Dear Family,
Well, first things first, I'm getting transferred! It's been a long 6
months up here in Prescott Valley, not going to lie! But I have loved
it and learned so much since I first got here. I will email you
tomorrow and let you know my new address!
It is great to hear you all had a great Easter! We had an awesome week
and Easter as well. We talked to so many people and shared the Because of Him
video probably 50 times. We had some cool experiences with just
talking to everyone we saw - we realized that sometimes we pass
judgement on people without even talking to them or giving them a
chance. So we repented and started talking with anyone and everyone we
saw, more or less. It was cool!
Juan Ramos was set apart as a Ward Missionary on Sunday and then later
got to come with us to teach Jorge! It was his first visit with us and
was pretty nervous, but he gave his humble testimony of the Book of
Mormon and invited Jorge to read it. The Spirit was powerful and Juan
took it like a boss.
We had some awesome lessons with A. as well this week! She is SO
prepared! We taught her the plan of Salvation, invited her to baptism,
and said she wanted to! Elder Hicks and I were reading the story of
Ammon and king Lamonhi recently. The way he did missionary work was
Preach My Gospel status! Before even teaching the king, he served him!
It opened the path to a powerful lesson of inspired questions which
led to the kings conversion. It has been so similar as we have found,
served and begun to teach A. However, she hasn't become overcome
with the spirit and passed out on the floor yet...minor difference. :D
Well, I am learning so much out here. I am pumped to go experience a
new area and keep serving these people! I'm grateful for the time I've
had to serve and learn from Elder Hicks. I'll miss him, but it's
probably about time I leave my trainer. Haha :)
Love you all! Happy Easter!
Elder Collin Christensen
Monday, April 28, 2014
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Happy Easter
Hello family and friends!
It has
been one heck of a week! Sadly M. has fallen off the map and doesn't
seem to want to talk to us anymore. But on a happy note, Tamrah got
confirmed a member if the church! She was so happy, and it was a special
experience for her husband to be able to confirm her. J.
son told us he wants to be baptized in June! We are going to miss that
family so much, they have completely moved into their new house.. Also Juan got the Aaronic Priesthood yesterday and was excited
as always! He is searching for family names to bring to the temple, and
we are planning on going with him in a couple weeks to do baptisms.
D. and J. S.. came to church, they are a cool family but
the dad isn't super supportive. [Their Daughter] is 8 and really wants to be
baptized, but her parents are so casual about everything it's hard to
help her progress. But they were at church so that's a blessing! We also
felt guided to a members home last Monday, and we ended up teaching the
excommunicated husband! He is a super chill Hawaiian guy who wants to
be rebaptized! It's been cool to be able to go over there a few times
now and bring the spirit back into their lives. Saturday
we found this guy named J.who is really solid. He's about 25 and
was really interested in Joseph Smith, said he believed it! I look back
at the investigators we find and end up teaching, and I realize that so
many of them came to be simply because we decided to talk to them on the
street, or we followed a prompting to knock on their door. The Spirit
truly can guide us to the elect, who are prepared and searching for the
hope the gospel brings! We are still struggling with teaching and
finding new people, but we are trusting in the the Lords promise: "Go
your way whithersoever I will, and it shall be given you by the
Comforter what you shall do and whither you shall go" (D&C 31:11).
One if my favorite talks from conference was by President
Uchtdorf, Grateful in Any Circumstances. When I read back over this
talk, I tried to think of all the things I might not be so naturally
inclined to be grateful for right now. As I thought, I first realized
how blessed I already am. But from every thing I thought of that I might
usually complain about, I suddenly recognized multiple blessings those
things might provide me with. What I know is that even if we feel we
can't recognize the blessings of our trials, there will always be a
reason to thank our Heavenly Father. That's what makes gratitude an act
of faith! I am trying to be more grateful for every experience and
opportunity The Lord gives me.
