Week 33, March 21, 2016

Hello Everyone!
What an exciting past week! I have learned more about myself and how to work with others. My companions and I are getting along really well, which is amazing because we are now able to work more in unison which helps us work more in unison with the Lord. As we strive to be one in purpose and as we are harmony, the Lord will reveal more to us on how we can help this area. We were also trained at our district meeting (which is once a week where our district meets to have training and receive instruction. A district is composed of different proselyting areas; mine includes myself and my companions, the elders who serve in our area, the other elders in our ward but different area, and 2 companionships from another area.) about setting goals and being accountable.
This was a kinda hard topic for me because recently I've been having feelings of inadequacy. I wonder if I did all that I could in my last area, if I'm doing all that I can here in this area, if I'm being faithful enough, etc. Basically, I was already questioning whether I've been setting good goals and being accountable or not and then my district leader gave a training on just that. Funny how revelation works like that =) Even though it was hard emotionally, I love the training we received because I suddenly felt like I had the tools I needed to succeed in this area.
To be honest, my area is pretty hard (but not the hardest) for 3 major reasons:

1. Just speaking area coverage, we are a small area. We mainly work in the western part of our area because anything east of a certain street is primarily white. As such, our main area is 4 blocks north to south and 8 blocks east to west. In a six week period, and if we went on splits (which is when missionaries go out with members, members acting as our companions for a time), it is completely possible to tract (knock on) every door.
2. One of my companions has been here since the beginning of her mission, which is the same amount as me, so she has many of people here. While it's helpful to know where we should spend our time, it can be hard because many people recognize her. There are benefits to having new missionaries in an area every 6 or so weeks, one of which is sometimes they bring new ideas and another is that they're new faces. So, it's been interesting having people recognize her and seeing how they react.
3. While I love my new ward, there is a lack of excitement about the missionary work. This is difficult because while they seem to love missionaries, and we love them, the work isn't moving forward as it should be. We learn in the MTC the importance of working with members but I don't remember if we were taught how to achieve that goal. As such, we are struggling to ignite that excitement in our ward. We have had a few ideas how to do that, but sometimes things like this just take time.

So, even though we have a challenging area, we have been given the tools we need to succeed. Now, to learn patience! =) not my strong point, but that's okay.
Speaking of strong points, I have learned one way that helps stay positive is to find the strengths of others. Last week I mentioned that I struggle to have initially good thoughts, so this past week I've focused on how to turn my thoughts around. When I start to have a negative thought, I add a "but" to it and start working up. Eventually I get to the point where I'm thinking good thoughts and I can feel myself physically feel better. I have also found that prayer helps with this especially because Heavenly Father wants 1) for me to be happy and 2) for me to think of others better. He has helped me become a better missionary and a better person, which is helping me fulfill the purpose of my life. 
The purpose of our life is to learn and grow, the ultimate goal being to become like our Heavenly Father. We are able to achieve this through the Atonement of Christ and it is only through Him that we can. There are times where it's difficult to grow, to turn to the Savior, but it's worth the pain. There is so much joy to be had if we stretch and allow ourselves to learn from this life.
I am so grateful for Easter; it is a beautiful holiday that helps us remember what Christ did and His nature today. I know He lived and that, although dead for 3 days, is living today. He is our oldest brother seeing as He is the firstborn of he Father in the spirit. He loves us perfectly and He's always there for us. If we just turn to Him and to our Father, we can be happy now and eternally happy in the future. 
I love you all! Remember who you are and be happy! Happy Easter!

Love,
Hermana Lindh

Week 32, March 14, 2016

Okay, I am emailing from my iPad so I am replying to last weeks email. I'm sorry if that bugs you, but I'm pleased that I figured out a way to do this!

Another week come and gone,

If I haven't learned anything yet it's that we are constantly learning. I have had multiple opportunities in my life to learn and practice good communication skills, such as moving and meeting many different people. Before my mission I felt like I had been well prepared to communicate and work with others, but I'm not as good as I thought I was =) This past week has been a pride check for me (how I see it personally is Heavenly Father looking down on me, sighing a little, and then going "Okay hun, let's try this again" with a smile). While I still feel like I have some of the basic communication skills, I have learned that I still have a long way to go. 

