February 23, 2015

Hey good to hear from you!

Freaking awesome to hear about Ryan and Amanda's 3 stoodges :).  That's awesome they are at that stage in life ain't it? It's crazy how the church is so true.  I thought I would like hit a point where I would know and I would get surprised with the miracles that God works right? Freak no! Holy Moses, Every time I read and study the scriptures. Yeah there are so many little things we miss that just make it more and more true. Ha makes me excited to study a fül when I get back. Ha well I will try anyways.

Man we had a really good lesson with this less active member named Elsa Bustos. She is awesome and knows the church is true.  She committed to going to church, but like everyone else... Didn't go ha.  That's okay.  Not the first time that's happened.  I would have been surprised if she went but hey don't ever go inactive okay? The mission is hard enough with the active members ight. No everyone here in Almafuerte is super nice.  We went to this nice restaurant place and there was this girl that asked if we were mormons and that was all.  Later I went and asked if she had talked to some mormons or something before.  She said her ex boyfriend was a mormon ha so yeah be a good example for the world cause they are watching. They will make the judgment from one person and if that person happens to be you... what would they think right? 

Yeah well shoot hope everything is going good at home.  Sounds like it is pretty cold right now at home. Enjoy it!  You can always layer up.  You can only take so much off.  Especially as a missionary eh?  But hey love you all and grandma! If you are reading this thanks a ton for the bday money! I might splurge with that this week ha. And so far no pkg but hey don't worry about it. Transfers are in two weeks.  If you've heard anything from or about Kyle, Ethan Tony or Tathan, everyone that was or is going out, if you talk to any of their parents let them know I say hello.

Hey love you all and church is so freaking true its crazy.

Elder Lindsay 10

What a good son.  Takes a selfie just so I can see that he's doing well. :)

Argentina clouds.

And Elder Curtis gives a great tour of their new pencion.

February 16, 2015 (Dad's letter)

Hola papa dude,

So our pension doesn't have warm or cold water.  It's just water, so the bidet isn't that bad.  It was weird at first but now it's like the best thing ever.  I was worried it would clean but haha man does it clean ha.

It's super awesome being in the mission and learning all this stuff now.  They say a mission is equal to 70 years of normal scripture study so that's cool. Makes you look at the big picture.  Don't be telling me you're  having your mid live crisis ha.  My comp just had his quarter life crisis. But hey I know you're on the right path so keep it up. 

Almafuerte is a lot more calm then even Rio Tercero.  It's pretty crazy how different they are. Everyone here is nice too. So after we get going with the investigators we will have a good go. 

And yeah the sinus infection is like gone so I'll be ight. Ha I've just been taking some allergy stuff and that could be helping idk. 

Keep after Devin.  You were the only reason I turned out how I did.  So you can do the same with him.  Just need to show him what he can do. Some times low confidence can make an athlete if that's what he has, at least a smart athlete.  He just needs drive. 

Well hope everything is going good. We are all good here. Crazy I have been gone 6 months ha I'll be home before we know it.

Elder Lindsay 

February 16, 2015

Mother,

Weeks been good. 

So a lot of stuff has happened.  We messed up an asado one day and then a banana bread another day, BUT!! Ha we redeemed ourselves a few days later.  Aw man I will be a pro asado cooker for sure after, ha that was one of the tastiest things I've ever had. But yeah then a banana bread that would have made you proud too.  The members liked it too so we are getting our cooking down here. 

Sounds like the streets are closing down here pretty soon, or at least they should if Devin is driving. Tell Dave to stay awake.  He always fell asleep with me driving.  It probably won't be the same with Dev. But hope he passes 

Ha man what is Devin trying to do take my spot?  No he always has got what he wants.  He doesn't need to give the freaking puppy dog eyes to get what he wants.  He's the baby so it's different.

So for now we are focusing on making the menos activo members here more active.  It's cool getting to know the members here.  They have some strong testimonies. Sunday I had to give my first actually talk about how we can rescue the members that are in the church. 

So that's where the work is at here.  The less active people. We have like 5 investigators right now too and they are interested in the whole church stuff.  So we will get to working on them. The temple here is really helping people realize they have an eternal possibility. Gets me excited to think about that myself and how small this life is. 

Hope your knee is okay.  I'd say check the ankle out too but we need the barometer thing to tell when storms are coming haha. Cuff Devin for me once in a while. Try to light a fire behind him to get him running faster. Be cool to see him do good at state. 

So I'm pretty good health wise.  Not near as bad as I was and improving, so yeah just stay healthy at home.  Good to here from you guys again. 

Love you and be safe

Elder Lindsay 

PS Ill be in Cordoba this Thursday for a conference, so maybe I'll get another package or something, I'll let you know next Monday.

February 9, 2015

Dear moma

Ha so with this change we had to Almafuerte we don't have a washer yet, until later I think idk.  But anyways your story reminded me of that, ha and the fact that I washed my first clothes by hand haha. Yeah enjoy the washer.  Oh and also our new shower is electric haha blew my mind when I found that out, and also we have a bidet, the thing that shoots water at your butt to clean it ha.  Yeah, I hear that once you use one there ain't no going back to toilet paper... when you think about it, it really is a lot cleaner.  Ha just really weird, and yeah you will feel molested the first go. 

