Happy St. Patty's Day to all of you!

Thank you all for the great Birthday wishes!!! I had a great Birthday and and St. Patricks day! We actually named last week "Birth-Patrick's Week". So we celebrated all week. We dyed all the food we possibly could green. We also did not eat very healthy so this I will.

I got my package this morning... But only because I called our zone leaders and begged them to let me get my package. We had to drive to another city to get the package this morning but I am happy that I got it!!! Thank you so much everyone!!! I love everything! I love the coloring books, They are my favorite. And the CLOTHES! I Especially love the camera!!!! I cannot wait to use it!! I loved all the letters too! I am keeping them forever! Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!!

My Birthday Dinner with the Lopez family was great! She made me a cute patterned skirt. The cake was great too! It was the mix you sent me, so thank you :). I kind of had a rough week this past week. I missed you guys... a lot! I have been doing so good so far. I think it was just because it was my Birthday.

I am surprised my ability to lead the area; however, bikes seem almost impossible because I have to almost always use the GPS to get around. So that would not work very well on a bike.

I did'nt know Minora passed away. That is so sad! That is so sweet what the sportsplex did for her family! How old are her kids? How did she die? I am very proud of my speedy siblings in the 5k! And my miraculous mom and dad. Good job!

Wow, time goes by so quickly! i can't believe the super meet is already up! You will have to tell me all the details in how they did!

What is the weather like there! It snowed this morning but it is already melted. School still was canceled. Why didn't we live in DC when I was little? Then I would have actually had a snow day. But that is okay :)

Was it a valentines dance the kids went to? Boys or girls choice? Where are all the pictures? :)

That is so exciting that your primary kids were so good! I went into primary yesterday and told them why I love being a missionary! I love being an example to all those kids and to hopefully have an impact on them. Oh, and I am sure the new way of teaching in church will get better! It definitely will take some time, for sure. Good job twins on your papers!! I told President Riggs you are both working on your papers right now!! Lots of blessings for our family! Aren't you all so lucky! No skype when they get their calls; I am pretty sure :(

Sounds like the house is slowly but surely getting done! How are you surviving in there?

I am glad that Dad is home this week! Does he get to stay for a while?

This week there were a lot of ups and downs, but here is an idea of what went on
-1 new investigator who is a jehovah witness!!

-5 almost new investigators. We just need to set up another lesson and they will be :). One of these people is a baptist preacher :S
-Carrie, one of our investigators, said her very first prayer for us. And it was beautiful. We are going to the temple Visitor's Center on Saturday!

-We found some money in our apartment ($30) and we brought it to the office. The next day we received a letter from a women who said " Dear Sisters, You both reconfirm my faith in the goodness and honesty of people, after a frantic search all day and into the well hours of the night, I half-heartedly went into the office this morning" So she found the money and we got to see how much that meant to her :)

- 2 kids attempted suicides which affected many people in the ward. one kid survived and the other did not. A recent convert, James, had a hard time because it was his best friend. It was hard to see him so sad and we couldn't give him a hug. We did all we could to help and we made him cookies and dropped them off at his door a couple days ago.

Well sounds like everything at home is great!! I love you all so much!!!

- Sister Lindmeir

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, 

Re: update

Hello Mom Dad Christian Waverli Shivani Marcus Gabe Maddie!!!

Have these past 2 months flown by for all of you too? It is crazy but I love it!!! Thanks Mom for the Birthday wishes :) It is so different on a mission, I keep forgetting it is my birthday Wednesday! It is great though because I lose myself in the work and I think of others and their happiness. I am very excited for my package though, I can't wait!!! :)

Sister Meannchen is my new companion from GERMANY!!! And she is so great!!! She has been out 7 1/2 months and she will finish training me. We get along super well and I feel like she is my long lost sister. We are a lot alike! We like to be silly and have lots of fun, but still work very hard. She is also very organized as well as I; so we work really well together. She also got an 8lb package full of real German chocolate today, so we are both happy girls right now! And we may be very sick girls if we keep eating it... Sister Meannchen's English is amazing!!! Most words that she doesn't understand, I don't either haha. I had a really hard time pronouncing her name, but I think I finally got it down. It is pronounced Men-he-en. It is really fun to say now.

I was quite worried with leading the area, but the good news is that I didn't need to be. I am very surprised by how well I know the area. And I color coordinated the map and ward directory which has helped a ton. And I am a lot more confident when I teach. We had a lesson yesterday with a former investigator and she is now an investigator again. But we could have not done that without the Spirit. We were able to speak with power and with the voices of a trump. It was incredible. Especially because we don't know all the answers but we can testify. That is what we did and we could tell she felt the Spirit.

