Week 31

Okay Eagar is very very different from Scottsdale. Have I said that yet?

There are more elk than people.

The members are OUTSTANDING. Our ward mission leaders are incredible. We had a baptism on Friday. A 15 year old named Viri. She is an identical twin.

 

We went to Reserve New Mexico this weekend. Sister Carrillo's and my area is the only one inthe whole mission that geos into New Mexico. Our area is huge. A member drove us out there and dropped us off at the bishop's house where we stayed overnight (my first mission sleepover). We had a few lessons there. And spoke in our Luna ward on Sunday (first time speaking in sacrament meeteing since my farewell!) It went well! We talked on the stake vision- building a seed bed for great leaders. Then we got a ride back to Alpine with our ward mission leader out there (Brother and Sister Nelson). The neighborhoods are similar to our cabin. They all live in these houses in the woods. Way spaced out. Far far away from civilization. So creepy to me!

 

I am at a loss for words still about the work here. It's like I am starting all over again. Building new freindships with missionaries, members and investigators. Sister Carrillo and I are working really well together in lessons already. We practice a lot during companionship study. She and I get along really well. It is different too because we teach in English a lot. It's like I have to mentally translate everything from Spanish to English before I say it.

We get to watch the temple dedication next Sunday. Every missionary in Arizona will have a statistic of 0 investigators at church next week!

 

I don't know what else to tell you. I am still getting the hang of things up here. So far I can tell that the members will make all the difference. They are so into the work up here it is neat. I have high hopes for this town becoming a little zion :)

 

Have a great week! Conference is coming up so soon!!

The sons of Mosiah are awesome. Read Mosiah 27 and 28.

 

Hermana Christensen

This was the first finger. Eventually it happened to all. The tips of all my fingers peeled off. I have skin issues!

 In our study room!

Road kill, it's cat friends were all lined up along the road watching it continually get run over :(

Alpine Arizona

Week 30

So I made my way up to one of the windiest cities in the U.S. I am in Eagar! It is very opposite of Scottsdale. I feel like I am in a little old abandoned town in Utah. My grandma is my companion too! Sister Carrillo! I just can't seem to get away from my family :) Sister Carrillo trained both Hermana Pew and Hermana Wheelwright. She and I are both sister training leaders over 6 sisters up here in the Moutains. Sister Pew is about an hour away from us in Show Low. I am really excited for all this change!!

 

So I had to say goodbye to sweet Minerva and her husband Mario and my beloved Cinthia.. we also invited Minerva's two other kids to be baptized on March 8th. Angel (13) and Samantha (8). All 5 of them will be baptized on March 8th! Mario showed up to church this week with dress pants and a button up shirt. Minerva told us how Angel came home from church and expressed a desire to have nice dress shoes like the other boys and a white button up shirt. So Minerva was so excited to hear this from her 13 year old boy that she went out right away and they bought him all of it (we haven't got to Keep the Sabbath Day Holy yet). He kept saying "mom are you sure? this is expensive!" She was so happy about it. Ah the progress their family is making is so incredible! We visited Cinthia everyday and she knows it is all true. She reads the Book of Mormon everyday. She prays everynight with her two little girls. The whole family prays together, they are really good. It was hard to say bye... But I think I will go down in the Valley to attend their baptism!

Minerva and Cinthia went to the Gilbert Temple with us last week and LOVED IT. Then the next day was Minerva's birthday, and so we ran in the morning to Burger King where she works as manager and brought her a little gift. Then she gave us free cinnamon rolls :).

 

I will miss her whole family! They all came to church on Sunday and then again to the Fireside we had that night! I was able to sing a duet with Sister Freeman! I got really nervous but we did alright!

Also I said goodbye to Lorenzo. He came to the fireside Sunday night! And to the scripture class on Wednesday. He is progressing like an animal throught the doctrine, just needs to get Sunday's off! He said next time I saw him he will be a changed man! We also visited him at work for lunch one day. HE WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE US. Everyone at his work knew who we were because Lorenzo had invited them all to come listen to us at his home. His boss is going to! Lorenzo is an awesome missionary already!

 

I don't really know much about my area up here yet, but there isn't a Spanish branch up here. We are over 3 English wards. And only teach in Spanish. So the ward translates for the Spanish members. I will let you know more next week about good ol' Eagar! I sent Riley my address up here. I don't know the zipcode so you'll have to look that up. Have a great week! I love you all!

