restoration, it rang true because of the Lord´s long established pattern of revealing divine truths through living Prophets. I, like these investigators, have become newly aware of Heavenly Father´s ever true love and guidance. He always, always, always blesses those who worship Him according to the light and knowledge they possess. And the more light and knowledge a person can attain to in this life, the greater he or she can be blessed. PLEASE share the Gospel with everyone. Please let your friends know that the words of the Lord´s servants are available to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people (Mosiah 3:13). And remember that they´re available through us who know! Why would the Lord go through so much trouble to publish the Bible and the Book of Mormon and call a modern Prophet if He didn´t want everyone to know. Why would He tell me about it if He didn´t want me to share it with others. As one sister in Relief Society pointed our the other day, we shouldn´t be like that saber-toothed-squirrel in the movie Ice Age when it comes to our testimony, hoarding it away and frantically trying to keep others from it. The advantage my testimony and yours has over nuts is that when we share it, we get more. Okay, maybe there are some other advantages too... :)

Rambling my way through another email just to get to the most important part: I love you all so much! Thank you ever so much for your love, support, and determination to be good people. I know so many good people! What a blessing! You all are just fancy splendid!

Smiles and sunshine,

Hermana Lindquist

p.s. remixed version of ¨You Were Always on My Mind¨. Way better than the original.

INGRID!! One more thing: Please tell Richard he´s the best. There´s a member here who reminds me so much of him: always joking and fun-loving, but also sensitive and caring and very loving especially in his family. And a superb dad-e-o! And you can QUOTE me! I realize more and more what a great example you and your family are. So pretty!

Finally, More Pictures

This is Mary's companion showing off the american desserts(cupcakes) that someone baked especially for them!

Happy Day!

People often ask me how I can smile so much. I learned - and am continually learning that like Capitán Zarahemna of the Book of Mormon, I am so grateful for ¨the sacred word of God, to which we owe all our happiness¨ (Alma 44:5). If it weren´t for the promises of the Lord and the profound doctrine of the Plan of Salvation, I would be a withered frowning glob, instead of a ball of sunshine. And frankly, I very much prefer sunshine balls. Almost as good as popcorn balls! It´s a close call...
Lesson learned: Satan takes good intentions and turns them into destructive contentions. I met a man who was firmly anti-religion. He insisted that people need help, not organizations of religion. He tries everyday to do good things for people and live a Christ-like life. That is good. At the same time, he tries to do it all alone. That is NOT God´s plan. A billion good-hearted, well-meaning people can not save the world if they act strictly on an individual level. Sociality, united effort, and organization based on principles of Christ´s doctrine are essential to doing work that has any sort of long-lasting efficacy. I think in our days, we can´t settle for great accomplishments in technology, medicine, or science. Those are fantastic, but somehow as a people we need more accomplishment in organizing the human resources that we have. In Gospel-speak: we need to be united and apply the God-given gifts of the Spirit each person has and build Zion. Our work is that of salvation and eternal life. I love Heavenly Father´s children; I love my brothers and sisters so much! I know that God is a loving Parent and He´s given us a house in the world and a home in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I hope that all makes sense. It´s the first attempt I´ve made at putting it in words. And now I´ve got myself all worked up. Whew! I need an alfajor.

I LOVE being a missionary. I love learning the Lord´s will and striving to do it. I know that eternal rewards await us as we treasure and take advantage of every passing moment.

THank you all SO MUCH! I wish I could hug you all with the biggest hugs in the world!! All in god time. :)

Smiles and rainbows!

Hermana Lindquist

p.s. Random note from the mission offices: Don´t send packages via UPS or FedEx or anything other than the good ol´ US Postal Service

Sooooooo.....

Remember when I was in Burzaco? Yeah, me too. It was great! Well, one of my last visits to the familia Infante there, I talked with a friend of the family who had come into town to visit and was in that moment leaving on his bike. I invited him to learn more, took down his address, and sent it to the missionaries of the area he belonged to. A simple ¨contact,¨ in missionary speak. This would have been back in December, por allí. Bueno, I just heard today from the Infantes that he got baptized the day before yesterday and received the gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday. Wow!

Hermana Hill and I approached the ¨rejas¨ (outter fence) of a home the other day, and we clapped our hands. A young couple appeared, and before we could even say who we were or what we were doing there, they were looking for the key to let us in. I was very surprised, and looked at my companion, and then looked at them and asked, ¨Where you expecting us?¨ I thought they must have mistaken us for some maintanence workers they´d been awaiting or something. We entered and shared briefly with them. They explained that they NEVER let people they don´t know enter, but they knew and felt that we were sent by the Lord. Plus, my companion, as she prayed in their home, made a particular petition in a blessing on the home and the couple said they prayed for that very thing every night. The Spirit was strong.
As it turns out, they are good friends with a member family that live in the same block. The man said that for the past 30ish years, the example of that family has been an invaluable example of goodness, love, and true Christianity. This young couple asked us for a Book of Mormon (again, before we even mentioned it), and has since found great peace and happiness in their home. So much so, that they asked the member family for another so that they could each read and mark and study more profoundly. I know that in homes where the Book of Mormon is read regularly, there is peace and harmony and great happiness.

I waited a few months before I knew my testimony had such a great influence on that man in Burzaco. The family in Monte Grande lived 30 years preaching to their neighbor by example. So many times, we don´t know how great an influence we have on others, but influence we do; whether we like it or not! So learn to love your influence and make it positive. :)

In a letter to the *200+ missionaries here in Buenos Aires South, our beloved President Stapley wrote the following: ¨I hope you will be focused on the Doctrine of Christ and that you are working on love and obedience. If you do this with passion and a smile and you are working hard to get better every day, you will see everything improve.¨ It´s so true.

