May 18, 2015

Hey Family and everyone else!

So I know I may have sounded a little negative the last week or so regarding our area and whether or not we would be able to keep working here in Flagstaff. But my attitude has been changing and we have truly seen miracles happen this week. We had a good discussion with our Stake president about how the work has been going and the needs of the people. We concluded that we ought to change our plans and create a critical mass of Spanish speakers, particularly natives, who meet together on Sundays. This will be so much better for both our less active members and Investigators to come and feel the spirit and learn the gospel in their own language! What we were doing before just wasn't working. 

We began this week, and prayed super hard that we would be able to get people to church. I think we may have even started to bother Heavenly Father with how much we prayed for that! Probably not though. We decided to begin finding through members, and this week we ended up find three new solid and very prepared Investigators, Eduardo, José, and Anastacia. We set goals for how many members and investigators we would have come each week for the next two months. With the Lord's help we had 4 native Spanish speaking members show up to church yesterday (usually there are none) and 2 investigators. They stayed for our Sunday school class in Spanish, and we had 12 people total participate in the class. We even had an Elders Quorum class in Spanish of about 15 people that Elder Thiel and I taught (including native Spanish speakers and Spanish speaking returned missionaries)! We haven't had a priesthood meeting in Spanish here for over a year, and even a year ago when I first got here there was only one man we had the meeting for. The support from the ward is incredible and we are really seeing things start to change right off the bat. There are still so many members that aren't coming yet, but the goal is set, we have an action plan with the Stake, and we are all committed to achieve it. This area is still a tough one, but Elder Thiel and I are working together well to make the changes that need to happen and find the elect who are prepared to receive gospel. Now we are just striving for consistency to show we can actually make things happen and this isn't just a once and done thing. We have the faith to do it and the Lord seems to be making it all happen, and guiding us every step of the way. 

So anyways, enough of that. I really am starting to think about the biggest ways I have changed and the most important lessons I have learned during these months. One of them is Honesty with self, and with God. Another is working smart and doing the most effective things, rather than simply working hard. Most importantly, I feel I've gained a great appreciation for the Savior, and a firmer conviction that he loves me and can literally give me strength when I need it. I've tried doing things by my own strength and I've failed. I still try sometimes, but I think I'm learning quicker and quicker that I need the Lord and his help. I'm grateful for these and several other lessons I'm learning, and will continue to learn throughout the rest of my life.

I love you all! You ought to all know how awesome it is to be a part of the Hastening of the Work of Salvation. If you're waiting to be a part of it because you don't now where to start, get on your knees today and ask Heavenly Father to give you a chance to help him build his kingdom. If you're waiting because you're scared, or nervous, or don't think you know anyone you could share the gospel with, get on your knees and follow the above process! He absolutely hears and answers your prayers, so don't wait.

"Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work" (D&C 4:3).

Have a wonderful week!

Elder Collin Christensen

May 11, 2015

Dear Family and Friends!

It was great to talk with some of you family members yesterday,
especially you mom! I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day. I have
felt and appreciated your support throughout my whole life and
especially my mission.
Well last night after we got off the phone every appointment fell
through and no one was home or available as we knocked for a solid 2
hours. But at least they were probably making their own mothers day
calls so that's ok! It was kinda disappointing though, so finally
around 8pm we said a prayer and decided to go back to one house we had
tried earlier. They were home and let us right in! It was a blessing
and a reminder that we absolutely need the Lord in this work. If we
ever feel we can do it on our own we are wrong.
As I mentioned yesterday we are focusing on building up the testimony
and conversion of the Spanish speaking members here in Flagstaff right
now. It's a different approach, but it needs to happen if the Group is
ever going to grow. So that's been interesting. It's made me think
more about what love is. At first I have felt hesitant about inviting
these less active members to repent and come to church because I have
grown to love them after working with them for so long. But I've
realized that I can't be hesitant about the truth. Jesus Christ was
the perfect example of how to love, but He didn't mince words when He
reprimanded the Pharisees or cleansed the temple. He couldn't! Boldly
speaking the truth is a true expression of love, and I've definitely
felt that for these people this last week. It reminds me of the
example of Peter and the Apostles going fishing again after Jesus
Christ had performed the Atonement and been resurrected. When Jesus
finds that they'd gone back to their old lives and forgotten their
commission, he first helps them by telling them where to cast their
nets. They bring in a huge catch, and then later on the shore they eat
together with Jesus. He then asks the very bold question to Peter, "Do
you love me?" Our love for the Savior is determined by how we show it
through our obedience to his commandments and our willingness to serve
him and feed his sheep.
This week I have definitely grown in my testimony of how the
scriptures can be applied to our lives, and especially how the Book of
Mormon can answer personal questions we have.
Thanks for all your support! I love you all!

