Hola Familia
Hermana Lindsey is coming back into town asi que...be prepared :) I
am super excited. Seeing that this is my last email home, I feel it
appropriate to tell you all thanks for your support this 1 year and a
half even though the mission was not easy you all helped me so much
during this time--but even more I have learned what it really means to
rely on God. It all has been worth everything. I am so grateful for
the opportunity that I had to learn at Gods hand every day and to be
an instrument in his work. The mission has changed my life.
Yeah, yeah! The rest I will save for when I get home but we have this
SUPER cool guy that we are teaching right now. He is BRILLIANT! I am
sad I won"t be here for his baptism on the 23rd but he is really
someone who has been prepared by the hand of God. He told us one day
he found a small new testament worn and tattered in the street and it
caught his eye and to this day he doesn´t know why. He never had read
the Bible before..and as he began to read it a peace he never felt
began to flow into his life and he longed for more of the word of God.
He attended many churches, and liked them all, but he was looking for
something more solid. Well, he found us and as we taught the lesson
of the Restoration and tears began to flow into his eyes and he said
"I know this is true--this is what I have been looking for!" Needless
to say he is super excited about his baptism and I want to know if I
can change my flight home until March? Ahhaha! No its not possible and I
know that, but I just LOVE this work! I haven´t been a perfect
missionary, I feel like I have done much but could have done more, but
more than anything I have come to know my Savior Jesus Christ more
than ever before.
So my companion is more trunky than I am. One day I was in the shower
and when I came out. She had blown up balloons for every day that I
have left and taped them on the wall and with a big sign had written
"10 days more!" wow...thats all I have to say. wow...
Until we meet again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hermana Lindsey
Monday, February 11, 2013
Monday, February 4, 2013
Hola Familia
This week was an adventure. You know how dogs were my enemies at the beginning of the mission? Ya, well now they all want to FOLLOW me! And one even waits outside the door when we have appointments!!!! It drives me crazy because the other day I tripped over him when he decided to SIT behind me when I was talking to someone. Smart one. My companion named him Black. How creative, you might even know by the name what color he is!!! haha! But the other day he was trying to bite my leg. He was just playing around but it was starting to freak me out and so we saw a young woman in our ward entering her house and we asked her if we could come in for a second to escape the dog and so we did...and Black left. I haven`t seen him since. But I guess he helped us out because we got into this home we can never get into and her parents were there and they agreed to accompany us in a lesson and it turned out to be a super cool lesson.
Irving, the guy that will be getting married this month and then baptized, is progressing really well. I am super excited for him. I had a really spiritual experience this Sunday as it was my last fast as a missionary...and my companion began the fast by asking really specific things for each one of our investigators and that we can find new people that are prepared and we had 4 new people come to sacrament meeting this Sunday! I know that is not a high number in comparison with other areas, but its high here!!!! I was super grateful for the power of prayer and fasting and that God heard and answered our prayer.
I also learned how important it is to follow the spirit in a lesson. I have to tell you this Sunday we went to bring a less active young man to church but it turns out the night before he went out drinking with his friends until early in the morning and we got to his house and he was drunk. I was sad but I wasn`t going to let him pull excuses to not come to church because he had committed the night before to come. And so he was like "do I have to go?" and I was like "yes, hurry up. re gonna be late. He protested the whole way there but came to church. Hey at least he came. That night we went to his house and his mom (who isn`t a member) told us everything that is going on and presented us with a problem that I really had no idea what to say...but I just began to speak and I find when I begin to speak, the words just come. Scriptures come and my companion felt the same way. I am so grateful for the spirit that helps me know what to say to comfort and to help resolve doubts that sometimes my mind can`t comprehend. But God does. And as missionaries, we are just instruments. It was a great night.
Well, 2 more weeks. I hope you all got my travel plans I will be home midday Thursday 21...in case you didn`t know.
I love you soooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hermana Lindsey
This week was an adventure. You know how dogs were my enemies at the beginning of the mission? Ya, well now they all want to FOLLOW me! And one even waits outside the door when we have appointments!!!! It drives me crazy because the other day I tripped over him when he decided to SIT behind me when I was talking to someone. Smart one. My companion named him Black. How creative, you might even know by the name what color he is!!! haha! But the other day he was trying to bite my leg. He was just playing around but it was starting to freak me out and so we saw a young woman in our ward entering her house and we asked her if we could come in for a second to escape the dog and so we did...and Black left. I haven`t seen him since. But I guess he helped us out because we got into this home we can never get into and her parents were there and they agreed to accompany us in a lesson and it turned out to be a super cool lesson.
Irving, the guy that will be getting married this month and then baptized, is progressing really well. I am super excited for him. I had a really spiritual experience this Sunday as it was my last fast as a missionary...and my companion began the fast by asking really specific things for each one of our investigators and that we can find new people that are prepared and we had 4 new people come to sacrament meeting this Sunday! I know that is not a high number in comparison with other areas, but its high here!!!! I was super grateful for the power of prayer and fasting and that God heard and answered our prayer.
I also learned how important it is to follow the spirit in a lesson. I have to tell you this Sunday we went to bring a less active young man to church but it turns out the night before he went out drinking with his friends until early in the morning and we got to his house and he was drunk. I was sad but I wasn`t going to let him pull excuses to not come to church because he had committed the night before to come. And so he was like "do I have to go?" and I was like "yes, hurry up. re gonna be late. He protested the whole way there but came to church. Hey at least he came. That night we went to his house and his mom (who isn`t a member) told us everything that is going on and presented us with a problem that I really had no idea what to say...but I just began to speak and I find when I begin to speak, the words just come. Scriptures come and my companion felt the same way. I am so grateful for the spirit that helps me know what to say to comfort and to help resolve doubts that sometimes my mind can`t comprehend. But God does. And as missionaries, we are just instruments. It was a great night.
Well, 2 more weeks. I hope you all got my travel plans I will be home midday Thursday 21...in case you didn`t know.
I love you soooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hermana Lindsey
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Feliz Ano 2013
Hola Familia!
It was a great thing to be able to skype on christmas day with the fam. Sounds like everyone is doing really well and I must say that skype ROCKS.
So this month was the month of the most success in all of 2012 for the mission. There were a lot of people baptized and confirmed. We ended the year really well here in Cusco Peru.
But I must tell you this week was HARD. I might even say the hardest I have faced in my mission. EVERY single one of the people we were teaching fell through. We literally had nothing to work with. So we knocked on doors. Of all the doors we knocked on, one let us in :) gah! I guess its a shock to me because all the other areas I have been in it has been pretty easy to get in the door. I started to feel a little discouraged, but I just kept going. And then Sunday came. Our convert didn`t come to receive the Holy Ghost on Sunday and we called and called and she didnt answer we went to her house and her parents were so mad (even though she is 18) they would NOT let her leave the house and they forbid her to go to church we tried talking to them and we talked with her but in the end we left with the situation the same as we found it. We were sad. Very very very sad. And to top it all off we went to church late and found a ton of members wanted to talk to us because they wanted our help with their families they had a lot of problems going on. To go even further, my companion was found sick throwing up for these past 2 days and could hardly go anywhere and our hot water went out. Is it the end of the world?!?! haha it sure felt like it.
But the Lord is merciful. Always. Last night we had a fabulous Family Home Evening with my convert and her family and her mom is not a member and we watched the video ¨"Together Forever" and she was SO touched she began to open up to us and is really interested to learn more. I see real progress here. Then we played games and we laughed so hard we were crying it was a super great night. The Lord shows His mercy.
All in all, I love the work even though it was super rough, I love the gospel, and I am so grateful for the things that the Lord teaches me every day. I am so happy to have this opportunity to serve Him. It has brought such blessings and joy into my life.
Thanks for all your christmas wishes and I hope you all enjoy feliz año 2013! here in peru it is a tradition to eat 12 grapes for each desire you have for the whole year...and you eat them under a table. haha its funny but I like it. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Hermana Lindsey
It was a great thing to be able to skype on christmas day with the fam. Sounds like everyone is doing really well and I must say that skype ROCKS.
So this month was the month of the most success in all of 2012 for the mission. There were a lot of people baptized and confirmed. We ended the year really well here in Cusco Peru.
But I must tell you this week was HARD. I might even say the hardest I have faced in my mission. EVERY single one of the people we were teaching fell through. We literally had nothing to work with. So we knocked on doors. Of all the doors we knocked on, one let us in :) gah! I guess its a shock to me because all the other areas I have been in it has been pretty easy to get in the door. I started to feel a little discouraged, but I just kept going. And then Sunday came. Our convert didn`t come to receive the Holy Ghost on Sunday and we called and called and she didnt answer we went to her house and her parents were so mad (even though she is 18) they would NOT let her leave the house and they forbid her to go to church we tried talking to them and we talked with her but in the end we left with the situation the same as we found it. We were sad. Very very very sad. And to top it all off we went to church late and found a ton of members wanted to talk to us because they wanted our help with their families they had a lot of problems going on. To go even further, my companion was found sick throwing up for these past 2 days and could hardly go anywhere and our hot water went out. Is it the end of the world?!?! haha it sure felt like it.
But the Lord is merciful. Always. Last night we had a fabulous Family Home Evening with my convert and her family and her mom is not a member and we watched the video ¨"Together Forever" and she was SO touched she began to open up to us and is really interested to learn more. I see real progress here. Then we played games and we laughed so hard we were crying it was a super great night. The Lord shows His mercy.
All in all, I love the work even though it was super rough, I love the gospel, and I am so grateful for the things that the Lord teaches me every day. I am so happy to have this opportunity to serve Him. It has brought such blessings and joy into my life.
Thanks for all your christmas wishes and I hope you all enjoy feliz año 2013! here in peru it is a tradition to eat 12 grapes for each desire you have for the whole year...and you eat them under a table. haha its funny but I like it. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Hermana Lindsey
Monday, December 17, 2012
December 2012
Hola Familia!!
FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS ELDER LINDSEY EL DOMINGO 23 de DICIEMBRE estoy muy feliz que somos hermanos y que ud nació este dia. Te amo. Sigues adelante firme en la obra del Señor....and eat LOTS OF CAKE :) love ya
Well, I am sitting in an internet cafe, calmly beginning to write my letter listening to classical music and as I look out the window I see people from all over the world touring the plaza of Cusco. Super rare. One, because I am listening to classical music and not reggae. Two, because I can actually SEE out the window. haha
Well this morning I was asked to play the violin with Hna Martinez in a school for disabled children. I wasn´t even nervous until they told us that there would be no music stand. So I quickly had to memorize "O Holy Night" which I had only practiced that morning 2 times. WAHHHH I think it turned out not as perfect as I like but... ok. Either way, it was a great experience and an awesome thing to do for them for Christmas. The family Jensen was there, and Brother Jensen took some pictures that are super awesome. Mom, I gave him your email and mine so hopefully they show up sometime :) It was fun.
