Elder Lindquist 5/31/10

Hey all, I don't have a lot of time but yeah I'm doing fine, a little tired but fine. We arrived on the island of San Miguel on Tuesday night; we work our butts off there. I love my companion; he's like a brother to me. The island is BEAUTIFUL and the accent is SOOO different!!! I felt like a greeny again but when I looked to my comp, (who in a greeny's case understands the language can step in and help), he looks at me just as confused! But it is a humbling experience and we're seeing the hand of the Lord in our work. We just have to be humble and search for the guidance of the Holy Ghost. But yeah needless to say island life there is CRAZY! The catholic traditions are ridiculous they aren’t even things that the church practices in the rest of the world the island just makes up their own traditions. I'll tell you more about them another day. So yesterday night I flew into Lisbon for our zone leader council that we had today and my plane was late. I didn't get into Lisbon till like 3:00 in the morning! So yeah I'm super tired I slept like 4 hours last night. Today during the meeting we got to eat at Chili's, because our mission baptized the record this last month!!! Well things are going well, but crazy. But we're hanging in there. I'll talk to ya'll another day ok I gotta go!
-Love Elder Lindquist, the newest Azorean.

Elder Lindquist 5/24/10

Hey every one how are you doing? We had an awesome week here, (even though our baptisms fell through...) but other than that it was super awesome. We had the coolest activity on Friday night and we had tons of youth there. It was super fun! During the week we gathered up cardboard boxes from the grocery stores by the chapel and we had two teams that made arcs (based on the story of Noah) and then we played some sick games and then we ate pancakes. It was super fun. It has been sad to say goodbye to every body here but I'm super excited to go to my next area. Yesterday there was a Priesthood meeting in our chapel and President Torgan was there, so he pulled me off to the side and told me where I'm going. I'm going to the Azores!!!! To the island of São Miguel and my area is called Ponta Delgada. It is by far the prettiest area in the mission with sites like Sete Cidades and Lagoa de Fogo. I'm super excited I heard the area and the branch is great too. I'm going to be going there with Elder Mclean from Pleasant Grove neither one of us knows the area so this will be super interesting. But I'm super excited to go serve there I thought my chances were over but it looks like I was wrong. I will fly out there tomorrow so yeah. Other than that just the transfer madness is going on. It's going to be hard to leave this area but I know I did all that I needed to. I'll also be sad to say good-bye to Elder Togo. But we'll meet again (we have already made plans to go to California/Vegas and such). Well I'll keep on working and loving it and you guys just try not to get into any more accidents ok. Love you all
-Elder Lindquist

Elder Lindquist 5/17/10

Hey everyone how's it going sounds like things are going ok. Sorry I didn't write last week we ran out of time, but it was great to talk to you on the phone! We had an awesome week two weeks ago. The two young women we baptized are amazing (especially Olga the one that we found because of the false address) they both made drastic changes in their lives and are a lot happier now. It is so cool to see the difference that the gospel makes in peoples lives. I can't believe Dallan is about to graduate. Man that's crazy it seems like yesterday that I was dressed up in that ugly green robe. But that should be fun for him; the most fun part of that day wasn't graduation but the lunch after and the SR. all-nighter. Well today was fun we went to the Tocanos type restaurant and then played ping-pong with some recent converts it was a blast. This last week was sick as well things are moving forward in our area. Preach My Gospel tells us to leave our areas stronger than when we found them. I hope I can do that in this area I've been here forever! We had interviews and they went well. President didn't tell me if I would be transferred or not. I guess I'll just have to find out next Monday. But we hope to have some baptisms this week a lady named Carina and her daughter Jessica and a girl named Mira. Well we're going to have another family night in Eliza Carla's house tonight. That family is amazing I'm just bummed that her son Ruben still doesn't want to get baptized. Well I love you guys a lot and I hope that everything is going well I will talk to you all next week.
-Love Elder Lindquist

Elder Lindquist 5/3/10

So this week was good, we have a lot going on here in the Miratejo and we're teaching some of my favorite people in Portugal. The people the Lord has blessed us with are so amazing! I love the investigators/members here and it's sad to think that I'll probably be leaving in a couple of weeks. We weren't able to baptize Francisco this last week. His mom (an inactive member) didn't allow him to be baptized for a bunch of stupid reasons that don't make any sense. He's so prepared so that was a heart-breaker, we made it very clear that this was the will of God and if she didn't allow her son to be baptized that would come against her in the last day. We'll keep praying and helping him along. Olga, (the girl we found because of the false address) is doing really good, she's super nervous for the baptism but is excited at the same time. She's got nothing to worry about she knows everything already! She has already made some good friends with the young women in our ward so that's cool. Today we're having a "zone p-day" and it should be pretty sick. We'll have a BBQ and play some ball. We had zone conference this last week and it was really good to hear the instructions of Pres. Torgan and see some old friends/companions. Elder Togo and I are pumping out the jams, (what I mean by that is pumping up the exercises in the morning) I've never done exercises that were so intense. We've got this work out plan and I'm actually starting to see the results already. Don't be surprised if I come home as the next Hulk Hogan. Brother!
Speaking of exercises I'm going to start my six month program here in a few days, (that basically means eat more healthy for the last six months) It’s pretty needed. Well I hope you have a great week, I'm excited to talk to you all this Sunday. I pray for you every day and hope you are also participating in this great and marvelous work. Love your son/brother
-Love Elder Lindquist