Oh how the Lord has blessed us this week! We have seen miracle after miracle and it just keeps on going!

I'll start at the beginning of the week, I got to go on exchanges with Sister Linford again! This sweet sister has taught me so much about being a dedicated missionary! She loves the Lord so much, and she has the nicest things to say about everyone. She always makes me feel so good, and I've been struggling to feel like I've made a difference in my area. But she helped point out what has changed about me, and I'm so grateful for her! Heavenly Father always knows when I need an exchange, and of course, he was right again! 

Thursday, we had to go to the medical clinic for Sister P to get a refill of her medication. Due to the lovely Alberta health care system, wait times are not the most convenient... We were there for 2 1/2 hours! But I'm all about using our time wisely.  I haven't really had to get too much out of my comfort zone, but this time was so uncomfortable! We're sitting in the waiting room, everyone is on their phones not making eye contact. I knew I had to talk to these people! So I pray to know who I should trap first. It was a girl across from me with an open seat next to her! It took me what felt like forever to get the courage to get up and talk to her! But I finally walked over and started chatting. She was leaning as far away from me as possible, not making eye contact, giving every possible sign that she wasn't interested!  which made it more entertaining for me! I asked her about religion, she doesn't believe in God and doesn't care. So I shared my testimony of the Savior, asked if she was interested, and when she said no, asked for a referral and gave her my card! Dang! I felt like a million bucks after that! So I go sit back next to Sister P and notice the girl next to me is wearing a 'Sons of Anarchy' hoodie. Some friends have told me a little about the show, so I started asking her about it. We then got on the subject of Prison Break and that opened up a great conversation! We became quick friends, but I felt the impression to ask her for a referral. She couldn't think of anyone right away, but took down our number and said she would think about who she knows! Then there was a mom with two young girls who were getting quite impatient, so I offered my iPad for them to play with while they wait. Huge relief for mom! It just felt so good to be doing what I'm supposed to do! Talk with everyone! Im grateful I was able to leave that medical office with no regrets! 

We have a new investigator, N! She's 8, and her aunt was baptized last year. Her parents aren't members but her mom was there for our lesson! She loves coming to Primary, and she loves to pray! She's getting baptized April 2nd, right after I leave!  but I'm super happy for her!

Another miracle happened on Friday! We went to see our investigators out in Rimbey, D & S. This is the one that smokes like you wouldn't believe! We both new it would be so so hard to concentrate with the overtaking smoke smell, so before we went in, we prayed that the smoke wouldn't become a distraction while we were teaching. The power of prayer is real!! I could hardly smell the smoke while I was teaching! And I even got whiffs of fresh air! It was the coolest experience! Although these investigators are on the verge of dropping us, I'm so grateful to have taught them even just to have this experience! But I know it goes so far beyond that! We were able to testify of the Savior so many times to them, and one day, they will see the need to have the fullness of the gospel!

Saturday was a hilarious day! We went and visited a less active in Ponoka with a ward member, sister C. His name is Bro. W and I had heard some interesting things about him, but I was excited to find out for myself! They were all true! This guy was raised in Florida! Oh how I have missed Southern accents! And he has written his own doctrine!  he's in his late 60's, pskstophrenic, (no clue how to spell that!), and a total sweetheart! But that has caused some interesting things to happen! He believes that when Christ ascended into heaven, it was on a UFO.  I could tell Sister P and sister C were pretty uncomfortable, but I was loving it! He's so passionate about it, and I know that Heavenly Father is looking out for him. So I'm really glad I got to meet him! 

Also, on the way home from Rimbey Friday night, I killed a bird..... It was not my fault! It just flew into the side of our car! thank goodness it didn't hit the windshield! But it was perfect timing because I was thinking about how we're going to teach our investigators about the Plan of Salvation! The bird has first hand experience now! 

Sunday was the greatest Sabbath Day of my life! We had FIVE investigators at church! AND TWO returning families! AND a former investigator showed up with his less active girlfriend! I was smiling the whole day! And to make it even greater, most of the testimonies were centered around our March Madness challenge! I didn't expect hardly anyone to take the challenge! Now we've got about 1/3 of the ward participating! Including Bob! He's ahead of everyone! I'm just so so so grateful! Heavenly Father truly blessed us for working so hard! It is an absolute honor to be an instrument in His hands with His work!  It doesn't get much better than this!

