October 29-After Exchanges

Dear Family and Friends,

This has been a great week. I have probably reached both my low and high points so far. It is hard being humbled by the Lord, but never before have I realized how important humility is, and I am still working on it. Moroni 7 teaches us that we cannot have faith nor hope nor charity if we are not meek and lowly of heart. And if we don't have Charity, we don't have anything! That is so true and real. The Spirit I feel when I teach someone I truly love and have a desire to help is much different from my ability to teach someone who I am choosing to be annoyed with.

 

 "1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not ^acharity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of ^aprophecy, and understand all^bmysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.  3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the ^apoor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

 

I love this scripture. We can do almost everything we think we can, even have faith enough to move mountains, and still be nothing if we don't have Christ like love.

 

Yesterday my district had exchanges. I went into biking area with Elder Smith, who came into the mission with me. So 2 brand new missionaries biking around alone, trying to preach the Gospel! Yes, I can imagine your worried face, Mom. :) I will say that it was one of the most rewarding experiences so far on my mission. I appreciate and respect my trainer, Elder Hicks, but I have used his experience as my "crutch" in the field so far. Yesterday, I had no choice but to trust in what I had learned so far, and even more so in the Holy Ghost. We biked for probably 2 or 3 hours before we got to talk to anyone. People don't like to answer their doors... especially when they see 2 white shirts and ties standing outside! Well, it didn't phase us at all. We both have a very strong conviction and desire. So we kept biking, then we saw a guy sitting on the side of the road smoking. Perfect! Oh wait...both of us can barely speak Spanish. We gave him a card and told him to have a good day. Well, the more we biked around and talked to people, the more confident we got. At first we felt like babies thrown into a swimming pool. But then we realized...we can do it now! We are missionaries! We were called of God, and are entitled to His help! We started understanding people better, and spoke Spanish without fear or hesitation. Well, It had gotten dark, and we had to leave in 15 minutes. Elder Smith turned to me and said "Hey, for the next 15 minutes, lets be the BEST missionaries who listen to the Spirit" So we prayed, an started walking. I walked past a particular house, stopped, and walked up to the door. We told them we were there to pray with them and help them. The lady told us she was very sick, and was struggling with work. So I prayed right there on their doorstep with them, asking Heavenly Father to bless her with health and support. The Spirit was so strong! I testified to them of the reality of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and that the message we share is His message. That he has provided a way for us to overcome all of life's difficulties and ultimately have happiness forever. They told us to come back and share more! It was the coolest thing ever! The Lord will use you to do simple things if you will trust in the Spirit with a desire to do His will. And although we didn't teach a single lesson yesterday, I learned from Elder Smith that when we Go with God, we will not have failed. 

Well I have run out of time. But I love you all so much! I can't say more than what I have already said, but I do know that my Savior lives and loves us! May we always remember His life and His love.

-Elder Christensen

October 21, 2013

Hola familia!

Well, this week I was able to go to the Mesa AZ temple! We got up at 3:30AM Saturday morning to leave, and there was a full session of people at the 6:30AM session! It was great, I finally saw the new video, and on top of that, it was actually in English! I really got a lot out of it. The Mesa Temple is gorgeous. I learned quite a bit about Law of Consecration and what it means to me as a missionary. I have heard missionaries here say that we should be "consecrated missionaries" but I haven't really understood what that means. When we live the Lord's law of Consecration, we help others in whatever way we can with whatever means we have been given for their well being and benefit (Doctrine and Covenants 42). I was always under the impression that to consecrate was similar to the word to sanctify, or make holy. Well, after some study, and time in the temple, I realized that in order to be a consecrated missionary, I have to GIVE myself up to the Lord. When we do this and sacrifice our old habits or natural desires, we realize that the Savior is walking right beside us, and carrying us through our struggles. We may think the road we walk is hard. Well, he already walked it, and so much more. Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven, and when we do, I believe that we do become "sanctified" because we have turned our will over to the Lord, and we are allowing ourselves to be instruments in his hands. A Brother at church this week said "It is what we do AFTER we think we have done enough that brings forth the blessings heaven." It is so true, and I am trying to learn it more and more everyday. 

