Happy Easter

Hello family and friends!

It has been one heck of a week! Sadly M. has fallen off the map and doesn't seem to want to talk to us anymore. But on a happy note, Tamrah got confirmed a member if the church! She was so happy, and it was a special experience for her husband to be able to confirm her. J. son told us he wants to be baptized in June! We are going to miss that family so much, they have completely moved into their new house.. Also Juan got the Aaronic Priesthood yesterday and was excited as always! He is searching for family names to bring to the temple, and we are planning on going with him in a couple weeks to do baptisms. D. and J. S.. came to church, they are a cool family but the dad isn't super supportive. [Their Daughter] is 8 and really wants to be baptized, but her parents are so casual about everything it's hard to help her progress. But they were at church so that's a blessing! We also felt guided to a members home last Monday, and we ended up teaching the excommunicated husband! He is a super chill Hawaiian guy who wants to be rebaptized! It's been cool to be able to go over there a few times now and bring the spirit back into their lives. Saturday we found this guy named J.who is really solid. He's about 25 and was really interested in Joseph Smith, said he believed it! I look back at the investigators we find and end up teaching, and I realize that so many of them came to be simply because we decided to talk to them on the street, or we followed a prompting to knock on their door. The Spirit truly can guide us to the elect, who are prepared and searching for the hope the gospel brings! We are still struggling with teaching and finding new people, but we are trusting in the the Lords promise: "Go your way whithersoever I will, and it shall be given you by the Comforter what you shall do and whither you shall go" (D&C 31:11).

One if my favorite talks from conference was by President Uchtdorf, Grateful in Any Circumstances.  When I read back over this talk, I tried to think of all the things I might not be so naturally inclined to be grateful for right now. As I thought, I first realized how blessed I already am. But from every thing I thought of that I might usually complain about, I suddenly recognized multiple blessings those things might provide me with. What I know is that even if we feel we can't recognize the blessings of our trials, there will always be a reason to thank our Heavenly Father. That's what makes gratitude an act of faith! I am trying to be more grateful for every experience and opportunity The Lord gives me.

With Easter approaching this Sunday, the church has launched a new Easter Initiative. Many of you have probably already heard of or seen this site, but the purpose is to help everyone feel the Spirit and love of God, and consider all the things that are made possible because of Jesus Christ. The site is www.mormon.org/BecauseofHim. I encourage you all to watch the video and share it on your Facebook page with your simple testimony! It's only for this week, so let's share it with as many people as we can!

I love my Savior and I love his work! I love that I can learn by experience and failure and he will still be there with His hands extended. I wish you all a happy Easter!

Elder Collin Christensen