Saturday, October 30, 2010

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Monday, October 25, 2010

New Companion

Hey everyone how is it going?
Well another week has come and gone and it seems to be getting faster and faster each week. So first things first. Monday and Tuesday were kind of a pain Im not going to lie. We didnt get much teaching done because my companion wanted to go around and say his final good byes to everyone. It got me thinking how sad I am going to be when I have to leave this area. It is an absolutely amazing area and I will miss it when I have to go. But that is not for AT LEAST six more weeks so that is way good. So on wednesday we went to transfers. We got there early and so I talked with some of the missionaries I flew over with. It was so great to see them again we talked alot about our areas and companions and Jeffrey R Holland and other things. Then we went to the transfer meeting and the new missionaries got their companions and their areas and then the departing missionaries gave their testimonies. After the meeting we then got our new companions.
My new companion is elder Kohu. He is from New Zealand. He is great. we get along well. Not like best friends but we get along which is just fine. I have already learned so much from him and I hope I keep learning from him.
So the rest of the week has been pretty normal I must say. Teaching alot and getting new investigators. So this week we will only be having one Baptism because something came up with one of the people. So Kerabo is the one being baptised and he asked me yesterday to be the one to baptise him. I AM SO NERVOUS I have never baptised anyone before. But with the lord with me I know I will be fine and I can do anything.
This week our teaching stats were kind of down from previous weeks and so was the church attendace but that is ok because as of today we have 26 people that have a date set to be baptised and the number keeps going up. So as you can tell the work is going well and there is still room for improvement but it is going great.
It has been a good week and I am so glad I have the oppertunity to be here. I have my hard times still but what missionary doesnt right? I love all of you and miss you alot. Thank you to everyone that has written to me and given me support. I pray for everyone and hope all is well. Hope to hear from everyone soon.
-Elder Aaron Giles Lindsay

Monday, October 18, 2010

Jeffrey R Holland Visit

Hey everyone how is it going?
I hope all is well with each of you and that you all are having the time of your lives. So this week has been a long week but a good one never the less. So basically we just have been way busy teaching and getting people ready for their baptism dates in a couple of weeks.
So the biggest things and most exciting thing that happened this week is that Jeffrey R. Holland from the quorum of the twelve apostles, and Elders Snow and Warner from the Seventy came and spake to all of us missionaries on Friday. It was amazing. We got to line up and shake all of their hands as well. When I shook Holland's hand if felt like a shock of spirit just shot straight into my body. It was amazing. So Holland talked to all of us about converting ourselves before we teach other people. He says that is the whole reason why preach my gospel was written in the first place. Its not to convert non members its to convert the missionaries before they go out teaching to those people. Then he talked about staying active in the church as we return home.
It was a great experience and one that I will never never forget.
So sadly that is pretty much all that is new for this week. I know not much Im sorry. But everything is good. We had twenty investigators at church yesterday which is tops and we have taught lots and lots of lessons. So everything is good.
I will need extra prayers the next couple of days because exchanges are happening on wednesday and my companion is leaving and so I am the one who will know the area and have to teach someone else about the area. Pray for me that I do well and that I can help these people with whatever they may need.
Well I know that this is a short letter this week and Im sorry its just that nothing much has happened. I promise next week it will be a longer letter... I cant promise it will be more exciting but It will be longer.
I love all of you and miss you alot. I would love to hear from all of you if you get the chance.
Keep the spirit near by.
-Elder Aaron Giles Lindsay

Monday, October 11, 2010

Normal Week?

