Sister Christensen's "Eh" Team
​Canada Edmonton Mission
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The Land where Boxing Day has meaning

12/30/2015

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Hello family! How is it that Christmas is over just as fast as it
came?! That had to have been the quickest 40 minutes of my life! So
unfair! Haha But I am so happy that I got to see you! Although I was a
blubbering mess through the majority of it, I promise that they were
happy tears! I just love you all too dang much! And I love being a
missionary too dang much!

Christmas was just perfect! Right after our call with you, we went to
the community Christmas dinner they were putting on downtown. It was
really tough to put on a happy face because I just been crying a ton,
but I did my best to fake it and went in ready to cheer others up! We
sat a table with two elderly couples, and we immediately struck up
conversation! I was next to I and E, who I just adore. They have
been married just 5 years, and they aren't members, but I is way
into genealogy! We had a great conversation about family history, but
she didn't show much interest in the church. We had
conversation-starter questions at each table, and those were a blast
to ask! The difference in answers between elderly people and two
sister missionaries was quite entertaining! At the end of the dinner,
we had made some wonderful friends, but we couldn't quite turn them
into potential investigators. I left them with our number just in case
they needed anything. The very next day, we got a phone call! However,
we missed the call, and when we called back, we couldn't catch her.
Finally today we got a hold of her!

"I" asked to speak with me specifically, and then she expressed her
appreciation for me! She said, "I came home thinking how much I
enjoyed that dinner and I couldn't figure out why! Then I realized it
was because of you! The way you asked me questions and showed so much
interest in me, young kids just don't do that anymore! You are such an
outstanding young lady. Thank you for making that supper such a
wonderful experience." DAY=MADE! LIFE=MADE! What a self esteem boost!
I expressed my appreciation for her thoughts, but I made sure to give
credit where credit is due! I told her, "I come from an amazing family
that taught me how to care about others. So thank them not me!" And it
is so true! My family and my dear friends have taught me what it means
to care for others, and how to genuinely want to know more about
others! What a blessing! Thank you!

So in Canada, Boxing Day is actually a holiday! Basically it's just
another version of Black Friday, but that meant that we got to get
together with the missionaries in our zone! The Stake Presidency made
us breakfast, we sang Christmas carols (including the 10 days of
Canadian Christmas 😂 hysterical!), and volleyball!!!!! 🙌🏼 it was so
much fun!! It was a nice stress reliever, and it was a blast to just
get to know other missionaries. It definitely wasn't a professional
volleyball game by any means... Haha I'm sure it was hilarious to
watch! Lots of interesting strategies were taken into play! We all had
so much fun. I was sore for 2 days! I'm way out of playing shape! Haha
But I'm serving with some pretty incredible people! And it's going to
get even better!

Transfer calls were this week, and I am staying in Lacombe!!! Whoo! My
new companion will be Sister P! She's from Calgary, and she is
such a sweetheart! I can't wait to serve with her! She will do wonders
here in Lacombe.

Having Christmas in the mission field was completely different than I
expected. Because it was so normal! Haha it was a great time spent
with my Canadian family and friends reflecting on my Savior and the
gift that he is. Everyone says that Christmas on the mission is an
incredible time, and they are right! I've never felt closer to my
Savior or more grateful for His gift to me, love. Unconditional,
unwavering love. There isn't a better gift out there! The phrase "Wise
Men Still Seek Him" has more meaning to me now than it ever has! The
wisest of men still seek Christ after the Christmas season is over! We
shouldn't need a special time of year to remember our Savior, but
rather we need to seek him always! I pray that as we start this new
year, we will evaluate how we can make 2016 the most Christ-like year
we've ever had! I know I plan to make it that way, but I have it a
little easier than most of you in that category 😉

Happy New Year! I love you all!!


Sister Bethany Christensen
#blessed
ok, I'm working on this...... stay tuned.  I hope to get it resolved soon!
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Christmas in Canada!

12/22/2015

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It is really Christmas?! Has it really been 3 months?! I cannot
believe how fast time time has flown, and they say your first 6 months
go slow?? At this rate, I'll be home before I can say Saskatoon
Saskatchewan!