We got an email Friday that the First Presidency has made a change for missionary emails. We now can write anyone, like friends, etc. And we don't have a time limit! So that is pretty cool! I don't know if it will effect me too much because we are so busy on p-days; so I don't know how long we will have time for emailing. And it also depends on how long my companions will want to email for.

Sister Lopez fixed my skirts and they work well. She also invited me over for dinner Wednesday and I was so grateful that she did! She is making ribs, mashed potato's and salad! I don't think you can get any better than that. Plus she is making me gluten free chocolate cake (the mix mom gave me :)) with Peanut Butter Frosting. I am really excited. And she took my measurements and is making me a skirt.

Wow Marcus!!! So exciting that you submitted your papers!!! I hope your assignment doesn't take as long as Grandma or Teryn's! I am too excited I can't wait! I bet you all feel that you! What would you think if he got called to DC South too?? Marcus would love it! Well Marcus will love it where ever he goes!

And Waverli.. Nice work on your papers! Keep up the good work :) You still going to young women's? it might be good for you to go to Relief Society before your mission... I was just thinking about that.

So about skype... As far as I know it will definitely happen. I just need to find a members home to skype at and it shouldn't be a problem. I can talk to all of you and see your beautiful faces on Mother's day!!! Can't wait!!!

I am soooo sorry mom about your teeth!! Sounds so painful!! Make sure you keep it nice and clean in there so you don't get an infection like I did! It is no fun!!! Your mouth will feel amazing once it is all healed though... I am sure!!!

Sounds like the house construction is getting there! You still need to send pictures. I want to see a picture for everyday you work on it! Have you already thought of colors for walls? If you have, what colors? That is exciting that you have new neighbors! And a new young women?! Sooo exciting. 

That is great that Maddie is staying for the school year!!!! Is her family still thinking of moving? She doing track? What is she up to these days?

Wow Gabe!!!! You are riding the unicycle?! That is amazing! You are pretty talented. And glad to hear you are still doing soccer and karate. We are working with a couple right now. The husband, John is a karate instructor and has a huge studio in his basement. Our ward is probably the worst ward for anyone to mess with. Every Saturday morning, many of the men and boys in the ward to MMA and a families home. It is mixed Martial Arts and I heard it is pretty cool. They fight and learn new skills and it is a great way to bring the ward close together. John and his wife go to help with it so it is a great way to involve nonmember and less actives. We almost went a couple weeks ago but decided it probably was not be appropriate for Sister Missionaries to go watch people fight.

Hope all is going well with Dad!! Have not heard from him but I am sure he is just very busy!!!

Christian sounds the same. Building a truck though? How is that working?

Good luck with track this week, Marcus, Waverli, Shivani?, Maddie?.  Keep your heads up no matter what! Take some pictures, I would love to see them!

Mom, Sounds like your primary lesson went great!! The Atonement really is so amazing and it is something that is so far beyond anything we can understand! But I know that it works! The amazing thing about the atonement is that it is not just to cleanse us from sin but it is to strengthen and better us everyday! As long as we are doing our part! I know that I am being strengthened every day because of the atonement.

I would love for you all to read the Book of Mormon and pray together each day! I have seen how it impacts families and it is amazing! The blessings will come and it is amazing!!!! I love you all!

-Sister Kiana Lindmeir

Weekly Update 2/25/13 - 3/3/13

HELLO DEAR FAMILY!!!

This week was very busy but it was a great week! I learned a lot and I now feel a lot more ready to lead the area! As a matter of fact, I am excited to! I am sad that Sister Anderson is leaving, but I am excited for her and all her future adventures. I am nervous about getting a new companion because I won't know who it will be until Thursday! But I am sure whoever it is, she will be great! And I will learn a lot from her too!

Spring is in the air!! Almost everyday this week, I have awaken at 6:20 (10 min. before alarm) because I hear the birds chirping and the son is coming up! It is so exciting! It looks like spring but it is definitely still COLD and WINDY! And I have heard from many people that there is going to be a huge snow storm Wednesday night! So it sounds like the storm must be coming from the west! How is the weather now?

Last night we had dinner with the Lopez Family. You are right, Mom; Sister Lopez is great! And she even gave me a present! She made me the cutest apron that I love! And now I won't get food all over myself!

