Hello family and friends!
The saga continues…This week has been so stressful and exciting. We were so excited to get ALL the papers ready in order for Rosa and Amador to get married this week. We traveled with our 3 witnesses to the municipality to present the papers to have everything ready to go.
Please keep in mind that nothing is ever easy, especially if it is to be done legally. It’s not just a matter of driving down to the courthouse in your car and 30 minutes later you sign a paper and everything is good, or, going on to the computer and finding out the information by Internet. They don’t give you a phone number to call...everything has to be done in person. We arrived at the municipality and it is in another location. You have to be persistent even just to ask basic questions. (Everyone thought that the “gringa” was trying to get married...not after THIS experience, thank you very much!)
For the past month Rosa has been selling tamales (not sleeping at all) while taking care of her 6 kids while her husband is gone in order to raise money to pay for the documents. In short, the zone leaders in Iquitos are mailing the partida (birth certificate) right as I write this and a member of our ward is traveling 13 hours by bus to Cajatambo in order to bring back the partida. In all honesty, we haven’t been sleeping much all this past week. There is so much drama and more details that I will spare all of you for now and tell you later in person. Long story short (oh wait, too late!), we don’t know if they will be married this Saturday or December 18.
Xiomara, 8, was baptized on Saturday. Her brother, our mission leader, baptized her. In the last minute, she began to cry because the water was freezing cold (they don’t have water heaters here for the baptismal font). We began to sing hymns and her brother finally coaxed her into the water. Rosa and her six kids came to the baptism and the kids left traumatized. We had good intentions inviting them because Cesar, 8, was sure he would drown if he was baptized. We thought if he saw that another child his same age was baptized, surely HE could be brave (and he wouldn’t drown). However, this makes for a tough PR job for these sister missionaries with these kids, but not impossible.
We are teaching Lenina (24) and Jonelle (28). They are both references from members in the ward and are golden. They are so excited to learn and want to pray and read the Book of Mormon. (Speaking of Book of Mormon, did I tell you last time that Amador is already in 4th Nephi? I wouldn’t be surprised if he has finished the Book of Mormon by the time he gets here on Thursday). They have such a special spirit with them. Lenina is going to be baptized the 27 of November and we are going to invite Jonelle to be baptized, too. We are seeing many miracles here this week. I can really see the power of conversion with them. They are so special. I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for permitting me to be a witness of these miracles and to be an instrument in His hands. It is so special.
Did I tell you that my companions are incredible? We really are a good team and we teach each other (we are practicing self-defense in the mornings) and help each other. There is a lot of unity, and that makes all the difference. Also, there is unity in the zone. They are helping us with our family of investigators. Wow! What a week! I am so tired, but we have energy to keep on going.
In short, be grateful for the Internet and everyone should have a cell phone, I have decided.
Lots of love,
Hermana Christensen
Monday, November 15, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Testifying and Creative Teaching
Wow, family and friends! So many things have happened this week. I
feel so happy because we are “trabajando duro” (working hard) and
seeing results.
Thanks to Kimi Pieper, Kari Stolzenburg, Sis. Baysa, Crystal Baysa,
and Bishop Jamison for sending letters via DearElder.com (it’s fast,
it’s easy, it’s cheap, and I don’t receive a single cent for
shamelessly endorsing the website). It makes me happy to keep in
touch with all of you and to know what is going on in your lives. I
love you and pray for you.
Sunday was Fast and Testimony meeting and our convert of one
week, Elen, fasted, paid her fast offering and tithing, and
bore her testimony in sacrament meeting. Wow! She explained
how this was her first time fasting and how she was tempted
by the food at a baby shower on Saturday night, but she didn’t
eat anything (but stored it away for later). She just radiates
in her countenance and shows quite the contrast from when we
first met her. She is an example to all in the ward.
We sat with Rosa and her children at church and I just laughed at
their antics. Cesar, 8, saved the plastic sacrament cups and stuck
them on his eyes, as if they were goggles or something. We were
teaching them the parts of the fast (fast, give offering, and
testify), ayunar, orar, dar, y testificar. We asked them to repeat the
parts of the fast and Ruth (6) said, “Ayunar, orar, dar, y TRAFFICAR!)