With Easter approaching this Sunday,
the church has launched a new Easter Initiative. Many of you have
probably already heard of or seen this site, but the purpose is to help
everyone feel the Spirit and love of God, and consider all the things
that are made possible because of Jesus Christ. The site is www.mormon.org/BecauseofHim.
I encourage you all to watch the video and share it on your Facebook
page with your simple testimony! It's only for this week, so let's share
it with as many people as we can!
I love my Savior and I love his work! I love that I can learn
by experience and failure and he will still be there with His hands
extended. I wish you all a happy Easter!
Elder Collin Christensen
Monday, April 14, 2014
Conference Was Incredible!
Hola familia y amigos!
It's been a great week! I will just say that General Conference was
incredible! I don't think I have ever been as excited for it
beforehand, neither have I been so sad when it was over. But I love
and will never forget what Elder Hales said in October: "The greatest
blessings of general conference come to us after the conference is
over. Remember the pattern recorded frequently in scripture: we gather
to hear the words of the Lord, and we return to our homes to live
them" (General Conference October 2013, Strengthening Faith and
Testimony). Sometimes we get on this spiritual high when Conference
rolls around, and we bask in the Spirit we feel. But then we get to
face the daunting task of application and continued study of the
talks, and if we forget then that Spiritual high fades rather quickly.
That's what I have noticed in myself, at least! But this conference I
came with a few questions in mind, and tried harder to listen more to
what the Spirit was telling me, rather than just to what the speaker
was telling me. It was hard at first, but I think most of us can
recall a time in a General Conference when we felt the speaker was
speaking directly to us and for us. My testimony grew a lot after I
prayed specifically about my questions and then received very specific
answers to them through those who spoke. I know we have a living
Prophet. I know our leaders are inspired, and that our Heavenly Father
is very aware of our individual lives. I loved the story of the boy
who prayed on the side of the road for help. With everything else
going on in the world, God is aware of us in our individual
circumstances and lives. At conference, I felt very much like a lost
boy on the side of the road who's prayers were answered. I am so
grateful for prayer, for living prophets, and for a loving Heavenly
Father! I look forward to studying all the talks in the coming weeks
and months. :) https://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2014/04?lang=eng&cid=HPFR041114678
As far as the work this past week, we taught a LOT of new members,
members, and less actives. We are struggling finding and retaining new
people to teach. But so far we as a ward have been retaining the
recent converts well! Juan began his search for family names to take
to the temple. The Johnsons moved on Saturday, and as
sad as we are to see them go, we know the Sister missionaries who
cover their new ward and they are great! After our last lesson with
them this week, the 11 year old was standing all alone so I
went up to talk to him. He's a shy kid, but he told me he was thinking
he wanted to be baptized...! He probably wouldn't have said that
during the lesson, but it was cool to be able to talk to him about it.
We are so excited for that family and this new life they are
beginning.
Oh yea! The lady we did service for, and her daughter and two
granddaughters all came to watch conference and they loved it! Of
course they decided to come to the Saturday afternoon session, when we
do all the sustaining! Luckily it didn't scare them away though!
So a couple weeks ago we got to give a blessing to a member's neighbor
who has pancreatic cancer. She was very weak, and said they had kinda
run out of options for her treatment. Well, my testimony of Priesthood
power sure grew as we laid our hands on her head, and the specific
impression came to me to bless is woman that she would be healed. I
was surprised at first, but the spirit was so strong in that home.
Later, I definitely had thoughts of doubt and worry that I had spoken
out of place. But I couldn't deny that the blessing had come from
heaven. Just a couple days ago, the member called us and told us his
neighbor had WALKED over to his house to tell him she had been getting
better and stronger everyday since the blessing, and that she was
eating again. I was so grateful for the reaffirmation that God's
Priesthood is real. It was a humbling and faith building experience
for me!
