March 16, 2015

Hey family and friends!

So this last week wasn't too noteworthy, other than the 3 new Investigators we got from other missionary companionships. They are pretty awesome. One of them has been having a lot of hesitation about joining the church. We had a pretty powerful first lesson with her where we found out the real reason she is hesitant is because her family is not supportive at all. That seems to be the biggest issue with all our Investigators. But we committed her to be baptized April 25 and she accepted! 

We had another Investigator this week, Sophie, who was almost the exact same! She wants to read the Book of Mormon all the way through before she gets baptized. She has definitely felt and recognized the Spirit in our lessons, and kept saying how "good" she felt. We shared this scripture with her to help her realize she doesn't need to know everything before she takes a step of faith. In fact if she did, it wouldn't really be a step of faith.

"But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.
Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.
For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God."
Moroni 7:13-16
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/7?lang=eng

Good things come from God! Looking back on how I have gained a testimony, it has been through following the simple and "good" things that bring happiness, and realizing that they do in fact come from God, and that he does give us the ability to judge that we need in order to make the right choices. Anyways, right after we shared that scripture she committed to be baptized April 11 immediately! It was one of those power-house type lessons that really reminded me of my testimony as I bore it.

The funny part was right after our lesson when she locked her keys in her car. Our Ward mission leader happens to be a former patrol officer/tracker/prepper/gunslinger/double black belt in every martial art/self defense instructor/etc....... Pretty much he can do almost anything. So we called him up and he picked her lock for her. Haha She said "wow, being in the church really pays off!"

I also went on exchanges back in my old Spanish area again, that was a blast. There's definitely things I miss (like the food and the awesome people and the hilarious drunk men chillin' on their porch) and things I don't miss (like dogs trying to eat us in trailer parks and lessons falling through). 

Well anyways, have a fabulous week!

Elder Collin Christensen

March 9, 2015

Hi Family And Friends!

We have had a busy but great week! Tuesday we had a mission-wide
conference for Technology with Brother Randall from the missionary
department and Elder Malm from the 70. We received new iPads and
training, and won't be using Facebook for a while because the church
is resetting technology for missionaries. Luckily the snow stopped so
we were able to make it down to the conference in Phoenix!

We have been struggling to find new people to teach for the last few
weeks. So far we have found at least 1 each week, but we decided to
set a goal for two this week. We knew that there were two people we
could find and start teaching, so we made some more specific plans to
visit people on our records who hadn't been visited in a long time.
Well, none of them went through! A couple said we could come back
another time, but until Sunday night we hadn't started teaching anyone
new. Out of the blue Bishop Larson in our family ward texted us and
asked if we could come home teaching with him at 8:00pm. So we visited
a less active lady, and she had 2 roommates who sat in on the lesson
and said they wanted to learn more! Not only did we reach the goal we
had set, but I realized that the Lord doesn't always work how we think
he does, or how we think he will. He has a plan, and he supports us in
our righteous goals and efforts. It's a humbling experience when you
realize that you still accomplished something great, but not in any
way that you had planned for, and not necessarily directly through our
efforts. I love the fact that God is 100% our biggest fan. He is on
our team and will back us up. His plan for us is actually in our
favor, because we know that if we are on his team we will win no
matter what! But if we think we can do it ourselves we will be limited
to only what we can make of ourselves.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths"
(Proverbs 3:5-6; http://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/prov/3?lang=eng).


I know this scripture is true! It can apply to each and every one of us!

I had the chance to do an exchange with an Elder that was struggling
last week. He is going home in a few week and is feeling less and less
motivation each day. It was easy to see he hasn't been enjoying his
mission. One of my favorite things is being able to just be someone's
friend, rather than just telling them to buck up and trying to give
them all the solutions to their problems. Throughout the day we taught
some awesome people and had some great conversations. By the end of
the day I realized I had learned a ton from this Elder and I told him
so! It was cool to see how he responded. He was more open, and honest
with himself and others. He was happier and more obedient. It just
shows me how valuable it is to be someone's friend and to be
completely open and honest. It goes such a long way!

I love being a missionary in Arizona. As the First Presidency has
said, we are "Disciples of the Lord in the Digital Age." What an
awesome time to be a part of the hastening if the work of salvation!
The work will hasten, either with or without us. So we should do our
part!
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for
a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matthew
24:14; http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/24?lang=eng).
I love you all!

Elder Collin Christensen

A Few Pictures

This is our temple trip with Rachel and Crystal, two of our recent converts from January. They did baptisms for the dead for some of the family names Elder Madsen and I found. 

I Found Home!''

The Sherwood Forest place is just a random place on the side of the main road in flagstaff. Haha 

March 2, 2015

Hey Friends and Family!

We got hit by another snow storm this last weekend and today. The
whole zone has to stay in because the roads are so slick, and
yesterday church was cancelled. It's kind of fun yet it kind of stinks
because we have to cancel all our lessons.
We had interviews this week with President Griffin. He gave us some
tips on how we could help some struggling missionaries. Tomorrow we
are getting new iPads and a whole new training on how to use them. It
should be interesting, that is if we even get there because of the
snow.
Well Ashley has to push her baptism back to April unfortunately. She
is having a lot of doubts, family struggles and we spent most of this
week just trying to help her recognize the testimony she does have.
The same with Sophie, a newer Investigator. She is realizing she feels
the Spirit as she reads the Book of Mormon, but still doubts it.
 I love what Alma says in chapter 32. Now it means more than ever. We
have to plant the seed of the word of God. We have to exercise our
faith and believe that in planting it and nurturing it, it will grow
and bring us happiness! So we plant it and nurture it, and it grows!
It then Alma says that our "knowledge is perfect" that the seed is
good. Somehow, somewhere in the process, doubt often slips in though.
Sometimes it's because the seed is neglected, not nourished properly,
or planted in bad ground. But the most important thing is to keep
nourishing a growing testimony. A small testimony is still a
testimony! Don't let yourself doubt all the good experiences and
knowledge you have gained just because it may be small right now! What
I love most is that our spiritual testimony "seeds" will never stop
growing. Anyways, I know that what I have learned and come to know is
absolutely true. I know that conversion is a process of a lifetime,
but each step brings us closer to our Heavenly Father. The main
questions really is, are we willing to take those steps? We would
appreciate your prayers for Ashley and Sophie specifically this week.
I love you all! Have a great week!

Elder Collin Christensen