Elder Lindquist 10/27/10

Well I know it has been an eternity since I have written which is due to some of the craziest weeks ever...First of all I am SO excited that a temple was announced in Portugal. You guys don't even know how anticipated that was. What a blessing!! After two whole years of hard work it has paid off and that was really an answer to my prayers. Miracles really happen. The coolest thing was about two weeks before the announcement we were in a leadership meeting with President Torgan and he told us that he felt that the temple was "closer than ever" I know that our mission is guided by an inspired man of God. Oh man that was the coolest thing ever; we are building the foundation for the house of the Lord. There's no doubt in my mind that I will return to see the dedication. Well the first week of the transfer was crazy. Monday until Thursday we had special trainings for the Zone Leaders and District Leaders from 10 in the morning until 6 at night and it was a lot of organizing and planning that we had to do. One of the days we went to Chili's for lunch and a lady carrying 3 trays full of chips and salsa leaned over to put a tray on the table next to me and the other two trays fell all over me and needless to say my suit coat was covered in salsa. The lady didn't even apologize let alone give me a free desert, (that wouldn't fly in America) but as the holy word says we have to forgive others their trespasses against us. The second week went pretty well we were finally able to convince our Bishop to baptize his 9 year old daughter (finally!) Thanks for the prayers that helped out a lot. Well it rained a LOT a few weeks ago and that killed a bunch of the chickens in our back yard. We now have a chicken graveyard out back. Last week we were able to baptize an awesome African lady named Anita, she has a lot of faith and is excited to be a member. The other night we were at her house teaching a lesson to her friend and Anita's little girl that is 2 was playing around behind everyone and fell off the couch and hit the dresser causing a bunch of glass plates and cups to fall on top of her. She cut her neck and we had to run them to the hospital in our car and we didn't get home until three in the morning. The hospitals here are a joke. I'm grateful I never had to go in my mission... (knock on wood) Well the verdict is that we really are going to the Azores next week and we will be going to both islands. Thursday we will go to Terceira until Saturday and then go to São Miguel from Saturday until Monday and Tuesday I fly home... so basically I am going to be flying half way home, then back then all the way home (which is about 25 hours of flying time total) but it will be worth the trip I miss those islands. Wow I can't explain how I feel right now seeing things come to an end. I don't think that there is a word or expression that can really describe how I feel. It’s kind of weird to me, I've gotten so used to my life as a missionary and I have really forgotten how regular life is, (especially being in a foreign country) and it is just a really surreal feeling. I guess the only way to know how the feeling is, is to actually experience it. Well I have to go so I will try to talk to later.
-Love E. Lindquist

Elder Lindquist 9/29/10

So this last week was pretty crazy. Elder Seraim is getting transferred to be the Branch President and train down in the Algarve. Last weekend our mission broke the record for baptisms in one week (for many years) and we were super excited about that. The mission had 22 baptisms, the mission is starting to progress and go to the next level. Something we have been praying for for a long time. We had an interesting week, I can't even remember half of the things that happen but I just know that we are always running around, either teaching lessons or doing things for the mission. I like it because I don't have any free time to think about home or anything so subsequently I am not trunky, (at least not super trunky) the rest of my group went home yesterday which was kind of surreal. Transfers were fun. We went out to Chili's because it was Elder Seraim's last few days in the office. My new companion is Elder Butler and he's from Chicago. I'm excited to work hard these last six weeks it will be a great transfer. We are working with some good investigators, especially a Brazilian family of four. Please pray for them that they can have the desire to be baptized. The dad’s name is Márcio the mom is Lucimar, (she reminds me of mom a lot) and Arieni and Rafaiela. Things are going good it is getting colder here. We won’t have four elders in our house this transfer so that will be a change. Oh! Pray for our bishop to stop being stubborn and allow his 9-year-old daughter to be baptized. Yes you read correctly... he still hasn't baptized her. But other than that all is well. I'll talk to you all later!
Love, Elder Lindquist

