Well everyone another week has passed. How is everybody doing? Sorry I didnt write like usual yesterday but we were away from our area because we had a special training. We are getting taught eight new teaching techniques that they are adding to Preach my Gospel. It is intense but way good. So we have like three more trainings on it but we will be going on wednesdays for now on so you should be getting your letter on mondays like normal.
So my mom will be so proud of me because I got my first oppertunity to sew the other day. The hem out of one of my slacks came out on one of the cuffs so I sewed it back up... It looks aweful if you look close enough but it does the trick haha.
On tuesday we went to sister Macheo's. We taught her the family mission plan and watched a dvd with her. Like usual when we go over to her house she fed us. She made us salad and meat and a bread that was really really good. After that we got a call from the Nkombisa family and they said we needed to go talk to them. They didnt say what about but we went over anyways. Aparently they just missed us and so they wanted to visit haha.Then they fed us as well!!! I was so full I didnt eat breakfast the next day haha.
We have had an investigator quit taking our lessons. He wouldnt read the book of mormon or anything and so it doesnt surprise me too much because he is big into his church.
There is a girl we teach named Nothando. She is teaching me Setswana. She is going to teach me one sentence each time we meet haha. Im excited.
This week I also had a little accedent. My big toenail on my left foot was long and part of it was sticking out on the side so I was just going to rip that part off but I was dumb and ended up pulling almost half my nail off. haha. Its sore but Im good besides that.
So this past week Fikile was baptised. YAY first baptism haha. It was so amazing to see her be baptised and the spirit was strong. I havent taught her maybe only once but it was still an amazing experience. This week we are hopefully haing lefa and sylvia that will be baptised too. That would be way great. So keep your fingers crossed still.
So I would just like to end by saying I know this church is true. I know what I am doing is the lords work and he has called me here to south africa. I know what people mean now when they say the best two years of their lives. I have only been here two months (almost) but it has been amazing. I cant think of anywhere else I would rather be right now at this time in my life. I know what I am doing is blessing me and those I teach and my family.
I love you all. I hope I hear from you all sometime or another. It has been an amazing week and another one has just started. I dont know what the lord has instore for me but I know it will be great no matter what.
-Again Love you all
Elder Aaron Giles Lindsay
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
23 more months
Dumela (hello) everyone,
How is everyone doing? I hope all is well and all that. So I have one hour to email everyone so I will try to answer all the questions and everything that you have had. Ok so first I have some questions and coments. First who is the missionary in the blog that Amberly found? What is his name again because my companion thinks that he might know him. Then that is so cool that Aunt Michelle knows Drew. Im pretty sure that is who she was talking about when she said that he works at Dan Peterson as the PE teacher. Money is fine for now anyways. No problems with money right now I might later on but nothing right now. How much do I have in my account anyways that might be good to know. I might not send the package that I said I would because it isnt taking up that much space and it will save me money if I just keep everything with me. Sorry to the Chapmans because there are no soccerballs around my area that I can find. I will keep my eyes open but right now there is nothing. So for pictures It will be easiest if we spap back and forth memory cards. I will send one this week with pictures on it and if you can take the pictures off of it and send it back then I will send the other one with pictures. I will also include a paper saying who is in the pictures and all that so you know what the pictures are of. And please keep the mission president pictures he sent because we didnt get copies ourselves so I would like to see them. So question for brother hemingway. What is the name of the purple drink that he wanted me to find again? And amberly will be so pleased to hear that I have a pet spider. he sleeps in the corner of my closet and he never moves. He goes up and down the corner but never away from the corner. I call him Bobby. I will try to send a picture of him just for you amberly :). and mom will be pleased to hear that we have been listening to lots of christmas music in our flat (home) on our spare time. haha so yes I can listen to the cds and such that I brought but we have just been listening to elder albertson's music but I will listen to mine some time haha.
Ok so for the week. Not much has changed this week the same old same old really. We are teaching lots of recent converts and then a few investigators. We could possibably have a baptism this week so keep your fingers crossed for us. We are waiting on the father of one girl who wants to be baptised. He has said he would sue the church if anything was to happen to his daughter and so we cant baptise her when he isnt totally agreeable with it. The other day when we had to push back her date again she was so frustrated. I feel so bad for her. She wants to be baptised so bad but we cant do anything about it right now. Then we have been meeting with lots of families introducing them to a thing called the family mission plan. It introuces the idea of every member a missionary. we ask the familys to think of people who they can help and then they do activitys to help them come closer to the church and eventually they introduce us to them so we can help them as well.
