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
Monday, August 30, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
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
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
Monday, August 16, 2010
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
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
Monday, August 9, 2010
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
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
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
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 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
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