week ending 1.30.11

Hey everyone,

Well this week was really sweet!!!!!!!!!! Danilo and Violeta got baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! woooooooooooooooooooo they were so happy! I messed up on the prayer and had to do it 2 times, whoooooooopppppssss. But it's all good - Danilo still got a remission of his sins. And we asked them how they felt after and they said, "I feel as light as a feather." It is so awesome to hear the testimony of a new convert and see that they are really happy and that they wanted to be baptized to follow Christ. We had the baptism on Saturday and the got confirmed on Sunday and they were really happy. Danilo had his interview to get the priesthood, he is going to be a Priest this next week! So excited for him and his family! woooooooooooooooooooooooooo! The photo of Danilo and Violeta in normal clothes is right after they got baptized.

Well the other reason why this week was so great is that we found of 10 new people this week! 5 of them came to church and they loved it and the members were doing such a good job to make them feel at home. I am really excited to keep working with them. One of them is named Juan (John) and he is great. He lives alone and travels all over Chile to find work and when the work that he is doing is up he moves. He is a hard working man and he needs your prayers so if you could put him in your prayers so he can keep learning the gospel that would be awesome!

The other 4 are girls, they are so funny. They asked me if I knew the Jonas Brothers and I said no, and then they asked me if I knew Hannah Montana. I said she was my ex-girlfriend and they freaked out. But I told them right after that I was joking. But one of the girls went and got a magazine and there was a photo of Hannah Montana and a boy and they all said that it was me. haha. Crazy little girls. Well, their ages are 18, 16, 10, 9, 7.  We are also teaching their grandma and brother & cousin. This family is so big they all live together in the same lot but in different houses. They are all reading and praying so we are going to keep working with them and see if they can keep the things we ask them to do and if they really want to do this. They are great.

Thanks for all the prayers that you send my way. They are helping a lot, I would not be able to do this work with out them. And thanks for supporting me in this battle haha. Have a good week!

love,
Elder Christensen

week ending 12.12.10

 Hey Everyone,

So this week I have learned something that I wish I learned a long time ago. It's about the way of praying. So I have always prayed but nothing really came of it, I was just doing it to do it and stuff, but I learned something really valuable. Well there are a couple of things you need to understand about prayer, the praying is work, it's not easy. When you get home and you are beat in to the ground and it's time to pray its going to be tough but you have to fight to pray. The other thing we need to learn is the nature of God. When we understand that it will be easy to pray to Him and we will want to pray to Him. And another thing is we need to understand that we are going to be receiving revelation during our prayers so we need to have a pen, paper, and a flash light. Why would God give you revelation if your not going to remember it or use it - so we need to be ready to write it down and all. I have a testimony of this, I have learned and started to pray and not complete and I have been receiving a lot of help and revelation. So I invite all to learn and put this in practice.

So about our week, we have been finding and dropping a lot of people. We have been working hard but we have a lot of work to do. We are working with the members more and still trying to work in the streets just as hard! And I have been feeling the pain in my legs. haha. Well, that's all I have this week for ya, sorry that its short!

Love you all and thanks for your help. If you could throw my companion and I in your prayers so we can find a family that would be sweet! Thanks.

love,
Elder Christensen

week ending 11.7.10

hiking on p-day

Hello Everyone,

Well, this last week was a good one - we had a lot of success with Alex a new guy that I was teaching.  Alex is doing good and he went to the Stake Conference.  He liked it and was really happy to be there with us and learn.
I got changed and now I am in a different sector. All the members on Sunday were really sad because they  found out that we were going to have changes - but we didn't know until 12:30am last night and after the call they told us that Elder Nielsen needed to be somewhere at 8am so I had to pack last night. I was packing from 12:30am to 3am and then after that we couldn't sleep much so we talked and we were talking about how much we are going to miss one another. After getting 2 or 3 hours of sleep we woke up at 6:20 am and that kicked my butt. haha. Well, my companion Elder Nielsen will be training now and I am in a city called Colina that is outside of the city  I am with Elder Jones.  Elder Jones is from Boise, Idaho and he is really cool and I am excited to work with him. So I am really happy and I am really excited to be in my new sector and the cool thing is that Elder Stark - my old companion - will be living in the same house as me. So it will be a fun time with him and stuff.