Elder Collin Christensen

May 5, 2015

Dear Family and Friends!

I totally forgot about Mother's Day this Sunday until this week, so
I'm excited to be able to talk with some of you! I am not sure if 5
will work on Sunday because I am getting transferred to another area!
In fact I will be in the same area I was for the last two calls home,
which is the Spanish area in Flagstaff! Anyways, I can probably call
between 5 and 7, and I will just have 40 minutes as usual.
We don't have transfers till tomorrow so no one really knows yet, but
it looks like I will be finishing up here in Flagstaff. It's been a
pretty fun 12.5 months so far! Anyways, we pretty much have to go in
and figure out if we are going to try to make a Spanish Branch or not.
The work has been struggling apparently and there isn't much member
support, and our mission is dealing with a shortage of Spanish
speaking missionaries, and missionaries in general. I was kinda bummed
at first just because I wanted that area to have some fresh eyes of
another missionary. But having been in the stake this long I might as
well finish here and use what I know to benefit the stake.
Ashley got confirmed and she was super happy all week! She bore her
testimony on Sunday  after her confirmation about how simple the
gospel is and how she made the decision to be baptized harder than it
needed to be. We are glad she made it though!
This last week we had a few training/council meetings on how to use
Facebook and online resources with members to do missionary work.
The Montoyas were out of town this week so we weren't able to meet
with them unfortunately. Hopefully the Elders can keep teaching them,
they're awesome. We also found a new Investigator last week named
Herman. He is blind and just randomly called us up to have a visit. He
has had lots of experiences leading up to us meeting him that have
been preparing him to receive the restored Gospel.
Anyways, I did like your Mousectomy mom and dad, it was impressive!
And no I haven't contacted anyone in ASL ever, they just tell us to
write back and forth with them and get their contact info. Dad asked a
couple questions...

-Could you tells us more about your day to day activities? What does
you typical day consist of?
Our typical day includes studying preach my gospel and role playing
the lessons, making lesson plans, teaching Investigators at the
welcome center on south campus, trying to find potential Investigators
home, serving at the food bank or a members house, having
district/zone meetings, testing out new ways to use Facebook, eating
with members, visiting members to get referrals, having coordination
meetings, teaching more Investigators, showing up to activities to
meet non members and show them we are real people, and calling people
throughout the whole day to confirm, follow up, report or
reschedule.....yea I'd say we stay busy!
-Do you ever have to cook for yourselves?  What do you cook?
We usually get fed dinner but we usually cook for ourselves for any
other meal. I usually make breakfast Burritos, eggs, oatmeal, salads,
stuff like that. But we usually get junk food from members so that's a
weakness...it seems like it's every members goal to make us more
chubby.
-Do you ever ride a bike or are do you stick with cars/trucks?
We are always in our truck because the area is so big. I haven't had
to buy a bike still and it doesn't look like I will need to.
-What is the goofiest thing your companion has done to you or you to him?
My companion and I don't really tease each other as much as we do the
elders we live with, besides emitting unspeakable fumes during
prayers, studies, planning and locking the windows, doors etc. Are
roommates are two redhead elders...and I don't know if I'd be
comfortable admitting to some of the things we have done to them.
Don't worry we aren't cruel.. Hah

I hope you have a great week! Thanks for all your support!

Elder Collin Christensen

April 27, 2015

Hey Everyone!

