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
Monday, October 25, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
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
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
Monday, October 11, 2010
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
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
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
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