*Fun fact! The Buenos Aires South mission is the largest in South America in terms of number of missionaries.
¨El evangelio no reta. El evangelio recuerda.¨ (-Hermana Moreno of Monte Grande)
¨Si esto no fuera verdadero, tengo muchas cosas más importantes que hacer. Si no estuviera la Iglesia de Jesucristo de Los Santos de Los Ultimos Días, lo estaría buscando.¨ (-Hno. Dias of Monte Grande)


Could you please send photos of Blake´s and Eric´s weddings, and more of da family! I love showing people who you all are, and they love seeing you!
Kristin Long: I´ve decided when we get a fainting goat, we will name one Ammon, and another King Lamoni.
Bev: Hermana Hill and HER sister belt out the song, ¨I Wanna Dance With Somebody!¨ while driving too!
Blake: Hermana Hill says having an appendix removed is no fun. She sends her condolances.
Mom: What city in Arizona are you in?
Ingrid: How big´s your belly?
Russ: How´s da espanish??
Eric: Please say hi to the beach for me. You and I have a snorkeling trip ahead of us. Summer 2011!
Randy: Brazilians are really cool!
Dad: See if you can replace the shoulder with a robot go-go-gadget arm instead of mere mortal flesh.
Brandon: I love you! You make the best decisions, and I trust them mucho. :)


I love you all very much! Thank you so much for everything.

Hermana Lindquist

Feliz lunes!

Some late, some early, but all from my heart:
Feliz aniversario Randy and Katie!
Feliz cumpleaños Trenton!
Feliz cumpleaños Athena!

Excerpt from letter to Pres. Stapley:

^...Tonight we have 3 Noches de Hogar lined up, 2 of which are teaching investigators in the homes of members and the other will have a member present. The members here are terrific, and their influence on their neighborhoods is tremendous. We have found some wonderful people to teach who received us initially because of some friend or acquaintance who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It has greatly strengthened my testimony of the importance of doing the Lord{s work in the home. I love sections 14-16 of the Doctrine and Covenants. There the Lord explains that the thing that will be of most worth to my soul, your soul, anyone{s soul will be to cry repentance. As usual, the home is the place to begin with that. There a person can refine their ability to cry repentance with ^love unfeigned^ and the other characteristics described in DyC121. On the mission, I know that the relationship between me and my companion is very important, in our little pension-home. Fortunately I have the best companion in the world. Makes it kinda nice! She and I have made some very important goals together, and we{re really working on each of the mission focuses and values. Thank you for your counsel and for help...^

So yeah! With the arrival of the new President came the new mission focuses and values. They're lovely!

Enfoques de la Mision Buenos Aires Sur: El Amor, El Espiritu, La doctrina de Cristo, La obediencia, y el manual Predicad Mi Evangelio. (Focuses of the Buenos Aires South Mission: Love, the Spirit, the Doctrine of Christ, obedience, and the manual Preach My Gospel.)

Valores que establecen nuestra manera de trabajar para alcanzar la excelencia: Ser feliz, Tener Pasion, Ayudar a otros tener exito, Mejorar continuamente, Ser trabajador(a). (Values that establish our manner of working towards excellence: Be happy, have passion, help others be successful, improve continually, be a hardworker.)



For a good study, read the Bible Dictionary definition of ^Miracles.^ What miracles do you need? want? What miracles can you bring about for someone else today? If you don't know, pray to find out! The Lord knows, and He'll make use of anyone who wants to be useful.

Does anyone want anything in particular from Argentina? Lemme know!

Keep on prayin^ and playin^!....they{re far from mutually exclusive. :)

I love you all! I love you mucho! I love you all mucho! Mil gracias por su apoyo durante otra linda semana. Que la pasen tranquilo.

Hermana Lindquist

Hi ev´rybahdy!

To: "Ingrid Smith" I loooooooove Argentina. It just gets more and more, well, Argentine!

Elder Uchtdorf´s talk ¨You are My Hands¨ really touched me as I read this morning of the life of the Savior and the good that He did, the completely self-less love He had and showed for all people. I don´t think we could ever emphasize enough the importance of following Jesus Christ´s example - in simple things and great. I want so badly to do as He did and be as He was. I know its possible, even now, to be as He is. To every man, woman, and child the Lord extends the promise of a ¨fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father; and the Father and I are one¨ (3 Nephi 28:10). Think of what a great reward it is some days just to be able to sit down in you own home in peace at the end of a long day. Then multiply that by infinity and you still can´t imagine the immense joy and satisfaction that awaits those who may sit down in God´s home - in His kingdom - at the end of this ¨day of life¨ with the promise to ¨go no more out¨ (Alma 29:17, Alm 34:32-33). This is the gift of eternal life. It truly is a gift. And we receive it from Jesus Christ. We cannot appreciate it, however, without passing through mortality. And we cannot pass successfully through mortality without the help of Jesus Christ. His Atonement is His love and His help manifested in action. May we ever manifest our love, our friendship, our desires for good with our actions. We can be true friends to the friendless, comforts to the comfortless, and a great help to all our brothers and sisters. There is not a living soul who does not need someone else´s help. There is not a soul that does not need the Lord´s help. ¨A true friend loveth at all time, and a brother is born for adversity¨ (Proverbs 17:17). Let´s all be friendly brothers!

Elder Uchtdorf relates this story:
¨An old Jewish legend tells of two brothers, Abram and Zimri, who owned a field and worked it together. They agreed to divide both the labor and the harvest equally. One night as the harvest came to a close, Zimri could not sleep, for it didn’t seem right that Abram, who had a wife and seven sons to feed, should receive only half of the harvest, while he, with only himself to support, had so much.
So Zimri dressed and quietly went into the field, where he took a third of his harvest and put it in his brother’s pile. He then returned to his bed, satisfied that he had done the right thing.

Meanwhile, Abram could not sleep either. He thought of his poor brother, Zimri, who was all alone and had no sons to help him with the work. It did not seem right that Zimri, who worked so hard by himself, should get only half of the harvest. Surely this was not pleasing to God. And so Abram quietly went to the fields, where he took a third of his harvest and placed it in the pile of his beloved brother.

The next morning, the brothers went to the field and were both astonished that the piles still looked to be the same size. That night both brothers slipped out of their houses to repeat their efforts of the previous night. But this time they discovered each other, and when they did, they wept and embraced. Neither could speak, for their hearts were overcome with love and gratitude.

