Well sorry that I missed your e-mail but today was probably the best! Why? Well because we got transfer news, three of our investigators came to church and everyone else is progressing big time in the gospel! First I will give the news...... Elder Hunsaker is leaving and I am training a new missionary!!!!!! I am so stoked I haven't been able to sleep very well for like the last two nights! We will drive all the way to Farmington today to pick up the new greenie. Then Elder Hunsaker will ride the transfer van all the way back to Holbrook to be picked up and I will drive my new companion back to Greasewood!
Elder Hunsaker is happy for me and he did say that he wished he wouldn't have made all of his bad mistakes because then he would be in my shoes! I told him to hang in there and that if he stays obedient he will serve in Flagstaff for one transfer then he will get to train a new missionary! He told me prez came and talked to him during last zone conference and asked him if he had made the decision to be obedient yet. So ya I am glad the Lord gave me the opportunity to help a missionary who was stuggling!
An experience we had this week that was awesome was, we were thinking that we should contact some refferals that we got the other day. The Lord made us drive around all day until one of his prepared children were home (yes, he can and does do that)! It was a less active family and the mom wants her two sons to be baptized so we are going to start teaching them this week! Oh I almost forgot, our investigators who came to church all had the guts to bare their testimonies!!! I couldn't believe it! The Spirit was so strong. Since they were not sure if the Book of Mormon was true they only said "They believe..." statements which is wonderful!! I am glad the Lord is letting me stay to see their testimonies grow into, "I know....." statements! It's awesome!
I love you all!
Love,
Elder Christensen
Thursday, March 8, 2012
February 27th Letter
Hello Everyone!
So I can confirm all the news about the recent activity and the increase in missionaries and senior couples in our mission! As far as we have heard everyone is pretty stoked to see how many people we can get baptized each month and the number just keeps going up! We have been doing our best to help that effort and to tell members how important it is for them to be giving us direction on who they know that would like to hear our message. We are working on taking some members from the branch to go with us in teaching people because having a member present at the lessons just seems to work the best lol! Then again that is the focus for every single companionship in the whole world!!
I haven't been transferd yet because we will find out all that info this Saturday. The days just fly by so I don't really know what week it is and then I'll tell ya what happens.
My goal has been reached in helping my companion so the rest is up to him. I want him to even progress and be a great leader and I know he can do it he just needs another push that I don't think I can give him.
We didn't get any baptisms last week but we are planning on having one this week, two next week and 3 the week after that so I'm pretty stoked for all of this to be happening but isn't it funny how things we seem to get baptisms lined up and then I'm get transferd? lol!!
It's funny that you mentioned the blessings promised to the Lamanites or Lehi's children because we talked about that last night with our recent convert! The guy is a spiritual sponge! I get to talk to him with deep doctrine and and he soaks it up! AMAZING!!!! His wife wanted to know about the house of Israel, I mean everything about it, so I am drawing a geneaology chart for them about who they directly descend from and it's a blast.
I want to share something really fast before I go. Most people here are afraid to ask questions because they think they will be ridiculed for it, so we rely heavily on the spirit of discernment and revelation. We basically need it to try to dicern what they might be thinking and to try to get a feel for what they need. It's pretty cool once you know how the spirit can talk to misssionaries this way. How do we get this spirit you might ask? Well we simply need to ask for it so we pray hard every night and sometimes we even fast for it. And the Lord hears prayers and he loves his people so he gives us that gift to teach and its awesome!!
Well that was my two cents for now take care yall!
I love ya!!
Elder Christensen
So I can confirm all the news about the recent activity and the increase in missionaries and senior couples in our mission! As far as we have heard everyone is pretty stoked to see how many people we can get baptized each month and the number just keeps going up! We have been doing our best to help that effort and to tell members how important it is for them to be giving us direction on who they know that would like to hear our message. We are working on taking some members from the branch to go with us in teaching people because having a member present at the lessons just seems to work the best lol! Then again that is the focus for every single companionship in the whole world!!