This Saturday I am playing for the whole stake of Cusco and those invited..which is everyone!!! Its going to be a huge thing--a Christmas concert, and I am playing a piano, violin, and flute duet with the 1st counselor in the mission presidency!! Well, I am not playing all three instruments...obviously haha now THAT would be a talent...but I am excited though because, yes, I have practiced and it sounds pretty good. But it's 12 pages long. I sure hope someone can turn my pages for me :) Wohoo!
About Christmas calls...I can call you guys but I want to know when you want me to do it..I can call 24th or 25th. Whenever is best for you. I don´t know what your Christmas plans are..but let me know in the next email and I will get ready to call! Just in case my number is the codigo of peru which I think is (0051) and then 084795829. Yeah. I am excited to hear from you all and wish you all a Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!
So you remember that guy, Junior, that we were teaching but went to Lima? Well, this week he CALLED us and told us that he had found the church their in Lima and that he was receiving the discussions and he wants to get baptized! WOHOOOOOOOO!! I LOVE missionary work!!! I was super excited to hear that, if you can´t tell. haha. This Saturday we are going to have one baptism...maybe two. We will see how things play out. We are teaching a whole family and they are MARRIED (miracle) but they will be progressing for the month of January I think. We are going to spend at least part of Christmas with them. They have a son 5 years old named David :) Reminds me of my little bro :) Love ya David
Well, in this Christmas season I want you all to know that I know that Jesus is the Christ. He is the Son of God, and he was risen on the third day. His atonement is real, and can make a real change in each one of us. He is a very personal part of our lives, and he wants to forgive us. I am so greatful for my Savior and his love for me and for everyone. I love Him with all my heart. I am so grateful this time we have to remember His birth, and feel the love of our God--. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life". He is the life, and the light of the world. He gives us living water through the principles and ordinances of this gospel. This is His church, restored on the earth today to bless the lives of all who will believe on Him and take His name upon them. May we all remember him and strive to become more of His disciples as we come close to the start of a new year.
Don´t eat too much Christmas cookies :)
I love you all so much!!!!!!!
Hermana Lindsey
FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS ELDER LINDSEY EL DOMINGO 23 de DICIEMBRE estoy muy feliz que somos hermanos y que ud nació este dia. Te amo. Sigues adelante firme en la obra del Señor....and eat LOTS OF CAKE :) love ya
Well, I am sitting in an internet cafe, calmly beginning to write my letter listening to classical music and as I look out the window I see people from all over the world touring the plaza of Cusco. Super rare. One, because I am listening to classical music and not reggae. Two, because I can actually SEE out the window. haha
Well this morning I was asked to play the violin with Hna Martinez in a school for disabled children. I wasn´t even nervous until they told us that there would be no music stand. So I quickly had to memorize "O Holy Night" which I had only practiced that morning 2 times. WAHHHH I think it turned out not as perfect as I like but... ok. Either way, it was a great experience and an awesome thing to do for them for Christmas. The family Jensen was there, and Brother Jensen took some pictures that are super awesome. Mom, I gave him your email and mine so hopefully they show up sometime :) It was fun.
This Saturday I am playing for the whole stake of Cusco and those invited..which is everyone!!! Its going to be a huge thing--a Christmas concert, and I am playing a piano, violin, and flute duet with the 1st counselor in the mission presidency!! Well, I am not playing all three instruments...obviously haha now THAT would be a talent...but I am excited though because, yes, I have practiced and it sounds pretty good. But it's 12 pages long. I sure hope someone can turn my pages for me :) Wohoo!
About Christmas calls...I can call you guys but I want to know when you want me to do it..I can call 24th or 25th. Whenever is best for you. I don´t know what your Christmas plans are..but let me know in the next email and I will get ready to call! Just in case my number is the codigo of peru which I think is (0051) and then 084795829. Yeah. I am excited to hear from you all and wish you all a Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!
So you remember that guy, Junior, that we were teaching but went to Lima? Well, this week he CALLED us and told us that he had found the church their in Lima and that he was receiving the discussions and he wants to get baptized! WOHOOOOOOOO!! I LOVE missionary work!!! I was super excited to hear that, if you can´t tell. haha. This Saturday we are going to have one baptism...maybe two. We will see how things play out. We are teaching a whole family and they are MARRIED (miracle) but they will be progressing for the month of January I think. We are going to spend at least part of Christmas with them. They have a son 5 years old named David :) Reminds me of my little bro :) Love ya David
Well, in this Christmas season I want you all to know that I know that Jesus is the Christ. He is the Son of God, and he was risen on the third day. His atonement is real, and can make a real change in each one of us. He is a very personal part of our lives, and he wants to forgive us. I am so greatful for my Savior and his love for me and for everyone. I love Him with all my heart. I am so grateful this time we have to remember His birth, and feel the love of our God--. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life". He is the life, and the light of the world. He gives us living water through the principles and ordinances of this gospel. This is His church, restored on the earth today to bless the lives of all who will believe on Him and take His name upon them. May we all remember him and strive to become more of His disciples as we come close to the start of a new year.
Don´t eat too much Christmas cookies :)
I love you all so much!!!!!!!
Hermana Lindsey
Monday, December 10, 2012
Happiness
Hola Familia!
This week was super rough. It just seems like no one really wants to listen to our message. What can we do but keep moving along with faith that the Lord knows where he wants his servants...I just hope I can listen to the Spirit more so I can find the people here in Cusco. When we could have been really sad and depressed that we were not having success, I found myself and my companion one night feeling that way and I remembered what it says in PMG that disanimo weakens your faith and that it is OUR decision if we are happy or not. Neal A Maxwell said "Happiness doesn´t depend on what happens around you, but what happens within you", and I really believe that. I decided that we had to change something, and so I just made the decision to be happy and it made all the difference. My companion is a pretty serious person and I like to have fun and joke a little with the people and this week she was LAUGHING. Jaja! It was great.
I hope in all the million things that you are doing these weeks that come up, because I know you are all super busy, that you find room in there to see the little things and remember to BE HAPPY. It really does make a huge difference :) :) I am so grateful for the gospel in our lives and the ability it gives us to TRULY be happy. I watch all the people around me: some are sad, others worried and others distracted and I think.... if they JUST knew or if they would just take a moment to LISTEN-- what a huge difference this gospel would make in their lives. I find the greatest joy in letting other people know about the gospel. Selfless service is the best cure for these feelings, and this is a great time of year we can remember our Savior Jesus Christ and what he offers to each one of us. I love Him and I am so grateful for His atonement and His influence in my daily life.
This week we will have a baptism...and next week we have one planned as well. The Lord truly WANTS to bless us. Sometimes he just waits until we have enough faith in Him to DO the things that he would have us do. He has truly blessed me this week.
Christmas is in the air here in Cusco. We helped my pensionista decorate her house this week I love Christmas time. Sounds like you guys are all busy with Christmas things too! I hope you get more snow and don´t worry I will learn to enjoy the LOADS of rain that we are getting here. I am serious-- when it rains here it FLOOOOOODDDS.
I love you all and wish you all a great week. Sorry Clark for not writing you last week. I love you so much. Thanks for your wonderful stories you share each week.
All my love
Hermana Lindsey
This week was super rough. It just seems like no one really wants to listen to our message. What can we do but keep moving along with faith that the Lord knows where he wants his servants...I just hope I can listen to the Spirit more so I can find the people here in Cusco. When we could have been really sad and depressed that we were not having success, I found myself and my companion one night feeling that way and I remembered what it says in PMG that disanimo weakens your faith and that it is OUR decision if we are happy or not. Neal A Maxwell said "Happiness doesn´t depend on what happens around you, but what happens within you", and I really believe that. I decided that we had to change something, and so I just made the decision to be happy and it made all the difference. My companion is a pretty serious person and I like to have fun and joke a little with the people and this week she was LAUGHING. Jaja! It was great.
I hope in all the million things that you are doing these weeks that come up, because I know you are all super busy, that you find room in there to see the little things and remember to BE HAPPY. It really does make a huge difference :) :) I am so grateful for the gospel in our lives and the ability it gives us to TRULY be happy. I watch all the people around me: some are sad, others worried and others distracted and I think.... if they JUST knew or if they would just take a moment to LISTEN-- what a huge difference this gospel would make in their lives. I find the greatest joy in letting other people know about the gospel. Selfless service is the best cure for these feelings, and this is a great time of year we can remember our Savior Jesus Christ and what he offers to each one of us. I love Him and I am so grateful for His atonement and His influence in my daily life.
This week we will have a baptism...and next week we have one planned as well. The Lord truly WANTS to bless us. Sometimes he just waits until we have enough faith in Him to DO the things that he would have us do. He has truly blessed me this week.
Christmas is in the air here in Cusco. We helped my pensionista decorate her house this week I love Christmas time. Sounds like you guys are all busy with Christmas things too! I hope you get more snow and don´t worry I will learn to enjoy the LOADS of rain that we are getting here. I am serious-- when it rains here it FLOOOOOODDDS.
I love you all and wish you all a great week. Sorry Clark for not writing you last week. I love you so much. Thanks for your wonderful stories you share each week.
All my love
Hermana Lindsey
Monday, November 26, 2012
Hola Familia!
dun dun dun........... ya well I am still here in Cusco but my companion actually has a change so I will be receiving someone new. I can`t believe I am saying this, but I will really miss Hna Masquez, We had some rough moments there for a while. I really learned to love her.
My last 12 weeks. I think you are all more trunky than I am. Jaja. Sounds like you all had a great Thanksgiving and to celebrate a little, my companion and I made the little hand turkeys-- you know the ones where you write what you are grateful for? It was fun. We made them with a family here. So that was my little celebration of Thanksgiving :)
News.. this week we're moving into a new room that is BEAUTIFUL. I am so happy because -to be really frank here- the room that we have is trash. When it rains all the water comes in because the roof isn`t finished and BOY is it raining here in Cusco :) Rainy season--what joy! So I am really excited.
Well, the truth is these past few weeks we have been really struggling to find new people and it has been rough. But Friday we received tender mercies from the Lord. We were knocking on doors and found a wonderful 22 year old girl that is SO prepared to learn the gospel. She immediately let us in and shared wonderful stories of faith and prayer with us. I really believe she is prepared.
I gave a talk yesterday about the atonement and I felt the spirit really strong as I spoke. I was happy about that. We also gave a lesson to a less active that I had never met before but the lesson was definitely directed by the spirit because scriptures just began to flow into my mind and I think in the mind of my companion too because the scriptures we shared were all about the same topic and we hadn`t planned that. It was truly an amazing lesson I will never forget. And he came to church on Sunday!! wohooo!!!!!!!!
