A Very Merry Christmas!

Hello family and friends!

The highlights of this week included Christmas! It was very different celebrating Christmas in the mission and in the selva to boot. These were my festivities:

1. Directing the missionary choir of Christmas carols in 3 Plazas de Armas with the 3 zones in Iquitos. Elder Crum dressed up in a Papa Noel (Santa Claus) costume and after singing we contacted the public and sought references. We mostly sang hymns but included a traditional “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” complete with hand actions (but not as cool as the THS Robed Choir performs it. I was tempted to teach everyone “Betelehemu” but decided it would be nearly impossible with the time limitations).

2. The stake president took us out to eat at a polleria to eat chicken and French fries. My companion, Hna. Barrios, wasn’t feeling too well and so she gave her food to one of the elders who has a good appetite. He cleaned the plate and returned the empty plate to her and said, “Wow! Presidente! Look! Hna. Barrios eats so quickly!” The rest of us were still eating and the whole table looks at skinny Hna. Barrios. The stake president asked her if she wanted more, because they could order another plate. He honestly thought that she had eaten everything so quickly. The elder said, “Hna. Barrios needs more pop!” (if it isn’t the national brand of Inca Kola, then it is not a meal worth remembering) and filled up 2 glasses, knowing fully well that the Hna. Barrios wouldn’t drink it. It was amusing.

3. Here, everyone celebrates at midnight on Christmas Eve. At midnight it is traditional to have a Christmas dinner with all the family, open gifts, and shoot off firecrackers. Our Latin companions in the zone jokingly said, “What’s up with the Americans? They want to go to bed early on the 24th and celebrate on the 25th. That’s strange!” We Americans were thinking, “Why are they celebrating so early? Christmas isn’t the 24th; it’s the 25th!” It’s important to remember that there are different ways of doing things and different ways of thinking and that is okay! I’m just grateful being here in the sun and torrential rain and not having to shovel sidewalks, scrape ice off cars, etc.


4. Andrea, a girl of nine years, was baptized on Christmas day. Her parents (her mom is a less-active member but her uncle is in the Bishopric) attended and it was the most organized baptismal service I have attended in Peru (and we only had to bring the baptismal clothing).

5. I called my family and talked with half the family for about 5 minutes apiece. (How I wanted it to be more, but I loved hearing each of your voices. Thanks for brightening up my life. It was the highlight of my Christmas.)

6. We joined the Relief Society twice this week, visiting less-active members and singing Christmas carols to them. I made Christmas cards from cute Nativity wrapping paper, and I taught people how to make paper snowflakes.

Other than that, it's been a little difficult adjusting to the climate and we are in a new area looking for people to teach (pretty much starting from scratch), and adjusting to a new rhythm of the mission (it is much faster paced in the mission) and so there is no time to be trunky!

I love you all and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love, Hna. Christensen

Back to the Jungle!

Hello, family and friends.

Thanks for the Christmas greetings from Dave and Beth Buhler, Pres. Elliot, and others. I really appreciate receiving them.

This past week has been crazy. I received my assignment to train Hna. Portugal (from Peru) in the jungle and we went to the airport on Tuesday. However, they have changed the airline regulations and neither of us had the appropriate identification necessary. We had to change our tickets for the next day. Wednesday morning we spent running errands, from the bank, to the commissary, to the government office buildings, with long lines and lots of stress. We arrived at the mission office, where they informed us that there was a change…the Hna. Portugal would stay in Lima to be trained and my new companion would be Hna. Barrios (Guatemalteca). So, poor Hna. Barrios thought she would stay in the area for Christmas and had less than 2 hours to prepare her suitcases, with no time to say goodbye to her people. However, she is happy to be here in the jungle. I am adjusting again to the sun but am happy to be here, too. We are so busy here in the jungle that there is little time to have “trunky thoughts,” although it is necessary to start making plans for the future.

I am writing from the jungle. That’s right! I’m back in the jungle, and Presidente said that it is most likely that I will end my mission (in April) in this same area. The difference, however, is that this area has a great ward that supports missionary work. For one, we have Ward Council regularly and the leaders show up and have great ideas and insights. The ward was in the process of creating a ward mission plan when we arrived; we only had to add some ideas. The leaders are teriffic. I feel so blessed and spoiled. The Relief Society needs some encouragement to accompany us on our visits, so we have to help them with that responsibility. We arrived (the first time this ward had hermanas in the area for years) and they had a room all prepared and furnished for us, complete with WATER ALL DAY! We can shower in the morning and AT NIGHT! What a blessing.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas. May you remember what is important in life and be happy, counting your blessings, and every day strive to be more like Jesus Christ.

Love, Hermana Christensen

Cutting the Umbilical Cord….and I am a Grandma!

After four and a half months, Hna. Avalos (my “daughter” in the mission, because I trained her) and I are being separated. She is training a new missionary and so am I, so that makes me a “grandma” in the mission. It sounds like “Father of the Bride” part 2. We knew it was bound to happen sometime, but we still feel super sad.

I am going back to Iquitos, but in a new area (the Church is pretty new there, only 3 months) and I am training! I was pretty surprised. When I left Iquitos I was so sure that I would never go back (I was there 6 months) and so I gave away almost all of my mosquito repellent! But, hey, that´s great!

On Sunday I cried as I gave my testimony in the ward and so did the ward members. It is so beautiful to leave an area in tears, because it means that you loved the people there and are a part of their lives and they are a part of yours forever. Wow, Hna. Avalos and I cry a lot! We are working together to make plans for how we can welcome in our new companions.

Also, the Hermana Ticona went to Mexico on Friday, so that was another tearful goodbye.

Finally, Rosa and Amador are going to get married this 18 of December! In other words, this Saturday! After months of so much work and effort, this couple, who has passed so many trials, will have the blessing of getting married and baptized. Wow.

Yonel, the 23-year-old investigator who studied to be a Catholic priest, is progressing. He is reading the Book of Mormon and has so many questions. Our other investigators are progressing but need to be married first.

Have to run!

Love, Hna. Christensen

Focusing on the Good (and Lots of It!)

Hi family and friends!

Wow. So many adventures this week. The highlights included a P-day celebration of Hna. Avalos’ birthday, complete with birthday cake and a spontaneous water fight (the best).

My companions and I joked around how we are zone leaders, because the President asked me to do a “work visit” in another area. I observed and gave feedback and learned a lot from the experience about things I need to do to improve in my own area. I was really grateful to return to my own area, too, after not sleeping too well. I was sad because the thought dawned upon me that perhaps Heavenly Father is preparing me psychologically to move to another area (I have been here 3 transfers), and I was sad thinking about leaving the families and converts we have here. But, nothing is for certain. However, we do know that we are losing Hna. Ticona this week, because she is going to her mission in Guadelajara, Mexico. We are sad to lose “Tiki Tiki,” as we affectionately call her. And, Hna. Avalos and I only have 1 week left together, because it is almost certain that we won’t be together this next transfer (we have been together for 3 transfers). Change can be really hard.

We received special permission from Pte. Blunck to accompany our investigators and recent converts to the temple, along with the caravan of young men and women who attended the temple on Saturday. It was so special, because Elen (convert of 5 weeks) set the goal to prepare to attend the temple and has started her genealogy. Rosa and the kids went and Rosa bore her testimony in the class for investigators on Sunday. We all felt a special spirit when Elen and Rosa bore their simple testimonies. Wilson and Margarita, a couple whose daughter Xiomara was baptized a few weeks ago, listened attentively to their testimonies.

Wilson and Margarita have set the goal to be married in January. Margarita will be baptized, too, and we are working with Wilson, too. God is working with Wilson, too, because he has changed a lot. (It is obvious that his countenance has changed.) We are also teaching their nephew, Flavio (17), the discussions. The challenge for Flavio is, ironically, his other cousins, who are like the sons of Mosiah and Alma the Younger before their conversion. Because of them, I have recently changed in my focus and try to focus on helping the young men with their own conversions. We invite them to accompany our friends, the elders, on their visits and we invite them to read the Book of Mormon, too.

And, we are so spoiled because we went to the Christmas devotional (along with investigators) yesterday. We stayed for most of it. The music was incredible. I loved the part that said we can focus on the positive or the stressful details of Christmas. Elder Uchtdorf invited us to focus on the birth of Christ, the impact His life has in our life, and upon the future coming of Christ. I liked the part that Elder Eyring said about how he visited a relative in the nursing home, thinking that she would be depressed and sad. However, her countenance was bright and she exclaimed, “I know that my Redeemer lives!” She is an example of the faith and hope that the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring.

You know what? I have no complaints. I am learning so much every day, it is incredible. (Don’t worry, English grammarists. I know that should have been a semicolon instead of a comma, but I can’t find it here on the keyboard.) Oh, and I taught my companions how to make paper snowflakes, and we used our talents to decorate the mission office Christmas tree. (Gracias, Mrs. Manderick, my first-grade teacher who taught me.)

Life is good. It is not free of problems, but we choose what we will focus on, whether the good or the bad.

Happy week!

Love, Hna. Christensen

Special Experiences and Celebrations (written 29 Nov 2010)

Hola, family and friends!

I hope you had an excellent Thanksgiving weekend. My Thanksgiving was the best. Our friend brought over chicken and french fries to celebrate. They don’t have this holiday here in Peru.

We are celebrating the birthday of Sis. Avalos today. We are playing water balloon volleyball and eating birthday cake to celebrate. I made her a special card, too. We celebrated the whole month. The Relief Society is planning a special surprise party for her.

Yesterday, we had such a special experience. We met with Junior (a less active member) and his wife, Karina. We invited them to always pray and at the end of the lesson, we knelt down and Junior offered the prayer. It was the most simple prayer (he repeated the words after my comp, Hna. Ticona) but he was so sincere and repentant that we all felt the Spirit so strongly. My testimony that we are children of God and that He answers and hears every heartfelt prayer grew so much. The Spirit converts and changes hearts and lives. It was such a beautiful experience.