I have had three meals here in the past week. One was chicken with rice and some kind of gravey. Then the other was steak chunks with gravey and a thing called pop. Pop is a oatmeal type thing that has no taste and is a spongy texture. It was fine plain but much better if you had some gravey or something with it haha. Then just yesterday we ate with a family. They made us chicken with broccoli and pumpkin and rice and gravey. So I havent had anything too wierd yet but I am sure I will. My companion says it is almost definate that someone will feed me cow intestines and stomach and a few times I have seen people cooking chicken feet. Watch out stomach it is coming haha.
We are progressing great. We have nine people on date right now to be baptised this month. Some of them might be pushed back because of various problems and concerns but we will see. We are keeping our fingers crossed that they follow through and all.
I get more and more tired everyday but thats good it just shows that I am working hard right. So we get up at six thirty then we excersize and eat breakfast and prepare for the day and all that. Then at eight we have personal study and at nine companion study. Then we go and teach a few lessons. Then we have lunch for an hour and then we head back out and do lessons until around eight/ eight thirty. We have tracted a few times when people have cancelled but for the most part we have been pretty busy.
So That is all for now. But keep in touch I will try to keep in touch with all of you. I miss you all and I want to hear from everyone. Have any questions you have to write haha.
Just in case you forgot my address is
Elder Aaron Giles Lindsay
Private Bag X4
Ansfrere 1711
South Africa
Talk to you next week! -Elder Aaron Giles Lindsay
How is everyone doing? I hope all is well and all that. So I have one hour to email everyone so I will try to answer all the questions and everything that you have had. Ok so first I have some questions and coments. First who is the missionary in the blog that Amberly found? What is his name again because my companion thinks that he might know him. Then that is so cool that Aunt Michelle knows Drew. Im pretty sure that is who she was talking about when she said that he works at Dan Peterson as the PE teacher. Money is fine for now anyways. No problems with money right now I might later on but nothing right now. How much do I have in my account anyways that might be good to know. I might not send the package that I said I would because it isnt taking up that much space and it will save me money if I just keep everything with me. Sorry to the Chapmans because there are no soccerballs around my area that I can find. I will keep my eyes open but right now there is nothing. So for pictures It will be easiest if we spap back and forth memory cards. I will send one this week with pictures on it and if you can take the pictures off of it and send it back then I will send the other one with pictures. I will also include a paper saying who is in the pictures and all that so you know what the pictures are of. And please keep the mission president pictures he sent because we didnt get copies ourselves so I would like to see them. So question for brother hemingway. What is the name of the purple drink that he wanted me to find again? And amberly will be so pleased to hear that I have a pet spider. he sleeps in the corner of my closet and he never moves. He goes up and down the corner but never away from the corner. I call him Bobby. I will try to send a picture of him just for you amberly :). and mom will be pleased to hear that we have been listening to lots of christmas music in our flat (home) on our spare time. haha so yes I can listen to the cds and such that I brought but we have just been listening to elder albertson's music but I will listen to mine some time haha.
Ok so for the week. Not much has changed this week the same old same old really. We are teaching lots of recent converts and then a few investigators. We could possibably have a baptism this week so keep your fingers crossed for us. We are waiting on the father of one girl who wants to be baptised. He has said he would sue the church if anything was to happen to his daughter and so we cant baptise her when he isnt totally agreeable with it. The other day when we had to push back her date again she was so frustrated. I feel so bad for her. She wants to be baptised so bad but we cant do anything about it right now. Then we have been meeting with lots of families introducing them to a thing called the family mission plan. It introuces the idea of every member a missionary. we ask the familys to think of people who they can help and then they do activitys to help them come closer to the church and eventually they introduce us to them so we can help them as well.
I have had three meals here in the past week. One was chicken with rice and some kind of gravey. Then the other was steak chunks with gravey and a thing called pop. Pop is a oatmeal type thing that has no taste and is a spongy texture. It was fine plain but much better if you had some gravey or something with it haha. Then just yesterday we ate with a family. They made us chicken with broccoli and pumpkin and rice and gravey. So I havent had anything too wierd yet but I am sure I will. My companion says it is almost definate that someone will feed me cow intestines and stomach and a few times I have seen people cooking chicken feet. Watch out stomach it is coming haha.
We are progressing great. We have nine people on date right now to be baptised this month. Some of them might be pushed back because of various problems and concerns but we will see. We are keeping our fingers crossed that they follow through and all.