Love you all. Have a great week!!!!!!!!
Hermana Lindsey
dun dun dun........... ya well I am still here in Cusco but my companion actually has a change so I will be receiving someone new. I can`t believe I am saying this, but I will really miss Hna Masquez, We had some rough moments there for a while. I really learned to love her.
My last 12 weeks. I think you are all more trunky than I am. Jaja. Sounds like you all had a great Thanksgiving and to celebrate a little, my companion and I made the little hand turkeys-- you know the ones where you write what you are grateful for? It was fun. We made them with a family here. So that was my little celebration of Thanksgiving :)
News.. this week we're moving into a new room that is BEAUTIFUL. I am so happy because -to be really frank here- the room that we have is trash. When it rains all the water comes in because the roof isn`t finished and BOY is it raining here in Cusco :) Rainy season--what joy! So I am really excited.
Well, the truth is these past few weeks we have been really struggling to find new people and it has been rough. But Friday we received tender mercies from the Lord. We were knocking on doors and found a wonderful 22 year old girl that is SO prepared to learn the gospel. She immediately let us in and shared wonderful stories of faith and prayer with us. I really believe she is prepared.
I gave a talk yesterday about the atonement and I felt the spirit really strong as I spoke. I was happy about that. We also gave a lesson to a less active that I had never met before but the lesson was definitely directed by the spirit because scriptures just began to flow into my mind and I think in the mind of my companion too because the scriptures we shared were all about the same topic and we hadn`t planned that. It was truly an amazing lesson I will never forget. And he came to church on Sunday!! wohooo!!!!!!!!
Love you all. Have a great week!!!!!!!!
Hermana Lindsey
Monday, November 12, 2012
Patience
Hola Familia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, this week was good. Nothing big to report. There were earthquakes in Lima but not here and I read Clark felt one. I also heard that there was a huge one in Guatemala I hope all my old companions that are from there are ok. I haven`t heard much from them. I also heard Obama is President again. Oh well.
So mom and dad you noticed that I was working on my application! I just have a few parts left I think, I requested my transcript, and President gave me permission to get on whenever I need to so it doesn`t take up my computer time Mondays. But I will get it finished by December first. I will just think of Dads advice when he told me to just focus on the work and know that the Lord has his plans for my future because the truth is, it freaks me out...just a little.
So this week was full of interviews and conferences with President Calderon. It was great. I learned a lot. He showed us some graphs about the mission and our mission has the highest number of new investigators that we find...but the one of the lowest numbers of baptisms. Hmmm... So we talked a little about why that was and we practiced with him. He talked about being focused in on our objective and that everything we do (meaning everything) should be focused in on that objective. I like how my President teaches. He first asked us all to tell him what our needs were as missionaries and after writing them all down as we tell him, he goes one by one and we talk and discuss and practice principles. One of the phrases I liked most of the day was that you cant have a plan without a goal and you cant have a goal without a vision of what you want to be or accomplish and that vision should be centered in the doctrine of Christ. The vision of our Father in Heaven is found in Moses 1:39.
And you know what? I actually began to really love my companion this week. There was peace. hmmm look at that!!! When you focus on your purpose, you can`t help but feel the love of Christ for everyone around you.
Love you all!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, this week was good. Nothing big to report. There were earthquakes in Lima but not here and I read Clark felt one. I also heard that there was a huge one in Guatemala I hope all my old companions that are from there are ok. I haven`t heard much from them. I also heard Obama is President again. Oh well.
So mom and dad you noticed that I was working on my application! I just have a few parts left I think, I requested my transcript, and President gave me permission to get on whenever I need to so it doesn`t take up my computer time Mondays. But I will get it finished by December first. I will just think of Dads advice when he told me to just focus on the work and know that the Lord has his plans for my future because the truth is, it freaks me out...just a little.
So this week was full of interviews and conferences with President Calderon. It was great. I learned a lot. He showed us some graphs about the mission and our mission has the highest number of new investigators that we find...but the one of the lowest numbers of baptisms. Hmmm... So we talked a little about why that was and we practiced with him. He talked about being focused in on our objective and that everything we do (meaning everything) should be focused in on that objective. I like how my President teaches. He first asked us all to tell him what our needs were as missionaries and after writing them all down as we tell him, he goes one by one and we talk and discuss and practice principles. One of the phrases I liked most of the day was that you cant have a plan without a goal and you cant have a goal without a vision of what you want to be or accomplish and that vision should be centered in the doctrine of Christ. The vision of our Father in Heaven is found in Moses 1:39.
And you know what? I actually began to really love my companion this week. There was peace. hmmm look at that!!! When you focus on your purpose, you can`t help but feel the love of Christ for everyone around you.
Love you all!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, October 29, 2012
A Broken Foot and Many Blessings!
Hola Familia!!
Do not be scared by the title of this email....although I was a little tempted to just leave it like that and let you all wonder, but I figured that would be pretty mean of me so I will say that I do NOT have a broken foot, but I am receiving lots of blessings. But this week Hna Brown (another Hermana in the mission from Montana) came to stay with us because she needs to be in Cusco because she did break her foot and needs physical therapy. So my time is spent in the mornings in the hospital with her. Whoppeee!!!! So now I am in a trio. As far as I know, she will be here for a while if not the whole change. And it is killing my companion. Hna Brown was her last companion and they didn`t get along either....it's a huge mess now that we're all together I am just trying to keep the peace but its kind of hard. I am sure it will all work out in the end...somehow.
I was so happy this Sunday to go to church and there was Hno Victor (who was baptized last week) with his new suit on and his hair combed back in his seat by the front door getting ready to hand out the hymnbooks that he had all ready set up without anyone asking him. Guess he has a new calling :) And he received the priesthood. He is soooooo awesome I hope he keeps up this animo because I love to see it!!!!!!
We have two more baptisms scheduled for this weekend.
The blessings of the Lord are literally raining down here in Cusco. It is amazing to watch. Although it is one of the more difficult areas I have been in, I have really grown to love the people here.
So SOMEONE leaked to the 1st councilor to Pres. Calderon that I play the violin and because he is in my ward that I am working in right now, he pulled me over Sunday and told me that he would be finding me a violin soon so I can play in a couple of things. YIKES! We'll see if it actually happens or not. Oh well :)
Yeah sounds like November is a busy month for the family. Sounds really fun! I love you all so much!!!
Hermana Lindsey
Do not be scared by the title of this email....although I was a little tempted to just leave it like that and let you all wonder, but I figured that would be pretty mean of me so I will say that I do NOT have a broken foot, but I am receiving lots of blessings. But this week Hna Brown (another Hermana in the mission from Montana) came to stay with us because she needs to be in Cusco because she did break her foot and needs physical therapy. So my time is spent in the mornings in the hospital with her. Whoppeee!!!! So now I am in a trio. As far as I know, she will be here for a while if not the whole change. And it is killing my companion. Hna Brown was her last companion and they didn`t get along either....it's a huge mess now that we're all together I am just trying to keep the peace but its kind of hard. I am sure it will all work out in the end...somehow.
I was so happy this Sunday to go to church and there was Hno Victor (who was baptized last week) with his new suit on and his hair combed back in his seat by the front door getting ready to hand out the hymnbooks that he had all ready set up without anyone asking him. Guess he has a new calling :) And he received the priesthood. He is soooooo awesome I hope he keeps up this animo because I love to see it!!!!!!
We have two more baptisms scheduled for this weekend.
The blessings of the Lord are literally raining down here in Cusco. It is amazing to watch. Although it is one of the more difficult areas I have been in, I have really grown to love the people here.
So SOMEONE leaked to the 1st councilor to Pres. Calderon that I play the violin and because he is in my ward that I am working in right now, he pulled me over Sunday and told me that he would be finding me a violin soon so I can play in a couple of things. YIKES! We'll see if it actually happens or not. Oh well :)
Yeah sounds like November is a busy month for the family. Sounds really fun! I love you all so much!!!
Hermana Lindsey
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Just ask the missionaries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hola Familia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There will be a temple in Arequipa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Boom baby 3 temples in Peru and Cusco is next jaja :) I was pretty excited about that! We all screamed when we heard that (all the Elders and Hermanas from the states were listening to conference in a separate room in English and the people from the ward complained they heard us scream when they announced that...oops)
The age for young men at 18 to leave on the mission has been here in Peru for a while but now its for the whole world. Look out world-- in one year my brother could go on a mission!!!!!!!!!!!!! 19 for the young women is the best news ever. I would have gone at 19...but like dad said the Lord has his timing and I know without a doubt I should be here right NOW: Although next year I will start feeling pretty old around all the 18 and 19 year olds haha. I received many answers to my prayers during conference which was a wonderful thing for me but to sum everything all up my favorite talks were from Henry B. Eyring and Jeffery R. Holland and of course Russel M, Nelson " JUST ASK THE MISSIONARIES! THEY CAN HELP YOU!" Wouldn`t it be nice if we walked around the world and people took his counsel and asked US questions about the church! haha but it was pretty funny to listen to that as a missionary :) I looked for yáll in the Sunday morning session but sorry didn`t see you :( We did have investigators attend conference and I know that they felt the Spirit. As for the members...there weren`t very many that attened. I was quite surprised. They all took it like a "free" Sunday and all went sightseeing. hmmmm....
We had a baptism this Saturday. It was really great. Her name is Melani and its the family we are working with you know, the ones we need to get married and all? They are progressing really great.
Changes are next week. Went by so fast. We´ll see what happens!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds like you all enjoyed conference and it was a great weekend! Love you all!!!!!!
Hermana Lindsey
There will be a temple in Arequipa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Boom baby 3 temples in Peru and Cusco is next jaja :) I was pretty excited about that! We all screamed when we heard that (all the Elders and Hermanas from the states were listening to conference in a separate room in English and the people from the ward complained they heard us scream when they announced that...oops)
The age for young men at 18 to leave on the mission has been here in Peru for a while but now its for the whole world. Look out world-- in one year my brother could go on a mission!!!!!!!!!!!!! 19 for the young women is the best news ever. I would have gone at 19...but like dad said the Lord has his timing and I know without a doubt I should be here right NOW: Although next year I will start feeling pretty old around all the 18 and 19 year olds haha. I received many answers to my prayers during conference which was a wonderful thing for me but to sum everything all up my favorite talks were from Henry B. Eyring and Jeffery R. Holland and of course Russel M, Nelson " JUST ASK THE MISSIONARIES! THEY CAN HELP YOU!" Wouldn`t it be nice if we walked around the world and people took his counsel and asked US questions about the church! haha but it was pretty funny to listen to that as a missionary :) I looked for yáll in the Sunday morning session but sorry didn`t see you :( We did have investigators attend conference and I know that they felt the Spirit. As for the members...there weren`t very many that attened. I was quite surprised. They all took it like a "free" Sunday and all went sightseeing. hmmmm....