Hello everyone how are you doing?
So this week has been a pretty normal week but it has been good never the less. So we didnt have our baptism that we planned for because her child is very sick so she asked us to move it so she could focus on her child. Which isnt a problem because she is still progressing and doing very well with the church. We confirmed the two that were baptised but missed being confirmed a few weeks back. I got to help by standing in the circle but I didnt give the actual blessing or anything like that. The other two that were baptised and confirmed a few weeks back blessed the sacrament yesterday. That is the neatest experience to see someone be baptised and to see them living the gospel like they should.
Well this week we went on exchanges. I came to Potchefstroom where I was before when I came for the week. It was good to be back in the area and see how it is doing. Its the same old same old. I was with Elder Haward and we went tracting and taught lessons it was good. Thursday we switched back so I went back to Carletonville/ Khutsong. On Friday we had district meeting and the zone leaders came to visit as well. They delivered the mail that we all had received. I got a letter from Aunt Michelle and her family, Shauna Spencer, and Tag (my dog. Who knew he could write... I think my mom taught him because his writing looks alot like hers haha) Thank you to everyone that has wrote to me and supported me. Your letters are very much appreciated. I have probably got more mail since then but I dont know because we only get mail when we go to the mission office or when zone leaders bring it to us.
So everything else has been pretty normal this week. We have been busy teaching and following up with people we really havent done any tracting. We have twenty people on date so far for baptisms and we are hopefully going to put more on later. This week I have noticed I am becoming more open with the people and that I do things like I never thought I would before. I am more open than before. I know my sister Heidi is probably thinking I have always been open but not like this. Its different is some way.
I have seen the hand of the lord in all I do. I am learning so much while I have been here it has been amazing. I cant believe three months have already passed. Time is going too fast. I love everything I am doing. Yes there are times when I struggle and I feel like giving up. But that is normal. I will push through those times and use them for my advantage. I know the lord is watching over me and that he wants me to be here at this time. If he didnt I wouldnt be here. I will make him happy in all that I do and say. "No Unhallowed hand can stop this work from progressing" (Standard of Truth Joesph Smith) I love my work with all my might. And its only going to get better.
I love all of you and miss you. I think and pray for everyone. I hope all is well with you. I hope I get to hear from you soon as well.
Remember Heavenly Father is always there even in dark times. You just need to look for him.
Love you always
Elder Aaron Giles Lindsay

Monday, October 4, 2010

Conference Week

Hey everyone how is all going?
So this has been a pretty normal week up to the weekend when confrence came. Wasnt that a great confrence? Well I will talk more about that in a second but first let me go through the week.
So last monday for our zone activity we went shopping around because the zone leaders wanted to buy some african stuff. So I got a few things myself. I got a small stone lion and a small stone rhino and then I got and african shaped wooden carved plaque thing haha. (dont know how to really describe it.) Then on wednesday we had interviews with the president Poulsen. We got the times all mixed up and all so we were there like an hour early but it was all good because we got to sit and talk with the assistants and Sister Poulsen. IT was great. So the rest of the week has been pretty normal. Working hard and keep pushing on trying to help others with their baptism goals and progress. So at the end of this week we have 18 people total with baptism dates and we have about six more we are planning on giving dates to so hopefully by the end of this week we will have 24 or more with dates.
Also the end of this week we are hopefuly having another baptism. Her name is Patience. She is married and has a little girl. Everyone in her family including her husband are members and so that would be good if she follows through because she will have all that love and support coming from her family.
This week our results werent as high as previous weeks. We had lots of problems with people being gone or with appointments being dropped or whatever it was. It was just not the best week for teaching. But that is ok we still did some good.
So on Friday night it was awkward because we went to go teach a girl named Neo. When we got there she said that her and her family were celebrating her mom's birthday with a dinner. She said she wanted us to stay because she made food for us as well. Well why it was so awkward is because we only knew Neo and so when she wasnt in the room we just looked at her family like hello you dont know us but we teach your daughter haha. But eventually the mom started talking with us and it broke the ice so it was good. They are all a great family.
So I just want to say thanks to people who have sent me letters; I have got some from Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Shauna, Aunt Tammy, Trent, Janet, Emily, Chelsey, Kirstie, Bridger and many others. Thank you all for your love and support. Your letters are great. I will try as much as I can to reply but please just give me time.
So Confrence. On saturday night from six to eight we watched the Saturday morning session. Then Sunday morning from eleven to one we had the priesthood session, and then we had saturday afternoon session from two to four and then we had sunday morning session from six to eight. We didnt have the chance to watch the sunday afternoon session because of the time differences but hopefully I will be able to at a later time. I loved confrence and it was the neatest feeling when they would talk about missionaries and their work and I just kept thinking hey Im doing that and when ever they would pray for us I just felt a new sence of energy enter me. It was amazing. I loved all that I got to see. I learned so much and its always good to hear from the authorities of the church.
Thank you to everyone for your love and support. I can feel all the prayers that have been going out for me and I thank all of you. I love what I am doing and there is nothing I would rather be doing right now then being here and teaching these people. I know the people also appreciate it because some members yesterday told me thanks and that I am a good missionary. They knew right from they met me they could trust me because of my personality and that they knew they could be themselves around me as well. So I know I must be doing something right.
Well time to prepare to go back to work. I cant wait to see what the lord has in store for me this week. I love all of you and remember to keep your trust in the lord.
-Elder Aaron Giles Lindsay
 
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