I get more and more tired everyday but thats good it just shows that I am working hard right. So we get up at six thirty then we excersize and eat breakfast and prepare for the day and all that. Then at eight we have personal study and at nine companion study. Then we go and teach a few lessons. Then we have lunch for an hour and then we head back out and do lessons until around eight/ eight thirty. We have tracted a few times when people have cancelled but for the most part we have been pretty busy.
So That is all for now. But keep in touch I will try to keep in touch with all of you. I miss you all and I want to hear from everyone. Have any questions you have to write haha.
Just in case you forgot my address is
Elder Aaron Giles Lindsay
Private Bag X4
Ansfrere 1711
South Africa
Talk to you next week! -Elder Aaron Giles Lindsay
Monday, August 2, 2010
First Letter From Africa!
Hey everyone,
I miss you all. as you can tell from the subject line I am finally in africa. We landed in africa about eight in the morning. I got jet lag big time. I still cant believe that I am here yet haha. so how is everyone and what have you been up to.
So after we landed we went to go through customs. The lady was about to send me back to london because they gave us a paper to fill out and it needed the address where we would be staying. Well I didnt know the address yet and couldnt give it to her. So she kept saying that she was going to send me back but the thing is everyone else got through with no problems. But eventually one of the other elders came over and he just gave me the package address and she accepted that. But then she started acussing me of lying and all that to her. Oh well the main thing is we got through. Then the mission president picked us up and he took us to the south africa MTC. There we had some orientation meetings and we got to know him and his wife. We took lots of pictures with them and they said they would be mailing them to all the familys so look for those. Then that night we stayed at the MTC and then we had orientations and stuff the next day as well. That was also when I got my new companion. His name is Elder Albertson. He is really helpful he gives me tips on how to improve my study and how to teach better. We dont talk that much because we are usually both deep in thought but when we do talk its fun. So yeah I have taught alot this past week. at five o'clock the night I arrived we had teaching appointments. Most of the people that we are teaching are younger people. Like from 18 to 8 or a little younger or so. We have had lots of great experiences. And you know how I was so excited that I wouldnt have to learn a language? Well there are 11 main languages here in south africa and I am mainly surrounded by four languages; Africaans, Zulu, Setswana, and a little english. So yes I am learning a little of the language at little bits at a time. So I will start writing some next time when I feel more comfortable with it. So you know I will be sending a package home in the next few weeks with stuff I can use out here on my mission and the letters people have sent me and such. I will also be sending home a cd hopefully with pictures on it. Sorry the pictures are only of my MTC time and the airports I havent had time for pictures in Africa. Please keep an eye open for that. And no I havent got any mail yet. The thing is we live about an hour from the mission office. So we can only get our mail when ever we are around the mission office which has been never so far. But we have a special training next week so that is probably when I will get everything. The people are so nice here. There was one lady who we went to her house just to ask her some questions about something real quick and she was washing vegitables and she said she would be with us when she was done. We waited for about a half an hour and when she came in she had cooked us chicken and rice with gravy and potato salad and green salad. These people are very loving and caring they have already done so much for me. I will admit I feel so unqualified here at times (most of the time) but there are other times where I feel the spirit so strong that I know that I am doing the right thing. I am trying to keep those experiences in mind but it not easy. Please pray for me back home because I really need help right now. I have never felt like I belong some where and so alone at the same time. I love all of you and I miss you so much. Thanks for everything you have done for me. I better get off the internet now so I can try getting your cd of pictures done.
-Your Son, Brother, Friend,
Elder Aaron Giles Lindsay
I miss you all. as you can tell from the subject line I am finally in africa. We landed in africa about eight in the morning. I got jet lag big time. I still cant believe that I am here yet haha. so how is everyone and what have you been up to.
