Tuesday, December 28, 2010

12/28/2010 Hermana Christensen



Christmas Day!!


Digging in to the Presents!
 my sweet family!

MY GOODNESS, HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU!!! this past week... my oh my, what love and joy is just bursting out of me for you! everything, all of it! it was PERFECT. i'm sorry i had to rush off the phone; please know that i love you and that was DEFINITELY the best christmas present i received! you are SUCH a priceless bunch of people, and i absolutely second broseph's notion that forever families is what it's all about. ah. i am just transcendentally happy and so grateful for you all. i hope christmas was SO GOOD and that you felt my uber love for you! (ps. so maybe the tradition won't catch on for willy and colby of note writing, i totally feel ya kay, but IIIIII will be doing it. so count on it! :))

okay so let me answer willy's questions. the area where we're at now is la mesa. it's north east of sanD slash mobat slash home and it's pretty rad. yeah, it's called "The Table" but hey, i like it. It's green, hilly, and really palm tree-esque. It's not really uber humble or anything, it'd just... i dunno, it's just normal i guess. the branch is poquita but SOLID. the members are right on and so awesome. it's home. there are so few of us that we all just bond and love each other so dang fast. i dunno, they're awesome.

we've been thinking so much about how we can help fortalecer a la rama. it's been rough because we have so few investigators, and they're basically dead (never answering the phone/door/nada) so we just don't really know how to use our time. but there's a section in pmg about going about and doing GOOD, and we've been trying to prestar servicio and lift where we stand. we helped the rs president, hermana garcia, buy something online and make cookies for christmas, and she was SO GRATEFUL it was unreal. we did service.. and it was FUN for us! ha ha but she was so grateful. we want to build up the members, strengthen them, and help them gain confidence in nosotras para que puedan uhhh so that they'll give us referrals. it's comin. it's slow, but heavenly father is blessing us. it's humbling for sure, but i am SO grateful. honestly. that's all i am these days. my journal is just so full of, "i am just so grateful... so grateful to be here, to be a missionary, to serve here or there and do this or that..." even when it's rough, or even when creepers ask me out at the batallon or when members are WAY RUDE in the battalion--i'm just grateful. hermana adams and i are trying to find joy in journey EVERY MOMENT!!! it's our comp goal for the transfer. so we spend a lot of time laughing. :)

life is beautiful. i am so happy. so agradecida. tan contenta.

les amo mi querida familia. no hay palabras. no puedo expresar como me siento, ni el amor que tengo para todos de ustedes. yo se que esto es donde yo necesito estar, y que este mision es para mi a darme cuento de CUAN MUCHO les amo en realidad. tan agradecida!!!

se que esta es la obra del senor. el esta tan interesado con nosotros. el evangelio es la respuesta a todas las problemas, preguntas etc que tenemos. me encanta a mi padre celestial y a nuestro salvador y por este tiempo del ano para reconocer y recordar que es de lo mas importancia en nuestras vidas... LA FAMILIA Y EL EVANGELIO!!!

i love you all! have a great new years! be safe and drink some bubbly for me!

jk i don't know why i said that. you know what i mean though. maybe have boot reer floats? ( love ya mikie! thanks for the christmas notas!!!)

hermana christensen

ps  i'm sorry this is so lame and short but i have zero time!  i just want to say THANK YOU. for writing. for CHRISTMAS. for all the LOVE, support, help, packages, prayers, emails, ahhh for everything! you two are such great fans! speaking of which, are the shirts too smalll? muscle shirts?! sorry dad they didnt' have xl! but i hope they still sorta work...

it was a great christmas. it made me really think about my family of course, and how much i love you, but i feel so blessed and upheld and focused. it wasn't hard to hang up because things are just so good with us and it was like id talked with you the day before and like i'll talk to you tomorrow. that's practically the case! time doesn't exist! but i'm so thankful to be blessed with you and i'm thankful for all you are and do. i almost feel like that doesn't mean anything to you anymore because i say it so freaking much. ha but i mean it! i'm taken care of here. christams didn't feel like christmas though because it wasn't full of family time. it just felt like i was a missionary spreading the most important message to the world and i happened to get a lot of sweet garby AND i got to talk to you. ;) life is beautiful!

don't worrry. just be happy and live and love and keep going and find joy int he journey! you're both such good examples of that. so just know i love you! smile big! talk to you next week!  tu hija

Tawny & Joan 5/23/2010

PS: JOAN!!!! i sure love you!! i hope your christmas was BEAUTIFUL and that you're loving the gorgeous utah mountains at this time of year! :) i hope you know how much i love you! i've been thinking about you a lot; how is the book coming? i hope you're taking time to breathe and relax and read a good book! and sue, i hope you're doing well, too, and that things are going well! let me know if i can do anything for you two. i loveeeeeeee you!!!!!!!!

Monday, December 27, 2010

12/27/2010 Elder Christensen

Christmas Lunch


Santa delivers in Chile!
Hello Family and Friends...


Christmas Breakfast!
I find that yet again some how we´ve been shortchanged on our email time... However thats okay. We were able to talk for an hour on the phone yesterday so I´m satisfied. Its been a great P day. We didn´t play soccer because my comp doesn´t have money to get to the plaza of Maipu. I was content to FINALLY just sit around all day and write... Listen to music... Hang out!! Enjoy my DESCANSO!! My REST!! Man it was really so nice yesterday to hear all of your voices! I can´t lie after 7 months of nothing verbal it was kinda weird to hear my own mom say.. HELLO. I´m also so happy that you guys got my package and that its all in decent shape! I know you love that marker on the back of the ties!! Just know that mine says the same! Merry Christmas tie 1 of 3! ;)

Its been a great Christmas.. When I started the mission I figured that Christmas here would be bland..Sad... Terrible... Yet... I LOVED IT!! I had my family in my heart the whole time.. I made our traditional breakfast too! Of course it didn´t turn out as good... I don´t have Dad´s talent to make hash browns and eggs or moms talent to burn the bacon... But hey it was still really good! Actually... A couple of times I FORGOT it was Christmas... I don´t really know how to explain it... You just get LOST in the work.. You start visiting people and you listen with love... You end up Forgetting that its the 25th of December... But I enjoyed it. I listen to SO much Mannheim Steamroller and Amy Grant that I´m sure even Dad would have been sick of it haha.

Mom remember what Hermana King said? About a white Christmas? We had one too! That Baptism we had on Sunday was SUCH a miracle... He just fell out of the sky one day and showed up at church... Now? He´s made covenants with our Father in Heaven and is on the happiest path that a person can find. THE TRUE PATH! I wanted to give you guys a challenge this week... I know you share about the gospel.... You´re all so smart! But... This week.. Share about the atonement... Share that there are 3 parts... The suffering in the Garden of Getsemaní ( I forgot how its spelled in english) The death on the cross, and the resurrection. Share with them... Mosiah 16:5... THERE IS NO REDEMPTION for the person who doesn´t take hold of the atonement........... Because our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ conquered death, EVERY SINGLE person here on this earth will too.. However.. If they do not accept the gospel, they will have NO redemption and will have to suffer for themselves what he suffered for us.. I know this gospel is true!! I know that the teachings we have... The principles and the ordinances we apply... HELP US! They keep us safe from satans fiery darts... And most of all.. I KNOW THAT I¨M DOING WHAT I NEED TO DO TO LIVE WITH MY FAMILY FOREVER. I´m so happy that we don´t have these problems like the people here in the mission do. I´m so grateful for Orem Utah. That I was able to start in the gospel and to get going early on in life... I love you guys so much. My family means the whole world to me. Thank you so much for the best Christmas ever. Keep on keepin on. Much Love, Elder Christensen


WHITE CHRISTMAS!!!


Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas 2010 Poem


 A Missionary Christmas


I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving, the thrill just wasn't there.
No pictures taken with Santa Claus, my decorating has no flair.
His presents are shoes, shirts and ties, two suits and socks...no fun.
I've bought him all white clothes because….This year, I'm giving Christ my son.

I've spent more time in the temple, my testimony stirred.
I've reread November’s Ensign, felt strength come from His words.
I pray more frequently. My tears are quick to run.
Abraham seems closer because, this year I'm giving Christ my son.

I wonder how those Lamanite mothers gave their sons to war.
Or how the pioneers chose Zion, their sacrifice was so much more.
My loss will be his presence. I'll miss his smile a ton.
For two years I will pray for him, I'm giving Christ my son.

I stare at his face when he's not looking. I memorize his eyes, their shine.
He's always hungered for the part of him that makes his soul divine.
The stories and lessons he always heard, His choice and mine are one.
I'll put my faith in God's hand, this year, I'm giving Him my son.

Past gifts have lost their glitter; I think I finally understand.
Christ's birth should be celebrated by giving Him a hand.
It's because I know Christ lives and reigns, that all his packing's done.
My gift has taken years to make, this year...I'm giving Christ my son.

I know there’s One who understands, the sacrifice I’m making.
Who knows the gift I willingly give, the toll it will be taking.
For He has done it all before. Greater love—there could be none.
For years ago God gave to me, His only begotten son.

The hands I washed, the hands I held, the hands I taught to pray;
Now knock on doors to find the ones who will listen to what he’ll say.
Because I know Christ needs him, until all the gathering’s done.
My gift has taken years to make. This year…I’m giving Christ my son.

(Plus one very special daughter who is SO much more than a Plus one!

Author Unknown

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

12/21/2010 Hermana Christensen

Hermanas Park & Christensen
WHO IN THE WORLD ARE YOU PEOPLE?!!!

i literally cried yesterday morning when i opened up day 20. hermana adams and i just sat there crying, thinking of all the good we could do with that. we went to wally world (ha bro) today and got stuff for a family we dearly love. unbelievable. you are unbelievable.

and the headbands? i highly doubt i could've chosen better myself. NO JOKE! call kaylynn master!!
but seriously. thank you SO much. i cannot even... wow. i do not have words. i love you all so much. so so so much! i love my family! holy hannah!

what a week! yeah, dad you're right on. 75 year round in san diego my EYE. we literally cross a river to get the battalion. ha. it's been so dang rainy here but i have LOVED it! this morning we were soaked from head to toe as we ran around the state park and i looooooooooved it. half of me wanted to just lay down in the road and feel the water run over me... oh man, staish and i did that once, but we weren't missionaries then. gotta represent! anyway, it's been a straight up solid legit bomb week. ha, it's actually been pretty rough, but i mostly just remember having a dang good time. we had mte--aka president did a mini mind blowing sesh and then i got to go to our area with a trainer and let me tellllllll you--hands down the funnest day of my mission so far. i have a six pack from laughing so hard. and we saw TONS of miracles!! what in the world! heavenly father just loves His children. hardcore. so many miracles and little tender mercies all over the place. we've been caroling lots, and believe me when i say that caroling in spanish in the rain is the BEST. our himnos are all watery but we love it. we are happy! and let me tell you--i love the rama. i love them SO DANG MUCH! oh hey uber tm--a family in my ward (the marquez family) have a son serving in vegas... she showed me a picture of petie and i flipped. she was all teary; in sacrament they announced it and said (basically), "we send one missionary out and we get another one back!" or something, and everyone was just so touched by heavenly father's love in this small and simple yet telling way. how neat. anyway! tell peter to take GOOD care of him! what a stud. the world is so small! ------- i feel like i'm just exclaiming randomness (there's that word again! haha) all over this email and maybe you all have headaches now but that is partly because i am SO happy, another part because i get to talk to you in like .26 seconds, and i am SERIOUSLY JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU. in all seriousness, i want you to know that i am seriously so thankful for where we are all and where we've all b3een and where/what we've come from. our family is where it is today because of the things we've faced and overcome. my heart is just so full of gratitude for you all! i love you so much!

(i know it's not reading. i love words but sometimes they just fall short. just know i love you!)

i hope this email has made even a poquito of sense. i'm sorry if my last week's email was uber triste aka desanimado what? i mean sad. ha! it's been a hard change, but it's been SO good and i already love the rama muchisimo. it's the best. i know heavenly father's got a plan for it and for us and that this just a little snippet of it. its neat being in such a fun little branch because we get to know everyone personally and deeply because EACH PERSON is important and plays a special role. but in reality, that's how it is everywhere--even in a ward of 900 people. i've been pulled in and filled up with love so fast there. i'm so grateful!

la vida. estoy tan agradecida. se que estoy donde Dios quiere que este y que El tiene planes para TODOS INDIVIDUALMENTE y que podemos tener toda la felicidad! yo se que nuestro salvador vive. ah, este tiempo del ano is BIEN HERMOSO! tengo tanto amor en mi corazon para ustedes y mi padre celestial.

les amo MUCHISIMO! hasta.... DOMINGO!! HOOORAH!

hermana christensen

ps thank the ward UBER! from hermana christensen. today my mail consisted of: gordy, heinz, johnson, holts. i have SO many people behind me and so much support. tell them thanks so much!!

Monday, December 20, 2010

12/20/2010 Elder Christensen

Hey I love you mom. I´m planning on this sunday at 6 o clock. Talk to tawny tomorrow.. If there is some problem CALL or get ahold of Elder Cummings IMMEDIATELY and let me know whats up... Maybe they would even let me call in the mission office.. Who knows... I´ll plan on coming to this little internet place sun at 6.. I´ll call the home phone.. Love you very much. gotta run. CIAOO!! Picture on the way!!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

12/14/2010 Hermana Christensen

Hermanas Christensen & Adams
So i was told that border patrol has a stamp for latinos no mexicanos and its "otm: other than mexico." that's the distinction? ha ha.

HEYYYYYYYYYYY!  so hello there!

well, where do i begin? my heart is full. all is well.

i was transferred from chula my friends. and myyyyyyyyyyyyy oh my. ah. i'll spare you the drama, we all know what happens. ----- i absolutely loved my time there. it was beautiful. it was so full of feelings and love and hard work and GOOD people. i absolutely fell in love with the people; i learned very valuable lessons there, and I will be forever grateful that i got to start my mission there.

i'm in a spanish branch now. there are about 40 people in it. it is so different than chula. i think the lord is trying to remind me to rely more on him. i'm tryin! my new companion is sister adams--funny.. we've been out the same amount of time and we're total buds. it's a blasty being with her, and i know we'll see a lot of good come. we're tyring to making changes and really create super trust so we can build and strengthen the rama. it's like starting from scratch though. we're not really sure how to find new investigators, and there's a pilot program going on there where we don't knock doors. so basically it's down to the members. we're just going to get to work. i don't know what else to say.

i once asked sister story why everyone says the mission is hard. i'm realizing it's hard in ways i didn't expect... in the ways i least expected actually. leaving home was hard, leaving the mtc was hard, leaving my first area was hard, and i know that leaving this area will be hard, and it's all for the same reason:

the people.

this truly is the savior's work because it's all about LOVE. love love love. i feel such love for the people i have come to know over the past 6 months. i know that this is what it's all about.

the worth of souls is so great. i'm grateful to be here. onward ever onward.

i hope everyone is well and happy and stoked for the christmas. i love you all so much. i've felt and feel your prayers, this past week especially. thank you. thank you endlessly!

con amor,

la hermana christensen

Hermana Christensen in her Orem East Stake Virtue Scarf!