The buses are kinda like the Cancun ones but smaller and crappier.  That was a nice tour one we had in Cancun.  We did have a random guy that was going to an AA meeting talk to us. It's funny to talk to people and have them start telling us stuff like " yeah that's one think I wish our church does." It's like people know but don't want to know.  They just want their church to be the true church, but hey it's their salvation no? No gotta love them and help them the best that is possible.  I think he will be talking to the missionaries in his native land.  He was pretty intrigued.

So for packages I got the valentines one.  I'm in the office right now so I know that that's the most recent one that's gotten here.  I got grandmas too with some pine cones and nuts and a couple other things, like a picture holder thing.  I will for sure be using that ha. But yeah I'm pretty sure I receive the most in the mission so don't feel like I'm missing out.  I've been practicing a fül with the soccer ball and basketball haha ill be Messy before you know it (he is a famous soccer player from argentina) but yeah thanks a ton.

Are you trying to make me trunky talking about all that good food? No but I actually have had those thoughts about where to eat.  So remember that place Los Hermanos?? yeah that means the brothers haha I flipped when I realized that that's the place we used to eat but yeah idk Cafe Rio sounds good but I might want some American ribs.  Holy moses malone that would be good ha. We ate at this sisters house yesterday, holy! Yeah it was the worse place I have ever been in.  It smelt like poo and mold and was unorganized and yeah ha but we have lunch with her every Saturday now.  Might have to do some service there but yeah glad our house is nice.

Speaking of that sick kid, ha I have a pretty mean sinus infection, sore throat thing that is gnarly but it's no different than when I used to get them at home.  Just didn't want you to be in the dark on it and get mad when I tell you when I get home.

Aw man was that the guy that worked at the school as a janitor last year?   Man that's too bad.  I always tried to say hi to that guy at school.  If it's who I'm thinking of but I had no idea it was that rough for him. Hope his family is okay.  I'll keep them in my prayers.

Well ight love you guys and hope everyone is doing good.  Let me know how Valentine's day goes haha jk dont tell me..... 

Ight love you and chau

Elder Lindsay 10

New Shoes.  He still loves a great pair of shoes.

Resorting to cutting his own hair.  What a learning experience.  He is now washing his own clothes by HAND too.

In front of the NEW Beautiful Cordoba Argentina Temple.  It will be dedicated in May 2015.
What a great experience for this Elder.

He had a slight run in with a garbage can. 

February 2, 2015

Hey my loving family!

So as of right now we are still living in Río Tercero but everyday we take a bus to Almafuerte and back. They are suppose to move us to Almafuerte here in the next week or so but idk.  It just depends on how ambitious the Elder is that is in charge of moving us, could be another long while. But we have been working in Almafuerte in the afternoons.  We've just been visiting all the less active members. There are some really cool people there that loved the missionaries when they used to live there so I guess it should be pretty nice. 

Freak it's super crazy! The branch president told me and Elder Curtis that we would be his councilors..... Holy crap ha I went from barely having a testimony to having to be a councilor?!? It really is pretty cool how if you put your mind to the gospel how much Heavenly Father works on you. I've learned more about the gospel and church than I prolly would have in 20 years.  That's like in 6 months so maybe I'll know something when I get back ha. But yeah that's where we are at with Almafuerte.  Just visiting the members that are there.  There were 10 people that went to church this week.... Ha yeah and a few are crazy but hey love them. It will be a hard area for sure but we will get it done. 

My new comp, Elder Curtis, is from Springville, Utah with 18 months in the mission. We get along and are chill with each other so this will be a good transfer.  This is his first time being district leader so yeah pretty intense for him.  I've just been trying to help him out and make it the best for him. HAHA ight so here is a story, yesterday after church we went and ate at the president's house.  After my comp really wasn't talking too much.  I guess he was like super sick and stuff and so he was like, I need to go to the pension.  I don't feel very good.  I was like like how not good? "Like I need to throw up". So we started walking back to the terminal and I was like "still gotta throw up?"

E.C."Yeah"

Me "Bad?"

E.C. "Yeah"

me "like how bad"

E.C. "Pretty bad"

Ha and now like 1 minute later he freaking puked his guts out.. PS I'm prolly the worse comp in the world. But yeah it was pretty bad.  I thought he was gunna die. But learned my lesson, ha when he is sick... He is sick. But yeah that's what happened yesterday and early.

Hope everyone in the family is doing good, I'm at about 6 months here in a week and feels like I have been in the mission for about a week. Crazy how short it is. 

Oh this Wednesday we have a zone meeting in Río Cuarto so I might get a package.  I heard there was some waiting for me so yeah pretty pumped. 

Ight that's it. I'll send some pics.  Love you all and hope you have a good week.  Get a shock collar for Devin and every time he doesn't shoot the ball push the button.  Ha I'd pay money to watch that haha. Ight that's it now 

Love you and chau.

