Listen to the Truth!!!

I got moved! My new area is called Valle Viejo (Ole Valley) in Catamarca. I left the pension at 10:30 last night and took a bus from Córdoba to here at midnight, arriving at six, getting to the Zone Leaders´ pension at sevenish, and getting to my pension at eightish. Córdoba is a very beautiful city, but I will have to be dead honest in saying that Catamarca blows it out of the water. The mountains are huge on both sides, and our two-man pension is bigger than my old four-man. I will leave this area with legs of steel due to our surely trusty and sturdy bikes which we will use on a daily basis. Apparently all of Catamarca is desert with the exception of where I happen to be working for the time being. It´s a super small branch, but if we can get ten more people to come to church for three months we´ll get a chapel up in this place. I am pumped for this new chance, but sad that I didn´t get to tell my companion Elder Martinez goodbye seeing as he was in Jesus Maria at the time on intercambios. My new companion is Elder Gilman from Boise. He seems awesome, and we get along pretty well from what I can tell. This last week was crazy. I had never felt so much pressure to baptize people in my life, and in the end, after much fasting, long prayers, and frantic antics of testifying to all possibilities, we weren´t able to baptize this last transfer. The Lord really tried our faith, and I learned that we have to understand that His thoughts are not our thoughts. Arenales is super set to baptize this upcoming month, though, and they should get quite a few people a shot at the Celestial Kingdom´s first requirement through baptism. One of our investigators came to church, and beforehand we went to his house to spur him on. In that event he told us of a crazy dream that was easily recognized as a sign from God that this church is true. His only doubt is that he feels that others might be true as well... They´ll take care of him and treat him well while I am gone. As I left last night, bidding a seemingly eternal farewell to so many families and individuals, my heartstrings got played quite a bit, and I will definitely keep those I knew in my prayers and heart. I got a package from the Hampels, and it has blessed the lives of many people through the goodness of Starbursts and Crystal Light. I am pleased to know that all are doing well, and loved getting Brayden´s graduation announcement at the end of August. Shoulda told me sooner, though pal. I might´ve made it. Upon thinking on home, I have realized that many of my dearest friends and beloved family are creeping up on their time to get out and serve missions of their own. I highly recommend it, and will always say that it is the right thing to do. Get it done as soon as possible, and you will never regret it. I personally have spent a ton of the Lord´s time working my tail off in the mission field, and still have had a blast. I know from this experience that all can have the same type of chance if they will just take the one little step of faith and get out here. I can always do better, but the Lord knows how to help us best, and makes room for our mistakes. He loves each and every one of us truly. Our Father in Heaven is an incredible planner. I should learn from His example and crack to it, and therefore I am taking this transfer to really learn how to plan and apply all that I can. Organize yourselves, He says, and we should all take it to heart. What do you think we are going to do when we are creating our own worlds if we cant keep the matierials of our own room straight? Let alone a universe in its entirety! To finish, the price of this ciber (public computer lounge) has really satisfied me, seeing as it is half the price of the one that I used to attend. Portensen mal. Digo portensen bien. (Act poorly. I mean, be good) Elder Lindsey

