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
Monday, December 27, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
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
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
Monday, December 13, 2010
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
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
Monday, December 6, 2010
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
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
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