2/27/2012 Elder Christensen "Small and Simple Things"

Hey there everyone. It`s been a great week of work ONCE again doing that best thing a teenager can do.... I`ve felt a lot of gratitude these last few days regarding my mission, and who I am. I honestly feel SO blessed for everything that has happened to me during this mission and as well for the things that happen every day... I read something interesting in Preach my gospel... I don`t remember exactly what it says but its like.... the best way to be humble to God is through gratitude..... I really liked that and it got me thinkin.

We did LOTSSS this week.. My comp had to get his chilean identification renewed so we had to head down to santiago... Can`t lie I felt like I was back in the office haha. We also found some sweet ties being sold right outside the registro civil... o sea... its like the government... I dunno. Can`t describe it.. Where foreigners go to become legal! But anyways these ties were cheap and sweet! It`s like a missionaries dream to find sick cheap ties so we were happy.... Also we got together as a zone and did whats called a cosechón... It means harvest in english... We just all get together and take the trash out on ONE sector... Thats a LOT of priesthood in one place hahah. Had some success there..

More than anything I`m grateful for where I am, and who I`m with. My comp is amazing. Step by step we`re seeing changes in the ward. One miracle is our mission leader. When I got here he was DEAD. Just going to church and that was it.... leaving after first hour... But now? We have our meeting with him EVERY week.. Also, we got him to come out with us! We had a MIRACLE and got into the house of a contact we did a few weeks back. It`s amazing to see the fruits of your labors.. This guy has cualquier enthusiasm and he`s excited now to work with us. I just wanted to share my testimony with you guys this week about doing the SMALL and SIMPLE things... In our ward we get like... 30 people to church every week.. I feel bad for our bishop because he has SO much on his plate.... Basically we`ve just gone to all the leaders of our ward and shown them our desire to WORK. To be PUT IN during the clutch moment. To lift where we stand and support everyone.. however we can. That`s what has sparked the change in the people.. You can`t just do something and expect instant changes. No. It doesn`t work like that. GOD doesn`t work like that. These things require time, patience, constant nourishment and attention. ( Alma 32:37-43. ) It depends on US. Our desicion to do what is right. AGENCY.. I KNOW that everyone thinks I`m that person who needs things NOW.. Mom I know you even put "urgent" as my ringtone on your phone...(By the way I heard that song this week and it brought a tear to my eye) But now? I know who God is.. I know how he works... I have a testimony that everything works out how it should and when it should.. Sometimes we want things our way right now.. but its not like that... Sometimes we want the results of hard work without actually doing any work.. but that? IS NOT FAITH. We have to be constantly looking forward with an eye of faith if we actually want to get anywhere in life. If we can`t see with that eye? We will NEVER achieve what it is that we want in this life. (Ether 12:19, Alma 32: 40)....

I just wanted to end with these scriptures that have to do with what I`ve written about today....

DyC 64:33 Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

34 Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.

In spanish it says... "No os canséis de hacer lo bueno....." DO NOT become tired of doing what is good..... We as members of the church are doing it! We are putting the foundation for the church in years to come. I know it`s HARD to be consistent with a calling... I know its HARD to have a real responsability in this church... But we can do it. We are all that the Lord has to build and fortify his church in these the latter days. Heres the invitation that King Benjamin gave in Mosiah 5.....

15 Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.
Lets do it. We`re a team. On top of that, GOD and his son Jesus Christ are with us. I can testify of this work. This IS the church of Jesus Christ restored on the earth.. The only way.... and there is no other way... (2 Nephi 31:20-21)

Hope the week is as good for everyone else as it is for us here in Peñaflor. Sigamos adelante con buen animo hermanos míos.... Yo se que Nuestro Padre Celestial está con nosotros y nos ayudará a que seamos ejemplos de los creyentes....

Elder Christensen.

2/20/2012 Elder Christensen "Busy Busy Business"

WOOOOOOOOOOOoooo! Changes have come and gone.... My new companions name is Elder Braddy from North Carolina.. I saw this kid get BORN in the mission! He has two changes less than I do and we´re already having a ton of fun here in Peñaflor. This week we walked like latter day children..... We walked and walked and walked and walked.................. Haha. The country is such a great place. Let me be honest... We just eat random stuff off of trees like plums, apple pears, and black berries... Its... wonderful. We were eating TONS of blackberries and then randomly we saw a dead cat on top of the bush... Definatelyyyyyy gross.... Spit it all out. Other funny things that happened...... I got bit by a german shepheard on the hand. My own fault for trying to play with it.. Everyones gotta get bit once in the mission right? DONT¨ WORRY THOUGH... I am already all healed up. I don´t have ANY rabies either... Last funny thing... This random girl like... proposed to my comp and I.... SUPER GROSS.... we just were contacting her sister and she was saying all kinds of stupid stuff.... The worst one was that one though..... "Just so you guys know, I´d get married to either one of you."................. Ahemmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... Ya...... We just laughed over that one for a few hours. 

