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
