February 23, 2015 Snow...

Dear Family and Friends,

We got hit by another snow storm last night, it's a pretty wet one too! But it's definitely needed, it's been a super dry winter. 

Saturday was definitely a highlight for the week! Isabel got baptized, and her parents flew in from California just to come to the service. They are from Mexico City and I had a blast speaking in Spanish with them. They accepted a Book of Mormon and some pamphlets afterwards and maybe even some missionary visits eventually! So that was exciting. Isabel has such a solid testimony of the Gospel. Remember when I shared that scripture in Mosiah 2:41 about how living the gospel will inevitably bring us happiness? Well Isabel's life is evidence of that. She knows who she is now, she lives her life based on that knowledge, and in her own words it's the "happiest [she's] ever been." She bore her testimony after the baptism and most everyone was in tears, it was pretty awesome. :) 

It seemed like everyone got sick this week and canceled our appointments. There's a nasty bug going around. I was lucky enough to catch it on my birthday, but other than that I had a great day! Thanks for the packages mom and dad! 

All the Elders in Flagstaff were asked to sing a musical number in our Stake Priesthood meeting yesterday and it was pretty bad. Haha We didn't have a director or anything to go off really, so we just picked Ye Elders of Israel in the hymn book and I played the piano. There are a few tone deaf elders that love to sing loud, I kinda slaughtered the intro, and everyone sang super quiet to begin with, so overall it was a bit of a train wreck. It's good to know they just wanted us there so people could see who the Elders were and not for our musical talent, or lack thereof. 

Besides loads of meetings, we had a relatively mellow week. We began teaching a couple who are probably 70+ and they are awesome people. We found them by asking some members who we could serve, and they sent us to a member who struggles with health, Brother Watkins. We went over and he told us he had given a Book of Mormon to his neighbors and that we could visit them. So we did! Silvia and Red is what they called themselves, and as soon as we sat down they just unloaded their questions. It was way cool to see how excited and interested they were since they had done a lot of searching and never felt like they belonged in any church, but we just had a hard time explaining to them that we couldn't teach them everything at once. Haha it's a good problem to have though. It neat to see how the Lord prepares his children and guides us to them in ways we wouldn't imagine. 

I know the original Church and Gospel of Jesus Christ is on the earth today. I can't deny the testimony I have received of that as I have studied, learned and taught it these last 18 months. I know that our Heavenly Father lives and loves each of us, every one! 

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

(Romans 8:38-39; http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/rom/8?lang=eng)

I would love to hear how each of you are doing, how you gained your testimonies, and/or hear any questions you may have about the church! 

I love you all and wish you a safe and happy week!

Elder Collin Christensen

February 16, 2015

Hello family and friends!

My new companion is Elder Searle! He is from Burley, Idaho and has
been out 18 months! He reminds me of my trainer because he is a huge
basketball/football player. He is a way cool guy and we have been
working well together. He is still adjusting to the YSA atmosphere but
it's fun.

Well Isabel passed her interview! She is super excited for her baptism
on Saturday and she has family coming from California and Mexico. It's
crazy how rock solid her testimony has become these last few months.
She said that she felt the spirit several times whenever she was
around her friends, but just never recognized what it was. She finally
asked her friends if she could come to church with them, and the rest
is history! Now she is an awesome missionary and she hasn't even been
baptized yet. We are way pumped for her.

So Valentine's Day was hilarious, but the funniest part was last night
when we were about to teach our Investigator Jake. He is dating a
member of the church, Ashley, and right before our lesson he decided
to propose. Unfortunately, he didn't quite get down on one knee before
she pushed him down on the ground and yelled at him because she
thought he was joking. He laid there for a while feeling rejected and
like a failure, and then whipped out a ring and she said yes. It was
probably one of the most awkward experiences of my life. Then we
taught them the Law of Chastity lesson (basically our beliefs on
avoiding sexual relations before marriage). Haha weird night.

We also saw our neighbors get busted for meth a few nights ago! That
was nuts. Don't worry mom, the area we live in isn't the sketchiest
I've seen here. It's pretty sad though how much we see drugs and booz
destroy families.

