Monday, September 27, 2010

New Experiences

Hey everyone how is it going?
Im so sorry that I didnt write last week I was just having an extremely hard time and I didnt really feel like writing a big long email to everyone. So I am sorry and I hope you can forgive me. Alot has been helping me through these past few weeks just as reading the scriptures and prayer and talking with the mission president and alot more. If any of you are struggling with anything all I can tell you is to turn to the lord and put your full trust in him. He will see you through. Trust me on that.
So let me start out with some stuff from last week since you didnt hear from me. So Monday last week we went with our district leader to visit an older member in his area. Her name is sister Bobbi. She calls me cirmit because I am a "greenie" haha. But she is very great. She says she is going to email my family so just a heads up family watch for that email. She would be great to keep in touch with.
Last week we also had four baptisms. They were four individuals that happened to be baptised on the same day. It was amazing to see all of them get baptised. Sadly only two got confirmed this week because they were the only two that showed up.
We are also still struggling with the married couple that were suppose to be baptised awhile back that I told you about. No matter what we do there is always something that comes up and we have to push their baptism date back for some reason or another. Hopefully we can get something down this week for them.
Also last week we found out that we are going to have a visit from Jeffrey R. Holland on the 15th of October. I am so excited! Confrence is also this week which I am way excited about. So we go saturday night for the saturday morning session and then on sunday morning is the priesthood session and saturday afternoon session and then later on sunday is the rest of the sessions. So confrence is going to be litterally all day on sunday. I AM EXCITED!!!
So also last week we got to go to a preschool for a service project. Sadly we didnt get any pictures because we were varnishing and I didnt want my camera to get ruined. So as I said me and elder albertson varnished a whole play set they had there while others painted a room and painted other play things outside. It was great. I can officially say I hate varnish but its all good haha.
So basically I can say that the only exciting thing that has happened this week is that I have finally been able to eat some interesting stuff. I have offically tried Mahordo (cow intestines) and Ox liver. And they are actually pretty good. Im not lying its not bad. Its not great but its good. My family may not want me to come home now that I have said that haha.
So yeah other than that the past few weeks have been pretty normal I can say but they have been great. These bad experiences of stuggling and others have strengthed my testimony so much and I am greatful for them.
So alot of you have been asking for pictures and letters. I have been getting alot and all I can say is please hold on. I am getting many and pictures are really hard to get to you personally. But I will try my hardest. Same with letters I will respond as soon as I can.
So I would just like to end by bearing my testimony. I think the lord deserves that for all that he has given me this past few weeks and not giving up on me.
So I know this church is true. If it wasnt true I wouldnt be writing this letter right now. I would be on a plane back home withe everything that has been going on this past few weeks. But I know the lord gives us challenges to help strength us and he knows that we can endure them exspecally if we just ask for his help. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet and that he has been called of God. I cant wait to hear his words along with others this next weekend. I thanks God for all I have and mostly for my family back home supporting me. With out my family I dont know what I would do. I love them so much and hope they know that. I know that the lord wants me here at this time and that I am doing what I am suppose to be. As Joesph Smith says "No unhallowed hand can stop this work from progressing" I will only move forward with this work and grow more.
I love all of you and I miss all of you. I hope you know I love you. REMEMBER YOU ARE CHILDREN OF GOD! and there is nothing better to because it comes with an unending supply of love.
I hope everything is going good and I know God is blessing all your lives. Talk to you next week.
-Your Friend, Son, Brother, Etc
Elder Lindsay

Monday, September 13, 2010

Work is Progressing

Hey everyone,
So what a week it has been. We have been so so busy. Its great and tiring. We havent been able to take our lunch hours like we usually have. But that is ok. I really dont get hungry too much while I am out teaching because I am focusing so much on the people and what they need (I know it might be hard to believe that me not get hungry haha).
So last week monday we had a district activity and we went to a game reserve. It was great. We mostly saw giraffes and a few other animals. Still no lions or rhinos or elephants but I am bound and determined to see one some day. We got lost in the game park because the park ranger told us what road to take but I guess we missed it and went on the wrong road haha. Oh well as you can tell because I am writing this letter we made it out safe and sound haha.
This week we have had a few families feed us. I tried a new thing called Acher. It is fruit cooked in cooking oil and then they add spices to it. Its hard in some parts and cant chew. It is something I wouldnt personally recommend but they like it here so hey no problem with that haha. Then yesterday we got feed twice. We got fed chicken and rice with salads. So nothing new there but it was good.
So this week on wednesday we were waiting outside an investigators home and we saw a little kid get attacked by a chicken. It was the craziest thing. We were just standing there when all of a sudden we hear the kid start screaming and we seem her on the ground and the chicken on top of her pecking her and flapping its wings like mad. The chicken got scared off but then as we were teaching the lesson the door was open and the chick came to the door and was looking in and like it was going to attack someone else. The craziest thing.
Then this week we had a very good turn out at sacrament meeting. We had 25 people who are investigating total come to sacrament meeting. Twenty three of those are from khutsong alone. And of course we had to start out our church day in Carletonville and so we didnt get to see all those people in Khutsong. Oh well at least they came right. We now have fourteen people on date to be baptised.
So as you can see the work is progressing and all is going well. I have still had my ups and my downs this week but it will get better and plus I have the lord to back me up.
Sorry this is a shorter letter everyone but I am short on time today. I miss all of you and I want to hear from all of you.
Love you
Elder Aaron Giles Lindsay