We had a baptism this Saturday. It was really great. Her name is Melani and its the family we are working with you know, the ones we need to get married and all? They are progressing really great.
Changes are next week. Went by so fast. We´ll see what happens!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds like you all enjoyed conference and it was a great weekend! Love you all!!!!!!
Hermana Lindsey
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Hola familia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, this is the week. I was happy to hear that Clark had a baptism!! How great is that!! Gave me hope for my week. This is the week the father of the family we are teaching comes and puts down the final foot whether his daughter gets baptized, whether he has the same desire as his wife to get married and get baptized too.....please pray for them!!!!!!!!
I am so excited for conference- out of my mind. I think I annoy my companion when I say 6 days till conference...5 days till conference :) but I am super pumped. Think about it. The only living prophet on the face of the whole earth will speak to the whole world. I am pretty pumped for that!
Last night we had a pretty cool experience. So we received a reference from the ward to go and teach a lady named Juana Rodriguez. A couple weeks ago we coincidentally (or not so coincidentally) ran into her leaving her apt and she invited us in and we got to talk to her. Everything went really well and we set up another appointment and these past two weeks we have been going to her house time after time after TIME to talk to her and when we had appointments scheduled with her she was NEVER home. (that might answer your question dad-- it is the same culture jaja) Part of me said, "Oh she isn`t interested anymore. We should move on to another." Part of me said, "We should keep trying at least a little while longer because she really did show desire to learn." Well, last night we went and I was looking ahead to see if her light was on in her apt and it was off. Bummer. She isn`t home. My companion asked me what we should do and like I always say, " We should call her to see whats up." So we called her like we always do expecting the same answer but she said, "No I am here- please come in!!" We were excited and so we got to teach her last night and we showed her a video about the plan of salvation and she was SO interested she kept saying over and over again "it just makes sense....it just makes sense!" Then she asked us when we could come and visit her again and she would arrange her schedule so we could talk and she wants to invite all her friends to her house to listen too because she says this is the truth, I just know it is!!! How COOL! I love seeing that light flow into the people. It was so cool for me to see.
So mom tell me about relief society general conference. I didn`t get to go and dad tell me more about what you talked about ¨real growth and enduring conversion. ¨I am interested. Yes we work on a lot of retention here :)
David have a happy birthday. I hope you get my message and everyone ENJOY CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will too. (jaja). Have a great week
Hermana Lindsey
Well, this is the week. I was happy to hear that Clark had a baptism!! How great is that!! Gave me hope for my week. This is the week the father of the family we are teaching comes and puts down the final foot whether his daughter gets baptized, whether he has the same desire as his wife to get married and get baptized too.....please pray for them!!!!!!!!
I am so excited for conference- out of my mind. I think I annoy my companion when I say 6 days till conference...5 days till conference :) but I am super pumped. Think about it. The only living prophet on the face of the whole earth will speak to the whole world. I am pretty pumped for that!
Last night we had a pretty cool experience. So we received a reference from the ward to go and teach a lady named Juana Rodriguez. A couple weeks ago we coincidentally (or not so coincidentally) ran into her leaving her apt and she invited us in and we got to talk to her. Everything went really well and we set up another appointment and these past two weeks we have been going to her house time after time after TIME to talk to her and when we had appointments scheduled with her she was NEVER home. (that might answer your question dad-- it is the same culture jaja) Part of me said, "Oh she isn`t interested anymore. We should move on to another." Part of me said, "We should keep trying at least a little while longer because she really did show desire to learn." Well, last night we went and I was looking ahead to see if her light was on in her apt and it was off. Bummer. She isn`t home. My companion asked me what we should do and like I always say, " We should call her to see whats up." So we called her like we always do expecting the same answer but she said, "No I am here- please come in!!" We were excited and so we got to teach her last night and we showed her a video about the plan of salvation and she was SO interested she kept saying over and over again "it just makes sense....it just makes sense!" Then she asked us when we could come and visit her again and she would arrange her schedule so we could talk and she wants to invite all her friends to her house to listen too because she says this is the truth, I just know it is!!! How COOL! I love seeing that light flow into the people. It was so cool for me to see.
So mom tell me about relief society general conference. I didn`t get to go and dad tell me more about what you talked about ¨real growth and enduring conversion. ¨I am interested. Yes we work on a lot of retention here :)
David have a happy birthday. I hope you get my message and everyone ENJOY CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will too. (jaja). Have a great week
Hermana Lindsey
Monday, September 24, 2012
Another Week
Hola familia!
This week went by really fast. We worked really hard this week to find new people and we did find some that can progress, I believe. I am getting SUPER excited about conference--and even more because you´ll actually be IN there with the prophet!!! WOW Talking about conference this week; we're letting everyone know about it and I received lots and LOTS of questions. Why have all of the prophets of the Mormon church only been Americans. The truth is: I don't know but I do know the Lord calls and that every prophet was and is called of God. That is sufficient for me. I am so grateful we have a living prophet to guide us.
This week in Peru there was a big scare that the Russians predicted that we would have a 7 or 8 point earthquake here in Peru and we should all be prepared but so far so good and I really don't know how they can say that because I thought you could only warn people of an earthquake 10 min before it happens...who knows?
Well, we have a baptism for conference weekend and the parents of the girl want to get baptized too but they need to get married first (surprise). I hope everything works out. Pray for them!!!!!!!!!!!! It would be so cool that this whole family is baptized.
Sounds like Mom is doing great work in Relief Society and the family is good. I was happy to hear that Clark is still doing well even though maybe his new area is a struggle. My companion that was from Argentina always asks about him and how he is doing.
Lots of love and blessings this week for all!!!!!!!!!!
Hermana Lindsey
This week went by really fast. We worked really hard this week to find new people and we did find some that can progress, I believe. I am getting SUPER excited about conference--and even more because you´ll actually be IN there with the prophet!!! WOW Talking about conference this week; we're letting everyone know about it and I received lots and LOTS of questions. Why have all of the prophets of the Mormon church only been Americans. The truth is: I don't know but I do know the Lord calls and that every prophet was and is called of God. That is sufficient for me. I am so grateful we have a living prophet to guide us.
This week in Peru there was a big scare that the Russians predicted that we would have a 7 or 8 point earthquake here in Peru and we should all be prepared but so far so good and I really don't know how they can say that because I thought you could only warn people of an earthquake 10 min before it happens...who knows?
Well, we have a baptism for conference weekend and the parents of the girl want to get baptized too but they need to get married first (surprise). I hope everything works out. Pray for them!!!!!!!!!!!! It would be so cool that this whole family is baptized.
Sounds like Mom is doing great work in Relief Society and the family is good. I was happy to hear that Clark is still doing well even though maybe his new area is a struggle. My companion that was from Argentina always asks about him and how he is doing.
Lots of love and blessings this week for all!!!!!!!!!!
Hermana Lindsey
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Changes
Hola Familia
SI tengo cambio siento que estoy viajando por todos lados :) I have a change! Let"s all play, "Where will Hermana Lindsey Go??" Because I don´t find out until tomorrow night. But somewhere COLD I am sure. Because I have already been in all the hot places in the mission. I will miss the heat, the jungle, the MANGOES...ahhhhhh :) We will see what happens. My companion is really sad that I am going. I feel bad. She told me yesterday if I have a change, she will go home. I hope her new companion can help her learn to love the work. Sometimes I feel I might have failed in that aspect...but I can´t look back. I learned a lot being her companion. President always receives revelation and I am excited to learn where I will go next. I can´t believe it is already September. We found a GREAT family this week. We were knocking on doors and WOW both me and my companion had an impression to knock on this door and a lady answered the door. We told her who we were and how this message can bless her family and she let us in. We started to talk, she showed us pictures of her family and was so excited to talk with us. We shared the first vision with her and challenged her to be baptized and she accepted AND she is MARRIED ( what a miracle and a blessing) and now I am leaving and my companion doesn´t want to work. But this family NEEDS her. Now! I just hope they follow through and are baptized because they are golden. I hate leaving an area when we find such great people but that is how the mission is!!! But I know the Lord has a plan for me. I love the mission with all my heart it has changed my life. And continues to do so.
The family is all talking about how the leaves are changing colors and oh how I miss that time of year!!!! Enjoy it while it lasts!!
I don´t have much else to say except I hope you all have a great week and work hard!
Hermana Lindsey
SI tengo cambio siento que estoy viajando por todos lados :) I have a change! Let"s all play, "Where will Hermana Lindsey Go??" Because I don´t find out until tomorrow night. But somewhere COLD I am sure. Because I have already been in all the hot places in the mission. I will miss the heat, the jungle, the MANGOES...ahhhhhh :) We will see what happens. My companion is really sad that I am going. I feel bad. She told me yesterday if I have a change, she will go home. I hope her new companion can help her learn to love the work. Sometimes I feel I might have failed in that aspect...but I can´t look back. I learned a lot being her companion. President always receives revelation and I am excited to learn where I will go next. I can´t believe it is already September. We found a GREAT family this week. We were knocking on doors and WOW both me and my companion had an impression to knock on this door and a lady answered the door. We told her who we were and how this message can bless her family and she let us in. We started to talk, she showed us pictures of her family and was so excited to talk with us. We shared the first vision with her and challenged her to be baptized and she accepted AND she is MARRIED ( what a miracle and a blessing) and now I am leaving and my companion doesn´t want to work. But this family NEEDS her. Now! I just hope they follow through and are baptized because they are golden. I hate leaving an area when we find such great people but that is how the mission is!!! But I know the Lord has a plan for me. I love the mission with all my heart it has changed my life. And continues to do so.
The family is all talking about how the leaves are changing colors and oh how I miss that time of year!!!! Enjoy it while it lasts!!
I don´t have much else to say except I hope you all have a great week and work hard!
Hermana Lindsey
Monday, August 27, 2012
Quilla!!!!!