Well, that's about it for this week! I love ya all and hope you had
great experiences with General Conference! I'd love to hear how things
have been. :))
Until next week,
Elder Collin Christensen
It's been a great week! I will just say that General Conference was
incredible! I don't think I have ever been as excited for it
beforehand, neither have I been so sad when it was over. But I love
and will never forget what Elder Hales said in October: "The greatest
blessings of general conference come to us after the conference is
over. Remember the pattern recorded frequently in scripture: we gather
to hear the words of the Lord, and we return to our homes to live
them" (General Conference October 2013, Strengthening Faith and
Testimony). Sometimes we get on this spiritual high when Conference
rolls around, and we bask in the Spirit we feel. But then we get to
face the daunting task of application and continued study of the
talks, and if we forget then that Spiritual high fades rather quickly.
That's what I have noticed in myself, at least! But this conference I
came with a few questions in mind, and tried harder to listen more to
what the Spirit was telling me, rather than just to what the speaker
was telling me. It was hard at first, but I think most of us can
recall a time in a General Conference when we felt the speaker was
speaking directly to us and for us. My testimony grew a lot after I
prayed specifically about my questions and then received very specific
answers to them through those who spoke. I know we have a living
Prophet. I know our leaders are inspired, and that our Heavenly Father
is very aware of our individual lives. I loved the story of the boy
who prayed on the side of the road for help. With everything else
going on in the world, God is aware of us in our individual
circumstances and lives. At conference, I felt very much like a lost
boy on the side of the road who's prayers were answered. I am so
grateful for prayer, for living prophets, and for a loving Heavenly
Father! I look forward to studying all the talks in the coming weeks
and months. :) https://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2014/04?lang=eng&cid=HPFR041114678
As far as the work this past week, we taught a LOT of new members,
members, and less actives. We are struggling finding and retaining new
people to teach. But so far we as a ward have been retaining the
recent converts well! Juan began his search for family names to take
to the temple. The Johnsons moved on Saturday, and as
sad as we are to see them go, we know the Sister missionaries who
cover their new ward and they are great! After our last lesson with
them this week, the 11 year old was standing all alone so I
went up to talk to him. He's a shy kid, but he told me he was thinking
he wanted to be baptized...! He probably wouldn't have said that
during the lesson, but it was cool to be able to talk to him about it.
We are so excited for that family and this new life they are
beginning.
Oh yea! The lady we did service for, and her daughter and two
granddaughters all came to watch conference and they loved it! Of
course they decided to come to the Saturday afternoon session, when we
do all the sustaining! Luckily it didn't scare them away though!
So a couple weeks ago we got to give a blessing to a member's neighbor
who has pancreatic cancer. She was very weak, and said they had kinda
run out of options for her treatment. Well, my testimony of Priesthood
power sure grew as we laid our hands on her head, and the specific
impression came to me to bless is woman that she would be healed. I
was surprised at first, but the spirit was so strong in that home.
Later, I definitely had thoughts of doubt and worry that I had spoken
out of place. But I couldn't deny that the blessing had come from
heaven. Just a couple days ago, the member called us and told us his
neighbor had WALKED over to his house to tell him she had been getting
better and stronger everyday since the blessing, and that she was
eating again. I was so grateful for the reaffirmation that God's
Priesthood is real. It was a humbling and faith building experience
for me!
Well, that's about it for this week! I love ya all and hope you had
great experiences with General Conference! I'd love to hear how things
have been. :))
Until next week,
Elder Collin Christensen
Monday, March 31, 2014
March 31, 2014
Hola familia mía!
This was such a busy week, I can't even believe how fast it went by!
We taught more lessons than I have ever taught in a week. In one
evening we had 5 or 6 lessons set up and had to get members to come
split with us so we could get to all of them! It was definitely
stressful at times but still awesome. We really want to get better at
teaching quality lessons and not just teaching people to teach them.
Sometimes we way overbook ourselves. Sometimes we can hardly focus on
the lesson we're at because we are worrying about the next one that we
are late to! It's great to see how much work there is here though, and
how busy we are staying compared to when we first got into the area. I
will just say attitude is everything. Our thoughts control our
perspective, and our perspective controls the results. A change in
results comes from a change in perspective!