This is the spirit of compassion: that we love others as ourselves, seek their happiness, and do unto them as we hope they would do unto us.¨

I love you all very very mucho. Thank you so much for your prayers, for your goodness, and for helping one another. I´m so grateful for my family! They´re the best! High fives and hugs to all!

Hermana Lindquist

Happy Eric´s birthweek!

Yay Eric!!! You da best! I´ll be sure Argentina celebrates your birth as well. Don´t you worry, I´ll sing to you in the streets. :)

I was thinking about tithing and thought, What if all my thoughts and actions had dollar value? What percentage am I dedicating to the Lord? It should be much more than 10% that´s for sure!

Boom! Hahahahaha. My Peruvian friends here always say ¨Boom!¨ when they´re excited, kind of like some people say ¨Boo-ya!¨

I love the Family Proclamation. The world needs to know these truths! Click here and read, thinking about your own family and personal goals. How can the gospel of Jesus Christ help you reach them? I promise you that it can. I know that the Gospel exists to bless families. As birthday-boy Eric would say, ¨Joy!¨

This week, a faithful investigator suddenly disappeared. His aunt called us to tell he´d moved back home to Chaco - a different province here in Argentina. Quite a shock, as he was preparing to be baptized on July 31. When we were planning, we though about him and what we should do with the plans we´d made. We felt that we should save them and that surely this wasn´t the end. A day or so later, we received a phonecall from the Misión Resistencia. An Elder on the other end of the line informed us that they had found Angel (the investigator) and that he would still be getting baptized on the 31. Turns out Angel´s new neighbor in Chaco had been receiving the missionaries, and when Angel moved in, she invited Angel to meet the missionaries. They met him, he informed them he needed to get baptized, and they called us to fill us in. What a relief and a blessing! Angel is in for some very happy times as the Lord keeps being a part of his daily life. You just can´t get away from the truth! :)

I hope you all had a fantastic 4 of July. Argentina celebrated her independence on the 9th. From what I understand, Peru on the 7th. Yay liberty!

I know the Lord is alive and well, constantly involved in His work. Setting the example like always! Hence, we too should be involved in His work. I´m so grateful to be a missionary. I´m grateful for the sacrifice and support of all you fantastic family and friends, who help me be capable of doing what the Lord has commanded me to do. Thank you!

Nos vemos amigos!
Smiles and hugs,

Hna. Lindquist

Fo Da Peeples

A week of conversion, testimony sharing, walnut harvesting, dog-dodging, and hour after hour of pure gospel-sharing goodness. I love being a missionary!
This week, Hermana Hill and I met many people who have lost loved ones. Two older men stand out in my mind. One man lost his wife two years ago, and he says he relives it every day. Tears fill his eyes as he describes how fervently he´s prayed for peace and closure but has been unable to find it. The other man lives with his wife, who lost the great part of her consciousness in recent years. He looks at her lovingly, she lying in bed unresponsive, and he chokes up as he recalls years past when she was his right-hand and they worked together to do a number of great projects.
For both of these men, there is a clear need and an apparent desire to understand this life. It is true that sadness and disappointment are a shared heritage. Some suffer more than others. Why? I wish I had more time to write all my thoughts on the matter. Suffice it to say, I know that to every trial there is a lesson, and in every event there is purpose. Heavenly Father laughs when we laugh and cries when we cry, but He does so with an advanced understanding and a faith unchangeable. He knows the rewards that await us, and He does all in His power to teach us how to receive them. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to suffer. He sent Him to die. But more than this, He sent Him to live. And live He does! I know as well that both of these men I met this week will find great joy and consolance in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, because it truly is the ¨power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth¨ (Romans 1:16). Life is hard sometimes, but it never ceases to be a miracle. And a beautiful one at that!

Speaking of hard times, you may have heard that Argentina is out of the World Cup. Siiiigh. :)

I love you all from the depths of my steadily beating lil´ heart! Monte Grande is happy and thriving and begging to hear the gospel, so for now I sign off.

Happiness and smiles and LOVE,

Hermana Lindquist

p.s. Some have asked what to send. Thank you for desires to share! If´n ya still got the notion, please send pancake recipe or other ¨American¨ recipes (I´m still not sure what that entails), marshmallows, knee highs, addresses of Granny and other southern relatives, and random motivational notes for investigators. That would be awesome! Thank you very much. And íf´n you don´t got the notion, don´t worry your pretty little heads. All is well here! Gracias!

p.p.s. The internet café this week is featuring the following songs: Radio Gaga, Ladies´ Night (Ooo whatta night), Oh LaMoure, etc.

Family!

Happy America day!! ....soon!
As usual , time is short here in the cyber. But hey! My companion is awesome, the area is awesome. I LOVE the people here! They're splendid. Even more splendid as Argentina continues winning Mundial (Wolrd Cup). Living after the manner of happiness: painted in blue and white and shooting off cannons whenever a goal is scored. It's a hoot!
My thoughts for today (inspired my Moroni 7:2 +Doctrine and Covenants 18:32 + missionary call letter + chapter 1 of Preach My Gospel): The Lord wants missionaries to be successful! He wants His children saved and He wants to see us all work together. He really will help us every day. And boy howdy how He does! I know the work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the work of Jesus Christ; it's the work of salvation and joy.

Peace, love, and smiles!

Mary

p.s. A hermano in my ward was the Elder that picked up Lori Warren from the airport when she arrived to La Plata (last name Pederson)

Feliz Día a Todos!

What an eventful week this has been! I´ve had three companions this week: my beloved Hermana Petrick, and then an exchange with one Hermana Crawford in an area called El Dorado (¨..the magnificent....El Doraaaaado¨), and now with my NEW companion, Hermana Hill! Yes, hermanos y hermanas, I have left La Plata. Yes, it broke my heart, but I know that Montegrande (my new area) is where I´m most needed right now. Why else would the Lord send me here? As one of the recent converts in La Plata said when I told him I was leaving, ¨Well, I needed you here, and maybe the Lord has other people like me there that need you too.¨ Touched my heart very deeply.