A cool story that actually happened a couple weeks ago. We went to pick up a young man to come to a lesson with us. He wasn't there, but Elder Hicks felt like we came to his house for a reason. We waited outside the house, and a few minutes later his older sister came out to talk to us. After talking a while, Elder Hicks mentioned his brother just got his mission call to Federal Way, Washington. She got super emotional all the sudden, and told us she had a dream the night before that she got a mission call to the same mission. Apparently she had thought about serving a mission but didn't want to leave home, so she ignored it. She had been praying to know if she should go that day, and then she said we came by. When we were there, she told us the Lord had answered her prayers and she knew she needed to go on a mission. We left her there crying, and the next day we saw her at the church as she walked out of the Bishops office. She started her mission papers, and she had  the biggest smile on her face! She said "Elders! I am going on a mission!" The power of the Spirit is real. The Lord truly uses others to answer prayers. If Elder Hicks hadn't followed that prompting, she may not have received the answer she was so desperately searching for. We are the Lords instruments, as members of his church, and he needs us to be ready and willing to serve and go where he needs us to, so that we can be the medium through which he "succors his people". If we are consecrated and humble, the Lord will guide us and we will witness miracles. 

Well, yesterday was the baptism of LG! She was taught by the Sisters in our ward, and last week she asked me to baptize her! I still hardly know her, but I know she has a very strong spirit. She started the missionary discussions about 6 or 7 weeks ago. She was so prepared to hear the gospel. She embraced it, she loved it, and immediately began living it. I felt an immediate love of the Lord for Laura. The desire of her heart was to follow her Savior, and she knew that she was entering the path that leads to eternal life. It is my testimony that the path the Lord has prepared for us to return to Him is real. It is achieved through living the teachings of His Restored Gospel. His purpose is our happiness, and I know that as we take the simple steps in our life to follow him more fully, we begin to feel that happiness more and more. 

I know that this church is true. I love it, and I know it is for everyone. They may not know it, but they need it. Alma 13:24 says "For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory." 

There are people waiting to hear the good news! 

I love you all! You are in my prayers! Stay strong, press on.

Love,

Elder Christensen

This is one of the pictures that he said in his PS that we could "hopefully" use to PHOTOSHOP him into the wedding pictures!  LOL!  This is the only one that wasn't blurry, or just too silly! I'm pretty sure he was pulling our leg!  He IS wearing the wedding tie though!

October 14th Update

 Editor/Mom's note: You can visit Collin on Facebook with your missionary related questions or comments by searching Elder Collin Christensen.

Mi Familia!

So it has been getting down to 75 degrees at night! Woo! There is a mission rule that if it is 65 degrees or less, we HAVE to wear sweaters or our suit jackets....!! Just when it gets bearable for me again, I now get to put on a sweater that will yet again send me into a sweating ball of fun. So exciting. 

Well this has been quite the week. Probably the most trying, yet most rewarding so far. My companion keeps telling me I will get used to being tired all the time, so that is comforting I guess...Especially when I throw stuff at him during personal study when he falls asleep every day. Haha It is hard to get used to how slow things are. We spend half the day in the apartment studying (because I'm being trained) and the other half proselyting. Our area is huge, but it has so many English and Spanish people mixed together that almost every street or door contact we make gets referred to the English Elders. We really need help from our ward in finding people to teach. We have been visiting members in our area and leaving them with the commitment to find 1 person who their family can fellowship and invite to be taught by the missionaries. They have all committed to do it, but people here tend to forget their commitments. That's probably people everywhere, but we are blessed to have phones and Facebook to help us follow up and such.

 

Speaking of Facebook, I guess I should let you know that I am back on! So mom, thanks for maintaining it for a while. I can't actually use it for anything yet because I have to "gut it out" essentially to be missionary appropriate, and that is taking forever. Once it gets approved by my zone leaders I can start using it for proselyting, which pretty much we still don't really know what that means. All the Elders have kinda just been shooting in the dark with it so far, but this last week we received some training from Sister Taylor, Mission President's wife, at zone interviews on the limitations and uses of Facebook for missionaries. I pretty much explained it in my status, but it is to be use ONLY for things that will help me fulfill  my purpose as a missionary. So I can keep you as my friends, but I will not be communicating with anyone unless it is for missionary work. But we can teach anyone, world-wide! I am a bit hesitant about the whole thing right now, but I am hoping it will become a great tool for the church. So feel free to send me any referrals you have! Also, my mormon.org profile has been "in progress" since I left home. I don't know why it hasn't been approved yet, but it has my old email address linked to it so it might need to be confirmed via that address. Could you check that for me mom? This is the only account I am permitted to access. 