(as in drug trafficking). We burst out laughing at her malapropism.
No, trafficking is NOT part of the typical fast!
For a time (we don’t know how long) we have the blessing of having
a new companion with us, Hermana Ticona, also from Arequipa. She
is waiting to have her visa to go to Guadalajara, Mexico. Meanwhile,
other sister missionaries are sick and so we have to lend Hna. Avalos
to the sickies for a week. I’m sad because she is so good at following
the Spirit (and knows the houses) and understanding people, we are
super united and have a ton of fun together working hard and helping
people. Also, this month is her birthday month, so I am following the
tradition of her family, where they give a small gift every day.
Sometimes I’ll just make her bed and leave a note. I bought her a
package of 25 envelopes and told her that should last her most of the
month (one for every day), but as a joke. We are going to cry when
we part. She is such a good friend.
This week we are pumped after capacitations (trainings), and we
are having a meeting for the Ward Council this Thursday to explain
how we want to help each organization and how each organization
can help with missionary work. Also, a brief training on how Preach
My Gospel can be of utility for ward leaders. I’m not going to
lie... I like to give trainings and teach. After the trainings on
Friday, we performed our comedy sketch on missionary work in one
of the ward talent shows in our district and the people loved it.
It should be on YouTube by now, under “JardinesSUD”. Check it out!
Xiomara, the sister of our ward missionary leader, Anthony, will be
baptized this Saturday. Also, we are working with their parents so
they can be married and baptized soon. We talked with the bishop
and "si o si” (yes or yes) they have to be married and baptized
during this window of 5 days that he has off from work (he works in
provincia, far away for 24 days and stays home for 5). So, it will
be interesting and a much waited for occasion. Rosa, his future
wife, is anxious to be baptized with her children and her husband.
The gospel is so true and has changed Rosa and all of her family.
The kids were in charge of the games for the Family Home Evening
we did with them and the neighborhood this Sunday. We are also
teaching their neighbors,Diana and Roman, who attended church and
are very receptive. The church is so true.
I am just super happy and couldn’t ask for a better companionship.
We are creative with our teaching (or else people don’t pay
attention... you can’t learn if you are bored). We are helping less
active families by doing creative FHEs, by focusing on helping the
members attend the temple, and recently, a stake initiative to help
everyone read the Book of Mormon. We are trying to help them
become better organized and to visit the families so they have the
goal of reading the Book of Mormon together. The promise is that
all who read diligently and with an open heart, with prayer, will
feel more of the Spirit in their lives, will have a stronger
knowledge and conviction that Jesus is the Christ and Saviour of
the world, and I forgot the other promise, (but the promises are
real!).
Honestly, I just feel so grateful to participate in this work, because
I feel the Spirit daily and see many miracles every day in my own life
and in the life of those we teach. I think we all need to look for the
tiny miracles that happen in our lives every day. I know that my
Heavenly Father is real and that He loves me, that He listens and
answers my prayers. His Spirit guides us in this work with the small
and big details. I am learning to pray and then work for blessings.
The Gospel is real and changes lives.
Have a great week!
Love,
Hna. Christensen
feel so happy because we are “trabajando duro” (working hard) and
seeing results.
Thanks to Kimi Pieper, Kari Stolzenburg, Sis. Baysa, Crystal Baysa,
and Bishop Jamison for sending letters via DearElder.com (it’s fast,
it’s easy, it’s cheap, and I don’t receive a single cent for
shamelessly endorsing the website). It makes me happy to keep in
touch with all of you and to know what is going on in your lives. I
love you and pray for you.
Sunday was Fast and Testimony meeting and our convert of one
week, Elen, fasted, paid her fast offering and tithing, and
bore her testimony in sacrament meeting. Wow! She explained
how this was her first time fasting and how she was tempted
by the food at a baby shower on Saturday night, but she didn’t
eat anything (but stored it away for later). She just radiates
in her countenance and shows quite the contrast from when we
first met her. She is an example to all in the ward.