Monday, December 13, 2010

12/13/2010 Elder Christensen

How are you guys all doing? The reason why I´m sending an email like this is becuase nobody is responding!! Freak!!! But thats fine.... Its all part of the work of the Lord... We have struggles!! Elder Hernandez and I are doing great. We are working hard and getting along better than ever. Today we ate... Lasagna and completos for lunch.. SO HEALTHY!!! Also get this... Our neighbor gave me a recipe for cheesecake... EASY... and I made it.. It tastes SO yummo.. Then we are gonna put strawberry jam on top. I don´t know about you but I´m excited! As for the work... We had a few new families show up at the chapel this week and we´re hoping to be able to work hard with them and get them progressing! Mom I need a few things.... First... The moccassins I sent home from the MTC? I need them!! the reason I sent them home is because the inside was tearing out... So I wonder if you might be able to try and fix them/re-inforce both of them and send them here? I bought a pair of slippers that already are destroyed.... I can´t find another pair anywhere! So...If you can fix them and send them? I´d love you.... Look at the lining inside... Another thing... We´ve asked around here? And... things are closed up on the 24th and the 25th... So lets try to organize our conference call on the 26th to be the safest?? Sound good? Another thing.... I heard the Scorpions... I´m still lovin you the other day?? SO GOOD!! Just wanted to say that I love you all and that I´m working hard to do my best and find those chosen people who are ready to receive this gospel... keep praying for me and I´ll do the same for you.. I know that it is helping us be better people and begin the work of the Lord!! I don´t know where you all were but I hope we can talk next week. Enjoy the Christmas season!! Ciao!!
Your son and brother,

Elder Christensen

P.S... Remember I don´t want a ton of Book of mormon disks!! Just the one with lehis dream!! Love you all! CIAO!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

12/07/2010 Hermana Christensen

HEY!!!


alllllllllllllllllllllllrighty. so guess what? justin woody LEGITIMATELY got BAPTIZED! Yep. And after his gpa did the ordinance of baptism, he literally swam out of the font. i mean it. he swam. he wanted to do it even though it was only like three feet deep. I know! Bless his heart. I'll include fots. ( ha. colb.)

Well hello. the baptism seriously was a special little event. It was done with the primary baptisms, so we didn't have to do too much planning--which was unusual--but it was perfect for justin to be baptized with kids his own age. His dad is coming back into activity and we really feel like Justin getting baptized is the key to all of them coming together and finding the happiness God wants every family to have. I really love the Woodys so much.

Transfers are tomorrow. Yep. I don't even know what's going to go down, but I can honestly say that I feel still. It's been so beautiful being in Chula with hermana historia for these past four months (somehow that long whaaaaaaa)--and I'm grateful. That ward is like home to me; I love the people there. I know if I get transferred it'll be a little rough, but es la vida. I'm here to find teach and baptize, so the sweet relaionships we've fostered with these people have got to take second place to my calling from the Lord. So.. I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord. I'll let you know next week.

It's been freeeeeeezing here. seriously. it's a different kind of cold than utah.. it's like moist and so cold. funny that bro is dying in heat!

so the killpacks came in this past week.. twice! they are SO nice. thank you so much for the goodies!!! my goodness! i hope you enjoy the ornament. :) i'm so excited about it! that was a tm that shelb popped in for a second--somone had just barely given me that ornament! stick it proudly on the tree. :) a woman here made it.

at district meeting last week someone shared a story about a lady who got baptized and received her patriarchal blessing. it said that she would have been baptized 40 years earlier had the missionary accepted his call. THIS WORK IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE LIVES AND SALVATION OF OTHERS!

I have an immediate assignment for everyone within hearing (sight) of my voice (words): Go and read "Candle of the Lord" by boyd k packer IMMEDIATELY. I read it this morning and my mind literally exploded. Not really, but it's sooooooooo good. So so so good. Please. Go and do. Like Nephi.

"Y ahora quisiera que fueseis humildes, que fueseis sumisos y dociles; faciles de persuadir, llenos de paciencia y longanimidad; siendo moderados en todas las coasa; siento diligentes en guardar los mandamientos de Dios en todo moment; pidiendo las cosas que necesiteis, tanto espirituales como temporales; siempre dando gracias a Dios por las cosas que recibis. y mirad que tengais fe, esperanza y caridad, y entonces siempre abundareis en buenas obras." alma 7:23-24. mosdef been a theme scrip as of late. i have been thinking SO MUCH about humility since i got to sanD. I feel like EVERYTHING comes back to humilty (or the lack thereof). and same with meekness--it's something i don't really understand, but i'm praying for it.

I LOVE this quote from Brigham Young. It's so neat that this historic site, with all the descendants of the mobat coming through, are direct fulfillment of this prophecy!

"Bretheren, you will be blessed if you will live for those blessings which you have been taught to live for. The Mormon Battalion will be held in honorable remembrance ro the latest generation; and I prophesy that the children of those who have been in the army in defense of their country, will grow up and bless their fathers for what they did at that time. And men and nations will rise up and bless the men who went in that battalion. These are my feelings in brief respecting the compnany of men known as the Mormon Battalion. When you consider the blessings that are laid upon you, will you not live for them? As the Lord lives, if you will be live up to your privileges, you will never be forgotten, without end, but you will be held in honorable remembrance forever and ever." -Brigham Young

Incredible. I love serving here. I have learned so much... it's so different than i thought it would all be, but i am profoundly grateful. I know that this is God's true church, again established on the earth, and that we really do have living prophets leading and guiding us today. I love the words of God, and am soooo grateful for the scriptures and for modern day revelation that bring me suuuch peace and comfort and guidance. I know that Heavenly Father has placed us all where we need to be, and that we pass through certain experiences for a wise purpose in Him. this is His work. He's involved. He's overall. I know it.

Life is beautiful. I love you all. I pray for you. Thank you for all you do. I hope you have a wonderful week! Hasta ver la proxima.

Hermana christensen

Christmastime at the San Diego Temple!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

11/30/10 Hermana Christensen

we just found these guys. they're members that have moved into our ward--vanessa and valerie tellez--and we love them.
Hello hello everyone!

I am going to be full of rage if i find out you opened my christmas present before the 25th of december. haha. but seriously. if you did already, put all that goodness back into the box and WAIT to enjoy it all, my goodness!
It was such a joy to see the dyers. christine and i hugged forever--it was soooo good seeing her! Ah! I seriously just feel so grateful for the ward and for my family.

