Our family did not receive a letter this week from our Elder, just this e-mail. It sounds as if he is writing to everyone else quite a bit.
This last week was good. It's kind of a blur because it went by so fast but we are learning like crazy. I almost have the first vision down in Portuguese, and this last week was the last week to teach the lessons in English. This next Thursday it's back to the first lesson in Portuguese, we are definately going to sound like five year olds speaking, but oh well. This last Thursday Elder Craig and I carried on a ten minute conversation or so. We taught the person how to pray and talked about our families, we even brought a couple fotagrafÃas as a visual aid. Last Tuesday night Elder Mask, (from the seventy) and his wife came and spoke to us for our devotional and it was sweet. He had so many cool stories to tell, most of which were about his Grandpa who left his wife and baby behind to serve a mission during the Mexican revolution. They were some of the coolest stories I've ever heard, they sounded like something out of the Book of Mormon. I hope I can have some experiences like that that I can share when I get home. I like the MTC but I'm anxious to get out there and start teaching people, (even if I can't speak the language that well.) Thank you all for the letters you've been sending me, if I haven't written you back it's because I accidently threw away the letters evelope with your addresses on it. But I hope all is well with everyone. This last month has just flown by, it seems like just yesterday I was giving my farewell talk. It is crazy to think I only have twenty three to go. Elder Craig and I get along fine, some of the other companionships in our zone don't so it's nice to have a companion that I can get along with. I think I've seen a dozen Elders from school/mission prep classes. I thought I was the last one out the door but I guess not, there's an Elder that's in our room that is 22 and he's from Washington and he sees people he knows too so I guess it's just a small world. Well that was a little side trip. I don't really know what to say because not too much happened this week but I hope all is going ok with everyone. Tchau, ama Elder Lindquist (Jordão)
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Elder Lindquist 10/17-18
Email sent on Friday, October 17, 2008
All, so I've been here almost a month and the time has flown by. A new district came into our zone this last Wednesday so we're not the newbies anymore. We're now the middle district, the oldest ones left last Tuesday and I miss a lot of them, they were cool guys. The Portuguese is coming along, in our appointment at theTRC (Teaching Resource Center) we were supposed to speak in Portuguese for fifteen minutes, but Elder Craig and I only lasted like ten minutes. But we did a good job of teaching the second lesson (the plan of salvation). It's crazy how much you learn in just a week. Not only with the language but your teaching skills and your knowledge of the doctrine increases drasticly. The spirit is definately guiding us as we study and the Lord has blessed us a great deal in these past three and a half weeks. This last week was pretty rough I about had a nervous breakdown on Wednesday, but I'm feeling better now. Some things in Portuguese just don't make sense to me and it can be extremely frusturating. In addition, one of my teachers ticks me off sometimes. But I like my other one a lot, he's a stud. I definately have learned a lot about personalities here, because we're forced to be with so many people that have different attitudes about stuff and there's so many different personalities that a lot of times those clash. Sometimes it stinks but it also makes things interesting. We have some friends in our residence halls, (by friends I mean mice) the other day one went for one of my no-bake cookies and I knocked him out. (just kidding that never happened) but an Elder had his mom send him some mouse traps and he's caught six already. Our teacher is enforcing a rule that when any one of us passes gas we have to do twenty pushups since the cafateria food can cause extremely potent gas, needless to say we are all getting pretty buff. On a more spiritual note, Richard G. Scott came to speak at our devotional on Tuesday night. I got to meet him after the meeting and it was awesome! The second he walked in the room it was filled with the Spirit. I liked him before I heard him speak in person but he has now definately climbed up the list on my favorite twelve apostles list. He was super funny and involved the audience most of the time, but the end of his talk he bore his testimony and it was one of the most powerful testimonies I've ever heard. There was no doubt in my mind that he is actually an apostle of God. I really like Sunday nights because we have a fireside and get to watch amovie after. Gym is also fun, I'm trying to cut back on the sweets/ranch and run a little more. Well I'm running out of time so I'll bear my testimony in Portuguese. Eu sei que Jesus Cristo ama nós, e Deus vive. Deus restorão sua o evangelhoatráves o profeta joseph smith. Eu testifÃco que as nossas familias podem sereternas. E Jesus Cristo é nosso redentor. well that's about all I've got and I've run out of time so take care!