We are teaching the neighbors of Rosa and Amador and many of them want to receive the Gospel. Many of them have the possibility of getting married, because they have the documents that they need. They just have to overcome the fear of commitment. (They are unmarried and have 2 kids and don’t want to commit just yet. I met a family in my first area that had 35 years of living together and 8 children and didn´t feel ready to commit just yet. They wanted to “get to know each other better.” Interesting!) They ask so many questions about the Gospel and want to learn more. Nadia attended church the other week and will attend with her husband and 2 kids. Awesome!

Choose the right! Life is good! God is good!

Love,
Hermana Christensen

Many Reasons to Be Thankful!

Hello family and friends,

Sorry about the delay in writing. Yesterday we went to the temple as a zone and on the way out, I got a call from the mission office with a special service opportunity. I accompanied a missionary (Hna. Alcantara) from Tarapoto who went through the temple for the first time. Even though we were together less than 24 hours, it was really special to be able to be there for important moments in her life, including when she was set apart by President Blunck. So, I went to the temple 2 times in one day! It was really special and I learn so much everytime that I go. I feel like I am able to discern more clearly what I need to learn and change.

The children of Rosa and Amador were baptized this Saturday! It was so special when they received the Holy Ghost on Sunday, because even though they are pretty well behaved kids, I noted a big difference in them. We talked about how they had light before they were baptized and confirmed, but now they have an even brighter light and how that light shines in their countenance. We can control how much light we have by our obedience and our choices we make.

We have been helping Rosa and Amador to get married, but there is so much opposition. The final story is that he has to change his DNI and so they won’t be able to get married until December or even January. We practically didn’t sleep for a week as we were helping them with their papers and coordinating the ward with all this. So, we were disappointed and really tired, but everything is set in order for the next marriage opportunity. They are still progressing spiritually. It was great to hear from Amador that he always prays before reading the Book of Mormon and he doesn’t know how, but he always reads something that falls in line with the same theme he was thinking of. This happens to me, too, frequently. It is awesome. The scriptures always teach us something we need to know and do.

My companions, Hna. Avalos and Hna. Ticona and I continue to have a blast being together. Talk about unity! We push each other up the hills, finish each others’ food if the members serve us too much, and even share the same thoughts without even saying anything. I continue to teach them English jargon. Our favorite MOTAB Cds are the Broadway showtunes and the black spirituals (our mission allows all MOTAB cds, for which I am grateful).

I was grateful to help Olga and her family move on Monday, along with the other zone members. As a zone, we are planning a surprise birthday party for Hna. Avalos (Monday), complete with piñata and other adventures. All without her knowing…we are happy and working hard.

For Thanksgiving, I am grateful for many things. I am thankful to have a temple close by, internet access, libraries (they are not so available here), Peruvian food (it is the best), the scriptures, family traditions, my missionary companions, the lessons I am learning every day about life, my family, peanut butter m&ms, people who write me letters or emails, inside jokes, naptime (after the mission I will be able to sleep…?), etc. I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who knows and loves me and how He always looks after me, for Jesus Christ and for His restored Church, the Book of Mormon and the Holy Bible, and for living prophets and apostles. I am grateful for my parents who taught me correct principles and who are great examples for me and my siblings. I am grateful for my siblings who teach me so much by means of their examples, too.

In short, I love you! I invite you to thank Heavenly Father for your blessings every day this week and see a difference in how you feel and in your faith! God lives and He loves each of us personally and individually. He has a plan of happiness and salvation for each one of us. Happy Thanksgiving!

Love, Hna. Christensen

Drama and Excitement

Hello family and friends!

The saga continues…This week has been so stressful and exciting. We were so excited to get ALL the papers ready in order for Rosa and Amador to get married this week. We traveled with our 3 witnesses to the municipality to present the papers to have everything ready to go.

Please keep in mind that nothing is ever easy, especially if it is to be done legally. It’s not just a matter of driving down to the courthouse in your car and 30 minutes later you sign a paper and everything is good, or, going on to the computer and finding out the information by Internet. They don’t give you a phone number to call...everything has to be done in person. We arrived at the municipality and it is in another location. You have to be persistent even just to ask basic questions. (Everyone thought that the “gringa” was trying to get married...not after THIS experience, thank you very much!)

For the past month Rosa has been selling tamales (not sleeping at all) while taking care of her 6 kids while her husband is gone in order to raise money to pay for the documents. In short, the zone leaders in Iquitos are mailing the partida (birth certificate) right as I write this and a member of our ward is traveling 13 hours by bus to Cajatambo in order to bring back the partida. In all honesty, we haven’t been sleeping much all this past week. There is so much drama and more details that I will spare all of you for now and tell you later in person. Long story short (oh wait, too late!), we don’t know if they will be married this Saturday or December 18.

Xiomara, 8, was baptized on Saturday. Her brother, our mission leader, baptized her. In the last minute, she began to cry because the water was freezing cold (they don’t have water heaters here for the baptismal font). We began to sing hymns and her brother finally coaxed her into the water. Rosa and her six kids came to the baptism and the kids left traumatized. We had good intentions inviting them because Cesar, 8, was sure he would drown if he was baptized. We thought if he saw that another child his same age was baptized, surely HE could be brave (and he wouldn’t drown). However, this makes for a tough PR job for these sister missionaries with these kids, but not impossible.

We are teaching Lenina (24) and Jonelle (28). They are both references from members in the ward and are golden. They are so excited to learn and want to pray and read the Book of Mormon. (Speaking of Book of Mormon, did I tell you last time that Amador is already in 4th Nephi? I wouldn’t be surprised if he has finished the Book of Mormon by the time he gets here on Thursday). They have such a special spirit with them. Lenina is going to be baptized the 27 of November and we are going to invite Jonelle to be baptized, too. We are seeing many miracles here this week. I can really see the power of conversion with them. They are so special. I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for permitting me to be a witness of these miracles and to be an instrument in His hands. It is so special.

Did I tell you that my companions are incredible? We really are a good team and we teach each other (we are practicing self-defense in the mornings) and help each other. There is a lot of unity, and that makes all the difference. Also, there is unity in the zone. They are helping us with our family of investigators. Wow! What a week! I am so tired, but we have energy to keep on going.

In short, be grateful for the Internet and everyone should have a cell phone, I have decided.

Lots of love,

Hermana Christensen

Testifying and Creative Teaching

Wow, family and friends! So many things have happened this week. I
feel so happy because we are “trabajando duro” (working hard) and
seeing results.

Thanks to Kimi Pieper, Kari Stolzenburg, Sis. Baysa, Crystal Baysa,
and Bishop Jamison for sending letters via DearElder.com (it’s fast,
it’s easy, it’s cheap, and I don’t receive a single cent for
shamelessly endorsing the website). It makes me happy to keep in
touch with all of you and to know what is going on in your lives. I
love you and pray for you.

Sunday was Fast and Testimony meeting and our convert of one
week, Elen, fasted, paid her fast offering and tithing, and
bore her testimony in sacrament meeting. Wow! She explained
how this was her first time fasting and how she was tempted
by the food at a baby shower on Saturday night, but she didn’t
eat anything (but stored it away for later). She just radiates
in her countenance and shows quite the contrast from when we
first met her. She is an example to all in the ward.

We sat with Rosa and her children at church and I just laughed at
their antics. Cesar, 8, saved the plastic sacrament cups and stuck
them on his eyes, as if they were goggles or something. We were
teaching them the parts of the fast (fast, give offering, and
testify), ayunar, orar, dar, y testificar. We asked them to repeat the
parts of the fast and Ruth (6) said, “Ayunar, orar, dar, y TRAFFICAR!)
(as in drug trafficking). We burst out laughing at her malapropism.
No, trafficking is NOT part of the typical fast!

For a time (we don’t know how long) we have the blessing of having
a new companion with us, Hermana Ticona, also from Arequipa. She
is waiting to have her visa to go to Guadalajara, Mexico. Meanwhile,
other sister missionaries are sick and so we have to lend Hna. Avalos
to the sickies for a week. I’m sad because she is so good at following
the Spirit (and knows the houses) and understanding people, we are
super united and have a ton of fun together working hard and helping
people. Also, this month is her birthday month, so I am following the
tradition of her family, where they give a small gift every day.
Sometimes I’ll just make her bed and leave a note. I bought her a
package of 25 envelopes and told her that should last her most of the
month (one for every day), but as a joke. We are going to cry when
we part. She is such a good friend.

This week we are pumped after capacitations (trainings), and we
are having a meeting for the Ward Council this Thursday to explain
how we want to help each organization and how each organization
can help with missionary work. Also, a brief training on how Preach
My Gospel can be of utility for ward leaders. I’m not going to
lie... I like to give trainings and teach. After the trainings on
Friday, we performed our comedy sketch on missionary work in one
of the ward talent shows in our district and the people loved it.
It should be on YouTube by now, under “JardinesSUD”. Check it out!

Xiomara, the sister of our ward missionary leader, Anthony, will be
baptized this Saturday. Also, we are working with their parents so
they can be married and baptized soon. We talked with the bishop
and "si o si” (yes or yes) they have to be married and baptized
during this window of 5 days that he has off from work (he works in
provincia, far away for 24 days and stays home for 5). So, it will
be interesting and a much waited for occasion. Rosa, his future
wife, is anxious to be baptized with her children and her husband.
The gospel is so true and has changed Rosa and all of her family.
The kids were in charge of the games for the Family Home Evening
we did with them and the neighborhood this Sunday. We are also
teaching their neighbors,Diana and Roman, who attended church and
are very receptive. The church is so true.

