zion

To begin, SOOOMMOOOS SIOOOON! We are Zion here in Rio Cuarto for three months, which means that everyone baptized in the month, and now the goal is to get everyone to baptize a family every month. Some of the other areas really had a struggle, but somehow the Lord helped us pull through. Guillermo´s baptism was one of the most special that I have seen. He invited a ton of his family, and now they are all super excited about the gospel, too. He wants us to convert all of them and is already organizing family home evenings with the neighborhood to get things going. We are so happy. I have began to realize that no matter how well you can logically lay out the gospel in a presentation, it works much better if you ask questions. The Spirit can teach when we use questions, and the people give more heartfelt commitments if we work that way. Instead of saying "God wants you to go to His church every Sunday", though that is true, and for some it will reach their hearts, we have begun to rephrase it "Does God want you to attend His church on a weekly basis" and like questions, and the people understand better when they themselves talk themselves into following Him and His teachings. We also found a golden family. Golden, like the pre-translation Book of Mormon, and just as truly great. Griselda is a Jehovah´s Witness, and Alejandro is a "student of the Bible", as he puts it. We have been developing a way to figure out if investigators have real intent, and in every way shape and form they have shown us that they do. We extend commitments, small at first, and gradually larger until we can see where the points are that we will have to mold their learning spirits with the touch of the MAster´s hand. For them, we found something that made our eyes pop wide open, and we will be passing by next monday to teach them again. We stopped by in the siesta, or the holy nap time that never, ever can be violated without causing nuclear warfare or similar results, and he had just come home from work. Although he was eating a nice, homecooked meal, he answered the door and talked to us for an hour, apologizing that he couldn´t properly attend to us. He wants to know everything, and loves to read this kind of stuff. He hasn´t found a church that can close all of his doubts yet, and we didn´t answer any of his doubts that need to be prefaced with a prayer on his part to know if what we share is true. They should be praying fervently to know if this great message is what they seek, and I can testify that it is. We miraculously had four investigators in church on Sunday. We knew two of them, and the other two showed up on their own. Yeah, the Lord wants us to learn that He is preparing people and that we need to concentrate on those who have the desires right now, this very moment, so that we can take advantage of the His time. Guillermo got confirmed, and the Lord has already changed his soul. I LOVE this work, and the Church is definitely true, no matter what language we speak. I´m happy, I am working, I am enjoying myself, and I am done with today´s message. Just go and do, don´t sit and stew. Elder Lindsey

It's Clark

First of all things important, my sources inform me that my dearly beloved cousin has recently been offered a mission, should he choose to accept it, to Malaga, Spain, from where one of the Pedersen boys recently returned from a similar mission. I cannot express my inner joy for this moment of great anticipation for the awesome experience that you´re gonna have, Braden. Keep up the good work! Both of us will speak will a Spanish accent when we´re done with the whole shebang. Well, this week was a good one, though Guillermo didn´t quite get baptized yet. To begin, it was a great deal of effort to get him and his now wife married, and the wedding was fantastic, though much different from the weddings in the States. The Zone Leaders did his baptismal interview, and they invited him to be baptized on Saturday, which he accepted until work called in to tell him that he had to work Friday night until Saturday morning, again Saturday afternoon and Saturday night until church on Sunday. He didn´t quite have the craving of not having any rest for the events scheduled for Sunday, such as the Linger-Longer/Wedding Reception planned partially by us and partially by the ward to aid in ward unity and give a great chance for the non-member family and friends of the couple to get to know the members. It went super well, though the members could have done a much better job at fellowshipping the non members. Always look for people you don´t recognize at ward events as a rule of thumb in order to aid the Lord in blessing their lives. Anyways, Guillermo announced his baptism this upcoming Friday to all of his guests, and the next week they´ll have a chance to come to the actual Sacrament Meeting to see his confirmation. If they all come we will have about 15-20 investigators in church, and the ward is really pumped. Luis, Marta, Luiz and our other promising investigators still haven´t come to church, though their doubts are slowly being resolved. Marta thought that Joseph Smith was on the same level as the Savior, and she really had a hard time believing that, but with that out of the way, she is a lot more comfortable. Our phone is out of credit a week before we get more. This occurrence tends to end in much visiting the members, using other methods of communication to set up appointments and other frantic methods to get the work done well. Maybe the mission will let us buy more credit, which would be great... To clear up the cloudiness, I am still in Rio Cuarto, which is a city located in the Southern part of the province of Córdoba. It has been cold, lately, which is strange for midsummer climates. Here are some photos of the wedding, district meeting before transfers, and a really cool one that I took of our pension in the morning. This past week has caused me to think a lot. It is only right to teach people the importance of the message, and to look for those already prepared to receive the gospel. We did some visits with a brother in our ward, and had zero success in our contacting and all of our five appointments for the two hours that we had fell through. He explained that one really must learn to impact each and every person we meet. They have to know that we are here to teach the word of God in His way, and not by throwing cards and being fancy in our presentation, but by being open, truthful and unafraid to commit them to do things right there. This has helped us to filter out those who aren´t bad, but not quite willing to repent just yet or don´t understand their half of the message. It has caused me to confide more in the Savior and His power, and less in my own explaining abilities. I felt a change in our mindset that has proven very effective and good for the work, as far as I can tell. This gospel is true. Do y´all know that? I do, and the Lord shows it to me every day. I love y´all a ton. Cuando leás este mensaje, Heather, ya estarás en la casa. Portate bien, y felicitaciones en la misión honrada cumplida ya! In Christ, Elder Lindsey