with Elder Jones

Something that I have learned is that we cannot be upset with what happens in life - because everything happens for a reason. The times when something happens and we don't know why - that's when we need to go do and fight. I learned this today seeing that I didn't want to leave my sector but I was called to come out here. There is a reason and I am going to go find out why, and I am going to complete with my purpose. So if anything happens to you - don't ask why is this happening to me - but what can I learn from this or what do I need to learn or what do I need to do. I know if you can do this it will change the way you look at things and life will become easier and the challenges won't be so hard.
I know that this church is true and the work that I am doing for the Lord is true. It's the most important work that I could ever do in my life - next to having a family. haha. I know that Jesus Christ lives and He restored this church to the earth through Joseph Smith.  Because of that, we can be baptized the way that Christ was baptized - the way that is valid in the eyes of God. I love you all and I hope that your week goes good for you!

Love,
Elder Christensen

week ending 10.17.10

 Hey everyone,

Well this week was a butt-kicking week. It was just like getting blessing after blessing! We we started to look up all of our investigators and while we were doing that we passed by like 5 people and they really didn't work out.  But then we came up to one that worked out, it wasn't the person that we were looking for but we found a family from Peru and they are so amazing. We are going to go past their house to teach them this week and help them. But the funny thing was we went in just to say a prayer, because they asked for one - then we told them that we were from the USA and they ran and got their camera. It was funny and the first time that has happened haha. I am happy that I get to have these experiences.

On Sunday we had a baptism, yes that's right Camila got baptized. She was so happy and her sister was so happy and is really excited to be baptized on the 31 of Oct. Maria, the mom, was so happy. But before all that we filled up the font with water that was warm and nice but then something happened. One of the other elders came up to us and said that the water was gone, and that was 20 minutes before the baptism. It took 2 hours to fill the font up with warm water. So we were on panic mode haha. So we brought in a hose and turned on the cold water to fill it up fast. We got it full of water in about 20 minutes, it was sweet. But the down side was that the water was so cold. I felt the cold on my legs for at least 1 hour after the baptism. haha. But I was so happy to be able to baptize Camila and get to know that family and help out the ward that I am in. I have seen so many things happen that I would have never thought would happen, the Lord works in ways that we don't understand some times but they work. We just need to trust in him and all will be good!

 I know that this is the true church of Christ and that the true Gospel of Christ is found in the world today. Thanks to Joseph Smith we have these 2 things that change lives. I am so happy to be so deep into the Gospel of Christ!

I love you all and I am thankful for all the support you give me. Have a good week!

love,

Elder Christensen

week ending 9.13.10

Hey everyone,

Well this week we have seen a lot of things happen... from changes in the mission to people telling us that they didn't feel like following any more and then calling us later in the week and saying that they want to keep learning and be baptized. Yes, I was talking about Guillermina, She told us that her heart is closed and doesn't want to follow her answers. It was like taking a 90 mph fastball to the back - it hurt really bad, but I know that she knows that everything is true. I even told her that I know that she knows and she said yes you're right. Thanks to the spirit I could know those things. We left feeling a little down but she gave us a call on Saturday telling us that she wants to keep learning and doing all the stuff. Man, it brought more joy then the pain we felt. It was great!

Let's see, what else happened?  Well, we are teaching a guy from Austria and speaks less Spanish then me and speaks German. He said a prayer in German the other day and it was cool! I could understand a little, I think, but it was cool.  I want to learn how to speak German now. haha. He has a baptism date for the 10 of Oct. So I am really excited for him!

I have been learning more about the importance of being 100% obedient.  Man it really kicks my butt but its so worth it. haha. There are things that I don't understand but I do them anyways because I know that I need to do them to show my love for Christ. There are lots of times that we don't understand why we can't do things or why we have some commandments but they are there to help us and we need to trust in the Lord that he knows best and that he has the way ready for us to complete. I have learned this through putting it to the test and seeing the blessings that comes from being obedient. So be obedient.  haha.