We sat with Rosa and her children at church and I just laughed at
their antics. Cesar, 8, saved the plastic sacrament cups and stuck
them on his eyes, as if they were goggles or something. We were
teaching them the parts of the fast (fast, give offering, and
testify), ayunar, orar, dar, y testificar. We asked them to repeat the
parts of the fast and Ruth (6) said, “Ayunar, orar, dar, y TRAFFICAR!)
(as in drug trafficking). We burst out laughing at her malapropism.
No, trafficking is NOT part of the typical fast!
For a time (we don’t know how long) we have the blessing of having
a new companion with us, Hermana Ticona, also from Arequipa. She
is waiting to have her visa to go to Guadalajara, Mexico. Meanwhile,
other sister missionaries are sick and so we have to lend Hna. Avalos
to the sickies for a week. I’m sad because she is so good at following
the Spirit (and knows the houses) and understanding people, we are
super united and have a ton of fun together working hard and helping
people. Also, this month is her birthday month, so I am following the
tradition of her family, where they give a small gift every day.
Sometimes I’ll just make her bed and leave a note. I bought her a
package of 25 envelopes and told her that should last her most of the
month (one for every day), but as a joke. We are going to cry when
we part. She is such a good friend.
This week we are pumped after capacitations (trainings), and we
are having a meeting for the Ward Council this Thursday to explain
how we want to help each organization and how each organization
can help with missionary work. Also, a brief training on how Preach
My Gospel can be of utility for ward leaders. I’m not going to
lie... I like to give trainings and teach. After the trainings on
Friday, we performed our comedy sketch on missionary work in one
of the ward talent shows in our district and the people loved it.
It should be on YouTube by now, under “JardinesSUD”. Check it out!
Xiomara, the sister of our ward missionary leader, Anthony, will be
baptized this Saturday. Also, we are working with their parents so
they can be married and baptized soon. We talked with the bishop
and "si o si” (yes or yes) they have to be married and baptized
during this window of 5 days that he has off from work (he works in
provincia, far away for 24 days and stays home for 5). So, it will
be interesting and a much waited for occasion. Rosa, his future
wife, is anxious to be baptized with her children and her husband.
The gospel is so true and has changed Rosa and all of her family.
The kids were in charge of the games for the Family Home Evening
we did with them and the neighborhood this Sunday. We are also
teaching their neighbors,Diana and Roman, who attended church and
are very receptive. The church is so true.
I am just super happy and couldn’t ask for a better companionship.
We are creative with our teaching (or else people don’t pay
attention... you can’t learn if you are bored). We are helping less
active families by doing creative FHEs, by focusing on helping the
members attend the temple, and recently, a stake initiative to help
everyone read the Book of Mormon. We are trying to help them
become better organized and to visit the families so they have the
goal of reading the Book of Mormon together. The promise is that
all who read diligently and with an open heart, with prayer, will
feel more of the Spirit in their lives, will have a stronger
knowledge and conviction that Jesus is the Christ and Saviour of
the world, and I forgot the other promise, (but the promises are
real!).
Honestly, I just feel so grateful to participate in this work, because
I feel the Spirit daily and see many miracles every day in my own life
and in the life of those we teach. I think we all need to look for the
tiny miracles that happen in our lives every day. I know that my
Heavenly Father is real and that He loves me, that He listens and
answers my prayers. His Spirit guides us in this work with the small
and big details. I am learning to pray and then work for blessings.
The Gospel is real and changes lives.
Have a great week!
Love,
Hna. Christensen
Monday, November 1, 2010
Blessings for Gospel Learners & Teachers
Hola, familia y amigos!
So much happens in just a short time here in the mission. We had interviews with President Blunck this week. He is so humble and is so full of the Spirit that you can’t help but want to be a better person, the most obedient and loving person you can be, after being in his presence. Wow! He is incredible (and so is his wife).