Hola Familia
Well, I am back here in Quillabamba. And it is HOT. Just when I was getting used to the cold again...:) Yeah so I will tell you all that I went to Urubamba for a week because one of the Hermanas in the mission. They are doing this big musical recital thing in the whole mission and so she is traveling from place to place putting it up and well it was her turn to come here and set it up and so I went to be with her companion in Urubamba. Needless to say it was a wonderful week. Took pictures with my converts, whom are still active in the church and that brings such joy to my heart. Participated in the baptism of Manuel, one of the children of a family we activated in the church when I was there. We baptized his sister , and I miraculously (it was a tender mercy I am sure) participated in the baptism this weekend that almost completed the family in the church. Now we are just waiting for the mom and the dad to get married and then this family will go to the temple!!! YEAH!!! So apart from the joy of being in my old area, seeing old faces again, finding old investigators that are now ready to listen, and taking part in baptisms, it was a week full of miracles. The last day I was there we went to visit a family that lives out in the country and they are building a new house and so right now they are living in a one room house next to a TON of chacra (land) where they are growing maize. We had to pass all their land to get to their house and as we got closer, the member who was accompanying us Hermano Carlos warned us to be ready because everyone that lives that far out in the country has huge dogs that are really aggressive...or to say that they are REALLY good at protecting their stuff. And just as he said that 3 HUGE dogs with HUGE teeth came running full speed for us. Oh freaky, I was so scared. But Carlos just kept walking normal and all the dogs did was bark at us...and if they tried anything he threw water on them. They are afraid of water. And then the old lady we came to visit came running down the hill with a wooden stick and began to beat the dogs away.... it was an interesting sight. Grandmas can be a little aggressive too :) but we made it and it was a really spiritual experience with her in the end. The family really needed the gospel.
Annnnnd now I am here. And suffering from the climate change. My first night back I spent throwing up with diahrreah and in the morning too. Hermana Calderon told me to buy this red drink stuff that is a lot like gatorade but tastes HORRIBLE and it is a huge bottle of it. But I had to drink it all that day. But it helped a lot I think it has vitamins and minerals that you lose when you have problems like that. I am feeling better now...at least I am not throwing up but I am really tired. But in the next few days I will be just fine I am sure. And it is a good thing too because I am almost 100% sure I have a change next week. Where I will be going I have no idea but it will be somewhere cold. Because I have been in all the hot areas of the mission possible :) Woohhoo!
Sounds like the family is doing good. Mom "be not weary in well doing" and I know the Lord will bless you with the strength necessary to move forward. Thank you Hampels for my package I abosolutely LOVE the clothes :) Thanks for thinking of me!!!!
Wish you all a great week!!!
Hermana Lindsey
Well, I am back here in Quillabamba. And it is HOT. Just when I was getting used to the cold again...:) Yeah so I will tell you all that I went to Urubamba for a week because one of the Hermanas in the mission. They are doing this big musical recital thing in the whole mission and so she is traveling from place to place putting it up and well it was her turn to come here and set it up and so I went to be with her companion in Urubamba. Needless to say it was a wonderful week. Took pictures with my converts, whom are still active in the church and that brings such joy to my heart. Participated in the baptism of Manuel, one of the children of a family we activated in the church when I was there. We baptized his sister , and I miraculously (it was a tender mercy I am sure) participated in the baptism this weekend that almost completed the family in the church. Now we are just waiting for the mom and the dad to get married and then this family will go to the temple!!! YEAH!!! So apart from the joy of being in my old area, seeing old faces again, finding old investigators that are now ready to listen, and taking part in baptisms, it was a week full of miracles. The last day I was there we went to visit a family that lives out in the country and they are building a new house and so right now they are living in a one room house next to a TON of chacra (land) where they are growing maize. We had to pass all their land to get to their house and as we got closer, the member who was accompanying us Hermano Carlos warned us to be ready because everyone that lives that far out in the country has huge dogs that are really aggressive...or to say that they are REALLY good at protecting their stuff. And just as he said that 3 HUGE dogs with HUGE teeth came running full speed for us. Oh freaky, I was so scared. But Carlos just kept walking normal and all the dogs did was bark at us...and if they tried anything he threw water on them. They are afraid of water. And then the old lady we came to visit came running down the hill with a wooden stick and began to beat the dogs away.... it was an interesting sight. Grandmas can be a little aggressive too :) but we made it and it was a really spiritual experience with her in the end. The family really needed the gospel.
Annnnnd now I am here. And suffering from the climate change. My first night back I spent throwing up with diahrreah and in the morning too. Hermana Calderon told me to buy this red drink stuff that is a lot like gatorade but tastes HORRIBLE and it is a huge bottle of it. But I had to drink it all that day. But it helped a lot I think it has vitamins and minerals that you lose when you have problems like that. I am feeling better now...at least I am not throwing up but I am really tired. But in the next few days I will be just fine I am sure. And it is a good thing too because I am almost 100% sure I have a change next week. Where I will be going I have no idea but it will be somewhere cold. Because I have been in all the hot areas of the mission possible :) Woohhoo!
Sounds like the family is doing good. Mom "be not weary in well doing" and I know the Lord will bless you with the strength necessary to move forward. Thank you Hampels for my package I abosolutely LOVE the clothes :) Thanks for thinking of me!!!!
Wish you all a great week!!!
Hermana Lindsey
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Welcome Back to the Land of the Spiders!!!!!!
Family my time is up here but I will tell you that yes I am in Urubamba and yes I am really happy to be here...but I will only be here for one week and I will go back to Quilla but It will be the best week EVER.
Love
Hermana Lindsey
Love
Hermana Lindsey
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Seems Like a Day!
Yes yes yes yes yes yes everyone...and when I say everyone that means
EVERYONE down to my converts like to remind me that I only have 6
months left. They want me to leave?? No, but everyone likes to
know how much time I have in the mission and when I say a year they
all start to ask what I will do when I go home..they all want me to
come and visit after I have my family...BUT--I say I am not going home.
I will buy my land here in Quillabamba and harvest my bananas :) Really I think I have decided that if people ask me how much time I
have I will respond and say I don´t remember. The thought of home is
happy...but very sad at the same time. And so I prefer not to think
about it until the very very last moment..
This Sunday we didn´t have very many people in church but I was so
happy because my most recent convert Yulisa gave her testimony in
sacrament meeting...all she said was that she knows the church is true
in the name of Jesus cChrist Amen, but it was so sweet!!! Things with
my companion are the same. I hope to help her out. Thursday I went
for training in Cusco and the climate there practically killed me. My
stomach hurt so bad...I don't know where I am going next but I have got occustumed so much to the heat that a liiiiitttlle tiny bit of cold is
REALLY cold. Well-- I still have Puno as one of my options....the
coldest place in PERU. Well, I know wherever I go next I will
adapt...no matter how hard it is. But I better be prepared for cold
because there are no more hot places for me to go in the mission.
WAHOO!!!
Ya, so we went for training in Cusco and Pres talked to me about my
companion and said that she needs lots of love and spiritual experiences
and he was confident that I could help her out. Sometimes my head
hurts at the end of the day-- but I liked what Dad said that if I
become like the Savior in the process..His love can be transmitted
though me to her and she can learn.
I learned that being Relief Society Pres in Idaho..but I had
forgotten. As we come
closer to the Savior, we can transmit the love that He has for
everyone under our stewardship and we can help them gain their own
personal relationship with the Savior...which is the greatest gift we
could give anyone. Its hard work too :) :) There is a quote that i love that Hna Cuenca gave me that is
something along the lines of "The greatest satisfaction we can gain in
this life is when we consecrate all of our time and efforts to the
purposes and will of God. D Todd Christofferson. That is when we are
truly happy..
Oh and thanks mom for the quote about a positive attitude. Haha I like
it a lot!!!!!!!!!
Hope everything is going well at home...everything is great here in
Quillabamba. I am lovin' every minute!
Love always
Hermana Lindsey
EVERYONE down to my converts like to remind me that I only have 6
months left. They want me to leave?? No, but everyone likes to
know how much time I have in the mission and when I say a year they
all start to ask what I will do when I go home..they all want me to
come and visit after I have my family...BUT--I say I am not going home.
I will buy my land here in Quillabamba and harvest my bananas :) Really I think I have decided that if people ask me how much time I
have I will respond and say I don´t remember. The thought of home is
happy...but very sad at the same time. And so I prefer not to think
about it until the very very last moment..
This Sunday we didn´t have very many people in church but I was so
happy because my most recent convert Yulisa gave her testimony in
sacrament meeting...all she said was that she knows the church is true
in the name of Jesus cChrist Amen, but it was so sweet!!! Things with
my companion are the same. I hope to help her out. Thursday I went
for training in Cusco and the climate there practically killed me. My
stomach hurt so bad...I don't know where I am going next but I have got occustumed so much to the heat that a liiiiitttlle tiny bit of cold is
REALLY cold. Well-- I still have Puno as one of my options....the
coldest place in PERU. Well, I know wherever I go next I will
adapt...no matter how hard it is. But I better be prepared for cold
because there are no more hot places for me to go in the mission.
WAHOO!!!
Ya, so we went for training in Cusco and Pres talked to me about my
companion and said that she needs lots of love and spiritual experiences
and he was confident that I could help her out. Sometimes my head
hurts at the end of the day-- but I liked what Dad said that if I
become like the Savior in the process..His love can be transmitted
though me to her and she can learn.
I learned that being Relief Society Pres in Idaho..but I had
forgotten. As we come
closer to the Savior, we can transmit the love that He has for
everyone under our stewardship and we can help them gain their own
personal relationship with the Savior...which is the greatest gift we
could give anyone. Its hard work too :) :) There is a quote that i love that Hna Cuenca gave me that is
something along the lines of "The greatest satisfaction we can gain in
this life is when we consecrate all of our time and efforts to the
purposes and will of God. D Todd Christofferson. That is when we are
truly happy..
Oh and thanks mom for the quote about a positive attitude. Haha I like
it a lot!!!!!!!!!
Hope everything is going well at home...everything is great here in
Quillabamba. I am lovin' every minute!
Love always
Hermana Lindsey
Monday, July 30, 2012
Feliz Cumpleanos a Mi!!!!!!
Hola Familia!
Wow. I have A LOT to tell you all. First things first, thank you Clark for your email. I will tell you I have just been asked to lead a
choir for a musical recital they will have here in Quillabamba for the
end of August...I am going to lead a freaking choir and I have no idea
what I am doing. But we are preparing 3 songs and I just hope it all
sounds great in the end!!!!!!! wahhh!!!!!!! And no one can play the
piano either and so I will be practicing the songs so I can play the on the piano. WHAT? haha
Second my birthday was one of the best days EVER. I have a few
pictures but I can´t send them but maybe I will put them in an
envelope and mail them. It started out
normal...preaching..teaching..and then we went to lunch and all the
elders sang "happy birthday" to me and one of them pretended to give me
a gift but it was really the baptismal clothes for the baptism I was
to have that night. Haha it was funny. I will speak more about the
baptism later. But I went to give a couple of things to my ¨mama¨ in
the mission, Hermana Roxana. She is our old pensionista and she said she
would cook anything I wanted and that we could come to her house in
the night and eat. So of course..I asked for pizza. It was SO good.