The new mission president comes in this transfer. We said our goodbyes to President and Sis. Asay this morning. What a strong example of humble, intelligent, and loving service he has been. His motto is that we just need to be obedient and work. Obedience and work - they´re so key!

Oh hey! I testify that knowledge and learning can be sought anywhere. In respect of National Flag day, I impressed some members the other day with a bit of Argentine history I had learned about the designer of the Argentine flag (General Belgrano). Information that I had learned by reading a dollar (peso) bill one day. There are tidbits of historical fun in everything we see and do, it seems. Which randomly reminds me, I want to read the Old Testament. I´ve yet to master that one. Stream of consciousness writing. Ice cream. Mundial (World Cup). 80s music. Primary hymns. Sister Hill´s great. Done! :)

I have so much to tell you all! I think I´ll try to do some voice recordings somehow....someday....

And hey! Somebody hug Brandon for me!! While your at it, hug the person next to you. There we go. Everyone just be happy and hug and love each other. Life is worth living because the gospel is true! I love you all and pray for you always. At least a lot more often than I write. But that´s probably not saying that much, huh? Oh well. suffice it to say, I´m always praying for you folk! I also have a testimony that we can be the answer to other people´s prayers. Oh oh oh! Read Moroni 7:31, and then be angels! It´s great doctrine!

Alright, I´ll stop for now. Smiles and rainbows to all!

Hermana Lindquist

p.s. I told you I´d send you pictures, but I have to get them from Hna. Petrick. Not sure when or how....

p.p.s. Remind me to tell you about my Bishop´s advice regarding James Taylor´s song ¨Carolina on My Mind¨ and my mission.

Songs I´ve heard in the last 1/2 hour in the street/here in the cyber: Carma Chameleon, I´m never gonna give you up (never gonna let you go), Rock With You (M. Jackson), The Heart of Rock ´n´ Roll, In the Name of Love (U2). Now I´m off to sing hymns and get the others outta my brain. :)

Goooood Mooooornin´ United States!

This weekend, I learned the meaning of Doctrine and Covenants 18:15. Roberto - the man who stopped us a few weeks back and asked if we could teach him English - was baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. I wish I had words to describe how powerfully moving the experience was. Looking in his eyes, hearing him thank us with all the sincerity of his heart, and seeing him leave the chapel with a huge smiling, stating simply, ¨I feel like my soul is clean¨ - these moments filled my soul, and I wondered if I´d ever felt so happy before. The Priesthood authority that was restored to Joseph Smith is real and saves lives daily. Roberto has a very strong testimony of this, and it´s insiring to see how he and others grab hold to the truths of the restored gospel and rely on them to create and live in ¨a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God.¨

Time´s tickin´. I´ll send ya pic-a-tures next week. Oh hey! Funny moment: in testimony meeting, a sister testified that my words were true. I had done a practice with the members, instructing them how to share the gospel through folletos and copies of the Book of Mormon. At one point, I took on the role of the nonmember friend, receiving the folleto gratefully. That was a few weeks ago. So this testimony meeting, the sister said that her friend received the folleto EXACTLY as I had said she would, with the exact same expressions and words. Haha! I´m just grateful she had the faith to try out the giving. And hey! Maybe I´s gots me a future in acting. Vamos a ver....

So, Brandon´s home?! Heeeeey! I just sent you a letter today, so I hope some day it arrives. That´d be ideal. If not, just know that I think you´re the best and I´m so happy for you and for all the people whose lives you touched. Te quiero mucho!


Thank you all for your everlovin´ care and support. I pray for you always!


Love,
Hermana Lindquist

Aloooooooo...*gasp*..oooooooooHA!

(Except from a letter to the Mission President)
-
Last week, we taught a group of men who live together in a pensión a few basic principles about the Restoration and arranged to return another day. When we returned (yesterday), one of them greeted us by telling us he knew it was true. Well great! When we entered, they had two other friends visiting, one of which greeted us by informing us that he frequents the Institute and knows the Church pretty well, but he hasn´t yet been baptized and isn´t sure why. Well...great! We sat with the 4 men, and our splendid ward member who accompanied us, and we discussed the principles of the lesson of the Restoration and taught of Joseph Smith and the First Vision, and the true Church of Jesus Christ restored the the Earth. The men expressed feelings of joy and told us they were intrigued by it all. We invited them to be baptized: ¨¿Será bautizado?¨ One replied in a conversational tone, ¨Seguro.¨ We asked another, who exclaimed, ¨¡Seguro!¨ Another insists he has no interest in religion. The last says he´s not sure, but he wants to pray about the truth of Joseph Smith´s story - ¨with all my heart¨ - to know if it´s true. We have a cita with him in 25 minutes. SUPER great!
I´m so grateful the Lord´s allowed me to meet these people and have some sort of part in their eternal progression. What a humbling honor!

I know the Church is true and that Christ directs it with His careful, ever-guiding hand. I know that missionary work is the work of the Father. I´ve been reading a lot about that in the last few books of 3 Nephi as well as elsewhere in the scriptures. Joyful news, the gospel we´ve got!¨
-

So, that´s what I wrote to Pres. Asay this week. I´m realizing more and more how blessed I am to have been able to enter into the baptismal covenant earlier in life and what a great Guide the Holy Ghost has been to me throughout my life. So many live without that supernal blessing of the gift of the Holy Ghost. There is a much safer, much happier, and much clearer way of life: that´s what the gospel of Jesus Christ is all about!

Random fun 1: I went shopping at Walmart today. Say whaaa?? Yeah. I found Newman´s salad dressing and Campbell´s soup in the foreign foods section. Ha! Twilight Zone quality paradigm shift right thar.
Random fun 2: I think I´m getting fat. Ha! One investigator gets a kick out of pointing that out to me and then inviting us to lunch. Fine by me!

Important random fun: Hermana Petrick is the rad. It´s da truth!!! Companion unity is so incredibly important, and we have just been learning so much together, making and reaching goals, working on developing Christlike attributes with each other´s help, and eating chocolatey alfajores whenever the other pleases. Yay unity! :)

I can not thank you enough for your support, every one of my friends and family that have been so kind to me, have always had great senses of humor, and always sought to do so much good for others. I can´t get over how much I love you all! I often find myself thinking, ¨I wish so-and-so could meet this investigator. They´d be great buds.¨

Over and out!

