Mi Familia!
So it has been getting down to 75 degrees at night! Woo! There is a
mission rule that if it is 65 degrees or less, we HAVE to wear sweaters
or our suit jackets....!! Just when it gets bearable for me again, I
now get to put on a sweater that will yet again send me into a sweating
ball of fun. So exciting.
Well this has been quite the week. Probably the most
trying, yet most rewarding so far. My companion keeps telling me I will
get used to being tired all the time, so that is comforting I
guess...Especially when I throw stuff at him during personal study when
he falls asleep every day. Haha It is hard to get used to how slow
things are. We spend half the day in the apartment studying (because I'm
being trained) and the other half proselyting. Our area is huge, but it
has so many English and Spanish people mixed together that almost every
street or door contact we make gets referred to the English Elders. We
really need help from our ward in finding people to teach. We have been
visiting members in our area and leaving them with the commitment to
find 1 person who their family can fellowship and invite to be taught by
the missionaries. They have all committed to do it, but people here
tend to forget their commitments. That's probably people everywhere, but
we are blessed to have phones and Facebook to help us follow up and
such.
Speaking of Facebook, I guess I should let you know that I am back
on! So mom, thanks for maintaining it for a while. I can't actually use
it for anything yet because I have to "gut it out" essentially to be
missionary appropriate, and that is taking forever. Once it gets
approved by my zone leaders I can start using it for proselyting, which
pretty much we still don't really know what that means. All the Elders
have kinda just been shooting in the dark with it so far, but this last
week we received some training from Sister Taylor, Mission President's
wife, at zone interviews on the limitations and uses of Facebook for
missionaries. I pretty much explained it in my status, but it is to be
use ONLY for things that will help me fulfill my purpose as a
missionary. So I can keep you as my friends, but I will not be
communicating with anyone unless it is for missionary work. But we can
teach anyone, world-wide! I am a bit hesitant about the whole thing
right now, but I am hoping it will become a great tool for the church.
So feel free to send me any referrals you have! Also, my mormon.org
profile has been "in progress" since I left home. I don't know why it
hasn't been approved yet, but it has my old email address linked to it
so it might need to be confirmed via that address. Could you check that
for me mom? This is the only account I am permitted to access.
So on Friday
we had a couple in our ward married at the church! They have been waiting 13 years to be able to get
married! I don't know the specifics, but they are an older couple
and began investigating the church 13 years ago. The were finally able
to get married, and on Saturday
they were both baptized by their son! It was so cool. They have such
strong testimonies and faith. They were taught by the Sisters in our
ward. It was such an example to me of enduring and perseverance for
something you know is right. I sometimes find myself getting frustrated
because people won't commit to baptism after 3 weeks, I can't imagine
waiting 13 years! I have really gained a new perspective on baptism. I
won't bore you all with my thoughts, but I do know that baptism is
essential in fulfilling God's plan for us. It is necessary to show him
we love him and are willing to follow him.
My testimony of temple
ordinances has also been strengthened. We visited a young less active
family, super nice, and the mother had been through the temple a few
months back. We felt inspired to talk to them about eternal families.
They told us they struggled feeling happy and the spirit in their home.
We asked them when the last time they had attended the temple together.
They then began realizing that they weren't reading scriptures, praying
alone and as a family, or going to the temple. I had my photo album with
all our recent family pictures, and I showed it to them and told them I
knew my family would be together forever. That I knew that it was
possible through the ordinances of the temple, and I knew it would be
possible for their family. The last picture in the photo album is of the
Phoenix, AZ Temple. The spirit was so strong! We could tell they wanted
their family to be eternal, and they committed right there to begin
working with the bishop to be sealed as a family in the Temple for time
and all eternity. They committed to start praying together and reading
again. I love that family so much! It is these amazing experiences that
make getting rejected and ignored and doors slammed in your face ALL
worth it. I love helping people realize their potential, and the
opportunities the Lord as provided everyone of His children.
Another
experience I had was in a very contentious home. There were 8 children,
and the parents were a little less than patient. They are both less active
members, and the mother requested a Priesthood blessing for her health.
Afterwards, the 14 year old son asked for a blessing of comfort. I was
asked to give the blessing. I didn't know these people at all, but as I
gave that blessing I felt some very real things about this boy. He was a
leader, and he was going to be a great example and support for his
family as he strengthened his faith and listened to the message the
Sisters were teaching the family. As I said these things, the I
literally felt the Spirit flood the home. I closed, and there was an odd
and unusual silence, and the boy, Jose, was close to tears. I testified
to that family of the power of the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. We left,
and one more of the children committed to be baptized with the
Sisters.
The Spirit is real. It is the Comforter. It helps us know right
from wrong, true from false, and peace from despair. As missionaries, we
are not teachers, but merely messengers of the Spirit. If we do our
job, the Spirit of God testifies to those who will listen to it. 2 Nephi
33: 1-2 The Holy Ghost will carry our message unto the hearts of the
children of men. Then it is their choice whether or not to let it carry
the message INTO their hearts.
I love being a missionary. I love bringing other people the
happiness and peace found in the gospel. It is true! We all need it,
each and every one. So share it, because this is the Salvation of souls.
I love each of you, and so does our Heavenly Father! Stay strong, and build your foundation on His Rock.
Until next week,
-Elder Christensen
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