I love you all and I know that this is the true church and there is no other church that can bring the eternal life to men. only the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

love,

Elder Christensen

PS. a guy just came into the internet place selling pens that say I Love Chile and have a flashlight on it for 50 cents or 250 pesos, and yes, I bought it.  haha.

week ending 9.5.10

Hey everyone!

Well this week was a crazy one, every day felt like it went by really fast.  I would wake up and then the next thing I knew I was in my bed again going to sleep. The time is starting to go really fast and I am not liking it to much. If it stays like this I will be home before I know it and i will be happy,sad. haha. But we had a good week, 2 days I wasn't with Elder Nielsen.  We have changes for a day and its cool to get to know other missionaries, but every time Elder Nielsen and I would get back together we would through a small party, it's great.

One of the things that happened this week is that Cristian turned 28 so we had a BBQ for lunch with him and his family. All the photos that I sent to you guys was at the BBQ.  The one with me is the Pot leaves that they have in their house.  They aren't going to use them but I was going to put a card saying break in case of emergencies, but I was lazy. 

haha. They got CONFIRMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wooooooooooooooooooooo. Now we are on the road to a eternal family - so happy for them!  They are doing good and making friends in the ward so we are really happy with what is going on and how everything is working out with them. So keep putting them in your prayers so they can make it to the temple in one year!

With Leti and Guillermina, they are doing great and going to church.  The only thing is that Guillermina doesn't believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.  We found out why and its because she doesn't want to get baptized if she gets an answer. But we helped her see that it's really important that she gets baptized so she is going to pray again to see if Joseph Smith was a Prophet. So please put her in your prayers that she can get an answer from God. thanks.

So I had a question and I learned something this week...

•Why was it important that Christ had to bleed his own blood?

(to let you know I studied this in Spanish so I am translating from Spanish into English so lets hope it works. haha)

 Matt 26:28--- this is my blood, bleed for the remission of sins.

that led me to a different scripture in the bible in Exodus:

Exodus 24:3-8---Christ had to bleed for our sins has a symbol for sacrifice, because in the law of Moses the people had to do blood sacrifices to receive forgiveness. they had to do that because Jehovah made that convent with them.

then in Hebrews 9:15-22 it teaches us and says " with out bleeding of blood there is no remission of sins." I know that Christ lives and that he paid for my sins and all the sins of the world and I would do anything for him to show him how much I love him. That is my testimony!

Love you all!  Have a good week!

Love,
Elder Christensen

week ending 8.29.10

Hey everyone,

Well this week I hit the one year mark in the mission and it was lame and hard. But my companion made me a little surprise and put stuff on my bed like you can see in the photos.

He is a great companion helping me remember that I am half way done. I think my family is more excited than me, because I don't want it to end. haha.

I'll tell you about something that happened to me and something that I learned this morning:

I have been having a hard time lately and I have found out why. I am reading in 1 Nephi 8 where it talks about the iron rod. I have followed the rod to the fruit and now I am ashamed.  (1 Nephi 8:25).

like what it says in the Bible;

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.....

2 Timothy 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,....

We shouldn't be ashamed of our testimonies and the gospel of Christ. I think I am ashamed because I love the world more at this time. So I need to forget the world and not be ashamed.

There is some strong quest in Mormon 8:38 .....Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies--because of the praise of the world? The one that hit me the most was ...because of the praise of the world.  Man that's me.  I have been searching for the praise of the world. That will only take me to an endless misery - so something needs to change.

There is a lot more to my study about this topic and man, I learned so much that I need to learn to love the fruit and not be ashamed of what I believe and stand up strong against the world. I love the gospel - it's changing me so much.  I am becoming a new person every day.

So I have a testimony that we need to build our testimonies upon the rock, (Christ) and when we do that - when the devil comes to get us we will be ready for the attack. Thanks for supporting me for this year and all the prayers that you have sent my way. Now if you could keep Leti and Guillarmine in your prayers it would be great - thanks!

love you all.

