Hermana Christensen: 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