Elder Lindquist 9/21/10

Just to let you all know I'm still alive and I'd like to have more time to explain the last week but oh well. This week we had to travel across the mission to give trainings in all the zone conferences. Last Monday we went to the Algarve. (The very south part of the country) and on the way home I got to go to Beja!!! It was great to see some of the old investigators. I visited that Brazilian couple Edson and Rosa they're still not baptized:( but they are very close to being married so that is good. Then we stopped by Paula Cristina’s and when I walked up towards her building she was alone seated on a bench outside she didn't recognize me at first but when she saw it was me she grabbed me and gave me the biggest hug in the universe! She immediately brought us up to her house and we were treated like kings. Pedro is huge now! He is so grown up. It was weird. Saying goodbye to that family was really hard. She was bawling like a baby, (so was I). We got home super late that night then had our zone conference the next day in Lisbon and I had to give my last testimony since they started a new system that we only have zone conference every other transfer instead of every transfer. That was by far the hardest thing I have had to do in my mission. I couldn't speak for like 2 minutes everything that has happened to me in the last 2 years came rushing to my head and I didn't know where to start. But I was finally able to bear my testimony and I am really grateful for the opportunity that I have had to serve a mission. If there were a word that describes how I feel about this country, the people, and experiences that I have had it would be LOVE. So the next day we went to the Miratejo to do a zone conference and I got to see a lot of the members during our lunch break. (A lot of members there work in the church office that is on the side of the chapel) so that was amazing to talk to everyone again. Elisa Carla and the family came to the chapel after the conference to see me and they brought me a big cake. I love that family! The next day we worked in our area and then on Friday we flew out to the Azores (to the other island) oh by the way I don't think I'm going to be able to go to São Miguel because of the change of time between the zone conferences which bums me out but oh well I guess I'll live. But we flew out on Friday and got back last night at like 1:30 in the morning. We had a good time there it's a really pretty island as well but São Miguel is ten times prettier. It was a good trip. So wrapping it up basically this week was one of the most tiring and most emotional crazy weeks ever. I can't describe it! It was super weird going to my first area then bearing my last testimony I kind of felt like everything was ending and caving in on me and I wasn't ready for it. I'm more stable now and I know that I still have a lot of work to do before I leave! Well I love you so much and thank you for your prayers and thoughts.
Love, Elder Lindquist

Elder Lindquist 9/7/10

Oi tudo bem gente? Hey Mom and Dad just a few things. I promise I will try to send those papers this week. It's super hard to find time. My return date is Tuesday the 9th of November; I think I originally said that it was the 8th. Everything is going well here in Lisbon and I am loving every minute of it. Today for our shortened P-day we went to the Lisbon zoo. Probably one of the coolest P-days of the mission. I was kissed by a seal right below the lips!! I'll send you pictures of it. I want to send a package with a bunch of Azorean souvenirs that I bought but I'll see if I can find time to arrange that. Have a good week! Love, Elder Lindquist.

Elder Lindquist 8/31/10

This week has been crazy. We have had meetings the last two days and I have very little time to write, but everything is good here in Lisbon. We were able to baptize a guy the day he left to São tomé. The church still isn't there yet, but we're going to send him a box of Books of Mormon and he will establish the church there before returning to Lisbon. I'll tell you more next week. (We don't really have p-day in this area due to the meetings). I love you all and I love this work I'll talk to ya soon enough..
-Love Elder Lindquist