We found 4 new investigators last week, 2 new Spanish couples! They
are both awesome families and super prepared. We are teaching D.
and C. again tonight! We had some great lessons with them.
Juan was interviewed and sustained to receive the Priesthood! He was
also called to be a ward missionary, he is so excited to start coming
out with us! We are pretty pumped too. :)
One of the coolest and most exciting days was Saturday! There were
TONS of people at Tamrah Johnson's baptism! We got to be witnesses,
and the Spirit was so strong. Seeing them both dressed in white, Andy
being able to exercise his Priesthood, and Tamrah happier than ever to
make this covenant, it was just amazing to be a part of. We have both
really grown to love that family as we have seen them grow closer
together through the gospel. It's life changing! We also got to give a
presentation on the Atonement while they got dressed. I shared this
scripture which I have come to love on my mission:
32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be
scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I
am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have
peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I
have overcome the world.
(John 16:32-33)
I am so grateful for the Atonement. I love being able to study it time
and time again, and still learn something new. I am grateful for the
full access I have to the Atonement because of baptism by Priesthood
authority. I am grateful for Jesus Christ, who overcame everything we
will ever need to overcome, and I am grateful for the peace and
forgiveness available to us through the Holy Ghost.
I don't know if I have ever been as excited in my life for General
Conference as I am now. I wish I would have realized earlier in my
life what a great opportunity it is to hear our living Prophet give us
counsel and direction directly from heaven. I'm excited for the week I
have to prepare for it. :)
I love you all! Have a fantastic week
Elder Collin Christensen
PS - Mom I haven't received any recipes lately....but I have been
cooking! If breakfast burritos and oatmeal counts... :p we are getting
fed pretty well here by the members. Also, we will be watching General
conference at the Stake center, and possibly with Jonathan at a
members home for a session.
This was such a busy week, I can't even believe how fast it went by!
We taught more lessons than I have ever taught in a week. In one
evening we had 5 or 6 lessons set up and had to get members to come
split with us so we could get to all of them! It was definitely
stressful at times but still awesome. We really want to get better at
teaching quality lessons and not just teaching people to teach them.
Sometimes we way overbook ourselves. Sometimes we can hardly focus on
the lesson we're at because we are worrying about the next one that we
are late to! It's great to see how much work there is here though, and
how busy we are staying compared to when we first got into the area. I
will just say attitude is everything. Our thoughts control our
perspective, and our perspective controls the results. A change in
results comes from a change in perspective!
We found 4 new investigators last week, 2 new Spanish couples! They
are both awesome families and super prepared. We are teaching D.
and C. again tonight! We had some great lessons with them.
Juan was interviewed and sustained to receive the Priesthood! He was
also called to be a ward missionary, he is so excited to start coming
out with us! We are pretty pumped too. :)
One of the coolest and most exciting days was Saturday! There were
TONS of people at Tamrah Johnson's baptism! We got to be witnesses,
and the Spirit was so strong. Seeing them both dressed in white, Andy
being able to exercise his Priesthood, and Tamrah happier than ever to
make this covenant, it was just amazing to be a part of. We have both
really grown to love that family as we have seen them grow closer
together through the gospel. It's life changing! We also got to give a
presentation on the Atonement while they got dressed. I shared this
scripture which I have come to love on my mission:
32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be
scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I
am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have
peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I
have overcome the world.
(John 16:32-33)
I am so grateful for the Atonement. I love being able to study it time
and time again, and still learn something new. I am grateful for the
full access I have to the Atonement because of baptism by Priesthood
authority. I am grateful for Jesus Christ, who overcame everything we
will ever need to overcome, and I am grateful for the peace and
forgiveness available to us through the Holy Ghost.
