This weekend was filled with some special and entertaining moments:
"Wade in the water"
Our investigators Guadalupe and Angie were baptized on Saturday night. It was a little crazy getting everyone to the church, and their little brother and sister (5 and 7 years old) were a little too excited (euphemism for little rascals), as they ran around the church, climbing on top of everything. Guadalupe confides in me and tells me, “My brother is terrified of water.” She takes control of the situation and grabs her little brother, lifts him up to see the baptismal font filled with water, and hisses, “If you don’t behave, I’m going to throw you in there!” Needless to say, he calmed down for a while. This poor kid is probably traumatized and will probably never be baptized, ever.
This same little boy his father has been urging us to baptize. We try to explain that he is not accountable yet and does not need baptism yet, that he is “alive in Christ” (See Moroni 8). The mom and dad just looked at us incredulously and said, pointing to the little boy, “HE is alive in Christ? I don’t think so.”
"It´s a miracle!"
In the morning, before church, we were delivering a wheelchair to our friend, Ursula, who had foot surgery recently. Hna. Flores was walking slower than I desired, and, being a kind and thoughtful companion, I offered her a ride in the wheelchair. Did I mention that we were running late? Actually, I was the one running and pushing the wheelchair. After 10 minutes, I had her get out and walk (though I taught her the English word, “powerwalk”). We joked about the miraculous “healing” that had just taken place, and how now we will have throngs of people interested in attending church and in listening to our message.
"Open mouth, insert foot"
Sunday afternoon, we talked with a group of people who are cleaning up after a wild party. I asked them, in a jocular manner, “Por que no nos invitaron?” (why didn’t you invite us?). In that moment, I looked and beheld the cases filled with empty beer bottles, and the ground strewn with bottle caps. Immediately, I felt awkward. (for my sisters’ benefit, it was the awkward kissing llama stage. That is actually quite appropriate for Peru, as we have a variety of llamas and alpacas here). I felt prompted to teach them the Word of Wisdom in that very moment…….. (I’m just kidding!)
There really is a powerful spirit that accompanies baptisms. I was reminded of the quote by Joseph Smith that "In the ordinances, the power of God is made manifest." It's true. It's really true.
Hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving.
Love, Hna. Christensen
Monday, November 30, 2009
Pre-Thanksgiving Thoughts--23 Nov 2009
I´m thankful for a number of things, including hot showers and water you can drink from the tap. I´m thankful for the good people of all faiths in Peru and in the world. There are so many good people leading excellent lives and making important contributions that we all benefit from. I´m thankful for parents who taught me by their example to respect, love and serve all people, because we are all children of the same Heavenly Father.
I´m thankful for the Restored gospel, and how it provides the answers to questions that I have, and it provides peace and hope. I´m also thankful for the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon and the New Testament, and for prayer, because I have been able to get the direction I need in my personal life from pondering those words.
I´m also thankful for General Conference, and for the guidance we get from the Holy Spirit and from living prophets. Many times, I have had words from various talks come thundering into my mind, inspiring me to repent and to be humble and to change. To live the gospel is to know it´s goodness (John 7:17), and when we know it (Alma 32), we are intrinsically motivated to live it. I`m thankful for you, my family and friends, and I love you so much. I want each of you to be happy!
Love,
Hna. Christensen
I´m thankful for the Restored gospel, and how it provides the answers to questions that I have, and it provides peace and hope. I´m also thankful for the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon and the New Testament, and for prayer, because I have been able to get the direction I need in my personal life from pondering those words.
I´m also thankful for General Conference, and for the guidance we get from the Holy Spirit and from living prophets. Many times, I have had words from various talks come thundering into my mind, inspiring me to repent and to be humble and to change. To live the gospel is to know it´s goodness (John 7:17), and when we know it (Alma 32), we are intrinsically motivated to live it. I`m thankful for you, my family and friends, and I love you so much. I want each of you to be happy!
Love,
Hna. Christensen
Monday, November 16, 2009
All Dogs Go to Heaven (and Church!)
Shout outs and happy birthday to my sister, Jennifer! Also, I hope that my family is feeling better. Make sure you take time to sleep and to wash your hands!