I am just super happy and couldn’t ask for a better companionship.
We are creative with our teaching (or else people don’t pay
attention... you can’t learn if you are bored). We are helping less
active families by doing creative FHEs, by focusing on helping the
members attend the temple, and recently, a stake initiative to help
everyone read the Book of Mormon. We are trying to help them
become better organized and to visit the families so they have the
goal of reading the Book of Mormon together. The promise is that
all who read diligently and with an open heart, with prayer, will
feel more of the Spirit in their lives, will have a stronger
knowledge and conviction that Jesus is the Christ and Saviour of
the world, and I forgot the other promise, (but the promises are
real!).

Honestly, I just feel so grateful to participate in this work, because
I feel the Spirit daily and see many miracles every day in my own life
and in the life of those we teach. I think we all need to look for the
tiny miracles that happen in our lives every day. I know that my
Heavenly Father is real and that He loves me, that He listens and
answers my prayers. His Spirit guides us in this work with the small
and big details. I am learning to pray and then work for blessings.
The Gospel is real and changes lives.

Have a great week!

Love,

Hna. Christensen

Blessings for Gospel Learners & Teachers

Hola, familia y amigos!

So much happens in just a short time here in the mission. We had interviews with President Blunck this week. He is so humble and is so full of the Spirit that you can’t help but want to be a better person, the most obedient and loving person you can be, after being in his presence. Wow! He is incredible (and so is his wife).

Elen was baptized this Saturday: the first baptism in the ward for over 8 months. The first time we arrived in the ward, we received the grim news that this was an area where “everyone has heard the gospel here” and that “no pasa nada” (nothing happens here). Well, that is not true! She is so humble and so grateful to receive the restored gospel and the ordinance of baptism. She was hesitant, and wanted to be sure that this was the correct decision, as she had been baptized Catholic (as a baby) and Seventh Day Adventist before (as an adult). So, she did everything we invited her to do...to listen, to pray, to attend church, to read the Book of Mormon and the pamphlets, and she received her witness from the Spirit. She is a true convert and firmly dedicated in her decision now. She will be a leader in the church. Teaching her and learning about some of the heartbreaking experiences she has had has made me even more grateful for the restored gospel in my life and the guide that it is to help me make correct decisions.

Amador is away for a few weeks working, but November 20 is the tentative date for his wedding and baptism. There is opposition in all things, and we found out yesterday that he needs to have gall bladder surgery (with money that they don’t have). We are praying and working hard to help them with their faith. We know that if we are obedient and if they are obedient, God will help them through these trials. I don’t know how Rosa does it with her 6 kids, but the ward missionaries are helping her, sitting with her at church. There are a lot of valiant and wonderful single women with kids in our ward that are helping her and fellowshipping this family. This ward is becoming more and more service-oriented and is coming alive.

We found another family that is golden. Fausto and Lucila are so humble and good (and married!). We are just recently teaching them, so we will keep you posted. My testimony is growing every time more and more that when we are as obedient and hardworking as we can be, God directs us to the families that are prepared to receive His restored gospel. My faith is growing more and more every day.

I was sad to get a letter that says I end in March, but I talked with President and will stay until mid-April. I am not “trunky”, so no worries there, but it is never too soon to start planning what I will do when I get back.

Lots of love,

Hermana Christensen

P.S. I hope Grandpa feels better. I'm sorry I missed your birthday, Kezia, but I haven't forgotten you!

Update on Investigators

Hola, family and friends!

Our investigator, Rosa, didn’t sleep at all Friday night because she was busy making tamales. She has to do everything...grind the corn by hand, cook the chicken and eggs, make the masa, stuff the wrappers, and steam them over a wood campfire. She sold them for 1 sol and sold all of them. She is raising money in order to get her documents and get married and baptized, and the ward is helping to buy the tamales and to sell them. I was reminded of the support of my ward and my friends Raj and Nitesh (and others) who all helped me with my Indian food mission fundraiser. Thank you!

The sad-good news is that her husband, Amador, is going to work in provincia for 20 days. So, their marriage and baptismal date is postponed until November 20. My companion and I are sad, obviously, because we don’t know if we will see them again. (The transfers are November 3.) Fortunately, they are real converts, and they have the support of the ward and the leaders of the ward, so we know that if we leave them, they will be in good hands and can continue to progress. We gave Amador a copy of the Book of Mormon, True to the Faith, and a study journal with the assignment to read every day. We know that he will read, too. We absolutely love this family, and their kids participated in the Primary program. Poor little Aldair (4 years old) broke his collar bone and so he walks around stiffly with his arm at his side. Every time that we teach the kids, we have to be creative. We made different faces to express the process of repentance including surprise (recognition), anguish (feel bad), resolve (to never do it again).

This Sunday I was the pianist for the ward Primary Program. It was your standard Primary Program with your group of tweens who just stand there embarrassed and don’t even mouth the words (even though they have all the lyrics memorized by heart), the 4year olds that sing their hearts out, the kids that can’t carry a tune but belt it just the same, the kids that in one breath ramble their part so fast that no one can understand them, etc. In other words, it was beautiful. Those Primary leaders worked so hard to help those kids. They even had a party with cake afterwards for the kids and gave them journals that they painstakingly decorated with the theme of the Primary program.

We are teaching Sofia and Walter, who have lived together 26 years and have raised their children in the church. We taught them and they have a tentative marriage date for November 19. Sofia affectionately calls Walter her “concubino” (concubine) instead of her “partner” or “husband”. It makes me laugh.

I am so happy because we are learning so much every day and we love these people. I am sad when my investigators make choices that limit their progression. I am sad when we have to leave these people whom we love.

Lots of love,

Hermana Christensen

A Very Spiritual Week (& Anniversary of One Year in Peru!) (written 18 Oct 2010)

Hola, familia y amigos!

This week was so special. Hna. Avalos and I were sad to lose Hna. Yost to emergency transfers (normal transfers are 3 of November). We were used to being a trio and now we are a duo, but we have adjusted. We have heard a rumor that there are 9 (!) new sisters coming in and will need lots of trainers. Hna. Avalos and I are hoping to stay together and receive a new missionary to train together.

Wow. I have felt the Spirit so much this week. I am learning how a lot depends upon the spiritual preparation of the missionary, but also upon the spiritual preparation and intentions of the investigator. For example, we taught Elen about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith, and were explaining about how she can pray and receive her answer from God that it is true. We watched the Restoration DVD and felt the Spirit the entire time. She said, “I don’t feel like I need to pray about it, because I feel like I already received my witness.” The Spirit was so strong. She is so humble and God answered her prayer. She attended church for the second time on Sunday and was welcomed with open arms by the ward members. (The ward is finally warming up and waking up to the privilege and responsibility of missionary work.) She is so good. She is preparing to be baptized in a few weeks.

We are teaching Ana and Felix. The first time we taught them, we felt the Spirit as we testified of the Restoration of the Gospel. The second time we taught them, we didn’t feel anything. It seemed to us that they had changed. They were afraid to pray about what we taught them, because they didn’t want to give up their family gatherings and partying if they got their answer. Yet, Felix continued asking questions about heaven and hell and what is salvation. Hna. Avalos and I were sad after teaching them, because we didn’t feel the Spirit there at all. It seemed to me that he was only searching for an intellectual understanding of the gospel and wasn’t willing to change his behavior in order to live the gospel. He will never get a spiritual confirmation if he is not willing to change. I realized, too, after listening to the General Conference talks, that everything is designed to help motivate us to come to Christ and to change our desires and thoughts and then we will want to change our behavior.

The other day we were studying and we heard a knock at our door. Two older men (the age of Grandpa) from another faith were tracting and knocked at our door. Hna. Avalos and I looked at each other and froze. What do we do? Let’s hide! I told Hna. Avalos, “This is good to have this experience, because we won’t feel bad when other people do the same to us because we will understand how they feel. Plus, I feel grateful that they are trying to share with us their perspective on things. We can learn a lot from their example.” It’s true. We often have our own experiences in order to comprehend other people and their experiences better.

Rosa and Amador are doing okay. He finds out today if he has work in provincia, which means that he has to be gone 2 weeks working and back home for 1 week. We are hoping that other people from the ward will help him find work locally so his marriage and baptism aren’t delayed. We found out that there is a community wedding (matrimonio masivo) on October 30 which is joyous news! The average wedding normally costs 250-300 soles, but the community wedding is only 70 soles. We met with Rosa and Amador and with the Bishop and Relief Society president, who have an interest in helping this family. The surprise (which is now posted on the Internet for all to know) is that the ward will throw a reception for them.

Rosa and Amador have six kids, from age 11 to 8 months. They are Romina (11), Alison (10), Cesar (8), Ruth (6), Aldair (4) and Estrella (8 months). We had quite the time keeping them busy and quiet during General Conference last week, bringing coloring pages, Conference BINGO (the inspiriation of Hna. Yost) and snacks. I just love these kids and am amazed at how my parents managed to raise 8 kids! Incredible! They are going to participate in the Ward Primary program this Sunday. The ward primary president enlisted my help to play the piano for the program as well.

So much happens in one single day of the mission. Some days feel like weeks, with the variety of emotions and circumstances. Ay yay yay. It’s hard to believe that this week I officially have one year of being in Peru.

I have received and continue to receive so many blessings from my Heavenly Father. I am grateful that He continues to protect me and give me energy and His Spirit to continue doing His work. The mission is such a blessing!

Love,
Hna. Christensen

Life Is Good! (written 4 Oct 2010 & posted out of order. Oops!)

Hola familia y amigos!

We will watch General Conference next week, because this Sunday was election day, and it is a little dangerous to leave, so we were placed under House Arrest! In other words, the mission asked us to stay in our apartments. We took advantage of the time we had to update the Area Book, write letters, personal study, take a nap, etc. The time was appreciated but not enough for all that we wanted and needed to do! I remember a General Authority who basically said, “Don’t wait around for the magical time when you will have time to do everything that you wanted to do. It will never come.”