Thanksgiving was beautiful. Basically we partied at the mobat for a little while (pictures someday) and then went and visited a whole bunch of people. but hyonestly, we didn't take much advantage of the eats. sad news, but oh well. I had one piece of pie and deeeeeelish sweet potats. raging. ha ha. danky dank. but anyway, the point is that i realized how many lonely people there are in the world--especially around the holidays. i'm grateful that i have a companion that is so sweet and thoughtful and rad, and that we both have other sisters and members surroudning us to help us out, not to mention awesome families and an all knowing father in heaven. i'm just thankful. even if/when we feel alone, we aren't. He's there. He understands. there's a line in my patriarchal blessing that says I will be led to those who need me and that when i need them, they'll come to me. I know it's true. I know that we are all here for each other. simple as that.
there's literally no time. i'm sorry i won't have time to write you all your separate emails, but i wanted to say:
colb--your stack of paps are immaculate. i've gone through TWO and have already been inspired. my district has asked for copies of the mediocrity paper.

willy--i got to ride a stationary bike this past week (JOY!!!!!!! SOOOO HAPPYYYY!) and i thought ofyou. it's amazing how fast you lose it like you said! yikes. also. about rubios--i realized why i like it so much and why you have no reason to give me all that garby. i've eaten authentic mexican food and it makes me a little sick because it's soo greasy. but rubios is FRESH eats! and i don't feel heavy and gross and fat after eating it. does that make sense?

ma--my advent times will be PERFECT. you're so thoughtful! thanks for jenn's address! i think pg 42 of the ensign was my fave. and my fave bom part--the whole thing. no but seriously. alma 26 is my fave fave fave.

bro--YOURE SO AWESMOE! keep going in el conquistador. i may have a referral for you soon!!! ... it's brewing. :) ENCONTRAR ENSENAR BAUTIZAR!

kaylynn--your freaking pictures are HIGHLARIOUS and i particularly loved all your diction; my favorite: mediocre at best. HA! thank you! i know we are missed if you're quoting us! keep it up!

you guys. i want you to know that i count you first as i enumerate my many many blessings. i love you more than i can say! i want you to know that i feel your prayers. honestly, when i get down or discouraged, it literally canNOT last for long because something good immediately comes; i know that is heavenly father blessing me because there are so many of your praying for me and my success and happiness. i'm serious. i got some pretty profound revelation about that the other day, when i was thinking about how this should probably be harder than it is... then i remembered my cheerleaders and it all made sense. :) your prayers are felt. oh, are they!
i hope everyone's thanksgiving was beautiful. i love you. i am thankful for forever families.

hermana christensen
mormon.org

Monday, November 29, 2010

11/29/10 Elder Christensen


First.... Me gettin my haircut today!! That lady is SO cool! Thats the machine I bought too mom!


Second... Us at our baptism yesterday with everyone!!


Third... Just us and him at the baptism.

We just did it yesterday that baptism!! SO GOOD! So spiritual! His mom and sis showed up and they LOVED IT!!! It was very spiritual and powerful.

Love you all a ton. I look forward to talking with you all next week. The church rocks!! Ciao! Elder Christensen

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

11/23/10 Hermana Christensen

UTES?!!:  a bunch of them came in this week for the game, and it was sooo confusing for me.. i'd see the big UTAH on their chests and i'd get excited, but then i felt this instantaneous hatred for them... haha jk. but seriously. it was confusing for me. utah! wait... ugh utah. haha dang utes.

HELLO EVERYONE!

happy week of thanksgiving! and myyyyyyyyyyy am i ever grateful for all of you? SO grateful! i feel like gratitude is something i can be so much better on--just noticing the good things and not worrying about the other stuff. :) i'm redoubling my efforts in that zone. :)

oh, before i forget, i talked to president and he was totally cool with a conference call of sorts. BRO! that'll be siiiiiiiiiick. but i really have no clue how yall will do it. you may need to get skype? i dunno. bros i just don't know. but i DO know that it'll be classy and i cannnnnnnnnot wait. (bro i heard that if things don't work out with that you may be able to call me here, too. so don't fret son. ps. adolf hernandez? hahaha i laughed SO hard! hahaha.) oh man. anyway, that'll be great. get workin on it!

it's been a good week. somehow or another we had about nine lessons with less active recent converts... that is a WHOLE lot. but it was good. i loved what bro said the other week about how this is a family matter and how we are here to strengthen families so they can have what we have. that is SO true. we're really working with the woody, esparza and pongia families to see that. if they were all in this together and if they all wanted the same things and were all headed in the same direction.. ah! things would be so much easier for them and they would feel god's love in their lives more.

yesterday morning we were talking with our district leader about how we can be truly converted in this work, not just for the duration of ourmissions, but for forever. this quote came to mind:

"if we are to build zion of which prophets have spoken and of which the lord has given a mighty promise, we must set aside our CONSUMING SELFISHNESS. we must rise above our love from comfort and ease and in very process of effort and sturggle, even in our extremity we shall become better acquainted with god." ;-gbh

wow. how's that for power? i know that there are certain things i am selfishly holding onto--like studying 1/2 hr of the bom for ME and not using what little time i have to study and prepare for others-- etc. i know that the second we render our WHOLE hearts to god, He'll endow us with power. so that's what i'm working on. that and christlike attribute of the week charrrrrrity... we can get there. the more we try to become like our Savior, we can help those around us. it's such a purifying process--the way it's meant to be.

welp i'm fresh out of time. i want you all to know that i am SO grateful for you. seriously. when i get down, i rest easy, knwoing i have a family at home who is behind me 126%. you are such a blessing and strength. and this thanksgiving season, as i count my OVERFLOWING blessings, you are at the top of my list.

i love you all.

happy thanksgiving! enjoy it thoroughly!!!

hermana christensen

Monday, November 22, 2010

11-22-10 Elder Christensen

Hello family and friends!! This week has been HOT but really great!! I can´t believe that you guys have SNOW there. So lucky!! Here I am with sweat dripping as we speak!! Haha. My comp and I have been doing great here in El Conquistador. We´ve had a ton too do lately as well. We have been visiting a bunch of members who are like all inactive.. I don´t get it... They are ALL inactive and they ALL say that they are unhappy and that they need to return to the church.. Then they don´t do ANYTHING. They take NO steps. They all say as well that it is hard to return once you´ve left it.... You guys!! DON¨T GET OFFENDED IN THE CHAPEL PLEASE. I´m so sick of that sorry excuse for a weak testimony. Ohhh but so and so didn´t say hi to me and I got offended.... Uhhh.... really???