There was also a recent convert fireside last night for DC South mission. One of Sister Anderson's Converts spake at it so we went and listened. One of the members from the ward went and took us with them as well as Brandon (a recent convert). We took pictures on the way and it was fun. (I am telling you this because there are a lot of random pictures from in dropbox from Sis. Anderson's camera that explain it perfectly). The fireside was great and it was amazing to her the testimonies of recent converts and to feel their spirit as they spake.

At the fireside was one of our investigators, Tara! She is from Iraq and she is amazing! Any health or financial problem that can happen to a person has happened to her! Yet, she is still so strong! She knows that the church is true and she wants to get baptized. She wants to be 100% devoted to the Gospel when she is baptized, but with all that is going on in her life, she just can't right now. She loves the gospel and she says that she is going to bring it to Iraq and she say's the people there need it! I just love her. She also calls us missionaries her ANGELS. Outside our apartment is a shelf where two glass angels are that she bought us. Regardless of if she gets baptized or not, this gospel has changed her life. She say's that it is what brings her peace that everything will be okay. She sleeps with her Book of Mormon by her side every night.

Well, sounds like a construction plan on our home! I cannot wait to see how it looks and to hear updates on it! It is going to look great I am sure of it!

Love you all very much!!!

Sister Lindmeir

Aka Elder Sister Kiana (that's what Marcus called me haha. Love you Marcus)

Weekly Update - 2/25/13

Wow... So it sounds like it is pretty crazy at home! I can't wait to see pictures! Who is doing all that work?!

Sounds like you are all doing great though! I love to especially read about my soon to be missionary siblings! I am so excited for you both!!!

This week had a lot of up's and down's! Reality recently hit me that Sister Anderson has only a week and a half left and then I will have to lead the area. However I know that I am in this area because the Lord knows I can handle it! I am prepared for any challenges ahead!

We confronted some interesting people this week.... One lady was out getting her mail and we were walking by. We said "Good Morning and she was very friendly. We talked to her for a minute and then we asked if we could give her a card that she can learn more about what we believe in. She asked which church; we told her and her tone of voice changed completely and she said, "Oh no honey!! No thank you!!! She looked at us like we were evil and she walked away. That was my first time meeting someone rude so I would say I am doing pretty good though. Everyone is usually pretty nice.

We were at Cafe Rio this week and a man came up to us an asked "So are you all nuns in training?". We told him that we are missionaries that share what we believe and know to be true. And then he told us how much respect he has for as and that he appreciates our service and our virtue. It was very kind of him. We said thank you and we gave him a pass-along-card. But I thought that was pretty funny what he said because I kind of feel like it is true haha.

This week, there was a 24 hr Companion Exchange. We switched companions from Sisters in another area. I stayed in Gainesville and Sister Anderson left. Sister Smith was my companion for a day and it was a good experience. I learned a lot, but I was grateful to have Sister Anderson back!!!!!!!

We went to lunch with Brandon this week. He is a recent Convert, 18 years old, and is preparing to serve a mission. He got kicked out of his home and so he lives with our Bishop. He took Sister Anderson and I to Pei Wei for lunch. It brought back good memories of home. But anyways... Brandon has lots of energy and is still learning a lot! But anyways he is a great kid and will be a great missionary

Last night we went to mission prep because Brandon went and we were going to have a lesson with him afterward. We were asked to share our testimonies on how the mission has brought us closer to Jesus Christ. I went first and shared what I know. I can't even remember what I said, but I shared how even though I am new to the mission I recognize that this is not only a mission for helping others be converted, but this mission is converting me. Every day, I experience and learn things that bring even more evidence to the truthfulness of this Gospel. It's amazing!

Elder Holland said that"when you are on your mission, you better come home with at least one convert. And it better be you!!!"

It is so true!! And although I feel so strong in this gospel, my testimony is continually growing stronger.

Sister Anderson and I have been enjoying every free second we get doing things like chewing a whole hubba bubba max package and blowing giant bubbles. Taking funny pictures, popcorn and movies. Last night we had a "sleep over". Which means we just moved our mattresses together and watched a church movie, "17 miracles". It is really good so I highly suggest it.

Last night, We visited a referral that we have been meaning to meet. They are so nice! The women in the homes name is Kina and she has a few kids. One of her daughters is named Kiana. Same spelling and everything. I got super excited and normally I just tell kids that my first name is Sister, but I told her that my first name is Kiana too and she got excited as well. We will be meeting with their family in a few weeks and I look forward to it!

Bad news... I lost my camera. I think I lost it on a dirt road in a huge wind storm. It is super sad and I am not very happy that I lost it. But the good news is that I just happened to put all the pictures on my camera into dropbox the day before. So I see that as a miracle in itself. Miracles happen all the time on missions. But anyways, If you could download all those pictures onto my computer and save them in a file then that would be great.

