Week 2 in the CCM

November 21, 2013

Hola!!

So I feel like last week´s letter was really rushed, we only have an hour to email and I didn’t have time to write everything I wanted to say, so I’m planning out what I am going to say ahead of time.  First of all, the food; I forgot to mention Papa Noél! He´s not really Santa Clause, he’s just one of the cooks who thinks its Christmas all the time! But he gives us treats sometimes so we love him! Basically they put dulche de leche on everything.

We get the opportunity to go to the temple every week. We have the option to listen in English but I’ve decided it is better to hear it in Spanish. Although I can’t understand everything, I at least know what is going on and the spirit is the same. 

The highlight of my week however, was Elder Holland!! So on Saturday we loaded up in buses to head to this church he was going to be speaking at. We got to see some of Argentina so that was cool.  We got there and there were probably about 900 missionaries but all the Hermanas got to sit in front! That was the closest I´ve ever been to an apostle. He is a powerful speaker.  He told us that every morning from when he wakes up until he falls asleep he is trying to save a soul and that´s what we do as missionaries making us apostalic in a way.  We also got to hear from Sister Holland. After the meeting we headed back to the CCM for classes. 

Sunday came around and we all knew Elder Holland was coming for lunch, we weren´t allowed to be there, but there was a possibility he might be at our devotional later. We ate sack lunches in our classrooms but we were all so antsy hoping he would come see us.  When the devotional time rolled around we sat in the room and started. We were all still on the edge, but we started with singing Called to Serve with as much gusto as we could.  The district leaders were giving talks, and during the second talk we could hear Presidente´s and Elder Holland´s voices coming down the hall.  All the doors have windows at the top and it was funny to watch all the heads turn as we watched the top of his head come down the hall and into the room.  His message was similar to the one of the day before, that He loves us and we are like apostles.  Although he also told us that anyone who didn’t want to serve a mission he was going to hunt them down, howl at their doors, scratch at their windows, and every night would be Halloween because a mission is the best reference you will have for your life. He definitely would not be the easiest person to translate for. There was one time where he said a lot of ins and outs, over and under's, ups and downs, right in a row and the interpreter was spot on and got them all so Elder Holland reached over grabbed his face and kissed him on the cheek saying ´Perfecto!´

After he was finished addressing us, all of the missionaries in the CCM got the opportunity to shake his hand. I knew it was exciting, but I had no idea how I would feel.  I don’t know how you could shake his hand and not feel the out pouring of love as he thanked each of us for our service.  He truly is an apostle of the Lord and I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for giving me that opportunity.  I was thinking of the timing of my call and I´ve been wondering why it was to this particular place at this time and that was just a testament to me that there are going to be many reasons to follow. Probably the coolest way to start my mission though!!

I am also so grateful to be at this CCM.  It’s so small and Spanish is everywhere. Honestly trying to learn to teach this gospel and in Spanish when I hardly know any is probably the most difficult thing I´ve put my mind through.

It was sad to see everyone go on Tuesday.  We made such good friends with all of them, but they are going to be great missionaries. Our district had the CCM to ourselves though, which was kind of fun but really weird.  They got us Mcdonalds for dinner on Tuesday.  We got 3 of our roommates last night from Peru, and the rest come today.  We are only getting 3 North American sisters, but they will be here until we leave so that will we fun!

We go proselyting this Saturday, which I am really nervous for. It´s hard enough teaching our teachers when they play investigators, but these are real people!! But I know the Lord will help me through it. And I am also really excited for it.

On the down side to the week, I woke up on Friday with a sore throat which eventually turned into a head cold. Basically everyone has been getting sick. But that doesn´t stop me from loving to be here!

Other than that, all is well!

Love you guys!!

Hermana Lindsay

Week 1 in the CCM

November 14, 2013

Hola!

Ahhh!!!  I've been Argentina for a week now!  Which is crazy because it feels like it's been at least two.  I don't even know where to start.  I guess from the beginning.  

I met up with two missionaries in Salt Lake, Elder Webber and Hermana Louder (who actually ended up being my companion), and then we met up with a few more elders in Dallas.  The flight from Dallas to Argentina was really long.  I sat next to this Argentinean guy though and he asked me all sort of questions about the church.  I gave him one of my pass along cards, which he made sure to stick in his passport, so who knows maybe I planted a seed!! So we got off the plane, and I was very glad I was with other missionaries.  Customs wasn't too bad, but once we past security there were so many people.  Our driver spotted us and flagged us down.  The temple grounds weren't too far from the airport but we did get to see a little of Argentina.  