I have been having problems with my stomach again lately I went to the
doctor and I have an infection but I am getting better and I am so
happy because now I can eat. And it was good.
Yeah, well we ate pizza with all the Elders and they sang Feliz Cumpleaños and it's a tradition after you blow the candle out that you
eat a portion of the cake--or in other words you put your face close
to the cake and someone else smashes your face into it. Yummy. I ate
so much frosting in that moment I was afraid I would throw up. Then we all ate cake and the Elders gave me presents. The other Hermanas--oh thats right with the changes there are now 4 Hermanas
here in the zone...and not just us two. It is pretty fun we all live
together. I am liking it. So the other Hermanas gave me a really cool looking bracelet and
the Elders.. (it was so funny) bought me a little figurine
doll and they told me that they bought it because it looks like what I
looked like when i was young...gringa :) It actually looks like
me too. And they bought me a picture frame so I can put a picture of
the whole zone in there. It was so sweet. They threatened to put an
egg on my head (it's a tradition) but in the end they did not. Thank
goodness.
Thank you family for all the birthday wishes although it wasn't at
home with my family...I felt your love through the letters and I
really felt the love of the members here and I feel like I have a
family here. I think it will be reallllllllllly hard to leave. But
that's a good thing. :)
I am sure you are all wondering what happened with my companion and my
new companion. Well, mi hija was sent to Puno...the poor thing that
is the coldest area in the mission!!! But I received a call from her
on my birthday and she seems to be doing quite well. My new companion
is from Argentina (Mendoza)...is from the same group as mi hija and so
I am finishing her training with her here. Her name is Hna Lepez and
she is 33 years old. I can`t say much here but she is having some
difficulties in the mission...I received a call from the assistants
and they assured me that the change had nothing to do with my capacity
to train, just they felt the change was necessary for the progress of
both of them. I have to be firm and loving with her...a new thing for
me. I think I will learn a lot. My goal this week is to teach her
how to be happy.
The baptism we had this weekend was one of the most touching
experiences for me. We have been working with a young girl 15 years
old for a while and she wants to be baptized but her dad told her no
and her mom told her yes. Her parents are separated but her dad was
really strong in telling her not to do it but she told him it didn´t
matter what he said and she made the decision from that point to
prepare for a baptism. She attends seminary every morning and has
really gained a testimony of the church. She was baptized thisSaturday.
And a miracle happened in her family. Her father came to the
baptism. Her mom, her sister, to see her in white ready to be
baptized began to cry. They said they felt something really special
and they told us they would support her and they wanted to come to
church with her. And with tears in his eyes, after the baptism, the
father looked at us and told us that he wants to learn more, that he
noticed something different in his daughter and he knows that what she
has chosen to do is good and he wants to learn more. The next day he
came to church and we challenged him to be baptized at the end of the
month..and he accepeted. Even though the parents are separated...the
mom asked the dad to sit with her in church...and I don´t know maybe
after time marriage will be possible for them too. What a blessing it
would be for the whole family. It truly was a miracle...and just for
my birthday too!!!!!!!!!!! The young girl that was baptized she has a
younger brother (10 years old) and after she left the baptismal font
he came RUNNING back to the font and asked the elder "can I be
baptized with my sister too????" It was the CUTEST thing ever. Of
course the Elder said yes...but he will be baptized with his dad.
So everything is great. Working with my new companion will be a new
challenge, but I am excited to work with her. And we have received
blessings and blessings from the Lord. The truth is I have a love that
runs deep for every single member, for everyone here in Peru.
Alma 29:1-3 pretty much sums up how I feel.
Feliz anniversario papas!!!! Happy Anniversary mom and dad :) It is
SUCH a blessing to have a mom and a dad who are sealed in the temple,
active in the church, who have taught their children to obey and
serve. What more can I ask for?
With all my love
Hermana Lindsey
Wow. I have A LOT to tell you all. First things first, thank you Clark for your email. I will tell you I have just been asked to lead a
choir for a musical recital they will have here in Quillabamba for the
end of August...I am going to lead a freaking choir and I have no idea
what I am doing. But we are preparing 3 songs and I just hope it all
sounds great in the end!!!!!!! wahhh!!!!!!! And no one can play the
piano either and so I will be practicing the songs so I can play the on the piano. WHAT? haha
Second my birthday was one of the best days EVER. I have a few
pictures but I can´t send them but maybe I will put them in an
envelope and mail them. It started out
normal...preaching..teaching..and then we went to lunch and all the
elders sang "happy birthday" to me and one of them pretended to give me
a gift but it was really the baptismal clothes for the baptism I was
to have that night. Haha it was funny. I will speak more about the
baptism later. But I went to give a couple of things to my ¨mama¨ in
the mission, Hermana Roxana. She is our old pensionista and she said she
would cook anything I wanted and that we could come to her house in
the night and eat. So of course..I asked for pizza. It was SO good.
I have been having problems with my stomach again lately I went to the
doctor and I have an infection but I am getting better and I am so
happy because now I can eat. And it was good.
Yeah, well we ate pizza with all the Elders and they sang Feliz Cumpleaños and it's a tradition after you blow the candle out that you
eat a portion of the cake--or in other words you put your face close
to the cake and someone else smashes your face into it. Yummy. I ate
so much frosting in that moment I was afraid I would throw up. Then we all ate cake and the Elders gave me presents. The other Hermanas--oh thats right with the changes there are now 4 Hermanas
here in the zone...and not just us two. It is pretty fun we all live
together. I am liking it. So the other Hermanas gave me a really cool looking bracelet and
the Elders.. (it was so funny) bought me a little figurine
doll and they told me that they bought it because it looks like what I
looked like when i was young...gringa :) It actually looks like
me too. And they bought me a picture frame so I can put a picture of
the whole zone in there. It was so sweet. They threatened to put an
egg on my head (it's a tradition) but in the end they did not. Thank
goodness.
Thank you family for all the birthday wishes although it wasn't at
home with my family...I felt your love through the letters and I
really felt the love of the members here and I feel like I have a
family here. I think it will be reallllllllllly hard to leave. But
that's a good thing. :)
I am sure you are all wondering what happened with my companion and my
new companion. Well, mi hija was sent to Puno...the poor thing that
is the coldest area in the mission!!! But I received a call from her
on my birthday and she seems to be doing quite well. My new companion
is from Argentina (Mendoza)...is from the same group as mi hija and so
I am finishing her training with her here. Her name is Hna Lepez and
she is 33 years old. I can`t say much here but she is having some
difficulties in the mission...I received a call from the assistants
and they assured me that the change had nothing to do with my capacity
to train, just they felt the change was necessary for the progress of
both of them. I have to be firm and loving with her...a new thing for
me. I think I will learn a lot. My goal this week is to teach her
how to be happy.
The baptism we had this weekend was one of the most touching
experiences for me. We have been working with a young girl 15 years
old for a while and she wants to be baptized but her dad told her no
and her mom told her yes. Her parents are separated but her dad was
really strong in telling her not to do it but she told him it didn´t
matter what he said and she made the decision from that point to
prepare for a baptism. She attends seminary every morning and has
really gained a testimony of the church. She was baptized thisSaturday.
And a miracle happened in her family. Her father came to the
baptism. Her mom, her sister, to see her in white ready to be
baptized began to cry. They said they felt something really special
and they told us they would support her and they wanted to come to
church with her. And with tears in his eyes, after the baptism, the
father looked at us and told us that he wants to learn more, that he
noticed something different in his daughter and he knows that what she
has chosen to do is good and he wants to learn more. The next day he
came to church and we challenged him to be baptized at the end of the
month..and he accepeted. Even though the parents are separated...the
mom asked the dad to sit with her in church...and I don´t know maybe
after time marriage will be possible for them too. What a blessing it
would be for the whole family. It truly was a miracle...and just for
my birthday too!!!!!!!!!!! The young girl that was baptized she has a
younger brother (10 years old) and after she left the baptismal font
he came RUNNING back to the font and asked the elder "can I be
baptized with my sister too????" It was the CUTEST thing ever. Of
course the Elder said yes...but he will be baptized with his dad.
So everything is great. Working with my new companion will be a new
challenge, but I am excited to work with her. And we have received
blessings and blessings from the Lord. The truth is I have a love that
runs deep for every single member, for everyone here in Peru.
Alma 29:1-3 pretty much sums up how I feel.
Feliz anniversario papas!!!! Happy Anniversary mom and dad :) It is
SUCH a blessing to have a mom and a dad who are sealed in the temple,
active in the church, who have taught their children to obey and
serve. What more can I ask for?
With all my love
Hermana Lindsey
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Just Keep Swimming!
Wow its already Monday. I am excited to hear that the Flemings are
coming in Wednesday!!!!!!!!! Bienvenidos a mi HOGAR!!!!!!!! jaja
Welcome to my home. It sounds like it will be a great summer. And
David goes to EFY and then to Scout camp...where is he going next?? It sounds like it will be a blast for him. And Dad you said
that Clark is emailing me...but no. I hope to receive an email from
him before I end my mission :) I hope everything is well with him.
He seems to be enjoying his time in Argentina.
This week was pretty good---I worked really hard to get my convert to
come on Sunday to receive the Holy Ghost and he finally came!!!! But
I was disappointed because they told him he needed to wait to the
other Sunday because he came late. But what can I do but support the
members? The branch is really great here, just I was a little
frustrated. We are starting a new mission plan with the branch. I think
I have mentioned it before but we are working with one family to help
them get excited about sharing the gospel and they have to read their
scriptures as a family every night for three weeks and contact and
give out a Book of Mormon. Its pretty cool. And the family that I am
working with, their 14 year old son reminds me so much of David. He
helps out his mom so much, he is very thoughtful, an extremely hard
worker, and he attends seminary every day and studies the scriptures
every night. He will be a great leader.
This week I will just move forward and try and help as many people as
I can. Dad said that the real success is not measured by numbers or
baptisms, but it is really if you have the Spirit with you or not. Its
true. I hope to have more of the Spirit with me this week.
Well, changes are this week but we will be staying :) yo y mi hija.
And I am happy. There is a lot of work to be done.
Love
Hermana Lindsey
coming in Wednesday!!!!!!!!! Bienvenidos a mi HOGAR!!!!!!!! jaja
Welcome to my home. It sounds like it will be a great summer. And
David goes to EFY and then to Scout camp...where is he going next?? It sounds like it will be a blast for him. And Dad you said
that Clark is emailing me...but no. I hope to receive an email from
him before I end my mission :) I hope everything is well with him.
He seems to be enjoying his time in Argentina.
