August 26, 2014

Lonely mailbox, 
needs letters...

Hello!
So Elder Kwock is getting transferred tomorrow. We are bummed but we
were also expecting it. We finally convinced President Griffin that
having one Spanish Speaking missionary in the Flagstaff, AZ stake is
not the best thing for a brand new Spanish Group. I don't want to jinx
myself like last time, but I'm pretty sure I will get a Spanish companion finally.
It's been a great 6 weeks with Elder Kwock though!
We have had a ton of fun and done a ton of work at the same time. I'm
gonna miss him and his Asian ways a lot. He made me some shark last
week! Haha Anyways, tomorrow the entire mission is meeting for
transfers in the valley for a special training, so we will see how
that goes!


Well, we had some miracles happen last week. Steve ended up getting
baptized on Saturday as planned! He had a bunch of family issues come
up the week before and he was real stressed and worried when he
canceled his baptism. Bishop Brown felt inspired and talked with Steve
last week on Tuesday and assured him he was worthy and ready. So
everything went very smoothly after that and he was able to be
interviewed the day before. At his baptismal service he bore a
powerful testimony of the Savior's love and the restored church, and
everyone there felt the spirit very strong! Our Ward Mission Leader,
Brother Crane, gave him a Preach My Gospel manual and challenged HIM
to teach US his new member lessons! Ha ha!  He is so excited to get the
Priesthood next week and start home teaching etc. He will also be
getting married soon to a sister in another Ward. I'll try to send
some pictures this week or next.

Kevin was able to come to Steve's baptism and he had a great
experience. He is going through some tough opposition from his family
as well this week before his baptism. Yesterday he was pretty
frustrated when we met with him. We pretty much bagged our whole
lesson we had planned and just let him talk. He is such a strong guy,
but the adversary is doing everything it can to stop him from making
his important decision. I have seen this happen time and time again,
for every single person who I've seen prepare for baptism. I guess
Satan knows when we get close to the truth, and it's that trial of our
faith. He probably also knows the potential that people like Steve and
Kevin have, and the lives they will influence as members in the church
for the rest of their lives. They have strong testimonies, and Kevin
will get through the week alright. So please keep them in your
prayers!

To answer your questions mom, it has been a cold August for me up here in Flagstaff, and I will have missed all the summer heat this year.  I'm actually stoked about that. And yes, I teach alone when we visit Spanish people. Sometimes Elder Kwock can follow the conversation, and he will bear his testimony at the end and I will translate for him, or just let them practice their English! I've also been bringing out Spanish speaking members to join me for the Spanish lessons so they can help me out a bit, and Elder Kwock will go do some English lessons with another member.

I know that this church is true. It's undeniable when you watch it change and shape lives each day. I know as we share what the Gospel means to us with others, it comes to mean even more to us.

Have a great week everyone! I love you all!

Elder Collin Christensen