When we arrived we got our name tags and unpacked a little.  After I got out of my meeting with President Openshaw (the CCM or MTC President), I was basically mobbed by six other North American girls (all of whom are going to the Paraguay Asunción North mission) who had been here for four weeks.  They were so excited to get new sisters from the states, so right off the bat I felt welcome here, with all the hugs.  Those sisters have been such a blessing, especially since Hermana Louder and I are the only two girls that came with this new group, so naturally we are companions.  She is from Orem, Utah.  She graduated high school this year and just barely turned 19, so not surprising but I am the oldest in my district.  We get along really well.  She took some Spanish before coming here, so she's one step ahead of me!  But I feel like I've learned so much just be being here.  We share a room with six other Latina girls.  They are also so fun.  A lot of them speak pretty good English, but we have many a hilarious conversation, as we have to act out of lot of words to get the point across.  But they are all so willing to help us learn, and they love to learn English too.  Transfers are next week, so all of the districts here except ours will be leaving.  It will be sad to see everyone go because we've made such good friends with a lot of them, both the North Americans and the Latinos, but it will be fun to get a new a group.

My district is pretty awesome.  Presidente Openshaw told us that we were an unusually strong district.  We have 9 elders and me and Hermana Louder.  One elder never showed up, so there is a threesome companionship.  Six of us are going to the Paraguay Asunción mission and five are going to the Uruguay Montevideo mission.  Unfortunately Hermana Louder is going to Uruguay, so that is going to be sad when we split up.  The elders in our district our awesome though.  Sometimes they get a little rowdy at times (I mean they are 18 and 19 year old boys), but their hearts are in the right place.  We have one classroom that we basically stay in all day and three awesome teachers,  Hermano Mirisnikov, Hermano Pedersen, and Hermano Chisteche.  They all speak really good English having learned it mostly from video games and movies.  Hermano Pedersen did serve in America though, so he probably speaks the best English.  

Presidente Openshaw is basically like a walking scriptural index.  He starts out each Devotional with, So does anyone have any questions? And he will proceed to back up everything he says with scripture by memory.  Basically he's spent a life time learning the scriptures.  The last Devotional we talked about signs of the Second Coming and I learned a lot that I have never know before.  

The food here is interesting.  I have never seen so many combinations of meat and potatoes in my life!  I've just gotten used to it so it seems pretty normal, but sometimes I think they will just randomly throw a bunch of stuff into a casserole and feed us that.

Elder Holland is coming to Argentina this weekend and we get to go hear him!!! I am so stoked. We will get to hear him speak on Saturday and then he's coming to the CCM on Sunday for lunch!  Basically the I'm really excited!! 

Anyways, I don't have much more time, but all is well and I love you all!!

Hermana Lindsay

Here Goes Nothing!

Hey everyone! As most of you know I'm leaving this week for my mission! Ah crazy! I can't even believe how fast this went. Anyways I fly out on Wednesday and I will arrive at the Argentina Missionary Training Center Thursday morning.  I will be there for about six weeks and then I will head off to serve in the Paraguay Asuncion Mission for a period of 18 months.  I figured this blog would be a fantastic way for my friends and family to read some of my stories. It will probably be updated about every week or two (I will be leaving it in the care of my lovely mother :)).  I would love to hear from all of you as well! I can't guarantee how much time I will have to respond or how fast the mail service is, but I will try my hardest. Though it sure would bring a smile to my face to get lots of letters, so uh... no pressure or anything! That being said here are some ways you can reach me:

First of all this is site is pretty awesome, you can write me while I'm in the MTC, I will be at the Argentina MTC for six weeks but then you can also write me on my mission after that. My mission is the Paraguay Asuncion Mission and it's free because it's pouch mail! I'm not sure if it's free or not for the MTC but if it does cost anything, I think it's about the same as a postage stamp.

http://www.dearelder.com/index/inc_name/home

If you are wanting to write me a good old fashion letter then, my MTC address is (It isn't pouch mail so you would have to pay whatever the rate was to Argentina).

Sister Amy Lindsay
Paraguay Asunción Mission
Argentina Missionary Training Center
Autopista Ricchieri y Puente 13
1778 Ciudad Evita
Buenos Aires
Argentina

After the six weeks, which would be after December 20, you can send me a letter via pouch mail. (meaning one page, no envelope, folded and taped with the address written on the outside, regular postage stamp).  And like I said dearelder.com is free.

Sister Amy Lindsay
Paraguay Asunción Mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City UT 84130-0150

If you are just dying to send a letter in an envelope through regular mail or even send a package, those are two different addresses as well, which you can get from my mother if you want. I just don't feel like posting a bunch of addresses here. But like a said dearelder is a wonderful site. 

 I do have an e-mail address. At this point I'm not sure how much time I will have to use it, but if you would like it, again either I or my mother can give it to you. 

I know with all my heart that this is Christ's church. That's why I want to serve a mission. To bring people to Christ. To help them feel of the love that our Father in Heaven has for them.  This gospel is true. I want others to know of the joy and happiness that it brings me.  I'm so excited to serve the people in Paraguay and become an instrument in the Lord's hands.  I could not think of a better way to spend the next 18 months of my life.  

"...Your Heavenly Father loves you—each of you. That love never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents and abilities. It is simply there. It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there." - Thomas S. Monson

I hope you always remember that!