 

So on Friday we had a couple in our ward married at the church! They have been waiting 13 years to be able to get married! I don't know the specifics, but they are an older couple and began investigating the church 13 years ago. The were finally able to get married, and on Saturday they were both baptized by their son! It was so cool. They have such strong testimonies and faith. They were taught by the Sisters in our ward. It was such an example to me of enduring and perseverance for something you know is right. I sometimes find myself getting frustrated because people won't commit to baptism after 3 weeks, I can't imagine waiting 13 years! I have really gained a new perspective on baptism. I won't bore you all with my thoughts, but I do know that baptism is essential in fulfilling God's plan for us. It is necessary to show him we love him and are willing to follow him. 

 

My testimony of temple ordinances has also been strengthened. We visited a young less active family, super nice, and the mother had been through the temple a few months back. We felt inspired to talk to them about eternal families. They told us they struggled feeling happy and the spirit in their home. We asked them when the last time they had attended the temple together. They then began realizing that they weren't reading scriptures, praying alone and as a family, or going to the temple. I had my photo album with all our recent family pictures, and I showed it to them and told them I knew my family would be together forever. That I knew that it was possible through the ordinances of the temple, and I knew it would be possible for their family. The last picture in the photo album is of the Phoenix, AZ Temple. The spirit was so strong! We could tell they wanted their family to be eternal, and they committed right there to begin working with the bishop to be sealed as a family in the Temple for time and all eternity. They committed to start praying together and reading again. I love that family so much! It is these amazing experiences that make getting rejected and ignored and doors slammed in your face ALL worth it. I love helping people realize their potential, and the opportunities the Lord as provided everyone of His children. 

 

Another experience I had was in a very contentious home. There were 8 children, and the parents were a little less than patient. They are both less active members, and the mother requested a Priesthood blessing for her health. Afterwards, the 14 year old son asked for a blessing of comfort. I was asked to give the blessing. I didn't know these people at all, but as I gave that blessing I felt some very real things about this boy. He was a leader, and he was going to be a great example and support for his family as he strengthened his faith and listened to the message the Sisters were teaching the family. As I said these things, the I literally felt the Spirit flood the home. I closed, and there was an odd and unusual silence, and the boy, Jose, was close to tears. I testified to that family of the power of the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. We left, and one more of the children committed to be baptized with the Sisters. 

 

The Spirit is real. It is the Comforter. It helps us know right from wrong, true from false, and peace from despair. As missionaries, we are not teachers, but merely messengers of the Spirit. If we do our job, the Spirit of God testifies to those who will listen to it. 2 Nephi 33: 1-2 The Holy Ghost will carry our message unto the hearts of the children of men. Then it is their choice whether or not to let it carry the message INTO their hearts. 

 

I love being a missionary. I love bringing other people the happiness and peace found in the gospel. It is true! We all need it, each and every one. So share it, because this is the Salvation of souls.

I love each of you, and so does our Heavenly Father! Stay strong, and build your foundation on His Rock.

Until next week,

-Elder Christensen

Feeling Like a Missionary

Hola!

Well I am starting to feel like a missionary finally. I think it started about the first time someone told us to get off their porch. I am getting pretty good at nodding and smiling as well. The language isn't progressing very quickly, I guess if I was in a place where everyone spoke only Spanish it might be a little easier. But Elder Hicks and I are planning on speaking 100% Spanish for week 5 , which is in a couple weeks! 

