Merry Chistmas

 December 23, 2013

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

So I am very sorry to say that I have not yet sent the family
Christmas package, still waiting on some stuff. But you will get it
one day! I guess I won't be able to do my special gift for Richard
when we Skype, but it will get there eventually. Mom, I got the big
package and it's sitting under the Christmas tree! :) oh, we found out
we may be moving a couple days after Christmas.

Sounds like you guys are going to have blast together this Christmas!
It still doesn't really feel like Christmas for me, but I am learning
that in the Spirit of Giving I can enjoy Christmas as a missionary.
One of my favorite scriptures this Christmas has been in Matthew
25:31-40. When we are judged after this life we will be remembered by
our service to The Lord. We may not have physical gifts to bring to
Jesus Christ, as did the wise men, but we will have a lifetime of
actions, either dedicated to serving God, or ourselves. "And the King
shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye
have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done
it unto me" (Matthew 25:40). As I have thought of Christ and what he
came to do for me, I wonder to myself what I can do for Him. And He
gives me so many opportunities! Let's all "choose this day whom [we]
will serve" as the Prophet Joshua directed, and enjoy the blessings of
the Love of God that come as we serve him.

Well, it has been an interesting transition from the Stoneridge Ward
to the Glassford Hill Ward. I tried to shake everyone's hand at church
yesterday, which I think I just about did. It's a lot easier to
introduce yourself when you are both newbies.
 We went from having almost 15 lessons a week to having 4 this week.
One of those 4 lessons was with an older couple named S. and A.
They were brand new investigators in the Glassford Ward, and as we
taught them the Restoration they had a TON of questions. It was sweet
to have someone to teach, even though we could hardly answer some of
their questions, and they were kind antagonistic about the idea if the
Book of Mormon. They kept asking for biblical evidence of the Book of
Mormon, which we gave, but didn't seem to satisfy them. Finally we
realized that the only proof, or evidence,  that will convert anyone
is the Holy Ghost itself. I interrupted the debate finally and told
them not to believe our words, but to learn the truth for themselves
by going to the source of all truth, Heavenly Father. As I bore my
testimony of the Book of Mormon, I remember the atmosphere just
calming down as the Spirit came and testified of truth. It was pretty
amazing, thinking back on it. They accepted a Book of Mormon, and we
left.

It has been pretty hard for me to leave behind the teaching pool we
built up and come to a tiny area with significantly less work. We were
told that we would be going through the Ward list and finding out who
all still lives here and who has moved out, so at least we get
something to work with! I think it is cool to see the recent emphasis
placed on teaching members. Each week we have indicators, or numbers,
that we set goals for at the beginning of the week. These numbers used
to just be for lessons we had with investigators. Now the Brethren
have added member lessons into the mix (less/inactive, new member,
prospective Elder/missionaries, active members, etc). They set a
standard for us to shoot for 20 lessons a week. I think we are all
slowly realizing how important it is to teach and retain those
members, especially when we see the statistic of those who are
baptized and shortly afterwards go inactive.

Well our last day in Stoneridge was pretty sweet! We went to visit a
referral given to us from Bishop Yamamoto, and inactive lady named
J. C. and her non-member Boyfriend, R.. So we started
talking with them a little about our purpose as missionaries, and
literally before we even got 2 minutes into it R. started crying,
and telling us how he knew he needed to do what we were there to
invite him to do, and knew it would bless his family. We hadn't
taught this guy a single thing yet! He straight up told us he wanted
to be baptized. He felt the spirit so strongly when we came over, and
so we just set a baptismal date right there for January 15th! We
taught him about the Restoration after that. The next day came
the new Elders, and although it is sad that we won't be able to teach
him and prepare him for his baptism, I will never forget that
experience. The Lord leads us to the prepared! I know I need to
develop that attitude now in this area we are am in.

I love you all, I appreciate your prayers in my behalf! I definitely need them.
 I will be calling around 11am if that works for you guys. I'm pumped
to see everyone!