Okay now that I got all the cuestiones locas out of my mind, let me talk about the gospel. Here in our zone, we have this initiative to take our pictures of Christ around and use them to get into peoples houses... On Wednesday, we were knocking doors and we found this guy who was ticked off with the missionaries... Apparently, one time some missionaries were really mean to him in his house so he HATED them from that moment on... Anyways, after a few minutes of conversation and testimony bearing, he let us into his house... We basically just talked about God... Who he is, his natural being, what role he plays in our lives... This guy was sick! Honstly super cool. He had a few particular things he wanted us to pray for... his family is pretty messed up and they live in separate places... so he wanted to ask God for unity and blessings in his work.... He asked me to say the prayer and we kneeled just like always... I dunno this was kinda weird...the spirit was STRONG there... you could have cut it with a butter knife... I don´t even feel like I spoke during that prayer. It was like God just took over and talked through my voicebox.. This man FELT Gods spirit. He FELT his love... He just sat there for several minutes and cried....We testified that it was his spirit...Super super fuerte.. After that he gave us the tour of his house haha. Kinda funny. We´re gonna pass by there this next week.

Just wanna end with a scripture.... 3 Nefi Chapter 13

     19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal;

     20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.

     21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Try to see with celestial eyes this week. Often times we get lost and focus on things of this world.. We won´t take any of that with us to the next life..... We need to be constantly focusing on worthwhile goals.. CELESTIAL goals.... may we lay ourselves up treasures in heaven... Hope all goes well this week. Love you all! Elder Christensen.

Pics... I only took like two.. I´ll take some with my new comp this week and send them next week! Love you! Take care! Chaoo!

2/13/2012 Elder Christensen "Dios nos da milagritos"




Our zone picture!!

  Okay guys... I have like no time once again. Sorry this always happens. It`s been a week full of adventure and MILAGRITOS...Miracles.... I`ve been able to see God`s hand on various occasions.....

I got to go on divisions with an Elder from Australia this week......It was funny because in the same house that night, we had an Australian, a Canadian, an Argentinian, and an American.. (Me... yours truly.) We all had a bunch of different slang and words we were using at the same time without really even meaning to haha. Anyways.... Our day was pretty frustrating... We got SHUT DOWN a couple times and we had a few lessons that didn`t go well either... On top of that, their baptismal date priscilla stood us up and had some family problems that may impede her from being baptized... After that stand up, we tried to do a contact and once again got SHUT DOWN...... I could tell that my comp was kinda down.... then he started to cry in the street.. Just out of pure frustration... I felt pretty bad to be honest. Horrible...I kinda froze and didn`t know what to do... The first thing that came to my mind was just testify.. I testified of God`s love... and of this mission that we are serving... It turns out that this companionship has been really frustrated because they feel they have been working hard and having very little success....We probably talked for a good ten minutes in the street before working again.... It was POWERFUL.  Maybe one of the most powerful things I`ve lived on my mission. THE VERY NEXT HOUSE we knocked, they let us in and we blessed their house.... Honestly it was pretty amazing. Right when we said amen, one of the guys asked us..... ¿Ustedes pueden regresar cualquier día de la semana? He asked if we could come back ANY day.... then he explained to us that he had just gotten out of jail... and that he wanted to follow the path of Christ... I was honestly blown away. I KNOW that God loves us and blesses us with miracles... Also I saw the BIG smile on that Elders face as we walked out...



Me and the Aussie Elder... SICKEST division ever!

BUT HOLD ON PEOPLE thats not it...... Later on, this random guy started yelling at us and motioning to us... He looked like your typical drunk... so.... we ALMOST didn`t go talk to him... but something told us to.... so we did.. TURNS OUT... he`s an inactive member from the year 1993 who wants to come back to church... Also, he had the missionaries coming over to their home in the south to give his family the lessons so they could be baptized... They are pretty new here to Peñaflor... Anyways, we met his wife, they told us a bit about themselves, and set an appointment for the next day... I didn`t go, but the Elders went and they said the people even have their TEACHING RECORD from the missionaires in the south, and that it`s like all the way full... They just need to go to church and they are ready to get in the water. TWO HUGE miracles in the space of only a few hours. I KNOW that our Heavenly father is aware of us.... He knows how we feel and what our needs are. It was amazing. Honestly...



Me getting my haircut haha. The guy cutting it happens
 to be the... well.. mission leader.