The adventure of the week:
On Saturday I stopped a man on the street who was walking his dog and asked about his puppy. He proudly told me “His name is Funky.” I told him, “Well, you are invited to our church services on Sunday, but unfortunately, Funky is not.” You will appreciate this vignette as you read the next story.
On Sunday we went to accompany our friends, the Zabaleta family and our investigators Lupe and Angie to church (there was a gaggle of 10 of us). Apparently, their pet dog wanted to come to church too, as it (not to my knowledge) climbed into the bus, too. Imagine that you are sitting in the chapel in sacrament meeting, and 35 minutes into the meeting, groups of 3-5 kids come in, looking for a place to sit. And, the dog comes running into the chapel, too. Fortunately, there wasn´t enough space in the chapel for Hna. Flores and I to sit, so we stayed outside the rest of the meeting. We didn´t have to claim affiliation or responsibility for the dog by showing our faces. I was as red in the face as the shirt I was wearing!
We met an amazing couple, Sara and Juan. Usually missionaries stop people on the street to talk with them, but this time, the couple stopped us to talk with us. They asked us if we were espanola (from Spain) and struck up a conversation. Apparently, Juan is from Spain and his wife is from Lima. She teaches flamenco dancing (yes, I have to learn one Preparation day). Now, we are teaching them the gospel and they are attending church. They have so many questions and really want to learn. Juan always pounds his fist and says things like, “Soy rebelde!” or “Soy cabezon” (translated: “I’m a rebel!” “I’m a thinker”). The funny thing is that he is not a rebel, but I don’t have the heart to tell him that as that would dampen his spirit. I just want to tell him, “You rebel, you!”
Something I stress is to be a cabezon, or a thinker. You cannot just accept everything that is told to you. You have to ask questions and study things out in your mind, study the scriptures and pray and meditate. However, being a thinker isn´t the same as being a doubter. Doubters ask questions but don’t seek out the answers because they don´t know how to find them or think that there are no answers to the questions they have. That is not faith. There are answers to the questions we have. I remember something my dad always said, “Too many people say that they know the gospel is true, but they don´t know the gospel.” (And, I would add, the real challenge is to live more of what we know to be true). The scriptures have the answers to the questions that we all have. Let´s read them!
Love, Hna. Christensen
The adventure of the week:
On Saturday I stopped a man on the street who was walking his dog and asked about his puppy. He proudly told me “His name is Funky.” I told him, “Well, you are invited to our church services on Sunday, but unfortunately, Funky is not.” You will appreciate this vignette as you read the next story.
On Sunday we went to accompany our friends, the Zabaleta family and our investigators Lupe and Angie to church (there was a gaggle of 10 of us). Apparently, their pet dog wanted to come to church too, as it (not to my knowledge) climbed into the bus, too. Imagine that you are sitting in the chapel in sacrament meeting, and 35 minutes into the meeting, groups of 3-5 kids come in, looking for a place to sit. And, the dog comes running into the chapel, too. Fortunately, there wasn´t enough space in the chapel for Hna. Flores and I to sit, so we stayed outside the rest of the meeting. We didn´t have to claim affiliation or responsibility for the dog by showing our faces. I was as red in the face as the shirt I was wearing!
We met an amazing couple, Sara and Juan. Usually missionaries stop people on the street to talk with them, but this time, the couple stopped us to talk with us. They asked us if we were espanola (from Spain) and struck up a conversation. Apparently, Juan is from Spain and his wife is from Lima. She teaches flamenco dancing (yes, I have to learn one Preparation day). Now, we are teaching them the gospel and they are attending church. They have so many questions and really want to learn. Juan always pounds his fist and says things like, “Soy rebelde!” or “Soy cabezon” (translated: “I’m a rebel!” “I’m a thinker”). The funny thing is that he is not a rebel, but I don’t have the heart to tell him that as that would dampen his spirit. I just want to tell him, “You rebel, you!”