I don't know if I have ever been as excited in my life for GeneralConference as I am now. I wish I would have realized earlier in my
life what a great opportunity it is to hear our living Prophet give us
counsel and direction directly from heaven. I'm excited for the week I
have to prepare for it. :)
I love you all! Have a fantastic week
Elder Collin Christensen
PS - Mom I haven't received any recipes lately....but I have been
cooking! If breakfast burritos and oatmeal counts... :p we are getting
fed pretty well here by the members. Also, we will be watching General
conference at the Stake center, and possibly with Jonathan at a
members home for a session.
March 24, 2014
Hello Family and Friends!
Well this week has been both hard and amazing! We found a couple new
people to teach, and Juan got baptized and confirmed!
His baptismal service was so awesome, he had a ton of
support from the ward, even members who didn't speak Spanish. He was
so happy and kind of giddy too. Haha. After I baptized him I gave him
a hug and he told me that I could trust him with anything and he
would do anything for us. He is the coolest guy ever. :)
The difficult part of the week was when M. called us and told us she was canceling her baptism again. We have no idea how to help her anymore, because literally the day before we had met with her, made her baptismal program, and she was super pumped about it. She has given us a few different reasons, but mostly just excuses because she
is scared of committing. Elder Hicks and I were pretty down for a couple days, because it seemed like everything was falling apart with everyone. The more we talked about it the harder it got, especially for Elder Hicks. There were a couple of days where he just didn't seem too healthy physically, mentally nor emotionally. But we prayed a lot,
and we were blessed with one great baptism this week, and our little depression phase didn't seem to matter anymore. We knew everything was in the Lords hands, and that was the most comforting thing.
One of the best "lessons" we had this week was with a new investigator
named A. When we had first knocked on her door she told us that
she had a recent neck injury, so we came back and trimmed her terribly
overgrown bushes that were taking over her front yard. So as we
chopped her bush up she sat there in a lawn chair next to us and we
taught her something from every single missionary lesson...it was
awesome. Haha she had some great questions, and by the end she told us
she wanted to try out our church! She ended up not being able to make
it because she fell in a hole and hurt her back. But it was cool!
Church yesterday was crazy. I think we had the most Spanish people we
have ever had at church! It was good for Juan, but our translating
system kinda shut down and was super fuzzy for everyone with the
headsets...I was running around pretty much all of sacrament meeting
trying to help everyone and fix their receivers. But it was great
anyways!
Oh yea, a couple months ago we went to dinner with a less active
family in our ward. They had invited their mom Linda over as well, who
wasn't a member. Well eventually we got to talk to her a little bit
and give her a Book of Mormon, but she lived in another ward so we
introduced her to the other missionaries. Well last Saturday she got
baptized as well!
Well we are doing pretty well up here! :) the weeks are really
starting to fly by. We are excited for Tamrah's baptism this Saturday!
Hope you all are doing great! I appreciate all the support I feel from you!
Favorite scripture of the week:
"And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither
should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they
should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in
the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and
this because he prayed in faith" (Alma 31:38).
Elder Collin Christensen
Mom,
I did actually get to play the piano recently! Not anything like
Raphsody, but I played at Juan's baptism and then for a Spanish family
who sang in sacrament meeting yesterday. People seem to be pretty last
minute, and they also seem to know I don't care, so they always ask me
to help day of or day before. Haha :)
Well this week has been both hard and amazing! We found a couple new
people to teach, and Juan got baptized and confirmed!
His baptismal service was so awesome, he had a ton of
support from the ward, even members who didn't speak Spanish. He was
so happy and kind of giddy too. Haha. After I baptized him I gave him
a hug and he told me that I could trust him with anything and he
would do anything for us. He is the coolest guy ever. :)
The difficult part of the week was when M. called us and told us she was canceling her baptism again. We have no idea how to help her anymore, because literally the day before we had met with her, made her baptismal program, and she was super pumped about it. She has given us a few different reasons, but mostly just excuses because she
is scared of committing. Elder Hicks and I were pretty down for a couple days, because it seemed like everything was falling apart with everyone. The more we talked about it the harder it got, especially for Elder Hicks. There were a couple of days where he just didn't seem too healthy physically, mentally nor emotionally. But we prayed a lot,
and we were blessed with one great baptism this week, and our little depression phase didn't seem to matter anymore. We knew everything was in the Lords hands, and that was the most comforting thing.