I love my companions dearly; they are precious daughters of God and I am so grateful to know them. Even though I love them, it can still be hard to share everything I'm feeling. Part of my struggle is that I feel like some of my emotions are not justified (thought process being "I didn't like that, but it wasn't that bad, maybe she didn't realize it, or maybe she did and she's upset, why am I upset, urghhh I'm upset!") and that I just need to be more charitable. I will fully admit, I need to be more patient and charitable, but I have also learned that it's natural and okay to feel my feelings. It's okay to be upset at times, what matters most is how you react and treat those around you.

I did not make the best choices ever this past week and I'm sorrowful for how it affected me, my companions, and our area. That said, I have learned a lot and I am now comfortable with my companions. We are solid together now, it just took a meshing period. I also, once again, learned the importance of the Atonement. I know it's true, that Christ really did suffer all of my sins and sorrows, and everyone else's as well. He knows me perfectly and although he expects obedience, He is merciful because of His understanding. He loves me and I felt that strongly this week.

I am so grateful for Easter and the celebration of Christ's resurrection. It is such a glorious holiday because of the joy that it brings. I hope that each of you will more fully access the Atonement of Christ. He is there for each of you; He loves you. 

Okay, besides the learning experience, this week has been pretty good! I have a funny story that made my day a few days ago and still makes me giggle.

So, my companions and I were trying to contact a referral but they weren't home. They live on a street that everyone knows is kinda ify. As we were leaving the house, I asked to go to the church, which was about a block away, to use the restroom. We start in that direction when we hearing whistling. I didn't think much of it until I heard "Hey! Hey girls!" so I looked around. Across the street were two young men staring at us and smiling. I turned back around to focus on the church and we ignored them until we got to the church. Once inside, I used the restroom and I could see that my companion, Hna. Woodhouse, was plotting something. When I came out, she asked me if it would be ok if we talked to the young men and she would ask them if they were looking for a dog.

I said that that would probably not be a great idea (for obvious reasons). Instead, I agreed to walking by and teaching them. We approached them and asked what their relationship was like with God. It was obvious that they had been (and still were) drinking so their responses were a bit strained and comical. At one point, one of them asked me why I'm here. I said that unless I knew these things were true, I wouldn't be here. I then said "If this wasn't true, I wouldn't walk up to boys who had just whistled at me" and they kinda blushed and were awkward for a bit (before the drink kept them going). At the end of the conversation, we were asked what our names were and we all said "Hermana". The guy who asked got teased and he seemed upset, so Hna. Woodhouse told him that maybe one day she'll tell him and his was response was "Oh! She likes me!"

Hahaha, overall, it was a really funny experience. =D 

Okay, I hope that you all have a great week! Have a great time, try new things, and utilize the Atonement. I love you!

Be good and remember who you are!

Love,

Hermana Lindh

Week 31, March 7, 2016

What's up? My name Bon qui qui, I'll be your flight attendant.

I learned a comedy sketch from my companion, Hna. Woodhouse and it popped into my head so that's how I got the introduction. =) It's a pretty funny sketch, I'd recommend that you watch it.

Oh! By way of announcement, I have been out on my mission for 7 months now. March 5th was the mark, and how is it significant? It's not =) 

But what IS significant is that my sister Sarah was baptized this past Saturday. I am so proud and happy for her that she has made this choice to enter into the covenant of baptism. I know I've already talked about baptism, so I won't get into it too much. She is such a good example to me of how to have faith. We are truly to become like children, which means that we do what's right because we believe it's right. Children are the best example of what faith is and how to act on it. Why else would Christ ask us to become like them? Thank you Sarah for blessing our family with your spirit and example!

This past week was transfers! On Monday night last week, we received calls from our district leaders informing us where we'll be heading and with whom we'll be with. I was told that I'll be staying in my area, Ogden, and that I'll be co-training with Hna. Woodhouse. I was super surprised to learn that 1) I'd be co-training (because I thought I'd be training by myself) and 2) that Hna. Woodhouse would be staying. She started her mission in this area and she is still here, which is unusual. The longest a sister has stayed in one area, for this mission at least, is 5 transfers so roughly 7 1/2 months. I'm actually really excited to continue serving with her because I have felt since the MTC that we'll serve together. She's a great example to me of empathy and I hope to learn how to express my love for others like her. 

