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
