Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Pre-Thanksgiving Post

Hola Familia!
Pues, hace frio aqui en Prescott Valley! Ahorita mis manos estan blancos! It snowed yesterday, but didn't stick. It has really been reminding me of home lately. And I got your package mom! Thank you for the sweaters! They are much appreciated, in fact I am currently wearing one of them. I don't think I will be going out of the house without one on for the next few months. I also appreciated your healthy foods you included in the package. :)) Marissa, your pumpkin cookies were the bees knees! Thank you! I EVEN shared them with my companion. So apparently we are inside all day on Thanksgiving unless we have appointments, Elder Cardwell wants to set up three: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. We will see how that goes. Haha 
Well this week we had a Specialized Training for Spanish speaking missionaries. We were trained on some ways we can more efficiently work with the Spanish people. The biggest thing I learned is that we simply need to change our attitudes and be over-achievers. On a similar note to my email last week, if we go about the work with a laid back attitude nothing is going to change. To be honest, I haven't even taught a Spanish lesson here yet, which is super tough. We have been in a couple members homes, but they speak English to us mostly. I am convinced that nothing has been happening with the Spanish work precisely because of our attitudes.
Well, we found some new English investigators this week! J. S. and T I. She is the daughter of an inactive member named B., who is dating J.S. We had a member of our Bishopric, Brother Howe, come and participate in the first lesson with us. It was one of the first times I have been able to teach about the Restoration and have more than 5 minutes to do it. I started out trying to teach just with my own knowledge, and thinking back on it, I didn't even give them time to absorb what I was saying because I was so worried about finishing my point and getting to the next point in the lesson! It didn't take long before I remembered the mission scripture I chose 2 Nephi 4:34 "Oh Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of the flesh..." And that was exactly what I was doing, trusting my own strength. Well, I guess I started thinking less about me and it turned out to be a great lesson. The Spirit was very strong, and they all wanted to read and pray to find out if the Book of Mormon was true! They got sick and couldn't come to church, but we are meeting again with them tomorrow!
S & J are just about the same as last week, but they have been listening to the Book of Mormon and said they are getting a testimony that it is true. They said it just calms their whole house down! We have really been trying to focus on the Book of Mormon in our visits with people because it really is so key and central to our purpose. And so, rather than just telling people they need to be married, or they need to stop drinking alcohol, or whatever it is, the focus is on whether or not the Book of Mormon is the word of God and Joseph Smith is a Prophet. And either the Book of Mormon is the true word of God, or it is a very big lie. And when you come to know it is true, the faith to obey the word becomes much more natural. It comes from a love of God and from a desire to feel His presence in our lives. I share my personal witness that the Book of Mormon IS in fact the Word of God. It is not a lie, and there is no way it could be a lie. I know that anyone anywhere can know this for themselves as well if they just read it! Read the book! Read it, and then pray, and it will bless your life more than you can imagine, as it has mine. 
I love you all! Always in my prayers! Have a grand Thanksgiving!

-Elder Christensen

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