We learn so much in the chapel. The sacrament is one of the most incredible things that we have the oportunity to take every Sunday. We are CLEAN and we are PROMISED the holy ghost at the end of the prayer.... As a missionary its obvious that I want the spirit with me all that I can so that I can be a better instrument in the hands of our Heavenly Father.. Somehow people forget that........ no... I´m too tired this week to go.... Or no... I would rather go to the movies... How hard is it to go to church? Los principios del evangelio son sencillos y VALEN LA PENA . The principles of the gospel are simple and they are WORTH IT. There is a REASON why we do these things!! Reading the Book of Mormon is another one... The book is FULL OF POWER!!! It doesn´t matter if we read about the zoramites and we don´t understand a word of whats going on.. We have that extra power for just having READ the book during the day. Our president told us that if someone with a baptismal date can read EVERY SINGLE DAY even just 5 verses that their baptism WILL NOT FALL THROUGH. My goal is to visit our candidates and read EVERY DAY with them to take ahold of this promise. I love each and every one of you so much. I know that life is FULL of challenges and trials that we don´t always know how to overcome. In the movie together forever, this teenager says... I don´t know the answers, but I know where to find them. The gospel is AMAZING. We follow the principles... WE ARE BLESSED!! SO SIMPLE!! However sometimes the world wins. Sometimes we would rather watch a movie or go out with our friends....But I promise you that if you can do the things recommended by the prophet as well as take hold of all these principles, you will see the difference in your testimony as I have in mine. I love you all so much and hope that you have a great week wherever you are. ITS TRUE. Ciao. Elder Christensen

Ps ... A picture of a kitten that we rescued.. We heard it meowing behind our house and it was starved and dying. MOM that reminds me of the time we rescued a kitty from the baseball field!! Shes fine and we´re giving her away today. ... Me last week at the end of internet... Big smile!!

I´m working for you guys! I´m working to make more famlies like ours! I love you all and hope this week is great! Ciao!

A picture of a kitten that we rescued.. We heard it meowing behind our house and it was starved and dying. MOM that reminds me of the time we rescued a kitty from the baseball field!! Shes fine and we´re giving her away today.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

11/16/10 Hermana Christensen

Well helloooooooooo!!
I've been told my emails are long.. haha, well good thing I'm fresh out of time this week huh?

HI everyone! I hope things are going well! Thanksgiving is right around the corner! I hope everyone is reeeeeeeeal stoked. I sure am. Dia de gracias. and i have sooo much to be thankful for! namely you--my sweetest familia who i love so dearly. i hope that everyone is well and happy. :)

so henry received the espiritu santo yesterday. unreal. so neat. and he's suddenly speaking in church in a few weeks. that guy really was a dry mormon! but now he's wet. ha. so legit. what a pleasure and joy and blessing it has been working with him and his sweet fam. they've taught us more that we've taught them, surely!

Henry & Petersons before Henry's baptism!
the work rolls on. people are coming along poco a poco. our investigadores sure have a lot of struggles. it's unbelievable the things that they're facing. and really--HONESTly--it stems from part member families. kids can't be baptized, wives can't go to church bc their hub won't let them... honestly, i am learning SO much about family relations out here. the gospel needs to be our EVERYTHING in order to have families exist and survive and be happy. ah. i am just so grateful to have what i have.

i've been thinkin a lot about all this lately--i've seen a lot about how the environment here really shapes people. and you know what i thought about? my sweet parents. i was telling hma story about how we used to take those sunday bike rides and walk through houses and stuff, and dad, sooo many times you said, "kristen and i almost bought this house but..." and 99% of the time the problem was something about the neighborhood. and you know what? I am SO grateful to have grown up wherei did. I didn't really see how it made a difference then, but, looking back, WOW do i ever. where we grow up and who we do so with makes such a difference--especially in our younger lives. and, so, as i've thought about kay and colb buyin a house, i imagine them being just as careful and prayerful as you guys were--knowing that pita needs a good neighborhood with good good neighbors to help raise that sweet sweet little girl. when kris, kc, and laura came in, i got a little emotional telling them about how much love is in my heart for rr1 and all the studs there who really helped me in my progression; i am who i am today because of the good influences i was brought up around. So, mom and dad, i thank you for always having our best interest at heart, for being sooo careful and so thoughtful as you made decisions that have and will continue to always bless my life.

i sure love you all! i wish you a BEAUTIFUL, happy, healthy week from sunny sunny san diego. :) ha!

love!  hermana christensen

ps happy bday leelee!

pss KELSSSSSSSSSSSS ;ALSDFJ;ASLDKJF;OASKDJF;AOISEFJ;AFA;LSKDFJA;SLDFJASL;DKFJ i am absolutely BURSTING!!!!!! i'm praying for you sweetness!! BELIEVE IT! go forth and conquer! i'm here for you! always!

"With even your straongest faith, God will not always reward you immediately according to your desires. Rather, God will respond with what in His eternal plan is best for you, when it will y ield the greatest advantage. Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. That causes your faith to increase and your character to grow." -Richard G Scott

"To me was a trying time after being driven from my home and leaving all both land and house in the hands of enemies and now to leave my wife and children with nothing but a blanket over them to keep them from the hot sun, but leaving them in the hands of the Lord." -Jeremiah Willey

"I am full of pleasure and delight when i look upon so many with whom I had the honor of walking with knapsack and muskit." -David Wilkins

i should explain--

the last two quotes on my email are quotes from the kiosk of the roster list here at the mobat. i'm trying to incorporate that into my emails more because it really is sooo incredible. the story and the spirit here is incredible! and it really is so sweet because people are just lured into here unknowingly, and then they feel the spirit and then refer themselves and WABAM! jk. but seriously. just yesterday a guy came in and told us that his son is now teaching a guy in the CZECH REPUBLIC becase he referred himself here at the mobat. it's so incredible. it's a powerful story.

so the quotes are from the men who were on the march. :) what faith and sacrifice.

love you!

Monday, November 15, 2010

11/15/10 Elder Christensen

Hey everyone. So today my internet session was fried. I put itunes on the computer only to have all the songs get erased. Then the internet crashed. Then I couldn´t print your letters. Then nothing I had would send. Basically I had it all planned out to get an email out and chat with you guys but my internet was terrible. All is well here. TAWNY I got your package and opened it! THANKS FOR THE FOOD AND THE SICKKKKKKK TIES!!! Mom and dad. I got your hawaii package too. Wow. It came late but it came FULL and awesome! I´m so sorry for today. Its crap and I feel terrible. I usually have time to write you individually and then chat as well but today was so bad. I´m so frustrated. My comp is standing and ready to go so I have to cut this off now. The work is GREAT. We are working so hard and having great results. Tawny and the Fam. I´m wondering if there is going to be some way that we can all arrange to talk together for christmas. Talk to your mission president tawny! I think we may have to arrange a conference line or something. I´m gonna ask my president too. Mom I´m still working on getting a pic with something chilean. I have pictures to send today but I don´t have time to send them. Maybe next week I can get a computer that works and we can do it like normal. Again I´m so sorry. I´m a bit upset I have to wait another week to talk to you all but... thus is the mission right?? Dad I love you keep working hard and loving your neighbors. Try to stay happy and kick out your stress from work! Mom. Keep doing all you can to support dad and loving him and the gospel. Keep being you! Kay and Colb. Keep making smart decisions together and preparing to have another member in your family! Tawny. Keep working hard. I know you are a great tool in the lords hands. Again.. I´m sorry this is so lame. That will make next week even better right?? I love you all so much! You´re in my prayers!! OH!!! We have another baptism this week! An 18 year old kid named Jose!! I¨ll have pics next week! I love you alllllllllllllllllllllll ciaoooooooooooo!!


Elder Christensen

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

11/09/2010 Hermana Christensen

I told hermana about the 26 thing this week. she was skeptical but then her groceries were 26 dollars and just about everything that could've been a number was 26, so...