Love,

Elder Collin Christensen


'Totally forgot, yesterday I gave a 20 minute talk in the Spanish
Branch! I talked about Christmas time and covenants, and how we tend
to think of Christmas time as the time to remember Christ and his
Birth. But really, when we think about our baptismal covenant to
"always remember him" and to take his name upon us, we realize that
Christmas time can and should happen year round! I am thankful for the
covenants I have made that allow me to follow the path the Savior set
for us. Also I am thankful and a bit surprised that I was able to give
a talk in Spanish! Whaaaaaat? Hahah I think people were falling asleep
but it's all good.
Also mom, yes I played the piano at the Branch Christmas Party, and in
Sacrament mtg yesterday, both of which I was given no notice for. I
think the Mexican people here think I can play anything, so they just
don't tell me. Hahah but it's whatever, I am grateful for the
sight-reading skills you gave me momma! :D also I played most of the
songs out of the Jon Schmidt book I brought as prelude to a funeral a
Couple weeks ago

Ok, I think that's it! I love ya momma! Talk to you Wednesday at 11!

Transfers coming

Dec. 17, 2013

 

Hola Familia!

Well I was right! Elder Cardwell and I are both getting transferred. We don't know where exactly yet, but we are pretty sure we are just trading places with the Glassford ward Elders because they told us we don't need to pack...So I will let you know tomorrow for sure! We have to drive all the way down to Phoenix tomorrow anyways though, just to go to the meeting and come back up. :p 

The following is from Sis Taylor:

Please tell your parents about our MISSION BLOG. IF they go to azphxmission.blogspot.com they can enter their email address int he little box on the right side of the blog for automatic emails when I post. They will then receive an email from "FEEDBURNER" that they will need to open and click on a link to VERIFY their subscription to the blog. This is the easiest way for them to know when I post. All the photos that I take of any event are either in a post or attached through Picasa Web albums so they can see all photos. Your photo with Santa and with us outside the temple are all on these web albums, and they can send them to you as they see you in photos. 

So for Christmas I will email that Monday we are pretty sure, and then we will be able to skype call for Christmas. If you don't want to have to get a skype, we can just do a regular call, or we also have FaceTime. I will check to make sure that is ok. The last package I received was the Grandma's Cookie Crew one! ;) Thanks to all!

Well, speaking of Skype, I mentioned a couple weeks ago that we have been teaching a girl who lives in Brazil over Facebook. She has also been being taught by the missionaries there, and yesterday she messaged me and told me she finally decided to be baptized on January 11, 2014! We had been trying to address her concerns for a while, and she was really searching  for a testimony. Finally we just asked her if she was reading her Book of Mormon. She said she wasn't, and so we committed her to read a page everyday, and continue praying, and see if her answer didn't come! Well, who knows if that was why she made the decision to be baptized, but we were pumped. SO, yesterday we SKYPED her and practiced part of the Baptismal interview with her! I still cant believe the how much work is progressing and how many things are now possible!

Well, the only other really progressing investigator from this past week is K. W.. She has been on fire, I can't believe how Spiritual she is. We have met with her 3 times since last week, and everytime we teach her she ends up crying. I will admit I did once too (Shhh). She keeps telling us she doesn't know yet if the Book of Mormon is true or not because she isn't receiving any answers when she prays. We want her to see that The Lord IS answering her prayers, every time we meet! With her rough background and situation, she tells us every time that after we leave, she just feels peace and comfort, and only sees the positive in her life. Does she recognize it as the Holy Ghost testifying of truth? I dont know, but I do know that she is a seeker of truth. I can say that through teaching K., I have honestly come to realize the truth of what my mission call said, that as a missionary "More happiness awaits you than you have ever before known" (or something like that...). I can't explain the happiness that comes from seeing someones testimony grow from the beginning. 

Yesterday we taught S. (the older German lady who nearly destroyed me at ping-pong) and we taught how prayer can help her overcome her addiction to cigarettes. She explained that because of her background she never has been one to ask for help, and she feels bad if she is the reason for anyone to give service. She even has issues with asking God for help. :/ Basically we told her straight up that she cant do anything without God and his mercy and his help. After reading Ether 12:27 and explaining that weaknesses teach us to trust the Lord, I think she began to understand.

