hey everyone!

this week has been good.  it's weird to be a leader, because I kind of just follow my own pace in everything like I used to, but not really because I'm doing missionary work?  so I don't know if that is a good or bad thing.  my companion is on fire though, and I just keep working hard because she wants to work hard.  I do too, but not in the same way?  it's hard to explain.  But life is good because I love missionary work. 

It kind of makes me excited to come home and be a member missionary, but then I also want to go to the gym again because I got this weird fat belly over the holidays that I can't physically get rid of until I can go to a gym and work it off.   not something that is going to happen when we are ordered to do an 11 minute work out plan with a neighbor that bangs on our door when ever we run in place.  that and I refuse to run outside because it's blue nipple freezing out there. so my life is missionary f minus as far as real exercise goes. 

funny things this week.  so there was this one time that we were going to visit this less active member, and she is great.  but we have to wait outside the building until her husband can come and open the door because it's kind of a shady establishment on top of a vacant store with windows that have been broken/ shot out.  and while we were waiting this guy comes up and my companion starts to talk with him, she asked " are you staying warm?" he said "I wish I was in a place like that where I could be warm." and she was like "have you ever met missionaries before?" and he said something that didn't apply and she caught the stench of alcohol on his breath. good times.  well instead of getting an appointment with him then she just talked with him about the gospel and Danny opened the door and talked to him a little bit and we were like "okay bye have a good night!' and he was like "I love you!" and pulled me into this awkward drunk homeless hug.  i really did not know what to do with myself.  at all. then we parted ways because we had nothing else we could do for him.

then there was this funny time that we had a chili cook off at the church and the Ward decided that we were supposed to judge it as missionaries.  okay no big deal.  they didn't really know how to do it, we suggested having individual bowels so that we could scoop chili into our own and then eat it with our own individual place setting. well for some reason they decided that it would be better to share bowls with five spoons in them, pass them down and take a spoon as we go.  ended up using like 5X more spoons but that's fine. one of the elders is a little handicapped though, undiagnosed, but probably asbergers at least.  and for some reason sister drew and I were the last ones to get the bowls. well we do this thing and the fist bowl goes by I get it with two spoons, take one out pass it on kind of thing, third bowl there is three spoons.  I get really uncomfortable but take a spoon anyway thinking "maybe there were six." nope.  I have the thing in my mouth when I hear the elder say "whoopsI left my spoon... in..."  and I JUST WANT TO GAG. SO BAD.  WORST THING EVER I TOOK HIS SPOON AND PUT IT IN MY MOUTH.  after that I watched him like a hawk and had to give it back to him two more times to make sure he took his spoon out.  worst thing of my life.  never being a judge in a food contest again.

so that was interesting. 

there were plenty of inspirational things that happend this week too, like that we went and saw dorothy again and I just want her to come back to church.  so baad!!!  how can someone who has a testimony like she does deny themselves repentance?  it is so heartwrenching to think about sometimes because I seriously want her to meet mom and Kathy.  you could be best friends.  she's awesome I swear. I often imagine my mission life and my home life colliding and in this instance I think it would be awesome.  but sadly you guys are on the other side of the continent/country.

we also had a good zone training this week that asserted a lot of the things I've been thinking about in reguards to member present lessons and such.  it's interesting because the ward leadership is having us use some... interesting personalities as friendshippers, but I know in my heart they are not the role models of a strong priesthood leader or personable and relatable friends that they need.  huff.  

I just keep working and studying and praying.  I know that we are doing someting worthwhile, and something that is inspired.  there is no other way that a lot of the stuff that happens to us would happen.  it is only by the lord that we see success and I know that with all my heart.  it's funny, we were talking in relief society about inviting people in a realistic way and the missionaries came up like we always do and sister grover said "I apologise, but it is amazing that the church survives the missionaries." and in some ways, that is true.  we are inexperienced.  we are young.  we are not really the best of teachers, but we have testimonies that this work is of God.  if it were left up to me and my own efforts and talents, I don't believe that I could honestly inspire anyone to keep commitments and commandments.  The spirit of the Lord is what carries this work, it touches the Hearts of the people and by that understanding we all can gain we are blessed. 

there is nothing greater. 