Henry and Hermano Peterson
HI!!!!

guys guess what? no big deal. henry was TOTALLY BAPTIZED!!!! it was SOOOo legit. Honestly.. this is just a taste of eternal joy. seeing our brothers and sisters come to the knowledge of the truth. seriously. and the fact that henry was so uber prepared... wow. there are people JUST LIKE HIM all around the world! it's all about us having the faith to find them, right?

a guy came in yesterday morning for a tour that was from italy, living just downt he street from us! what are the odds?! he's good pals with janita anderson and actually wrote neena on her mission. what? anyway, he told me that he found the missionaries when he was 19 on the buses in italy; he said something told him to go talk to them. "And my life has been changed forever.. for the BETTER!" it was so sweet. there's just such love here, so many amazing people come in and i feel like I'm the one that ends up edified! I feel so scattered right now--i apologize. but i really do just feel so full of this inescribable happiness, like this warmth and peace in knowing that i'm here in this moment for a reason. god works in such mysterious ways. he's putting people into our paths according to his timetable. henry came to camilla baptism over TWO MONTHS AGO and he and his family noticed how happy hermana and i were, and they remembered us. so when she were trying to decide what to do with henry when he decided to take the lessons, they remembered us. what? and camilla wasn't baptised with the other missionaries who'd taught her before because heavenly father KNEW that henry would come to her baptism and that we all needed to meet each other. i'm telling you. it's unbelievable the things that are going on and the feelings of love and familiarity that i'm finding around every corner. it's an incrdibly small world.

so henry was taught in vegas for four months and was never ONCE invited to baptism. hmmm. i hope that's not peties mission! henry said he was ready but no one ever invited him. wow. president says that people can't get to salvation unless they are baptized.. so why are not inviting every chance we get?!

tomorrow is zone conference. translation: tomorrow my brain will explode. president is brilliant. one day i'll kidnap him and take him to the temple and tie him down to a chair in the celestial room until he drains out his every bit of wisdom. good thing they live close! ha. can't wait.

i'm glad to be in chula still. with my hermana. things are good. we've got soooo many people with soooo much potential. people lives are just SUCH a mess without the gospel! they just NEED IT! it's really the solution for everything. :)

i love you guys. i'm so grateful for you. i've been thinking a lot about how far our family has come throughout the years. there are few lessons when i don't mention my family in some way. i'm soo grateful for you all. just know that. we've come so far! and there's even farther for us to go, and i'm grateful we get to go it together. :)

mormon.org.

ahem.

i hope that everyone is having a WONDERFUL week! i'll talk to you next time!

hermana christensen

ps. tell leelee happy bday on the 16th! and tell kels that LIVE IT UP!!!! she's going to LOVE the mtc! kels kels kels! don't stress baby don't stress one bit. get a lot of those little baby socks from target. bring a coat with a HOOD. there are awesome little side bags at the mtc that everyone here loves. hm what else. bring sweaters. long sleeved stuff to mix and match. and you really will need an umbrella. it's RAINY! i'm SOOOO EXCITED FOR YOU KELS! what a tm! ah! know i'm praying for you! ALL MY LOVE SWEETNESS!

"Porque he aqui, so yo el que hablo; he aqui, soy la luz que brilla en las tinieblas, y pormi poder te doy estas palabras. y ahora, de cierto, de cierto te digo: pon tu confianza en ese espiritu que induce a hacer lo bueno, si, a obrar justamente, a andar humildemente, a juzgar con rectitud; y este es mi espiritu. de cierto de cierto te digo: te dare de mi espiritu, el cual iluminara tu mente y llenara tu alma de gozo; y entonces conoceras, o por este medio sabras, todas las coasa que de mi deseares, que corresponden a la rectitud, con, fe, creyendo en mi que recibiras." dyc 11:11-14
After Henry's Baptism!!!

Monday, November 8, 2010

11/8/2010 Elder Christensen

Before the baptism with Daniela and The whole family!
Friends and Fam! I have like no time but I just wanted to let you all know that we had a baptism yesterday. It was SO powerful. When I feel the spirit really strong all I can do is smile! I just smile I can´t really explain it!! Then I start tingling all over! But this family was really destroyed not too long ago... Now they are so united. This girl was such a strong catholic but she bore her STRONG testimony after her baptism that she KNOWS this is the right path for us. She cried as well as us a little bit. It was very emotional and such a great experience. The GOSPEL does this!! To everyone reading this right now I´ve rationalized it like this... We LOVE our familes or at least I do. I have gained such an appreciation for them and for the great moments we have had. We have so much love and unity and we miss each other sometimes... To me my family is perfect. I thought... Hmmm. We as missionaries are doing THIS. Its not so much all the little things... Its FIXING FAMILES to be like ours!! The gospel does this. Simple things like family home evenings, going to church, the scriptures, family prayers, and even just eating dinner with the family help us so much to develop unity and love together. I have made this part of my purpose as a missionary. MAKE MORE FAMILIES feel like I feel about mine! Help them LIVE and LOVE the gospel. I hope you can all do the same this week. Find time in your busy lives for your family!! Love them! I gotta run. The Church is true!! Elder Christensen!!
Hope you like those pics mom. The one of Elder H and I was taken about 5 mins ago. I know you love it!! You´re in my prayers cutie! Love your life in Utah please! Keep up the great work! I can´t wait to read your letters today! CIAOOOOO! Keep supporting dad in all you do and LOVE Your neighbors!!
Elder Tialavea and I!! Kids so cool! BYU FOOTBALL!!

Elder Hernandez and I RIGHT NOW doing internet!! You like that tie and knot?? Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh wow.. The mission teaches you ties! Hahahahha!

Love you all so much. Let your light so shine this week! I´ll do the same here in South America!! CIAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! Elder C!!!!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

11/2/2010 Hermana Christensen's Chilean TM!!

Oooooooooooooookay.

Hi everybody! I feel like i'm just buzzing with things I want to tell you all! Things are going so great, really truly. Do I say that every week? Well it's the truth.

Making Empanadas with Henry & Hermana Peterson
At church a few weeks ago we met hermano/a peterson and henry. They were uuuuber funny and we clicked immediately. Hermana Peterson told us that her brother, Enrique (or Henry), was a dry mormon--or that he wasn't baptized but was coming to church. I said, "We can help you with that," and they thought it was the funniest thing ever. We gave them our number and set up an appointment. Long story short, the appointments (plural) all fell through (satan--little s) and then they ended up moving to another ward. Tragedy. So this past Sunday brother Peterson calls us and says that Henry is ready to take the missionary discussions and that he wanted us to teach them. But it got sticky because other missionaries were already involved with teaching him... after a whole lot of confusion we went to Henry's and taught the lessons (he already had a baptismal date with other elders but had then dodged them for a week...?). We ended up getting the full truth out: they felt bombarded by the other SIX COMPANIONSHIPS of missionaries that were trying to meet with Henry. They said they felt something easy and special with us, and that they wanted us to teach him. As we've sat in their apartment teaching the gospel, it has been SO perfect. they dont' have enough chairs so we get to sit on the floor (i LOVE the floor but it's not missionary-esque.. so to have a legitimate reason to do so is wonnnnderful!), the sunlight falls on the carpet and the breeze comes in.. ahh and we just get to talk about the gospel. hermano/a peterson have strong testimonies, and there really is such an EASE about being there with them. And Hermana Peterson and her bro are from chile so it is the huuuuuuuuugest tm in the world to be there with them and to feel their sweet chilean spirit and hear their sweet chilean s-dropping accent and feel so close to my dear sweet bro who is rockin it in their homeland. I seriously cannot even describe how perfect the entire thing is, and how it's all just fallen into our laps.. and how it makes me feel so connected to my beloved family in such a simple, beautiful, heavenly way. Hermana Peterson said that they feel something special with hermana story and I, and we were talking yesterday about how heavenly father has kept us in chula vista for a very wise purpose. There are people prepared. Not just to be baptized--like henry will be THIS SUNDAY!!!--but prepared to meet US. Heavenly Father has our paths aligned in such a beautiful perfect way. There's a reason why those other six companionships weren't exactly what the petersons needed; maybe it had more to do with the petersons needing hermanas story y christensen and hermana christensen needing and loving the bond and connection with these sweet sweet people. Heavenly Father is so smart.