Well thanks for the email mom and dad. And I got your letter waverli, I will send your letter today. And I am going to write mom back too!. Thanks for everything!!!

Love you all,

Sister Lindmeir

( PS. Don't let anyone read this email or any of my emails unless they write me first. I miss you all too much and I feel a little lack of love from the kids. No excuses, I am busier than all of you. But I still love you all :) )

e: I LOVE MY MISSION!!!

Hello everybody,

Sounds like all is well at home and that you are all doing great!!! That is great :) I have been doing great as well. A lot of good things happened this week, but it was also a hard week too! 

The good news is that we got a new investigator out here. Our teaching pool is kind of dry right now but we are determined to make it a lot better. We have been working hard and so we are grateful for our new investigator. She seems very interested in and open to learn more. We have a lot of investigators but not so many progressing investigators. A lot of people are willing to learn but they are not willing to put in the effort. It can be frustrating at times. It makes me understand a bit more of how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ feel with us when we are not doing what we are supposed to. 

We didn't have much time to visit Freddy this week, but he is praying and has read the Introduction to the Book of Mormon. We will probably teach him again this week. 

My cold is getting better this week but my stomach is hurting. Okay.. so funny story... We had Valentines dinner with a family in our ward that is so nice and so sweet. For dinner, we had a baked potato bar! It was sooo good, but about a half our after we left, Both Sister Anderson and I started to have really bad stomach aches and we wondered if that family was too.  I really thought I was going to throw up. So anyways, since then, I have felt very nauseous all the time. Sister Anderson not so much. But yesterday after church, the husband in the family we went to dinner with asked if we have been feeling okay. I told him I have been sick and he kept telling us how sorry he was. Apparently him and his wife have been having the effects of the food as well. I don't know what it could have been but it is so funny that he said that. He feels soo bad and he wants to invite us over for dinner again to make up for it haha!!!

Sister Anderson and I went to a Zumba class the women in our ward have put together. It was sooo much fun! We are only allowed to do it because more than half the people that go are non-members so it is the perfect missionary opportunity. There is also a strength and Yoga class we are going to go to in hopes to meet some more non members that go. We are planning on going Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday's. I especially loved the Zumba and it made me realize how much I miss dancing. So I have been dancing a bit to Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat in our apartment. I have also been tumbling a bit in our apartment, but it is not going as well. It is so much fun though!!!

There is a lot more that I want to say but I don't have a lot of time today! My pictures are being uploaded into dropbox right now though :)

I love you all so much!!!!

Sister Lindmeir

I LOVE MY MISSION!!!

Hellooooo!!!!

 

I love my mission so much! This really is the best mission in the world wide world because I get to experience everything... But that is just my opinion. Thanks mom for the package and for writing me and for keeping me updated! The emails work great because I have more time to check them and I have free printing here so I printed them out! It is great! And you can email me as many times as you want! 

 

So I learned this past week that tracting is kind of like a last resort thing! Well, that is what my mission president says. He wants us to work with the members a lot so that they will feel comfortable telling us ways that we can serve them. We are only supposed to go to dinner 3x a week at members homes but we eat at their homes a lot more when we come and visit them.

 

Things don't stay secret long in the Gainesville Ward! I mentioned that I have a gluten and dairy allergy to a family and the whole ward knows now. I guess that is a good thing! I guess an email went around saying that the new sister needs food that is gluten and dairy free and I can't believe the response! It is crazy! So we have tons of food now at our apartment and I don't want it to go bad. I think I have been eating too much but just because I don't want to waste food. I need to watch myself more carefully! I don't even need to eat that much because I am not exercising that much! 

 

We have 30 minutes to exercise everyday at 6:30am it starts. Sister Anderson likes to exercise plus she is trying to get in shape before she leaves in three and a half weeks. I got pretty sick with a cold this week and so it was hard to even breath. Exercising became very diffficult because of my cold and I was just super tired. The good news is that I am feeling better and we have set a goal to wake up at 6:20 every morning to exercise.