Something I stress is to be a cabezon, or a thinker. You cannot just accept everything that is told to you. You have to ask questions and study things out in your mind, study the scriptures and pray and meditate. However, being a thinker isn´t the same as being a doubter. Doubters ask questions but don’t seek out the answers because they don´t know how to find them or think that there are no answers to the questions they have. That is not faith. There are answers to the questions we have. I remember something my dad always said, “Too many people say that they know the gospel is true, but they don´t know the gospel.” (And, I would add, the real challenge is to live more of what we know to be true). The scriptures have the answers to the questions that we all have. Let´s read them!
Love, Hna. Christensen
Monday, November 9, 2009
Teaching, Learning, Loving the People--& Breaking Fashion Rules!
We are teaching an amazing family, the Zabaleta family. There are 11 kids in their family, and they are so humble, hard-working, and sincere. I can’t even describe how radiant and pure they are. They make me want to be a better person because I know them. They love the palabra, or the Word of God and want to learn more. I´ve had to really step up my scripture study in order to keep up with all of their questions. I have an even greater appreciation of the scriptures. There are so many answers to the questions we have that we think are unanswerable. Often times, we just haven´t done our homework and really studied and searched to find the answers we seek. But, the promise is “Ask, and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find.” That is true.
I´ve really come to appreciate the nature of God, and how He is kind and forgiving of His children. Often, I feel like we are the ones who are not willing to forgive ourselves for the mistakes we have made. The whole purpose of the Atonement of Christ is so that we can learn and progress in spite of (or because of) our mistakes. Many people seem to have this idea that God is angry and unforgiving, but that mistaken idea is corrected with the Restoration of the Gospel.
I´ve been trying to translate some of my favorite English phrases into Spanish, with some luck. Sometimes people try to take advantage of me because I am a gringa, by not giving me correct change on the bus, for example. I say quietly to my companion, Mi mama no me crio tonta, or, my momma didn´t raise no fool (Rachel, hope you appreciate that one). Hna. Flores will use words like {awesome}, {awkward}, and {cute} in her sentences, which makes me happy. We made a goal to learn 10 new words a day in Spanish (for me) and English (for her).
Older people have always been my favorites, and here in Peru is no exception. We talked with this abuelita, an older woman, who was serving food on the street. We invited her to church and she gave us Jello (which we didn’t eat because we didn´t know how it was prepared if it was safe, etc). Hna. Flores and I have taught a couple of abuelitos, little old men, who are so cute (but no one can compare with MY grandpa!). One was all wrapped up in his scarf and sitting on the porch, another one fixes shoes all day, another is a carpenter, etc. They are so cute, you just want to hug them, but you can´t. They agree with everything you say, but probably because they are harder of hearing. Then, suddenly they realize that they are Catholic and they politely shoo you out the door.
Karen warned me before I left about the missionary fashion sense (or often, lack of sense). Well, she´s right. Much to my utter dismay, I´ve started combining colors and outfits that should never go together. Maybe I can get away with it and maybe people will start imitating it because I´m from the USA. Or, maybe not. I know Karen and other family members are shaking their heads and shouting at their computer monitors, {Don´t do it, Susan! It´s not worth it! You can be better than that!}
Choose the right!
Love, Hna. Christensen
I´ve really come to appreciate the nature of God, and how He is kind and forgiving of His children. Often, I feel like we are the ones who are not willing to forgive ourselves for the mistakes we have made. The whole purpose of the Atonement of Christ is so that we can learn and progress in spite of (or because of) our mistakes. Many people seem to have this idea that God is angry and unforgiving, but that mistaken idea is corrected with the Restoration of the Gospel.
I´ve been trying to translate some of my favorite English phrases into Spanish, with some luck. Sometimes people try to take advantage of me because I am a gringa, by not giving me correct change on the bus, for example. I say quietly to my companion, Mi mama no me crio tonta, or, my momma didn´t raise no fool (Rachel, hope you appreciate that one). Hna. Flores will use words like {awesome}, {awkward}, and {cute} in her sentences, which makes me happy. We made a goal to learn 10 new words a day in Spanish (for me) and English (for her).