So after we landed we went to go through customs. The lady was about to send me back to london because they gave us a paper to fill out and it needed the address where we would be staying. Well I didnt know the address yet and couldnt give it to her. So she kept saying that she was going to send me back but the thing is everyone else got through with no problems. But eventually one of the other elders came over and he just gave me the package address and she accepted that. But then she started acussing me of lying and all that to her. Oh well the main thing is we got through. Then the mission president picked us up and he took us to the south africa MTC. There we had some orientation meetings and we got to know him and his wife. We took lots of pictures with them and they said they would be mailing them to all the familys so look for those. Then that night we stayed at the MTC and then we had orientations and stuff the next day as well. That was also when I got my new companion. His name is Elder Albertson. He is really helpful he gives me tips on how to improve my study and how to teach better. We dont talk that much because we are usually both deep in thought but when we do talk its fun. So yeah I have taught alot this past week. at five o'clock the night I arrived we had teaching appointments. Most of the people that we are teaching are younger people. Like from 18 to 8 or a little younger or so. We have had lots of great experiences. And you know how I was so excited that I wouldnt have to learn a language? Well there are 11 main languages here in south africa and I am mainly surrounded by four languages; Africaans, Zulu, Setswana, and a little english. So yes I am learning a little of the language at little bits at a time. So I will start writing some next time when I feel more comfortable with it. So you know I will be sending a package home in the next few weeks with stuff I can use out here on my mission and the letters people have sent me and such. I will also be sending home a cd hopefully with pictures on it. Sorry the pictures are only of my MTC time and the airports I havent had time for pictures in Africa. Please keep an eye open for that. And no I havent got any mail yet. The thing is we live about an hour from the mission office. So we can only get our mail when ever we are around the mission office which has been never so far. But we have a special training next week so that is probably when I will get everything. The people are so nice here. There was one lady who we went to her house just to ask her some questions about something real quick and she was washing vegitables and she said she would be with us when she was done. We waited for about a half an hour and when she came in she had cooked us chicken and rice with gravy and potato salad and green salad. These people are very loving and caring they have already done so much for me. I will admit I feel so unqualified here at times (most of the time) but there are other times where I feel the spirit so strong that I know that I am doing the right thing. I am trying to keep those experiences in mind but it not easy. Please pray for me back home because I really need help right now. I have never felt like I belong some where and so alone at the same time. I love all of you and I miss you so much. Thanks for everything you have done for me. I better get off the internet now so I can try getting your cd of pictures done.
-Your Son, Brother, Friend,
Elder Aaron Giles Lindsay
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Arrived in Africa
Aaron has officially arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa! We tracked his flight from Salt Lake City to Chicago to London to Johannesburg. Here are some pictures that we took along the way.
Just leaving Salt Lake City:
Flying over Nebraska:
Arrived in Chicago:
Flying over Canada:
Leaving the continent:
Flying over the ocean:
Leaving London and flying over France:
Arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa:
We hope to get a letter from him soon! :)
Just leaving Salt Lake City:
Flying over Nebraska:
Arrived in Chicago:
Flying over Canada:
Leaving the continent:
Flying over the ocean:
Leaving London and flying over France:
Arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa:
We hope to get a letter from him soon! :)
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Letter #2: Last days in the MTC
So everyone how is it going? I am doing great loving my whole experiences here. Sorry I havent sent any pictures but the thing is there is no way to get the pictures on to the cds here so I will have to send them all when I get to africa. Which is offically only less than three days away. I am so excited but I am also nervous like no other right now haha. I dont know anyone that is going with me. There are eleven others going with but dont know any. My companion is leaving two days after me so it sucks.(dont know if I should have typed that in the MTC haha) I am leaving on a sunday which is even more wierd. So this week... not much has been new basically the same old stuff. I get up at six thirty every morning and basically have classes all day. I am learning so much I love it. I am also making lots of new friends here. Everyone is amazing. Let me tell you it sure makes a difference when everyone around you has the same purpose as you and they feel the same about the gospel. So on Tuesday I got five letters. Everyone was so upset because they looked in the mailbox and saw lots of mail and most of it went to me haha. Its amazing. Thanks everyone for your support for me I can feel your prayers and I apprieciate it. So lets see embarassing stories.... none yet. I will have plenty of time for them I am sure. We have been having "teaching appointments" where we practice teaching people who act as investigators. IT IS SO AMAZING I LOVE IT!!!! me and my companion got someone to work on getting baptised its a great feeling. Even though we are just acting the spirit is so strong and it is so true he speaks to your mind and tells you what you need to know. Yes there have been plenty of times when I have blanked completely but I still absolutely love those times because it keeps me humble and I know that I am growing even when if feels like I am lower than dirt. Basically this week has just been class work. But still learned lots. Man how I am loving the work. I just cant wait to get out there and actually teach really investigators who need to hear the words of God and how much he loves them.
Well I have less than ten minutes to finish this email now so I would like to end with my testimony to everyone. I know that God loves each and everyone of us. I know he is watching over me and all the other missionaries out here. I know this is where I am suppose to be at this time of my life. I know Joesph Smith was a true prophet of God who restored the gospel to the earth. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today. I now know the meaning of what people have said when they said 'there is no room for doubt' because it is absolutely true. There is definitely no room for doubt when my life and soul is so full of light. There is no room for the darkness. At times I get down but I remember the Savior and all that he did for me. This is my chance to pay him back for all he did for me and I will not let him down.