As the infamous Elder Martinez said this fateful Sunday as we desperately searched for our investigators, God tends to squeeze every last drop of faith out of us that we think we can handle, and then makes a new drop, squeezes that one, and splashes us in the face with it. Then, when all is seemingly lost, he gives us a great big dose of miracle and he lifts us up. None of our investigators looked like they were going to church this Sunday, which is huge, because this was our last Sunday before the final Saturday on which we can baptize. However, we stopped by our last hope that we had, Matías, and his brother Esteban was outside. Having already listened to us in the past, but never having come to church, he was prepared to be invited easily. We talked with him for a few minutes as we waited for his brother to tell us that he didn´t want to come, and we invited him to the final hour of church: Sacrament Meeting. He was indecisive at first, but we offered a little bit of logic and the Lord added a full measure of the Spirit, enough to convince him to at least come once. We told him that the Lord would help him in his studies, that he wouldn´t be the only one not wearing shirt and tie, that all of his doubts concerning the church would be answered and that he would feel something that he had never felt before if he would just take an hour of his time to go and sit in the chapel and worship the Lord Jesus Christ. He came on that stipulation, and he absolutely loved it, telling us that he will be there next week si o si (yes, or yes). Furthermore, Ezequiel, whose parents said that he can´t get baptized, was walking into the church when we showed up with Esteban., not wearing shirt and tie, and literally fulfilling the Lord´s promise "in every whit" as the scriptures say. I stand all amazed! Sadly, Valeria, Daniel, the Cabrera family, the Barrera family, Olga, nor Fabián attended, and I ask you to pray for all of them. They are all soooooo close, but need the Spirit in their lives to convert them. Your efforts in Spirit are heard by God Himself, and he can send not only messages, but power from on high, as Elder Packer said in a quote that my dear father sent me. We have had some of the greatest study times as a companionship here, and I still fully encourage all to study the scriptures and to meditate the message therein carefully, as Wilford Woodruff puts it, with the same spirit of revelation and prophecy with which they were written. The Bible Dictionary tells us that speculation on things that the Lord hasn´t revealed renders no spiritual gain, and I second that, having learned from personal experience. This guide to the scriptures is remarkably fantastic and helpful for understanding gospel principles and staying on the straight and narrow path through the careful use of the iron rod. I highly suggest the entries of Prayer, Repentance, Miracles, and Priests. The symbolism in and authorized insight to these topics contribute to one´s grip on life. Try it. The highlight of my week happened last night. An eight year old boy in our branch has discipline issues if you will, and is learning how to cope with life´s facts and difficulties. He can´t yet read, and seems to not want to know how. His parents discussed this with us last night, and he waltzed in right in the middle of the conversation, not really knowing all of what was being said. I remember always upon entering their house the miracle that happened the last time I was present to discuss the gospel with this child: the Lord blessed him with a special and individual promise that if he prayed that their house, contemporarily without power, would immediately receive such. He prayed, and God fulfilled His end of the bargain, as He is wont to do. Reminding him of that moment, I asked him to say a prayer to our Gracious Maker, requesting His help in his quest to read and write, and gave him a Book of Mormon on the promise that he would read it. He prayed for help, and I know that he will learn how to read. I feel happy inside for having made that small effort that has grand potential for this kid. The Lord is God and forgives us all. Don´t worry about your shortcomings, just think about how he can help you fix them. Please pray for us so that Elder Martinez can baptize someone this month, for his time to leave draws nigh. Thank you for your letters and love, they bless many lives. Stay true to the faith! Elder Lindsey

Clark!

This week was the best week of my mission yet. I testify that obedience to gospel principles and love for those around us cause miracles directly. Many of my wildest dreams came true this week, and I love my Savior and King. I have always dreamed of going to a foreign country and challenging a group of dudes on the street to a game of soccer to teach them a lesson afterwards. On Friday, after a few rough experiences, we didn´t know where to go, and stopped to say a prayer. We tend to keep our eyes open during the prayer to watch for people walking by or to lower our voices if someone is too close, and right in the middle of the prayer, four guys started waving us over to play. Never has a prayer been answered so quickly for me in my life. We played, we did very well, and we got in a good lesson afterward. Then, because every companionship in our zone baptized this last month, we got a special treat from President Salas to a pizza per companionship and three hours of soccer in a rented field. I scored on the Pres and got decently dirty, but the best part was just to have a break and some time to celebrate good times. This week we taught more lessons than I have ever done in my mission, and we had nine investigators in church. We had strived super hard to work diligently and obediently, as well as fasted to have an added measure of the spirit present in the lessons, and the Lord blessed us abundantly. He lives, he loves, and he gives us all He can in accordance to our actions. I really invite all to try out this principle, because it works, and it isn´t selfish to want blessings if those blessings are intended to help others. We should have a baptism coming up this weekend, but it all depends on what the spirit tells us and the Zone Leaders, because Ezequiel is definitely able and willing. He seems to have stopped using heavy drugs and smoking, which is incredible, considering we found him a week and a half ago. He has come to four activities thus far and accepted everything wholeheartedly. There is talk of opening a new area inside of our area, enough that we are searching for a pension in Monte Cristo and beginning to work more and more there as Arenales II. We had three lessons with members in two hours when we visited this Sunday, and it is my goal to help the Lord open that new place before they kick me out of here. Godspeed, all Elder Lindsey

