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