Love,
Elder Christensen

week ending 8.22.10

Hey everyone, 

Well, my mom asked me how the family that we have been teaching is... they are clean from all their sins if that gives you an idea how they are. haha. Oh man, their baptism was so amazing! I had the privilege to baptize Carolina and Janaby, They are so amazing! They are so happy now and Cristian gave his testimony after the baptism and he couldn't talk he was so emotional. I even started to cry a little. Just to let everyone know, Cristian made some of the biggest changes I have ever seen in my life, he stopped smoking, drinking and drinking tea in 2 days so he could be baptized and now they have the goal to go to the temple in a year! I know what true joy is now, this is why I am giving myself up to help others. I love this work!

the baptism for the family! so happy, a great day!

 

On Saturday Elder Scott for the 12 was in Chile and gave a talk but we didn't get to hear it. It's all good - we got to hear Elder Costa from the First Quorum of the 70. He is from Brazil and is amazing.  I learned a lot about the mission and making goals that are big! When we think big we will do big things and I want to do big things so I have a lot of goals that are big. I am going to do all I can to complete them. He also taught us about the Holy Ghost and what the role of the Holy Ghost is.  Now I know what I need to do to have the spirit and keep it and help other people have it and keep it. I am excited for this next year, oh man, I am going to be done with a year this Thursday. Oh man, the time has gone by way too fast! But I am loving it.

Well, I had a good week and I am ready to have another one.  Please help a family of 2 we are teaching, a mom Guillarmina and her daughter Leti, with some prayers. Thanks for your help.

Have a good week and I love you all!

love,
Elder Christensen

we made mac and cheese with hotdogs, it was great.

Cristian made this for me and Elder Nielsen, it was great.

week ending 8.8.10

Hey everyone,

Well this week has been a good week, I have learned a lot about myself. I was talking to my companion this morning and I am sure of it now, I am sure that I am sensitive and that's just how I am. And I don't care what people say, I am going to be the nice guy. Even though the world puts in our minds "nice guys finish last" we will see who finish last after this life haha. Sorry that was bad. =)  But I was trying to understand how I can be a strong person without being mean or hurtful and I think I found it or maybe not. haha. I have been searching for this answer for a long time now and I keep finding little things here and there, but I will find it.

This Sunday the family we have been teaching went to church and they liked it.  So that was the highlight of my week even though we missed the sacrament because we went to their house to walk with them but they decided to be slow, so I was like, "oh no, let's go." But I was just being nice and telling them you have a little bit more time. Next week I will get them to church on time. Make sure you put them in your prayers please. (Cristian, Carolina, Janaby.)

I was reading in the Book of Mormon and I came along a scripture that made me think and troubled me. It was in, 2 Nephi 6:14

 "And behold, according to the words of the prophet, the Messiah (Christ) will set himself again the second time to recover them; wherefore, He will manifest himself unto them in power and great glory, unto the destruction of their enemies, when that day cometh when they shall believe in Him; and none will He destroy that believe in Him."

I was thinking what does it mean "to believe in him." Because everyone says that they believe in Christ so does that mean all will be saved? Now you can see the predicament I was in this morning. haha. So I went to something that's called the study guide (or see D&C 20:29) that's in the Spanish scriptures and I read about "believe" and it brought up 2 things that stuck out to me. "Faith and Repentance" so I was like how can I put those with believing, well lets see how I did. haha.

•Faith- a part that talks about the true faith and what happens when people have faith and when they don't. When people have faith they repent and do good for others and do the things that Christ and God ask them to do. When people don't have faith they fall in to iniquity (Moroni 10:22). But what is faith? Well, if we read Ether 12:6 it teaches us what is faith and how we gain it. That faith is things that we can't see, and we gain it after our tests. And if you can prove that wrong, your good. But good luck.

•Repentance- to repent is a change of heart and of how we think. But a "true repentance is born for the love of the Lord and the true desire to obey the Lords Comandments" (study guide in Spanish pg. 20)

in Alma 42: 16 teaches us that we will not repent of our sins until we get punished, it's true no one will repent until they feel bad or someone tells them that, that is bad.

