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
Monday, September 27, 2010
More Spiritual Experiences, Miracles, & Changes
Thank you to Laura Lewis, Bishop Jamison, and the Baysas for their letters via DearElder.com. I receive the letters the same week that you send them. (Do you like my shameless, unpaid advertisement for the website? Maybe I could create my own DearSister.com company after the mission!)
This week was so special and I felt a special spirit throughout.
I accompanied my companion, Hna. Nina, on her last day. We went to the mission home and she had her final interview. We ate oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and talked about her goals for after the mission, along with the other missionaries that were finishing. (She plans to study psychology at the university.) We visited the stores in the area out of curiosity and found a chocolate shop that sold shoes made out of chocolate for 75 soles. (A pair of real shoes costs 20 soles here.) Pay my rent or buy a pair of chocolate shoes?…….hmm……. I felt so spiritually rejuvenated as I heard the stories and testimonies of the missionaries that were finishing and it gave me a new perspective for my own mission. What would I share if I was finishing? It was a powerful experience.
Hna. Avalos and I received our new companion, Hna. Yost from California, the same day that we said goodbye to Hna. Nina. I feel like I live with 2 angels, because they are so wise and sensitive to other people and to the Spirit. I have so much to learn from them, and we have had many spiritual experiences together. Hna. Yost is my first companion from the USA and we have a lot in common. She is a Public Health major at BYU and wants to go on to become a nurse. (I worked with freshmen who were trying to enter the nursing program at BYU through my Freshman Academy job, so I understand about the process and the stress of it.) We found out that we have taken some of the same classes (but not at the same time), which is a lot of fun. She is way cool, just like Hna. Avalos. We all get along great, and I love training, as it gets me more energy and focus. I remember what it is like to start the mission. (On the 30th of September is my anniversary of entering the Provo MTC. Crazy how time flies on the mission.)
The other sisters in our zone didn’t have a place to stay so they camped out with us for a day. They helped us with our sketch for the ward talent show. I adapted the show that Hna. Reyes and I wrote in Iquitos and expanded it. Supposedly, it is on YouTube. Even if you cannot hear it, you can understand what is happening. You can look under “Jardines SUD” and “Show de talentos.” I was impressed with how well it turned out: “A day in the life of missionaries.” My companions are so fun.
I love Hna. Yost because on her 3rd day here she invited the family of Rosa and Amador to be baptized and they accepted. We are seeing so many miracles with this family, and the ward is excited to throw them a party at their wedding. Rosa had not shown much interest, and so we helped her wash her clothes on Friday. It was so much fun because we just talked about our families and sang songs, especially Black spirituals. (Hna. Yost loves the movie “Oh Brother Where Art Thou?" and shares my love of gospel music. Hna. Avalos learned the lyrics to “As I went down to the river to pray, studying about that good ol’ way…” ) Now that we have her trust, we are helping her develop her faith in Jesus Christ, little by little.
We are seeing miracles in this area and I feel blessed to have companions that want to work hard and serve and love. This is a great place and a great transfer.
Love, Hna. Christensen
This week was so special and I felt a special spirit throughout.
I accompanied my companion, Hna. Nina, on her last day. We went to the mission home and she had her final interview. We ate oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and talked about her goals for after the mission, along with the other missionaries that were finishing. (She plans to study psychology at the university.) We visited the stores in the area out of curiosity and found a chocolate shop that sold shoes made out of chocolate for 75 soles. (A pair of real shoes costs 20 soles here.) Pay my rent or buy a pair of chocolate shoes?…….hmm……. I felt so spiritually rejuvenated as I heard the stories and testimonies of the missionaries that were finishing and it gave me a new perspective for my own mission. What would I share if I was finishing? It was a powerful experience.
