Monday, January 30, 2012

Jan 30th, 2012

This week was pretty awesome! We really tried to talk with everyone
that was in our path this week and we saw the blessings for it.
Although about 90+% of the people weren't Spanish, we found more
people than we usually do. And we also got more references this week
from the media, other missionaries, and the members than I think I
have ever gotten so far on the mission. It was truly a blessing from
the Lord and I really saw His hand this week.

This week we had the opportunity to teach about the Spirit. When we
taught about the Spirit, the Spirit did all of the teaching. It was
really cool. And when I say the Spirit did the teaching, it wasn't
like we were receiving all this revelation on what to say, but we just
read a few scriptures and there was a lot of things that were learned
during the lesson that weren't ever said. As a missionary, we are
constantly learning thing from the investigators also, there is
nothing like this work. It truly is the Lord's work. It is super cool
to see who is ready and not as ready and who just doesn't have as much
interest. When a person is closed, but still listens, it is very hard
to feel the Spirit working through you, it is a lot harder to teach.
But when they are open and are actually trying to find the truth and
are willing to make changes, it is almost as if you can't mess up.

We have been having a lot of fun lately. Working hard and just
enjoying life. It is really fun to be in a trio. Yesterday it was
almost 8 and we wanted to really see this one potential. But it was
about 7ish (maybe rounding up ;) ) miles away, and so we biked with
about all the energy we had left for the week to try and get there by
8:30 so we could teach for 30 minutes and ride back home to get back
before 9:30. We are allowed to be out until 9:30 if we are teaching.
So we got there at 8:30, knocked the door and they were busy and sick.
Super devastating, but we were really depressed, we were sad that
they couldn't hear the message, but the Lord really does a lot for us
in the work to help keep our spirits up especially when there are some
disappointments.

I know the gospel is true, I love it, I love you all and know that
Heavenly Father loves you more than you can imagine. Jesus Christ is
our Savior and Redeemer.

Thank you for your prayers!
Love, Elder Christiansen

Monday, January 23, 2012

Jan. 23rd, 2011

First off I would just like to give a shout out to my boy Elder Miles Adams with his mission call to Paris, France! That's going to be awesome!

This week was a pretty good week! We got some new investigators to teach which was good because we had dropped quite a bit the week before and this week. The Lord always seems to provide after we drop
or lose an investigator. It is really cool to see His hand like that!

I really did see the Lord's hand a lot this week. We were very blessed. I learned several lessons too! One of the lessons I learned is just how important thought out and inspired planning is. We can accomplish so much more if we plan out our days very thoroughly. It is something that I hope I will continue to do even after the mission. And with planning also comes setting goals. And usually I had just been setting weekly goals, but I learned at a meeting this week that setting daily goals helps. So I started doing that, and it is really cool. And the goals aren't really hard, but are just little things that help me more fulfill my purpose as a missionary. We are supposed to talk with everyone that we see and sometimes I like to duck out of those opportunities because someone might be talking on the phone, walking a big dog, or talking to someone else. But one day I just made a goal to talk with everyone within or pretty close to my path. It was really fun to do it and there are promises in Preach My Gospel about how we will have more people to teach if we talk with everyone,
instantly bear testimony, refer to the Restoration and families, and ask EVERYONE for referrals. So I want to be able to master that because I know that will really help out the work here. So yesterday, we knocked a door at one of the Spanish people we found in the phonebook. A girl answered and said her parents weren't home but that we could come back a different day. So we went back into the driveway and got our bikes. A car acted as if it was going to turn into the driveway as we were in it (most awkward moment when you are at someones house and then they arrive), but then it drove to the next houses' driveway. So we crossed the street because we asked if there were any other Spanish in the neighborhood and she pointed to a house.
But as we knocked the other door, the car reversed out of the driveway and went back to the one we just came out of. During that time we got rejected at the door. The lady that pulled into the driveway got out
of her car with a lot of bags, and since we had just came from her house I thought it would be awkward to go talk to her. But I remembered my goal, and I offered to help her with her bags, and she accepted and
we taught a lesson to her. She is really nice and it was a cool experience. It was super awkward to go back into the house and see the girl who told us to come back a different day, but it was definitely worth it. I know if we set worthy goals and make plans to accomplish the goals, the Lord will help us overcome our weaknesses etc. He loves us and wants us to keep improving.

I love you all and miss you! Thanks for the prayers and everything else!

143
Elder Christiansen

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Jan. 17th, 2012

Okay so I don't have like any time because I just got carried away
talking to a guy in the library. He asked me where I was from and said
he was from Reno and went to McQueen. So we talked a while and he
knows some members of the church in Fallon.