I also love my other companion, Hna. Kang. She is from the suburbs of Houston, specifically Magnolia! (Go Houstonians!) and she has 3 siblings. She is 20, a little older than Hna. Woodhouse, so I continue to be the youngest. She studied at UT Austin in general studies but when she goes back she wants to specialize in nutrition. She plans to use that degree to become a dietitian and then helping people with diabetes. She's super cool, super smart, and really strong spiritually. I love watching her grow; for example, she has had only 6 weeks with Spanish and Sunday she bore her testimony in front of the whole ward. I was so happy for her and her Spanish was sooooo good! Let me share with you what I wrote yesterday after watching her bare her testimony. 

"A mission is preparation for the rest of our lives. Part of this experience prepares us for parenthood. For example, we get to help others grow as we serve with our companion. A parent's primary responsibility is to teach their children of Christ; what else do missionaries do? I have also been able to see a glimpse of my future motherhood as I welcomed my trainee back into our pew after she shared her testimony. I didn't teach what she knows, but I am responsible for her growth as a missionary for this time. 

As I congratulated her and assured her that she did good, I realized that I will do this as a mother. I will have taught my children who Christ is and one day they'll go up to the stand to share their testimony. When they'll come back, they'll want to know that they've done well and I'll hug them and tell them that they did. 

This is how our Heavenly Father feels, to a degree. He has sent us here to learn and when we pray to Him and tell Him about our day, He lovingly hugs us and tells us well done. He loves us and is soooo happy to see us grow. I've been blessed to feel a part of that and I will again in the future. How great is the calling of a parent!"

I love Hna. Kang, and while I'm nervous to train, I'm so grateful that she is part of my mission experience. She's going to change me even if she doesn't realize it. Now, I kinda understand Hna. Lewis's feelings when she was training me. Hna. Lewis made such a great impact on my life, my hope is that I can have a similar one for Hna. Kang. That may be a bit prideful, but it's helping me by pushing me to be better and develop the talents I have to serve Hna. Kang and Hna. Woodhouse. How do you become Christ like? You start by serving others, and then you pray..... A LOT. 

Okay, besides transfers and training, this week has been filled with a lot of finding people to teach. To do that, we tracted a lot, which I LOVE because I get to talk to a lot of different people. But, even though I love it, it's not the best way to find people. As such, this coming week we are going to try different finding activities. For example, this coming Saturday, we are going to play soccer in a local park because Hispanics LOVE soccer. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm terrible at running so soccer is kinda hard for me, but I love this people and I'm willing to learn how to play. I promise pictures next week =) 

We are also planning on starting volleyball and having tacos at the same time. I'm super excited for that! Who doesn't love food? And the other major idea we had was to have a ward talent show because we want to get as many activities going for members to invite their friends to. My thoughts are why not have fun while finding people? Haha, okay, I'll let you all know how it goes next week.

I hope you're doing well! I love you, be good, and remember who you are! 

Love,

Hermana Lindh 

    

Week 29, February 22, 2016

Hello!

Life is grand and I want to share some thoughts that I wrote down yesterday. Now, I am in no way a poet so please forgive me if it doesn't flow too well, I was just writing. =)
I know joy.

It looks like investigators at church.
It smells like the perfume of a loved one.
It tastes like the sacrament bread passed by a recent convert.
It feels like a warm hug from a less active who finally came.
It sounds like tongues stumbling over unfamiliar words, but still singing.

Joy is watching someone come unto Christ and knowing that you had the privilege of helping them come to Him.
It's watching their sins fall away in the waters of baptism.
It is smiling so hard it hurts at their confirmation.
Joy is walking into the temple with someone who, just a few weeks ago, couldn't.
It is feeling the love Heavenly Father has for them.
It's crying over their lack of progress one day and then crying over the steps they've taken the next.

Joy is missionary work, God's work, the work of salvation.
I know joy.

This past week has been hard because I am trying to learn street names, people's names, and act as if I know what's going on. It's kinda stressful, but that stress is balanced out with the small joys I see. I love my companions, Hna. Woodhouse and Hna. Playstead; we just get along really well. Because we get along well, we have a lot of fun moments together between lessons, as we're tracting, and every other moment in between. As I have expressed before, happiness is a choice and I love making that choice every day.
I have also learned that there is a difference between happiness and joy. As I said above, joy comes from serving other people and focusing on them. You can have fun and be happy as you serve, but the lasting feeling is called joy. A joyful person is someone who makes the choice to be happy every day, consistently. They put others before themselves, watching for others and their needs. Basically, a joyful person is charitable; why do you think Heavenly Father and Jesus are so joyful?
I have seen the affects of joyful people on others who are less happy. They bring an infectious feeling of peace into the room, causing people to relax and enjoy themselves. Some of my best examples of joyful living are my parents. They have taught me that we can be happy no matter our circumstances, and my mission has only reinforced that truth. I love watching my parents because they are so happy. I know that whenever they are stressed or upset it is only for a short season because that isn't their nature. Another great example is my companion Hna. Playstead. I know she has hard moments, but she actively tries to make others laugh and feel better. While she has sad moments, she always is quick to smile.