Elder Lindquist 8/23/10

Wow what a crazy week! Well things are going well here in Lisbon. I can't even start to explain the craziness that went on. Leaving the island was super sad and hard to do, and a few of our recent converts cried. Which always breaks your heart. It was cool to go there with Elder Mclean and leave with him. Thursday there were 20 new missionaries that arrived in the mission! It was fun to do the orientation meeting and see all the new scared, tired, anxious faces. Oh if they only knew what lay ahead of them. We are always running errands and many times have to wake up early and go to bed late, but I like it a lot. My companion is the best! He’s the coolest Brazilian you will ever meet. His name is Elder Seraim. He's planning on attending BYU in the future. Our area is huge and quite ghetto. The heart of Lisbon is really old and beat up. We work in a lot of poor African barrios. We were able to mark an African lady named Marlett on Thursday and she was baptized yesterday. There are a lot of very humble poor migrants here. Driving is great, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but I'm a little nervous when Elder Seraim gets transferred in six weeks then I'll have to know where to go all over the massive city of Lisbon. I'm in a triple right now with Elder Price, (one of my MTC comps) he will be leaving in 4 days along with a few others from my district to go to school. (they are pretty trunky) Our house here is probably the worst house I've ever seen. The first day we got here we spent hours cleaning it. Oh man, I can't wait to get out of that house, but every thing has its pro's and cons right? I just hope we can kill the rat that keeps pooping all over our food and silverware. Behind our house is basically a barn which cages full of rabbits, chickens, roosters, (that crow at 5:30 in the morning) and other fun friends that smell great! We have another companionship that moved into our house that we will share our area with. It has been a great week and there's always a lot going on so there's no time to sit and think about anything so that will help the time go faster. I had a good B-day. President Torgan took me out to lunch to Chilis the day before so that was great eating ribs and dessert. Then on my B-day we went to the massive shopping mall in Lisbon and ate some Brazilian BBQ and it was delicious. Thanks for the package Brazilians love beef jerky. Have a great week I love you all:)
-Elder Lindquist

Elder Lindquist 8/16/10

Well, well, well, it looks like my time has ended on the islands. (it wasn't enough) ha time passed really fast in the two transfers that I spent here. We got T-calls this morning and I'm going to Lisbon to be the new Assistant and Elder Mclean is going to be a trainer on the mainland. We came and we're leaving together!! Oh man I love that kid and I love this place! We had Carmina's baptism this last Friday and it was great. We also were able to baptize Marcelo, the son of the awesome family we're teaching. He was super happy, it was great to see the huge smile on his face when Elder Mclean baptized him. So things are going really good here the work is definitely progressing, we tried our best to leave the area better than the way we found it. It took some time but it got there. Well, needless to say we're both nervous/excited. It will be interesting to drive again, especially in the heart of Lisbon, please pray for me!! Wow I can't believe time is passing so fast. I just want to call a time out sometimes. But before I go home I will be able to come here one more time when we have zone conference so I'm excited about that. And my companion is a stud. He’s a Brazilian and he's the most humble and awesome missionary in the whole world. I'm excited for Elder Mclean to train. It seems like just yesterday I picked up Elder Wheeler and caught the train to Torres Vedras. Well today we are going to the senior couples house to eat lunch, (an old tradition on transfer day) and then we should be going to "Lagoa de Fogo" it's a beautiful lake just north of Ponta Delgada if you have time to check it out on Google or something you can see it. Well I don't really know what else to say. My brain is kind of going a hundred miles an hour right now, but the Lord will take care of us and everything will run smoothly. Just know that I am well and I'm happy and I think of you guys often. I'll let ya know how things are going in a while.
-Love Elder Lindquist