In 2 Nephi 9:22 we learn that if we become like little kids and repent, Christ will let us in, so we need to be humble and become like little kids.

In Moroni 6:8 tells us that God will forgive us every time we repent so we can repent every second and we will be forgiven. It's cool! haha.

So that's what I learned and I know what I learned is the truth and I am going to study this more because I don't feel happy with my answer. haha. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ is the true church on the earth. It has been a battle for me to get that testimony, but I got it and I will never lose it.

And for my sickness last week, I had a cold or something like that. But it lasted for a day or 2 and now I am good and lovin' life. haha.

Love you all and thanks for your time and prayers.

Love,

Elder Christensen

week ending 8.1.10

Hey everyone,

 

I was having a good week and then I got sick and I was told to stay in the house. So that brought my spirits a little down, but I was talking to a member one night and she was asking some questions. I started to receive thoughts that weren't mine, I knew that they came from my Heavenly Father.  I told her that when we are going through hard times we need to be happy, because, when we are sad, satan is attacking us because he knows that we are doing something good. He is going to do everything he can to bring us down and not enjoy what we are doing. So next time you are having a hard time, go to our Heavenly Father and ask for strength to overcome satan and enjoy the good things in life. And then another thing came into my head - it was a scripture from the Bible, James 2:26.  It talks about that our faith is dead if we don't have works.  Works are those little things we do, for example, pray every day, read the scriptures, go to church, follow the commandments, try and become like Christ every day, set goals, forgive others, and most of all forgive ourselves. If we can do some of those little things everyday we will have stronger faith. I know this because I have been putting this in practice and it has been working for me. I know that this is true, I know the Church of Jesus Christ is the true church on the earth. I will tell anyone that, that I come in contact with. I love my Savior.

 

love,

Elder Christensen

week ending 7.18.10

Hey everyone,

 

This week was great, I have been growing so much. I have learned that I am in one of the biggest tests of my life, I have a lot of responsibility and I haven't been really used to having so much to worry about. But this is teaching me so much to get me ready for the life after the mission. And I have realized that I am getting converted to the gospel still, I have a strong testimony but I am missing something and I have been doing the small things that we need to do to find and fill those things that we are missing.

 

First, we need to read the scriptures everyday and apply them to our lives.

Second, we need to pray everyday and ask for help and follow what the spirit tells us to do.

Third, meditate what we have read and learned and pray again.

Fourth, go to church every Sunday, not only to go but with a question or a doubt that we might have and search for the answer.

 

I know if we can do these 4 small things we can have the help of the Holy Ghost in our lives so much stronger and we will know what we need to do. I have a scripture for you all, 1 Nephi 17:13:

"And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led."

 

I love this scripture, it has been a helping hand for me in the hard times. I know that the Savior is our light and he has made a path for us, we just need to follow what he wants us to do and we will be lead by him. I know this is the true church on the earth and that Christ lives and has his Prophet Thomas Monson to help us in the hard times. I love this Gospel, it has changed my life and it's still changing.

 

Thanks for all the help everyone and for your prayers. Have a good week.

 

Love,

Elder Christensen

week ending 6.20.10

Hey everyone,

 

Well this week was another battle but we are the ones making the progress!!! oh ya!!!! Every time I get the chance to throw a punch in the way of evil I do it with my testimony! I am doing good and I have changed my outlook on the mission and I am looking for ways everyday to get better. Oh, and by the way, Chile just won a game in the world cup and everyone is going crazy!!! People are running around and screaming and blowing horns!! The people down here love soccer!! haha.

 

I read a scripture today that I loved a lot so I am going to share it.

1 Nephi 17:13

I was just looking for the paper I wrote it on and I dont have it, man what did I do. haha jk - But I love it because it helps us understand what Jesus can do for us if just follow him. So if you get time I invite you to read it.

 

This next week we are going to have a sports day and I am really pumped.  I will take some pics for you all. I am really pumped to show off my new soccer skills that I have been working on! oh yeah man!

 

I love you all so much!  Have a good week and in all ways smile to show off the light that you have inside!