I haven't been transferd yet because we will find out all that info this Saturday. The days just fly by so I don't really know what week it is and then I'll tell ya what happens.
My goal has been reached in helping my companion so the rest is up to him. I want him to even progress and be a great leader and I know he can do it he just needs another push that I don't think I can give him.
We didn't get any baptisms last week but we are planning on having one this week, two next week and 3 the week after that so I'm pretty stoked for all of this to be happening but isn't it funny how things we seem to get baptisms lined up and then I'm get transferd? lol!!
It's funny that you mentioned the blessings promised to the Lamanites or Lehi's children because we talked about that last night with our recent convert! The guy is a spiritual sponge! I get to talk to him with deep doctrine and and he soaks it up! AMAZING!!!! His wife wanted to know about the house of Israel, I mean everything about it, so I am drawing a geneaology chart for them about who they directly descend from and it's a blast.
I want to share something really fast before I go. Most people here are afraid to ask questions because they think they will be ridiculed for it, so we rely heavily on the spirit of discernment and revelation. We basically need it to try to dicern what they might be thinking and to try to get a feel for what they need. It's pretty cool once you know how the spirit can talk to misssionaries this way. How do we get this spirit you might ask? Well we simply need to ask for it so we pray hard every night and sometimes we even fast for it. And the Lord hears prayers and he loves his people so he gives us that gift to teach and its awesome!!
Well that was my two cents for now take care yall!
I love ya!!
Elder Christensen
February 20th Letter
Well hey!
I am so glad to hear that Jordan is reading the Book of Mormon! I knew he was doing good! Ever since that e-mail I sent I've just had thoughts to myself like I wonder what he is reading now? So ya it's pretty sad he is beating all of you but I still beat everyone in our family hahaha! I've read the Book of Mormon 3 times and I am on my fourth time since the beginnig of my mission so all in all I will have read it 6 times!!
I just want you to know that things are looking better even though we don't get along very well. He is always getting angry at some of the things I do that don't matter in missionary work. I feel that we are being blessed because we are being obedient but since there is contention between us, we can't make the work explode! But I will keep working on him. Transfers will be happening this week so we will see how things go!!!
So you guys are having Family Home Evening on personal prayer and need an experience from me huh? Well I guess one of the best experiences I can use as far as a mission setting was last week. We kept running out of people to see so we found a good spot to pull our truck over and then we prayed and asked Heavenly Father to guide us to someone who needed to hear the gospel. You know everytime we did that He either answered our prayer in the middle of it by inspiring someone to text us or by guiding our thoughts to think of someone we should go see or drop by. One time after we prayed we looked up and we felt that the house that was just a couple yards down needed us to stop and knock on their door. We were able to talk to them about the gospel so I know he answers prayers!!! He also gives me answers in my head as to what I should say or do when I am stressed or I am troubled, He comforts me and tells me what to do.
Well I am glad things are going well and I love you all! I appreciate your prayers and I am grateful for your support!
Love ya guys!
Elder Christensen
I am so glad to hear that Jordan is reading the Book of Mormon! I knew he was doing good! Ever since that e-mail I sent I've just had thoughts to myself like I wonder what he is reading now? So ya it's pretty sad he is beating all of you but I still beat everyone in our family hahaha! I've read the Book of Mormon 3 times and I am on my fourth time since the beginnig of my mission so all in all I will have read it 6 times!!
I just want you to know that things are looking better even though we don't get along very well. He is always getting angry at some of the things I do that don't matter in missionary work. I feel that we are being blessed because we are being obedient but since there is contention between us, we can't make the work explode! But I will keep working on him. Transfers will be happening this week so we will see how things go!!!
So you guys are having Family Home Evening on personal prayer and need an experience from me huh? Well I guess one of the best experiences I can use as far as a mission setting was last week. We kept running out of people to see so we found a good spot to pull our truck over and then we prayed and asked Heavenly Father to guide us to someone who needed to hear the gospel. You know everytime we did that He either answered our prayer in the middle of it by inspiring someone to text us or by guiding our thoughts to think of someone we should go see or drop by. One time after we prayed we looked up and we felt that the house that was just a couple yards down needed us to stop and knock on their door. We were able to talk to them about the gospel so I know he answers prayers!!! He also gives me answers in my head as to what I should say or do when I am stressed or I am troubled, He comforts me and tells me what to do.