This week was quite an adventure and extremely busy!
We had a Zone conference and housed some ASL Missionaries who trained
us on how to contact and help deaf people! They are just rolling out
an ASL Branch and beginning to meet people they can help who
beforehand couldn't meet with missionaries because of being deaf. It's
a pretty neat thing to see the fulfillment of the scripture in D&C 90:

For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall hear the
fulness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language,
through those who are ordained unto this power, by the administration
of the Comforter, shed forth upon them for the revelation of Jesus
Christ" (D&C 90:11).

They may not "hear" the gospel, but they will learn the fullness of
the gospel in their language, and most importantly learn from the Holy
Ghost that it's true!

It's been interesting to see how the church has been focusing a lot
lately on keeping the Sabbath Day Holy and Fasting. It was a topic in
our zone conference as well as Stake Conference this weekend with
Elder Stoddard from the Seventy. It's definitely something I will be
studying and applying more completely.

Ashley got baptized this last week! We weren't actually able to go to
our own Investigator's baptism because she did it in her hometown
which is outside the mission. So we were bummed about that, but it
doesn't really matter because she got baptized all the same, and she
had so much support they had to move to the chapel! We are excited for
her.

We have been praying a lot lately for the Lord to lead us to a family
at we can teach and help be baptized. Last week we found our family,
the Montoyas! They are some of the most humble and prepared people we
have met in a while. It was exciting to feel the spirit teach and
testify of the Restoration to this family who has been searching for a
long time!

Well I feel like I talk about the same things every week, so if you
have anything you'd like to hear about so I don't bore you to death,
please email me and tell me what you'd like to hear more of!
I love you all and pray you will be safe and have a wonderful week!

Elder Collin Christensen

April 20, 2015

Buenas tardes!
This week was awesome. Saturday Jake and Ashley got hitched and later that day Jake was baptized! He is a trooper and has a solid testimony of the Gospel. The hilarious part was the Batman themed Wedding in the church building...don't worry, we felt uncomfortable too. Haha They were happy though! Just a few months ago Jake considered himself the last person to join the church, but after spending time around his close member friends and feeling the spirit he started to recognize the truth of the Gospel. My favorite part of being a missionary is definitely seeing the gospel click in someone's mind and heart, and then watching it bring light into their lives as they live it. I don't know how else to put it! 

I've been reading through the Book of Mormon again looking for how people demonstrate Attributes of Christ. It's been one of my favorite times reading through and I have noticed several things I have never noticed before. One of my favorites so far has been Nephi. If you know who Nephi is, you know he was courageous and stalwart, and extremely obedient. Well of course that's what we learn growing up, every kid wants to be "large in stature" and chosen to be a "ruler" over their siblings like Nephi was. But honestly, it's pretty true that most people admire Nephi and want to be like him. But how did he get the way he was? Was he just born that way? I always just assumed so.
"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers." (1 Nephi 2:16)

I love this. Even Nephi had to have his heart softened, but it all just began with a desire to know the truth of what his father had spoken. Nephi had to gain his own personal witness and testimony before he could courageously say "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded" in chapter 3. Because of his desire and effort to know the truth, the Lord said:

"Blessed art thou, Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me diligently, with lowliness of heart. And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper" (1 Nephi 19-20).

Personal application is that we can try our best to be as faithful as Nephi, but in end if we don't begin with a desire and effort to know the truth we can't do the right things for the right reasons. Sometimes coming to know something comes from living it. Whatever way we learn truth, I'm grateful for the Book of Mormon and how it can teach us truth according to our needs. I know it was written for our day.

Have an awesome week everyone!

Elder Collin Christensen

April 13, 2015

Family and Friends:

This week was awesome! Damien got baptized and he is pumped to go to
the temple with us soon! He bore his testimony of how his baptism for
him was the fresh start he had been looking for, and even invited some
non member friends to come! The Spirit in those baptismal services is
unique and it's no question to me that those who choose to be baptized
are following God's will for them. I'll attach some pictures!