Elen was baptized this Saturday: the first baptism in the ward for over 8 months. The first time we arrived in the ward, we received the grim news that this was an area where “everyone has heard the gospel here” and that “no pasa nada” (nothing happens here). Well, that is not true! She is so humble and so grateful to receive the restored gospel and the ordinance of baptism. She was hesitant, and wanted to be sure that this was the correct decision, as she had been baptized Catholic (as a baby) and Seventh Day Adventist before (as an adult). So, she did everything we invited her to do...to listen, to pray, to attend church, to read the Book of Mormon and the pamphlets, and she received her witness from the Spirit. She is a true convert and firmly dedicated in her decision now. She will be a leader in the church. Teaching her and learning about some of the heartbreaking experiences she has had has made me even more grateful for the restored gospel in my life and the guide that it is to help me make correct decisions.
Amador is away for a few weeks working, but November 20 is the tentative date for his wedding and baptism. There is opposition in all things, and we found out yesterday that he needs to have gall bladder surgery (with money that they don’t have). We are praying and working hard to help them with their faith. We know that if we are obedient and if they are obedient, God will help them through these trials. I don’t know how Rosa does it with her 6 kids, but the ward missionaries are helping her, sitting with her at church. There are a lot of valiant and wonderful single women with kids in our ward that are helping her and fellowshipping this family. This ward is becoming more and more service-oriented and is coming alive.
We found another family that is golden. Fausto and Lucila are so humble and good (and married!). We are just recently teaching them, so we will keep you posted. My testimony is growing every time more and more that when we are as obedient and hardworking as we can be, God directs us to the families that are prepared to receive His restored gospel. My faith is growing more and more every day.
I was sad to get a letter that says I end in March, but I talked with President and will stay until mid-April. I am not “trunky”, so no worries there, but it is never too soon to start planning what I will do when I get back.
Lots of love,
Hermana Christensen
P.S. I hope Grandpa feels better. I'm sorry I missed your birthday, Kezia, but I haven't forgotten you!
So much happens in just a short time here in the mission. We had interviews with President Blunck this week. He is so humble and is so full of the Spirit that you can’t help but want to be a better person, the most obedient and loving person you can be, after being in his presence. Wow! He is incredible (and so is his wife).
Elen was baptized this Saturday: the first baptism in the ward for over 8 months. The first time we arrived in the ward, we received the grim news that this was an area where “everyone has heard the gospel here” and that “no pasa nada” (nothing happens here). Well, that is not true! She is so humble and so grateful to receive the restored gospel and the ordinance of baptism. She was hesitant, and wanted to be sure that this was the correct decision, as she had been baptized Catholic (as a baby) and Seventh Day Adventist before (as an adult). So, she did everything we invited her to do...to listen, to pray, to attend church, to read the Book of Mormon and the pamphlets, and she received her witness from the Spirit. She is a true convert and firmly dedicated in her decision now. She will be a leader in the church. Teaching her and learning about some of the heartbreaking experiences she has had has made me even more grateful for the restored gospel in my life and the guide that it is to help me make correct decisions.
Amador is away for a few weeks working, but November 20 is the tentative date for his wedding and baptism. There is opposition in all things, and we found out yesterday that he needs to have gall bladder surgery (with money that they don’t have). We are praying and working hard to help them with their faith. We know that if we are obedient and if they are obedient, God will help them through these trials. I don’t know how Rosa does it with her 6 kids, but the ward missionaries are helping her, sitting with her at church. There are a lot of valiant and wonderful single women with kids in our ward that are helping her and fellowshipping this family. This ward is becoming more and more service-oriented and is coming alive.
We found another family that is golden. Fausto and Lucila are so humble and good (and married!). We are just recently teaching them, so we will keep you posted. My testimony is growing every time more and more that when we are as obedient and hardworking as we can be, God directs us to the families that are prepared to receive His restored gospel. My faith is growing more and more every day.
I was sad to get a letter that says I end in March, but I talked with President and will stay until mid-April. I am not “trunky”, so no worries there, but it is never too soon to start planning what I will do when I get back.
Lots of love,
Hermana Christensen
P.S. I hope Grandpa feels better. I'm sorry I missed your birthday, Kezia, but I haven't forgotten you!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Update on Investigators
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
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
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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