Elder Lindquist 8/9/10

Wow this week went great! We're really starting to see the work progress here in Ponta Delgada. Our favorite family of investigators came to church yesterday, (all 5 of them) the parents aren't married yet but hopefully we will be able to baptize the two kids that are old enough to be baptized here pretty soon. The dad, Paulo is a great guy who is super humble. He used to smoke over 20 cigarettes per day, then Elder Mclean promised him that if he read and prayed every morning and night and if he thought about the Savior during the day he wouldn't have the desire to smoke. The results were almost instant. The next day we passed by to check up on them and he only smoked 3 that day and it stayed at 3 this whole week. They're great. He brings the Book of Mormon with him to work, (at the army base) and reads when he has spare time. Please pray for them, Paulo, Sónia, Marcelo, Vitor, and Diana. Well there were some great baptisms that the north side of the island had this weekend. I had the privilege of interviewing them. It really strengthened my testimony that the Lord truly is preparing his elects. Just last weekend one of the assistants to the president that was here for zone conference was on a division up there and they found this kid on Saturday, (they were supposed to come to our baptism but missed their bus so they stayed and worked there). The kid went to church on Sunday and then was baptized yesterday. Even though he knows the church a very short time he has a strong testimony of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was inspiring to talk to that 17-year-old boy. You know, I absolutely love my mission. I would not trade this time for anything, absolutely nothing! The other night we were eating dinner at a member families house and their daughter spent this last week in the northern part of Portugal at the first EFY that Portugal has ever hosted. They were the pioneers of EFY this year and it will be done every 2 years. There were over 250 youth there. So anyway she was talking about it during dinner and I had a feeling to look at the pictures she took. I don't know why but something was telling me to look at her pictures so I asked if I could see her camera and as I scrolled through them I saw a young woman named Magda. She was in this member's group. A little over a year ago I handed Magda a pamphlet about the restoration and talked to her on her porch, (Elder Wheeler and I were teaching her cousins in Torres Vedras). We started teaching her and her sister. Then we were both transferred. Well her and her sister were baptized (I think I already told you about that) but their mom was also recently baptized. They have already gone to the temple in Madrid, Spain and now I was looking at pictures of her at the first EFY in Portugal... I was super happy, (to say the least.) the member was like, "you know Magda!!?? oh my, she is so amazing!" the member said that she bore a strong testimony there and said that her goal is to get married in the temple. I don't really know if there is a word to describe your feelings when you have experiences like that but I like the feeling. Even though we only baptized one person in the six months I was there I was extremely happy to see that the seeds we planted are giving fruit. And I was grateful that the spirit prompted me to look at a young woman’s camera so that I could have that experience. Well we have a lady marked for this Friday named Carmina, she is kind of an elderly lady but a very kind hearted person. She lives in the same building as an inactive member and was a reference from her. (We love references!) Well family that about wraps up the week. I love you all and hope you are alive and well, (physically and spiritually) have another great week.
-Love, Elder Lindquist

Elder Lindquist 8/2/10

Wow this week was incredible! By far my favorite week since I've been here on the islands. Monday night I went to Lisbon and Tuesday we had our meeting with Elder Teixeira and the zone leaders, it was really cool. My favorite part was the interview that we got to have with him after the meeting. He is an extremely loving and genuine person and a very spiritual man. I really enjoyed that meeting. Then on Friday we had our zone conference and the other elders from the other island stayed with us for a couple of days (which is always a blast). And the zone conference was really edifying, we had more great instructions from Elder Teixeira and his wife who I enjoyed talking to, (she let me have it when I told her how often I write in my journal. AHH it's so hard!!) She is an extremely nice lady I felt like she was my mom from Portugal, (well... one of many). Then on Saturday we had Francisco's baptism!!! It was wonderful! He is such an awesome guy and has made so many changes to do what is right and you see the new light he has in him. He is a completely different person now than he was two months ago. The sisters also had a baptism so both Elder Mclean and I got to baptize some one. It was a great day and the spirit was strong. That night we had a fireside with President Torgan and Elder Teixeira and it was great. Then on Sunday we had the confirmations, along with a bunch of changes in the leadership in the branch, (which was sorely needed.) we got a new ward mission leader. Bruno, our best friend here that was the first counselor is now our leader so we're super excited to get to work with him. I'm starting to see a change in this branch. It's kind of like the Miratejo but it's taking a little longer but soon enough we will make it there. I loved this week it was great. So today we are going to a place on the east part of the island that is called "as furnas" it is like Yellowstone but on an island. There's a bunch of hot springs and cool looking lakes. The islanders have a tradition here where they cook a traditional meal that's called "cozida portuguesa" in the ground. They put all the stuff in a pot and dig a hole and then it takes a few hours for the ground to cook it but I heard the sulfur after taste is delicious. Well I hope you have a great week.
-Love, Elder Lindquist