One of the best "lessons" we had this week was with a new investigator
named A. When we had first knocked on her door she told us that
she had a recent neck injury, so we came back and trimmed her terribly
overgrown bushes that were taking over her front yard. So as we
chopped her bush up she sat there in a lawn chair next to us and we
taught her something from every single missionary lesson...it was
awesome. Haha she had some great questions, and by the end she told us
she wanted to try out our church! She ended up not being able to make
it because she fell in a hole and hurt her back. But it was cool!
Church yesterday was crazy. I think we had the most Spanish people we
have ever had at church! It was good for Juan, but our translating
system kinda shut down and was super fuzzy for everyone with the
headsets...I was running around pretty much all of sacrament meeting
trying to help everyone and fix their receivers. But it was great
anyways!
Oh yea, a couple months ago we went to dinner with a less active
family in our ward. They had invited their mom Linda over as well, who
wasn't a member. Well eventually we got to talk to her a little bit
and give her a Book of Mormon, but she lived in another ward so we
introduced her to the other missionaries. Well last Saturday she got
baptized as well!
Well we are doing pretty well up here! :) the weeks are really
starting to fly by. We are excited for Tamrah's baptism this Saturday!
Hope you all are doing great! I appreciate all the support I feel from you!
Favorite scripture of the week:
"And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither
should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they
should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in
the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and
this because he prayed in faith" (Alma 31:38).
Elder Collin Christensen
Mom,
I did actually get to play the piano recently! Not anything like
Raphsody, but I played at Juan's baptism and then for a Spanish family
who sang in sacrament meeting yesterday. People seem to be pretty last
minute, and they also seem to know I don't care, so they always ask me
to help day of or day before. Haha :)
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
March 11, 2014
Hola familia y amigos!
This has been a fantastic week! First of all, both Elder Hicks and I
are staying here for another transfer! We are both pretty glad too,
things are really picking up in this Ward from what they were before.
We now have 4 people scheduled for baptism in the month of March!
We are so excited for them.
J. has been progressing a ton as well, and is more excited about his
baptism than ever. We met with him about 5 times last week. He came to
church this last week and loved every minute of it. He was giddy later
that night when we visited him because of how much he liked it. Haha.
He's a real seeker of truth and just soaks in all our lessons. When we
invite him to do something, or when we leave his apartment he always
says "Si! Primero Dios!" At first we thought it was kinda funny, but
the more I think about it the less funny and more real it becomes.
This man truly has put God first in his life. For him it has been a
form of repentance, a change of priorities. I love the definition of
Repentance found in the bible Dictionary: "a change of mind, a fresh
view about God, about oneself, and about the world...repentance comes
to mean a turning of the heart and will to God." As missionaries we
invite people to repent. I never realized it, but whenever we invite
them to do almost anything, we are essentially inviting them to
repent! I am learning so much about that word, and about the real
blessings that come when we just turn our will over to God, and choose
to see ourselves as he sees us. It is so apparent in the lives of
these people! It is a huge blessing to be a part of it and literally
watch it take place.
M. went to Mexico for spring break, so we have no contact with her
at all. We are hoping and praying she will be able to keep all her
commitments and a stay on board for her baptism. Your prayers are
appreciated as well.
This morning we got a call from a less active member who never has
really believed in God. He grew up in the church and never gained a
testimony, and after 10 years away from the church in the military, he
started having some doubts and questions. His name is M. and
whenever we meet with him he has a hard time believing what we say.
But he is always willing to keep our commitments because he really
wants to know the truth. So for the last few months he hasn't been
progressing at all, and so in our last visit we invited him to just
pray and test God. Well, he called us this morning and told us he did
it, and had some crazy miracles happen this last week that were direct
answers to his prayers. Prayer is so real! This guy is definitely also
gaining a fresh view about God and about himself. It is an answer to
our prayers as well as his.