Hna. Avalos and I received our new companion, Hna. Yost from California, the same day that we said goodbye to Hna. Nina. I feel like I live with 2 angels, because they are so wise and sensitive to other people and to the Spirit. I have so much to learn from them, and we have had many spiritual experiences together. Hna. Yost is my first companion from the USA and we have a lot in common. She is a Public Health major at BYU and wants to go on to become a nurse. (I worked with freshmen who were trying to enter the nursing program at BYU through my Freshman Academy job, so I understand about the process and the stress of it.) We found out that we have taken some of the same classes (but not at the same time), which is a lot of fun. She is way cool, just like Hna. Avalos. We all get along great, and I love training, as it gets me more energy and focus. I remember what it is like to start the mission. (On the 30th of September is my anniversary of entering the Provo MTC. Crazy how time flies on the mission.)
The other sisters in our zone didn’t have a place to stay so they camped out with us for a day. They helped us with our sketch for the ward talent show. I adapted the show that Hna. Reyes and I wrote in Iquitos and expanded it. Supposedly, it is on YouTube. Even if you cannot hear it, you can understand what is happening. You can look under “Jardines SUD” and “Show de talentos.” I was impressed with how well it turned out: “A day in the life of missionaries.” My companions are so fun.
I love Hna. Yost because on her 3rd day here she invited the family of Rosa and Amador to be baptized and they accepted. We are seeing so many miracles with this family, and the ward is excited to throw them a party at their wedding. Rosa had not shown much interest, and so we helped her wash her clothes on Friday. It was so much fun because we just talked about our families and sang songs, especially Black spirituals. (Hna. Yost loves the movie “Oh Brother Where Art Thou?" and shares my love of gospel music. Hna. Avalos learned the lyrics to “As I went down to the river to pray, studying about that good ol’ way…” ) Now that we have her trust, we are helping her develop her faith in Jesus Christ, little by little.
We are seeing miracles in this area and I feel blessed to have companions that want to work hard and serve and love. This is a great place and a great transfer.
Love, Hna. Christensen
Friday, September 17, 2010
The Last Almost-Two Weeks
Here are the highlights from these past 2 weeks:
--We are climbing a bazillion flights of stairs multiple times a day in order to teach our families in the mountains (the people here call them “hills” but for someone from Kansas, they are mountains). It makes the stairs of the RB (at BYU campus) a cakewalk. I thought it would get easier every time, but so far we are not used to it. But, the families are the best. We visited them and have done 2 service projects there, hauling buckets of water, planting trees, building houses, and clearing lots. It is a new establishment and we are trying to get the ward involved with serving and fellowshipping these families. I jokingly asked, “Does this service count for my Eagle project?” My district leader assured that it definitely counted.
--Amador and his wife Rosa Angelica and their 6 kids are the pioneers of this new establishment. We are teaching them and they attended church on Sunday and said they wanted to come back. We went to church during the week and found that the kids have the lead roles in the sketch for the ward talent show. They are more active than the members! There are other families that have attended church, as well.
--Our ward recently called ward missionaries who are the best! They are older women of the Relief Society, and they have more energy than the missionaries to climb the stairs! Their testimonies are strong and they face so many hardships in their own homes, but are so willing to accompany us and share their testimonies.
--We started teaching a woman who let us in, thinking we were Evangelicals. She then told us, “I don’t accept any Mormons or other people of other faiths.” My companion and I tried not to laugh, but we carried on and taught the first lesson. She accepted everything and felt the Spirit. We returned for a visit with our ward missionary who bore a simple and sincere testimony. She was agreeable and wanted to attend church. However, the last time that we arrived, her countenance had changed. She figured out that we were “The Mormons” (probably because we told her in the second visit) and became very disagreeable. I felt sad—more than anything because she represents millions of people who reject the Lord’s message without even listening or trying to understand, or accept what other people say about us without trying to find out for themselves. She rejected the Spirit that she felt and the truth that she received. All we do as missionaries is teach and testify, and invite people to read the Book of Mormon and to pray to God to find out if what we teach comes from Him and if it is true. We direct people to God and He answers the sincere prayer.