Elder Lindquist 7/26/10

This week went well. Right off the bat we had a cool experience, we missed our first bus to district meeting on Tuesday (it was fairly early in the morning) and we were starting to walk back to the chapel to study a bit before the next bus came when a lady comes running over to us and was like hey you are the Mormon missionaries right, (speaking English) and we were like yeah. She continued to explain that she was a member from Finland and got there the day before for vacation. The first thing she did when arriving the day before was look for the chapel. Later that night she said a prayer that she could find the missionaries so that she could know what time church starts and then the next morning she found us. Isn’t it great to know the Lord puts you in the right place at the right time:) I translated for her yesterday. The Elder from the retired couple serving on this island served his mission in Finland and they knew a lot of the same people. Even though he served his mission there several years before she was born. Well tonight I'm heading off to Lisbon for another zone leader council. The first counselor from the area presidency, Elder Teixeira is here. (You may have remembered that he spoke in the April session of 2008 and mentioned Portugal in his talk. I love it when the brethren make a shout out in conference just like the president of the young men did in the last priesthood session. Woot woot!!
Well we are super excited for Francisco's baptism. He is a man of great faith and I'm grateful for the chance I have to teach him and see the changes that he has made in his life. The first time we went to his house to teach him he was trying to bible bash with us with what he thought was a bible. (It was a dictionary) but now he has been sober for quite a while and is humbly studying the Book of Mormon. The coolest thing is we hadn't even taught the word of wisdom and he had already stopped drinking. We love that guy. I love my time in the mission. It's the greatest thing ever. E. Mclean and I have a TON in common, almost too much and we love talking for hours. I feel super blessed for being where I am and sometimes I don't want to leave this place. But I know eventually the time will come. I can't believe that Matt is going home already!! ahhh!! That makes my brain want to explode. Didn’t he leave like three weeks before I did? Time flies! Well I hope you have a good week of work and play. Thanks for remembering me in your prayers. I try to remember you in mine. (It’s easier for you guys because it's just one missionary, but it's a lot harder for me when there are a million of you.) Well, as they say in the Portuguese language. Até o próximo!

Love, Elder Lindquist

P.s the only thing I ask for are more contact lenses, (I'm wearing my last pair right now) and crest whitening strips, (or any other kind of teeth whitening strip) other than that I think I can survive the remaining months. The best birthday present you guys could give is a big hug when I get home. (and maybe a couple of G's in the bank so I can pay for school and such.. haha I'm kidding)

Elder Lindquist 7/19/10

Well here I am again writing to you guys... I swear weeks pass like days in the islands. I love serving here with Elder Mclean. He really is like my best friend in the mission. We have a great chemistry in our teaching it's great. Wow it has been stinking hot here. But it's not the same heat that you guys are used to. The humidity is what kills me!! My goodness I constantly feel like I just got out of the shower. It’s super uncomfortable. But it's kind of funny to be in a different climate and see the side affects:) Well we marked a Cabo Verdian guy yesterday. He's great! His name is Fransisco, he was actually like the fifth person we contacted when we got on the island but we would always go to his house and he would be super drunk and stuff. So we kind of gave up on the guy. But then something changed in him. I'm not sure what, but we saw him in the street one day and invited him to go to church and he promised he would go and he went. He has gone every week since. When we finally went back to his house to teach him again he told us that he hasn't drank in 3 weeks. It was amazing! You can just see this huge change in him he's got a certain light in him it's awesome. So he will be baptized at the end of the month. It was a great week and it looks like things are turning around here, (slowly but surely):) I loved Pres. Uchtdorf ‘s talk in Priesthood meeting on patience. Patience isn't just waiting; it requires action as well. Just as faith without works is dead. I hope all is well with everyone. It's always good to hear from you guys. Let me know where G+G B are going on their mission.
Love, Elder Lindquist
o elder mais lindo no mundo (Most handsome missionary in the world)