Love Sister Christensen

this week!!!  man it was so crazy that I can't even remember half of it.  

it would be easiest to say that it is really weird to watch one missionary take the last steps on her mission and then jump back to one who has all the excitement and energy of a new missionary.  it's like watching your grandma die and then deciding you need more excitement in your life so you get a puppy lab on an impulse buy off the internet. basically.

so but really umm things and stories.  so sister rust and I had a really good past few days.  we basically tried our best to have lessons with people but ended up just saying goodbye to everyone. we would be like 'so the gospel" and they'd be like  'sister rust what are you going to do when you get home??" and she would be like "I don't know PROBABLY DIE. I'M GOING TO BE A MISSIONARY FOREVERRRRRR!!!!!1!!!!11!!!!1!1!!!' while I just sat awkwardly in the corner.  it was actually really hard to watch her go home, makes me never want to go home.  side note she is still a missionary, and here is a story from the life of sister rust-

"I also had an experience that I thought you would appreciate. After we figured all the flight stuff, I was sitting there waiting to get on the flight to Grand Junction and there was a girl sitting across from me and we started talking. She told me that she was from India and she was going to Utah to do a science experiment. So then I told her I was on my way home from my mission and for the past year and a half I have gone and taught people about Jesus Christ. Then she said, "Well I'd love to talk to you!" I was like, "Well I'd love to talk to you!" She told me how she had gone to school in France and had gone to a church there and loved it. She loved learning about Jesus Christ and wanted to learn about him more. So I went in and started teaching and it came to the point where the Book of Mormon came up and as I'm talking about it and showing it to her this other woman comes over and says to her, "Have you read the Koran? You should read the Koran." As soon as she came over I knew she came to argue with me. But I gave her the benefit of the doubt and was friendly with her, as she continually made jabs at me to make sure I knew she didn't like me. Then she asked me, "So you aren't even allowed to talk to you family right?" I told her on Mondays and on Christmas and Mothers Day. Then she said, "well that's kind of isolating don't you think? Yeah your kind of isolating yourselves kind of like a CULT." I was done talking to her at that point. haha Then she said, "I love the Mormon religion." No she didn't. She had told us earlier in the conversation that she was Muslim and that she just traveled around everywhere. Then she said, "I'm actually not Muslim, I'm from Denver and I think Mormon's are a cult." So then she went on this huge rant of how horrible we were. I did what I could to testify but her heart was so hard it did nothing. She turned to the Muslim girl and was like, "stay away from the Mormons. Stay far away from them!" Then the girl told her, "I was the one asking her questions, I just like to learn!" It was crazy. I just turned and ignored her. Eventually she got up and walked away, and the girl from India had left already so I was sitting there alone when this other woman comes over and says, "How are you doing. Are you ok?" This woman was an angel sent from above! Such a sweet lady! She told me how she appreciated what I was doing and that her nephew went on a mission and how much he loved it. She just took care of me after that. I know Satan had to make one last jab at me before my mission ended, but God sent some one to support me as well. Heavenly Father is so mindful of us."

so yeah.  I just really love her a lot. 

I got a greenie on thursday though!  we have been having fun ever since.  it was actually really relieving to ride back to our area (a drive that takes 4 hours) and realize that she is just as weird as me.  now we just make crazy cat jokes and talk about crows and sharing the gospel to all our animal friends all the time.  we will be sisters snow and white just you watch.  things are great though, she has all the energy in the world to be the best missionary she can be so I will just ride that through the next three months.  her name is Sister Drew.

.  

I gave up reading the Book of Mormon in the month of january too.  now I'm just trying to get to page 200.

