MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
So I am very sorry to say that I have not yet sent the family
Christmas package, still waiting on some stuff. But you will get it
one day! I guess I won't be able to do my special gift for Richard
when we Skype, but it will get there eventually. Mom, I got the big
package and it's sitting under the Christmas tree! :) oh, we found out
we may be moving a couple days after Christmas.
Sounds like you guys are going to have blast together this Christmas!
It still doesn't really feel like Christmas for me, but I am learning
that in the Spirit of Giving I can enjoy Christmas as a missionary.
One of my favorite scriptures this Christmas has been in Matthew
25:31-40. When we are judged after this life we will be remembered by
our service to The Lord. We may not have physical gifts to bring to
Jesus Christ, as did the wise men, but we will have a lifetime of
actions, either dedicated to serving God, or ourselves. "And the King
shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye
have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done
it unto me" (Matthew 25:40). As I have thought of Christ and what he
came to do for me, I wonder to myself what I can do for Him. And He
gives me so many opportunities! Let's all "choose this day whom [we]
will serve" as the Prophet Joshua directed, and enjoy the blessings of
the Love of God that come as we serve him.
Well, it has been an interesting transition from the Stoneridge Ward
to the Glassford Hill Ward. I tried to shake everyone's hand at church
yesterday, which I think I just about did. It's a lot easier to
introduce yourself when you are both newbies.
We went from having almost 15 lessons a week to having 4 this week.
One of those 4 lessons was with an older couple named S. and A.
They were brand new investigators in the Glassford Ward, and as we
taught them the Restoration they had a TON of questions. It was sweet
to have someone to teach, even though we could hardly answer some of
their questions, and they were kind antagonistic about the idea if the
Book of Mormon. They kept asking for biblical evidence of the Book of
Mormon, which we gave, but didn't seem to satisfy them. Finally we
realized that the only proof, or evidence, that will convert anyone
is the Holy Ghost itself. I interrupted the debate finally and told
them not to believe our words, but to learn the truth for themselves
by going to the source of all truth, Heavenly Father. As I bore my
testimony of the Book of Mormon, I remember the atmosphere just
calming down as the Spirit came and testified of truth. It was pretty
amazing, thinking back on it. They accepted a Book of Mormon, and we
left.
It has been pretty hard for me to leave behind the teaching pool we
built up and come to a tiny area with significantly less work. We were
told that we would be going through the Ward list and finding out who
all still lives here and who has moved out, so at least we get
something to work with! I think it is cool to see the recent emphasis
placed on teaching members. Each week we have indicators, or numbers,
that we set goals for at the beginning of the week. These numbers used
to just be for lessons we had with investigators. Now the Brethren
have added member lessons into the mix (less/inactive, new member,
prospective Elder/missionaries, active members, etc). They set a
standard for us to shoot for 20 lessons a week. I think we are all
slowly realizing how important it is to teach and retain those
members, especially when we see the statistic of those who are
baptized and shortly afterwards go inactive.
Well our last day in Stoneridge was pretty sweet! We went to visit a
referral given to us from Bishop Yamamoto, and inactive lady named
J. C. and her non-member Boyfriend, R.. So we started
talking with them a little about our purpose as missionaries, and
literally before we even got 2 minutes into it R. started crying,
and telling us how he knew he needed to do what we were there to
invite him to do, and knew it would bless his family. We hadn't
taught this guy a single thing yet! He straight up told us he wanted
to be baptized. He felt the spirit so strongly when we came over, and
so we just set a baptismal date right there for January 15th! We
taught him about the Restoration after that. The next day came
the new Elders, and although it is sad that we won't be able to teach
him and prepare him for his baptism, I will never forget that
experience. The Lord leads us to the prepared! I know I need to
develop that attitude now in this area we are am in.
I love you all, I appreciate your prayers in my behalf! I definitely need them.
I will be calling around 11am if that works for you guys. I'm pumped
to see everyone!
Love,
Elder Collin Christensen
'Totally forgot, yesterday I gave a 20 minute talk in the Spanish
Branch! I talked about Christmas time and covenants, and how we tend
to think of Christmas time as the time to remember Christ and his
Birth. But really, when we think about our baptismal covenant to
"always remember him" and to take his name upon us, we realize that
Christmas time can and should happen year round! I am thankful for the
covenants I have made that allow me to follow the path the Savior set
for us. Also I am thankful and a bit surprised that I was able to give
a talk in Spanish! Whaaaaaat? Hahah I think people were falling asleep
but it's all good.
Also mom, yes I played the piano at the Branch Christmas Party, and in
Sacrament mtg yesterday, both of which I was given no notice for. I
think the Mexican people here think I can play anything, so they just
don't tell me. Hahah but it's whatever, I am grateful for the
sight-reading skills you gave me momma! :D also I played most of the
songs out of the Jon Schmidt book I brought as prelude to a funeral a
Couple weeks ago
Ok, I think that's it! I love ya momma! Talk to you Wednesday at 11!
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