Elder Lindquist 7/12/10

So this week was pretty crazy. But things are going fine here on the island of São Miguel. We saw this lady get nailed by a mo-ped that tried passing some cars on the sidewalk. The bike threw her into a wall as well. People here are such crazy drivers. A bus the other day on the same street we were walking on killed a person. The door for the luggage was open and struck him. The sidewalks on these streets are literally 3 inches wide. Seriously you have to suck in your belly for the rear-view mirror to not hit you. Or just do more exercises. It was also Elder Mclean's birthday and Bruno, (our first counselor) and I surprised him and took him out to lunch. We have also been suffering a big loss of people in the branch. A lot of people are going inactive and it is very sad to see. Many times people leave the church for such trivial reasons and it kills you to watch people throw their salvation away. Some people just don't get it. They think that the church is like a game and we can stay active when they want to and play around in the world when they feel like it. But as Elder Holland says we can't live in the city of Enoch most of the year and have a summer cottage in Babylon. There are a lot of good things going on too. It just seems like sometimes there are so many people that are in distress and the situation gets pretty real. We had an investigator of ours come to the chapel after our sacrament meeting ended and we talked to him for a good 2.5 hours. He is going through a lot and needed some comfort. It's funny you know, I never would have imagined that I would be where I am doing what I'm doing as a missionary. In other words I never imagined that my mission would be in a country like this and that I would have the experiences and face the challenges that I've faced. Probably because I didn't even know about this culture therefore did not know what experiences I would have in such a place. But I'm grateful for the opportunity that the Lord has given me to serve a mission and have these type of experiences I know they will help me out later on in life when I pass through places and things that I haven't imagined yet. Anyway, we had a meeting yesterday with a Seventy (Elder Rocha) and he gave our branch some great instructions. I hope we can start baptizing people here!! We are not completely happy if we aren't completely fulfilling our purpose. There is nothing better than seeing some one enter the waters of baptism. The island is beautiful but without a doubt in my mind I know the best sight I can see is some one dressed in white :) Well keep up having a blast this summer. I'll keep working and we shall see each other soon enough. I love our Savior and Our Heavenly Father and I love being a missionary. Hey tell everyone to stop getting married! My goodness I don't think there will be any single women when I get home.
Love, Elder Lindquist

Elder Lindquist 7/5/10

Hey how's it going everyone? I appreciate your emails and those that don't send them I still feel your love so don't stress about it. (After this much time in the mission I've become accustomed to not receiving stuff). Well today we had T-calls. (I know, you're probably thinking already?) We thought the same thing. It seems like it was just yesterday that Elder Mclean and I stepped off the plane onto an unknown island. But thankfully we will be staying at least one more:) Well our week went relatively smooth. We are working hard with quite a few people. Almost everyone here has a problem with either the word of wisdom, or the law of chastity. Supposedly they don't have anything else to do on a small island. Well one of the most heart-breaking things happened to us this week. We found this wonderful investigator named Fátima and her daughter Carolina. They are from the island of Flores, (Flowers) and were here for a surgery that Carolina had to do on her hand. They were completely prepared to hear the gospel. In the second lesson we had with them they said they wanted to be baptized. The restored gospel was such a treasure to them since the church doesn't exist on their small obscure island. Unfortunately we received news on Wed. that they would be leaving Thursday morning and would not be able to attend church and be baptized. That just broke my heart. I didn't know what to do. Flores is one of the farthest islands from here and it is likely that it won't have missionaries there for a long time. But we hope that they will eventually have the chance to receive the gospel. I love this work it is amazing and even though it has its disappointments there are also many times where you feel a lot of joy. I spoke with Elder Togo today, he said the recent converts from the Miratejo ward are doing great. A few of them are preparing for missions. Elder Togo will be coming out to the other island so we are co-zone leaders, technically companions again. I'm excited for this transfer it will be great. Time is flying so fast!!! Well have a good week and enjoy your summer vacation:)
Love, Elder Lindquist