But I would like to share a story we talked about at church this week.
In Priesthood, the lesson was on service. And there was a story of a
boy and a girl who were twins and they were young, I'm guessing around
5 because I forgot. And the daughter needed a blood transfusion to
survive. The doctor said the mom that the twin brother would have to
do it. The mom said she would go ask him, but that he was scared of
needles. She asked the boy and told him that they would take his blood
to give it to his sister. He thought about it and said he would do it.
So they did everything, and the boy gave the blood. And after it all
was over, the boy said to the mom, when I die tell my sister I love
her. The boy thought he was giving all of his blood to his sister! It
is crazy to think about how he thought he was going to die and still
did it out of love.

The work here is getting better and better every day. I love it and
know that it is true. We had some awesome experiences in this past
week. I know that God hears our prayers and answers them. Just not
always in our time, but He knows what is best and He answers them on
His time. I love you all and miss you all.

Thanks you for all your prayers! Can't do it without them!
Love, Elder Christiansen

On a side note, I played some basketball yesterday for P-Day. I am
super sore today. Super out of shape. But it was a good time.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Jan 9th, 2012

Okay so this week was one of my best weeks of my mission or maybe theeee best! Especially these last three days.
 
Friday: President Hall came to our area and taught about our group of 15 on doctrine. It was really good. If an investigator or member are not obeying a principle or commandment, it is because they don't understand the doctrine. And so he wants us to really focus on the doctrine of what we teach. We are suppose to first teach doctrine, then principles, and then application. It is hard for me to know which one is which sometimes! But we are definitely becoming better teachers as a companionship and having a lot of fun. Then after the meeting we all had interviews which were awesome. We also had some cool experiences with some investigators that night and it was a great feeling to be able to be there with them as they felt the spirit.
 
Saturday: We had a really good day for the number of lessons taught. And also they really seemed to understand what we were teaching. As a missionary/member of the church sometimes we don't understand why people just don't grasp the concepts in our church and just don't understand the blessings and happiness that comes from it. It's really hard to understand everything that we teach, but the people seemed to understand better today thanks to the help of the Lord.
 
Sunday: We got to spend some extra time today with our Bishop because we gave a blessing/sacrament to a member in the ward at the hospital. It was definitely a privilege to able to do it. I love the Bishop here. I am learning more and more on just how powerful the priesthood is. And the power is in so much more than huge miracles, it is in comfort and love and happiness cosas asi. It is so awesome to have it again on the earth!
 
Thank you for you prayers. I love you all! Miss you all! I hope all is well and that you are finding people to share the gospel with. There is no better joy than to share what you have. I know the church is true. I know that people need what we have. They don't always know it. But the Lord knows it and we know it. I know that this work is fun and exciting and most importantly TRUE! 
 
One love, Elder Christiansen 

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Jan. 2, 2011

Well we had a pretty fun week! Elder Moli who just came out of the MTC had a nice welcome to Orlando with a loooooong bike week. He worked really hard though and I was really impressed. He fell asleep in about 30 seconds. The only reason I know that is because he snores pretty well haha. We have quite the trio companionship right now. 
This week I went on an exchange with Elder Spilsbury (my first companion). We had a blast! You really make some good friends on the mission even when you are nothing alike. But me and Elder Spilsbury are super similar, so we had a great time. We only got into a couple disagreements haha. 
It also has been getting pretty cold here at night time! One night we were freezing and Elder Moli bought some hot chocolate and he was holding it as we were biking and he went off a curb and crashed and spilled the hot chocolate all over and got some on his tie and shirt. He was alright though. Just a little upset he didn't get to finish his hot chocolate.
I'm growing more and more out here in Orlando. It is truly a blessing to just be able to serve a mission. I am learning things out about my self that I really never knew. I'm really grateful to be out here and grateful for everyone who helped me out to make it on a mission. 

I know that this is Jesus Christ's church and that He is the head of it. I know that President Monson is a prophet of God and has been called to lead His children. I have come to notice just how true The Church of Jesus Christ is. My testimony seems to grow a little bit at a time, and it isn't always easy, but in the end, it is all worth it. I know that The Book of Mormon is true and that it was written for us today. I regret not reading it consistently from when I began to read. I love the Spirit that is in it and how it can change our days and help us out with so many things. I know that prayer is amazing. I know it is a commandment. I know that we receive so many blessings from prayer. And I thank you all for your prayers. I love you all and hope you have an amazing week and an opportunity to share the gospel with someone.

Elder Christiansen