So Henry's being baptized. After we taught the restoration yesterday, we invited him to be baptized and he said maybe. Huh? Hm. We talked it through and invited him to read 2 ne 31 and had to jet. At nine last night, Hermana Peterson called us to say that henry had read all day, that we left a strong spirit there, and that he wants to be baptized on his birthday. Ha. We are sooo thrilled.

All is well!

We had stake conference this past week and it was SUCH a spiritual feast! (Oh, ps, transfers came and went. I'm staying with my comp in our area.) The temple prez and his wife spoke, talking about the blessings of the temple. He said, "don't let the temple just sit there empty like it did yesterday. don't let those blessings pass you by." It was powerful. I felt like the members left with a strong resolve to be better with keeping and renewing and remembering their temple covenants. The temple! Love it!

Well I gotta run. Know that i loooooooooove you and that i'm ever so uber grateful for you all. :) Enjoy the pictures of the cute cute petersons and my chilean tm. They showed us how to make empanadas yesterday. i loved it! brolee i love you mucho!
i hope everyone is healthy and happy and that halloween wasn't too dreary without kurtis out scaring people and eating all the candy. oh what fun! i love my family!

hermana christensen

"Toda cosa que invita a hacer lo bueno y persuade a creer en Cristo es de Dios." Moroni 7:16

Hermanas at MOBAT Halloween Party
P.S. grandpa's cousin came in a few days ago.. i forget her name, dang! and the picture we took didn't send. but she's from brigham city! i showed her where to look up her ancestor and she said, "okay it's abraham hunsaker.." you can guess how THAT conversation went. tell gpa! and tell them that i LOVE them and that i was thinking abuot them last night. i have such a great family! but tell gpa i love inferno and paradise lost and that i'm going to expect some sweet discussions when i return. and how's nicole doing? and gma? and grandpas tongue? yikes. and (sorry!!!) tell mikie thanks for the emails. :) they are so great and so supportive. well, mike is i mean. thank him for always writing me. it means to much! and this friday i'm going to have COLOMBIAN FOOD!! :) i'm getting some real authentic eats here! on thursday i'm eating italian, too. can't wait! my true heritage!

LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK!

and ps isn't the moon so pretty lately?! ah!

Abraham Hunsaker!!!

11/2/10 Elder Christensen

Hello family and friends! Man it is so hot here today! We had a zone activity at the planetarium and we were all just sweating like crazy! Hahah! So both of our baptismal candidates had their interviews. One of them passed! Her name is Daniela. She is like 18 years old and she is super catholic. She has always told us that she would never get baptized here and that she loves her church. Her parents are both LDS as well. Both recent converts. They played a part too! We had some strong strong lessons with her though! One day we hit her with the 17 points of the true church ALL from the bible. At first she was so excited to try and prove us wrong and stuff but..... It didn´t work! She´s super happy and made the progress she needs to make this covenant with our heavenly father. Our other candidate, Jose, recently drank! Man! How hard is that!?!?! So he has to wait and prepare a little more so that he can fully appreciate his baptism. It is now set for the 21st of November. Daniela will be baptized this sunday the 7th and asked me to do it!! In my mission we are supposed to encourage the members to do it and I told her that it would be better that way but she wants me to do it so... We´re doin it!!! I´m really excited!!! We´ve worked so much with her and its FINALLY time!! Well... The life is so great here. Obviously as a missionary there are trials and you miss your home sometimes...But the knowledge that my heavenly father was able to work through us to bring souls to salvation is so much better. We are literally bringing them what WE have. Yes I love my family and friends!! I want EVERYONE to have to same chance to have the same blessings and appreciation that I do!! Well.. I´m flat out of time. Remember everyone... No matter where you are... TO LIFT WHERE YOU STAND. YOU can make a difference. Keep living the principles of this marvelous ( I have no idea how to spell that! Freaking spanish! ) gospel and progressing every day. I´m praying for all of you and love you so much. CIAOOOOOOOO! Elder Christensen


Pics on the way mom. I love you so much. Keep progressing and loving the gospel. you are in my prayers. I love love love you!! reminders everywehre! I heard van halen in a house this week ( Jump ) and I wanted to cry!!! I love the family and this gospel!! Ciao until next week! CHANGES!!! CIAOOOOOOOOOO! Elder C!

We have a baptism this week! Shes´asked me to do it!! WOO!

Our Orem East Stake VIRTUE TIES!!!!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

10/26/2010 Hermana Tawny

Based upon the sole evidence of bites all over my feet, they're in my bed. (The spiders. Not the waffles and cheese, though I guess you could say that was in my bed with me last night because that's what I was fed for DINNER. Horrific.)


Hermana C with COUSINS!
Hello hello mi lieber quierda familia!

What a week. You know, it's been a good week. I feel like I don't have anything to say but so much all at once. Hm.

It's been a little bit of a rough week, like not a whole lot to show for what we've been doing. We've spent a lot of time at the mobat (and it was amaaaaaazing seeing all the fam--what cuties!). Actually, I feel like I haven't said anything about this place. Okay, it's my homeland. Basically we are so blessed. Spending half of my days most days here is such a blessing. it's unreal how many people just wander in, wondering what this place is. I have fallen in love with the story again and again; because the Mormon Battalion did all that they did, our country is how it is today. The church is how it is today. Salt Lake City is how it is today! WE are who we are today because of them. Seriously, there was so much hardship and so many miracles that went into their 2,000 mile march. There isn't enough time to tell it all to the people that pass through here. My first little while here, I took to following the Temple Square sisters and carrying my bom through the tour with me and sharing scriptures, but I learned that that isn't allowed; this is a hard part abuot this place--it's a HISTORIC site, not a visitors center. Therefore, when people come here, we are to tell the story. We are to tell the history. We are to let the spirit of the battalion memebers that rests here do the rest. So this is hard because we have to balance testifying throughout the tour, because it can't be too overbearingly (is that a word) religious. So that's been really neat--praying for the help of the Battalion members as well as the family memebers of those visiting here to help us touch the people who walk through our doors. Super neat. there are miracles that happen all the time. The best was earlier this week when a girl came in all by herself; she's a member but had no idea about the mobat. She'd heard of it, but then look at that! when her business brings her here and her hotel is literally across the street from the mobat. :) anyway, after the tour she just GOT it. She was overwhelmed by the power of the story, and the faith and sacrifice of the men. I showed her the artifacts and was able to bear testimony to her then. (After the tour is ofically over we can bear testimony.) It was pwerful. And last night, apart from being kind of a creeper, a guy named Phil told me he came in skeptical of what this place could offer him, but was walking out with pamphlets, cards, books, dvds, and an appointments with the local missionaries. :) I started talking to a family that came in and he was all, "YOU HAVE TO GO ON THE TOUR, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE, I PROMISE! I'M LIVING PROOF!" I just stood there smiling; it's neat to see the power. Heavenly Father leads people here. their ancestors lead them here. We aren't in this alone. There is a great work to be done! And even though we get HALF the time on our areas, heavenly father makes up for it. We find people for other missionaries AROUND THE WORLD to teach, and heavenly father helps us find ours. (And that's so true by the way, you wouldn't BELIEVE the crazy crowd of people that come in here! What the! And a whollllllllllle lotta germans. :) tm tm tm.)