Elder Lindquist 6/28/10

Hey all, so this week went well we have been seeing the Lord’s hand in the work and it has been really cool. Elder Mclean was kind of sick though (coughing up his lungs) but everything is well with him. We were not able to baptize Luisa and her daughter, ughh!! The opposition is really hard for some people, but she is coming along. She explained that since they have been hearing the lessons they have had more problems in their life than they have had in many years, but they truly are elect people and I know with our prayers of faith we will be able to battle and beat the adversary. But we're working with some great people right now I really like the people here. And the missionary couple that is serving on the island is really helpful to us. Well there wasn't too much other stuff that I can think of so I'll just try to explain some more about the island. One of the first things I smelled when I got here was a smell I hadn't smelled since I left Santaquin... cow manure!!! There are cows everywhere and the Azores is famous for the milk and cheese products. There are nine islands but only two have missionaries on them, (the rumor in the mission right now is that President will be opening another island that has 40+ people on it waiting to be baptized.) a member that was baptized here moved there and brought a bunch of Book of Mormons with him. More about the traditions; well they have these little shed type things that are on almost every block, (it isn't a shed but it's the size of a shed. it's more like a cement building) and inside the shed on the other side of the glass there are decorations and saint statues, or most of them have these silver crown things in there with a white dove on them representing the holy ghost and they are called "the house of the holy ghost". There is sooooo much idolatry going on here!! This place truly has strengthened my testimony of the apostasy. We are trying our hardest to help people to see that kneeling before a manikin of the Savior dressed up in crazy outfits and praying to him will NOT cure you of your illness. It may seem weird to us but to them it's really normal and they actually have faith in these objects. Well I know that as it says in Acts 4 that it is only by and through the Lord Jesus Christ that we will be saved. His name is the only name given whereby men can be saved and I am so grateful to be a part of his church. My testimony and love for the gospel has grown so much and it continues to grow every day. I'm just grateful that the Lord gave me the blessing of serving here I love this place and these people. Have a great week everyone!
-Love, Elder Lindquist

Elder Lindquist 6/21/10

So this week has been a good one. A lot has been going on here on the island of São Miguel right now the world cup games are going on and Portugal is playing like South Korea right now. Someone just marked a goal and a guy with out a shirt came out of his house and was dancing right across the street. They are so obsessed with soccer here. So this week we were able to mark a mother and her daughter for this weekend. Please pray for Luisa and Cátia, they are truly elects but as always when people are progressing in the gospel of Jesus Christ the adversary always needs to stick his nose in our business. I am really enjoying the area and serving with Elder Mclean. He's a stud and we love talking about the gospel, we could talk for hours. The gospel is such a great thing, so deep but yet so simple. People here on the islands like to complicate it. There are a lot of ignorant people here, but we're trying not to lose our temper when we contact and teach people, even though some times it is very difficult. The reason we get frustrated is because we really love these people and when they are blinded from the truth and don't want to open their eyes that is painful to watch but we can't open the people's eyes for them they have to want the gospel. A funny thing happened the other day we were teaching this great lady and at the end of a long lesson I was saying the prayer and in the meantime Elder Mclean started choking on something. His throat started closing up a little bit and he started coughing but it wasn't anything violent so I kept praying, and he kept coughing when I finally finished the prayer I looked over at him and his face was as red as a cherry and his eyes were watering as if they were rivers. The lady ran to grab him a glass of water and he said "my gosh I thought you would never stop praying I thought I was going to die, I was praying that you would stop praying":) it was hilarious. Oh and the other day I was able to play the drums, (the third time on my mission) and I'm still quite rusty, but it was fun. It was actually in an apartment right next to the chapel. We will have to baptize that family. But yeah things are going good here, Happy Fathers day Dad!! I'll be honest I don't remember when any American holidays are. Besides Christmas I forgot when Halloween was and everything else. All I know is I'll be home for Thanksgiving this year:) no more McDonalds for me. I love you all and hope you have a great week!
-Love Elder Lindquist