The last thing I`m gonna share... We were doing some SIMI work this week.... looking through ALL the member records and visiting them in their houses... We got to this one, and this lady was MEAN. She just said... I DONT WANT YOU TO EVER COME BACK HERE..... What can I do to get my name off of the church lists FOREVER? Man... it made me so sad... She didn`t even care.. We tried to reason with her and there was no hope.... I was BLOWN AWAY.... How could someone get baptized, and then just completely TURN on their experience? Turn away from their covenants? Turn away from GOD? There are so many people like this that are lost... just lost..... Just please maintain your testimonies.. How hard is it? Read, Pray, go to church.. Pray... repeat.... NEVER be lost. Maintain both hands and all ten fingers on that iron rod... CLING to it. By small and simple things, great things are brought to pass. Remember that.

My comp and I eating Chinese food about an hour
 ago... Ohhhh yeaaa!!

Well.... getting changes tomorrow. I`ll get my last comp and we`ll be ready to rock another change here in Peñaflor. I hope you guys all know I love you tons... Keep up the hard work. Lift where you stand.

Much love, Elder Christensen.

Take care guys. Godspeed.

2/6/2012 Elder Christensen "Without it, we are NOTHING!"

Found some sick train tracks... Yea.... had to take this pic..

Hey there guys! Man this week flewwwwwwwwww right by. It seems like we just get so busy sometimes that by the time we stop to take a breath the week is over... Is the real world like that too? Haha. Let us begin.

We had a sweeeet special training this week in Maipu. (Laugh it up Colby... laugh it up..) It had to do with "Santificando el´día de Reposo"...... What does the word.... Sanctify mean? Holiness... Purity.... cleanlines... Basically, here in our mission this is one of the most broken commandments in the church. HONOR THE SABBATH DAY..... keep it holy.... This meeting honestly hit me in the face like a ton of bricks people. We should do things that help us become closer to God.... I started thinking a lot about my life before being a missionary... I would go to church, get home, throw my stuff on the floor, change, eat something, and go downstairs to play Halo... Like everyyyy week. Then in the night time, I would do laundry and clean my room a bit.... Maybe do some homework... EVERY................ SUNDAY.............. Sure that`s not BAD by any means.. I wasn`t buying stuff, out at the movie theater, or playing organized sports! But hey... I was doing other activities that may be numbing to the spirit of the Lord that SHOULD be present with us on this sacred day. Thats why it`s a rest! We are taking a worldly rest and focusing on the spiritual side of life only. Man... Looks like there`ll be some changes in the future... We should do entertaining things... things that help us grow in love and unity as a family... But we should try to do that through other entertainment that isn`t "Worldly"...... Am I preaching doctrine here? I dunno.... Am I saying what HIT ME IN THE FACE on thursday? Yes..... We need to PURIFY the sabbath day... not just go to church and stay inside....

Elder Monsen and I... Presidents House..

The NEXT day, Friday, we went to presidents house for our monthey Zone Leader Council... as they call it. Super long but SUPER good. We got lots of new and inspired initiatives to apply here in the mission. Once again... talking about charity. BIGGEST attribute ever... GO AND READ 1 CORINTHIANS 13.... That one will change your life... Maybe even make some cross references to Moroni 7 if you have time. CHARITY PEOPLE..... I just want to attach one verse....

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
We can have ALL of those wonderful gifts.... we can be amazing people..... but if we don`t have charity? WE ARE NOTHING. Man... we all need to work constantly to obtain this one.... Just read that chapter and be blown away!

Last thing... sorry... not a lot of time..... Moses 1:39..... Very known Scripture right?

39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

Elder Fuhriman and I.... Presidents House...

Gods work... His true purpose... his plan... is to get us BACK to his presence.... To help us acheive an eternal life of happiness with our families.. Simple. But what is our job? What can WE do? Link that to DyC 11:20.....

20 Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind and strength.

POWERHOUSE.... A member shared this one with us and it really impacted me. OUR work is to obey... To do what he has already commanded us to do. WE are the ones who complicate it and try to get fancy. It`s like sports... We can just do the classic and well known layup, or we can try to to some 360 dunk and blow the whole game. I know that Tawny has been saying.... its simple... its easy... and I`m here to testify that it IS. ITS SO EASY. It`s all been done before. It`s prepared. Its GODS ETERNAL PLAN and he has commanded us to OBEY with all of our might mind and strength. That`s it. We can do it. This mission has helped me so much in my spiritual progression as a child of God and with every coming day, I become stronger. Obedience is the first law of heaven my friends.

Found this HUGE spider right by my desk...
Freaking huge. We burned it with matches. Hahah...
 Got that one on video.

Well.... Thats about it... I`m gonna see if I can`t send some pictures today... Super ghetto computers everywhere I go. Lots of bad luck! Hope all is well and that they continue to that way for everyone no matter where you may be. Love you.

Take care,

Elder Christensen.

 YOU ROCK!