I"M HITTING NINE MONTHS THIS WEEK????!!!!!  i don't know what to do with myself.  sister drew says I should stuff a shirt full of tissue until I look pregnant and take a picture.  I am pretty sure I will do nothing to celebrate.

everything keeps changing, I don't know what to do with myself but keep working hard.  I got a letter this week so I will be trying to write a few people back hint hint wink wink.  get ready for it to take two months. 

I love you all, and here's a scripture: Mosiah 5:15 "Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvationa nd eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, inheaven and in earth, who is God above all.  Amen."  let's all endure this together.

Sister Christensen

this week!!!  man it was so crazy that I can't even remember half of it.  

it would be easiest to say that it is really weird to watch one missionary take the last steps on her mission and then jump back to one who has all the excitement and energy of a new missionary.  it's like watching your grandma die and then deciding you need more excitement in your life so you get a puppy lab on an impulse buy off the internet. basically.

so but really umm things and stories.  so sister rust and I had a really good past few days.  we basically tried our best to have lessons with people but ended up just saying goodbye to everyone. we would be like 'so the gospel" and they'd be like  'sister rust what are you going to do when you get home??" and she would be like "I don't know PROBABLY DIE. I'M GOING TO BE A MISSIONARY FOREVERRRRRR!!!!!1!!!!11!!!!1!1!!!' while I just sat awkwardly in the corner.  it was actually really hard to watch her go home, makes me never want to go home.  side note she is still a missionary, and here is a story from the life of sister rust-

"I also had an experience that I thought you would appreciate. After we figured all the flight stuff, I was sitting there waiting to get on the flight to Grand Junction and there was a girl sitting across from me and we started talking. She told me that she was from India and she was going to Utah to do a science experiment. So then I told her I was on my way home from my mission and for the past year and a half I have gone and taught people about Jesus Christ. Then she said, "Well I'd love to talk to you!" I was like, "Well I'd love to talk to you!" She told me how she had gone to school in France and had gone to a church there and loved it. She loved learning about Jesus Christ and wanted to learn about him more. So I went in and started teaching and it came to the point where the Book of Mormon came up and as I'm talking about it and showing it to her this other woman comes over and says to her, "Have you read the Koran? You should read the Koran." As soon as she came over I knew she came to argue with me. But I gave her the benefit of the doubt and was friendly with her, as she continually made jabs at me to make sure I knew she didn't like me. Then she asked me, "So you aren't even allowed to talk to you family right?" I told her on Mondays and on Christmas and Mothers Day. Then she said, "well that's kind of isolating don't you think? Yeah your kind of isolating yourselves kind of like a CULT." I was done talking to her at that point. haha Then she said, "I love the Mormon religion." No she didn't. She had told us earlier in the conversation that she was Muslim and that she just traveled around everywhere. Then she said, "I'm actually not Muslim, I'm from Denver and I think Mormon's are a cult." So then she went on this huge rant of how horrible we were. I did what I could to testify but her heart was so hard it did nothing. She turned to the Muslim girl and was like, "stay away from the Mormons. Stay far away from them!" Then the girl told her, "I was the one asking her questions, I just like to learn!" It was crazy. I just turned and ignored her. Eventually she got up and walked away, and the girl from India had left already so I was sitting there alone when this other woman comes over and says, "How are you doing. Are you ok?" This woman was an angel sent from above! Such a sweet lady! She told me how she appreciated what I was doing and that her nephew went on a mission and how much he loved it. She just took care of me after that. I know Satan had to make one last jab at me before my mission ended, but God sent some one to support me as well. Heavenly Father is so mindful of us."

so yeah.  I just really love her a lot. 

I got a greenie on thursday though!  we have been having fun ever since.  it was actually really relieving to ride back to our area (a drive that takes 4 hours) and realize that she is just as weird as me.  now we just make crazy cat jokes and talk about crows and sharing the gospel to all our animal friends all the time.  we will be sisters snow and white just you watch.  things are great though, she has all the energy in the world to be the best missionary she can be so I will just ride that through the next three months.  her name is Sister Drew.