 

Well, we didn't get too far with any investigators this week. The only thing that is harder about a mission that I thought, so far, is feeling and seeing the Spirit testify to people and then watching them do nothing about it. Faith is a principle of action! I love these people so much, but it is hard to tell them that what they are doing (nothing) isn't going to help them. I am learning more and more everyday though. Elder Hicks is very social and good friends with pretty much everyone in the ward, so I have gotten to know the ward pretty quickly. They are awesome people, but they are scared, like many members, of opening their mouths to share the Gospel. At zone meeting this week, we got a bit chastised as a zone of how we are spending our time. We have so much work to be doing, and there is no time for hanging out in members homes, attending ward parties and socials and sporting activities. I guess I always thought it was cool missionaries would come and play basketball with us, but in reality there are good, better, and best things to be doing with the Lords time. The time we spend with members should be concise, and focused on helping them learn to become member missionaries. I have noticed sometimes in members homes we just sit there, and talk. It bothered me, because I often cant interject because I don't know the language very well yet, and also I am the Junior companion. But I realized there are more important things to be doing.  Elder Hicks is very sensitive and willing to listen about my concerns, so I told him what I thought. Since then, we have been making companionship goals pretty much everyday of how we can better consecrate ourselves in the Lord's service. We are learning a lot together.

So, General Conference! Yea. I love it. I cannot say I have ever felt that way about it, but it was probably a couple of my favorite days so far in the mission. First of all, the stress on member missionary work was so awesome! I loved Elder Edward Dube's talk about never looking back, and how we must all participate in hastening of the work of salvation. ALL. I don't think everyone realizes that. This is a team effort. We are all needed, everyone in their own situation. If we stand close in our purpose and lift where we stand, wherever it may be, we can help! "In the sight of the Lord, it is not so important what we have done or where we have been, but rather WHERE we will GO." We can be his instruments in bringing others unto happiness if we will go where he needs us to go. And "how great will be [our] joy!" 

 

 Elder Edward Dube (this is a link to the talk Collin references)

 

 Elder S. Gifford Neilson said that "the work will not move forward in the Lord's intended way without US." And by US, he means US! Not just the missionaries, but everyone! As members of the Church, we have been given the blessing of knowing the truthfulness of the Restored Gospel in these Latter Days and of its absolute importance for the whole world. So share it! If you don't know it is true, I personally invite you to get on your knees and find out. When you come to a knowledge that it is true and that we all need the healing power of Christ's Atonement, you will feel a desire to share its happiness with those you love. It is my testimony that we can pray for the strength we need to overcome whatever personal worries or inadequacies we may have. The Lord will surely bless us with the ability to open our mouths and be his instrument. He has done so for me, and I feel his love for me stronger everyday, because I am in constant need of his help. 

 

Elder Gifford Nielsen 

 

I loved Elder Uchtdorf's story in Priesthood Session of his grandson reaching out his hand. I feel that sometimes the Savior is reaching out his hand to me and I am not paying attention. I think I can get back on my feet alone. The truth is, I cant. His hand is always outstretched, and he tells us "You can do it now". And we can. The Savior's mercy can carry us through any trial or sorrow or sin, if we take hold of His hand, his gospel, and his love. "Our success isn't determined by how many times we stumble and fall, but rather how many times we rise up." Keep going! Whatever it may be, it is meant to teach us something! 

 

Elder Uchtdorf 

 

When I gave my farewell talk before I left, I was completely scared. In preparing for it, I could not focus or seem to get anything done. It seemed the adversary was working very hard on me at that time. Again and again I gave up and decided to write it later, but again and again I returned to it, trying my best to get something done. The simple principle I finally realized was that I could not do it alone. I wish I could say public speaking was my forte, but that would be a lie. But even if I was, I would still need the help from the Lord in order to deliver his message. So finally, I humbled myself, prayed, and asked for help. In doing so, I took hold of the Saviors hand, and let him help me. "You can do it now." And I did. Because I stopped relying on myself and began to trust the Lord, he helped me overcome a personal weakness and struggle. I know he can and will do the same for everyone who recognizes theirs weaknesses and allows the Lord to turn them into strengths (Ether 12:27). 

 

I hope this doesn't bore you all. While it may seem like a lot of responsibility we have, it is so important! My testimony is so important to me. It pulls me through both sunshine and storm. I love this work! As Elder Richard G. Scott said, let us "fill our lives with service to others, and the power of the adversary over us will be diminished."

 

Elder Richard G. Scott

 

I love you all! I hope all is well! I promise I am still me, but the mission is truly changing me for the better. :)

Hasta semana proxima!

Elder Christensen