Elder Lindsay 10

As handsome as ever.  He loves his ice cream in Argentina. 

Love this Missionary.

This is the first picture he sent today.  He said "I think I forgot how to smile."  I'd say.  Actually this is what I usually got at family picture time.  He still cracks me up 6000 miles away.

TWO of the BEST missionaries in the WORLD!!!

January 26, 2015 - Hola mi mama mio

Hey crew!

So today we went to Córdoba for transfers. Turns out I'm opening the area Almafuerte with Elder Curtis. He is my new comp from Springfield, UT. Ha I think that's where anyways. But yeah Almafuerte is like 30 min west of Rio Tercero.  So ill be there for the next 6 weeks at least. Well serving there ha we are still living in Rio Tercero for now.  We will take a bus to Almafuerte everyday for a little while. I don't have any pictures of the comp but I'll be sure to get some, he has 18 months into the mission. (fun fact).

It was pretty crazy to see O´Hanley go. He was super trunky and stuff but hey I'll prolly be the same way.  Tight now it's way above my head to even think what it would be like to even have a year into the mission. Still just a little baby.  But hey hopefully I'll grow up. This last week with Elder O'Hanley we had some pretty cool stuff. We had another lesson with Julio and said I was going to be leaving and stuff.  He was about to break down in tears. It will be hard to leave Rio Tercero for sure. We passed by a bunch of our investigators and let them know what was happening.  It's really crazy how much you get to love the people. Like with Julio, seeing him smiling is the funnest thing ever and then seeing him being humbled by God.  That's one of the greatest things you can ask for as a missionary.  To watch God working on people. Gunna miss it here but wow the experiences that are waiting no? Ja makes me excited.

Thursday when we were heading to play soccer with the young mens, the ballers from the gym called us over when we passed and asked for a quick pick up game.  We went to 11 by ones and twos. Me and Elder O'Hanley won 13 to 10 and I had all 13 of the points ha ese fue maca-nudo (groovy) but yeah felt good to hit the gym again. Love it here even if it is a tough area. Lots of friends that I will be looking forward to chatting with later. 

Hope everything is going good at home.  I bought mom and dad's birthday presents from the mission. I might just only be bringing back one birthday for everyone idk. Hey I got your picture thing too mom. Oh and your idea about the temple thing, yeah that's pretty cool. Seeing pictures of the insides of other temples and stuff makes me want to too. But hey quipas one day you can come to the Cordoba one.  Now that would be cool. 

Bueno. Hey love you all and hope everyone is doing good. Hope to hear from you guys again next week.

Con Mucho Amor

Elder Lindsay 10 

January 19, 2015

Hey Motha,

So looks like Calan's socks belong in my collection.  No idk if I'll be a big sock addict when I get back.  I mean a nice pair of socks would be nice, ha but I won't be playing ball all the time or running track or throwing a pig skin.  Maybe if I try to play college ball, but idk I'd have to get better to do that.  I wasn't that good. 

Ha sounds like you are gunna be the babysitter of the town. You will need to make them some bacon wraps if they ever think that they don't feel your love.  That always helped me know you loved me ha. You would be like their new grandma. Good for you though thats cool. Just remember my kids will be your favorite of all time. 

Speaking of bacon wraps, sounds like Dakoda is pretty caught up in school. Sounds like he could use a couple. 

So this last week we had a super big storm that hit us. We had so much rain that it washed out all the roads in the one neighborhood. The road in one spot was down like 8 feet cause it washed all the dirt away... Then at our penchion we had water enter ha that was exciting. But the next day we had our exchanges with the zone leaders. I was with Elder Alanzo.  He is from Mexico and he was super fun to go out and work with.  I learned a ton. Ha idk but just blows my mind how the gospel changes lives and makes people realize what's actually going on. One thing that we are doing in this mission is called plan pilot. It's to help us work with members more and have stronger wards and better conversions. But we retain more, baptize more and reactivate more. Thats like the moto... But in Spanish.  We found a member named Paulo the other day and I was all talking to him, (cause my comp was too busy watching the TV that was on) but he is freaking awesome and I asked why he doesn't go to church.  He was saying he felt like he didn't belong in the Lord's house until he felt a little cleaner. I started to bajar la caña, Drop the cane, and helped him understand that the church is where you do that and feel better and so he came to church.  It ended up being super strong for him. He cried like the whole sacrament and after was like, wow the power of the word of God is undeniable. So just made me think of what that little nudge to help people start on there straight and narrow path. Lots of times I thought that people needed a great missionary to make a change in their live, turns out anyone can give that small invite, or that little suggestion to stop doing something. Some people here don't understand that smoking is bad and when you give an invite to stop. That might be the biggest impact they can receive. That's one thing I'll prolly change when I get back, just giving those little invites. To church or whatever it is.

This is the last week of this transfer and Saturday we will get the call. I've heard that there will be some big changes here in Rio Tercero.  They will open up Alma Fuerte to have full-time missionaries and all that but idk what else.  I'll let you know next Monday maybe but I might be going. Love you all and hope everyone is doing good.

Love 

Elder Lindsay