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OCTOBER 21, 2014

Wow, I'm home after two years!! It is so exciting to be here, I was so happy to see the family again and to talk with them. I feel like just staying home forever. But I had to sadly leave behind the people I have come to love over these two years. I don't know when I will be able to see them again. I love Chile and I will miss it. I feel a little lost here like I have no purpose or structure but it will get better. I'm sure I just have to get used to it. I am thankful for the two years I had to serve the Lord. I know God lives, and Christ lives and loves us, he died for us so we can return to God's presence.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true and is the church of Christ. The Book of Mormon is the Word of God. I love you all and Thanks for all the support I have had during my mission.

Love Formerly Elder Christensen, now just Andrew Christensen

Can't believe ill be home tomorrow morning!!! See you there .

Saying good bye to home ward friend, Elder Keddington

That Awkward Moment…

Well this is uncomfortable, I guess this is my last P-day.  Weird.

I wish I could have baptized here in San Antonio, but I am happy. I know I could help people here, even if it was only playing piano in church or help the missionaries. I am happy.

I know God exists, he is our Father, Christ is our Savior. The church of Christ has been restored today, The Book of Mormon is true and it’s a beautiful day. There is nothing that has brought me more happiness than sharing the gospel. I plan on serving him my whole life.

 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Mat 13:45-46

The search is up.

I love you mom thanks for always writing me supporting me, Your the best mom I could ask for. I am so happy God gave me parents who taught me the Gospel.

I love you dad

Elder Christensen

My Certificate Expired

Number 5

General Conference was really good. I really enjoyed the talks. I liked Elder Bednar, Elder Christofferson, Elder Robbins, Elder Godoy, Elder Scott, Elder Eyring, Elder Uchtdorf in Priesthood was so good!!, Elder Jorg was good too. They were all good. I had a list of questions and they were all answered! I cant wait to study them more. 

Sleeping Elder during Conference:(

I noticed they talked a lot about trust in our leaders, Stay on the Ship, and also to make good decision because this life is a test and we need to stay focused. This week was good and passed way fast because I was looking forward to the conference for so long!! 

We talked with a lot of people and we literally found an old man with 70 years who was starving in his house. He lives alone and his family abandoned him, he can’t walk because his foot is bad and he has no one to help him. When we passed by he asked us to buy him bread  and we went to a store and they had none, so we went to another one and we bought ham and bread for him. He thought we ran off because he watched us go another way to find a new store. But when we came back he was really grateful. 3 days without food! He told us the last time he asked someone to buy for him, they took 5 mil pesos which is about 10 dollars and they never came back. It was really sad. But we talked with him, he doesn’t understand anything. 

I am grateful that God put us in his way so he could feel God´s love and help. There is always someone who needs help. 

Thanks for everything I love you all

Elder Christensen

Beautiful Chile

Divisions

I was sent on two divisions this week with some missionaries who really needed help. I was really worried about them too. I didn’t know what I was going to say or do to help them. Some missionaries have been saying I just give everyone palos, corrections. But I didn’t want them to feel angry or discouraged. I wanted them to change. The divisions were good I got to know two good missionaries who were just confused or lost in a sense. It is so easy to get distracted here, maybe with a comp who is disobedient or just not focusing 100 percent in the work. But I felt good after. I know that God helped me and I hope these missionaries felt something and change, so they can have success.

I feel like I still have to learn so much and improve so much but there is no time. I need to teach better, I need to talk with everyone and etc. But I feel like a deadline is coming up and I’m not ready. Truly I don’t know if I’m ready for the mission to end but It isn’t my choice anyway. I’m nervous. I don’t know what I still need to do I just know I have to keep working and working and being a good missionary. 

We had a baptism that fell through because he has cancer and had to go to the hospital hopefully this week he will be baptized!

Love you mom and dad

Elder Christensen

The sign says "cheerful"

FREEDOM

                                           

This week was Chile independence week!! It’s really just the 18^th, but people celebrate Sunday to Sunday. There were a lot of BBQ’s and empanadas and drunk people. We ate Lamb toasted on a stick! That was sweet. We also ate a ton of meat and stuff. We still had a good week. We thought the attendance would go down at church because of the parties but it went up so that was awesome!

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

We had a miracle, too, because we have a baptism this week of a man named Javier.  He wants to be baptized and everything but his health is a problem because he is fighting with cancer so he hasn’t come to church. But he told us he was going Sunday.  He needed to or his baptism date would fail.  We waited and waited. But the meeting started and he didn’t get there. I played the piano, looking for him the whole time and I didn’t see him. Then we took the sacrament and I stopped looking, but right after I looked behind me and he was there with his wife!! It was awesome! So he will be baptized Sunday after church.

                                        

                                      

Also we found a new investigator who told us that we gave him hope 5 years ago because a missionary passed by and gave him a picture of Jesus and he kept it and he was very thankful for the Jehovah’s witnesses...awkward. Then he asked us our names and said oh you’re the Helmers!!! hahaha That was a good time.

Thanks for everything I love you guys

Elder Christensen

PS Got my travel plans today...so sad

Good times and Bad times, but really all Good!

Funny story: we lost an investigator this week because I called her to set up and appointment with her. I knew that she was living with a man and they were not married, but a member told me that they were really living in two different houses. So I called her and said," hey how are you and how is your...FRIEND." She got mad and said she doesn’t want to listen to us anymore because I said friend and not husband. It was funny.

Also this week with our new comp elder Candia we finally brought an investigator to church named Natividad. She is an ex Jehovah’s witness and wants to get to know the church. She came but had to leave early so she left right after the sacrament. But, as is Chilean custom she kissed elder Candia on the cheek to say goodbye. But... missionaries can’t do that. We actually told her but she forgot. Well that happens every once in a while… we get kissed...weird. But the funny part of the story is Elder Candia was sitting on the front row and the Bishopric, the Stake president and the second counselor were there and they all saw it. It was right after he presented himself to the ward! It was awesome hahaha.

Juan Luis and me
Getting Baptized 9 months after I met him in the streets of Melipilla

                                             

Highlight of the week: I went back to Melipilla on Saturday to baptized Jose Luis. I thought he would never get baptized. We taught him for three months about 2 times a week and he came to church every week but never got baptized. He had a lot of challenges. But he talked to President Barreiros and asked if I could baptized him, so I got permission. I am so happy for him. His family came, not all, but a lot of them. He thanked me for stopping in the street that summer day in December to talk with him about the church and soccer. We just invited him to play soccer at the church and go to church on Sunday and he came. He’s 54 or something but a life long friend too. That was a miracle.

                                            

I really do believe in miracles. We never know who is watching or who needs our help. The spirit will guide us, we just need to have faith and act when we feel like we should. I thought what would have happened if I never stopped with Elder Alfaro that day to talked to Jose Luis in the street. He would still be looking for purpose and answers to unanswerable questions. This is Gods work. It cant be stopped because He is at the head of it. It will move on with or without us. But a lot better with our help. I know God loves us and trusts us to guide our brothers and sisters back to him! The book of Mormon is true too I know it!!

Love you mom and dad!

Elder Christensen