Elder Lindsey

This week has been full of adventures. We found an awesome kid that turns 18 in a week, so he can get baptized on his own volition if he so desires. He has some issues with the word of wisdom that we didn´t know about but that we will try to help him resolve as soon as possible. One of our recent converts is a very humble man that still doesn´t understand the gospel completely, but what he really understands he applies. Furthermore, his teaching abilities to people with like lifestyles are incredibly powerful. It involves pleading that they allow the Hermanos to help them and telling them how much this church has done for him. The spirit is so strong when he speaks. It´s fantastic. We didn´t have as many people in church this week as we would have liked, but we learned that one of our investigators didn´t come because she was sick, and due to her circumstance of being in a wheelchair, her niece comes too, and they both love it. Sorry that all of this is one paragraph, but the enter key doesn´t want to cooperate here... Trevor wrote me. That made my day. Also, my entire family is moving to the Happy Valley. First Kelly and Scott, then my grandparents, then us, than Rene, and now the Flemings. Talk about crazy Christmases, no?! I finished reading the Book of Mormon and now intend to read the entire Libro de Mormón. I love you all, and remind you that when life gets hard, take Elder Bednar´s advice and think about everyone else, and life isn´t quite so bad after all. The last two verses of James are very useful, though I don´t know exactly what they say in English. Something along the lines of if someone sins, but later helps other people to receive the gospel, they cover a multitude of sins. THAT DOESN´T MEAN THAT YOU CAN SIN AND PLAN ON MAKING UP FOR IT LATER, just that when you make an honest mistake you can forgive yourself easier. I intend to play soccer when I return home, and I think Máte will find itself in my cupboard on a decently regular basis. I already miss the great things that I have here in the mission, and intend on enjoying and working myself to the end. D&C 18. Elder Lindsey

Great Week

Dear all, There is a great peace that comes from being prepared beforehand what you intend to say. Sadly, life doesn´t always allow for such preparation, and today is one of those instances. However, as we learn from "Whose Line Is It Anyway", improvisation works too, and can be used to our advantage. READ Preach My Gospel. If you need to work on an attribute of Christ in your life, which you do, read chapter six and find someone to study it with. Also, Chapter four applies to all of life in teaching one how to recognize the Spirit, backing it up with a slew of great scriptures to enlighten us. We have a baptism this weekend, and if the registry isn´t found for a sister in our branch, we have another one free. There are a ton of people out there still to be found, and we need your help to find them. Find the nearest missionaries and invite them to eat at your house with a few references in mind, and I promise that the Lord will bless you oh so much. I love the Savior, and He loves you. Find out for yourself, and enjoy the fruits of your labors. With Love, Elder Lindsey

Hey!

I finally got photos to send out! This is an opportune time to send them as well, considering that we have just had a slew of baptisms and some great spiritual times. Sadly, however, the computer took forever to load them, and I only will be able to send one or two. Our numbers haven´t been that great this week, but we had two days of work cut out for Zone Conference and another day with a sick compy, so truly it was out of our control. Our area has baptisms planned for the rest of the transfer every Saturday. Great things are in store for us, and all that we have to do is work hard enough and live worthily. Music is fantastic. My new favorite hymn was translated poorly into Spanish, but in English it really hits home. #185 Reverently and Meekly Now. For those of you who are music theory geeks like me, there is some great stuff written into the score, and for you Christians, there is some delicious food for the soul in the text. Verse one reads: Reverently and meekly now, let thy head most humbly bow. Think on me, thou ransomed one; think what I for thee have done. With my blood that dripped like rain, Sweat in agony of pain. With my body on the tree, I have suffered death for thee. Figure out what it means for your own personal relationship with Him, and read the rest of the text to get an even more powerful message. Singing this song for me, from the perspective of the Savior, always wrenches my heart, and gives me strong desires to follow His counsels and example. The official way to commit someone to keeping a commandment or making a covenant is along the lines of "Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and...?" So, I extend this challenge to you. Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and ? It is a yes or no question, and the answer is yes or no. Do, or do not. There is no try. However, should you slip up, reread the text and try again the next living breath you take to be better and like Him. God be with you till we meet again. Elder Lindsey

big letter

I apologize for having written so few letters by hand, but it turns out that it costs eleven pesos everytime, which is the equivalent of about three bucks, or an entire meal if you know how to spend it right. Yeah, letters will be a very seldom done deed. The work is great. We have saved five people through providing them the ordainance of baptism in Arenales, and there is another one this weekend with more to come in the near future. Our goal is to baptize every week, to put a baptismal date every day, and to feel happy inside for the joy of helping others. So far so good on the last two parts, but the first one will just have to include this last half of the transfer. Life is simple. Eat, obey the Lord, pray, obey the Lord some more, listen to the really gravely voice of the man right next to me that sounds something evil from smoking too much, and enjoy the mission. I really don´t know what to say more, nor do I have the time do say it. Take Luck! Elder Lindsey