This week my companion Hna. Avalos and I have been battling a cold that leaves us drained, but we just pray for energy and carry around Halls cough drops and a whole roll of toilet paper. (I know it is a little melodramatic.) Faith without works is dead, however, so we also carry around lots of chocolate. (Sublime is the Peruvian version of Mr.Goodbar and the lifesaver source of energy here for me on the mission.)
This past week we welcomed our new little companion into the mission field, Hna. Yost. I honestly have never met someone as good as she is. She is so focused and organized and so cute. The other day she hugged us and told Hna. Avalos and me, “I am so sorry you are sick. What do you need? Do you need chocolate? I will take care of you and be your mom.” What a sweetheart. Hna. Avalos is so considerate, as well. She knows how to pay attention to people and give what they need. She focuses on the details. I am really blessed with my companions. They are wise, too, and know how to follow the Spirit. They are excellent missionaries. I found stickers of 3 little pigs, 2 white ones and a darker one all together and we joke around how they represent us!

The family of Amador and Rosa are progressing. They are praying and reading their scriptures and attending church. Every time we visit them, we see them working, whether washing loads of laundry by hand, hauling rock out of the mountain (helping their neighbors clear their land in order to build their houses), etc. These families are modern-day pioneers, in every sense of the word. We did a Family Home Evening in their home and committed the kids to help their parents around the house. Tonight we are going to verify who completed their objective.

There are a flight of stairs (maybe 1,000 stairs) that we climb every day to reach to the top and often we lend service. We haul water or groceries for people as we are climbing up the stairs. This past time I had a tender mercy, or mini miracle, for which I was grateful. I was helping haul this box of artificially-flavored fruit beverages when the thought occurred, “These are made out of glass. What happens if one of these broke?” Five seconds later, one of the bottles slides out of the box and breaks, soaking my shoe with its contents. But, the tender mercy is that I was not cut. The bottle broke right next to my foot but not on my foot, for which I was extremely grateful. I paid for the damaged merchandise and a neighbor noted the irony of the situation with the following comment, “You just paid in order to haul the stuff! Usually THEY pay YOU to haul the stuff.” Gracias for the observation. I thought it was funny, too.

Life is good!

Hermana Christensen

Emotional Highs & Lows (Mostly Highs!)

Hola family and friends,

I feel like three weeks have passed in two days. Oh my, what a range of emotions.

Right now I feel sad. My companion and good friend, Hna. Yost, is going to the jungle (Pucallpa) today because of emergency transfers (one of the sisters got hurt and is in the hospital so she is replacing her). She has been one of my best friends here in the mission and is one of the coolest people I know (Is she my “Sister Cox”? Can I invite her to Debbie’s wedding next year? ....Inside joke for the Christensen sisters, esp. Bequis and Lisa). I will remember singing gospel soul music while washing clothes by hand with her and other fond memories. Hna. Avalos and I are sad, but are happy that we can still be together for at least 2 more weeks (who knows, perhaps I will lose another good friend (Hna. Avalos) in the next transfer. I don’t like this part of the mission. Making friends and having to leave them........at least there is Facebook after the mission).

I am also happy and grateful because we have seen major miracles with the family of Rosa and Amador. This family is so special. They have had some struggles, but by major faith and miracles, the whole family attended General Conference yesterday (it was broadcast a week later because the 2nd and 3rd were elections in Peru). After the Conference, we went to their house and talked with them about what they learned and how they felt. We could see a major change in their countenances. They were more relaxed and happy. Amador loved Dallin Oaks’ talk on the two channels to God—the personal line and the priesthood line. He just soaked up the conference and kept on citing different passages that he loved. His wife, Rosa, told us that she had attended various churches before and felt differently in our church. She loved the way that the apostles and church leaders taught so simply and told us that she had a desire to go back and learn more.

We invited them as a family to prepare to follow the example of Jesus Christ in their life and to be baptized as a family on the 23 of October and they said that is the desire of their hearts. Rosa and Amador have their documents and want to get married tomorrow, but the money is an issue. But, with faith we look at the possibilities, and God prepares a way. I cried when we taught them (I get the sentimental genes and tear ducts from Mom and Grandpa), because I could see that the Lord has prepared this family to receive and accept the Restored Gospel. We told them, “The Lord has so many blessings for you. This is just the beginning.” We are going to gift them a Liahona of the past Conference talks. They were so excited to find out that they can read the words of living prophets every month. I want to be there when they get sealed in the temple in a year.

On Tuesday it was our zone leader’s birthday and so we surprised him with a birthday cake. We asked to be excused, in order to use the bathroom, and then we ran out the chapel and went to the bakery and picked up the cake we had ordered (Peruvian cake is so much better than any North American cake. It had strawberries, whipped cream, etc. So good!). Our zone leader gave us a look for “taking a long time in the bathroom” but we just tried not to laugh the whole time. After the meeting we sang “Happy Birthday” and the next day gave him a copy of the movie and photos I took of the birthday celebration. We joke around how the sisters are really the zone leaders, because we are in charge of service projects and planning P-days. Fun times.

That’s all, folks!

Love, Hna. Christensen

More Spiritual Experiences, Miracles, & Changes

Thank you to Laura Lewis, Bishop Jamison, and the Baysas for their letters via DearElder.com. I receive the letters the same week that you send them. (Do you like my shameless, unpaid advertisement for the website? Maybe I could create my own DearSister.com company after the mission!)

This week was so special and I felt a special spirit throughout.

I accompanied my companion, Hna. Nina, on her last day. We went to the mission home and she had her final interview. We ate oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and talked about her goals for after the mission, along with the other missionaries that were finishing. (She plans to study psychology at the university.) We visited the stores in the area out of curiosity and found a chocolate shop that sold shoes made out of chocolate for 75 soles. (A pair of real shoes costs 20 soles here.) Pay my rent or buy a pair of chocolate shoes?…….hmm……. I felt so spiritually rejuvenated as I heard the stories and testimonies of the missionaries that were finishing and it gave me a new perspective for my own mission. What would I share if I was finishing? It was a powerful experience.

Hna. Avalos and I received our new companion, Hna. Yost from California, the same day that we said goodbye to Hna. Nina. I feel like I live with 2 angels, because they are so wise and sensitive to other people and to the Spirit. I have so much to learn from them, and we have had many spiritual experiences together. Hna. Yost is my first companion from the USA and we have a lot in common. She is a Public Health major at BYU and wants to go on to become a nurse. (I worked with freshmen who were trying to enter the nursing program at BYU through my Freshman Academy job, so I understand about the process and the stress of it.) We found out that we have taken some of the same classes (but not at the same time), which is a lot of fun. She is way cool, just like Hna. Avalos. We all get along great, and I love training, as it gets me more energy and focus. I remember what it is like to start the mission. (On the 30th of September is my anniversary of entering the Provo MTC. Crazy how time flies on the mission.)

The other sisters in our zone didn’t have a place to stay so they camped out with us for a day. They helped us with our sketch for the ward talent show. I adapted the show that Hna. Reyes and I wrote in Iquitos and expanded it. Supposedly, it is on YouTube. Even if you cannot hear it, you can understand what is happening. You can look under “Jardines SUD” and “Show de talentos.” I was impressed with how well it turned out: “A day in the life of missionaries.” My companions are so fun.

I love Hna. Yost because on her 3rd day here she invited the family of Rosa and Amador to be baptized and they accepted. We are seeing so many miracles with this family, and the ward is excited to throw them a party at their wedding. Rosa had not shown much interest, and so we helped her wash her clothes on Friday. It was so much fun because we just talked about our families and sang songs, especially Black spirituals. (Hna. Yost loves the movie “Oh Brother Where Art Thou?" and shares my love of gospel music. Hna. Avalos learned the lyrics to “As I went down to the river to pray, studying about that good ol’ way…” ) Now that we have her trust, we are helping her develop her faith in Jesus Christ, little by little.

We are seeing miracles in this area and I feel blessed to have companions that want to work hard and serve and love. This is a great place and a great transfer.

Love, Hna. Christensen

The Last Almost-Two Weeks

Here are the highlights from these past 2 weeks:

--We are climbing a bazillion flights of stairs multiple times a day in order to teach our families in the mountains (the people here call them “hills” but for someone from Kansas, they are mountains). It makes the stairs of the RB (at BYU campus) a cakewalk. I thought it would get easier every time, but so far we are not used to it. But, the families are the best. We visited them and have done 2 service projects there, hauling buckets of water, planting trees, building houses, and clearing lots. It is a new establishment and we are trying to get the ward involved with serving and fellowshipping these families. I jokingly asked, “Does this service count for my Eagle project?” My district leader assured that it definitely counted.

--Amador and his wife Rosa Angelica and their 6 kids are the pioneers of this new establishment. We are teaching them and they attended church on Sunday and said they wanted to come back. We went to church during the week and found that the kids have the lead roles in the sketch for the ward talent show. They are more active than the members! There are other families that have attended church, as well.

--Our ward recently called ward missionaries who are the best! They are older women of the Relief Society, and they have more energy than the missionaries to climb the stairs! Their testimonies are strong and they face so many hardships in their own homes, but are so willing to accompany us and share their testimonies.

--We started teaching a woman who let us in, thinking we were Evangelicals. She then told us, “I don’t accept any Mormons or other people of other faiths.” My companion and I tried not to laugh, but we carried on and taught the first lesson. She accepted everything and felt the Spirit. We returned for a visit with our ward missionary who bore a simple and sincere testimony. She was agreeable and wanted to attend church. However, the last time that we arrived, her countenance had changed. She figured out that we were “The Mormons” (probably because we told her in the second visit) and became very disagreeable. I felt sad—more than anything because she represents millions of people who reject the Lord’s message without even listening or trying to understand, or accept what other people say about us without trying to find out for themselves. She rejected the Spirit that she felt and the truth that she received. All we do as missionaries is teach and testify, and invite people to read the Book of Mormon and to pray to God to find out if what we teach comes from Him and if it is true. We direct people to God and He answers the sincere prayer.

