For a couple of weeks I have been thinking of a vision or a goal I should have for my mission as a whole. I have been praying and thinking a lot about it.  I received an answer from the Spirit. It has to do with obedience.

The answer is to learn to recognize and follow the promptings of the spirit. What other thing could be more beneficial for me and for others here in the mission and after. If I can learn to recognize and follow the spirit everyday and then give thanks for what I have received, I know I will receive guidance in my life and I will find opportunities to serve others and to share the gospel with them.

Now this has to do with obedience because if we are not obedient we will not have the spirit. How can you follow the spirit when you don’t have it with you?  Obedience is something learned in the mission. I have a desire to obey with exactitude. I can say I am imperfect but I have the desire and I work for it everyday. Once we can master the desire to be obedient we can focus more on the guidance of the Spirit. I think that is essential. Because everyday I will know what to study, where to go, what to say, how to improve, how to apply my studies, who I need to call, what I can to for my comp, and the list goes on and on. The key is to learn to recognize and follow the spirit.

I listened to a talk by Elder Scott and he said we should first notice and recognize when we are receiving revelation. Then we need to write it down and thank God for his help. Then we should always ask if there is anything else we need to know. We should not limit the inspiration we are receiving. I know more than anything this ability to recognize and follow the spirit will change my life and help me to always stay on the path and search for people to serve and opportunities to share the Gospel with them.

When we want guidance on how to raise our families if we have the spirit with us and we are obeying all the commandments we have nothing to worry about.

We were really lucky yesterday too. An area 70 spoke to us in sacrament meeting. He is called Elder Nuñez He was awesome. He talked about two things that I liked a lot. He said, We don’t criticize in this church, we encourage with ways to improve and to have the desire to improve. He also said Christ and Pres. Monson don’t criticize, they encourage with love and with Joy. They are both very happy men. 

And the Sabbath day is a celebration, a reverent celebration of the sacrifice that Christ made for us. How would you feel if you had a birthday party for your Kid and no one who was invited came? Bad right

That is how God feels when we don’t go to Church. We should wake up early in the morning on Sunday with a happy attitude that we can celebrate and remember Christ this day. I know that this will change our Sundays and bring the spirit into our lives more.

Last the Conference on missionary work… I can’t wait for this to take place. I am so excited about the announcements!

Les Quiero

Elder Christensen

Ps I passed the sacrament to Elder Nuñez, but I messed up and tried to give it to the stake president first… oops.

Good bye to President and Sister King!

Wonderful Mission President

Week of Miracles

This week was really good!  We had a series of miracles happen in our ward and I am really excited.  First we were able to finally find a house for sister missionaries to move into our ward. In four weeks we will split the ward and we will have four missionaries here. That will be so awesome because I know the ward will improve with success and excitement.

Then we were able to set a baptism date for two families in our ward. There is a couplewhose son is a member and they have been investigators for a long time but they needed to get married and we set a date for them on August 23--a little far away but that is when they are getting married so we will just wait patiently and work hard with them. The other is a woman named Maria Jose who was an old investigator who stopped listening but then we found her in the street and started teaching her again and now she has a baptism date for July 20. Two miracles!

Last we received two strong references this week from members. These two people, Freddy and Millie are people who are prepared to listen to the gospel and to find answers to their doubts. They need the Gospel in their lives. There is a difference between finding new investigators knocking doors and working with members. The references from members are already prepared and interested. Our contacts are really new to the Gospel and don’t understand, so they need more work to prepare and many times are not willing to listen. I know that working through the members is the best way to do the work. But I am really excited to be working her in El Mirador. A lot of things are changing right now.

The last thing is I am trying to prepare myself more spiritually to teach the people. I have been thinking about that a lot . Without the spirit we cannot teach and there would be no point to be a missionary  Our president has about a week and a half left in his mission and he sent us a paper of ideas how we can be more spiritual. First, study the Christ like attributes. Then listen to good music and set goals for our spirituality. Then there are two more talks we need to study:  The Fourth missionary and Our Commitment with the Lord. I notice that all this things are focused on us focusing on the mission. I can’t be thinking about what I am going to do when I get home in a year and a half or what movie I want to watch.  I need to be focused 100 percent in the mission. Hear in Chile and in the people.

I have always thought that I am not very spiritual because I never thought I received help from the Holy Ghost. But I decided to set a goal. Every night for five minutes I  think about my day and look for times that I had help form the Holy Ghost. It works because I have noticed things, although they are simple, like the words I say or the topic I studied or how I reacted to some situations. I do have the spirit but I just never give him credit for his help. So now I am going to work on recognizing the sprit better.