We had a very odd lesson with M., the lady we said a prayer with last week on her doorstep, who also gave us hugs...:p Well we went back to teach the restoration, and when we got there she was a mess. She recently relapsed on Alcohol after being sober 10 years. She had been beating her self up all day about it, and we showed her a Mormon Message Mountains to Climb, and talked about the Atonement. Well, up until then the Spirit was strong. She was crying, but we soon realized she might have been partially under the influence still, although she was understanding all we were saying. she wanted to pray with us before we left, and she clasped my hand so hard during the prayer I honestly thought she was going to break my finger! We tried to get out of there, and then she hugged us again. Hahah Well, needless to say, we decided for our safety not to go back until some Sister missionaries come into this area, as much as we would like to help her right now. It was a bit freaky, but we laughed about it later and said a prayer to bring the Spirit back. 

We are still working with A.A. as he is trying to get out of his alcoholism. He is so humble and kind!

M.J. didn't end up getting baptized this week. :/ She drinks coffee and so we decided to wait another two weeks so she can quit before her baptism.

The Stoneridge ward has been finding us people to teach right and left! I am so amazed at the missionary focus here. Bishop Yamamoto is the bomb! I will truly miss this ward and the people here. I have sent some pictures of a few of them

Ward mission leaders Bro. Amero and Bro. Trever

So we went to the Mesa Temple on Tuesday! We had a program all morning and then we all did an Endowment session in the Afternoon! We all did work for the Jaeger family in the Stoneridge ward because they had like 2000+ names ready for temple work! It was the biggest session I have ever been in. I love the Temple! There is so much peace, and being there with all these missionaries I have grown to love so much was amazing! We then saw the Christmas lights, which I think I sent a picture of as well, and we didn't get home till like 10:30pm.

How is the missionary work coming in the Sherwood Ward? Who are the Elders there? Whats the family's plan for Christmas, or I guess, what I am gonna miss out on? ;) Has it snowed yet? how are the Benitez family doing? That is so cool to hear about the kid who was baptized last week!  

Sorry this is jumbled! I love you all so much and appreciate your letters/emails! Merry Christmas! Remember, Christmas = Christ - m`as!

-Elder Christensen

Lessons, exchanges, and following the spirit

December 9, 2013

 

Hola Familia!

Thank you for the "Christmas Tree"! It made me pretty happy,the Ameros haven't put up a Christmas tree since they're moving soon, so I'm still looking for a place to put it! Its great to hear Christmas Tree Farm has been doing so well this last week. We ate dinner with a family last night who had a real tree! But we will definitely be moving out next week at the transfer because they found a brand new duplex for us. That is, assuming we don't get transferred anyway. I only have another week till I'm done being trained! And we both think we might be getting transferred, because they announced last week that the stake is "dissolving" the Estrella branch for members who live in Prescott Valley and Chino Valley/Paulden starting January 1, 2014. So all those Spanish members will be going to English wards in those areas instead of making the long drive to Prescott every week for church. So we are thinking they will bring some real English missionaries to Stoneridge, and transfer one or both of us to the Glassford Hill ward in Prescott Valley, where the Spanish members will be going. I hope that all made sense! So I guess we will see if we are right next week. Also since transfers are next week, I will be emailing on Tuesday! And I have no idea what my address will be, so I would say to just send the package to the Mission Office. I only got the Christmas tree one. And we have zone meeting once a month, not once a week, which we had last week. As far as requests, I really would like some warm wool socks, maybe my warm gloves, a warm cup of hot cocoa and a warm tie! I don't know Mom, get creative with it. :) Its pretty chilly here, we went running in 15 degrees this morning. And yesterday it snowed like an inch. I think I am going to buy a wind/waterproof coat this week though, so don't worry about that one. I will eventually need some more journal pages, I just started the second pack you sent me with. I dont know when we will be able to do Skype, they haven't really told us anything more. 

Well this week has been very successful! Last Monday night we had a lesson with J.S. and T. I. at a members home. We taught about Jesus Christ and how he set the example for us to be baptized (2 Nephi 31:4-12, Matthew 3:13-17) and they both committed to be baptized! They originally committed to December 21, but later that week texted us and said they didn't feel ready that soon. But they are solid, and we are teaching them tonight again! T. I. is 14 and couldn't stop smiling when I asked her if she wanted to be baptized. It is amazing how The Lord prepares people.