 

We are not teaching too many investigators right now, but we are working really hard to get a lot more. We are working with a 19 year old named Freddy that works at Burger King. We met them there and we gave him a Book of Mormon, Restoration and Plan of Salvation Pamphlet. We went through the drive through on Tuesday and told him to txt us when his lunch break would be on Wednesday so that we could teach him a lesson. On Wednesday he texted us on his break and we went to Burger King and taught him about the Restoration and Plan of Salvation. The lesson went really well and we could tell he is sincerely interested and concerned about his salvation. He finished the lesson with a prayer in Burger King. Everyday since then, we have gone through the drive through and checked on Freddy. He is doing great and he prayed for the first time yesturday!!! So exciting and he said he felt good. We told him that he needs to read the book of Mormon and Pray to know its true. We will probably teach him another lesson this week.

 

We are teaching a few other people and all is going well. It is exciting to see people progress. I started driving the car a few days to learn the area better. It is confusing but I am trying really hard to learn everyones names and where they live. Sister Anderson is always so patient with me and she doesnt mind me always asking questions. I need to learn soon though because I will be leading this area in just a few short weeks.. Scary!!! President Riggs even said I could be training someone but I am pretty sure he was kidding.. I hope sooo!!!! But I do feel like such a different person out here! I am more outgoing and friendly! And I don't want anyone to not have the opportunity to learn about our church so Sis. Anderson and I are always handing out cards. 

 

Well, that is all for now!!! I love you all!!!

 

Love,

 

Sister Kiana Lindmeir

 

P.S. Mom and Dad, I am not sure I will have time to email you back so I may just write you. Love you  

My Mission update: 1/28/13 - 2/4/13

Hello Everyone!!!

I have not heard from anyone this week so I am hoping all is well at home!! So the good news is that I made it to Virginia safely! The plan ride was a little shaky and made me very sick, but that was okay!!! I met President Riggs afterwards and his wife! They are so nice and welcoming!!! We then headed out to The mission home where all 25 of us missionaries would sleep! It was pretty crowded but it worked out!! There was a testimony meeting that night and an interview with the President! Both went well, I think.

Thursday morning we went to a church building in Centreville for a transfer meeting!! I saw Elder Kussee and he is actually in my zone! I was pretty anxious and nervous to find out who my trainer would be! But I am not worried anymore! My trainer/companion is Sister Anderson! She is from SLC and she is an amazing missionary! We are in the Gainseville Ward in the Centreville Stake! I love it here! Our apartment is so nice too! It is the nicest one in the mission! Super high ceilings, walk in closets, big kitchen and living room. Includes and exercise gym, computer room with free prints. I don't ever want to leave this area.

So There are actually a lot of Mormons in our small area which makes the mission really fun! We get to work with members a lot and I already love them! Yesterday in church, I got up and introduced myself and shared my testimony in testimony meeting. The whole time at church, I felt like a celebrity; it was awesome! Everybody loves the missionaries! They love to feed us too! The first night, we had dinner at the Mao's home! They are Cambodian and I think they speak English, but I am not quite sure haha!! So we walk in for dinner and there were only two plates set! We asked them why and they said they were not eating with us. So we sat down and she pulled out all of this Cambodian food! There were egg rolls, Fried rice, curry and for dessert, grapes. It was so funny to just have them stand there and watch us eat but I loved it! We didn't really know what they were saying so we would just pretend we did. We laughed when she did and said like "oh cool", "hmmm" and "wow". It was great! And then walked around her whole house as she told us about her family. She was very proud of her kids and grandkids, they are all beautiful!

We have been spending a lot of the past few days meeting people and getting to know them. Sister Anderson has been in this area for quite a while and she only has 5 weeks left so she is a great missionary! I have been trying to learn all I can because I only get 5 weeks with her. So far it has been great though! We have had a few lessons the have gone well. I thought I would be nervous teaching, but I am actually been very calm. I love teaching and sharing my testimony with others. It is exciting to  know that I can change lives and be an example for others. Sister Anderson say's that I am doing a great job so far and she is always so good at giving me ways to improve (I always ask for advice).

On Saturday, I got the awesome opportunity to attend the baptism of Rob. Who is a former investigator of Sister Anderson's. He got a ride from a member to go to Alexandria for the baptism and it was amazing! It makes me look forward to when I attend the baptisms of my own investigators. Later Saturday night, we went tracting for the first time! I learned there are usually just three types of houses you get to: 1) Person answers and says they speak no English even though you know they do. 2) Person turns off lights and acts like their not home. 3) Or person is really not home. So from this, I became even more grateful that a lot of our work is done through the members.

Last night was hard because most people were watching the super bowl. We tried to meet with some people but it did not work out. We ended up going to a members home during half time and eating some food! It was fun but not a very productive night.

Well, That's all folks! Sorry for all the grammar mistakes and such but I don't have time to fix them! I love you all very much!!!

Love,

Sister Lindmeir