Hermana Lidnquistky


Hermana Lindquist

Tra la la la

Dear all (family, friends, family friends, friendly families, etc.),

You rock! There. I said it. I send you big ol´smiles and hugs and all the joy this little Hna. Lindquist heart can muster in an ¨electronic mail¨. La Misión Buenos Aires Sur is wonderful, and, of late, all of the missionaries seem keenly aware of how short our time here really is, but very enthusiastic about how much good can be done in short amounts of time. ¨Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise¨ (Alma 37:6). Even small moments can determine eternity.
This transfer, we´re focusing on diligence. Or rather, working with all your ¨heart, might, mind, and strength¨ even when you feel like you don´t have any. Haha. It´s like being the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, and Dorothy all at once! Being a missionary makes me keenly aware of my human frailties, but also helps me in great measure sense the greatness, mercy, and condescension of our Heavenly Father.

Bah! There´s so much more I want to say, but time doesn´t permit. So, I´ll fill ya in in a year or so....or next week :)

I love you all!! Thank you so much for your prayers. Thank you for your letters and support in all forms!

Hna. Lindqskeeitwkswey

Buuuuuuenas taaaaaardes!!!!

Hello everyone!
Hey fun stuff: Ingrid tells me there will be tie-dieing festivities for Bev´s birthday. And ya know what? I proposed a tie-dieing day for our zone activity on p-day, and we´re totally doing it! The whole world is going to be so colorful and beautiful! (At least Lakeside and La Plata anyway.)
Other fun stuff (can ¨stuff¨ be singular?): There was a new family in church yesterday, and upon meeting them it turns out they just moved here ten days ago from Trujill, Perú. ¿Trujillo Perú?? Why yes! And guess who helped them with their move? Elder Reas. ¿¿¿¿Elder Reas?? AAA!!! Hahahaha. I nearly exploded with joy on this family. It was awesome. So now I get to help them move in, which means Elder Reas and I will be involved in the same international service project. ¡Qué mundo más feliz!

I love the variety of people in the world. I don´t want to sound like a broken record, but.....THE WORLD IS AWESOME!! (besides, some broken records have a somewhat pleasing sound. Just gotta add a bass riff or something to offset the squeeling.) And the Gospel is the most joyful, fluid, all-encompassing element that drives both man and nature to perform at their level of greatest brilliance and beauty. Jesus Christ lives. He´s plead for us before, and He continues that loving duty now. I know that those who have faith to reach out and take His hand soar to greater heights than the natural man see. I know that when promises and covenants are extended and accepted in His name, they are real and eternal. I know that the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored. I know this! Who am I to know any of this? No one! The world teaches an underlying assumption in much of its doctrine: that the best things are for extraordinary people; that unless we´re totally different and have all the attention from any given clique, we don´t deserve reward or full joy. Not so Mr. Mundo! ¨Ordinary people¨ are gods and goddesses in embryo and as such have great potential to do and receive good. The only requisite is in the asking. Humility, faith, diligence, desire - these qualify all who apply them for the gifts and rights and priviliges of Heaven.
These and other precious truths were restored to Joseph Smith - an ¨ordinary¨ farm boy who had the faith to open his mouth and ask. He asked Heavenly Father where to find truth. That loving Father opened His mouth to respond. And more! He opened the Heavens to respond! The truth wasn´t to be found anywhere on earth at the moment Joseph began his prayer. However, when he prayed, God the Father and Jesus Christ revealed Themselves. They revealed to him the truth. They prepared him to be a prophet. Through Joseph Smith, Jesus Christ restored His church and His Gospel. Cheap copies and imitations could no longer hold their weight. The great stone ¨cut without hands¨ was set rolling and now destroys doubt and confusion throughout the world (Dan. 2:34). I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet, and that He saw God the Father and Jesus Christ in the flesh. What a privilege!
And what a privilege I have to be in Buenos Aires sharing these ¨glad tidings of great joy¨! The same privilege is available to all! Share the gospel. If you don´t have it, or don´t believe it, seek it first and then share it. The Lord has extended promises of exceeding joy and protection and peace to those who go out in His name. So take a walk around the block and help those who are ¨suffering in unbelief¨ or who are kept from the truth simply because they know not where to find it (Doctrine and Covenants 123:12, 61:3).


Happy days and rainbows to you all!!

Love,
Hermana Lindquist (AKA Hna. Lindskee, Lindswkwisky, etc.)

Happy Mother's Day!

We got of the train a little bit ago, after having attended a lovely transfer meeting. It´s so strange to see such close friends leave the mission. The scary part is they all say that it goes by fast. And boy howdy is that true. I´m working on making time stand still though. I´ll let you know how any experimenting with that goes. :)
I LOOOOOOOOOOVE La-La-La-La-La-LOVE La PLATA! And I´m so grateful to have another transfer here. Hermana Petrick and I are so excited for the people we´re working with. So many be-a-u-tiful souls, filled with enthusiasm and faith. We are so blessed and privileged to be here and know them.

Here´s part of my letter to the Pres. (I changed names so as to respect involved parties.):

¨Buen día President Asay!
This morning you asked me how our week had gone...We saw some very pleasant moments, including this inspiring charla we had with two distinct investigators at the same time. Jorge has been investigating for a couple months now, and he has made tremendous changes, but he´s having trouble leaving the cigarettes behind. Francisco is a man we met a week or two ago and have only taught once. He quit smoking about six months ago. So, in our first charla with him, we asked him to accompany us the next day to visit Jorge and help encourage him to quit smoking. The next day, Francisco came as planned, and he and Jorge taught each other priceless lessons. I think it was especially beneficial for Jorge because he really was teaching! He´s already had all the lessons, so as we were going over charla 3 (el Evangelio), Jorge was bearing his testimony, expounding doctrines, and applying his scriptural study. Francisco drunk in the experience and shared his own as well. Hermana Petrick and I relied on the scriptures to guide the charla. It was beautiful. The Spirit was so strong. The next day was Sunday. Hermana Petrick and I arrived to see the two men seated together in sacrament meeting.
These experiences are invaluable. We´re going to work hard to make sure they´re more common here in La Plata during this new transfer. Thank you o much for transfer meeting. I´m going to miss those missionaries that left. I feel so privileged to serve in such a strong mission, with so many marvelous Elders and Sisters - missionaries of the Lord´s church. It´s one of the greatest blessings I´ve ever experienced.¨

I know the Lord lives. Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior of the world, and the head of this the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I love you all so much!! Thank you very much for all you do and are.