 

I gave up reading the Book of Mormon in the month of January too.  now I'm just trying to get to page 200.

I"M HITTING NINE MONTHS THIS WEEK????!!!!!  i don't know what to do with myself.  sister drew says I should stuff a shirt full of tissue until I look pregnant and take a picture.  I am pretty sure I will do nothing to celebrate.

everything keeps changing, I don't know what to do with myself but keep working hard.  I got a letter this week so I will be trying to write a few people back hint hint wink wink.  get ready for it to take two months. 

I love you all, and here's a scripture: Mosiah 5:15 "Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvationa nd eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, inheaven and in earth, who is God above all.  Amen."  let's all endure this together.

Sister Christensen

Animal Crackers and Fruit Punch

this has been one of the craziest weeks of my life.  so much stuff happened.  oy.   

so

starting at the beginning we did some stuff on monday but tuesday we ended up just going to district meeting and then driving to moncton and then to halifax for sis rust.  I stayed in moncton with Sisters Dougherty and Comfort, both somewhat experienced missionaries.   sis comfort has been out for 4.5 months, and sister dougherty for 7.5 months.  so the first night we planned none of us really knew what we were doing, especially because the district leader decided for some bizarre reason to go on visits that wednesday while we were already on exchanges. (visits is when the district leader and his companion come and help train sister missionaries in a foursome... in this case a fivesome.) so I took over and helped sister doughterty decide the less actives she needed help or training with and areas that she is looking to improve upon.  it sounded good so we went with it.  well wednesday started and the elders missed the less active appointment for language study and then proceded to follow us around the rest of the day to people who weren't home and streets that were empty, giving little to no useless training on the way.  so that was awesome. at one point we just made phone calls in the car.  it was really dumb especially because the district leader's angsty feelings were flagrantly reciprocated by sister D who's area it was, and she had no intentions of respecting or learning anything from them.  so the whole thing was really dumb.  I just got to follow around and watch.  at the end of the day we went to this house church for one of the district leaders potentials on a whim,  where a guy who claimed to be christian protestant or something was 'demonstrating faith', that's really the best way I can describe kindly what I saw happened.  the truth is that he was running a cult.  he taught no docterine, referenced no scripture, claimed to be prophetic and shared lots of stories where it just sounds like he performed miracles without true consent of parties mentioned, in other words he went around claiming to have a power to do things and take people's agency away.  super creepy when you meet an antichrist these days.  even creepier when they perform stuff like that in the name of Christ.  and then at the end he invited us over for dinner so he could "discuss Docterine." in other words bash.  it was at the point that he challenged Elder Widdup to prove the bible was flawed so this man could denounce scripture entirely that I stepped in and said "Excuse me, we did not come here to argue, and now we are leaving."  the room went silent and we left. 

but that was just the beginning to my week!  we didn't end up getting back to our area until friday morning, when we went to a bunch of lessons with our ward missionary Angie.  we went and saw holly, and assuaged her fears that even if she did marry she and dwight would still be living in sin. (false btw.) (marriage solves the problem of living with your boyfriend.  that would make him your husband.) then angie gave her a pile of books about the prophets a mile high and we asked her if she'd been reading the book of mormon which she hadn't.  we emphasised the importance of the Book of Mormon and bore our testimonies that it is the foundation of knowing truth about the restoration of Christ's gospel. and the peaced out.  we also saw our favorite excommunicated member and handed her an olive branch to come back called Laborers in the Vinyard and angie and her became friends!  which is awesome.  I also found out that Dory is 51 which freaked me out a little for the reason that SHE'S MY MOM'S AGE and that they WOULD BE BEST FRIENDS if only they knew each other.  but that is a dream for another day. I love her so much. 