Well I am glad things are going well and I love you all! I appreciate your prayers and I am grateful for your support!
Love ya guys!
Elder Christensen
Monday, February 20, 2012
February 13th Letter
Well I am glad you emailed this week! YAY Mom!!
So this week was killer but with Heavenly Fathers help I got Elder Hunsaker to be excatly obedient this whole week! The Lord blessed us with 10 new investigators and 24 lessons! So far these are the best numbers on my mission! Our district leader was pretty stoked about it too!
Thanks for sending the package I really appreciate it! Also you don't have to worry about music for me for a while because I got a ton from another elder who has like a whole slew of appropriate music!!
Me and my comp still have our days where we want to kill each other and I beat him, well slaughtered him, in a game of Risk and he got really upset so I am not going to play anymore games with him because he is sort of well short tempered but he is working on it which is great!
I am sorry to hear about Brittany, I will keep her in my prayers!!!
Thanks for telling me that everyone loves my letters. I don't know why my emails are so special but it doesnt matter, what does matter is that we are bringing souls to Christ and that we are able to be obedient so we can be even more blessed! We had exchanges this past week and I it was great to get to know Elder Ward and tell him how things are in this area. He is a little bit newer than me.
We had a very interesting week, because we got to talk to this guy from another faith and he had all kinds of anti-mormon stuff and was trying to denouce the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. We just calmly replied to his comments and questions and we were able withstand his attacks. It was so great because by the time he finished trying to argue with us we actually left him with a copy of the Book of Mormon, our testimonies and some good laughs! On the other hand we have a really solid investgator. She is twenty four and just escaped from domestic violence so she is scared and has scars from that. We told her how baptism can give her peace and can wash away the hatred she feels if we follow Jesus Christ's example and she really liked that!
Well tell everyone that I love them and sorry the email is so short because the other missionaries are waiting for me and want to go somewere no.
Love ya all!!
Elder Christensen
So this week was killer but with Heavenly Fathers help I got Elder Hunsaker to be excatly obedient this whole week! The Lord blessed us with 10 new investigators and 24 lessons! So far these are the best numbers on my mission! Our district leader was pretty stoked about it too!
Thanks for sending the package I really appreciate it! Also you don't have to worry about music for me for a while because I got a ton from another elder who has like a whole slew of appropriate music!!
Me and my comp still have our days where we want to kill each other and I beat him, well slaughtered him, in a game of Risk and he got really upset so I am not going to play anymore games with him because he is sort of well short tempered but he is working on it which is great!
I am sorry to hear about Brittany, I will keep her in my prayers!!!
Thanks for telling me that everyone loves my letters. I don't know why my emails are so special but it doesnt matter, what does matter is that we are bringing souls to Christ and that we are able to be obedient so we can be even more blessed! We had exchanges this past week and I it was great to get to know Elder Ward and tell him how things are in this area. He is a little bit newer than me.
We had a very interesting week, because we got to talk to this guy from another faith and he had all kinds of anti-mormon stuff and was trying to denouce the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. We just calmly replied to his comments and questions and we were able withstand his attacks. It was so great because by the time he finished trying to argue with us we actually left him with a copy of the Book of Mormon, our testimonies and some good laughs! On the other hand we have a really solid investgator. She is twenty four and just escaped from domestic violence so she is scared and has scars from that. We told her how baptism can give her peace and can wash away the hatred she feels if we follow Jesus Christ's example and she really liked that!
Well tell everyone that I love them and sorry the email is so short because the other missionaries are waiting for me and want to go somewere no.
Love ya all!!
Elder Christensen
February 6th Letter
Hey,
Sorry I missed your e-mail mom now I still have no idea whats going on at home, but I guess that's not super important. What is important though is how I am doing because I guess that's the whole point why I am e-mailing home is to brag about me!!!! Just kidding!