SMILES!!!!

Hermana Lindquist


p.s. A special shout out to all my loving mothers - you know who you are! (and yes, Ingrid, you count, even though you technically are my sister. Whatevvvv.) And especially to my Mom-mom, the lovely Carol Worthy! The most splendid lady in all the land. I love you Mom!

H-h-hey! I loooooove being a missionary!!!

Buen día a todos!
La Plata is just a land of miracles is what it is! Everyday, Hermana Petrick and I are learning so much and we´re finding new and more effective ways to work together and fully dedicate ourselves - our heart, might, mind, strength, and time - to the Lord. And the best part is seeing the blessings that flow from that. I love that scripture that says that by their fruits they shall be known. When we see successes (fruits), we can look to see what factors brought them about. Fruit doesn´t just spring up from nothing! Nothing comes from nothing. I know that obedience to the Lord´s commandments is the only surefire way to reap the fruits He has in store. Just ¨consider the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of the Lord.¨ They really are blessed in all things.
I am so in love with my area - the members, the investigators, the contacts, my neighbors, the dog that just walked by the window - everything! Not to mention that my companion is the best. And hey! I don´t remember if I told you all about Roberto. He´s the one that was riding his bike by and said, ¨Do you speak English?¨.... yeah, I think I told you all. Anyhoo, he´s getting baptized! Then he´s going to receive the Priesthood and be prepared to receive the wealth of blessings and powers that the Lord has prepared for him. And yesterday, the twins (12 year olds) received their confirmation and now they´re preparing to receive the priesthood. The work will march on, independent of any other forces proposed my men, elements, or ungodly stratagems.

I also love Doctrine and Covenants section 4. Especially when the Lord states that in order to serve Him - our Heavenly King of Glory - we just need the desire. From their, we develop attributes that make us more Christlike. From those Christlike attributes, we become true representatives of Him and even our very countenances bear testimony of Him as the Savior and Redeemer, the Fountain of joy and life.
Please, find people for the missionaries to teach. Invite any person anywhere, regardless of how well you do or do not know them, to visit with the missionaries. Offer to accompany the missionaries. If you´re not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I invite you to just talk with a missionary! It´s very simple and easy, and they´ll always treat you with love and respect because truly they are representatives of the Lord. More importantly, I know it will bless your life and you will find more joy and happiness in the things you learn with them than you can in any other place.

Yo sé que el Salvador vive. Sé que La Iglesia de Jesucristo de Los Santos de Los Últimos Días es Su reino acá en la tierra. Es la única iglesia verdadera. Yo sé que todos pueden saber por sí mismo si estas cosas son verdaderas. Sólo se necesita la oración. Pregúnte a Dios. Él verdaderamente responde ¨abundantamente y sin reproche.¨

Big ol´ ABRAZOS y SONRISAS to you all! I love you and am ever grateful for your love and support and all that you have taught and continue to teach me! (sorry for that poorly constructed sentence. Please just look to the Spirit of it. :) )

Happy week everyone!

Hermana Lindquist

The fun and learning never ends!

....that´s a direct quote from Barney. Booya! (I don´t know why I say ¨booya¨. I think I just like the way dem vowels and consanants sound together. smooooth.)

I was gonna tell you all last week, but failed to do so: My district leader, Elder Nina of Arequipa Perú, taught me to roll my Rs!!!!!!!!!!! Years of longing and struggling and practicing and he taught me in 2 minutes!!! My whole mission (and before), people have drawn me diagrams of what my tongue should do, they´ve explained how to push air out just the right way, they´ve demonstrated every way they knew how. Then he just explained a different way to put my tongue, I did it, and OUT ROLLED AN R!!! No, an RRRRRR! I was so happy I nearly cried. Yeah, it´s that important. :)

Even better news, the people Hermana Petrick and I are teaching are so awesome! Well, while I´m pointing out awesomeness, I may as well point out that Hna. Petrick herself is plain ol´ awesome. I am just amazed by how many good people the Lord has helped me meet, here on the mission and before. I´ve just always been blessed to have pleasant, intelligent, kind associates. A great gift indeed. Here in La Plata, everyday I meet wonderful people. You really can learn something from everyone you meet. The trick is that the learning process sometimes takes great effort. In other words, sometimes you have to force yourself to look for the lesson, but it´s always there! Reminds me of the scripture in the book of Acts that councils us to ¨seek the Lord if haply ye might find him, though he be not far from every one of us.¨ We find what we look for. Look for good, and you find it. Look for God, you find Him. There´s nothing tricky to it. Yes, it requires effort. The person that seeks with diligence finds (1 Nephi 10:19). No one should settle to be the kid who throws up his arms and quits the treasure hunt after finding the first clue. Much less, the kid who doesn´t even search the first clue. Study diligently the basic principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ - faith, repentance, baptism, the reception of the Holy Ghost, perseverance - and you´ll find answers not only to basic questions and searches, but to the more complex as well. ¨Seek learning by study and by faith,¨ rely on the Holy Ghost´s ability to reveal truth. ¨Pedid y recibiréis. Llamad y se os abrirá.¨

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church on the face of the world. Every honest seeker of truth will find themselves declaring that truth with great joy as they search, ponder, and pray. Don´t give up the treasure hunt!


I love you all thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much!....and more!

Que les vaya muuuy bien. Muchas gracias por su amor y apoyo. Gracias por sus tesimonios y sus esfuerzos a hacer lo bueno. You mean the mundo to me!