Why would you choose to have a gloomy life when you could make it bright and happy?
I love you all and I hope that you're doing well and are choosing each day to count your blessings, serve others, and laugh at the small things. Be good and remember who you are! And SMILE!

Love,
Hermana Lindh

Week 30, February 29, 2016

What's up? =) 

I think today is a pretty weird day, seeing as it's Feb. 29th, and that only happens every four years. As such, I am going to share a weird experience with you all.

So, as I have said in another letter, I have moved areas in the middle of a transfer. I love serving with the Buenaventura Ward and it has been great getting to know the members, other missionaries, and investigators in this area. I do struggle with remembering names and associating faces with the names, as such I have been a bit stressed as of late. Despite that challenge, I have asked to do something to serve another missionary that just adds to my stress. Today, missionaries who have completed their missions have gone home. That means for some missionaries, they need another missionary to come stay with them.

I was asked to stay with a sister in a different area despite being new to my current area. I went to live with her last night and I will be with her until Wednesday morning. It's, in all honesty, not that long of time, so I said yes I could do that for her. I love being able to serve with her and get to know her area, it is a great opportunity to be Christ like. The weird part is that they asked someone who is new to an area to leave for a few days. I got a good laugh out of it, and it makes sense (if my companions are switching areas, they will want to say goodbye). 

Today was a great day because I spent a majority of it with the missionaries in my district, whom I've come to love. We started the day with soccer golf at a golf resort. Basically, it is what it sounds like; you are playing golf but with a soccer ball and bigger holes. I am not that apt with my feet, so it was challenging, but it was a lot of fun learning how to kick well and making jokes and being together. We need these breaks because they help relieve the stresses of the week, which allows us to focus better. After playing 18 holes (me and my companion coming in third place with a score of 99, the best score being 79), we changed into proselyting clothes and went out for drinks at a place called Fizz. We then went to lunch at a Chinese restaurant called Golden Jade. Everything tasted yummy and we had a great time being together. My companion and I then returned to our area to go help a recent convert family to pack and tomorrow we will continue to help them. After service, we will learn how to make home made tortillas, I'm soooooooo excited!!!

This past week has also been pretty great. We've had a lot of laughs and we've been tracting a lot so I'm thoroughly enjoying myself. Right now we are working on finding the people who are really ready for the gospel rather than trying to persuade people that they should listen. We have only 1 and 1/2 years to help people commit to the gospel of Christ and be baptized. We have all the time after our missions to help people come to the point where they're ready for the missionaries. As such, even though it's hard to tell people that you're no longer coming by (for it really does break my heart), I know that the Lord has people ready for me to go teach and I need to move forward in faith. 

One of the things that people notice about me (this is going off of what I've been told as feedback, not just me imagining things =) ) is that I love people, a lot. I have been working on that talent by showing my love more, in the way that I act and talk. But because I love people, this job can be difficult! I'm putting all my heart and effort into this people, praying that they will accept this joyful message, but then they don't, or worse yet they don't live it after they're baptized. I hate watching people choose, for they are choosing, to not accept Christ and His teachings at this point in their lives. They are denying themselves so many blessings from heaven, and I just want to weep for them. 

I have learned though that I cannot allow my negative feelings to prevent me from moving forward in faith. There is someone out there waiting to hear this message, and I will not deny them that privilege due to my heart feelings. I will always love those I have met, whether they join the Church now, later, or not at all. I am excited to see who else the Lord has planned for me to meet. I have learned that faith is acting, despite previous experience telling you not to, when you've been asked by Heavenly Father. I will be able to apply this lesson in many ways now and after my mission. I'm so grateful that the Lord trusts and loves me enough to give me opportunities to learn and grow.

I love you all and hope that you're doing well. Be good and remember who you are!

Love, 

Hermana Lindh