HALF TIME! August 18, 2014

Hello!

I feel like every week I say that it has been the busiest week of my
mission, but this last week really was the busiest and craziest! We
ended up doing splits 4 nights last week! (Splits are when a missionary companionship "splits up" taking another companion, or priesthood holder from the church with them on their appointments)
I've honestly never visited
nor taught so many people. We are seeing the blessings come from
having our investigators/less active members build relationships with
the active members. We were able to visit quite a few Spanish people
on our splits, and we had a bunch come to the group yesterday for
translation! We finally have an Activities Coordinator for the Spanish
group now! We're going to have monthly activities for them, which will
be a good start to getting everyone together again. Since the Branch
dissolved, they haven't had many activities because everyone had
something against someone else. :P
Sadly, Steve, who has been preparing for baptism for over two months
now, postponed his baptism yesterday, which was going to be this
coming Saturday. We don't know why at all, but it caught everyone by
surprise. But we know it will work out and he can continue towards
that goal! We also are now teaching 3 other people preparing for
baptism on different dates in October! Names are Jerry, Christina, and
Josh. Each of them will have some things to quit and work through
before baptism, mainly smoking.
So we usually spend the night at the English Elder's apartment in
Williams on the weekends so we can find Spanish people out there. On
Friday night we were looking for a lady named Gloria we had talked to
before, but no one was home. Elder Kwock had felt like we should go
back around the fence, so we did and ended up finding an old
investigator who we thought had disappeared named Jose, just sitting
there on his bike! Turns out, he is separated from his wife, who ended
up being Gloria, and he was at their house waiting to say hi to his
daughters. Well I don't know how, but Gloria eventually showed up and
we were able to teach them all together about how the gospel will
unify them! It was interesting, and now looking back on it we realize
God placed us in a situation where we could provide help to a broken
family. They accepted the Libro de Mormón and we plan to see them next
week again! Miracles like that happen everyday. Sometimes we just
don't recognize them until later. During our morning workout once I
was in a pretty bad mood, just cause I didn't feel I was doing much
good or receiving many blessings. I remember having a lot of negative
and complaining thoughts. I even remember thinking "Geez, the birds
don't even sing here!" Well, I realized right then that I wasn't even
listening for the birds, and once I opened my ears I realized, there
were tons of birds singing! Of course I wasn't going to hear them if I
was too worried about complaining. It taught me to just be "grateful
in my circumstances" as Elder Uchtdorf puts it. To enjoy the little
things that make it all worth it. Miracles like these with this family
make it all worth it! :)
Alright, I love you all! Have a great week!

"15 For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have
compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I
not forget thee, O house of Israel.
16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls
are continually before me" (1 Nephi 21:15-16).
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/21?lang=eng

Elder Collin Christensen

August 11, 2014 The Year Mark THIS Week

Familia y Amigos míos!
This week has been a little less crazy but equally exhausting. We
found two new Spanish families that are solid! There's such a
difference when you teach real truth seekers than when you teach
someone with little desire. Those lessons with Miguel and Alberto
helped remind me of why I'm here and what my purpose is.
Steve and Kevin were both at church, as well as several less active
members we have been visiting! We planned a Family History evening
with them and some members so they can go on a temple trip with the
Elders Quorum in September. They are both stoked! They could both use
your prayers as they approach these couple weeks before their
baptisms. Kevin has already been facing a lot of adversity and
temptation particularly with the word of wisdom issues he left behind
about a month ago. We love these guys and know they will be alright.
We had a Zone conference this week as well! President Griffin has
changed a lot in the way we do things, and for the better. He best one
I have been loving so far is an extra hour of companionship study
completely for studying doctrine and practice teaching. It's helping
me not only to strengthen my testimony, but also my knowledge,
understanding, and preparation. While that's a whole hour we could be
teaching, I really think it's better. It is helping us learn how to
teach so much more effectively and powerfully.
Well, I can't believe it's already been a year! The time has flown,
but I also feel like I've been a missionary forever! I'm excited to
make the most of these next 12 months!
I love you all!

Elder Collin Christensen

Buenos Dias! August 4, 2014

Hello!

What an awesome week we have had! Five investigators came to church
for an awesome testimony meeting! We finally started working with Mark
again and he stayed for the second hour of church for the first time
ever. He was bored in Sunday school so I think he will be in Gospel
doctrine next week. But we had gone over earlier in the week to teach
him (his wife is a recent convert of a few years, from Peru) and he
just unloaded his testimony on us! He still isn't quite sure if he
knows yet, but we can tell that he does. We had invited him to read
Alma 32, and when we came back he had read it 3 times! For him he said
it was and answer to his prayers. The Spirit is working miracles in
his life right now. He is one of the most sincere investigators I have
ever taught and we are hoping to help him start preparing for baptism
as well!
 
We began teaching another part member family last week as well. Jerry,
the nonmember, is a super sincere Navajo guy. They only have a couple
young kids and by the end of our first visit with them they decided
they needed to build their family on the foundation of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. They showed that desire by coming to church yesterday,
and his wife Shelley hadn't been for probably 15 years! Oh yea, then
their dog bit both of us. Elder Kwock has a nice hole in the back of
his suit. Haha
 
On my mission I have had so many little experiences with being led by
the Spirit and not realizing it until later. I wish I could write them
all out, but we had some huge blessings come this past week from the
Spirit, like finding people in just the right moment and just the
right place, or saying the right words that help people recognize God
loves them. It's just a testimony to me that The Lord is hastening His
work, and WE have to keep the pace if we are going to be of any use to
Him.
 
Well, it rained a lot this last week. I've never heard so many people
pray for more rain, especially at church. I guess we take it for
granted in the northwest! :D
Well that's about it for this week! I love each of you! Have a splendid week!

Elder Collin Christensen