On Sunday Elder Hicks and I got to participate in J.'s
confirmation! I love that kid so much, he is the most committed and
solid person I have ever taught. He is studying Preach My Gospel and
wants to go on a mission! He is only a Junior. I still can't even
grasp the fact that just about a month ago we started teaching this
guy who knew nothing about the Gospel! Talk about a "change of mind,
and a fresh view about God and oneself"!
Mom, don't worry about missing the email. We were pretty busy last
week anyway and got to go hiking in the gorge in Paulden! Hermana
Baumgartner was serving up there as part of our district, and she
finished her mission today. She was a captain of the Harvard Hockey
team and she actually was taught by and knew Clayton Christensen who
wrote The Power of Everyday Missionaries! Pretty sweet.
Well, I love you all! You are all a blessing in my life and I am
grateful for your examples and kindness to me and my family!
This church is true. Repentance is real. I am grateful for the
Atonement of Jesus Christ, and I don't know what I would do without
it.
Elder Collin Christensen
This has been a fantastic week! First of all, both Elder Hicks and I
are staying here for another transfer! We are both pretty glad too,
things are really picking up in this Ward from what they were before.
We now have 4 people scheduled for baptism in the month of March!
We are so excited for them.
J. has been progressing a ton as well, and is more excited about his
baptism than ever. We met with him about 5 times last week. He came to
church this last week and loved every minute of it. He was giddy later
that night when we visited him because of how much he liked it. Haha.
He's a real seeker of truth and just soaks in all our lessons. When we
invite him to do something, or when we leave his apartment he always
says "Si! Primero Dios!" At first we thought it was kinda funny, but
the more I think about it the less funny and more real it becomes.
This man truly has put God first in his life. For him it has been a
form of repentance, a change of priorities. I love the definition of
Repentance found in the bible Dictionary: "a change of mind, a fresh
view about God, about oneself, and about the world...repentance comes
to mean a turning of the heart and will to God." As missionaries we
invite people to repent. I never realized it, but whenever we invite
them to do almost anything, we are essentially inviting them to
repent! I am learning so much about that word, and about the real
blessings that come when we just turn our will over to God, and choose
to see ourselves as he sees us. It is so apparent in the lives of
these people! It is a huge blessing to be a part of it and literally
watch it take place.
M. went to Mexico for spring break, so we have no contact with her
at all. We are hoping and praying she will be able to keep all her
commitments and a stay on board for her baptism. Your prayers are
appreciated as well.
This morning we got a call from a less active member who never has
really believed in God. He grew up in the church and never gained a
testimony, and after 10 years away from the church in the military, he
started having some doubts and questions. His name is M. and
whenever we meet with him he has a hard time believing what we say.
But he is always willing to keep our commitments because he really
wants to know the truth. So for the last few months he hasn't been
progressing at all, and so in our last visit we invited him to just
pray and test God. Well, he called us this morning and told us he did
it, and had some crazy miracles happen this last week that were direct
answers to his prayers. Prayer is so real! This guy is definitely also
gaining a fresh view about God and about himself. It is an answer to
our prayers as well as his.
On Sunday Elder Hicks and I got to participate in J.'s
confirmation! I love that kid so much, he is the most committed and
solid person I have ever taught. He is studying Preach My Gospel and
wants to go on a mission! He is only a Junior. I still can't even
grasp the fact that just about a month ago we started teaching this
guy who knew nothing about the Gospel! Talk about a "change of mind,
and a fresh view about God and oneself"!
Mom, don't worry about missing the email. We were pretty busy last
week anyway and got to go hiking in the gorge in Paulden! Hermana
Baumgartner was serving up there as part of our district, and she
finished her mission today. She was a captain of the Harvard Hockey
team and she actually was taught by and knew Clayton Christensen who
wrote The Power of Everyday Missionaries! Pretty sweet.