 

Hermana Christensen

 

Oh and THANK YOU SO MUCH for the Valentine's box! I didn't know we celebrated Valentine's day! I was pleasantly surprised!

Also thank Grandma and Mike for the Popcorn Factory Valentine's box! It was sooo CUTE! And I was able to share a lot of the candy and popcorn with ravenous Elders at transfer meeting yesterday! THANK YOU so much! I feel so lucky to have such a supportive and loving family!

Last soccer game on Friday with Elder Black and Quiros!

With my beloved Hermana Guillen!

Dinner at Sugar Bowl with Jackie!

Our 6 bracnch missionaries. Sisters Freeman and Mortensen and Elders Quiros and Black.

The sunsets are so pretty here. EVERY NIGHT

Last zone sports!!

Week 29

Something I learned this week is that God is here working on all these people right along side us. 

We had 5 lessons this week with Cynthia (Minerva's daughter). So let me explain the miracle that Cynthia is.... I LOVE HER SO MUCH. The first lesson we had with Minerva, Cythina was sitting in the corner of the room just kind of listening in. After the lesson she grabbed us and asked for our number so she could learn more... Then the rest is history. She is reading the Book of Mormon and highlighting the verses she likes. She and the rest of her family are going to get baptized March 8th. She is so excited to begin a new life walking along side Jesus Christ. The first lesson we had with JUST her, we were talking about how we feel the Holy Ghost. She told us that she feels so good inside whenever we come over. She says out of all the church's she has been to, she doesn't know why, but something she feels just tell her what we say is true. She is drawn to our message. So this week in a lesson we had, we were following up on the plan of salvation and answering some of her questions and doubts. We asked a few inspired questions and she shared with us a story....

The spirit was SO STRONG....

She said the week before we showed up at her house for the first time she was in Mexico. The last night there she had a dream. In her dream she was at her house in Arizona and she went outside to take a picture of the sky because it was really pretty. Then in the picture there was the virgin Mary and a little girl. She went inside to show her friend the picture. Then when she looked at it again the picture turned into a scary video or something. Then she went outside to take a picture again and it was snowing. So Cynthia woke up from the dream and called her only friend she had who lived in the snow to make sure everything was alright and told her about the dream. Then apparently that first night we came over, Cynthia was startled that I was in her house. She ran outside while we were talking to Minerva and called her friend and told her that the little girl that was in her dream "is in my house right now!" Cynthia told us that I was the little girl in her dream. It was me, just as a little girl. And that she knew I was sent to her for a reason. Then Cynthia closed the lesson and said a prayer for the first time after some coaxing into it. It was to most incredible heartfelt prayer. She and I were both crying and she was talking to Heavenly Father just like He was her friend. And she thanked Him for being so patient with her and for all the challenges she has been through. Cynthia is the most humble woman. I feel so much love for her. Her whole family came to church again and after the third hour Minerva and Cythia just sat there and didn't want church to be over. I love them!

Then LORENZO!! WOW he is a miracle. We visit him almost every night after he gets home from work. He listens to hymns, and reads testimonies on mormon.org. He is learning about the Book of Mormon and our church 24/7 literally. And then at night he puts his headphones on and falls asleep listening to the history of the Church videos. He wants to be baptized so bad. He is just working on getting work off I Sundays so he can come to church (before we had invited him to do so)!

Also Lupe came to church without us finding him a ride. MIRACLE.

Also Agustine a less active we have been visiting came to church for the first time in a year. MIRACLE.

I just cried in awe that he was actually there. Heavenly Father loves me. I feel so much joy seeing these people draw closer to Jesus Christ. I am so thankful for Jesus Christ's infinite atonement so that we, as sinners from the fall of Adam and Eve, may be redeemed through our perfect Brother's sacrifice. Sister Wheelwright and I were able to teach the gospel principles class yesterday on the Fall of Adam and Eve. I learned so much. As we understand the fall, the Atonement of Jesus Christ has a greater significance.

Have a great week my loves!

I will write next Wednesday from who knows where!