Hermana Lindquist

Just Another Magic Monday

...whoooo-u-ooo (I changed it to ¨magic¨ to make it more happy. :) )

This week has been awwwwesome. May the word go forth that when we promise the Lord we´ll be somewhere/do something/whatever, and we stick to the plans we presented him, he puts opportunities for good in our path. The Lord grants missionary opportunities according to our faith (=belief and consecrated work) and requests. This week, Hermana Petrick (who is the best missionary this side of La Plata!) and I were walking down the road. A man passed us on his bike and yelled in English, ¨You speak English?¨ The way Hermana P tells it, I replied ¨Sí!¨....in Spanish. Genius. So she shouted ¨Yes! Yeees!¨ and he stopped to talk. He said he´d like to practice English. We said we´d like to teach him about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. A few days later in our first ¨charla¨ with him, he said, ¨I feel like I´m learning two things at once: to speak English, and also about Jesus Christ,¨ he went on, ¨And maybe about myself too.¨ This was about a week or two ago. Since then he´s come to church, met many members, and has set a goal to be baptized. We´ve told Roberto that we´re are just here as guides and that his spiritual journey is strictly between him and his Heavenly Father. And Roberto is walking the path faithfully.

There is a tremendous love that highlights, enhances, and defines the work of the Lord. I often think of Sis. Reas´s (Mami Chula!) voice saying, ¨Love those you serve, and serve those you love.¨ I know without a doubt that God knows each of the people on this earth. He knows their hearts and loves them with a love that is largely incomprehensible. As a missionary of His church, a representative of Jesus Christ, I often feel a great love for these people. I know that Jesus Christ is concerned for them. I know He´s concerned for me, and for my companion, and each member of my family - past, present, and future. It´s altogether inspiring to think of His infinite sacrifice. Interesting to note that joy comes at such a cost. And yet Christ paid the price and offers us joy so freely. Obedience is so key. Obedience brings safety and joy and assurance. I love obeying the Lord. I fall short - boy howdy do I fall short - but I know there really is no end to His love and forgiveness.

For now, I bid adieu. Mostly because the boy next to me is blasting reggeton from his earphones. jajaja

I love you all! I pray for you always! Keep on smiling and helping each other. Thank you so very much for helping me. I owe so much of who I am to so many different people. If you´re reading this, you can rest assured that you´ve had a great impact on my life. That means that you, Ingrid, get to choose who to send this to with care..... JUST kidding. Thank you very much! I love you! Muuucho!!!!


Hermana Lidnquist, no Lindquist. Allí está.

One Thing

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only place where we can find all of the beautiful truths of the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the which will allow us to live in eternal bliss with our families forever.

I love you!

Hermana Lindquist

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!!! I´m so grateful to be a member of the true Church of
God and be able to understand more clearly what Christ´s life and
death and resurrection mean for mankind. There´s much still to learn,
but I´m grateful for what I know.
And I loooooved General Conference. Just good things all around. And
so much of the council is perfectly applicable to many of the
investigators we´re currently working with. Thomas S. Monson truly is
a living prophet, and every person who spoke at General Conference
spoke by the power and authority of the one true and living God of
Heaven and Earth. And the best thing of all, their message is true!
Christ is risen. I love Him with all my heart.
Love, Mary

Updated Blog

As you can plainly see, I have FINALLY made the time to update Mary's Blog. I am sorry that it has taken me over 3 months to do.
Enjoy!

p.s. I will be updating it weekly from now on!

Talofa!

That´s Saaaaaamoan for ¨¡Hola!¨

So hey! I´s gots only a few minutes because todays transfer day and there have been a TON (yes, 2000 pounds) of changes and movin´ and a´shakin´. Hermana Delgado is flying home to Peru today. And tomorrow, I´m receiving a new missionary. I´m to train her in the ways of the Mission Buenos Aires South. Wowza! It seems every day I learn that I´m so much weaker than I think I am, yet I find such great strength in leaning on the Lord. I´m confident He´ll help me out in this here training business. :) Everything is splendid and I love the mission oh so much.

Happy Easter! I love you all muchisimo. One day, I´ll tell you to your face. For now, I say it behind your back.... jaja (<-Spanish laugh) Hahahaha I get such a kick out of Spanish laughs.

Okay, I´m not making sense and I gotta get.

Smiles and hugs and rainbows!!!!
Hermana Lindquist

Heeeeeeey

If you wanna see some pictures, I think you can add ¨Hermana Crook¨ on facebook and find some from this morning. Also, Destinee Bushman. There are some others, but those two in particular I believe will have some. I´m hoping to send some soon. :)

Yesterday four people were baptized. Four wonderful kids from two different wonderful families. Each family has a long, complicated story but upon feeling the spirit of the baptismal service, many people decided to make some very important changes. Many in the congregation rededicated themselves to serving the Lord with greater faith and confidence. It was a beautiful experience that I know will be etched in the memory of the members of the ward here for years to come. Please pray for the missionary work in your areas. And if you´re reading this and you´re not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please pray for the missionaries still. The work they´re doing in your hometown is a labor of love and happiness. The message they bear will do more to end sadness and inequality and depravity than any other work any other people can do. And if you´re not one to say prayers, try it out. Many talk of seeking learning and experience in the world, but few are those who take the steps toward really learning. I know and I testify that we have a Father in Heaven who is the Author of all and knows well His creations. He´s ready and willing to teach. He just needs willing students. You and I are His children. Think about that claim. Think about all you´ve heard said and taught about the nature of God. Ponder your own understanding of Him. And then consider what it means to be His son or daughter. I promise you that if you thus do and then you take your thoughts to Him in prayer and ask for His direction, you will receive it abundantly. There is a spirit that teaches men to pray. There is a spirit that teaches men not to pray. Whether you pray or not, you are responding to the influence of one of these spirits. In like manner, one of these spirits leads to spiritual bondage while the other leads to liberty and eternal life. I know and feel very strongly that the spirit that entices a person to pray is the spirit that is sent forth by the power of God. That God is our Father who desires our freedom and eternal happiness. Such rewards are reserved for those who diligently seek them. Seek in prayer and you will find. That´s a promise! In like manner, your prayers in behalf of the missionaries will allow them to find others who are seeking and offer them the keys to true happiness. In other words, the missionaries can bring them the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That really does bring joy and freedom. Piénselo. :)

Argentina says HI! Actually, it says, ¨Hola buen día¨. Actually a lot of people in the street, instead of saying ¨Hola¨ say ¨Chao¨ or ¨Adios¨ when you say hi to them. It´s a cultural thing. And hey, why not start a conversation backwards? Makes for a fun time. While you´re at it, try walking backwards and wearing shoes on your hands. Oh for the fun of living!