--Hna. Nina ends her mission this week, so we are creating a scrapbook of advice for her. We are a unified zone and it makes missionary work a lot of fun.

--On Saturday the zone surprised me by having a birthday party in my honor, complete with a piñata and flour dumped on my head. Later on in the week, my comp, Hna. Avalos, made a flan for E.Ruiz and we sang Happy Birthday (and then the elders cracked eggs on his head…poor guy, but that is the tradition! Luckily I escaped the eggs, although some say that egg makes hair shinier).

--Every day my testimony is growing more and more as I pray, study the scriptures, and serve others. The gospel is the best!

Make it a great week!

Hna. Christensen

Iquitos Ties & Lima Labors

Hola familia y amigos!

I went to the temple for the first time in 10 months! While I was there, I saw a woman that was in my ward in Iquitos. (These people save up their whole lives to spend 6 days in boat and 3 days driving to arrive at the temple.) What a happy surprise! I was so happy to go to the temple and although tired, I felt so content to be there. After the temple, we went to McDonalds as a zone. (Fortunately, they ran out of chicken, so we went to a different restaurant to buy chicken and french fries.)

I am writing a ton of letters to Iquitos and sending little packages to my companions, because everything is so much more expensive in Iquitos. My former comp. Hna Reyes is still there in Iquitos. Hna. Nina is making preparations to end her misión in a few weeks and we are all sad and trunky (yes, this word exists in Spanish misión lingo) for her. Hna. Avalos is new but so capable and learns so quickly. Her mom is coming up from Arequipa this week to attend the temple. We all have our moments, but we get along great.

We had two wards, Jardines and Carabayllo, and were working more in Carabayllo when we found out that now we only have Jardines. We were sad because we have people progressing toward baptism in Carabayllo and we feel like we don’t have anyone in Jardines. It means that we can focus on Jardines more and focus on the people that can progress here. It means we will be really buff, too, because it is pure hills-mountains here.

We have to work hard here to gain the confidence of the ward. They felt a little neglected because we were spending more time in Carabayllo; so we have to redouble our efforts here. Now I understand how parents feel. How do you spend more time and attention on the child who needs more time without having the other child feel left out or jealous? Hmm….

Olga, 21, has a testimony of the Church and of the Book of Mormon and is going to be baptized this Saturday. We had been teaching her and read 3 Nephi 11 together and felt the Spirit really strongly as we testified of Jesus Christ. Wow. We were freezing cold as we taught her outside, but it is totally worth it. I felt a connection to her, not just because she has the same name as my grandma and great-grandma but also because we have about the same age. We love her and were sad, because she is in Barrio Carabayllo, and we will only be in Jardines.

The Relief Society joined us in a fast for missionary work, and we are following up with them and teaching them how they can share the góspel with their friends and families. We are having fun, too, as they are accompanying us. We have much to improve and have goals to do so.

Lots of love,

Hermana Christensen

A Special Birthday and Week!

Wow! What a special week!

Thank you everyone for your birthday wishes (especially Jan Wilkes and Sis. Harbaugh)!

Rosa and Gilvert were baptized this Friday and confirmed Sunday. She was taught a few years ago by missionaries and decided she was not ready to be baptized (I am sure the missionaries that taught her were sad and thought that was the end, but they don’t know the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey said). There was such a strong Spirit there as she bore a powerful testimony. She said that she felt a huge relief and felt that she was a new person. It was so special. All of her family is baptized now, and they are preparing to enter the temple the next year. Joseph Smith said that in the ordinances the power of God is made manifest. People can spend all day disputing doctrine, but it is difficult to dispute the Spirit that one feels, whether in the temple or at the baptism.

I had the best birthday yesterday. Now that I am 24, I am officially old (or I prefer the word “mature” or “experienced”). It has been a time of self-reflection. Our mission president told us how after he served his mission, he spent a long time on his knees having an interview with God, to know that his missionary service was accepted. He recommended that we don’t wait until the end of the mission to do this, but to do it now and frequently. My companion said that reflection is a huge part of repentance.

It was so special. After the sacrament meeting, many of the members came up and gave me birthday hugs and handshakes. The Relief Society planned a Family Home Evening and many sisters came, with cake, presents, and the Happy Birthday Song. I had told them that all I want for my birthday is references and for them to visit the families that are less-active, because they are passing many difficulties as well. They all promised to provide us with references. I cried because I could feel the love from this ward and from my companions.

We went to the park and contacted a variety of families, whom we are going to teach this week. We had a Family Home Evening with this couple that wants to be baptized, but their papers for matrimony are in a little village in the jungla (4 days by burro). But, with faith and obedience all things are possible. I am really learning that the promise is true, “Whatsoever thing you ask in my name shall be granted you, if it is for your well-being” (3 Nephi, translated from Spanish to English).

I will cry in 3 weeks because Hna. Nina finishes her mission. We are helping to prepare her for the next etapa of her life. I am teaching her cha cha and ballroom during our exercise time, and I am teaching her what I learned in my marriage prep class (it makes me laugh, because I have the theory but not the practical experience!).

We had a Family Home Evening as a zone, complete with brownies and ice cream! We didn’t get the message that it was Sunday dress, so much to my companions’ dismay, we were the only ones still in our P day clothes. Regardless, it was a powerful time as we all shared our conversion stories and our testimonies. We are becoming a unified zone.

Have an uplifting week!


Love, Hermana Christensen

Gratitude (and Birthday Wishes!)

Hola family and friends,

I am so happy and grateful for so many reasons. I am grateful to have water access all day long, to have a shower curtain. I'm grateful for my blanket, for my companions, for chocolate, for knee his that don’t have runs in them, for sunscreen, for access to a piano, for friends, for a sense of humor, for music in the street---don’t worry, the Peruvians here only blast MOTAB in the street and nothing of merengue, salsa, bachata, etc so it is all good.

We are getting to know both wards and are working with the members because nothing happens without their help. We are visiting them and planning Family Home Evenings. Rosa and Gilvert are going to be baptized this Friday, completing their family. They are preparing to be sealed in the temple in a year after their baptism. There are so many blessings to serve a mission and I feel so blessed and content.

Yesterday people in the ward were asking what I wanted for my birthday and I told them the honest truth. I just want references. I want people to invite their friends to church and to share their testimonies. I want people to do their visiting and home teaching. I want people to go to the temple. I want people to pray and to be nice to others. That and a salchipapa—one of the healthier foods in Peru: French fries with fake meat, hot sauce, mustard, ketchup. It’s really good. Well, we received 43 references.

We have two wards that we are serving and so Sunday was interesting. We woke up early, because we had investigators to accompany to church and church starts at 7:30 am. The leaders have their meetings beginning at 6:30 am on Sunday and seminary here STARTS at 5 am---that’s humbling for a proud early-morning seminary graduate. We ran up the hills to wake up our investigators, who couldn’t come because their baby was sick. We ran down the hill and made it in time for sacrament meeting. In the Jardines ward I noticed that no one played the piano, so I accompanied the ward. The Peruvians have their own way of singing the hymns and so I had to choose between playing how the song is written and how they sing it. I decided to accompany them how they sing it. My companions have great voices and so we are planning a musical fireside or musical number.

There’s a woman, Maria, who accompanies us on our visits. She is older and she climbs up the hills faster than we do. We always have to run to keep up with her. I give her hard candies to thank her for accompanying us. At the end of one visit, I gave her one and told her jokingly, "This is to corrode your teeth." She accepted it, popped it in her mouth, and told us that she had to leave because she had an appointment with the dentist. I thought she was joking, but she was serious. She accompanied us three more times afterwards and said the same thing. We thought, either she has really bad teeth, a crush on the dentist, or she needs to come up with a better excuse for not accompanying us. The members here are great and really supportive.


Saludos,

Hna. Christensen

Back and Happy in Lima

Wow! Talk about changes. I am back in Lima and I am happy to be here. It is cold here and I was surprised that the people are approachable and friendly in this section of Lima. My friend told me it is because the people are from the provinces and are more humble and kind than people in other parts of Lima.

I am part of a trio with Hna. Nina and Hna. Avalos, both from Arequipa. Arequipa has a reputation of being like Texas: they want to be their own country. When we present ourselves, we each say, “And I am also from Arequipa.” But, the people don’t believe me when I say that ( I wonder why). My companions are so kind and humble and I feel the Spirit with them as we teach and testify. They have so much love and attributes of Christ. Hna. Avalos speaks Spanish with a Utahn accent and teaches elementary school back in Arequipa. I feel like a black sheep (more accurate to say a tall, white, black sheep) at times because they have so much in common and are more serious, but we are unified despite our differences.

I felt a huge surge of relief to arrive in this ward in Lima. The members are so friendly and supportive, accompanying us and giving us references. They actually have a ward structure, regular activities, a bishopric and presidencies that are fully-functioning and a piano! Hna. Reyes is staying there in Iquitos, content to be there, and I am happy to pass the torch on to her. The children's choir sang, "If the Savior stood beside me" and "I feel my Savior's Love" in Spanish and I thought of the BYU 71st ward choir of last year I was in, and when we sang that song at Angie Rideout's baptism years ago. Getting a little nostalgic...

Tender mercy. I was able to say goodbye to my good friends Hna. Pretell (from Peru) and Hna. Perez (Guatemala) before they returned home to their casas. I love them and know we are going to be FFL (Facebook Friends for Life) and BFF (Best Friends Forever). I know it was a blessing from Heavenly Father, because I needed to see them and they me before they left.

God is good. He has an individual plan of salvation for everyone. I know it and am grateful for all the wonderful people in my life who have reached out to me and touched my life. Thank you for coming into and blessing my life!

Saludos,

Hna. Christensen

A Last, Very Joyous Week in the Jungle

Dear family and friends,

First off, what happened to the summer? Reading the updates from family I am surprised that people are starting school again. Weren’t you just in school a few days ago?