I would like to leave you with a Scripture I found in 2 Corinthians 6:1-10  I think it is very profound.
1.  We then, as ^aworkers together with ^bhim, beseech you also that ye receive not the ^cgrace of God in vain.2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a ^atime accepted, and in the ^bday of ^csalvation have I succoured thee: behold, now isthe accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)3 Giving no ^aoffence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ^aministers of God, in much ^bpatience, in ^cafflictions, in necessities, in distresses,5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in ^atumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;6 By^apureness, by knowledge, by ^blongsuffering, by ^ckindness, by the Holy Ghost, by ^dlove unfeigned,7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the ^aarmour of ^brighteousness on the right hand and on the left,8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;10 As ^asorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as ^bpoor, yet making many^crich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

I love you all,  Elder Christensen

                            

                                   flock of paraqueetis flyin around santiago

                            

Habits

This week I fell a little into my old habits of wishing my time away. I was not thinking about coming home no no no no. But I was thinking about the things I want to be in the mission like a leader or a trainer. But this is bad because it leads to disappointment.  I tried really hard to focus on my trust in God that he has a plan for me and for my mission. I worked really hard not to focus on comparing myself to other missionaries and I just want my mission to be between me and God. I know that he has a plan for me and I just have to slow down and trust that he will help me complete my mission in the best way possible but also in His time, not mine. 

This is one of my biggest struggles.  I think I lack patience because I want things now and not when God is ready to give them. So I am trying to get better with patience. I have been working on this my whole mission so far because I knew I lacked patience from the beginning. But I know that with the help of Christ I can get better and develop this attribute. 

                                                

This week was really good we 5 investigators come to church so I was excited about that and I think we are going to have three dated for baptism this week.  We have an investigator who is a little crazy but good named Maria Jose who said she felt something different in the church so she said she thinks its time for her to be baptized.  We are going to work hard with her to help her arrive at baptism.

But I am really grateful to work here in the mission and I know the through our Savior Jesus Christ we can all improve our lives and persevere until we become like him. Through his grace we all can be forgiven of our sins and become like Christ after all we can do. Never forget the work

Les Quiero 

Elder Christensen

WOW!

How is it going family and whoever else reads my letters? This week we had changes but I didn’t change.  I just got here six weeks ago but it felt like 1 week ago. Also I will be with Elder Guevara for one more change. But that is all the happened with us. Thanks, see you next week!

Just kidding 

This week I don’t have a ton of time to write but I wanted to talk a little about the story of Peter when he walked on water. I was studying this story this week and I felt really good. I like how the apostle’s couldn’t recognize Christ at the beginning but he called to them and confronted them saying, “Have courage. It is I”. Christ is always calling us and waiting for us. And he will do anything to come to our aid and help us, even walk on water. We need to have faith in him and respond to him like Peter.

He said, “Is it is really you Lord?  tell me to come to you and I will walk on the water. Christ did not hesitate to say COME. How cool. Christ is always close and if we have faith in him and follow him we can do all things. We can walk on water like Peter. IF we just put Christ first and follow him and have faith in him.

 Peter saw the strong winds and doubted. Did he doubt himself or the power of Christ, we don’t know, but I think it might have been a little of both. In our lives I don’t know if we always comprehend that Christ can do ALL THINGS. There is no end to the things that he can do and will do if we only have faith in him and follow him.

Also we doubt ourselves and if Christ really can work through us. When we doubt we are denying the power of God and it is as simple as that. This is a human condition that I know for myself I will always be improving because we can’t doubt in anything or we doubt that Christ has all power. But he started out the same as us with the veil and everything. He grew through prayer and meditation and studies just like the rest of us. But he was without sin so he was able to progress more and faster.

The last part is Peter called to Christ and said save me Lord. Christ saved him  and said, “O ye of little faith why did you doubt? “

If we doubt it does not show that we are doomed forever. But Christ will always save us through his infinite love and mercy. IF we only CALL to him for help he will be there to save us. He will always help us learn more. Why do we lack faith? First we are human with faults and all that. Christ knows us and  only cares about our efforts. He will save us from our short comings and weaknesses. 

Let us show the faith of Peter to leave the boat and walk on the water. But let us keep the faith to reach Christ and not sink because of our fear of the strong winds, or things of the world,  Nevertheless, Christ will always save us from the water and let us try again to come to him!

That is my sermon for this week thanks for all the help and support. Also I want some pictures of Jacob in the Buick.  I am stoked for him to drive !! Hey Jake, don’t worry if you crash… just run for it if you ever do!! No no definitely not!  That was just a joke.

Love 

Elder Christensen