Elder Lindquist's 2nd letter

Well for Family Home Evening we decided to write letters to our Elder. Suzette also made peanut butter bars to go along with the letters as a care package. Before I left to drop off the letters and peanut butter bars, I decided to wait for the mail to come. It is lucky I did, because we received Elder Lindquist's 2nd letter. Here is what it said,

Dear Family,
Thank you for the package full of goodies. That was muiento bom. (Not sure what the translation is, but I hope it is good?) You probably won't need to send anymore goodies because they feed us very well here and I don't really have time to eat during class and study hours. The past few days have been very busy... I'll tell you what I did yesterday. At 6:35, health orientation, 7:25 classroom instruction until 8:15 which was time to comida comer (to eat). 8:45-10:00 was more class instruction At 10:10 we had a LGM (large group meeting) until 1:00. We had lunch until 1:55 and had another LGM until 3:15. Then we had MDT (basically personal, and companion study time as well as language study time). Then at 6:00 we had dinner. Then at 6:45 we had classroom instruction until 9:00. From 9 - 9:30 we were planning for the next week. From 9:30 - 10:00 we study and get ready for the day. At 10:15, it's quiet time and 10:30 it is lights out. I have been writing in my journal every day.
This is not our regular schedule but next week we will get into the regular swing of things. This past week has been pretty hectic and crazy. Each day feels like it's ten days (10 days) long. I am not even kidding. THIS IS WAY harder than college...But it feels good to be busy even though my brain is getting crammed with information. Two days ago, (our second day here), we learned how to pray. (in Portuguese) That took me a while. Yesterday we learned how to bear our testimony ( I still haven't gotten that yet). But I have to say the prayer at our district meeting tomorrow. (Which by the way I misinformed you, we only have like 9 in our district. The 1st day we met with another district and I thought the whole thing was our district). This letter will probably be the last letter I send, next P-day we can start sending e-mails. My P-days are on Fridays but since this week is all weird it landed on today. We got somewhat of a break today. We've only been in class once and the rest of the time we were studying or exercising. I'm waiting for my laundry to get done right now. Which reminds me, I was going to see if you could send me some detergent but never mind I can buy it at the bookstore. But if you could send me some more P-day clothes that would be nice. Maybe some jeans and a couple of t-shirts, that should be all I need as far as clothes. If I think of anything else I'll let you know. I got another package card today and I haven't picked it up yet so I don't know if it's from you guys or not. But thanks for the 1st package. I will send some pictures soon. I like my companeros (companions). We're definately the strongest companions in our district as far as following the rules and stuff. Elder Craig is pretty buff physically as well. Well I hope all is well with you. Let me know how Dallan does in football and Ryan with his activities. I'll e-mail you again next week through myldsmail.net. Keep an eye out for it on Friday. Tchau. Ama Jordao (Elder Lindquist).

Good news today, Suz had her port taken out today. It took about an hour. She was only sedated with a local and the local has worn off and she is now in a lot of pain. She has been such a trooper and doesn't complain a whole lot, but I think she is just tired of everything and wants to be whole again. She does have a hair appointment tomorrow evening. Hopefully this will cheer her up a little.
However, the bad news is that we now have a pan full of peanut butter bars thanks to our Elder not wanting any goodies. We appreciate all of your love and support.
Chris

Sunday activities

Sunday, 9/28/08 Today was a pretty good day. Ryan had his Primary program. He had a part which he memorized after two readings. He is so smart. He also sang with his class during the program the song, "Called to Serve". It was a pretty good program. This will be the last Primary program Ryan will take part in, since in December he turns 12 and will receive the Aaronic priesthood at that time. Suz also has been called to be the Primary pianist. During today's program I was asking her if she could play this song or that song. Let's just say, she will need to practice a little, but in Suzette fashion she will do great! Dallan and I went Home Teaching to both of our families, the Coombs and the Ross'. Dallan even prepared the lesson from the Ensign. He did such a great job. This evening Suz and I delivered the thank you's to the families of our Ward who contributed something to Jordan's mission cause.

Elder Lindquist's 1st letter

Well Elder Lindquist has sent his 1st letter from the M.T.C. Here is the letter in its entirety.