Wow! Yesterday was the best sacrament meeting ever. Why? It was my last Sunday in Barrio Secoya, after serving there for 6 months and I have never seen the room so full. I was so happy to see families that have not attended church for months or years or that have recently been baptized. I was so happy, I felt like, “This is what heaven is like.” And I understand the scripture when Christ says that how much is his joy with the sinner that repents and comes unto Him.

I loved teaching Primary yesterday. (Wow, those kids are active!) I taught about the sacredness of our bodies (context of plan of salvation and the Word of Wisdom). We had a discussion about the resurrection. What do you think? Does God have a body or is He just a spirit? Will we live again after we die? After the kids gave their opinions, we turned to the scriptures for the answers. We then did activities to learn about how to take care of our bodies, including 3 minutes of exercise (jumping jacks and stretches). The next lesson will have to be on reverence, to repair the damage that this “gringa” missionary has done to this ward! J I understand now why my elementary school teachers often turned off the lights and had us put our heads down for 5 minutes, to calm us down.

We are teaching cute golden families with little kids. I love it, because they remind me of my nieces and nephews (Lili, Ian, Emerson and Everett). These little kids have so much love and huge smiles. We were so happy to see that this family already prays together every day. The mom (Carol is her name…a great name!) read her pamphlet on the Restoration and had questions the next day! This is a big deal, because many times the people don’t do their reading or pray. To find someone who reads (that knows how to read) and that asks questions is the best thing for a missionary. Clara, a woman of 44 years, astounded us because we asked her how her reading of the Book of Mormon went and she showed us. She read 12 chapters in 4 days! She showed us the parts she had highlighted and explained that she was like Lehi, who tasted the fruit of the tree of life and wanted to share it with his family. She wants to share it with her sons, but respects their agency as well. Whoa! Her daughter is going to be baptized in Lima.

I am happy because the area is in good shape and it is in better shape than when we first arrived. I just received the news that I will be transferred to Lima again and will be in a three-some AND training (who will be training whom? I feel like I just got here). Everyone reacts and says, “Whew! A trio! Good luck!” I think that everything depends upon your attitude. It means shorter showers and more motivation to be exactly obedient. It means more experience and more testimony. It means more people to love. I think it will be great. I fly back to Lima tonight.

Lots of love,

Hermana Christensen

Another Great Week (or Two!) (written 2 Aug 2010)

I’m not good about being brief, but here are the highlights of the week:

A big thank you to Michelle Lizon and Bishop Jamison for their letters (I get them faster and it is cheaper via www.DearElder.com, and no, I am not an official spokesperson or sponsor). Just go to the website. I am in the Lima Peru North Mission.

1. Amazing training session of 4 days with the sisters visiting from Tarapoto (slumber party!), we performed musical numbers every day, and we learned how to teach people by the Spirit. The testimony meeting was incredible and we felt an amazing spirit. We celebrated Independence Day by eating at a restaurant “Yellow Rose of Texas.” Everything was big and I thought of the Gee family while I was there. We also performed our comedy show for the missionaries and they thought it was hilarious (think High School Musical but for missionaries, and yes, we are already planning on parts 2 and 3, post-mission).

2. We had a “noche of placas” (missionary night) for the RMs [returned missionaries] of Barrio Secoya. They brought their name tags and shared their experiences via panel discussion to the YM-YW of the ward. We were happy because one of the men (Miguel) who shared his testimony has been inactive for years, but has a strong testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. The Spirit that we felt in the meeting was so special and many people asked questions and looked at their photos afterward. We honored Hno. Canayo, because he and his wife have supported many missionaries from their ward $ for years. I wanted to do an evaluation and see what the effects were—how many people decided to serve a mission as a result. It’s the public health person inside of me.

3. We did an FHE with a variety of families yesterday doing charades with the 10 commandments. We divided into teams and said, “Pick a team name, the name of a prophet.” Milca, an RM, suggested that we pick names based off the women in the scriptures and so we had two teams, “Abish” and “Esther” (although my sister Bequis would prefer team “Vashti”).

4. We continue to meet with a variety of women that continue to put up with men that don’t treat them right. I am thankful for righteous men that honor their priesthood and that honor and respect women, understanding the important roles that women play in God’s plan. I constantly reaffirm to the Peruvian women, yes, God loves women!

Have a great Spirit-filled week!

Hna. Christensen

A Fruitful (and Cold!) Week

What a great week! This week we could really see the fruits of our labors. Sometimes we work and don’t see results, but this week was very meaningful.

We have the help of the members and we are doing a ton of Family Home Evenings. When the members accompany us we reward them (bribe?) with chocolate (most recently hard candies because they are more economical) and we let them experience the joy of missionary work. The work is great when the members accompany us and share their testimonies because it helps fortify their faith, too.

At church, Consuelo shared her testimony of tithing. “My kids were crying because we didn’t have money to buy food and I knelt and prayed for help. My husband got a job and we had to choose to pay our tithing or eat for the next week. We paid our tithing. I don’t know how it’s possible, but we survived for 2 weeks on 1 sol (1 dollar).” Wow! What faith!

I loved the lesson with Aldo and his family, because he has so many questions. Every 5 minutes he would interrupt with more questions. “What’s a prophet? Who’s Joseph Smith? How do you know if the Plan of Salvation is real?” He lost his faith when he lost his baby son, and we shared with him a verse in Doctrine and Covenants 137 about how his baby is with God and will inherit the Celestial Kingdom. He was content to know that his son is in a good place. Also, we shared with him how the Book of Mormon answers those questions that he has had for years. What happens after this life? What is the purpose of this life? Who is God? He was grateful for his Book of Mormon. I love the scriptures.

We are seeing changes in our ward, thanks to the new bishopric. They reminded the members that they need to stay the entire block of meetings, and not leave after sacrament meeting. We met with the bishopric and are now working with the strong families of our ward to reach out to the weaker families in the ward. We are seeing major changes and we are so grateful. Wow! What a turn around!

It’s cold here. Legitimately cold. I think I’ve lost 2 kilos because of all the shivering! As a result, I have instinctively started singing Christmas carols (Madrigals style “Deck the Halls” and “Betelehemu” and THS Band Style “The Hannukah Song” and the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas medley. Do those count as hymns?). Christmas in July is the best.

Love,
Hermana Christensen

More Progress, Miracles, and Joy

Highlights of the Week

Zaida, our recent convert and mother of 5 accompanied us to a lesson and gave her simple and beautiful testimony.. “I am so happy. We don’t have anything, but we are happy.” We were happy because her son, Percy, was so rebellious and didn’t want to be baptized if it made his mom happy. However, several ward members intervened and adopted their family, inviting them to Family Home Evenings and visiting them. When we saw Percy yesterday we were so surprised to see the change. “What happened? Why are you so happy?” He has changed and is happy and loving. The power of love from the members. Wow. What a change.

Several families wondered, “Why was the church so full today in sacrament meeting?” I responded, “It’s because today is the championship game of the World Cup and everyone wants to be obedient so their favorite team wins.” Before every prayer yesterday I jokingly asked, “Which team should we pray for? Spain or Holland?” Apparently, the faith and prayers were stronger for Spain as they won (3-2).

The little kids of the neighborhood still continue to follow us around and call us “gringa” and so yesterday we decided to joke with them (like Karen tricked Lili). “I’m not white, I’m Chinese” (No soy gringa, soy china!). I then spoke to them in the 4 Chinese phrases I know. They believed me and now they call me “China, china!” instead of “gringa.”

We had interviews with Pres. Blunck last week and his family. They are from Oregon and are amazing. They are pretty laid-back and have a lot of trust and love for us. Pres. Blunck said that they might keep Hna. Reyes and I together here in the jungle for 6 months (I already have 5 months here…who knows what will happen).

We are teaching families in Aguaje, an area with houses built on stilts. We weren’t able to teach them for months, because the area was covered in water, and the only way to cross is in canoe. Now, everything is dry and we met an amazing family, Sadit and Romulo, and have had several Family Home Evenings with them with the member families that live close by. We are really seeing miracles with the families of Aguaje.

We are seeing major hermanamiento (fellowshipping) with the famliies in this ward. It makes all the difference. We combine Family Home Evenings with them and have a lot of fun being creative and remembering every game I have played for the past 5 years in BYU FHEs. With the members, we help each family create their own mission plan in family (thank you for the idea, from my home ward, Sherwood Ward). What do they want to do daily, weekly, and monthly. We taught the difference between a wish and a goal. You have to answer que, porque and cuando. (What do you want to accomplish, why, and when?).

I have discovered that buying little water balloons is probably one of the best investments in the mission. We use them in our lessons, with our activities and games for FHE, for zone activities (we played water balloon volleyball last Pday and everyone at the beach stopped playing in the water to watch us. They had never seen anything like it before). Also, it’s amazing how buying little hard candies makes a big difference. We give them away to the mototaxistas and it really brightens up their day (they work from 6 am to 9 pm every day and sometimes barely make enough to cover their costs. The job market is stiff here).

Have a great week!

Hermana Christensen

An Amazing Week!

Personal Shoutouts:

Happy Birthday to my Grandpa (7 of July) this week. Happy, happy, 4 July, God bless America! Also, I was reading the Liahona and read an article by my Freshman Academy friend Liz Stitt titled “You already Know.” We were eating lunch on Sunday and I saw a picture of Hna. Lewis. (Last year I worked with her sister at BYU Education Week and she helped me a ton to know what to bring on the mission.). I knew it was her, because I saw the same bag in the photo that she recommended that I bring on the mission. The Huanci family sends “saludos y mucho cariño” and memories of eating tacacho. Also, they want you to know that they are still active in the church. What a special family. We are teaching her cousin next week.

Hermana Reyes and I stay here in the jungle for another transfer, and we stay in the Mission Lima Peru North. Tomorrow we have our interviews with Pres. Blunck (from Oregon). He is young (45) and sounds really on top of everything.