Last week we had some trials with some Investigators but we worked
through them. It is always comforting to me to now that setbacks
aren't signs that God doesn't care, but just that he has a different
kind of plan for these people than perhaps we had thought. Maybe it
takes them longer to accept the true and restored Gospel and be
baptized, but if it helps them down the road to be stronger
individuals then what's the worry? What I'm learning everyday is that
God's will is infinitely better than our will 100% of the time. While
we can't wait around and hope for his will to be accomplished, we have
to embrace the struggles that come as we do our very best to overcome
them with guidance and help from God.

I'm also learning how simple the Gospel is. The funny thing is that
most of the time it's ourselves who make it so complicated and "hard"
to live. In the Book of Mormon, a prophet and King named Benjamin
said:
"And behold, all that [God] requires of you is to keep his
commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his
commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary
from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his
commandments he doth bless you and prosper you."
(Mosiah 2:22 - http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/2?lang=eng)
I think God wants to bless us all the time. But I also think it's
often ourselves that keep those blessings from coming. I know that the
whole purpose of the church and gospel is to bring lasting happiness
to everyone on earth. And it does! I love it, and I love sharing it!

I love each of you and hope you are well and safe and happy and had
plenty of sugar on Valentine's Day! Have a fantastic week!

Elder Collin Christensen

February 10, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

We had an amazing week again and some priceless experiences.
Unfortunately Elder Madsen is getting transferred tomorrow. He has
been one of my favorite companions, and we are both pretty bummed
about it. But hey, the work goes on and there's someone somewhere else
who needs his help.

Elders Madsen and Christensen

The highlight of last week was going to the Phoenix Temple with our
recent converts Rachel and Crystal. It was a good experience for them
to feel the spirit inside the temple, but what was even cooler was
that I had found some family names, distant cousins on both sides,
that I brought to have work done for! It was the first time I had ever
actually gone through the whole process of finding the names and
taking them to the temple. It was powerful for sure!
This last week we started teaching another kid named DeShaun! His mom
is a member who hasn't been to church in a long time, but has been
coming the last few weeks. He is getting baptized in March! It will be
a great thing for the family ward to have a baptism happen, plus
another with Jake later in March. Also Ashley is super excited for her
baptism March 7 and is growing a lot. Everyone in the ward seems to
just reach out to her.

I'm learning a lot about prayer lately. For most of my life I have
taken for granted the ability I have to talk with my Heavenly Father.
To be honest, my prayers have often been like a wrote recitation of
selfish requests. But lately I have been learning to turn outwards and
only make requests for other people and give thanks. For some reason
my prayers are so much more fulfilling, and I recognize answers more
and more. I'm learning that as I focus not on my will, but rather on
God's, I am simply happier and more content as a result. As a
missionary in the "field" I love this scripture:
"Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.
Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase."
(Alma 34:24-25) http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/34?lang=eng
I know that prayer works, that Heavenly Father hears and answers
prayers, especially when our wills are aligned with God's in
selflessness.
I love you all and have a great week!

Elder Collin Christensen

February 2, 2015

Dear Family and Friends!

This has been a growing week for me. I'm grateful it happened, and I'm also grateful it's over!

Being here the last 5 weeks has taught me a lot of things. In Ether 12:27 we learn it best: "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." (http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ether/12?lang=eng) It's funny how we can get so convinced that we are awesome and unbeatable! I love how God so lovingly gives us trials that help us see our weaknesses. Being here is helping me learn how to cope with stress in a new way, and how to help others manage their stress. I'm learning to be more of a person than a robot missionary. Along with having fun and being myself, I'm also learning how to be patient and compassionate. I'm learning to stop justifying my weaknesses. I realize that I can and will change! I know that He can do that for me if I'm willing to put forth the effort. Now I just have to be humble enough to let him change me. 