Sie Got Baptized!!!! on saturday.  so that was awesome. we set out to the church in the morning and it started to rain.  and it kept raining. keep in mind that it is also 16 degrees.  AND RAINING. what the heck Maine??? so the roads were kind of crazy and all the people we invited bailed and our ward mission leader was doing his Eeyore thing as per usual and dramatizing the fact that the pianist might not come and OH NO WE'LL HAVE TO SING A CAPELLA!!!!  seriously? some people.  anyway.  so sie showed up with his wife and Brother in Law who is actually a less active, and they were well groomed!  which says a lot for a guy who doesn't shave and has mile long hair, and a lady who lives in pajamas.   so that was great.  we found sie a jumpsuit and he made jokes about how he felt like an innmate, and the water in the font was warm and even though only the bishop's wife first councelor and the pianist came (ha) and we had our baptism.  sister rust and I got to give five minute talks on baptism and the holy ghost, which brought the spirit in.  over all it was just such a happy and spiritually uplifting experience.  then the baptist Jimmy stepp who's a priest age Young adult took four tries to get sie under the water.  I just wanted to facepalm so badly.  the bishop and mission leader told us to use him but even so we asked sie to pray about it and he picked Jim Stepp his father, but the mission leader and bishop went ahead and asked jimmy anyway, even after we told them that sie had prayed and chosen.  but it was fine because sie's awesome and a good sport, and decided to make more jokes instead.  "just pretend like I owe you money!" he kept telling Jimmy, "Just shove me under I won't care!"

So that was fun.  then next day in sacrament meeting he was confirmed and Brother o'connell a Recent convert of about 9 months gave his blessing.  it is so cool to see that this ward is growing so quickly.  the spirit was definitly there, and I definitely got excited when his blessing included a few scentances about missionary work.  Yeah Sie as a member missionary!  that is a good day.  the best thing though was that he get to take the sacrament for the first time.  we don't really discourage people from taking the bread and water, but sie wanted to wait, every week he would wave his hand and shy away.  It was so amazing to be able to pass him the tray and have him partake.  There are a few times in my life where I have really felt the true meaning of the sacrament, and that was one of mine.  but of course, he then bent over and said "they should have animal crackers for bread!" I laughed at the thought of sie 'a proud leo' holding a lion animal cracker for the sacrament.  funny stuff. he also joked that the water cups look like thimbals and should be fruit punch.  It was at that point that I snickered a hush and prayed he would calm down.

we asked him how he felt after the service. "I feel like a new man." shall we not go on in so great a cause?

have a good week this week everyone!

ps I'm training.

Sister Christensen

Teach Sister Hendrickson to tie scarves

Scarf tying professionals

Hello everyone From Presque Isle Maine!  I know there were a few sketchy moments with impending doom of frostbite last week but we made it through alive and safe with all ten toes.  That is always a plus.  the funny thing about not watching the news or weather channel is that You don't really get to hear all of the fun facts about how you could get frostbite in ten minutes, and because your mission is made up of crazy people you go out and do the work anyway.  It's always fun to hear just how bad it was after it happened, because we do the dumb thing and just suffer through.  Driving home from Fredericton New Brunswick in a snow storm? great!  Our car is so cold it's running primarily on the battery you say? that's nice!  contacting people in the streets? I love being told to get a life and go home by the only other guy crazy enough to be outside! Knocking with minus 40 windchill? my face is burning with the love of God!  

So that was fun.  But there did come a point at which we couldn't be outside anymore, and compromised by contacting people in the mall, and at Tim Hortons for Hot chocolate instead. Probably illegal, and the people behind the counter always give us weird or hostile looks but it's better than loosing skin.  So I'm okay with it. 

today though now it is 40 degrees and raining a nice sheet of ice onto the snow we have.  it compacts the snow, and some of it is melting away, but mostly just turning everything into an unforgiving ice rink. 