Valentines from the Lord!

Well, this church is true. I will always stand before you and repeat that should it be put into question. God is real and loves His children. This became rather evident to me as for the past 20 years He has constantly answered my selfish prayers and taught me how to be more like Christ. This past year y pico is not excluded. The scriptures are becoming part of who I am, and it becomes natural to share them when I speak. How I wish that that doesn´t change in my life! Nobody came to church this weekend, but I feel that it was to make my soul search itself a bit and to let me know of the Lord´s way of teaching me. I felt so much peace yesterday that I can´t even begin to think of trying to know how to express what it felt like, and it lasted for hours and hours, despite utter, embarrassing rejection behind rejection. We found two chosen investigators just yesterday as well. Fani listened to the Restoration and thanked us as we offered her a Book of Mormon. Thank you, she said, I will read this chapter. I want to know if I can live with my mother again. One of these days I am going to invite y´all over to teach me more. I am available any day in the afternoon. When can y´all pass by? And then we found the brother (Luiz) of the member wife (Eva) of our most progressing investigator (Guillermo). Eva and Guillermo get married on Valentines Day and Guillermo will shortly thereafter get baptized. Luiz has listened in the past but never understood the importance of the message, nor that he can receive an answer to his efforts, not just his prayers alone. He will also begin to read, pray and come to church if we continue to help him. Also, the Reyes family should get married and baptized here soon, to help us complete with the goal of one family a month for the rest of the mission! Centro Ward is going to have a Linger Longer this weekend, and we are ecstatic! We, being Elder Bethers and I for six more weeks (SCOOOOORE!!!!). I love Elder Bethers as a brother. Speaking of brothers, Elder Zaracho, my brother in the mission, is going to live with the assistants five blocks from the mission home with one of the Zone Leaders who moved up to being an assistant. Elder Zaracho will do great things in life. Elder Thompson will take his place in the pension, and I love Elder Thompson. He keeps following me around though. In all three Zones that I have been in he has followed me. Norte, Catamarca and now Rio Cuarto. I think that the Lord wishes that we learn a ton from each other. The people here love and respect the calling of a missionary, but not half as much as they do the missionaries. When I am down, and oh my soul is weary, as the song says, They raise me up, following the example of Christ. Keep your eyes out for those who need, and raise them up a bit. I love y´all, per en serio! In Christ, Elder Lindsey P.S. If anyone has the emails of someone else in the family or friends that want to listen in, I´d love to add them in the CC.

Ouch!

You know that you are happy when your face hurts. There comes a point in one´s conversion to the preaching of the Lord´s Gospel that you just can´t stop smiling, and you get tired of it pretty quick, though the Spirit is great. As Alma says, it begins to become delicious to us. Goodness, how I love to sit and ponder on what the Lord has in mind for each of us in the eternities! How simply complex is His great Plan of Happiness! Well, we got contacted by JW´s while I was writing a letter to some friends back home, and it was a real treat to talk with them. Many other faiths seem to attack upon meeting with us, but these two elderly ladies seemed to just want to share what they had for us. We exchanged dialogue, and even exchanged websites, though we are forbidden as missionaries to visit anything other than the Churches approved websites and email system in this time whilst preaching the good news. I think that they left with a few doubts, though with a solid friendship and professional understanding. Well, no one came to church this last Sunday, and we were kind of bummed, but we organized spilts with about ten priesthood holders this week and will be teaching with the members like mad. Claudia Galitari, the single mother with four kids who wants to share the gospel with everything that moves, is just pounding it. She expressed to us such desires as are found in Mosiah 28:3, to teach to every living soul, but that she didn´t know how to do it well. We gave her a few suggestions and pray constantly for her success. After a while, she is really going to be a spiritual giant and a great help to the ward as well as her family. We have a few people who get married really soon, and have to review a few things before they get baptized. The mission has raised the standard from one baptism a month to one family a month, and in order for the whole mission to complete with this goal we will all have to be worthy, consecrated and dedicated to the work. We are getting there, though no one is perfect other than Elder Bethers. Isn´t it great to be part of such a marvelous work and a wonder? The other day, as I sat thinking about my mission, I began to feel the sorrow that Alma, Mormon and Moroni express in regards to the iniquity of the people. I literally began to just cry for a few seconds for the pain of seeing so many people so close to the truth but rejecting the glorious offer. It gave me stronger desires to improve my way of sharing this message and I fell into much prayer and fasting. This morning, I read Chapter 5 of Preach My Gospel, and it became apparent to me that the most important question in the whole world goes as follows: is the Book of Mormon the Word of God? All other questions answer themselves in this great truth. Yes, this book is the Lord´s word, it answers the questions of the soul and brings great peace to the reader. There is so much doctrine packed into the book that one could study it for the entirety of the Millenium and still find new things on a daily basis. I agree with what Elder Gene Cook says, that we really don´t always appreciate the greatness of the scriptures. They are the literal teachings of our only way to happiness, and we will be judged according to the precepts taught therein. They testify of Christ and reveal to us why we do what we do. What a gift! The work goes on, as usual. Let´s put our shoulders to the wheel and get this show on the road! Be Good! Elder Lindsey P.S. Congrats Ian, Jordan and Skyler on completing with the Lord´s commandment to serve a worthy full time mission! Don´t get married too fast! Hang in there, Heather!