Elder Lindquist 6/15/10

Hey all wow, where do I start with this week? It was super crazy that's pretty much all I can say. We got home last night from our zone conference on the other island; it was a blast having a little plane pretty much to ourselves. We had the conference and interviews at the same time. The American members there, (that island is the one with the American base on it) prepared an amazing lunch for us, turkey, soup, salad... it was the best meal that we have had in a while since E. Mclean and I have been on a pancake and breakfast burrito diet. Things are going great in our area, so many great things are happening. We're seeing the hand of the Lord guide us. We just have to realize that we don't know anything, (we literally don't in terms of the area and such) so we just have to rely on him. I found out on Sunday that Elder Togo baptized one of Olga's friends, Olga is such a great recent convert I hear they are lining up several other friends/family members of hers to baptize. I still want to find the kid that gave us that address and give him a big hug:) I love this work and my area and companion. We have a few people that are coming along well. In that activity we were able to bring two families who had never seen the chapel there so that was wonderful. They liked the open house and the presentation of each class. They didn't come to church but we did have a great experience on Saturday. Our day was going a little slow and we decided to pray about a place to go so we got the map out and prayed. I felt like we should go to a certain road a ways away, so we went there but when we got there, there weren't a lot of people there. In fact there was hardly anyone there and there were no doors to knock only stores. So I started to doubt the feeling that I had about the street so we kept walking and turned and as we went up the next street we met a guy coming down the street, (the only guy on the street) and we contacted him. It turns out that he knows a few of our members and was very open to our message. We invited him to go to church the next day and he came. It was a very inspiring experience. The Lord knows exactly where we should be and he is willing to send us there if we are willing to hear his voice. I am super excited to see all of my new cousins it's cool that there are new ones on both sides of the family. Well I hope you all had a great week even though everyone was gone and that you have a great week this week. I love you all and I hope you can feel the love traveling across the Atlantic, (I mean I am a little closer to you now so you should be able to feel it at least a little bit stronger right?)
PS Ry-speaking of merit badges you should check out a talk given by John Bytheway called "Jesus knows I'm a Christian" I heard it this morning. You've got to listen to it to see how it ties in with merit badges. Everyone else, keep reading the scriptures and praying ok!
Love, Elder Lindquist

Elder Lindquist 6/8/10

Hey how is everyone doing there in the US of A? Elder Mclean and I are doing great out here things are going really well and we're being blessed every day in the work. Speaking of the USA they have a lot of American food here on the islands, (thanks to the American base on one of the islands) it's expensive, but we have been in seventh heaven buying Mrs. Butterworth’s pancakes, pudding, and cake mix!!! Speaking of seventh heaven, yesterday we went with a member to one of the prettiest places on this earth. It's a place in the northwest part of the island called Sete Cidades, (meaning seven cities) and they are seven lakes that were formed because of volcanic eruptions. It seriously took my breath away. It was soooo beautiful! This place is seriously a paradise! We are super excited to work here and see the work progress in this area. The catholic traditions here are ridiculous. That’s the only word I can think of to describe it. It is complete apostasy they do things that are completely insane!! Right now what they are doing is every night there is a party in a different neighborhood called "parties of the Holy Ghost" and they block off the streets in a neighborhood and blast music and drink and party it up. They also shoot off these bottle rocket things. It's almost like the fourth of July but like every night. So it sounds like we're working in a war zone. They also have a group of guys that walk around the whole island praying the various prayers and when they return to their city they are forgiven of their sins. There is a bunch of crazy stuff that isn't even doctrine of the church but traditions that were made here on the islands. Well, this Sunday we will be traveling to the island of Teceira for Zone Conference; so that means more tiring plane rides. But they are always beautiful views. Our members here are sick! We’re having an activity this Thursday which will be like an open house where we will show their friends the chapel, (which is one of the best ones I've seen in Portugal) and we will have a BBQ as well because this Thursday is a holiday (Portugal day). We share our area with some sister missionaries, we also have on our island another pair of elders on the north side of the island an elderly couple that is doing family history work taking pictures of documents in the city library of birth certificates as well as baptism certificates from the catholic church to submit to the indexing site of the church, (I'm sure you guys know what that is.) But yeah Elder Mclean is awesome he's like one of my best friends now, and it's always great to work with someone you get along with. I was able to talk to a few recent converts on the phone when I was in Lisbon. They are all doing great and were super excited to talk to me. Olga is still a fireball walking with the sisters every day. I hear a few of her friends will probably be baptized here shortly. Well I love you all and pray for you and I know that this church is the only true church. My love and testimony of the gospel has grown so much on the mission, and my love for the people has grown immensely. Well take care love E. Lindquist:)

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