Monday, September 6, 2010

Busy week

So yet another week has passed,
Is it just me or does it seem someone turns up the speed on the time when someone leaves away from home haha. Each weeks seems to go faster and faster I dont know how I am going to do everything haha.
So anyways after last week's email I came back to carletonville/khutsong. I was sad to leave Potchefstroom because I was having such a good time with elder rand but It was good to get back to my area and all the people who we teach and who we interact with. I missed them so much. they are a great bunch of people. They have asked me if I plan on getting married here and living here after my mission and Im like I dont know I dont plan that far ahead...plus my mom wouldnt like that ;)
So on tuesday as we were driving around our car all of a sudden started shaking and so when we got out we looked and on of the tires was completely flat. It was great haha. We went to the person we were teaching and then went back to change it. A group of members saw us and saw we needed help so they came and practically did all the work of changing our tire for us. They didnt want us to get our nice clean clothes dirty haha.
Then on wednesday we finished up our special training sessions. So now on on wednesdays we will be in our areas unless something else comes up. And I recieved a DEARELDER.COM letter from my sister...very short but sweet haha. and I also recieved a letter from sara. I also got a letter from Kylee which it was great to hear from her. Where are the letters from everyone else? hahaha just kidding all though it would be nice to hear from everyone.
So also on wednesday we found out we would be going on exchanges again and so on thursday elder albertson had me try to drive since I would have to drive around on friday for exchanges. IT WAS A DISASTER haha. Dad knows what I am talking about when I say I cant drive stick shift haha. But it was cool though because on friday when it came down to the time when I needed to drive no matter what I hardly made any mistakes. Yes I made some dont get me wrong but they werent major ones. I know the spirit was with me that way I could do what I needed to do and not worry.
That is one of the many ways that the spirit has helped me this week.
Yesterday was one hectic day. Me and elder albertson doubled up some appointments so we were packed haha. We went to church and then right after church we had to move up an appointment to right after so we could go to Brother and Sister Bukes' house for lunch. We forgot that every fast sunday they feed the missionaries and so we had to squeeze that in too. They like talking to us and so by the time we left there we missed our appointment with a less active lady named Molli. So me and elder albertson went on splits with two ward missionaries. I taught Tebogo and he went and taught Molli.
In two weeks we have many baptisms planned. On the 19 of September we are planning on having Bongani, Tebogo, Sthembeso, and Thato being baptised.
I hope all of them go through so keep your fingers crossed for us and for them. After we taught Tebogo and Molli we were suppose to go eat at Nkombisa family's home. They have been wanting to feed me run away (chicken feet) and Morhordo (spelt wrong Im sure = cow intestines and stomach) for the longest time. And they were planning on it yesterday but then the mom had to go to the hospital to visit someone so they said sometime later this week they would. They are a great family I am going to miss them all so much. They have made me feel welcome and appreciated. I am so grateful for them.
Well that is pretty much all for the week. It has been busy but good and bad at the same time. But I will conqure the bad times with the lord on my side all things are possible. Today we are planning on going to a nature reserve. I hope it goes through and if it does I will get pictures and be sending them.
So I will just end by saying that I know that this church is true and that I am doing what the lord wants me to be doing at this time. I know that I am growing I have seen it myself. The gospel is great and it can help with anything you may need help with. Just ask the Lord he is there waiting for you just to ask him so he can help you. I love this gospel and I wont give it up for anything in the world.
I love you all and I miss you all. Thanks for your love and support. Cant wait till I hear from you and I hope all is well.

-Your Friend, Brother, Son, Etc
Elder Aaron Giles Lindsay
 
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