--Hna. Nina ends her mission this week, so we are creating a scrapbook of advice for her. We are a unified zone and it makes missionary work a lot of fun.
--On Saturday the zone surprised me by having a birthday party in my honor, complete with a piñata and flour dumped on my head. Later on in the week, my comp, Hna. Avalos, made a flan for E.Ruiz and we sang Happy Birthday (and then the elders cracked eggs on his head…poor guy, but that is the tradition! Luckily I escaped the eggs, although some say that egg makes hair shinier).
--Every day my testimony is growing more and more as I pray, study the scriptures, and serve others. The gospel is the best!
Make it a great week!
Hna. Christensen
--We are climbing a bazillion flights of stairs multiple times a day in order to teach our families in the mountains (the people here call them “hills” but for someone from Kansas, they are mountains). It makes the stairs of the RB (at BYU campus) a cakewalk. I thought it would get easier every time, but so far we are not used to it. But, the families are the best. We visited them and have done 2 service projects there, hauling buckets of water, planting trees, building houses, and clearing lots. It is a new establishment and we are trying to get the ward involved with serving and fellowshipping these families. I jokingly asked, “Does this service count for my Eagle project?” My district leader assured that it definitely counted.
--Amador and his wife Rosa Angelica and their 6 kids are the pioneers of this new establishment. We are teaching them and they attended church on Sunday and said they wanted to come back. We went to church during the week and found that the kids have the lead roles in the sketch for the ward talent show. They are more active than the members! There are other families that have attended church, as well.
--Our ward recently called ward missionaries who are the best! They are older women of the Relief Society, and they have more energy than the missionaries to climb the stairs! Their testimonies are strong and they face so many hardships in their own homes, but are so willing to accompany us and share their testimonies.
--We started teaching a woman who let us in, thinking we were Evangelicals. She then told us, “I don’t accept any Mormons or other people of other faiths.” My companion and I tried not to laugh, but we carried on and taught the first lesson. She accepted everything and felt the Spirit. We returned for a visit with our ward missionary who bore a simple and sincere testimony. She was agreeable and wanted to attend church. However, the last time that we arrived, her countenance had changed. She figured out that we were “The Mormons” (probably because we told her in the second visit) and became very disagreeable. I felt sad—more than anything because she represents millions of people who reject the Lord’s message without even listening or trying to understand, or accept what other people say about us without trying to find out for themselves. She rejected the Spirit that she felt and the truth that she received. All we do as missionaries is teach and testify, and invite people to read the Book of Mormon and to pray to God to find out if what we teach comes from Him and if it is true. We direct people to God and He answers the sincere prayer.
--Hna. Nina ends her mission this week, so we are creating a scrapbook of advice for her. We are a unified zone and it makes missionary work a lot of fun.
--On Saturday the zone surprised me by having a birthday party in my honor, complete with a piñata and flour dumped on my head. Later on in the week, my comp, Hna. Avalos, made a flan for E.Ruiz and we sang Happy Birthday (and then the elders cracked eggs on his head…poor guy, but that is the tradition! Luckily I escaped the eggs, although some say that egg makes hair shinier).
--Every day my testimony is growing more and more as I pray, study the scriptures, and serve others. The gospel is the best!
Make it a great week!
Hna. Christensen
Monday, September 6, 2010
Iquitos Ties & Lima Labors
Hola familia y amigos!
I went to the temple for the first time in 10 months! While I was there, I saw a woman that was in my ward in Iquitos. (These people save up their whole lives to spend 6 days in boat and 3 days driving to arrive at the temple.) What a happy surprise! I was so happy to go to the temple and although tired, I felt so content to be there. After the temple, we went to McDonalds as a zone. (Fortunately, they ran out of chicken, so we went to a different restaurant to buy chicken and french fries.)