What an emotional roller coaster this Christmas season is. I have been
on both ends of the spectrum, homesick and completely satisfied in my
circumstance. But the moments of homesickness aren't sad, but rather a
time where I have reflected on the wonderful blessings I have received
during this glorious season! I have started to notice that the closer
I draw to my Savior, the more I long to help others be with their
families, not just for Christmas but for eternity! I get to spend my
forever with the greatest people in the world! I'm sure others want
the same thing! I pray that I can give this gift of a forever family
to the many people we have met and will meet.

We had some amazing experiences at our ward's Live Nativity and Crèche
Display! First of all, it was -20 Celsius almost every night! Oh my
cold! But crazy Canadians still show up for a 20 minute outdoor
pageant! It was a beautiful portrayal of what it must of been like to
be there when Christ was born. Although I doubt they had to where
toques (beanies) under their head covers or snow pants under their
robes, it still felt very realistic! B, our investigator was
actually one of the wise men on Thursday! It was a great experience
for him!

We met so many wonderful people. We met one family that actually lives
two houses up from us! What are the odds?! They agreed to a church
tour, and we explained how our services work, what programs we offer
for the kids, and answered some questions. Their oldest let it slip
that she didn't like the church they go to, "it's not welcoming at
all!" Haha that's what we like to hear! They didn't agree to a lesson,
but we're hoping that the Spirit will work on them until they see the
light! 😉

Well this week, we were able to help a member with a remodeling of a
house! It was like I stepped into a time machine! The smell of new
paint, sawdust, new carpet, it brought me right back to when we
remodelled! We had a blast! Brother C (the member) kept saying,
"Beauty eh?" 😂😂 What a Canadian! I couldn't help but chuckle under
my breath every time he said it! It was a blast.

Remember our lovely Ukrainian, P? Well I just love this woman more
than I can express! We called her up the other day, just to see how
she was doing, turns out she needed help shoveling her driveway! This
is the second time we have called right when she needs us! So I
cleared her driveway and sidewalk, and then she gave me some lovely
hot chocolate and more cookies than I should have eaten... 😉 she
started asking questions about prophets, Joseph Smith, and church. If
she doesn't get baptized in this life, I will personally do her temple
work for her! Gah she is just so wonderful and the church could
benefit so much from her love and service! So please keep her in your
prayers!  I really hope that we are the missionaries that can finally
bring her into the church!

We came across a very interesting situation this week. We received a
phone call from a Sister Ch, and she acted like we knew exactly
who she was. She explained that her daughter moved to Ontario to live
with her biological father, and he had kicked her out on the streets.
She suffers from mental illness, and she needed the church's help in
getting her home. Naturally we agreed to seeing how we could help, but
we were so puzzled! Who the heck are these people?? We asked the
bishop, he had no clue. We asked the executive secretary, primary
teachers, elder's quorum members, no one knows who this family is! We
soon figured out that the best way to figure this out was to go meet
them. They live out on a pig farm towards Gull Lake, and as soon as we
walked through the door, there was this barking giant German Shepard
being held back by her collar looking like she wanted to kill us! We
had to stand there for 5 minutes, just waiting for her to calm down
enough to let us in! Haha Sister L was so terrified! Sister Ch
informed us that this dog is a rescue, and she is a dog trainer. That
was probably the most memorable entrance I've ever made! Anyway, once
we sat down, we asked them a ton of questions, hoping to figure out
who they are! She then talked about how they had lived in Lacombe
since May, but hadn't made it to church since they moved. Whew! So we
shouldn't know who they are! 😅 we had a great conversation, and she
expressed how she really wants to come back to church. Amid all the
chaos of her daughter being kicked out, she knew that the church was
the right place to turn to. What a unique set of circumstances to meet
someone, but we are so glad she turned to the right place.

3 more days people! That's it! I'm so excited to see your faces live!
What a blessing technology is! But even after our call is over, I'm
grateful that I get to talk to you through email every week. I thought
I would feel very disconnected from you because I only get to talk to
you once a week, but you just keep me so informed which has made it so
much easier.

I love the last verse of the song O Little Town of Bethlehem. It says,
"how silently, how silently the wondrous gift is giv'n, so God imparts
to human hearts the blessings of his heav'n. No ear may hear his
coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him,
still the dear Christ enters in." Isn't it beautiful?! I hope that we
have let the dear Christ enter into our hearts this Christmas season.
Merry Christmas everyone! May your days be merry and bright!

With love,

Sister Bethany Christensen
#blessed
Grrrrrrrr!!!  Here we go again!  Sorry folks!
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I have so much to say I can barely breathe!