We found out that we have pension (breakfast) with the same family as our zone leaders. At first we were weirded out and asked, “Is that even allowed?” However, there are advantages. If we have questions, we know we can ask them the next morning. We say, jokingly, “Now there are 4 zone leaders!” Hna. Reyes and I joke about how we are the zone leaders for all of the sisters in the jungle of Iquitos. (We are the only hermanas here in all of Iquitos!)

Wow. I cannot describe how amazing this week has been. For our talent show on Friday, I wrote a musical to teach the ward members that we need their support. It was in the style of Moulin Rouge, where they adapt and combine the lyrics of well known-songs. I was grateful for the many years of Spanish classes where we learned a variety of songs. The musical is called “A day in the life of 2 missionaries.” As part of the sketch, we were knocking on doors without success. We started tapping on the door the beginning beat of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” and began singing about knocking doors. The best part was that when the people opened the door (creaking sound and all), they were zombies and began doing the Thriller dance, singing about how they were busy and didn’t want to listen to our message. It sounds weird, I know, but the people loved it. And, the ward members are more involved with helping us. The next activity will be a “noche de placas,” an activity for the ex- and pre-missionaries to share stories, advice, etc. The purpose is to animate the pre-missionaries and encourage them to serve, to get advice for the current missionaries, and to help the ex-missionaries to remember the Spirit of the work.

We are teaching so many families that have sincere interest in the restored gospel. They attended church, which was so edifying. (I specifically prayed that people would bear real testimony and not say weird things that scare away investigators. God answered my prayers.) Really, it makes a huge difference when the members are involved with missionary work. It’s the only way that there is success. I wanted to know how we can help our ward members have more faith, and really, part of it is when they accompany us on the visits and bear their testimony.

We are helping Carlos, 60, overcome his drinking and smoking habits. I thought of Karen, who helped her investigators overcome similar habits by setting her own goals to not eat chocolate. I made a goal to be diligent in my exercises every morning, and Hna. Reyes limited herself to 1 chocolate a day. Carlos is committed to not drink or smoke for 2 weeks. I even made up a contract, which we all signed, and a calendar where we all keep track of our progress. Maybe law school is in my future…?

Motocars…On Sunday we accompanied a family to church and had to run to bring another family. (The family wasn’t ready to go right away.) We were so close, but we needed to go in motorcar because the meeting was starting in 5 minutes. The first car we stopped was trying to overcharge us, so we said, “Thank you, but we’ll walk.” Then, we started sprinting, until we found another motorcar that was willing to offer us a reasonable price. I laughed because we were rushed, running late, and too cheap to pay 50 cents more than what is reasonable. The family wasn’t there, and we ended up arriving late (so late we missed the sacrament!). The worst part was that it was the Sunday when the Stake president attended our ward. He only saw us arrive late, without investigators. Ach! I don’t want to know what he was thinking. Lesson learned: arrive 1 hour beforehand to help the investigators get ready, not just 30 minutes earlier, and do divisions or ask the help of the members to bring investigators.

Life is good!

Hermana Christensen

Another Week of Great Blessings!

[Note from Carol Christensen, Susan's mom: Though Susan usually sends updates on Mondays, this week she sent it on a Wednesday instead!]


Wow! What a week! The best news is that I found out I am an aunt again. Welcome, Everett Mann Buhler! He is cute, just like his parents.

We finally found and changed houses and are much more comfortable. We were sharing a house with a monkey and a chicken coop in the back for 4 months and we are so much happier with our new house. (The chicken coop isn’t the real reason for the move. The family we shared the house with needed their space and they have 4 sons over the age of 18 which is not allowed.) The zone leaders assured us they would find a truck. To our surprise, at 7 am the day of the move they still hadn’t found one but were still confident that they could find one. We talked with our pensionista and in 5 minutes found a neighbor that had a truck they rented us. At 8:30 am, all the elders came and helped us load up our stuff. Everything happened so fast that I was surprised and grateful that Heavenly Father answered our prayer and helped us find the truck that we needed. Wow! And, I was grateful that all the elders came and helped us move.

Today the mission is officially divided into the Lima West and the Lima North mission. Hna. Reyes and I stay together in the same mission and in the same area. This is my 5th transfer here and I am happy to be here still. (It’s helpful to know the people, to know the area, and makes missionary work much less stressful.) We have our new mission president, from Ohio, and we will meet him at our interviews next week. We are sad for President and Sister Perez to leave because we love them so much, but we are going to welcome the new presidents. We are flexible and recognizing that a lot of things will change. It’s like entering a new mission for the first time. You just adjust to things.

Every June people here have their regional festival to celebrate the patron saint, San Juan. People make juanes, which is rice, chicken, and a hardboiled egg wrapped and steamed in a banana leaf. I asked about the origin of the dish, and they explained in the New Testament how the daughter of the king asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter, for her mom’s revenge. The story is gruesome, but the food is delicious. I was served and ate 4 juanes in 24 hours (one for dinner, breakfast, lunch and dinner). Needless to say, I am thankful the festival is just once a year (and the families gave us even more, which we gave away to a family that had nothing to eat).

We were so impressed and happy with our recent convert, Victoria. She is continuing to read the Book of Mormon and already knew that Alma is the longest book. We explained about how the book is like a cake that you divide into sections (books, chapters, verses) and smaller sections. And, you enjoy the cake and share it with others. You don’t put it in a box under your bed and forget about it. She is so smart and is on fire. She will be a great missionary in 11 years. J All of her family is attending church, too, and they want to be baptized, but they have to get married first. I love this family.

Hermana Reyes is so cute and creative. She rapidly makes these thank you cards for the families that we eat lunch with out of cute mini photos. She and I are patas (that means best friends). It is so fun to work with her because we both are helping each other to improve, to work hard, and to bless many people’s lives. She is truly a blessing to me. Heavenly Father knows who needs to be my companion and at what point of my mission I am ready for each companion. We are focusing on remembering the tender mercies that God gives us every day. (Thanks for the suggestion, Mom. It makes a big difference.)

Have a great week!

Hna. Christensen

Forgiving Others

Hello family and friends!

Every day is different on the mission and every day we meet some interesting people and have interesting experiences.
Yesterday at church we gave our talks. I found it ironically appropriate to talk on the need for forgiveness on Father’s Day (Peru doesn’t really celebrate it. They explained to me that few peopIe here have fathers or want to honor their fathers. So sad, and I am even more grateful for the example of my dad and other dads who love their wives and their families). I spoke on the importance of forgiving within the family, the church, and forgiving oneself. Briefly:

1. Every person is in their own process of developing and learning and makes mistakes as part of the process (like a baby learning to walk). Rather than criticizing or begrudging someone, we need to look for their strengths and help them when they are down.

2. In marriage, be the first one to apologize. At church, welcome and love people. Don’t let anyone keep you from renewing your baptismal covenants, even if they really did say offensive things. Usually we offend without realizing it. It is not usually our intention.

3. Forgiving a spouse does not mean tolerating the cycle of abuse. Someone that really loves you will change. Abuse is not tolerable. (I was sad that I had to emphasize that point, but we meet so many women that are in bad situations, with a partner that is no good. I reread Jacob 2 and am sad that this chapter has so much meaning for so many people here).

4. Pray for the ability to forgive, it is a spiritual gift. Pray that God will take away the anger and hurt and replace it with love. God heals the broken heart.

5. We all need to forgive because we all need to be forgiven. When we receive the mercy from Christ and His atonement, it is easier for us to forgive others for their mistakes.

As always, we invited several specific families to church, and Hna. Reyes and I especially wrote these talks for them. As often happens, the people that really need to hear the message didn’t attend. I realized the importance of Visiting and Home teaching, to deliver the message to people that miss the message at church. We are going to share the message with them in their homes.
I am grateful for the gospel, that teaches the importance of respecting and honoring fathers, mothers, and children. It is the path of happiness in this life.

Love,
Hermana Christensen

Growth in People and in the Ward

The Panaifo family was baptized on Saturday. During the part of testimonies, it was so sweet to hear the testimonies of little 8 year old Fred and his brother, Luigi, 14. Luigi said that he felt a desire to be better, a change in his desires. Fred thanked the missionaries because his family was more united. I love this family. They have so little, yet they are willing to share what they have. I love the ward for arriving early to help clean the chapel and prep everything for the baptism. Not all wards are the same! We are working with this family so they can go to the temple in Lima and be sealed (it is a week’s travel in boat). What a great family.

The Stake is helping our little ward progress. They mandated that we have ward correlation weekly (something that will help the work improve a ton here) and we are asking for trainings for all of the organizations. I love this ward. Sometimes they get frustrated because things don’t work right, but things don’t work right if we don’t do them correctly! But, I understand them because I am learning a ton, too, from my own mistakes! I’m thankful for repentance. My companion said, reflecting is repentance. So true.
Have a great week!

Hna. Christensen

Enjoying the Work, the People, and the Rain!

Highlights:

We met this woman, Patty, who is interested in receiving the discussions. We met her baby and asked what his name was. Much to our surprise, she responded with, “Jose Smith.” Hna. Reyes and I turn to each other with excitement in our eyes. With a name like Jose Smith, this has got to be a sign!

We are teaching Percy (25) and Carlos (20). Carlos recently didn’t want to be baptized, as his friends from university were telling lies about the church (that we worship Joseph Smith, we don’t believe in God---there are so many misconceptions and lies about “the Mormons” that if people don’t investigate further it keeps them from receiving further truth, light and blessings). We invited them to a Family Home Evening in the house of some YSAs. The YSAs taught a lesson, we taught them some games, and we left. We got a report from the missionary leader that they stayed there until 10:00 pm, playing, and then asked questions from the members. The members were able to clear up their doubts and give them advice. Now, Carlos not only wants to change his baptism so it is one week earlier, but he wants to serve a full-time mission! Wow! What a turn-around!