Letter sent on Saturday, October 18, 2008
I hope all is well. It's good to hear that Payson is winning some games. How many more games do you guys have? It's starting to get cold out and hopefully you don't have to play in the snow or anything. I miss you guys and think of you often. I miss the little stuff like going to Grandma's on Sunday and playing backyard badminton and watching movies as a family.
Anyway, I kind of feel like the language is coming along lately. I can kind of piece sentences together (small ones). Our whole district tries to speak every word we know even if it's just one in a sentence full of English words. It's pretty funny, we'll probably look back and think oh my goodness we were horrible. But it's a fun language. Our Portuguese accent is way cooler than the Brazilian one. I feel bad for the 1 Brazilian Elder in our district because we all speak different than him. I forgot to mention that Brother Aidukaitis, (the one that gave the talk about his father being converted in Brazil, and talked a lot about the Book of Mormon). His older brother is the second counselor in our branch presidency. He's a nice guy, he also served as a mission president in Brazil. Every member of our branch presidency served as a mission president in either Brazil or Portugal. Well, I'm going to do some laundry and send an email to you guys.
Ama Jordao
All, so I've been here almost a month and the time has flown by. A new district came into our zone this last Wednesday so we're not the newbies anymore. We're now the middle district, the oldest ones left last Tuesday and I miss a lot of them, they were cool guys. The Portuguese is coming along, in our appointment at theTRC (Teaching Resource Center) we were supposed to speak in Portuguese for fifteen minutes, but Elder Craig and I only lasted like ten minutes. But we did a good job of teaching the second lesson (the plan of salvation). It's crazy how much you learn in just a week. Not only with the language but your teaching skills and your knowledge of the doctrine increases drasticly. The spirit is definately guiding us as we study and the Lord has blessed us a great deal in these past three and a half weeks. This last week was pretty rough I about had a nervous breakdown on Wednesday, but I'm feeling better now. Some things in Portuguese just don't make sense to me and it can be extremely frusturating. In addition, one of my teachers ticks me off sometimes. But I like my other one a lot, he's a stud. I definately have learned a lot about personalities here, because we're forced to be with so many people that have different attitudes about stuff and there's so many different personalities that a lot of times those clash. Sometimes it stinks but it also makes things interesting. We have some friends in our residence halls, (by friends I mean mice) the other day one went for one of my no-bake cookies and I knocked him out. (just kidding that never happened) but an Elder had his mom send him some mouse traps and he's caught six already. Our teacher is enforcing a rule that when any one of us passes gas we have to do twenty pushups since the cafateria food can cause extremely potent gas, needless to say we are all getting pretty buff. On a more spiritual note, Richard G. Scott came to speak at our devotional on Tuesday night. I got to meet him after the meeting and it was awesome! The second he walked in the room it was filled with the Spirit. I liked him before I heard him speak in person but he has now definately climbed up the list on my favorite twelve apostles list. He was super funny and involved the audience most of the time, but the end of his talk he bore his testimony and it was one of the most powerful testimonies I've ever heard. There was no doubt in my mind that he is actually an apostle of God. I really like Sunday nights because we have a fireside and get to watch amovie after. Gym is also fun, I'm trying to cut back on the sweets/ranch and run a little more. Well I'm running out of time so I'll bear my testimony in Portuguese. Eu sei que Jesus Cristo ama nós, e Deus vive. Deus restorão sua o evangelhoatráves o profeta joseph smith. Eu testifÃco que as nossas familias podem sereternas. E Jesus Cristo é nosso redentor. well that's about all I've got and I've run out of time so take care!
Letter sent on Saturday, October 18, 2008
I hope all is well. It's good to hear that Payson is winning some games. How many more games do you guys have? It's starting to get cold out and hopefully you don't have to play in the snow or anything. I miss you guys and think of you often. I miss the little stuff like going to Grandma's on Sunday and playing backyard badminton and watching movies as a family.
Anyway, I kind of feel like the language is coming along lately. I can kind of piece sentences together (small ones). Our whole district tries to speak every word we know even if it's just one in a sentence full of English words. It's pretty funny, we'll probably look back and think oh my goodness we were horrible. But it's a fun language. Our Portuguese accent is way cooler than the Brazilian one. I feel bad for the 1 Brazilian Elder in our district because we all speak different than him. I forgot to mention that Brother Aidukaitis, (the one that gave the talk about his father being converted in Brazil, and talked a lot about the Book of Mormon). His older brother is the second counselor in our branch presidency. He's a nice guy, he also served as a mission president in Brazil. Every member of our branch presidency served as a mission president in either Brazil or Portugal. Well, I'm going to do some laundry and send an email to you guys.