This week was pretty good---I worked really hard to get my convert to
come on Sunday to receive the Holy Ghost and he finally came!!!! But
I was disappointed because they told him he needed to wait to the
other Sunday because he came late. But what can I do but support the
members? The branch is really great here, just I was a little
frustrated. We are starting a new mission plan with the branch. I think
I have mentioned it before but we are working with one family to help
them get excited about sharing the gospel and they have to read their
scriptures as a family every night for three weeks and contact and
give out a Book of Mormon. Its pretty cool. And the family that I am
working with, their 14 year old son reminds me so much of David. He
helps out his mom so much, he is very thoughtful, an extremely hard
worker, and he attends seminary every day and studies the scriptures
every night. He will be a great leader.
This week I will just move forward and try and help as many people as
I can. Dad said that the real success is not measured by numbers or
baptisms, but it is really if you have the Spirit with you or not. Its
true. I hope to have more of the Spirit with me this week.
Well, changes are this week but we will be staying :) yo y mi hija.
And I am happy. There is a lot of work to be done.
Love
Hermana Lindsey
Monday, July 9, 2012
Love the Jungle
Bueno familia
Yesterday the Elders were comparing star wars and the Joseph Smith story….something I have never done before. But as they were talking and laughing, one of the elders said "and I saw a sword of light, directly over my head, and it gradually decended until it fell upon me…..” It was the most hilarious moment EVER. That’s the elders for ya! Well, this week we had about the same amount of success. Looking for new people, trying our best to help them understand, and we fasted and we prayed so that people could attend church especially the baptism we had two weeks ago so he can receive the Holy Ghost…..but nothing.
Maybe we are doing something wrong….
But…as it says in the scriptures…the prophets fasted and prayed for many days before they had success….but how many days???????????????
Mom thanks for your email. I think I am learning patience. We were super stressed last night thinking about the people we wanted to baptize this month and how we can help them…we prayed and we will keep praying. Good news number one, that amongst all the stress last night we managed to have a really great time laughing. Like Mom said, when it is hard, it is so important to have a sense of humor. Good news number two, the less active families we visited this week came to church.
Sounds like David had a really really great time at EFY. I am so happy for you!!!!!!!!!! BUT they CHANGED THE SONG? Porqùe???????????????
Oye no es justo!!!!!!! Not fair. But I can tell that he really
learned a lot and felt the spirit…and had a COW or two. That
sounds so funny.
We also had fires on the mountain this week…but they just let it run its course and all the mosquitos come down from the mountain and eat ME out of all the other BILLION people they could choose from. Its because I'm white.
Today we went to Mandor (the waterfalls) again and I took some more pictures… it's so cool to be in the jungle. I LOOOOVE it.
It sounds like everything is going really really well at home. Continue to enjoy your time in the summer heat and I will try this week to notice more of the little daily blessings the Lord gives me amongst the more bigger challenges we are facing. I still trust in the Lord.
I don’t have much more to say except 19 days until I am 22!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love
Hermana Lindsey
Yesterday the Elders were comparing star wars and the Joseph Smith story….something I have never done before. But as they were talking and laughing, one of the elders said "and I saw a sword of light, directly over my head, and it gradually decended until it fell upon me…..” It was the most hilarious moment EVER. That’s the elders for ya! Well, this week we had about the same amount of success. Looking for new people, trying our best to help them understand, and we fasted and we prayed so that people could attend church especially the baptism we had two weeks ago so he can receive the Holy Ghost…..but nothing.
Maybe we are doing something wrong….
But…as it says in the scriptures…the prophets fasted and prayed for many days before they had success….but how many days???????????????
Mom thanks for your email. I think I am learning patience. We were super stressed last night thinking about the people we wanted to baptize this month and how we can help them…we prayed and we will keep praying. Good news number one, that amongst all the stress last night we managed to have a really great time laughing. Like Mom said, when it is hard, it is so important to have a sense of humor. Good news number two, the less active families we visited this week came to church.
Sounds like David had a really really great time at EFY. I am so happy for you!!!!!!!!!! BUT they CHANGED THE SONG? Porqùe???????????????
Oye no es justo!!!!!!! Not fair. But I can tell that he really
learned a lot and felt the spirit…and had a COW or two. That
sounds so funny.
We also had fires on the mountain this week…but they just let it run its course and all the mosquitos come down from the mountain and eat ME out of all the other BILLION people they could choose from. Its because I'm white.
Today we went to Mandor (the waterfalls) again and I took some more pictures… it's so cool to be in the jungle. I LOOOOVE it.
It sounds like everything is going really really well at home. Continue to enjoy your time in the summer heat and I will try this week to notice more of the little daily blessings the Lord gives me amongst the more bigger challenges we are facing. I still trust in the Lord.
I don’t have much more to say except 19 days until I am 22!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love
Hermana Lindsey
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Atonement of Jesus Christ
Hola Familia
President came this week. It was a great learning experience for all.
We had a training for the leaders of all the branches and practically
President "burned" all of them for not working 100%. He used the
scriptures in Alma 4:18-20 to tell the presidents to leave their
¨judicial seat¨and get out and work with the people. Attendance is
low here, and we are trying to break the barrier between ¨church¨ and
¨missionary work¨so that the work can move forward with more speed
and efficiency. Church and missionary work go hand in hand and now I
think the members understand a little more of how to work together
with us. We had our FIRST branch council this Sunday. You gotta
start somewhere! My companion and I made a really great missionary
plan that we shared with them and I think if we work hard to get it
started and keep it moving it can really help us and the branch be
much stronger.
But President also "burned" all of us missionaries for not working 100%
because right now we are all being mediocre missionaries and we have a
lot more to give. Its true. Guess it must be the heat. I don``t
know, but the area is wonderful and the members are so great and we
are finding people, just that there is a better way to do all of this
and it is to work together with the members. He taught us that the
way to work efficiently may not bring immediate results, but if done
correctly will bring continuous results later. Then he listened to
all of our ëxcuses¨for why we didn´t have great results this month and
he taught us one of the greatest lessons I have had about the
Atonement of Jesus Christ. In PMG it says that äs your understanding
of the Atonement increases, your desire to share the gospèl will grow¨
I have always pondered on that statement. I always understood and
knew that Jesus Christ suffered and died for each one of us, but my
understanding deepened incredibly after this experience.
Hna Calderon brought in a giant delicious looking cake for us to eat
after the conference but one of the assistants, Elder Bush, wrote on the
board "only those who have had perfect numbers of excellence in their
entire mission can eat the cake" Well, none of us. Then he wrote on
the board "Elder Parra (the other assistant) will do 15 push ups for
every missionary so they can eat the cake." Already I guessed what the
lesson was, but I didn`t expect to learn as much as I did-
Elder Bush said " Hermana Lindsey, do you want to eat the cake?"
"Yes" I said. Then he turned to Elder Parra "Elder, are you willing
to do 15 push ups for Hermana Lindsey?" Emphathetically he said YES.
So I got cake.
One by one he followed the same process. At first the elders were all
laughing and cheering..but after about 4 missionaries got cake we
started to notice that Elder Parra was in pain. So one of the Elders
proudly responded to the question "I will do my own push ups for the
cake" But Elder Bush responded "I am sorry but the only way you can
have cake is if Elder Parra does the push ups." Another missionary
later said "NO I don't want cake!! I don´t want him to be in pain
anymore" but then elder Parra turned to this missionary and very
gently said " Elder, you may not want the cake right now, but some day
you might be hungry and will want it, and so even if you don´t want it
right now, I will do the push ups for you." Silence filled the room,
as we watched him do 15 push ups for every missionary, now that our
appetite for the cake was completely gone. Elder Parra began to shed
a few tears in pain, and his smile was gone. We opened our scriptures
and read the account of the atonement in Luke 22 and it says that an
angel came to help Christ during this time. So one of the
missionaries came to help elder Parra do his push ups. 5 more
missionaries were missing cake. But it also says in Luke that the
angel could not help him for the whole time, so he left and Elder Parra was left alone again to do the push ups. And he did them for
every single missionary (12)
Then we read 2 Nephi 2:8.
I learned from this experience and felt a little more of what Christ
has done for me, but even more is what He did for those who don´t want
to learn the gospel or who will never accept it. He gave us ALL the
opportunity. And how truly great it is to make this known unto ALL
the inhabitants of the earth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EVERYONE has a
chance. I was very humbled, especially reflected on those times at
the beginning of my mission when I didn´t contact people because I was
scared. How prideful I am and how much I need to change...because I
have to work 100% NOW to receive 100% of the blessings the Lord has in
store. And the Lord has made it very clear to me in many occasions. He
intends to bless me and the people I teach immensely in the time of my
mission. Now I understand why when I understand the atonement more,
my desire to share increased 10 times more. I don´t understand how it
was done, or how it works, but I KNOW it was done and that it DOES
work. We ALL have a chance, a second, and a third and as many as we
need to come back. And as it says in Mosiah, all He requires is that
we keep the commandments.
Henry B Eyring said that "whenever I am tempted to say that I have
worked and I need a vacation, or I need rest after a long and hard day
of work, I always say these words " Remember Him" and I receive the
strength necessary to continue.
We have been called in this time to come to Him, to remember Him, and
to bring others with us. Salvation is not a cheap experience. It
will be hard. Elder Holland said that " A missionary must be prepared
to walk a little of the path that He walked in order to bring
salvation to His sons and daughters. We will have to pay a portion of
that price. But we have the promise that we don´t have to do it
ALONE.
When I am tempted to wonder "why don´t people just GET BAPTIZED and
why is it so frustrating and hard to help people understand...I will
Remember my Savior and my Redeemer-- and I think he will teach me to
love each one of His children, as he has loved every single one of us.
I don´t want to give up my name tag with Jesus Christ, but I know one
day I will, and I don´t want it to just be a memory but I want it to
be a part of me.
Ha, well, I learned so much that I might not be able to write it all
here but I hope you all got a feel of what I experienced this weekend.
I love the people here with all my heart, I love the gospel, and I
love my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
All my love
Hermana ;Lindsey
President came this week. It was a great learning experience for all.
We had a training for the leaders of all the branches and practically
President "burned" all of them for not working 100%. He used the
scriptures in Alma 4:18-20 to tell the presidents to leave their
¨judicial seat¨and get out and work with the people. Attendance is
low here, and we are trying to break the barrier between ¨church¨ and
¨missionary work¨so that the work can move forward with more speed
and efficiency. Church and missionary work go hand in hand and now I
think the members understand a little more of how to work together
with us. We had our FIRST branch council this Sunday. You gotta
start somewhere! My companion and I made a really great missionary
plan that we shared with them and I think if we work hard to get it
started and keep it moving it can really help us and the branch be
much stronger.