This week we had a bunch of meetings, so it was the longest I've
stayed in Phoenix in a long time. After our MLC I exchanged with Elder
Taylor down there, who grew up in the Mexican Colonies in Chihuahua. I
learned a ton from him and we had a good time. It was crazy seeing so
many Spanish speakers again! During our exchange we had a Spanish
Specialized Training done by a professor from Spain! We had a family
from my first ward in Peoria bring their taco truck by and feed us all
lunch too, it was awesome. I miss that culture so much! The Spanish
speaking population and missionaries here makes me so happy. A lot of
them don't have much, and yet most of them are happier than any
English speaking person I've met. I think a lot of it has to do with
things like outlook, perspective and priorities. Most everything they
do is for their families, and not for themselves. It wouldn't be fair
to say they are all this way, and English speakers are all the
opposite, but it's always been something I've loved since I began my
mission.

This week we had a Zone meeting about online Proselyting. Since we
haven't had it for a while as missionaries, most people don't miss it.
It was viewed as just a distraction. Yet the prophets and apostles
have said missionaries will use Facebook to move the work forward. So
we took away everyone's phones and said we wouldn't have them for a
while. It was pretty hilarious to see because everyone was freaking
out. No one knew what they'd do without their phones because it's so
helpful in missionary work. Finally we told them we weren't really,
but that we have to change our mindset of how we use Facebook so that
its as resourceful to us as our phones are. It will be cool once we
get back on to see how things change and how the work picks up!

Funniest door we knocked this week was a less active members house. No
one answered so we knocked again, and within seconds a Great Dane
opens the door and walks out to greet us. No humans home, just the dog
welcoming visitors! Haha Animals must be getting smarter.

Well, today we played racquetball with our investigator Arnaud and his
friend Tyler, who's a member. It was super fun, was going well until
Elder Searle pegged him real hard right where it counts. Poor kid, we
will see if he wants to keep meeting with us when we see him tonight.
Haha
Love you all! Have an awesome day!

Elder Collin Christensen

April 6, 2015

Dear Family and Friends!

Well General Conference was fantastic, and it's kinda sad it was my
last one as a missionary! I spent a while before conference praying
about questions and concerns I had for some Investigators and for
myself. Almost every talk addressed one of my questions directly and
gave me a lot to think about! I've mostly been worried about people
who choose to doubt their faith and testimony, and I learned that for
one thing I need to be patient and have more faith that God is in
control, since it's HIS work. I learned we can help others latch onto
the truth they do know while helping them find answers to their honest
questions one at a time. I also learned that sometimes people just
aren't ready, and their testimonies will be rediscovered at the
perfect time in the future. Overall I felt like gained a brighter
understanding of what Jesus Christ did for each of us, how and why.
I've been asking myself lately why it's so easy for us to forget him,
besides two holidays a year when we celebrate his life and mission.
I'm learning that when we can successfully keep our promise to "always
remember him" each day, we feel the Holy Ghost in greater abundance
and enjoy our lives more completely. I'm setting a plan for myself so
that I can "seek the Lord" and remember him each and everyday, even
when I am not a missionary anymore. Anyways, I hope you all got the
chance to watch General Conference, and whether or not you did that
you go to LDS.org to watch and study these talks regularly. If you
watch or read 1-2 talks each week starting this week you will be able
to study all the talks again before General Conference in October!

We had a great week, with significantly less hiccups than the previous
three weeks. We saw an awesome example of member missionary work. A
member was praying for missionary opportunities and an ability to
invite several of his friends he was thinking about. Instead of those
friends, a random acquaintance from work approached him and asked to
"learn about Mormons" and so we taught his friend for the first time
last week! This was a prime example of how to exercise faith and
desire in the Lord's work, and how the Lord rewards us in ways we
wouldn't expect. We will be teaching him again tonight! Another tender
mercy this week was when we were out in the boonies of our ward making
visits, and as we were on our way back into town we got a call from a
family who had hit a bear on their drive to Missouri and the daughter
was in bad shape. They were right by the Flagstaff airport and they
just so happened to call us right before we passed the exit to the
airport. We got there within a minute of him calling us and were able
to give his daughter a Priesthood blessing. It was pretty amazing how
the timing worked out!
Well I love each of you and hope to hear what your favorite parts of
conference were! Have an awesome week!

Elder Collin Christensen