Giant hugs to you all!! I love you and am muuuy contenta. Please take care and smile big often. Whenever you realize you´re not smiling, smile! Then you´ll find your always smiling. Happiness takes work, and sometimes a good memory. Reming yourself with a smile! :) :) :)

Peace love and daisies,

Hermana Lindquist

Alooooooooha!

I love the mountains, I love the great big sky, I love big bridges, I love when great whites fly. I love the whole world and all craziness. Boom de yadah boom de yada boom de yada boom de yada...
I love the villa, I love mullet hair cuts, love funny accents, I love the alfajors. I love Argentina and all its sights and sounds. Boom de yada...

This week in Argentina: Fun food, mental institutions, and baptismal interviews.

I just was eating in a Peruvian restaurant (mmmm mmm good) and their was a hair in my soup! And attached to that hair was pig skin. Yes, it was all put in the bown intentionally. Hey, I don´t make the cultural rules, I just eat.
Furthermore, this week Hermana Delgado and I were walking and musing over how incredibly unsanitary the gutter is (and when I say ¨gutter¨ it refers to the mini, street-lining rivers filled with any manner of disease and pestilence....and barbie dolls) when we noticed some kids playing in said gutter a ways down the road. As we came closer we saw that they had some sort of snake-like creature squirming about in their arms. We asked what it was. They informed us it was an eel. Yes, an eel. They had fished it out of the gutter. And what good is fishing if not to feed the family? That was the plan, it turns out. But when they realized the foreigner had interest, they quickly offered to put it in my backpack or cut it up for us to take home and cook ourselves. Now see here! If you´re ever going to try and sell me fresh eel from the sewage gutter, you´d better think twice. Or at least offer to throw in a couple of street rats in the offer. I mean, come on!

We´ve been visiting a mental institution of late. Well, a rehab center of sorts. The man we visit is stable, but it´s interesting to see how many different situations and challenges people can have. There is so much good to be done in the world, and so many who need it done now.

You know, with all the work we do daily encouraging people to take steps toward Christ through scripture study and prayer, one of the absolutely most rewarding moments is when we arrive at church and someone has taken the step of attendance of their own initiative. There´s a man named José who we´ve been working with who is one of the ¨humble seekers of happiness¨ that I´ve met here (Alma 27:18). He works in a parking garage of sorts and has had many a trial in his day. As we teach him of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, it´s clear that He desires the happiness that comes with aligning our lives with the will of God. However, we didn´t think he was going to be in church yesterday, however when we arrived, there he was smiling in his Sunday suit and eager to learn more. And this when just recently he´d not been able to attend at all because of his work schedule. The Lord worked His miracles and gave José Sunday mornings free from work. Yay! José is going to be baptized within the next couple of weeks.
We also have some other people who are very eager to be baptized and will be seeing that dream come true within the next couple of weeks as well. So, we spent Saturday running around with the District leader and his companion so that they could interview a few of these folk. I´m so excited for them all. The Church is true and it blesses the lives of everyone - members, soon-to-be-members, and nonmembers alike.

Keep the faith and Keep on smilin´!

I love you!

Hermana Lindquist

I Love Missionary Work

It´s the best! Please please please just give someone a Book of Mormon and suggest a part to read. ¨Hey, I want you to have this. And you know what, the chapter that begins on this page is one of my favorites. Give it a gander.¨ Even better if you bear your testimony of the book and invite them to pray to know if it truly comes from God. The Book of Mormon is so powerful. If any person has any sort of desire to know if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true, or to know if Jesus really is the Christ, or to know if Joseph Smith was a Prophet of Go, all you have to do is ask. 1 Nephi 10:19 - The course of the Lord is one eternal round, and He responds to people in our days just as readily and openly as He ever responded to people in times past. And He´ll forever speak to those who will listen (2 Nephi 28:30). I know God lives. And He doesn´t just nap the day away. He lives actively. His Church is a living church. The Prophet receives revelation for the world, and we receive revelation for our personal lives. The channels of revelation are flowing constantly. Tune in!

Argentina is so beautiful. I learned this week that La Plata is the capital of Buenos Aires (province). The soccer team here is Estudiantes. In case you´re wondering... Everyone is very surprised when I tell them that I have no idea what teams are in the U.S. Here, you know the teams.

Hey! Some members made us tacos yesterday because they knew I´m in love with Mexican food. I was soooooo happy. Another woman played mariachi music for us. I never realized how much I love Mexico until I came to Argentina. Huh.

I never know what else to write about the culture side of things. I´m trying to think of things. Number one food: milanesa. Number one drink: Quilmes (beer). Alcohol is so destructive, physically, mentally, and spiritually. I´ve met so many sad sad people who are in the cycle of causing and combatting their problems with alcohol. I would love to see a complete disappearance of booze.
Speaking of vices, I made the most delicious dessert in the world the other day: brownie mix+ ripe banana+milk+chunks of chocolate=unbearably delicious for the majority of South Americans. The Yankees (¨Jhahnkees¨ as they call us here) were big fans.

I´m running on stream of consciousness right now. Sorry that nothing I say makes sense. Working on being a coherent humanoid. I still lack practice.

Today was transfers! I´m staying in La Plata with Hermana Delgado, which is awesome!! Because we are teaching so many wonderful people who really are progressing. They´re looking for answers, and they recognize them when they come. What great blessings!

The Church is true. I know it with all my heart.

I love you all very much and thank you mil veces for your support and love.

Peace, love, and daisies.....and big ol´ smiles all around!

Hermana Lindquist