Dear Mom, Dad, and family
My first day at the MTC has been very long and tiring, but is has also been uplifting. After we parted ways I got in a long line of NM's (new missionaries) and visited with them while we got various forms and I got my flu shot. After that I went to the bookstore and picked up my bag of books that are in Portuguese. Rusty Alger's mother was the missionary that helped me. They had told her that I was coming and she was keeping an eye out for me. After that I went to my room on the third floor. I met my companions, Elder Price (who was sitting in front of us at the opening orientation) and Elder Craig. Elder Craig was assigned to be our District Leader, he is about my height with light brown hair and is very athletic. Elder Price is taller and darker. His mother is from Brazil and his father is from Idaho. He already knows Portuguese even though it's the Brazil version.
There is a very strong spirit here that you feel everywhere you go. Once we met up as companions we went to get our luggage and then brought it back to our rooms. I had a brief 15 minutes or so to unpack then we were off to another orientation. All 373 new missionaries were at the meeting. We then went to the cafeteria to eat dinner. There I saw a few Elders from Payson (one of which was in my mission prep class at the Payson Seminary). I also met several other Elders, most of which were going to Chile. After dinner, we went to another 2 hour orientation where we met our District Presidency and everyone in the District. ( I am just guessing this, but there's probably close to 25 of us). After that we got a quick tour and returned to our "residence halls" where I finished unpacking and made my bed on a yellow stained mattress... It was a lot of information to absorb in one day but hopefully I'll figure things out in the next couple of days. It was hard leaving you guys but I know I'm suppose to be here at this time. I love you guys a ton and know that the Lord will bless you while I'm gone.
Love, Elder Lindquist

Suzette and I dropped off another small care package for our Elder this evening on the way to Dallan's football game at Provo High. He should receive the package sometime tomorrow morning. Payson High lost to Provo 29-8. Mom and Dad Burningham also came to watch Dallan play. Ryan was off to a overnight campout with the 11 year old scout troup and will return sometime tomorrow morning. It is pretty quiet around the house these days. Suz and I are experiencing being "empty nesters" way too soon and would prefer to have our sons around a little more often.

Care package #1

Thursday 9/25 Well it didn't take long for us to put together a care package for our Elder! Today during lunch I gathered some items up at Albertson's and created a care package for Jordan. Today's care package included bars of dark chocolate, chocolate chip cookies, 3 pack of gum, can of pringles, a box of ding dongs, a box of fiddle faddle, and non essentials of stamps, and a couple letters of support from Suz and me. I mailed the package through BYU mail services. It was quite the deal! All of these goodies for $1.50. I hope he feels loved and is doing well. We love you Jordan!

Entering the Missionary Training Center

Tuesday 9/23 What a great day. Jordan was set apart as a missionary tonight by Stake President Olson. Jordan was promised many blessings if he served faithfully. We went home and tried to finish packing, but by 10:00 he still hadn't finished, so he will finish packing in the morning.

Wednesday 9/24 Jordan woke up early finished packing his clothes. Dallan went to school for the 1st period, and the rest of us got ready for the big day at the M.T.C. We left around 9:45 and picked up Dallan from school, and then we went to Walmart. I knew somehow that Walmart would be a part of our day. Anyway, we then went to the Missionary Mall in Orem to pick up a laundry bag, an alarm clock and a light rain jacket. This was everything on his list! Jordan decided to go to Sensuous sandwich for his last meal with us as a family. We still has some time to kill, so we decided to go to the BYU Creamery for some ice cream. We arrived at the MTC shortly after noon. We got his luggage out of the trunk and slowly walked over to take some pictures. After pictures, we dropped his luggage off in the laggage area. The time had come to enter the doors of the MTC. Jordan went in the left doors, and I, Suz, Dallan and Ryan went in the right doors. Jordan picked up his name badge, and cafeteria card, took a few more pictures, and then we went down the long hallway and went into a room where they were playing all of the LDS commercials. After a short time, they opened the meeting with a prayer, we sang "Called to Serve" and then the MTC presidency spoke to us. Their messages were good and comforting. They then played a short clip of the video "Called to Serve", afterwhich the closing prayer then it was time to say goodbye. I cried like a baby! The rest of the family did fairly well, although it was a lot more difficult than I anticipated. He then went through the right doors with the rest of the missionaries, and the family members went through the left doors. It was quiet all the way home. I know he will do well and will be a great missionary!

Elder Lindquist's Address:

ELDER JORDAN MICHAEL LINDQUIST
MTC Mailbox # 235
POR-LIS 1125
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, Utah 84604-1793