I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon! I've read all the way through Jarom, and my testimony has strengthened immensely on the joy that comes from reading! It is for us! I know that these prophets saw our day, and wrote these inspiring words to lift us through the challenges we face. Keep reading! Everyday! I promise  it will make you happier than you already are!

Thank you sincerely for the constant prayers and support I get from each of you! I wouldn't be able to do this without you! I love you! 


Sister Bethany Christensen
#blessed

Hello all!

This week was full of what I would call "ah-ha" moments. Hahah I learned so much! We're still so so busy trying to visit everyone we can! We're having to start looking a week ahead for appointments! Unfortunately, I got the stomach flu on Wednesday.... so that set us back even more! But it's been an awesome week anyway!

We had an amazing zone conference on Saturday in Red Deer! Being in an outlying area, it feels a little isolating sometimes, especially because we rarely see President and Sister Manion. So it was wonderful to see them and spend time with them. We talked about the importance of working with members and the ward council, and then for lunch, they brought in our bishops, ward mission leaders, and ward missionaries! It was so fun to walk into the room and to have them be so excited to see us. As a group, we were trained on the ward's role in missionary work and how we can utilize the church's new website, justserve.org. If you haven't checked it out, do it!! It's so cool!

We were with them for only an hour, then we went back to our zone conference. A few weeks ago, we watched a worldwide training with all the missionaries currently serving. The Brethren put a huge emphasis on teaching repentance and baptizing converts. A lot of our zone conference was spent focusing on how we can achieve that. Something that was said in that training by Elder Bednar and that another missionary reemphasized was, "you are not called to teach what's
comfortable." Ain't that the truth! Haha eternal salvation is not an easy thing to discuss with people! But this made me realize that I need to really stretch myself into some uncomfortable places. Talking to people is so easy for me! Talking to them about the gospel is a little more difficult. I only have 4 more weeks left in Lacombe! I want to give everyone I meet a chance to have the joy that I do. So please pray for me! I need some extra strength to make these last 4
weeks count!

On Thursday, we did our training at District meeting! We were so  excited! We put so much preparation into it, I even convinced Sister Persson to use a business principle! We were set for success! We lunch as a district beforehand, the Spanish elders taught us how to make empanadas! We had so much fun, and I was so stoked to blow their minds with our well-prepared training! Sometimes, I forget that I'm serving with 18-20 year olds. They were talking through almost the whole thing! I came so close to chastising all of them, but I knew that would drive the Spirit away, so opted to just continue and pray like heck! Two of the elders were pretty good at paying attention, but I finally just started to bear my testimony of the importance of the subject we were teaching. Everyone listened to that! Haha It made me realize just how lucky I am to have been able to associate in a professional and business world!  And I get to go back to that world after this! Haha 

We had a really unique experience with a member this week! For the last few months, he's been trying to decide how to share the gospel with one of his friends. Friday, we get a phone call from him! He said, "we're going to see C today! If we don't do it today, I don't know when I will!" So him and his wife met us at the church, we said a prayer, and then we went to C's place! Although he was super nervous, it was wonderful to see the Spirit working! Sadly, C wasn't home... But it was exactly what this brother needed to get started on sharing the gospel. I have no doubt that he's not the only person who the Spirit is prompting! We're really focusing our efforts in the next few weeks on encouraging members to share the gospel! 

The Spirit prompted us to do something pretty crazy this week. We have challenged the ward to participate in March Madness! No, they won't be filling out college basketball brackets. ;) They will be reading the Book of Mormon in a month!! And almost everyone has already given up, but there are a few members participating! We were seeking revelation on what to do with B, the investigator we have been teaching for 6 months, and this is what the Spirit told us! We know that if the whole ward is striving to read the Book of Mormon, naturally they will fill the Spirit more, and they will share the gospel! And if other ward members are doing it, then B will follow that example! It's probably the most unique approach to missionary work I've ever heard of, but it wasn't our idea, it was the Spirit! ;) 

I have been able to feel an abundance of the Spirit this week, so much joy! I feel so incredibly blessed to dedicate this time of my life to the Savior's work. It is by far the hardest thing I've ever done, it's hard every day! But when I remember why I'm here, it becomes so easy to keep going. I love my Savior! I feel honored to be a full-time representative of him.

Have an amazing week! I love you all!