Ama Jordao
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Elder Lindquist 10/11
Here is part II of Jordan's mailbag. Sorry, we are trying to figure out when we will be getting mail from him. I believe he will be sending us an email on Friday, and follow it up with a letter on Saturday. Here is some more from our Elder. He also took some pictures. Here are a couple of them. (L to R, Elders Lindquist, Price and Craig, Jordan holding a "cookie" flag of Portugal and below Elder Lindquist's MTC District).
Hello All, How did you guys like General Conference? I thought it was awesome! Almost every talk on Saturday had profound meaning to me, and yeah I wasn't able to sing in Priesthood session because they had already passed out slips to those that were going to sing like a week before I got here. I started to get over my cold and then I got a flu shot the first day I got here and I think the live virus must have made my cough worse because it is still hanging around.Thanks for the no-bake cookies. I've already eaten them within one day, (just kidding). I just got back from the temple and it was great. Elder Craig and I fasted during breakfast this morning to help us learn the language better.
Suzette had sent a "questionnaire" for Jordan to fill out and return with his answers. Here are his answers. It is good to see he still has a sense of humor.
Q: Does the MTC have a large enough supply of Ranch dressing for you? A: YES (Double checked yes)
Q: What is the thing you do most for exercise time? A: Some rad 4 square or B-ball
Q: What has your favorite meal been? A: Chicken Enchiladas
Q: Is that all there is, 3 cute sister missionaries? A: No, more came in on Wednesday!
Q: How many in your district are going to Lisbon, Porto, or Brazil? A: 8 to Lisbon and 1 to Brazil
Q: Do you enjoy the MTC more or less than expected? A: More
Q: Where in ID is Elder Craig from? A: Idaho Falls. I already asked him if he knew the Bartell's
Q: Do you sleep well at night? A: Yes, except when I'm coughing up a lung.
Q: Are you getting plenty of fruits and vegetables? A: Sure.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Elder Lindquist 10/10
This was an email received today. Sound as though he is doing fairly well.
Hello everyone,
So this last week flew by SO FAST! The first week went by rediculously slow and it felt like every day was like a week long. But with this second week I can'tbelieve how fast it went. Conference was awesome. I think it was the first time I didn't fall asleep watching it, it was very uplifting and probably the most spiritual meeting I've been to in a long time. Even though I wasn't there you could still feel the spirit very strongly. Portuguese is coming along, we learn a bunch of grammar stuff that makes my brain want to explode but I'll eventually get it. The vocab/phrases are coming along pretty good though. Yesterday was teaching day at the TRC. We had to talk to fluent speakers in Portuguese for seven whole minutes! Elder Craig and I introduced each other and asked them about their family and told them about ours and bore our testimonies and asked if we could share a message with them and set up an appointment. At times it was sketchy but we were able to make it through the seven minutes. We then taught the first lesson for the last time. Next week is the second lesson. It went well and the spirit was strong when we bore our testimonies of the restoration. We also spent some time in the RC building, thats where we talk with people on thephone or chat with them on the computer if they have questions regarding our religion. It's fun and almost always interesting. People ask the funniest questions. Like, do you really dig people up and baptize them and why would God make a devil that temps people that have stronger sex drives than other people and so on and so forth. I also spoke with some cool black guys from TN about the Bible and the Book of Mormon and bore my testimony the best I could over thephone that the Book of Mormon was another testimony of Christ and it is scripture just like the Bible. I was able to work my magic and set up an appointment to have the missionaries come over and visit with him. Now if only Icould do that in Portuguese! Well I hope all is well with everyone. Tchau! a igreja de Jesus Cristo e verdadeiro!-Jordão
Hello everyone,