But President also "burned" all of us missionaries for not working 100%
because right now we are all being mediocre missionaries and we have a
lot more to give. Its true. Guess it must be the heat. I don``t
know, but the area is wonderful and the members are so great and we
are finding people, just that there is a better way to do all of this
and it is to work together with the members. He taught us that the
way to work efficiently may not bring immediate results, but if done
correctly will bring continuous results later. Then he listened to
all of our ëxcuses¨for why we didn´t have great results this month and
he taught us one of the greatest lessons I have had about the
Atonement of Jesus Christ. In PMG it says that äs your understanding
of the Atonement increases, your desire to share the gospèl will grow¨
I have always pondered on that statement. I always understood and
knew that Jesus Christ suffered and died for each one of us, but my
understanding deepened incredibly after this experience.
Hna Calderon brought in a giant delicious looking cake for us to eat
after the conference but one of the assistants, Elder Bush, wrote on the
board "only those who have had perfect numbers of excellence in their
entire mission can eat the cake" Well, none of us. Then he wrote on
the board "Elder Parra (the other assistant) will do 15 push ups for
every missionary so they can eat the cake." Already I guessed what the
lesson was, but I didn`t expect to learn as much as I did-
Elder Bush said " Hermana Lindsey, do you want to eat the cake?"
"Yes" I said. Then he turned to Elder Parra "Elder, are you willing
to do 15 push ups for Hermana Lindsey?" Emphathetically he said YES.
So I got cake.
One by one he followed the same process. At first the elders were all
laughing and cheering..but after about 4 missionaries got cake we
started to notice that Elder Parra was in pain. So one of the Elders
proudly responded to the question "I will do my own push ups for the
cake" But Elder Bush responded "I am sorry but the only way you can
have cake is if Elder Parra does the push ups." Another missionary
later said "NO I don't want cake!! I don´t want him to be in pain
anymore" but then elder Parra turned to this missionary and very
gently said " Elder, you may not want the cake right now, but some day
you might be hungry and will want it, and so even if you don´t want it
right now, I will do the push ups for you." Silence filled the room,
as we watched him do 15 push ups for every missionary, now that our
appetite for the cake was completely gone. Elder Parra began to shed
a few tears in pain, and his smile was gone. We opened our scriptures
and read the account of the atonement in Luke 22 and it says that an
angel came to help Christ during this time. So one of the
missionaries came to help elder Parra do his push ups. 5 more
missionaries were missing cake. But it also says in Luke that the
angel could not help him for the whole time, so he left and Elder Parra was left alone again to do the push ups. And he did them for
every single missionary (12)
Then we read 2 Nephi 2:8.
I learned from this experience and felt a little more of what Christ
has done for me, but even more is what He did for those who don´t want
to learn the gospel or who will never accept it. He gave us ALL the
opportunity. And how truly great it is to make this known unto ALL
the inhabitants of the earth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EVERYONE has a
chance. I was very humbled, especially reflected on those times at
the beginning of my mission when I didn´t contact people because I was
scared. How prideful I am and how much I need to change...because I
have to work 100% NOW to receive 100% of the blessings the Lord has in
store. And the Lord has made it very clear to me in many occasions. He
intends to bless me and the people I teach immensely in the time of my
mission. Now I understand why when I understand the atonement more,
my desire to share increased 10 times more. I don´t understand how it
was done, or how it works, but I KNOW it was done and that it DOES
work. We ALL have a chance, a second, and a third and as many as we
need to come back. And as it says in Mosiah, all He requires is that
we keep the commandments.
Henry B Eyring said that "whenever I am tempted to say that I have
worked and I need a vacation, or I need rest after a long and hard day
of work, I always say these words " Remember Him" and I receive the
strength necessary to continue.
We have been called in this time to come to Him, to remember Him, and
to bring others with us. Salvation is not a cheap experience. It
will be hard. Elder Holland said that " A missionary must be prepared
to walk a little of the path that He walked in order to bring
salvation to His sons and daughters. We will have to pay a portion of
that price. But we have the promise that we don´t have to do it
ALONE.
When I am tempted to wonder "why don´t people just GET BAPTIZED and
why is it so frustrating and hard to help people understand...I will
Remember my Savior and my Redeemer-- and I think he will teach me to
love each one of His children, as he has loved every single one of us.
I don´t want to give up my name tag with Jesus Christ, but I know one
day I will, and I don´t want it to just be a memory but I want it to
be a part of me.
Ha, well, I learned so much that I might not be able to write it all
here but I hope you all got a feel of what I experienced this weekend.
I love the people here with all my heart, I love the gospel, and I
love my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
All my love
Hermana ;Lindsey
Monday, June 18, 2012
HEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is realllyyyy hot here in Quillabamba...and its supposed to be
winter?? Oh well. Asi es la selva. That's like the jungle.
My new companion--her name is Hermana Santa Cruz-- she is from Chiclayo
(no idea if that is correct spelling) Peru. She is 23 years old and
joined the church when she was 17. She is really sweet and has a very
pure heart and a desire to learn and serve. The first few days of the
mission have been kind of miserable for her because her lips were really
dry in Cusco and her first day in Quillabamba they got infected
because of the heat. She has to put a special cream on them and take
pills and she can´t be in the sun for very long. Its hard for her to
eat too. I feel so bad for her but I know what it is like to have an
infection bother you in the mission and I am trying to help her be
patient and work through it. And at the same time we are looking for
new people. We were praying really hard that we could find the people
that the Lord has prepared for us in this time and really we had
success this week. We found a really great couple that aren´t married
(dun dun dun) but we're planning to help them prepare for July. We
also found a man who is a friend of one of the members and he had so
many questions for us because he heard about the Plan of Salvation and
that there is life after death and he has attended church a couple of
times and really wants to know more. My testimony really strengthened
this week. The Lord has people prepared to teach and how important
it is to be so close to the Spirit. There was one experience
yesterday when I felt I needed to talk to a lady and her two daughters
in the street. We were walking to an appointment and as we began to talk the
woman said that she had been baptized in the church when she was 15
but has been inactive for the last 15 years. Some things have
happened in her family and she has been thinking about the church
recently and she wants us to come and visit her. It was a really cool
experience because I learned an important lesson. What if I had not
opened my mouth? She would have still been lost to the church for who
knows how long. Obedience to the promptings of the spirit is the most
important thing we can learn to do in this life. I am not perfect at
it, but I am trying to learn to recognize them better because I know
that it is the only way that I can be an instrument in the hands of
the Lord in this time. It requires work, effort and sacrifice, but it
is so worth the effort. The Lord directs this work. No one else.
And no one can stop it. I have felt more close to my Savior this week
as I tried to be more obedient and submissive to the whisperings of
the Spirit. I know He lives and directs this church. He loves every
one of his children, and he NEVER loses sight of the one. We are His
instruments in this time to bring to pass his purposes. I will try
to be a little more obedient to the gospel of Jesus Christ and not
just to know it...but live it.
I love you all so much and I am so grateful for such a wonderful
family. Happy Fathers Day, Dad. I am so grateful for all of the
things that you taught me--your example of righteousness and your
support. Remember when you asked me if you had been there for me when
I was little? The answer is YES. You have always been there for me
and have been a strength in my life. Even in the mission, I remember
the things you always taught me and the example of a servant of the
Lord you always gave me. You showed me what was most important and that
is to rely on our Savior Jesus Christ. I couldn´t ask for a more
wonderful Dad. As I watch the families of the world be torn apart by
divorce, by horrible decisions, by infidelity, I am more and more
grateful to have a worthy priesthood father in the home who loves his
children and desires to bless them. Thank you from the bottom of my
heart.
Hope you all are enjoying the summer of Utah!
Love
Hermana Lindsey
winter?? Oh well. Asi es la selva. That's like the jungle.
My new companion--her name is Hermana Santa Cruz-- she is from Chiclayo
(no idea if that is correct spelling) Peru. She is 23 years old and
joined the church when she was 17. She is really sweet and has a very
pure heart and a desire to learn and serve. The first few days of the
mission have been kind of miserable for her because her lips were really
dry in Cusco and her first day in Quillabamba they got infected
because of the heat. She has to put a special cream on them and take
pills and she can´t be in the sun for very long. Its hard for her to
eat too. I feel so bad for her but I know what it is like to have an
infection bother you in the mission and I am trying to help her be
patient and work through it. And at the same time we are looking for
new people. We were praying really hard that we could find the people
that the Lord has prepared for us in this time and really we had
success this week. We found a really great couple that aren´t married
(dun dun dun) but we're planning to help them prepare for July. We
also found a man who is a friend of one of the members and he had so
many questions for us because he heard about the Plan of Salvation and
that there is life after death and he has attended church a couple of
times and really wants to know more. My testimony really strengthened
this week. The Lord has people prepared to teach and how important
it is to be so close to the Spirit. There was one experience
yesterday when I felt I needed to talk to a lady and her two daughters
in the street. We were walking to an appointment and as we began to talk the
woman said that she had been baptized in the church when she was 15
but has been inactive for the last 15 years. Some things have
happened in her family and she has been thinking about the church
recently and she wants us to come and visit her. It was a really cool
experience because I learned an important lesson. What if I had not
opened my mouth? She would have still been lost to the church for who
knows how long. Obedience to the promptings of the spirit is the most
important thing we can learn to do in this life. I am not perfect at
it, but I am trying to learn to recognize them better because I know
that it is the only way that I can be an instrument in the hands of
the Lord in this time. It requires work, effort and sacrifice, but it
is so worth the effort. The Lord directs this work. No one else.
And no one can stop it. I have felt more close to my Savior this week
as I tried to be more obedient and submissive to the whisperings of
the Spirit. I know He lives and directs this church. He loves every
one of his children, and he NEVER loses sight of the one. We are His
instruments in this time to bring to pass his purposes. I will try
to be a little more obedient to the gospel of Jesus Christ and not
just to know it...but live it.
I love you all so much and I am so grateful for such a wonderful
family. Happy Fathers Day, Dad. I am so grateful for all of the
things that you taught me--your example of righteousness and your
support. Remember when you asked me if you had been there for me when
I was little? The answer is YES. You have always been there for me
and have been a strength in my life. Even in the mission, I remember
the things you always taught me and the example of a servant of the
Lord you always gave me. You showed me what was most important and that
is to rely on our Savior Jesus Christ. I couldn´t ask for a more
wonderful Dad. As I watch the families of the world be torn apart by
divorce, by horrible decisions, by infidelity, I am more and more
grateful to have a worthy priesthood father in the home who loves his
children and desires to bless them. Thank you from the bottom of my
heart.
Hope you all are enjoying the summer of Utah!
Love
Hermana Lindsey
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