November 3 Grateful to Be a Missionary

Dear Family and Friends,

Our week was packed full and flew by! We started out by going on exchanges. While in the other Elders' area we knocked on the door of a referral for their ward. They came to the door and said "no English..." They were pretty surprised when they found out I spoke Spanish, and what was even funnier was when the dad told his daughter to tell us he wasn't home...as if I couldn't understand them. Haha So then I started talking to him and he asked us to come back in April... Anyways, stuff like that happens quite a bit actually. It keeps things entertaining I guess. 

Later in the week we went to the Temple Open House again, this time just as our district of missionaries, which was incredible as always. I love that Heavenly Father always will reconfirm the truth to us, literally time and time again. It strengthens my testimony each time I feel the Spirit teach me something and helps me know that I'm on the right path, and that this message is true. 

Well on Halloween we couldn't go out in the evening to proselyte, even though I'm sure plenty of people would have loved to see us in our costumes. "Hey look it's a Mormon missionary! How creative! Here's your candy, now get off my porch!" We got to have a Zone activity though which was awesome. We play Chair Soccer, Death Ball, and Speed Ball a lot in this mission and I don't think it'd be worth it to try and explain each of these games. 

We had an awesome Stake Conference this weekend and had some less active Spanish speaking members come just in time to hear President Uchtdorf speak about the new Phoenix Temple and the need for everyone to be worthy to hold a current temple recommend. It definitely got them motivated! Unfortunately President Uchtdorf wasn't there in person, but it was still an awesome conference. 

One revelation I had during stake conference was that I need to bear my personal testimony more frequently, multiple times during lessons and everywhere really. As I have begun doing so, the Holy Ghost has filled our lessons. They still aren't perfect, but at least the Spirit is there and we have the chance to point it out and help our investigators discover their own growing testimonies. Another revelation is that I need to sacrifice more of what I want for the benefit of those we are helping, be it my companion, investigators, members, or leaders. These are all things I hope to be able to improve on and grow to love doing.

I'm also grateful for how the Holy Ghost has been guiding us, and helping us to make important decisions. There are many elect here in this area and the way God's hand has guided us to them has just been incredible. An example is Taylor, who messaged us randomly this week and told us she would like to be baptized on December 6th! I decided to start writing in my journal every night about how God's hand guided and impacted the work that day. It has helped me realize how little we can actually do on our own, and be able to keep a positive outlook.

We are struggling with balancing the Spanish work here. There is much of it to do but we are kept busy every hour of the evening all week with mostly English work, going on splits with the members 3-4 times a week. The members here really are looking forward to having another set of Missionaries to help.

I am grateful to be a missionary! If you are a family member, friend, non member, or anyone really, I want you to know that I know that I am not wasting my time here. Actually there isn't enough time! This work is true and it is right. If you aren't sure of that yet, I invite you to find out! God will always reveal truth to those with sincere hearts and real intent. Message me on Facebook (Elder Collin Christensen) if you'd like to talk about it!

I love you all!

Elder Collin Christensen