Have I done any good?

To start, this question is a great way to analyze our own day and pushes us toward doing some good. My response to that question is a change in the question: Have I done ONLY good in the world today? Have I helped EVERYONE in need? Have I cheered up the sad and made EVERYONE feel glad. If not, I have failed indeed. For more insight, see Mosiah 28:3 in the Book of Mormon. Apparently, my accent is very much like unto that from Spain, and three or so people asked me if I was from Spain this week. I guess I watched the Princess Bride waaaay too much beforehand, for I always quoted Iñigo Montoya. In that movie, there is a true principle. Wesley says "Death doesn´t stop true love; it just... delays it for a while." As we all know, this life is not the end of existence. Were it so, there would be no point, and I would not be here doing the things that I am doing. Our purpose is to be happy now, later and forever. Now, for the peace that the Spirit brings, later, for not having to be wearied by our future past sins and forever with our families. The Lord is watching over each and every one of us. May all of you learn that individually. Sorry for the short letter. Lots to do! Elder Lindsey

Conference

Mama mía, You are definitely in tune with the spirit. One of the biggest things I pulled from conference is that I need to wait for the Lord´s timetable to guide things, and not mine. I also began my Christmas wishlist this very morning, so we are in luck! Some good ole thick black socks would be fantastic. The thin ones are simply shot, and many are completely unusable. Begin Post My dear mother wishes to hear about a few things in specific about Catamarca. The scenery here is incredible. Spring time here completely took me by surprise. The colors definitely reach the soft spot in my heart for God´s wonders. There are trees that completely fill themselves with soft pink, bright yellow and subtle lavender flowers that really make you think when you see it, wondering to yourself if it is real. Shocking reds, oranges and every color in between mix in with the blues and vibrant greens found in the leaves and grass. The architecture is another wonder, with many beautiful houses and stores amongst the humble abodes of the everyday people. My companion and I are getting along quite well. We have devoted ourselves to spend this next transfer simply being better in everything. Organization, cleanliness, contacting, lesson teaching, time and money spending and studying. We are really pumped to get out and do some good. David should be pretty ready to serve a mission by now if he isn´t already. I think we just had to get through my generation before we got to the good ones like him. I feel a great responsibility in having to train and teach these new 18 year olds which will soon come to our mission, seeing as I am the last generation of the "Old Ones" if you will. I almost have a year in the mission, and only have two bouts of conference that I can apply to the rest of the world whilst preaching as one having authority, and not as the scribes. This Conference marked a monumental moment in the world, and in my conversion as well. Apathy cannot be accepted. Get out and be a Christian this instant if you really love the Lord. Are your actions to help yourself or the Lord? I will be working on this as well, because it ain´t easy. It is, however, worth it. Thanks for thinking about me. I love you all very much! Elder Lindsey PS A quick note about the QWERTY keyboard that makes typing a pain. In Spanish, the B and V make the same sound halfway between the two in English. On the QWERTY board, they just happen to be right next to each other, which is almost as confusing as the M and N keys which also are adjacent.

Marta got baptized!!!!!!! There was a ton of opposition last minute and she wasn´t sure if she should go through with it. We told her to come to the service and to decide there, because two other people were getting baptized that day and most of the Zone would be there. Twenty minutes before, she shows up dressed in a white jumper ready to get in the water. We had two other investigators in the service as well that really loved it. One of them said that it felt like she herself had been baptized. Those which we ask that you pray for are Cecilia, Laura, Claudia and Pedro. The branch here is going through a really hard time right now. As of today, we lost a family of two due to their long-expected move to Buenos Aires and eventually the States. It has been a rough time for all, and much has been learned on the importance of the Saviors Atonement. The two of us in the Valle Viejo pension ended up rather short on money for this last month due to difficulties with reimbursements and bike problems, but we ate every day and made it out alive without losing weight. I cannot tell you how joyed I was to see that as of today they have upped our monthly income if you will by 25%. Hallelujah! And, as I was writing, some of my stuff which got stranded in another pension for almost a week magically arrived with my district leader and I will try to attach some pictures along with it all today. No promises. Speaking of hallelujahs and praises, we have organized a little choir of the Zone of Catamarca and some members for a multi-faith choir festival in the stake center this Friday. Please invite your friends, I am sure that it´ll be lovely. It´s on la Zurita in between Sarmiento and Maipú at sevenish or so. I´ll be playing the piano for our choir, but it´s only one song and its at the end, so you can leave if my playing gets too bad. The Scriptures tell us that if we are happy, we should praise the Lord with singing and praises. If you have ever wondered how to pray all day, remember that the song of the righteous is a prayer unto the Lord, and just go ahead and sing your way through the day. Goodness gracious, how I love and appreciate the generosity of the Lord in His tender mercies that he sends us constantly. Wilford Woodruff, in his teachings, tells a story in which he and his fellow missionaries were lost in the wilderness during a horrid southern thunderstorm at night, and how the Lord safely guided them to the path which they needed to take. He then continued onward through the tempest just glad that the Lord had helped him in the past, not minding the current evils around him. I like that attitude. No matter what happens right now, I can be happy because the Lord has shown me in the past that I can do it with His loving assistance. I feel my Savior´s love in all the world around me. I know that my Redeemer lives, and that I need Him every hour. Have you done any good in the world today? If yes, than what more can you do? Remember that it is the Lord´s work and glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Is that your work and glory as well? Love one another, and preach the gospel to all that will hear. Our purpose in this life is to get baptized and have faith in the Savior in order to return to Him someday. Help those around you to understand that it is their purpose as well. Be good! Elder Lindsey