 

love,

Elder Christensen

week ending 6.13.10

Hey everyone,

Well this week my companion and I made a lot of progress in our sector and we are working hard to find those people that want to find the path of Christ. We have been teaching the members a little about Christ this week, and one of the scriptures we have been using is in 2 Nephi 31:21.  It talks about Christ and how he is the only way and he only has the true doctrine. It has been hard for me to understand how some people don't understand what I understand, I have been learning how to just share how I feel and what I have recived from Christ through my prayers. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ is the path of Christ, and I don't learn that because someone told me that, I learned for myself. Through my studies, my prayers, my testimony, etc.

This week we got to go to the temple, oh man what a wonderful place. I think that is the best place to be in the world. When I was in there I felt a peace that you can't feel anywhere else. I know that is the house of the Lord, and he walks through his house. But I didn't want to leave after all was done, I wanted to stay there for ever! But we need to go out into the world and face those challenges that await us. I heard a saying this week, "I believe in Christ, so come what may." I have been trying to have this vision in my mission, hopefully I can get it soon. haha.

Well I am excited for this week to come, I am going to put everything I have into it. Thanks for your prayers that push me along everyday. I love you all. Have a good week.

Elder Christensen

week ending 4.25.10

Hey everyone,

Well, I really don't know what to say this week, nothing really happened that is really worth writing about.  So I am going to write my testimony....

I know that this church is true - that no other church in the world has the priesthood power to save and bless people.  That this power was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith, under the direction of Jesus Christ.  I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and there are 5 things we need to do to receive eternal life, salvation, blessings and help from out Heavenly Father:

1. have faith in Christ.

2. repent for our sins

3. be baptized, in the way Christ was baptized (the age of responsiblity, emersion, priesthood power).

4. receive the Holy Ghost.

5. endure to the end, (10 commandments, repent, go to church every Sunday and partake of the sacrament.)

I know if we do these things we will live with our families after this life and also with our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ.  Life is simple, when we put our faith and our confidence in Christ we will get through everything. I know that the plan of salvation is true, I know that we are on the earth for a reason and when we have completed our task, our Father in Heaven calls us home.  It might not be the way we want to go but it's the way that was planned for us.  I know that my family members that have died are waiting for me and helping me out in my mission. 

I love my Heavenly Father and my brother Jesus Christ, my testimony is the strongest it's ever been.  I love doing the work of the Lord. I don't have doubts that this is the only true church of Christ. I want to share this testimony with every person.

I love you all and thank you for your support.  Have a good week and we will talk next week.

love,  Elder Christensen

week ending 4.18.10

Hey everyone,

Well, more about my companion, Elder Ojeda.  He lives in West Valley City, Utah, he went to Hunter High, he loves to play basketball and go snowboarding, and his birthday is June 4th!  Now, how crazy is that?  We have the same birthday and have some of the same loves and we live like 15 mins. from each other!  We have become really good friends and have had some good laughs together already. It's fun, we are working hard to find those people that are waiting for us. I am loving it so far.

This week we worked hard and saw some fruits of it: we found a family of 3 looking for something more. They are a young family the girl is like 5 months old or so and is super cute. And Carlos and Sofia are super awesome. They love when we come over and love to learn. They have so many questions for us and the lessons we are teaching them are answering all of them.  It's so crazy how these things work, I love seeing the hand of God "Do Work!" but they have a little shop that they both work in and its hard to find time to teach them and its even harder to have them close up for Sunday, but we are doing our best.  Please add them in your prayers.