So this last week flew by SO FAST! The first week went by rediculously slow and it felt like every day was like a week long. But with this second week I can'tbelieve how fast it went. Conference was awesome. I think it was the first time I didn't fall asleep watching it, it was very uplifting and probably the most spiritual meeting I've been to in a long time. Even though I wasn't there you could still feel the spirit very strongly. Portuguese is coming along, we learn a bunch of grammar stuff that makes my brain want to explode but I'll eventually get it. The vocab/phrases are coming along pretty good though. Yesterday was teaching day at the TRC. We had to talk to fluent speakers in Portuguese for seven whole minutes! Elder Craig and I introduced each other and asked them about their family and told them about ours and bore our testimonies and asked if we could share a message with them and set up an appointment. At times it was sketchy but we were able to make it through the seven minutes. We then taught the first lesson for the last time. Next week is the second lesson. It went well and the spirit was strong when we bore our testimonies of the restoration. We also spent some time in the RC building, thats where we talk with people on thephone or chat with them on the computer if they have questions regarding our religion. It's fun and almost always interesting. People ask the funniest questions. Like, do you really dig people up and baptize them and why would God make a devil that temps people that have stronger sex drives than other people and so on and so forth. I also spoke with some cool black guys from TN about the Bible and the Book of Mormon and bore my testimony the best I could over thephone that the Book of Mormon was another testimony of Christ and it is scripture just like the Bible. I was able to work my magic and set up an appointment to have the missionaries come over and visit with him. Now if only Icould do that in Portuguese! Well I hope all is well with everyone. Tchau! a igreja de Jesus Cristo e verdadeiro!-Jordão
Monday, October 6, 2008
Elder Lindquist 10/3-10/4
Friday, 10/3
I already wrote home an hour or so ago but I just thought I'd send an email for you to forward on to people. I am pretty tired right now and was falling asleep in the temple session earlier. We get up at six or six thirty and are attending classes and LGM's (large group meetings) all day until nine thirty. Then we go back to our "residence halls" and have a half an hour before we have to be in our rooms, then at quarter after ten we have quiet time, then at ten thirty its lights out. I feel like I don't have enough time to practice the language. The first couple days went pretty smooth (as far as language goes) but lately it's been pretty overbearing. I have learned how to pray and bear my testimony, but it sounds like an eight year old speaking... My companion, Elder Craig and I taught the first lesson the other day and even though it was a fake investigator we were still led by the spirit throughout the whole lesson. Both Elder Craig and I had scriptures planned to read during certain parts of the lesson but ended up reading them at different points than we had initially planned to. And it worked better than we had originally planned. It was weird and cool at the same time. We're having a good time here. There are a few cute sisters, we nick-named them based on the color of clothes they were wearing when we first saw them. There's: the pink panther, black beauty, and dragon verde (the green dragon.) We scoped them out in the cafeteria. Other than that there's not too much going on. It's always nice to receive letters from you all and hear how you're doing. Love -Elder Lindquist
Suz and I also received this hand written letter on Saturday 10/4,
Hello my family, (ola minha familia) I'm going to send you an email later today but figured I'd just write you a letter anyway. How is everything at home? All is well here at the MTC. Today is our first full P-day. It is so nice to get a break from the busy schedule. We got to go to the temple this morning. I saw Sister Wulfenstein in the session. I'm sure she'll probably tell you that on Sunday. Are you excited about conference? I am way excited, even though I can't sleep through this one! Thanks for sending me more clothes. I realized between gym almost everyday and P-day and our service assignment I needed something more to wear. If you want to send me a package every other week that would be ok. Every week was just a little too much. Maybe the next one you could send some no bake cookies and maybe a Portugal shirt and/or flag. I will take some more pictures this week and then send you my camera's SD card. There is no means of getting the pictures onto a thumb drive, so I will just have to do it that way. I bought some padded envelopes at the bookstore so that should work ok.
The past couple days have been pretty rough. Not with home sickness or companions or anything, but the language is hard to learn. I'm doing ok, but a lot of the other Elders in the district are doing better and it's frustrating especially when they can goof off and still learn it and I'm working hard and not picking it up as quick.
