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

Hola Hola!

This week was really fast seriously I feel like I was writing an email to you guys yesterday. We only have one week left in this change! Wow the time is really going to fast for me now. We had an awesome experience this week. We are trying to invite all of our menos, active members to do something really simple in the church to help them reactivate as members. We asked one member named Goyo  to give a class on car mechanics to the young men for mutual. He said he would do it. Then we invited him to come to church on Sunday and he came!!.  It was really awesome because it was the first time he has come to church for 3 months or more. But he has been inactive for years so we are excited for that. 

On the other end we have an investigator named Elivira who has been listening to a lot of rumors about the Mormons and she is saying really weird things now. She said every time she reads the book of Mormon she gets a really bad headache and she feels it again when we go to her house to teach. We gave her a blessing to help her feel better and she said when we put the oil on her head it was really hot and she felt like it was burning her head. It was a really weird lesson but It really just shows that she is listening to the rumors about us and not searching for herself with real intention. It is sad but it is her decision to accept or not to accept.

I am trying to be a better teacher this week. We have been talking a lot about obedience in the mission and it is cool to see that when we are obedient we improve in all the other aspects of the mission too. For example, if we are obedient to have shorter lessons no longer than 45 minutes then we have more time to teach more lessons and to find new people to teach. Also if we focus on the doctrine in our lessons and the commitments and not just visiting we really help people to come and change their lives. So the Goal for this week is to have shorter lessons. To go in and teach the doctrine quickly and then leave a commitment and help the investigators understand how the commitment will bring them closer to Christ and help them resolve their doubts. This is the way we can help people change their lives. 

I am thankful to be here in the mission right now. It rocks and I love it seriously. I am glad that I can keep getting better and that Christ is working here with me and helping me do these things I thought I couldn’t. I know I still have a lot of things to improve on like all of Chapter 6 in PMG and I need to be more positive but I know I will always have help. 

An investigator shared this scripture with me D&C 112:19 I thought it was really cool and it says there will always be a door to open for the people who preach the word of God and it is true. There will always be at least one door open for us.

Les Quiero

Elder Christensen

This week we have been searching for a new house for the sister missionaries who are going to share the ward with us next change. It is harder than I thought, especially because we are looking in a brand new neighborhood that was just built.  We did find two options so we are just praying we can obtain one of the two.

I think it is so cool that we are putting two more missionaries in this ward because that means the work is going to move faster and going to touch more lives.  This is such a blessing.

The best part of the week was that we were able to go to the temple. Tuesday we didn’t go because we could only go if we had recent converts going and both of ours cancelled the day before. But we were able to go Thursday and do the work for the two names that already had been baptized. But I forgot how awesome the temple really is. It feels like you enter a different world in there because there is no noise, there is no news from the world and it is a time to focus only on Christ. I was able to clear my mind of some things and get answers to some of my questions and I just felt good after. I want to help people come to the temple so much now because I really felt the power of the temple. It is a refuge that everyone needs to break away from the world and have a couple of hours for God. I have such a testimony of the power of the temple and why everyone needs it. We have questions and the temple has the answers.         

                                         

I am trying to be more positive this week.  I have been a little down on myself as I usually am and my comp told me that I need to have more confidence in myself and also be optimistic and everything will be better in the mission. I love the mission right now but I do lack confidence in myself and I have always been a little of a pessimist but I am going to be optimistic from now on. When we doubt ourselves we are denying the help of God.  I am going to get better in that and exercise more faith.

This week we taught a person when we were looking for the house for the sisters and he had been a missionary for 7 years for the evangelist church. He was really open to our message but also at the same time didn’t want to believe. He thinks that all churches are from God. How blessed we are to know that there is only one Church of Jesus Christ and we are part of it. We know the truth and the more dedication we have to the Gospel the more desires we will have to share the gospel. This man was a good person and had the desires to help people know Christ and I admire him for that.  I wish we had more time to talk to him and show him the power of this message. People don’t even know the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ but we are going to help them.

Les Quiero

Elder Christensen

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

CHANGE

I thought it was awesome to talk to all of you, especially my Mami and yes they do say Mami here in Chile.   Thanks mom for everything!  Dad sent me an awesome email that said you have a natural beauty and you also have the ability to bring the best out of people and it is true. Also I would like to add that you have mastered the home. You could say that you are a mother to the home as Yoda is a Master to the Jedi.  I dont think there can be a mother better on the planet than mine. I think that is why you always end up in the primary because who better than a master mother to help teach young children the gospel. Thanks for all you do for me mom!! I love you and feel blessed to be your son. I really can’t think of a person more kind, loving, and fun  to be around. I know I have said this a lot but I still miss your sense of humor and that also is very important.

This week I have been thinking a lot about change. The mission is to help others change their life and really help them be reborn in a life devoted to Jesus Christ.  But what about the missionary?  I know a purpose for me is to help me gain a testimony that is part of me.  I was reading a talk by Elder Bednar from October conference that said there is a testimony and then there is conversion. Conversion is as offering of ones self and soul to the Lord and the desire to do that comes from the gratitude we have for our testimonies. I often think to myself “am I serving a mission because I love the Lord and if not what do I need to change to make that happen.” 

I really feel like I am serving here for the Lord and to help people know this joy of repenting and coming unto him. I think of Alma 36: 21 when he tells his experience of before and after repentance.

This week we had a special conference on repentance.   We learned how to teach it better and how we as missionaries struggle with repentance. Repentance is a change in our lives and our thoughts and desires that brings a greater drive to put our lives in line with the example of Christ.  This equals change everyday. But I think what a lack right now is that change. I don’t feel like I have changed that much on my mission but I have not been searching for that change ether. 

I decided the other day that I am going to search out this change that I want the blessings that come through the repentance process. I set goals of things I want to change and I now have a lot of questions to find answers in my studies too. But I want to change to be the missionary that God wants and needs. I have been asking almost every missionary I have met what I should look for and what I should feel when I have really changed from my mission. None of them gave me an answer. But I realized that they don’t know. No one can know except the Lord and I have to search for the answer in study and prayer and in my actions as a missionary and then I will find the answers. It is a promise in the scriptures, “ask and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.”

Repentance doesn’t necessarily mean you have done a bad sin, it is just a change that brings stronger devotion to Jesus Christ.

Also we had a miracle this week. There is a family in our ward who have had the desire to be baptized for almost a year but couldn’t get married because they had some legal things to work out, but they got permission to get married this week and tomorrow are going to get legally married.  In 1 or 2 weeks they can get baptized! I can’t wait for that! It will be such an awesome moment for this family because they have wanted this for so long and now they can finally make these covenants with the Lord. That is so Cool!! They definitely endured through this trial and the blessings are just waiting for them now.

Last we have a new investigator named Brijitte. She is in a trial right now with her ex- husband who is trying to take her daughter away from her. She told us she needs a lot of help and she has been investigating a lot of religions to find it and has not found it. She is really open to our message and we invited her to get baptized on June 9 and she said yes only if she knows it is true. But I feel really good about her because she  is prepared for the gospel and it is going to change her life. We just need to rely in Moroni's promise, If we have faith and real intention to know the truth it will be manifested to us. I know this promise is true because I have felt it and  I know that Brijitte will feel it too as she studies the Book of Mormon--which she has already started to read. I am so thankful to be serving in the mission right now. I know this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that He  leads this work. He is the Savior of the world and will never leave us. The mission is a great place to learn more about what really matters it is not about money or cars it is about Christ and helping others.

Thanks for all your help, love and support  you have given me and thanks for talking to me yesterday.

Les Quiero

Elder Christensen