Along with the trials also have come the blessings. This week we taught 3 new awesome people, all introduced to us by their friends. They all had come to the Welcome Center Expo last week! We also taught our one investigator from our Family Ward named Jake. We have been inviting and inviting him to be baptized, and he kept saying yes but he doesn't know when. Out of nowhere this week he told us, "You should keep March 21 open." He had prayed and felt strongly that he should be baptized that day! The coolest thing is that he is learning to recognize how Heavenly Father communicates to him through the Holy Ghost.

I also had the best experiences tracting I've ever had on my mission. I was on an exchange with an Elder who is being trained in his area. He had only been Tracting once and wanted to go knock on doors in a certain area. We knocked maybe 15 doors and there were 5 who we prayed with and invited us back! If you're familiar with oncoming doors as a missionary you know that's a pretty incredible percentage. It really boosted my attitude and reminded me that God is behind this work. It's not us, and it's not the members, or the church leaders, or even the prophet. These are all supporting factors, but this is God's work, and in the words of Joseph Smith, "the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished." (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/the-truth-of-god-shall-go-forth?lang=eng). 

"Remember...that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men"

(D&C 3:3; http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/3?lang=eng)

I know we are on his side. He fights the majority of our battles, and we just have to be here to do our best. Doing so has been the most fulfilling thing I have ever done in my life. 

I love you all and wish you the best! Happy Groundhog's day!

Elder Collin Christensen

January 26, 2015

Devil's Bridge

Dear Family and Friends! 

Today we hike Devil's Bridge in Sedona and had a blast. It's another natural bridge you can walk across. It was a fun hike too and made me wish I had a bike! And because people in Sedona are kind of crazy, they believe they can jump off high cliffs (like Devils Bridge) with their vortex crystal's and land in another dimension...something along those lines. It's a total hippie town so we had fun. I'll send some pictures!

Elder Madsen tried several times to "fly" off the bridge

Anyways, our week was super packed and awesome. We met some incredible people who are very prepared for the gospel. We also gave several priesthood blessings that were powerful. The Investigators we have are progressing a lot and are so close to baptism! Also, Rachel and Crystal are two new baptized members of a couple weeks, and both are super excited. They've introduced us to their nonmember friends, they're searching for family names to take to Phoenix temple with us on February 7! Rachel also wants to serve a mission when she graduates! There's nothing better than seeing true conversion happen. 

Our annual "Come and See" expo was fantastic! We met so many new people and set up some appointments to teach them! It's really given me a new perspective on missionary work. The church buildings are dedicated, and have a special spirit in them.   When we invite people to activities, we aren't just helping them socialize. We are helping them feel God's love for them through the Holy Ghost. It's powerful and it works! 

Well, we just taught a lot and went to a lot of meetings and other than that I don't have much more to share, other than my testimony. I know that Jesus Christ does live! I know that we are here for an eternal purpose, and that our Savior loves us. He will help us overcome the challenges and experiences we have in this life. I absolutely have been strengthened and carried by Him at times on my mission. I'm learning to rely on that strength, because our own will only last us so long. I've often referred to this comforting scripture:

"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

(Helaman 5:12, http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/hel/5?lang=eng)

This is quite the amazing promise. It's not just "if" the devil sends for challenges, rather "when." But if we build a foundation on Christ, we "shall" not and "cannot" fall. I know this is true.

I love you all. Have a fantastic week!

Elder Collin Christensen

Walnut Canyon Hike

Walnut Canyon Hike

January 12, 2015

Dear Family and friends,

This week was equally busy as last, which sure makes time fly. I can't
believe it's already been two weeks. 

Crystal got baptized Saturday,and I confirmed her on Sunday, she is awesome! 
She had quite the experience investigating the church, and she has gained a lot of
faith! She is a math major and has a very logical mind, and at her
baptism she shared how she gained her testimony using a spiritual
"proof" or experiment. Her hypothesis was that the church was true,
and that God did exist. And she was going to do some procedures,
assuming her hypothesis was correct. She said these procedures
included beginning to obey the commandments, reading the Book of
Mormon, praying daily, and coming to church. She said she then
examined the results and analyzed whether or not good or bad things
happened because of it. She found amazing things begin to happen in
her life and she knew what she was doing was right. The coolest part
about the baptism was that our investigator Ashley came and felt the
spirit so strong, and after we taught her and she committed to be
baptized! She is still worried about her family situation, but she is
doing all of the right procedures and is seeing the results in her
life. I love that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is so simple and yet can
change any life that lets it. It's awesome!