I am writing a ton of letters to Iquitos and sending little packages to my companions, because everything is so much more expensive in Iquitos. My former comp. Hna Reyes is still there in Iquitos. Hna. Nina is making preparations to end her misión in a few weeks and we are all sad and trunky (yes, this word exists in Spanish misión lingo) for her. Hna. Avalos is new but so capable and learns so quickly. Her mom is coming up from Arequipa this week to attend the temple. We all have our moments, but we get along great.
We had two wards, Jardines and Carabayllo, and were working more in Carabayllo when we found out that now we only have Jardines. We were sad because we have people progressing toward baptism in Carabayllo and we feel like we don’t have anyone in Jardines. It means that we can focus on Jardines more and focus on the people that can progress here. It means we will be really buff, too, because it is pure hills-mountains here.
We have to work hard here to gain the confidence of the ward. They felt a little neglected because we were spending more time in Carabayllo; so we have to redouble our efforts here. Now I understand how parents feel. How do you spend more time and attention on the child who needs more time without having the other child feel left out or jealous? Hmm….
Olga, 21, has a testimony of the Church and of the Book of Mormon and is going to be baptized this Saturday. We had been teaching her and read 3 Nephi 11 together and felt the Spirit really strongly as we testified of Jesus Christ. Wow. We were freezing cold as we taught her outside, but it is totally worth it. I felt a connection to her, not just because she has the same name as my grandma and great-grandma but also because we have about the same age. We love her and were sad, because she is in Barrio Carabayllo, and we will only be in Jardines.
The Relief Society joined us in a fast for missionary work, and we are following up with them and teaching them how they can share the góspel with their friends and families. We are having fun, too, as they are accompanying us. We have much to improve and have goals to do so.
Lots of love,
Hermana Christensen
I went to the temple for the first time in 10 months! While I was there, I saw a woman that was in my ward in Iquitos. (These people save up their whole lives to spend 6 days in boat and 3 days driving to arrive at the temple.) What a happy surprise! I was so happy to go to the temple and although tired, I felt so content to be there. After the temple, we went to McDonalds as a zone. (Fortunately, they ran out of chicken, so we went to a different restaurant to buy chicken and french fries.)
I am writing a ton of letters to Iquitos and sending little packages to my companions, because everything is so much more expensive in Iquitos. My former comp. Hna Reyes is still there in Iquitos. Hna. Nina is making preparations to end her misión in a few weeks and we are all sad and trunky (yes, this word exists in Spanish misión lingo) for her. Hna. Avalos is new but so capable and learns so quickly. Her mom is coming up from Arequipa this week to attend the temple. We all have our moments, but we get along great.
We had two wards, Jardines and Carabayllo, and were working more in Carabayllo when we found out that now we only have Jardines. We were sad because we have people progressing toward baptism in Carabayllo and we feel like we don’t have anyone in Jardines. It means that we can focus on Jardines more and focus on the people that can progress here. It means we will be really buff, too, because it is pure hills-mountains here.
We have to work hard here to gain the confidence of the ward. They felt a little neglected because we were spending more time in Carabayllo; so we have to redouble our efforts here. Now I understand how parents feel. How do you spend more time and attention on the child who needs more time without having the other child feel left out or jealous? Hmm….
Olga, 21, has a testimony of the Church and of the Book of Mormon and is going to be baptized this Saturday. We had been teaching her and read 3 Nephi 11 together and felt the Spirit really strongly as we testified of Jesus Christ. Wow. We were freezing cold as we taught her outside, but it is totally worth it. I felt a connection to her, not just because she has the same name as my grandma and great-grandma but also because we have about the same age. We love her and were sad, because she is in Barrio Carabayllo, and we will only be in Jardines.
The Relief Society joined us in a fast for missionary work, and we are following up with them and teaching them how they can share the góspel with their friends and families. We are having fun, too, as they are accompanying us. We have much to improve and have goals to do so.
Lots of love,
Hermana Christensen
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