On Tuesday we found this lady named K. who is a single mom with 3 young kids and has a pretty rough past. Her ex-boyfriend was a member of the church, but recently got into some crazy stuff and she kicked him out. She is struggling both mentally, physically and spiritually right now, and just the fact that we wanted to talk with her seemed to brighten her day. She told us she had been to many churches in her life, and always felt like she was led to each one at that point in her life for a reason. Well, we testified to her that she was led to this church at this point in her life for a reason too. She has literally hit rock bottom, and there is no greater message to hear than that the Savior Jesus Christ knows each of us and our individual struggles, and can help pull us through them. She began reading the Book of Mormon, and was our first new investigator last week! Again, the Lord prepares people!
I went on 2 exchanges this last week, the first was with Elder Lundquist from the Glassford Hill Ward Wednesday because Elder Cardwell had a leadership meeting. It snowed that morning and, yes, of course we were on bikes! Luckily it didn't stick, but I definitely now have a greater appreciation for having a car, even if it is a mini-van. :) And we had to cover both of our wards for the day. It was freezing, but I loved that exchange! So many miracles happened that day! I will share one, we were biking around in the afternoon in my area, and I had prayed that the Spirit would guide us in our work that day, especially since I am still getting familiar with the area. Well, the Spirit definitely guided us, and we found several people home who, if we had arrived just a few seconds before or after, we would have missed them. One was a man named D. E. L. doesn't speak any Spanish at all, so just right outside D.E. L.'s trailer I taught him about Joseph Smith, the Restoration, and the Book of Mormon, and set up a time to come back and teach his family - and then I realized I had done it all in Spanish! I hadn't even been scared, even though it was one of the first times I couldn't rely on my companion to help me! I think I kept giggling to myself for the rest of the night because I conversed with a Mexican in real Spanish. Well, Elder Cardwell had set another baptismal date for one of our Spanish investigators named M.J. during the exchange, and his companion for the day didn't speak a lick of spanish either! It was such a great day of growth for all of us.

The second exchange was with a Zone Leader, Elder O'Neal on Saturday. I took over the area again, and had some odd flashbacks from Sophmore year while driving the mini-van (Karen). One of the coolest experiences we had was when we were trying to find an inactive members house. The address was totally wrong, so I went to get back in the car, but Elder O'Neal said we should just try the closest address to what we had. Well, we did, and it definitely wasn't the member we were looking for. But a lady came to the door, and had clearly been crying, and told us she wasn't interested because she wasn't feeling good at all. (In a missionaries mind that translates to "teach me! I have been prepared by the Lord and need something new in my life!"). So I asked if we could just say a quick prayer with her, and she agreed, annoyed. I prayed for her well-being and that the Lord would comfort her. It was a simple prayer and I didn't think much of it. But when I finished she came out onto the porch and gave me huge hug...yea, possibly the most awkward experience of my mission so far. I realized I couldn't freak out and tell this woman I couldn't hug her after she had just been touched by the Spirit, and obviously comforted. We are teaching her tonight as well!

 I can't reiterate enough how important the Spirit is in this work! It guides us, it comforts us, it strengthens our testimonies, and most importantly, it teaches us truth and is the power through which conversion to Jesus Christ's true church takes place. I love it! I rely on it, and the scripture is true that says "And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach" (D&C 42:14).

 I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true Church again restored to the earth. I know it blesses lives more than anything else, and because of that, the Lord guides and directs His servants to those who are in need and are prepared to accept the love Christ offers them. I hope each of you who read this know that I know this without a doubt! And I hope you can each learn to feel the joy of living the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as I surely have. You are in my prayers! 

-Elder Christensen

Thankful for hats, sweaters, Thanksgiving dinners 4 days in a row...

December 2, 2013

 

Hello Family and Friends!

