On Fire!!!

Agustín got baptized and confirmed. All of his friends came to the baptism, and 3 other investigators that we were already teaching. There is a great power in invitation. We are very happy to work together as a companionship, and I have loved my time with Elder García. He truly loves everyone on a sincere level, and has a great relationship with all the members and investigators that I have seen. The potency of sincerity. Gotta love it. We have a bunch of youth wanting to help the family get back on their spiritual feet, and they wish to share the gospel with their friends. This makes us happy. It´s not a choice, it forces us to be happy. Kind of like the Savior´s love. There is no way out. Claudia and her family (investigators three blocks from the chapel) are just on fire. We gave them a gospel principles book in church, and stopped by to pick up the clothes that they had washed for us on the way to drop off our suits (and the lunch that a member brought for us in a tupperware container) in the pension, and lo and behold, they had already delved into the great words of the book and asked us a few more questions. Baptism is all the talk in their household, and they take it very seriously. This, too forces us to be happy. It´s very difficult to resist. Helena is still pushing back by not wanting to pray with us, but we have kept passing by and we watched the testaments last night with her son in law. Goodness, I love this work. A family asked us for 10 pesos to help them out for a day. They told us that they could pay us back tomorrow, but we can´t do that and be obedient. We told them that the Lord would bless them more if we refused to be disobedient, and what do you know. 10 minutes later, their 2 year old finds 50 pesos on the ground. Gotta be obedient, for it also forces us to be happy if we do it with our heart in the right place, which means without looking for the honors of the world. My companion probably goes this next week to another area, and I will miss him dearly. His help is great, and I love him as a brother. Not quite as much as David or Heather, but getting there. I´ll update as time goes on. Thanks for the messages, they really help. In Christ, Elder Lindsey

What a General Conferenc!!!

Elena went to conference. Her daughter is a recent convert, and Elena is soaking it in. She was very curious about this whole thing, and I pray that she recognized the strong spirit that I felt as I sat on the same bench for the last session of conference. What a conference for us! Others are listening and preparing themselves for baptism, too. All of it is through the members. All of it. Every last person. All of it. We´ll talk about that later on. Our bishop is very excited to work with us. It had been a while since the missionaries had brought a Progress Record to him, and he was all over it. The members here are great, and we are working especially hard to get those baptismal trees going. The converts are sharing with their families, the returning members are studying and relearning everything to be able to teach their beloved friends alongside us, and we are trying to work 100% through the members. Its slower, but as Trevor... ahem... Elder Pierce said, it is much more effective. I love my companion. He is great, and his English is improving drastically as we read the Book Of Mormon together. He is very humble, and really loves everyone. This is the life! Conference was incredible. President Eyring talked about it in the Priesthood session, as well as President Monson. Eyring said that when he was a ward missionary they didn´t knock doors (better said than not contacting people) and that they had a bunch of success. Someone also said that the members should fill in the schedules of the missionaries with people to teach, which also goes in compliance with talks by Elder Bednar, Elder Perry and Elder Ballard in the past few years. Elder Bednar says that the members shouldn´t even pray that the missionaries find people to teach, for it is their part as full time searchers, while the Elders are full time teachers. You guessed it. There were 8 talks about missionary work, which means that that is one of the weakest points in the church right now. 8 talks! What can you do to find people to teach? How much do you love your neighbor? Enough to risk a little embarrassment should they vehemently shout in your face for having invited them to church or to listen to the missionaries (WORST CASE)? Enough to pray, fast and study to know how to teach, how to share, how to love and why we do these things? Do you desire that your neighbors have eternal life with their families, or would you rather leave them in the dark forever by not ever bringing it up, or procrastinating bringing it up. Talking about your testimony of Christ is how you can show sincere love and caring for others, as well as for Christ. ¡Vamonos! Sorry that there isn´t time for more, but tune in next time for the next adventure of... Doo doo doo dooooo! Elder Lindsey and Elder Garcia En Cristo, Elder Lindsey

I don't think we are in Kansas anymore!

There are some places in the mission that I don´t think that I will be able to bring my family to visit when all is said and done. We live smack in the middle of two Red Zones, and basically try to avoid being near the pension until its time to go inside. Our first lesson together was to three youths smoking marijuana. They were rather respectful, and I hope that we have been able to incite at least a small change in their lives. I love the people here, but this will be an off limits Zone for a family of gringos walking around with cameras and credit cards to get around... The Bishop here is very oriented towards getting out and doing some good. When we ask him what we can do for his family, he tells us to organize a family home evening with the new converts in the neighborhood. It just makes my day to talk to him. My companion is really great. Elder Garcia has a great gift to be able to really relate to the people and tell them how the gospel has changed his life for the better. Gotta love him. This Easter was spent very quietly. I was able to meet some really, really good people in our ward that truly love the Lord and His children. In spite of all the crazy things that I may tell about the things that go on here, I feel very comfortable and protected by the Spirit, the neighbors and the members. Even our contacts warn us about the dangerous areas and how to avoid them without losing too much time. Feeling this love towards us from our fellow man makes me think about how the Savior loves us. He warns us of the Spiritual dangers that we have and wishes that we can stay as far away from them as is possible to be able to live with Him some day. We have some people lined up to be baptized if we keep working really hard. None of them are more than 20 years old, and its a great time to be a youth in the Ward José Ignaci Díaz! I love you all, and love this work! Elder Lindsey