I love you all. thank you SO SO SO much for all the bondad. thank you for all the love and support. And holy, thank you for all the goodies!! I AM SO BLESSED TO HAVE YOU! And hey, will you pleeeeeease thank hugely rob, trev, bret, mel and the kids for visiting? that's so sweet of them! thank them for all they sent with me--everyone here was benefitted! and also, tell rob and trev that i'm SO sorry--they gave me bread and jam and for some odd reason i just assumed it was from you, mom. but it was from them! tell them i felt so bad when i realized that i hadn't been as appreciative to them as i should've!

well i sure love you all. i'm off. thank you--sincerely--for all that you are and do. I feel your love and prayers. and you. you're with me, and i love and thank you for that!

hermana christensen

"y el oficio de su miniesterio es llamar a los hombres al arrepentimiento; y cumplir y llevar a efecto la obra de los convenios Del padre, los cuales El ha hecho con los hijos de los hombres; y preparar la via entre los hijos de los hombres, declarando la palabra de Cristo a los vasos ESCOGIDOS del Senor, para que den testimonio de El." -Moroni 7:31

"Dismiss the destructive and keep dismissing it until the beauty of the Atonement of Christ has revealed to you your bright future and the bright future of your family and your friends and neighbors. God doesn't car nearly as much about where you have been as He does about where you are and, with His help, where you are willing to go." -President Holland, "Remember Lot's Wife"; Byu address last winter. Get it! Soooo good!

Monday, October 25, 2010

10/25/10 Elder Christensen

Hello to all the friends and family! Its been a great day today so far! We just got done with a zone activity at our stake center. Tons of fun games and food. We had a waterballoon fight and one kid thought it would be funny to add coca cola to the mix! So I´m walkin around with a "white" shirt in the middle of Maipu! Haha! But it was great. The work of the Lord is moving forward here! My sector El Conquistador is so hard though! Man! We work and pray so hard and we have little results. The important thing is that we know that through our trials the Lord will make us who we are meant to be and extend his hand in this work! I know we´re on the verge of finding a whole family who is prepared! Who knows it could be today! One thing that I love about being a missionary is the changes that you see in people. For example the inactive people who decide to come back to the iron rod! I love to see the changes that are made when someone implements the principles of the gospel in their family and really decides to live them. Then they seem to glow! We have a lady named Elizabeth Gomez who was way inactive with her daughter. But now they´re both active and loving it! They seem to radiate every time I see them both. I love it. I love to be the tool in the Saviors hands that helps someone really come unto him. I´m doing all I can here and know that I love and pray for all of you every single day. I hope all is well. No matter where you are in the world today, stop and count your blessings. Its amazing what we have and how we take it all for granted.. Do all you can in the gospel. Every activity. Every service. Every kind act. Remember when ye are in the service if your fellow beings you are only in the service of your god! I love you all! Talk to you next week. Gotta run! CIAOOOOOOOOOO! Elder Christensen

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

10-19-10 Hermana Christensen

COUSINS!!!
Hellllllllllllllo amada querida LIEBER FAMILIA!!!


hi hi hi! man alive, can i just say that i am sooooooooooo uber grateful? sheesh! i thank you for your love, your support, your endless goodness! ah! I love you guys! i am SO blessssssssssed to have you!

It has been a loco week my friends. Loco loco loco. We had a zone blitz--where all the missionaries in the zone paired with members and we visited people in the ward. have i mentioned that i'm the largest ward? 900 people with like 300? ha. it's crazy! but this ward is the only english ward that's growing here. there is a TON of work to do, so the blitz was incredibly helpful. I want to be a member missionary forevermore! on saturday we did splits again, I was with Hermana De La Cruz and it was yet another humbling experience. I have so much work to do to try and get this missionary thing down. Planning? setting goals? driving? navigating?! ha. I got so lost at one piont in time (and she was just sweetly waiting for me to tell her where to go) and I felt like just crying and telling her to pull over, but no. I've felt that way a whole lot this week, with a couple different things. Just frustrated. On Sunday I took a moment up in the tower (with that gorgeous view) to just say a prayer, a heartfelt, not rushed prayer, asking for help. I didnt' feel like anything changed, but I was blessed with the knowledge that all i could really do at that moment was to just try.. to just go forward, to move, to do, to act. faith is a principle of action! So, even though sometimes I get discouraged, I'm trying to hard to remember that this istn' about me, and that if i'm a pure vessel I will be able to be lead and guided by God to do His will and His work.

I fear none of that even makes sense!

I am seeing ohhhhhhhhh so many broken families. I feel like Jacob, "oh be wise, what can i say more?" marrying less actives/ non members is SUCH tricky business! we are caught in webs with SO many different people because one spouse won't let his 3 (!) VERY prepared children be baptized. Or one less active trying to return to church and get his son baptized with little support from his catholic wife. Or the woman whose two sons aren't baptized and husband won't even let her go to church? I'm telling you, my little heart is breaking in there.. imagine what our Heavnely Father must feel! It is unreal. This work is about families though. It's about all of them coming together and returning to god... TOGETHER. i think that is one of the greatest blessings that has come from mine and brolee's missions--we are all headed in that same direction now. we love and missssss each other, but are SO eternally grateful for the plan, the knowledge, the unbelievable joy that comes from knowing that we can be together FOREVER! This is a beautiful work! Forever? What more could we possibly ask for? Ah. In a round about way, i'm just saying I'm grateful for you all. :) I'm also saying that helping families is my heart's desire. Check out that bottom parafo in my patriarchal blessing. Family family family family family family. Um.. family! That's what it's all about. Families are central to God's plan. He sent us here in families. I am so thankful I have this chance to help families be strengthened, brought together, and working in unison for the same goal; I have a testimony that THAT is what brings the deepest, most profound and inexplicable joy!

I sure love you all! Nunca olvidenlo!

hermana christensen

Mormon 8:22

porque los eternos designios del senor han de seguir adelante, hasta que se cumplan toas sus promesas.

ps so i forgot to mention. two times in the past week i have eaten...     BEANS.....and i survived!

the mission has turned me into a new creature. last night a member fed us chimis (like jenn's, which i ate and loved!) and you'd better believe i ate both! and there were beans in there!

are you proud? i knew you would be. i'm putting hot sauce in soup, on popcorn, on sandwiches... haha. it's called tapatillo? i've heard it's around the town. get some. people carry it in the purses here. there are huge glass jars in every fridge. get on it.

(and remember i love you.)(and have a great day!)