Well, I love you all! You are all a blessing in my life and I am
grateful for your examples and kindness to me and my family!
This church is true. Repentance is real. I am grateful for the
Atonement of Jesus Christ, and I don't know what I would do without
it.
Elder Collin Christensen
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
March 3, 2014
Hola Familia!
This has been another great week! And.......M. J. is getting
baptized March 22! As long as she can stop drinking coffee! tomorrow
we are following up and potentially ridding her house of coffee. :))
she is super excited, ready, and determined to do what she needs to
do. In our lesson I was leading up to invite her to be baptized, and
she just stopped me and told me to invite her to be baptized...Never
had that happen before! That's how excited she is, and we are too!
J. was baptized last Monday by his friend Brandon! So cool to be a part of that and see his growth just in the last few weeks.
Well, we got to be a part of the Gilbert Arizona Temple Dedication yesterday. There were no LDS services in all of AZ, and only temple
worthy members could attend the broadcast of the dedication, It was a weird feeling having to tell investigators they couldn't come to church. :( but the Dedication was so great! President Monson, Eyring
and Elder Callister were all there, and it was definitely a neat/new experience. Something that jumped out to me was a comment made in one
of the talks about how the temple literally gives us an eternal
perspective, and should remind us of the things we need to be doing
(or not doing) everyday. He said that if people from the outside world
were to see through the walls of the temple at what happens inside,
they might very well say "how ridiculous"; but when we enter we
understand the eternal importance of the Lord's House, and if we were
to look through the walls of the temple into the outside world, we
might just as well say to our selves "how ridiculous". I'm grateful
for the knowledge the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ gives me. I am
grateful for the blessings of the temple that allow my family to be
together forever! :)
As for the rest of the week, it was a little slower as far as work
goes. But I went up to Chino Valley for a day with Elder Sutcliffe. He
is a great missionary! I learned a ton and enjoyed going to a new area
with new people I would never see again. I think it helped me be more
bold and confident.
Well, I hope all is going well. I love hearing from you all and your
testimonies and experiences! Sorry this is so short, but we are doing
well and loving the work.
Elder Collin Christensen
edication. It was a
This has been another great week! And.......M. J. is getting
baptized March 22! As long as she can stop drinking coffee! tomorrow
we are following up and potentially ridding her house of coffee. :))
she is super excited, ready, and determined to do what she needs to
do. In our lesson I was leading up to invite her to be baptized, and
she just stopped me and told me to invite her to be baptized...Never
had that happen before! That's how excited she is, and we are too!
Well, we got to be a part of the Gilbert Arizona Temple Dedication yesterday. There were no LDS services in all of AZ, and only temple
worthy members could attend the broadcast of the dedication, It was a weird feeling having to tell investigators they couldn't come to church. :( but the Dedication was so great! President Monson, Eyring
and Elder Callister were all there, and it was definitely a neat/new experience. Something that jumped out to me was a comment made in one
of the talks about how the temple literally gives us an eternal
perspective, and should remind us of the things we need to be doing
(or not doing) everyday. He said that if people from the outside world
were to see through the walls of the temple at what happens inside,
they might very well say "how ridiculous"; but when we enter we
understand the eternal importance of the Lord's House, and if we were
to look through the walls of the temple into the outside world, we
might just as well say to our selves "how ridiculous". I'm grateful
for the knowledge the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ gives me. I am
grateful for the blessings of the temple that allow my family to be
together forever! :)
As for the rest of the week, it was a little slower as far as work
goes. But I went up to Chino Valley for a day with Elder Sutcliffe. He
is a great missionary! I learned a ton and enjoyed going to a new area
with new people I would never see again. I think it helped me be more
bold and confident.
Well, I hope all is going well. I love hearing from you all and your
testimonies and experiences! Sorry this is so short, but we are doing
well and loving the work.
Elder Collin Christensen
edication. It was a
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