The Lord humbled me again this week as we were driving to district meeting. I was so stressed out that it was making my chest sorta hurt and all until district meeting started. Elder Totten was giving a talk about obedience, which is the shortest part in Preach My Gospel but the most important, which is sorta weird but whatev! So ya there was a scripture in Mosiah 15:7 that really comforted me and made me feel better because well I don't really know but I felt the spirit lift my burden some what.
I have seen such tremendous progress in my companion the last 8 weeks because his heart is in the right place. I told him he was going to be a trainer next transfer and he got a bit stirred up about that. It was funny because I kept bugging him and telling him that he would have to be ready to train when I am done with him because I am such a good trainer, lol!
I guess the only other news is that I have gained a few pounds and I don't know if it's muscle or fat but I am working out in the mornings now and it could be muscle because we do alot of physical work around here, helping the people and all!
I didn't see the Superbowl completely yesterday, which was good I guess. I have become really aware about what is happening around us. I am always seeing how bad Satan wants to tempt us too! Now I don't know if it's just me being a missionary but it seems like Satan has really turned up the heat on bad things because there were a few commercials that popped on when we were at peoples houses and it seems that things are worse now than when I left! I don't know if it's my new set of eyes or whatever you want to call it but I've been noticing weird things like that happening that I've never noticed before, so hurray for Spiritual Eyes!!! Well that's all I can think of to say to you guys because I didn't get an e-mail so I hope you still remember me!!!
Well love ya!!
Elder Christensen
Sorry I missed your e-mail mom now I still have no idea whats going on at home, but I guess that's not super important. What is important though is how I am doing because I guess that's the whole point why I am e-mailing home is to brag about me!!!! Just kidding!
The Lord humbled me again this week as we were driving to district meeting. I was so stressed out that it was making my chest sorta hurt and all until district meeting started. Elder Totten was giving a talk about obedience, which is the shortest part in Preach My Gospel but the most important, which is sorta weird but whatev! So ya there was a scripture in Mosiah 15:7 that really comforted me and made me feel better because well I don't really know but I felt the spirit lift my burden some what.
I have seen such tremendous progress in my companion the last 8 weeks because his heart is in the right place. I told him he was going to be a trainer next transfer and he got a bit stirred up about that. It was funny because I kept bugging him and telling him that he would have to be ready to train when I am done with him because I am such a good trainer, lol!
I guess the only other news is that I have gained a few pounds and I don't know if it's muscle or fat but I am working out in the mornings now and it could be muscle because we do alot of physical work around here, helping the people and all!
I didn't see the Superbowl completely yesterday, which was good I guess. I have become really aware about what is happening around us. I am always seeing how bad Satan wants to tempt us too! Now I don't know if it's just me being a missionary but it seems like Satan has really turned up the heat on bad things because there were a few commercials that popped on when we were at peoples houses and it seems that things are worse now than when I left! I don't know if it's my new set of eyes or whatever you want to call it but I've been noticing weird things like that happening that I've never noticed before, so hurray for Spiritual Eyes!!! Well that's all I can think of to say to you guys because I didn't get an e-mail so I hope you still remember me!!!
Well love ya!!
Elder Christensen
January 30th Letter
Hey,
Thanks for the wonderful email today it is really weird that Grant is home. In fact I can't quite wrap my mind around it...
I wonder why they think my mission is so awesome? I do some cool stuff but I don't baptize very many people but that doesn't really bother me because president sent me and e-mail and said if we stand up and do what is right we will do wonders in Greasewood so I'm taking that to heart!
I can't believe the guys at the bike shop still remember me! I thought for sure they would have forgotten who I was and stuff! I am planning on sending some letters to them all or at least the ones I remember so ya if you want to tell them that go ahead!