It is great to hear the Christmas trees have been selling so well! I got pretty stoked when I heard we sold 80 trees in November. When I tell people sometimes I have a Christmas tree farm back at home, they seem to all wonder why anyone would get a real Christmas tree, let alone plant hundreds of them in hopes people will buy them. Clearly they are Arizonians and don't know the color green, not to mention lacking some Christmas Spirit, so I forgive them. And tell Lacey I am lovin her new kicks! Hahah She is adorable. Anna, I heard you hefted a tree up our deck..I also saw a picture of you falling trying to carry it. :D haha Dad, I hope you write a story about the community of crazy animals living under your vet hospital. Mom, I am praying for you and the concert this year! I hope all is going well!

Well, Thanksgiving came and went! Pretty much felt like another day, except that we had to be inside all day. I realized that I am grateful for leaving the house...also for members who compete to feed us on Thanksgiving, and pretty much any day, for hats and sweaters, for members who invite investigators to their homes for dinner without us asking them to, for Thanksgiving dinners 4 days in a row. I am grateful for a dedicated Bishop, and for the Holy Ghost which continually strengthens and guides us. I have a few pretty remarkable stories that happened this past week.

We had a Thanksgiving Lunch with the Ameros, who we live with, Friday and they invited an investigator named S. H. to join us. S. is at least 70 and comes from Nazi Germany, and comes to church every week. She asked us if we could talk about the Word of Wisdom, and so we had a good lesson. After the closing prayer, she excused herself, went outside and lit up a cigarette. Haha! I looked at Elder Cardwell, both of us giving the "Are you serious?" look, or maybe it was the "Didn't we just teach the Word of Wisdom and she committed to try and live it?" look...regardless, we had a good laugh. S. has good intentions really wants to join the church, but is pretty addicted and wants to know for herself that quitting is the right thing to do. I guess in D&C 89 where it promises us "treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures" can mean that the Holy Ghost will help us gain a testimony that the Church is true, when we live the law of health that the Lord gave us. 

I don't remember if I already told this story, but I will tell it again because another miracle happened this week. So a few weeks ago, we were trying to find this potential investigators home. When we pulled up, we saw that right outside the the house there was a raving party going on...well I looked at Elder Cardwell and said "I am not walking up to that house." I was scared out of my mind. So we said a prayer, asking what we should do, and for courage to get out of the car. I was still scared, I honestly felt like a little kid, but for some reason we felt like we just needed to go and talk to the people at the house. So we did, and this completely wasted drunk guy, who was definitely not who we were looking for, runs up to us, hopping up and down and doing all sorts of weird things, and cussed us out for a solid 5-6 minutes. He then made it very clear we were to leave his property immediately. Well, I thought it was pretty funny afterwards. This week on Wednesday, we had a dinner appointment with some members. Well, we walk in, and there sitting on the couch is the very same man from the party house 2 weeks earlier! He had been invited to join us for dinner by the family. He totally remembered us, and was clearly embarrassed. The interesting thing was that neither my companion nor myself felt the slightest bit of grudge toward the guy. In fact, we had one of the most spiritual lessons I have ever had after a dinner appointment! We gave him our number and he said he would call us if he ever needed anything. Now, why did we meet this unlikely man twice in a row, in the most unlikely of circumstances? Honestly, I have no idea why. But if we hadn't gotten out of the car that day, we may never have been able to know and love and help this man feel the Spirit in that members home. He still hasn't called us, but there is no doubt in my mind that the Lord placed him in our pathway for a reason, perhaps a reason we will never know. 

Another quick story, this week we had quite a few lessons cancel. I learned I am grateful when lessons cancel, because then we belong to the Spirit and where He needs us to go. On one such occasion, last Tuesday night, we didn't know where to go for the hour, but Elder Cardwell just said, "Hey lets go see Sister R." who is a recent convert/less active Spanish member. So we went. Well, we found her there in severe pain after having fallen earlier that day at work. We offered to give her a Priesthood blessing which she clearly wanted. I still don't have much experience with giving blessings, but I truly felt the Lord's love for this Sister as I did so. Afterwards she bore her testimony to us about the Power of Priesthood blessings, and said "Dios me los envio a mi." God sent you to me. Moral of the story - never doubt the thoughts and impressions that come into your mind, even if you think they are just your thoughts. The Holy Ghost works through our thoughts, and if we act in faith that the Holy Ghost is guiding us, we will truly become instruments in the Lord's hands, and become the means by which he "succors" his people. Everyday I am still learning to trust in the Spirit, and I can't say it is easy. But I am grateful to be learning, and to have Elder Cardwell as my trainer. 