Elder Madsen and I went to another MLC last week and had some great
training. Right after I went on and exchange with Elder Fife! Haha it
was like dejavu, being back in my old bed, but we had a lot of fun
together. I'm really glad we stayed companions for a while. We ate
some habanero peppers straight just to try and be manly and get pumped
for finding some Spanish speakers, but we ended up just burning our
mouths out and making our faces and eyes sweat. But we ended up
finding a new family and setting a baptismal date with one of the
Investigators we had taught together before I left!

Yesterday we were looking at our week and noticed we hadn't found
anyone to teach in our area yet. So we prayed and felt inspired to
visit some former Investigators. Turns out the one we decided to go
see wasn't there (to our knowledge), BUT right as we walked up to his
door, we contacted one of his neighbors, Zack. It didn't take long for
us to realize he was the reason we were there. Pretty much all his
friends are Mormons and he talked about how great it was when he read
the Book of Mormon all the way through once! Anyways, we taught him
right there and set up a tour at the welcome center (institute) on
campus. I love experiences like these. They remind me that God is in
charge of his work! We just have to place ourselves in his hands and
he will do it! I think so often I lose sight of that and get
distracted, and as a result I'm a useless instrument in the Lord's
hands until I can refocus.

So my apartment is pretty nuts. Elder Shepherd is a 300 pound 18 year
old missionary and for some reason I always lose when I jump on his
back and try to wrestle him... :P he is from Boise, ID. His companion
is Elder Busick, or Elder "Bisquick" and he is from Montana. Then
Elder Madsen is from Topeka, Kansas. We all get along well and have a
lot of fun. I'm adjusting just fine.This week we have another Investigator being baptized.   Her
name is Rachel! Keep her in your prayers, as well as Ashley! Thanks.
Have a great week! I love you all!

Elder Collin Christensen

January 5, 2015

Dearest family,

Happy 2015! It's been a great last week! But I'll be honest, I am dead
tired. 
My new Address is:
315 W. Phoenix Ave. Flagstaff, AZ 86001

My new companion is Elder Madsen! We go home together, and we get
along great. We are both weirdos and the elders we live with are even
weirder. Haha we have a lot of fun. So we cover the University Heights
Ward and the University YSA 2nd Ward together. It's weird being an
English missionary, and not doing any Spanish work. It's nice that I
can stay in the Stake though and still influence the Spanish work.
Elder Fife's new companion is a Spanish Elder named Elder Thiel and
they are still covering all the Spanish work. Overall, the YSA keeps
us super busy. We teach FaceTime lessons almost everyday since a lot
of people are still on break. There are a lot of people we are
teaching who are preparing for baptism, one will be this week! We have
several others who are close. One of them is Ashley who said she
didn't feel ready for baptism. We asked her all the baptismal
interview questions and she proved to us she is totally ready! It
really hit her, and now she is praying about being baptized on
February 7th.

The University Heights Ward is a family ward. Elder Arave actually
served here a few months back before he went home! It is a tiny ward
and a lot of people call it a "dead ward." It's kinda sad to see how
hopeless the ward seems about missionary work. The leaders say that
most the members don't even have testimonies. So one of the things we
started this week was visiting all the members we could. We got over
20 families referred to us in the ward. We are trying to change the
attitude of the Ward by developing their trust. So it will be a
project. But on the bright side our Ward Mission leader is a former
cop and taekwondo Judo ninja guy...so he is teaching us a bunch of
self defense stuff. Haha

Well it dumped snow the night before transfers and continued all day
we were down in Phoenix, so we couldn't come up New Year's Eve. We
stayed with some other missionaries down there, and the next day when
we came back up there was about a foot of snow in Flagstaff. It's been
fun, I decided I better get a coat.

Anyways, I better get going. I love you all! Have a fantastic week!

Elder Collin Christensen