So things this week have been sorta slow. We found like 5 new investigators when wanted like 8 but still 5 is a decent number! We taught quite a bit but we really need to teach more often because if we taught all of our investigators and other people in a week we would have like over 20 lessons a week! Which would be fantastic! This morning we had a lesson with the Senior Missionary couple at an investigators house. All four of us have been teaching her and she is so close to baptism her name is Jenny Clark and she is a wonderful and prepared person from our Father in Heaven who just needs a push into the baptism font. We talked about the Word of Wisdom today and for quite some time too because her family is severely effected by it. We extended a date for her to be baptized on the 11 so we will pray that she commits and is baptized then so Heavenly Father can really pour out his blessings on her family.
I will keep Brittany in my prayers because I am sure this is a tough situation for her right now. I pray she will not have anymore problems so ya and tell Jordan Happy Birthday and stuff!
Well I gotta go love ya all!!!
Gamali Atchinez
(Elder Tall Man)
Thanks for the wonderful email today it is really weird that Grant is home. In fact I can't quite wrap my mind around it...
I wonder why they think my mission is so awesome? I do some cool stuff but I don't baptize very many people but that doesn't really bother me because president sent me and e-mail and said if we stand up and do what is right we will do wonders in Greasewood so I'm taking that to heart!
I can't believe the guys at the bike shop still remember me! I thought for sure they would have forgotten who I was and stuff! I am planning on sending some letters to them all or at least the ones I remember so ya if you want to tell them that go ahead!
So things this week have been sorta slow. We found like 5 new investigators when wanted like 8 but still 5 is a decent number! We taught quite a bit but we really need to teach more often because if we taught all of our investigators and other people in a week we would have like over 20 lessons a week! Which would be fantastic! This morning we had a lesson with the Senior Missionary couple at an investigators house. All four of us have been teaching her and she is so close to baptism her name is Jenny Clark and she is a wonderful and prepared person from our Father in Heaven who just needs a push into the baptism font. We talked about the Word of Wisdom today and for quite some time too because her family is severely effected by it. We extended a date for her to be baptized on the 11 so we will pray that she commits and is baptized then so Heavenly Father can really pour out his blessings on her family.
I will keep Brittany in my prayers because I am sure this is a tough situation for her right now. I pray she will not have anymore problems so ya and tell Jordan Happy Birthday and stuff!
Well I gotta go love ya all!!!
Gamali Atchinez
(Elder Tall Man)
It's Been 6 Months!
Well Hello!
I am here to report to ya'll and this week has been wierd! First it got above 60 degrees and stayed at about 55 everyday untill Saturday. Then it snowed but only like a half inch so it was dumb but the wind was blowin pretty hard. It made blizzard conditions and we were still teaching untill 8:30 so we decided to drive home because it was getting pretty bad. All the paved roads were really slippery so we took a dirt road home instead of the only paved road lol wierd I know! It was even better because I had spagetti cookin all day so ya it was dang good!!!
Well I guess to get serious (lol) we got transfer news on Saturday night and both of us are staying! I don't know what the Prez is thinking but I am glad I am being tested and tried. I told Elder Hunsaker we are going to step up his obedience this transfer and we are gonna give our hearts to the Lord. I told him that if we do this you will discover why the Lord has sent you on a mission! His reaction shocked me a bit. He asked "how do I give my heart to the Lord?" I told him by being obedient and not questioning anything that happens but to go forward with a great attitude, taking every given opportunity to teach the gospel and to find those who are ready. I told him I am trying to do better and show more love too because we haven't been getting along very well. Maybe because I was to bold instead of being nice and sincere. I felt inspired for us to give each other a blessing to kick off the new transfer! I can't tell you what was said but I will tell you that the spirit touched our hearts and gave us the strength and the direction we needed. I am so grateful for that reason that we have been kept together! We will now go forth and be tools in the Lords hands! My companion is a powerful misisonary when he gives his heart! I have seen it! He baptized the most in the mission a couple months ago so I am gratefull I get to help him and serve with him!!
Sorry to hear about the car mom and don't hurt our neighboors. Remember what Jesus taught when the Pharisees came and asked him what is the greatest comandment! Jesus said "the greatest comandment is to love the Lord thy God the second is like unto it love thy neighbours!" I hope you think about that because after all it was just snow and it did do damage but just think about those commandments and be nice!!