The bishop has his 10th anniversary as bishop in our ward, and so we are helping organize a surprise party in his honor, with all the organizations giving a simple gift or thank you card. We are also helping the YSA get organized and function, and helping to train our ward missionaries. The laborers are few in this part of the vineyard, and they have about 4 callings a piece, so we try to do everything we can to encourage them and serve them. So many people are trying hard just to work all day to feed their families, it can be hard to add in a church calling.

Saturday night it began to rain. No, it began to pour. And we enjoyed every minute of it. The motocarristas would stop us and offer us a ride and we just kept on walking and delighting in the rain. We stopped at a store to ask for bags to protect our scriptures, and the lady offered us bread bags to put on our heads (mini poncho). We thanked her, put the bags on our heads and after we were out of sight, we took off the bags and walked in the rain some more.

I am grateful for my companion. She is teaching me and helping me so much. I love her!

God bless!

Hermana Christensen

Wonderful People, Miracles, & Lessons!

My new companion, Hermana Reyes, is so cool. She has 1 year and 4 months as a convert and has so much life experience and wisdom. She is so enthusiastic for the work and is eager to testify and to make sacrifices for the people. I love her. She is always encouraging me and saying positive things to help me feel motivated, and she also isn’t afraid to correct me (as my mission president says, Don’t be afraid to make mistakes because that is how you learn…and, wow, have I learned a lot lately). She has left so much behind in order to be here on the mission, including a job offer as a director of a school (she is 23 years old but already has her Master’s degree in Educational Administration) back home in Guatemala. She was very catholic and even prepared to become a nun when she discovered the Church. She told the elders, “Changing religion isn’t just like changing your shoes. It’s serious business.” After 4 sets of missionaries she gained her testimony (the trick is to not just pray, but to pray with faith, is what she told me) and made her decision to join the Church. She is a real go-getter, a Latin version of Karen (my sister). She is such a powerful example for me.

We’ve seen miracles in the bishop. When I arrived here 4 months ago he was tired or “trunky” because he has health problems and has been bishop for 9 years (but there is no one else that could replace him), but some kind members took him to the hospital and paid for his treatment (side note: These members don’t have much money. They have to wait a few months to finish adding onto their house because they paid for the Bishop’s medical treatment. What an example of charity!). He is much healthier and he is very motivated to get involved with the work. I think he was discouraged because he knew there are problems with retention but didn’t know what the solutions are. He received some training (see examples of ward mission plans at missionaryleaders.org) and is highly motivated now (It helps that these sister missionaries are here to motivate and encourage him, too!).

Sunday he accompanied us to visit the Lopez (part-member) family. After the bishop taught them, without us saying anything, Carlos (20) told us that he wants to be baptized, too. This is a miracle, because just talking with him yesterday he didn’t want to be baptized. He and his brother have plans to be baptized on June 5. It’s amazing the Spirit people feel when the leaders visit them in their homes. They also feel really important when people take the time to visit with them individually(another reason why people should take their visiting and home teaching seriously, because people really ARE important and need to feel that way).

I am learning to discern the Spirit more. It was raining and I left my umbrella outside by the door of our appointment. I knew that if I left it outside there was no guarantee it would be there when we finished the appointment and I was correct. Right before our eyes this little girl took my umbrella. I saw her the next day and she was still playing with it. I told her, “Oh great! You found my umbrella!” and reached out for her to hand it to me. She dashed away with my umbrella in hand. My umbrella was a little broken and old and dirty, but, now I am missing it! Lesson learned. Most times we don’t recognize the impact our small decisions make in our lives, until we are roasting under the hot Amazonian sun for a time. If the Spirit prompts you to do something, do it and quickly!

I am learning so much every day. Wow! There is so much to learn and to become and the time flies by. Heavenly Father knows His children and knows the people that they need to be companions with (for example) and the lessons that we each need to learn. I don’t know how He does it, but He does!

Love,
Hermana Christensen

Good, Sad, and Funny News from the Jungle

So, we just found out what the new transfers are, and I stay here in the jungle! I am sad because I love my companion Hna. Duarte (Guatemala). She is so cool and we have learned so much together during this time, but change is part of the mission and she is moving to Lima. Even though I stay in the same area, it is different because we are teaching different people and I will have a new companion, Hna. Reyes.

I have a testimony of updating the Area Book and the records every day, because if not, wow! It means staying up really late to get it all done. We are trying to help our Peruvian friends read the Book of Mormon and find out how it relates to them and blesses their life.

We have started teaching Jacqueline. For some time her husband had seen the missionaries and had called out to them to come and visit him and his family, but they simply smiled and passed on their way (they probably thought he was just kidding, or more interested in the messengers than in the message). However, we contacted her and she attended church on Sunday. She has accepted a tentative baptismal date for June 5. She and her family are ready to receive the gospel.

I love Marta Luz, a former Catholic and present Evangelical, who listened to us as we taught her and tried to understand what we believed, rather than just combat or Bible bash with us. She even attended church on Sunday (the Relief Society lesson was on the Scriptural Canon. The expression on her face to see that we accept not just the Bible and the Book of Mormon as the word of God was indescribable).

We were walking and I saw these 4 cute puppies playing. I reached out to pet them and startled them. They started crying with fear and the neighbors and Hna. Duarte turned to see what I had done. I felt slightly embarrassed (I have an embarrassing moment at least every day). Later, we knocked on the door to see if Marlene was home. This little boy answered the door, took one look at me, and immediately fled inside the house. We just laugh at these things.

Love, Hermana Christensen

Happy Belated Mother's Day!

Hello family and friends,

I am grateful I was able to talk with some of you yesterday for Mother’s Day, and was sorry I couldn’t hear much of what was said because of all the noise, so I will record what I wanted to tell you. Thanks for praying so that way I could hear! Every block in Peru had their music blasting to celebrate Mother’s Day, so it was difficult to hear.

Yesterday was such a good Sunday. I was so happy and impressed with the ward yesterday. The Relief Society teacher taught a lesson on prophets that wasn’t based upon her personal opinions but on real doctrine! The youth gave the talks in sacrament meeting on chastity, modesty in dress and language (“I`m not telling you this because I want you to feel bad. I am telling you this because we can be better”), and on the Sabbath Day. It was impressive to have the youth teach everyone these lessons.

My favorite part of the sacrament meeting was when the Bishop had all the men come to the front and sing the intermediate hymn, “Oh ye that have the Priesthood” (not your traditional Mother’s Day tribute, but impressive, nonetheless). The best part was that EVERY MAN, including our investigators, came up to the front and participated in the hymn. The priesthood members were able to share the hymnals and show them how to read the music, and fellowship them. It was “buenisimo” as Hna. Duarte called it.

It was so great to see the deacons fellowshipping our recent convert, Mauro. He is going to receive the priesthood this week. And, our ward mission leader is so on top of things and is helping the young men get their papers ready to serve their missions, fellowshipping the investigators, visiting the families that need help, etc. We are so grateful for him. The other members are really getting involved with the work. We just need their help to find more people to teach (there are tons of people that are willing to listen to the lessons, but they don’t want to keep their commitments and can’t progress).

Happy Mother’s Day (belated)!

Love, Hermana Christensen

A Spiritually Uplifting and Powerful Week

Dear family and friends,

This week has been so special. We had the privilege of having a visit from Elder Gavaratt and his wife, members of the 70 from Uruguay. Wow! He bore a powerful testimony of Jesus Christ and taught us straight from the scriptures. He is an amazing teacher. His wife taught us about the need to have greater faith in Christ and to receive His light in our lives in order to share it with others. We physically change and receive more light in our countenances when we have greater faith, hope, and charity. Our mission is to bless people as much as they will allow us to.

Our beautiful family, Zaida, Angelica Maria, and Mauro were baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. Not without opposition, however. A few hours before the baptism they discovered that the font didn’t work and so we ended up combining baptismal services with the Zone Leaders in the stake center. It turned out to be even more special to do it that way. On Sunday morning we arrived early to accompany them to church, but the mom had left early in the morning to run some errands. Rather than be frustrated, we just prayed in faith and left a note to arrive as soon as she got back to the church. Her children were confirmed in the beginning of the meeting, and after all the testimonies were borne, she arrived (and right in the nick of time) and was confirmed. Hermana Duarte and I were so grateful. Members of the ward jumped in to fellowship them, inviting them to an FHE at their house on Monday. The family Inuma invited them to a lunch at their house after church and it turns out that the same Inuma family is in charge of seminary for their area. So many tender mercies for this family. The fasting combined with the baptism and the visit of the General Authority has led to a spiritually uplifting and powerful weekend.

And, the rain! It rained when we went jogging on Saturday. No, it poured, and I was so happy to be soaked. Later, the mud. (In our Sunday clothes) We helped push motorcars that were stuck in the mud up hills and I almost fell a couple of times. Sometimes I got stuck in the mud and couldn’t move my shoes. When I lifted them up, there was a whole kilo of mud stuck to the bottom! Hermana Duarte and I just laughed the whole time. It reminded me of the Youth Conference in Nauvoo, when we pushed and pulled handcarts in the pouring rain and mud. So fun.

Oh, many of you know that they are dividing my mission into the Lima Peru North mission and the Lima Peru West Mission, effective July 1. We don’t know which mission we will be assigned to, but I am not concerned. Regardless, we will have a new mission president in a few months. We jokingly tell our mission president, “Don’t be trunky!” He is anything but trunky. I will miss President and Sister Perez. They are such truly special people.

Happy Mother’s Day this weekend to all the special women (teachers, neighbors, friends, family members, church leaders) who have taught me, fellowshipped me, and are powerful examples of righteousness. It truly takes a village to raise a child, and often we don’t realize the impact we have on each person, even if we just enter into their lives for a few brief moments or years. You can truly make a difference in someone’s life today! Do something for someone else, small or big, but do something!

Love,
Hna. Christensen