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
Monday, December 17, 2012
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
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