Here is something from my mission president, it is super good and it helped me out a lot:

     

"As we seek to gain a greater understanding of the Atonement through our personal study of the Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel, let us not forget the importance of our own personal learning by faith. This we not only study and read about the Atonement but we must apply in our lives. We must be doers of the word and not just “readers” of the word. The following is a powerful recipe that comes from Preach My Gospel for becoming more like our Savior Jesus Christ:

“Even after we have accepted Christ and repented of our sins, we may fall short and sin again. We should continually try to correct these transgressions. In addition, we should continually improve—to develop Christlike qualities, to grow in knowledge, and to serve more effectively. As we learn more about what the Savior expects of us, we will want to show our love by obeying Him. Thus, as we repent daily, we will find that our lives will change and improve. Our hearts and our behavior will become more Christlike. We will come to feel great joy in repenting daily."  Preach My Gospel pg 63

This is so true!  We need to be the doers when we know the gospel of Christ, not be the readers. we need to help those that don't know it or are having a hard time following it. If we really understood the doctrine of the atonement of Christ nothing would stop us from going to church or reading the scriptures or praying or following the commandments. It's so simple at times and people so close around us don't know it's that close. We need to share it with them. (2 Nephi 2:8). 

I know that this is the true church and the only church that has the power to save people and to bring them to live with God, Jesus Christ, and their families. I didn't really understand the meaning of why we do the things we do, and now I do.  It's because we love our Heavenly Father and our brother Jesus Christ and of course our families, when we have a true love for Christ we will do what ever it takes to follow him.  I know that Christ lives and is blessing all of us every day.  But we need to do our part. I love you all.

Have a good week.

Love,

Elder Christensen.

Well, I think that Chile just doesn't want me to send photos - because every computer I use sucks or is broken in some way.  So there won't be photos again, sorry.

week ending 2.21.10

Hey Everyone,

Okay - this week was a good one, well a good one to test my faith. I took this test by the horns and lived it up and learned a lot. I love doing this work, sometimes you don't see the good stuff right off the bat but we need to have faith and hope that it will come in the future. And I have learned that I need to have hope and use my faith to show that I have hope that God will give me help with every thing. I have been trying to become the missionary that my Father wants me to be.

week ending 2.14.10

Hello everyone,

I had a crazy week this week. We had meetings like crazy and a conference for the mission, which was good but really long. I learned something really cool this week. I made this lesson for members in my mission, you should read these scriptures and study them a little and you will understand the atonement of Jesus Christ a little better.
okay in Alma 7:11-13 it talks about what Christ did for us. (atonement)
next in Alma 11:40-43 this talks about why Christ did it.
then in 2 Nephi 31:17-21 this talks about how we can use the atonement of Christ.

week ending 2.7.10

Hey everyone,

Well, this photo is of me and Elder Stark doing some service for a family. We ripped grass out of this garden for 2 and a half hours it was really fun. Not only did we destroy the ground, we dug up onions and ate them. The first one we ate was so sweet and tasty but after that they tasted bad. The lady that lived there could smell us really bad, I just laughed. It was a good time.

This photo is of Luisa and us being little kids, it was really fun. Luisa got the Holy Ghost this week and she started to cry after she got it. I can't believe the change she has made. She went from having no spirit at all to just glowing with the spirit. I can't wait for her to grow strong in the church.

week ending 1.17.10

Hey everyone,

Well today I sent my companion home, yep that's right, my trainer left me so I am getting a new comp today. I am going to miss Elder Davies, he helped me so much and I am glad he was my trainer. chow Elder Davies.

Okay this was a tough week for me and Elder Davies because our investigator, Estefy, decided that she didn't want to get baptized anymore. She loves the church and everything. We spent 4 hours this week with her trying to figure out what happened. She had so many different stories and stuff. But we went to talk with her family and we found out that her sister has been telling her bad things about our church and that she shouldn't get baptized. That was tough for us to hear. We tried to straighten things out with everyone but it didn't work. So that was tough.

week end 11.29.09

hey everyone,

so this week has been a great week! i have been able to speak spanish okay and at least tell people what i want to share, i never thought i could.

Elder Corbrigde of the 70 came to my ward this sunday and shared an amazing testimony and it was like the only thing i understood. he was really nice and he was happy to see the missionaries smiling and happy. it was a cool experience.

this week we had an talent show in the ward that i am in and it was way funny, i have videos of most of the acts and i have video of the things i was in. oh man it was so fun and i had a great time, but it took up 4 hours of one of our days so that really hurt us with the work but i am trying to say its okay lol. i loved it and it was a good stress reliever.