Well, I am sure I have bored you all half to death or sleep or a death-sleep. Either way, I love you all and feel your prayers on my behalf every day! I love the work I have been called to. I am so happy to hear of so many who are preparing and leaving on their missions! I can tell you all it has been the best choice I have ever made. Keep on moving on!

Love, 

Elder Christensen

P.S. So...apparently we get to Skype on Christmas...

 

Oh, I forgot! We taught a lesson on Facebook this week to a girl in Brazil! It was pretty sweet.

Also mom, I studied your studies on Psalms 23. It was so cool, as I was reading through your notes and analyzations, I was reminded of a scripture I recently read and then decided to do something similar with it. And it was so closely tied to Psalms 23! I have some great studies lately, i would send you my notes but I think I will let you read them yourself. :) 

The scripture was in Alma 37:37-47. I love it! Also I have been studying Moroni 7 with a similar breakdown on faith. It sounds like I'm super organized but its not really yet. Haha

 

Pre-Thanksgiving Post

Hola Familia!

Pues, hace frio aqui en Prescott Valley! Ahorita mis manos estan blancos! It snowed yesterday, but didn't stick. It has really been reminding me of home lately. And I got your package mom! Thank you for the sweaters! They are much appreciated, in fact I am currently wearing one of them. I don't think I will be going out of the house without one on for the next few months. I also appreciated your healthy foods you included in the package. :)) Marissa, your pumpkin cookies were the bees knees! Thank you! I EVEN shared them with my companion. So apparently we are inside all day on Thanksgiving unless we have appointments, Elder Cardwell wants to set up three: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. We will see how that goes. Haha 

Well this week we had a Specialized Training for Spanish speaking missionaries. We were trained on some ways we can more efficiently work with the Spanish people. The biggest thing I learned is that we simply need to change our attitudes and be over-achievers. On a similar note to my email last week, if we go about the work with a laid back attitude nothing is going to change. To be honest, I haven't even taught a Spanish lesson here yet, which is super tough. We have been in a couple members homes, but they speak English to us mostly. I am convinced that nothing has been happening with the Spanish work precisely because of our attitudes.

Well, we found some new English investigators this week! J. S. and T I. She is the daughter of an inactive member named B., who is dating J.S. We had a member of our Bishopric, Brother Howe, come and participate in the first lesson with us. It was one of the first times I have been able to teach about the Restoration and have more than 5 minutes to do it. I started out trying to teach just with my own knowledge, and thinking back on it, I didn't even give them time to absorb what I was saying because I was so worried about finishing my point and getting to the next point in the lesson! It didn't take long before I remembered the mission scripture I chose 2 Nephi 4:34 "Oh Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of the flesh..." And that was exactly what I was doing, trusting my own strength. Well, I guess I started thinking less about me and it turned out to be a great lesson. The Spirit was very strong, and they all wanted to read and pray to find out if the Book of Mormon was true! They got sick and couldn't come to church, but we are meeting again with them tomorrow!

S & J are just about the same as last week, but they have been listening to the Book of Mormon and said they are getting a testimony that it is true. They said it just calms their whole house down! We have really been trying to focus on the Book of Mormon in our visits with people because it really is so key and central to our purpose. And so, rather than just telling people they need to be married, or they need to stop drinking alcohol, or whatever it is, the focus is on whether or not the Book of Mormon is the word of God and Joseph Smith is a Prophet. And either the Book of Mormon is the true word of God, or it is a very big lie. And when you come to know it is true, the faith to obey the word becomes much more natural. It comes from a love of God and from a desire to feel His presence in our lives. I share my personal witness that the Book of Mormon IS in fact the Word of God. It is not a lie, and there is no way it could be a lie. I know that anyone anywhere can know this for themselves as well if they just read it! Read the book! Read it, and then pray, and it will bless your life more than you can imagine, as it has mine. 