I love you all and I think of you all often. I cant wait 'to bring the world his truth' and I cant wait to hear from you all again. Remember you all are in my thoughts and in my prayers. I will be home before you know it. Until then may God be with you.
- Your friend, brother, son, and so forth....
Elder Aaron Giles Lindsay
P.S- Movie Quote of the Week "Just keeps swimming, oh how we love to swim"
Well I have less than ten minutes to finish this email now so I would like to end with my testimony to everyone. I know that God loves each and everyone of us. I know he is watching over me and all the other missionaries out here. I know this is where I am suppose to be at this time of my life. I know Joesph Smith was a true prophet of God who restored the gospel to the earth. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today. I now know the meaning of what people have said when they said 'there is no room for doubt' because it is absolutely true. There is definitely no room for doubt when my life and soul is so full of light. There is no room for the darkness. At times I get down but I remember the Savior and all that he did for me. This is my chance to pay him back for all he did for me and I will not let him down.
I love you all and I think of you all often. I cant wait 'to bring the world his truth' and I cant wait to hear from you all again. Remember you all are in my thoughts and in my prayers. I will be home before you know it. Until then may God be with you.
- Your friend, brother, son, and so forth....
Elder Aaron Giles Lindsay
P.S- Movie Quote of the Week "Just keeps swimming, oh how we love to swim"
Monday, July 19, 2010
Flight Plans and South Africa Address
(If you got the previous flight plans ignore those. Aaron will be flying out this Sunday July 25th)
Well Aaron will only be in the MTC for a few more days. He will be flying out on Sunday July 25th. If anyone would like to track his flights here is the information.
SLC to Chicago July 25th
10:50 am-2:55 pm
American Airlines AA 3761
July 25th Chicago- London
8:10 pm-9:45 am
British Airways BA 296
July 26 London-Johannesburg
7:05 PM-6:55 am
British Airways BA 55
Also if you want to send packages or letters to Aaron make sure he will get them before he leaves. If you send packages same day then the last day for him to get them would be Friday or Saturday. Remember that letters may take a day or two for him to get.
His new South Africa address will be:
Elder Aaron Lindsay
Private Bag X4
Ansfrere 1711
South Africa
If there are any changes to this we will let you know. Hopefully we will get another Wednesday!
Well Aaron will only be in the MTC for a few more days. He will be flying out on Sunday July 25th. If anyone would like to track his flights here is the information.
SLC to Chicago July 25th
10:50 am-2:55 pm
American Airlines AA 3761
July 25th Chicago- London
8:10 pm-9:45 am
British Airways BA 296
July 26 London-Johannesburg
7:05 PM-6:55 am
British Airways BA 55
Also if you want to send packages or letters to Aaron make sure he will get them before he leaves. If you send packages same day then the last day for him to get them would be Friday or Saturday. Remember that letters may take a day or two for him to get.
His new South Africa address will be:
Elder Aaron Lindsay
Private Bag X4
Ansfrere 1711
South Africa
If there are any changes to this we will let you know. Hopefully we will get another Wednesday!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
First Letter!
Sorry I dont have alot of time to talk this week because my email was giving me problems. thanks for all the letters and the package. I miss all of you so much but I know that I am doing what I need to be at this time. Thanks for all your support and love. So few stories. Sorry Heidi nothing embarassing yet haha. But you know how you said no one would like me quoting movies well the other day we had service oppertunity and we all sang disney songs as we worked it was really amazing. and we all quote movies all the times so no worries sara I am covered. There have been many experiences in which I have seen the hand of the lord in my life. I have felt more than I ever have here at the mtc. My prayers are so much meaningful. I am loving it. The other day Elder conners (our district leader) was sick and he looked like he would be in bed all day. But when we went to change for gym he said he felt everyones prayers. He said each time that someone would pray for him then he would feel that much better. Then yesterday I was starting to get sick and I wasnt up to working. then we went to class and our teacher talked about having faith and how with faith we need action or its no good. Well I decided I better get out my paper and start taking notes. Once I started writing my arms started tingling and my stomach started feeling warm. Then all at once all those feelings disappeared with the feelings of being sick and I was like new. I know that the spirit healed me and it was a lesson from our heavenly father. I am so grateful for it and wouldnt change it for anything. We have had many awesome talks. One from Dallin H Oak's daughter and then a quorum of the seventy member. Well my time is basically up so I really need to get going. I love all of you and miss you all. I have got the package and all your notes and letters. Tell everyone thanks for me. (grandma, shauna, sara) and everyone else. Hopefully I get more time next week to tell you more of the amazing experiences I am having. I am so happy and I am well. I love you all hope to hear from you all soon.
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