Well, this week has been one of great success and progress, though we had a few hitches in the giddyup. To start, our bishopric is extraordinary, and the members react well to planned events intended to help others in their path to Christ. We invited as many members as possible to visit María with little time in advance, and about 15 showed up to her house to have a little testimony meeting outside for an hour or so. It was remarkably moving. We had felt very strongly to plan the activity despite the odds and short time of advertizing, and now the ward is really pumped to help in whatever way that they can. Those who couldn´t come wrote letters to her and we stopped by to collect them. My attitude is just great right now. I have gone from pleading and begging the Lord to help us to calmly, and humbly thanking Him for all that He has done in the past for us, all that He is doing right now for us, and I simply ask that he helps us to know our part, confiding in Him that He knows what is best, and that His will always will be done in the end. Prayer has now taken on a deeper meaning and importance for me, and I feel much more confidence in the strength that the Lord provides each and every one of His Children. Elder Bethers still is the greatest companion, and never lets me down. When I don´t know what to say, I know that I can trust in the Spirit to fill in, and for Elder Bethers to have the answer to the question or doubt. Also,Eduardo, the son of the dear sister that miraculously got baptized the second to last day of the year (Fany), has been prepared by the Lord throughout his life to receive this gospel. As we taught him, I honestly felt as though I had been there before, and that this message is the only way to find peace in this life. He told us of his life and the things that happen in the neighborhood with the youth nowadays and how everyone needs to find peace. He said that he always has felt the peace that the missionaries bring and wants to know what to do to have that. We explained that baptism is the only way to find that peace, to relieve him his load, and to live with God again as a family. We prayed with him, and then he prayed with us. He has agreed to be baptized the 23rd of February. Will y´all pray for him, please? ESCOGIDO. He has been chosen. There are two families that are getting married in February, and each one has people in it that need to get baptized. All of their questions haven´t been answered yet, but due to the fact that each of them has been going to church since before the time of my trainer, Elder Petersen, they have no doubt in their minds as to whether or not they will get baptized. They are both part member families, and since they know each other they are using each other as support to keep on the right path. These kinds of things that are happening here comprise the reason that the "song of Centro", as we have deemed it, is Hymn number 72, I believe... Praise to the Lord the Almighty. We are working hard, but the Lord is He who acheives the victory. Much of this great work that has rolled forth among the members of Centro began because a single mother sister asked us for some copies of the Book of Mormon to give people for Christmas. The other day we commented it to her and committed her to never let this fire within her go out and to carry a cane in one hand when she is old with the Book of Mormon in the other. She has worked wonders through her love, and her example will never be forgotten. "Be Thou and example unto the believers," says Paul. What peace! What joy! What love I feel for this work! How I long to stay in the field for the duration until Christ comes again to reign in righteousness! This is the Lord´s Kingdom on earth, and He has entrusted us with its upkeeping and growth. What confidence in such imperfect beings, but knowledge of each and every one of us to know where, when and how to put everything in place to save us all should we so choose! Take advantage of the temple to praise His matchless grace, and spend all that you can in His service, for there is no greater emotion, thrill, exhiliration nor peace that exists than knowing that God is pleased with you and that you truly have acheived the compromise between your will and His. I love my Savior, and he loves each and every one of us. Be Good! Elder Lindsey

Dramatic!

