June 3, 2014

Dear Family and Friends!
Well, we just received transfer news, and Elder Muñoz is leaving tomorrow. :( we are both pretty bummed about it. We have learned so
much from each other and have loved the last 6 weeks working here. I am a bit uneasy and quite honestly nervous to take over this area.
While our English ward is small, our Spanish area is enormous and a little overwhelming. I didn't really realize it until this last weekend when we stayed out in Williams and Ash Fork. I know that The
Lord doesn't expect me to know it all or be able to do everything perfectly, so I am grateful for His help which I will most definitely need! I feel I have learned two huge things from Elder Muñoz. The first being love. We can't do the Lord's work unless we do it in the Lord's way, and the Lord's way is love! Elder Muñoz is an awesome example of loving the people and showing it.  The Second thing I have learned from being with him is how to effectively and confidently make decisions. I am still learning it, but ever since I got here, he turned most the reins over to me and really let me guide our decisions. I believe he was inspired to do that so I could learn to trust not only the Spirit, but also my own ability to make decisions. Anyways, I love this guy and will miss him!

This last week we've stayed busy. Recently we have been struggling with how to get the members to work with us. They are excited and willing to participate, and they trust us, but most of them just don't have a clue how to do missionary work. It's understandable too, of course people want to share the gospel, but the "method" of sharing is isn't quite so easy. Well, I can tell all you members reading this,
the "method" is the missionary manual Preach My Gospel. As Elder Ballard said this last April's Conference, this is a manual for missionary work, and so it's a manual for all of us! His Apostolic
challenge to us to study it as members of the church is not merely a suggestion! So I will back up his challenge with mine - study it! If you truly want to share the gospel, you will heed this call from a prophet of God. I promise that if you do, the Spirit will enlighten
you and give you an idea, a "method", in which The Lord would have YOU participate in His work. And the COOLEST part of this last week has been watching members apply the principles taught in Preach My Gospel. They invite! We had several lessons with members who not only invited current investigators to come to their home, but who introduced us to new people as well! I just testify that there are people you see and know each and everyday who are prepared and searching for the truth. You may or may not know who they are, but The Lord does! Trust him, fear God more than man! Invite invite invite, and watch The Lord work miracles through you. I know he will if you follow his Method.  So some of these new people I mentioned are Steve and Jacob. Steve has a girlfriend who is a member and is helping us teach him. He is
soaking everything up and already wants to be baptized! Jacob is from Phoenix and is staying with his aunt in our ward. He's an awesome kid. Both of these people we would never have found if members hadn't
invited us to meet and teach them! The truth is, we can't do this work alone as members nor alone as missionaries. We are excited to see the hastening of the work in action!
I know this church is true!

Love,

Elder Collin Christensen