I love you all! Always in my prayers! Have a grand Thanksgiving!

-Elder Christensen

Prescott Valley and Zone Conference

Hola Familia!

The address I am currently living at is 

7584 E Bravo Lane Prescott Valley, AZ 86314

 

but the [family] will be moving soon and we will be moved to an apartment we think, so that address is pretty temporary! Like I said earlier, it would be safer until I get a solid address to send everything to the mission office in Glendale. :) Thanks!

So I actually don't have any idea what we are doing for Thanksgiving. We weren't allowed to Proselyte after 6 PM on Halloween and we had to be in by 6. But we still aren't sure what it will be like. Elder Cardwell transferred from the Farmington mission last July because he was in Flagstaff, so he is pretty new to the AZ Phoenix Mission as well. But what I do know is that the Missionary Handbook says Holidays are the best times to do proselyting because people are home and with their families. That may or may not have changed, but I am sure we will still be working that day. And hopefully get a few dinners in with some members. ;D

Prescott Valley is awesome! I love it here! It sort of reminds me of home, just because we aren't really in the city and there are a lot of mountains around us. Most mornings we run to the top of the road and we can see the sun rise and the moon is still up on the other side! I haven't gotten any good pictures of that yet.

So this last week on Friday we went up to Sedona, AZ for a Zone Conference! This time it was the Mission Tour with Elder Teh from the Quorum of the Seventy, and we were there with 3 other zones. There will probably be something about it on Sister Taylor's mission blog, but Elder Teh is awesome! He is from the Phillipines. As he spoke to us, I realized how comfortable I have been getting - and not in a good way. President Taylor has said in the past "If you get comfortable, check yourself...You need to get comfortable being uncomfortable" And it is so true. There is not growth in a comfort zone and no comfort in a growth zone, and we need to be growing everyday! So Elder Teh really vividly brought back to life for me all the experiences I had since I opened my mission call to serve in AZ, down to Mexico, and now here. He made an illustration I wish I could share, but pretty much he drew us at the top of a diagram when we left the MTC, walking down a road, ready to go and be "Preach My Gospel" missionaries. We had a determination to do the work because at that point in time, nothing meant more to us than serving the Lord. Then below that, he drew a current representing the current missionaries tend to fall into. He compared it to the Turtles in Finding Nemo, who caught the current and were just "chillin" and taking the ride. Missionaries all too often get into the "chillin" mode as they start to get more comfortable and less focused on their real purpose. I think it is really easy to get caught in this current, and not just for missionaries! When we have a standard set, we try really hard to follow and fulfill it at first, but then we begin to rationalize and fall down into the current that will still carry us down the road. But are we doing the Lords work when we are kicked back and "chillin"? At first I told myself I wasn't just "chillin", but then I realized how "laid back" I had gotten, compared to when I first got here.

"For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness" (Doctrine and Covenants 58:26-27). 

It all just comes down to the principle of either ACTING or being ACTED UPON. We are compelled along a current everyday of what the world tells us is "OK". When we fall into that current, we can get out! Get down on your knees and ask for the help to live up to the Lord's standard. There is way too much work to do, way too many people waiting to accept the Gospel, and way too little time, for us to be kicked back and "Chillin" in the world! I need to pray for that strength everyday, and I really needed to hear this analogy. Let us all commit to live to our potential, and also to the responsibilities we have as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

An update on those who we are working with. A. is still struggling very much with his addictions and self confidence. Although he appears to be humble, he is trying to overcome everything on his own. I guess in a way its prideful to not seek and obtain the help the Savior offers us. Today I was reading Elder Soares talk from General Conference Be Meek and Lowly of Heart, and I learned that the Lord won't help us overcome our weaknesses if we are not meek. "Being meek does not mean weakness, but it does mean behaving with goodness and kindness, showing strength, serenity, healthy self-worth, and self-control" and in order to achieve this "Christ asks us to 'take up our cross daily,' meaning that it must be a constant focus and desire." Being meek, humble, and submissive to God's will in our lives is something we all need to work on.