but that wasn't the only exciting thing this week, our investigator who's on date to be baptized for this saturday decided to do a fast for strength to quit smoking with us, and then we went to see him last monday and he was deathly ill.  he'd told us on monday to do out laundry at his house so we wouldn't have to use change (super nice, we decided to still do whites at our place.) and when we came up from the laundry room with tracy and mouse he was just bent over in the kitchen and pail as a sheet.  we asked him what was up and he told us that a few hours after we left the sunday he started throwing up, and had done so five times since he saw us.  shouldn't have gone to work (though he did :( ) and was just dying for sleep.  we were like, welp, we can't teach you anything like this, get better man okay? and then we left, looking at each other like God made Sie sick! :D by wednesday he still wasn't feeling better really, no longer throwing up, but still very sick to his stomach, and especially he noted around smoke.  we asked him if he'd had a cigarett and he was like nope, I have no desire. then he just looked at us and was like "you know, I think this is happening for a reason. back with the elders they would always say there are no coincidences, so I think that this was supposed to happen so I could quit." and we were like yeah Sie, we agree.  and then he said thank you for making me sick in his prayer.

he still hasn't smoked!

OTHER CRAZY STORY so there's this less active recent convert (of like 5 years or so) we've been wroking with and she is a hoot.  let me tell you.  she is loud and rambunctious and loves to tell us about her past mistakes and temptations and we're like okay!? how about the scriptures??  but she always says the funniest stuff, like one rant she had with us she was like, so satan loves to mess with me, he's like here have this big rock of temptation, now have another one, and another one, now also hold this pebble, you can handle it! you're buff! have another pebble!  now have TEN THOUSAND PEBBLES, YOU SUUUUUUUCCCKKKK!!!!!!!  simply she's funny, and sometimes unproductive, and self impeding, but it's okay. we love her.  funniest part of this story is that she's a ward missionary!  I don't really know who came up with the idea, but up until this week we've been really hesitant to use her in lessons. now we know it was inspired! because!  one night we were getting stuff ready for dinner listenening to voicemails and her voice comes up and she's like 'I need to talk to you guys about next week blah blah alsoIhaveafriendwhowantstohearthegosplecallmebackkaybye!'  My companion and I just look at each other like WHAAAT??? and jump on the phone. we find out that angie has scheduled an appointment with her and her friend invited her to have the missionaries come too.  so next Friday we meet this girl and she has already on mormon.org and basically taught herself part of the lesson particularly about how the gospel blesses families and then reads moroni 10:3-5 and is like I can know that this is true!  awesome when can I come to church?  we see her at church and she had already quit coffee?? for three days??? when we only mentioned it in passing and so she committed herself to it?????  and in relief society said that she wants this so bad she could cry and all we need to do is say the word and she'll leave her live in boyfriend???????  what's that you say? standing in the font you say?  turn on the water you say?  basically I don't know what to do with myself now.

so yeah.  exciting stuff.  I don't actually know how any of this is happening, I just trust in the Lord and do what my leaders tell me to.  Have faith, repent, keep covenants, endure, repeat. the sad thing is that we have to be out of our area for three days because my companion is going to a leadership training.  HAVE FAITH, REPENT, KEEP COVENANTS, ENDURE, REPEAT.  no don't get frustrated that we had literally no warning on this and we have to cancel like four appointments, it's okay it will be okay, sie will be okay, things won't fall apart or run away it'll all be okay. 

or that is what I tell myself. 

We are reading the book of mormon this month, and I finally am actually on track with the page calendar I made up last week.  yay it's good to not be behind.  

now I have to go and see if I have a drivers license anymore.  maybe I will just get a new one in maine.  that would be fun.

anyway.  

this morning We were trying to figure out if sister rust was going to the conference or not, and everyone and their dog was texting and calling and saying happy birthday.  our phone didn't know what to do with itself.  basically it crapped it's pants and dropped the assistants call.  good times.  I have so many text messages from people I don't ever really know!  it's like missionary facebook.  but on the bright side I got this: 

my birthday is complete. 

Love you all have a good week!