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