We had a missionary leave our district to go to the Sau Palo MTC this last week. I told him to keep an eye out for Elder Olson. We have another Elder in our district that is waiting for his visa that is probably going to take off this next week. He is temporarily rooming with us and is Elder Price's companion, so for right now it is Elder Craig and me. I like Elder Craig a lot because he has a good work ethic (because he is from Idaho). He is also struggling with the language ao I don't feel as bad. I said a decent prayer in our District meeting the other day. I also bore my testimony on fast sunday (with the help of my notes) and our Branch President, President Palmer complimented my testimony as I walked away from the pulpit. Yesterday, Elder Craig and I taught the first lesson to a fake investigator. It went really well, even though it was a fake investigator. The spirit was still really strong and the spirit guided Elder Craig and I as we taught this man about the restoration of the gospel. I will tell you more about it in my email today if we get the accounts set up. Well I hope you are all doing well. I love you guys so much and hope that you are being blessed as much as I am. It's nice to hear from you even if you don't have much to say. It's nice to get letters and packages too. Elder Craig has to pick up the mail (because he is the District Leader) and I go with him and it's always nice to get stuff. So keep writing even if you're going to send an email. I am praying for you guys everyday!
Love, Elder Lindquist
I already wrote home an hour or so ago but I just thought I'd send an email for you to forward on to people. I am pretty tired right now and was falling asleep in the temple session earlier. We get up at six or six thirty and are attending classes and LGM's (large group meetings) all day until nine thirty. Then we go back to our "residence halls" and have a half an hour before we have to be in our rooms, then at quarter after ten we have quiet time, then at ten thirty its lights out. I feel like I don't have enough time to practice the language. The first couple days went pretty smooth (as far as language goes) but lately it's been pretty overbearing. I have learned how to pray and bear my testimony, but it sounds like an eight year old speaking... My companion, Elder Craig and I taught the first lesson the other day and even though it was a fake investigator we were still led by the spirit throughout the whole lesson. Both Elder Craig and I had scriptures planned to read during certain parts of the lesson but ended up reading them at different points than we had initially planned to. And it worked better than we had originally planned. It was weird and cool at the same time. We're having a good time here. There are a few cute sisters, we nick-named them based on the color of clothes they were wearing when we first saw them. There's: the pink panther, black beauty, and dragon verde (the green dragon.) We scoped them out in the cafeteria. Other than that there's not too much going on. It's always nice to receive letters from you all and hear how you're doing. Love -Elder Lindquist
Suz and I also received this hand written letter on Saturday 10/4,
Hello my family, (ola minha familia) I'm going to send you an email later today but figured I'd just write you a letter anyway. How is everything at home? All is well here at the MTC. Today is our first full P-day. It is so nice to get a break from the busy schedule. We got to go to the temple this morning. I saw Sister Wulfenstein in the session. I'm sure she'll probably tell you that on Sunday. Are you excited about conference? I am way excited, even though I can't sleep through this one! Thanks for sending me more clothes. I realized between gym almost everyday and P-day and our service assignment I needed something more to wear. If you want to send me a package every other week that would be ok. Every week was just a little too much. Maybe the next one you could send some no bake cookies and maybe a Portugal shirt and/or flag. I will take some more pictures this week and then send you my camera's SD card. There is no means of getting the pictures onto a thumb drive, so I will just have to do it that way. I bought some padded envelopes at the bookstore so that should work ok.
The past couple days have been pretty rough. Not with home sickness or companions or anything, but the language is hard to learn. I'm doing ok, but a lot of the other Elders in the district are doing better and it's frustrating especially when they can goof off and still learn it and I'm working hard and not picking it up as quick.
We had a missionary leave our district to go to the Sau Palo MTC this last week. I told him to keep an eye out for Elder Olson. We have another Elder in our district that is waiting for his visa that is probably going to take off this next week. He is temporarily rooming with us and is Elder Price's companion, so for right now it is Elder Craig and me. I like Elder Craig a lot because he has a good work ethic (because he is from Idaho). He is also struggling with the language ao I don't feel as bad. I said a decent prayer in our District meeting the other day. I also bore my testimony on fast sunday (with the help of my notes) and our Branch President, President Palmer complimented my testimony as I walked away from the pulpit. Yesterday, Elder Craig and I taught the first lesson to a fake investigator. It went really well, even though it was a fake investigator. The spirit was still really strong and the spirit guided Elder Craig and I as we taught this man about the restoration of the gospel. I will tell you more about it in my email today if we get the accounts set up. Well I hope you are all doing well. I love you guys so much and hope that you are being blessed as much as I am. It's nice to hear from you even if you don't have much to say. It's nice to get letters and packages too. Elder Craig has to pick up the mail (because he is the District Leader) and I go with him and it's always nice to get stuff. So keep writing even if you're going to send an email. I am praying for you guys everyday!
Love, Elder Lindquist
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)