8/17/10 Hermana Christensen

Hi, all!

why is it always so hard to come up with a subject line? ha. HI! How is everyone doing?! I hope so well! Thank you for your plethora of emails! My goodness, thank you thank you! thank you for all your love and support--I seriously feel so lucky and so blessed! I want you to know that I have honestly and truly realized how much i love and miss my family. Holy hannah yes. Remember how I used to say that the MTC was every emotion every day? Ha. Well it was, but I had NO IDEA. Ha. But really. This is absolutely insane. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I knew I didn't, but I liked to think I did. I can't even tell you.. this past week has been a rollercoaster. I have felt that homesickness, that family sickness, that friendsickness, but I have also known from the gentle promptings of the spirit that I need to lose myself in this work---that's what I came here to do! Last night I had this realization that I am already forming amazing bonds with people, and that these relationships are beautiful. It seems so far away until I will come home, but last night I realized how hard that will be when it comes. But it's a long ways away, so I don't need to even worry about it!

San Diego... what a joke. This place is a JOKE. haha, I really am so happy. It has been hard and I have mosdef had my tough moments, but the Lord's tender mercies are over ALL THE EARTH. Last week we got to work at the Temple. We were just outside and we talked to people, but it was wonnnnnnnderful being there on temple grounds. What a beautiful, sacred place! I love the temple! We will go next transfer because we have the chance to go once every other transfer. :) I can't wait. But that was a beautiful experience, even with the scaffolding.

We are teaching a whole grundle of people. We have been having quite a bit of success, but now it's a matter of weeding people out who aren't ready to commit. We have been working SO CLOSELY with the ward--pmg ch 13 is SO GREAT!--and I find myself thinking of RR1st alllllllllll the tiiiiiiiiiime. We have such a great ward full of so many able, caring, wonderful and willing people! The ward here is fired up about missionary work, and I know that if our ward had as many nonmembers/less actives as we do here in the chula vista second ward, rr1st would respond to the call just as they have. Our prophet is calling this time THE RESCUE. I read elder eyrings talk from this past conference just this morning, and he says the word "rescue" or "rescuers" THIRTEEN TIMES. this really is the rescue. we are here to SAVE people. They need it. WE ALL NEED IT!

I just realized I'm using caps a lot. I'm enthusiastic to be talking to you all I guess!

I sure love my family. I cannot stresssssss it enoughhhhhhhhh. IIIIIIII LOOOOOOOOOOVE YOUUUUUUUU.

We hopefully have a baptism this week.. but I h onestly feel like we're rushing the girl into it. She hasn't answered our calls nor her door since we committed her last week, so we'll see. And Zulema is cominghome from tx this week and is excited for her baptism on the11th. in the meantime, we're working on finding people and get them progressing!

the battalion is awesome. i gave my first tour without my excperienced companion in spanish last night. it was terrrrifying but the lord provided and it ended up being a remarkable experience!

I love the gospel. I love the Lord. I am soo grateful. This has already been one of the most difficult things I've ever done, but, as I've been struggling, I truly have felt your prayers. Ah, I'm tearin up man. I really do feel them. I'm learning so much about loving through prayer, and about sustaining important relationships while I'm away. I am so grateful for all of you. I love you. Can't say it enough!

Vayan con dios mis amados.

hermana christensen

pleeeeeeease read

heb 12:1-2, eph 3:17-19, gal 2:20.