My companion is just the greatest guy ever. Elder Bethers rocks. We worked our tails off this week, and really want to continue doing that for a really long time. A few days ago we had been teaching, contacting and working like mad, but we still felt like we were lacking something, and actually felt a lack of power in our message. This troubled us for a while, and has made us reflect on our efforts. We feel that it is because the commitment is what allows for one to become converted, and we need to concentrate our efforts more on the Spirit´s power to bring out inner commitments. Due to the fact that María got baptized really fast and still hasn´t come to church, we figured that this Sunday we were in for one with the Bishop because he was wary of acting so fast. Well, it turns out that this man really really has a very deep love and appreciation for all of God´s children, coupled with a grand understanding of how to help them, and where I subconsciously gave in to the temptation to say that all has been done, he simply told us to pass by with all of the leaders in the ward to figure out what she needs, temporally and spiritually. This we will do, and your prayers will be greatly appreciated as well. Last night, we contacted this older gentleman, and as we tried to explain to him the importance of the message he ended up just rejecting us and hardening his heart. I ended up just looking him straight in the eyes and praying to the Lord that he could understand how much he is missing out on. That is when the Spirit testified of our message. I wish that I had done that earlier in the contact before trying to convince him with my words. The Lord will provide for him at a later date. In church we had a double miracle. None of our investigators had come, and we went outside to call them, to think out loud for a while and to seek the Lord´s guidance. As we sat outside discussing what we could do, Hugo walked over. Contacted a few days ago, this great soul had humbly showed up to see us and to seek guidance in his life as well. He appears different, but lives and loves like each of God´s Children. He couldn´t stay the whole time, but he got to know a little bit and has some goals this week before he comes back the next weekend. Also, a girl that has a great friend bringing her to church is just rearing to go. Her name is Victoria, and we didn´t see her due to the fact that she usually wears glasses, and that she went calmly to primary where we usually don´t look for newcomers. What miracles we had! Truman G. Madsen has some great advice concerning missionary work. He says "let THEM say no" or in other words, give people the benefit of the doubt. I have been applying this principle this week, and it has let me show more faith and help more people commit to learning more about the gospel and applying the eternal principles of salvation. In place of saying something like "hey, we don´t want to waste too much of your time, so we are just gonna give you a card, say a quick prayer and walk away", something more heartfelt and bold is what will make the difference. "I have been thinking about you and the struggles that you have had in your life, and do you know what? I would like to take a few minutes and explain how my baptism changed my life, and then I would like to invite you to do the same by following the example of Christ and joining yourself with His church. Think it through before you let me tell it, because if you let me do so you will feel the Spirit of the Lord telling you that this is what you want in your life, and you may well end up a Mormon in three weeks. May I continue with this message?" I really liked how brother Madsen gave multiple examples of such experiences and that they worked, though I paraphrased a little bit. Y´all get the idea. This is the Lord´s church, and we can all feel it upon praying about it. I love prayer, the heart´s sincere desire, and I often pray for each of y´all who received this message.

Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen

The title is the only prison song that I know, and due to the fact that I entered one this week to talk to an investigator´s significant other, I thought that it would be fitting. I had completely forgotten all documentation, yet somehow still managed to get through... hmm... Anyways, to make things more epic, it was all during our time for our interviews with the President, and we had to take a taxi there and back. The first taxi driver robbed us of 20 pesos, so we had to cut the ride back short and walk the rest of the way. Ah, the joys of the mission!! My talk with the President was great. He wants me to fully drive myself in the gospel and let nothing get in the way. Opposition, trials, temptations, all of them are naughty excuses for not achieving great wonders in the name of the Lord. We currently are about to explode here in Centro, and the members are really getting good at staying excited for the work. We´ve been spreading cards, Preach My Gospels and copies of the Book of Mormon like wildfire, and hope that it catches big. Two of the part member families are getting married here in February, so we are way happy for them. I love my companion. He is humble, intelligent, meek, loving, funny, and . Elder Bethers will be a lifelong friend for me, especially because he lives so close. He reminds me of Layten Durda mixed with Trevor Pierce and Clayton Young, three of the people with which I share some of my fondest memories before the mission. What a pleasure it is to serve with him in this blessed land! I got Christmas mail from the ward back home, and it made my day. Isaac Fotu had some great comments about David, but don´t tell him I said that. Just keep doing what you´re doing, pal. The Moeller´s Questionaire was hilarious, and the mere mention of carnivore soup makes my stomach do flips and twirls inside. All in all, I am happy to say that I am alive and well, the Lord is blessing us with people to teach, and expects us to work very hard. In all reality, we don´t have the time to visit everyone by ourselves and have to get organizing regular divisions to keep us on the right track coming up here soon. Love, joy and peace to everyone. Elder Lindsey