S.A. came to church this last week! Her children participated in the Primary Program too! They are still struggling with having the faith to get married and lose the disability money, but she has a sincere desire to follow the Savior. I think they know living the Law of Chastity will bless their family, they just can't see that the Lord provides a way for everyone to obey his commandments if we so desire (1 Nephi 3:7). We had a good lesson with them about faith and shared Nephi's story of getting the brass plates.

We got a new investigator this week through a less active lady! We had dinner with her and her boyfriend/fiancee and then shared our testimonies of the Book of Mormon. We challenged them to read it together, and P. the boyfriend, said he wanted to know if it was true! I asked him to kneel with us, we taught him how to pray, and he asked for help to know if the Book of Mormon was true. The spirit in that home was so strong. He got emotional, and we testified of the Spirit, invited them to church and left. It was one of the shortest, yet best lessons I have had.

Well, that is about all I have time for this week! I hope I answered all your questions, and I hope you are all doing well! I am excited to hear the Tree Farm is getting started! I hope people won't decide not to come just because they wont have a strapping young man to throw it on their car....oh wait, Dad will be there. ;) haha

I love you all!

-Elder Christensen

Transfer to Prescott Valley

November 6, 2013

Hello family,

I have been transferred to Prescott Valley! I will be serving with Elder Cardwell, and he will be finishing my training for the next 6 weeks! We serve in the Stoneridge English ward and the Estrella Spanish Branch. We live with a family, but they will be moving in a couple weeks. So I will keep you updated and let you know when we get an apartment and a solid address. For now, if you need to send anything, just send it to the mission office in Glendale! Please spread the word or something. :) Thank you!

-Elder Christensen

 

November 11, 2013

Hola Familia!

Well, Prescott Valley is sweet! I will send some pictures next week, but I love this place! And the leaves are actually falling here, so now it actually feels like November. It is pretty cold too in the mornings. I guess I will have to be getting a sweater today so I can be obedient when it gets under 65, which is like everyday. Elder Cardwell is awesome! He is from Riverton, Utah.

 

Well, the Stoneridge ward is so great! The members here are so nice and open to missionary work. Our ward mission leader is 80 years old and from England! He is the best, and really keeps us on our feet. It is hard being in an English ward and a Spanish Branch. There are 6 missionaries in the Spanish Estrella branch but there are about 30 people who show up to church each Sunday, if that. So we have like 95% English work we are responsible for, and very little time for Spanish work. So, my Spanish is suffering a little bit. I am loving it here though!

So before I even got home on Wednesday night, we stopped by a less active member.. He is a disabled veteran, and he is probably the most humble person I have ever met. He called us, asking if we could give him some scriptures to read to help him feel better. Neither of us had ever met him before, so we told him we would come by his house that night. We talked to him for a solid 40 minutes, and he kept telling us how good it felt to have missionaries in his home again! He is an alcoholic, and trying very hard to recover through the Church's Addiction Recovery Program. But he has very little self confidence and struggles a lot. We read with him Alma 31:31, 38 Here, Alma asks not for the afflictions he is suffering to be removed, but rather for the strength and ability to overcome them. Because  "he prayed in faith" the Lord blessed he and his brethren that they should not hunger nor thirst, and every affliction they had was "swallowed up in the joy of Christ." We showed him a mormonmessage from President Uchtdorf about patience (on my nifty iPad!). The Spirit was so strong! I bore my testimony to him about the reality of the Atonement, and Christ who will "succor" us in our afflictions if we have the faith to ask him for patience and strength. We talk to him everyday on the phone now, and he tells us how he is doing. He is the man! 

 

I really love missionary work, because everyone, myself included, is on their own pathway to complete conversion to the Savior. I thought I would be more excited about baptisms on my mission, but here I am. And I can honestly say that there is no better feeling than helping someone in need by bearing simple testimony. It doesn't matter who they are! We are all children of God, and we are all Spiritually ill. I am strengthened by other members all the time. It is real proof that we are ALL missionaries, ALL called to the work by a Prophet of God! I love this work, I love my Savior!

God bless you all, you are in my prayers!

 

Love,

 

Elder Christensen