Hermana Christensen <3

Week 28

So I don't know what to say. The highlight of the week was CHURCH! As it should be EVERY week. Minerva and 6 of her family members came! Let me give you a little background on Minerva this past 2 weeks. We meet with her only every Thursday night. Everytime we go she is waiting and studying up on her assignments with family members. She is very family oriented. Her family is always over and always doing everything together. She really wants her kids to know how to pray. Well 2 weeks ago we had relief society splits during her appointment time so Hermana Guillen and I had a quick visit with Minerva and she was so sad we couldn't stay very long. As we arrived she was teaching her niece from the restoration pamphlet how to pray. She was all set on coming to church Sunday! But didn't....

Hermana Mortensen and I found out why.

This last Thursday we were on exchanges so Hermana Mortensen and I taught together. Minerva was waiting again all ready with her pamphlets and El Libro de Mormon. Minvera explained how she has not worked on Saturdays and Sundays for the last 3 years and then all of the sudden on of her co-workers started complaining to Minerva how she has the best days off. So Minerva is a sweetheart and agreed to work every other Sunday with this co-worker. I know Satan was just working up anger in this co-worker to complain! After 3 years of not working on Sunday AS SOON AS she starts learning, this happens... (on the bright side now maybe they can both attend church every other Sunday! We will work on teaching this co-worker). She had awesome questions and we were able to end that lesson with a kneeling family prayer.

Minerva NEVER texts us back- we don't know why. But at  10:55 on Sunday we looked at the phone and had 2 texts from Minerva! Saying they thought they were outside the church and didn't know where to come in! So we quick called her and figured out where they were. I cannot explain the pure JOY and happiness I felt as we turned the corner outside of the church and saw all 7 of them dressed up and holding hands just looking up at the steeple. They all filed in the pews and taught each other how to sing the hymns. It was such a joyous meeting!

Not to mention looking back and seeing Erika, Dean, Hannah and Braden. That was very shocking as well!

Cynthia( Minerva's daughter who is 20 and has 2 kids) asked to keep the gospel principles book (UH YES PLEASE!)

After all 3 hours the 8 year old Samantha told Sister Wheelwright about how she learned that before this life here we had a spirit and lived with Heavenly Father and then we came here to receive our body and learn. WOW she was so excited!

We are now teaching them Monday nights too and hoping that they can come to the Gilbert Temple open house with us this week!

Actually the other highlight of the week was the Gilbert Temple open house- it is so beautiful. I LOVE to see the temple and go inside!

And the other highlight of the week is how excited Jackie Cardenas is about learning how to bear her testimony! She is so excited about missionary work.

Also another highlight of the week is Lorenzo! Sister Mortensen and I literally walked into him standing outside his apartment and he stopped us and was so eager to talk to us but he asked for us to bring a male when we met with him so we would feel more comfortable. He is such a polite man! It was the best lesson 1 we ever taught. We brought the Garcia's and it was such a spiritual lesson! Lorenzo is so prepared. He works every Sunday though...

Also the other highlight of the week. I got really sick Friday. I threw up Saturday morning at 12:30 the spaghetti I had for lunch the previous day. I made it in house and it was organic corn noodles. I don't know what was wrong with them! I didn't think I could go that wrong with noodles and a can of sauce!

It hurt pretty bad. Definitely my most slimy and thick throw up of the mission. 

That's all.

I love the people here. I feel so at home here. I love studying the scriptures everyday. I love practicing to teach and I love teaching. I love finding new people. I love Jesus Christ. I know that He already suffered for every one of my sins that I have committed and will commit. I know that all I have to do is accept his sacrifice, take responsibility for my sins, and ask Heavenly Father for forgiveness in Christ's name. Christ is my mediator. Because of what He has already done, his atonement, I may be clean before God at the last day. I plead that I can stay close to the Lord. I pray that I can endure for the rest of my life here so I can be prepared at that final day. I plead for all of my family to live the principles of the gospel so we can live together forever. I thank my Heavenly Father for parents who are so faithful, that we are sealed together in a temple of God by His authority so this can be possible. I know this is His plan. I know this is the ONLY way.

2 Nephi 31:21 

And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.

The church has been restored in its fullness. I love the Book of Mormon.

Hermana Christensen

At the Gilbert temple open house.

The baptismal font is so gorgeous!!

So is the rest of it.

And in case you forgot what the back of my head looks like. Brother Hancock wants you to remember. 

Brother Hancock's awesome photography at the Gilbert temple with Aurelio and Jackie!

At Applebees! I love American food 

Hot air balloon.. it was huge.

My Branch missionaries. Spanish missionaries in our zone