Lately I have been studying the bible to learn the history of the direct decendents of the house of Israel and to know it better. I have also been reading The Book of Mormon because I love to read it and I want to know all the blessings the Lamenites were promised if they keep the commandments. Today I almost found were the Garden of Eden is but I don't have a good enough map! The other day I started reading the Pearl of Great Price and I read about our spiritual eyes and our physical eyes and that to be able to behold all the glory of god our eyes need to be transfigured which means we are able to see and learn through our spirit instead of our brain which is super cool because when Moses was transfigured he beheld all the particles that were in the earth! Pretty awesome!!! so ya I am learned now lol!
Please always read the Book of Mormon. It is special and powerful and just down right cool!!!! So ya do it and let me know what you learn!
Also real quick Elder Millers dad is the branch prez in Indian Wells which is an area we cover so we are focusing attention out there, and they are opening a new area in Joseph City which is his home town! so ya have the elders over for dinner and have a non-member there to present lessons too!! Don't let them leave with out a lesson!!
Well gotta go I love ya all!
Elder Christensen!!
I am here to report to ya'll and this week has been wierd! First it got above 60 degrees and stayed at about 55 everyday untill Saturday. Then it snowed but only like a half inch so it was dumb but the wind was blowin pretty hard. It made blizzard conditions and we were still teaching untill 8:30 so we decided to drive home because it was getting pretty bad. All the paved roads were really slippery so we took a dirt road home instead of the only paved road lol wierd I know! It was even better because I had spagetti cookin all day so ya it was dang good!!!
Well I guess to get serious (lol) we got transfer news on Saturday night and both of us are staying! I don't know what the Prez is thinking but I am glad I am being tested and tried. I told Elder Hunsaker we are going to step up his obedience this transfer and we are gonna give our hearts to the Lord. I told him that if we do this you will discover why the Lord has sent you on a mission! His reaction shocked me a bit. He asked "how do I give my heart to the Lord?" I told him by being obedient and not questioning anything that happens but to go forward with a great attitude, taking every given opportunity to teach the gospel and to find those who are ready. I told him I am trying to do better and show more love too because we haven't been getting along very well. Maybe because I was to bold instead of being nice and sincere. I felt inspired for us to give each other a blessing to kick off the new transfer! I can't tell you what was said but I will tell you that the spirit touched our hearts and gave us the strength and the direction we needed. I am so grateful for that reason that we have been kept together! We will now go forth and be tools in the Lords hands! My companion is a powerful misisonary when he gives his heart! I have seen it! He baptized the most in the mission a couple months ago so I am gratefull I get to help him and serve with him!!
Sorry to hear about the car mom and don't hurt our neighboors. Remember what Jesus taught when the Pharisees came and asked him what is the greatest comandment! Jesus said "the greatest comandment is to love the Lord thy God the second is like unto it love thy neighbours!" I hope you think about that because after all it was just snow and it did do damage but just think about those commandments and be nice!!
Lately I have been studying the bible to learn the history of the direct decendents of the house of Israel and to know it better. I have also been reading The Book of Mormon because I love to read it and I want to know all the blessings the Lamenites were promised if they keep the commandments. Today I almost found were the Garden of Eden is but I don't have a good enough map! The other day I started reading the Pearl of Great Price and I read about our spiritual eyes and our physical eyes and that to be able to behold all the glory of god our eyes need to be transfigured which means we are able to see and learn through our spirit instead of our brain which is super cool because when Moses was transfigured he beheld all the particles that were in the earth! Pretty awesome!!! so ya I am learned now lol!
Please always read the Book of Mormon. It is special and powerful and just down right cool!!!! So ya do it and let me know what you learn!
Also real quick Elder Millers dad is the branch prez in Indian Wells which is an area we cover so we are focusing attention out there, and they are opening a new area in Joseph City which is his home town! so ya have the elders over for dinner and have a non-member there to present lessons too!! Don't let them leave with out a lesson!!
Well gotta go I love ya all!
Elder Christensen!!
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