Older people have always been my favorites, and here in Peru is no exception. We talked with this abuelita, an older woman, who was serving food on the street. We invited her to church and she gave us Jello (which we didn’t eat because we didn´t know how it was prepared if it was safe, etc). Hna. Flores and I have taught a couple of abuelitos, little old men, who are so cute (but no one can compare with MY grandpa!). One was all wrapped up in his scarf and sitting on the porch, another one fixes shoes all day, another is a carpenter, etc. They are so cute, you just want to hug them, but you can´t. They agree with everything you say, but probably because they are harder of hearing. Then, suddenly they realize that they are Catholic and they politely shoo you out the door.
Karen warned me before I left about the missionary fashion sense (or often, lack of sense). Well, she´s right. Much to my utter dismay, I´ve started combining colors and outfits that should never go together. Maybe I can get away with it and maybe people will start imitating it because I´m from the USA. Or, maybe not. I know Karen and other family members are shaking their heads and shouting at their computer monitors, {Don´t do it, Susan! It´s not worth it! You can be better than that!}
Choose the right!
Love, Hna. Christensen
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
News and Thoughts from Peru--November 2, 2009
This is short. My computer lost the first email I wrote and now there is little time. :(
They celebrate Halloween here. My companion, Hna. Flores, and I dressed up as.......missionaries. The kids dress up and go to the stores chanting, "Halloween." and the store owners give them candy. We decided to go proselyting and give out pass-along cards. Those weren´t as popular as candy. Maybe if we had a chocolate cupcake to give them too....did any of the Christensens catch that reference?
Problems with the lengua. I called Pedro, "perro" (that means dog. A good way to make a good first impression, no?) and complimented the pensionista on her jabon sandwich (soap sandwich, instead of ham sandwich). I´ve got to work on that. :)
Ironic. We were teaching Eyleen about the Word of Wisdom, and how important it is to take care of bodies so they are healthy and strong. Right in the midde of it, her mom comes and serves us homemade doughnuts and unpasteurized milk (I shouldn´t consume either for safety and health reasons but ate both. Don´t want to be offensive). I laughed inwardly at the irony of it all and then read later in the scriptures about how Jesus Christ chastised hypocrites.
We had a Family Home Evening where we watched "Finding Faith in Christ." I´ve seen that before, but this time I felt different. Even though it´s easy to dismiss things we don´t understand (physics is an example for me) or can´t see, it´s difficult to dismiss the feelings we feel; assurances of peace and love, or the tender mercies (milagritos, or little miracles) that we experience every day but may not recognize. For this reason, I think that gratitude is the most important attribute I can develop, as it leads to humility, faith, and love. Let´s count our blessings!
Love,
Hna. Christensen
They celebrate Halloween here. My companion, Hna. Flores, and I dressed up as.......missionaries. The kids dress up and go to the stores chanting, "Halloween." and the store owners give them candy. We decided to go proselyting and give out pass-along cards. Those weren´t as popular as candy. Maybe if we had a chocolate cupcake to give them too....did any of the Christensens catch that reference?
Problems with the lengua. I called Pedro, "perro" (that means dog. A good way to make a good first impression, no?) and complimented the pensionista on her jabon sandwich (soap sandwich, instead of ham sandwich). I´ve got to work on that. :)
Ironic. We were teaching Eyleen about the Word of Wisdom, and how important it is to take care of bodies so they are healthy and strong. Right in the midde of it, her mom comes and serves us homemade doughnuts and unpasteurized milk (I shouldn´t consume either for safety and health reasons but ate both. Don´t want to be offensive). I laughed inwardly at the irony of it all and then read later in the scriptures about how Jesus Christ chastised hypocrites.
We had a Family Home Evening where we watched "Finding Faith in Christ." I´ve seen that before, but this time I felt different. Even though it´s easy to dismiss things we don´t understand (physics is an example for me) or can´t see, it´s difficult to dismiss the feelings we feel; assurances of peace and love, or the tender mercies (milagritos, or little miracles) that we experience every day but may not recognize. For this reason, I think that gratitude is the most important attribute I can develop, as it leads to humility, faith, and love. Let´s count our blessings!
Love,
Hna. Christensen
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