12/16/2015

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This week has been so full of amazing things! Brace yourselves for a
long long email!

First of all, SNOW! We finally got a taste of Canadian snow! It just
dumped on us Wednesday night, and we ended up with about a foot and a
half, and that's considered a light snow! We've gotten a bit more
since, but it looks like a winter wonderland up here! Now I know where
the term "Great White North" comes from.

So Tuesday night was the Jingle Train! This is a lit up Christmas
train that drives all through Canada, and stops in little towns to put
on a Christmas concert. It was adorable! New bucket list item- Ride on
a train! We didn't really meet that many people, but I did get to help
an elderly lady walk to her car!

Wednesday was amazing. We called one of our former investigators
Tuesday night to ask if we could come share a Christmas message, and
they informed us that his daughter had passed away that weekend. My
heart just broke, and I hadn't ever met this guy! But they said they
would love to have us come and see them. So Wednesday we went and saw
them, and the Spirit was so strong! We discussed the Plan of
Salvation, and he definitely has a testimony! But still not showing an
interest in joining the church. So we hope that his heart will soften
as reality sets in about his daughter.

Stake Conference was this weekend, and we had Elder Randall Bennett of
the seventy there. What. A. Powerhouse! I'm still in awe! For the
adult and priesthood sessions, we had a few short talks, and then he
opened up the floor for discussion, questions, things we had learned.
It was amazing! The Spirit spoke to the hearts of many, and it was
incredible to watch. The Sunday session was an answer to our prayers!
One of our recent converts, L, is our investigator B's wife. And
she spoke at Stake Conference! She bore a powerful powerful testimony
about what the church means to her. After her, Elder Bennett got up
and spoke about preparing for our next ordinance. He said, "for those
of you who have not been baptized, it is time to take that step of
faith and move forward." Could we have asked for anything better?? We
had just had a lesson with B on Faith 2 days earlier! And the
coolest part was Elder Bennett went right up to B and L right
after the meeting ended, and he shook their hands. I don't know what
he said to him, but I was almost in tears watching them because I knew
that Bob had felt the Spirit! So I am praying this will change his
heart!

Saturday morning we had interviews with President. Humble Pie was the
result! There are so many things that I haven't been doing that I
should be doing! It's hard when both you and your comp are young in
the mission because you don't realize which steps you are missing! But
it was great to talk to president and realize what I can improve on.
Sister Manion started asking me about my family, and I just started
crying! Not because I'm homesick, but because I'm so happy that my
family is so happy! It has made my heart swell to know that I don't
have to worry about how you guys are doing! I feel so so grateful and
thankful especially this time of year.

Christmas conference was incredible! President talked to us about how
faith leads to action, but it can also lead to the powers of heaven. A
great quote he had was, "If faith without works is dead, then works
without faith is dead too!" Sometimes I get to caught up in the work,
that I forget that this work requires faith! And in order to be
empowered by the powers of heaven, I have to have that faith!

After 2 months and 1 week, I finished the Book of Mormon!!! Goodness I
love this book more than I can express! It has come to life for me,
and I know that I am reading about real people and real events! This
is a true book, and I testify that it is for our day! Please please
read it!

Saturday was an amazing day for other reasons too! I GOT MY PACKAGE!
Mother, you are the greatest!! It was and is perfect! Thank you thank
you thank you!

Today was beyond words. I had the chance to do the endowment session
for Elizabeth Godfrey! Before I even got into the session I was
already in tears! What a sacred experience! I can't believe how long
she has had to wait, and I just love that we've been able to do this
as a family! I couldn't think of a better Christmas gift than the
saving ordinances of the gospel. As I sat in the Celestial room, I
just prayed that she would accept this gift, and I just felt in my
heart that she already has! The Spirit of Elijah is powerful! And I am
eternally grateful for being a part of that. I can't wait to do more!

Whew! I'm out of breathe from all that typing! This is such an amazing
time of year, and I love being here! Since the beginning, I've said
that I would be as honest as I could with my emails. Well here's a
story that is humbling to share. We were at the mission home last
night (we got to spend the night to go to the temple) talking and
wondering what we could do tomorrow while we were in Edmonton! We
talked about the West Edmonton mall, the parliament building, etc.
Right before bed, we asked President for his permission, and he said,
"Nope, it's time to go back to work." Oh. My. Guilt. I felt awful! We
had just spent the entire in Edmonton, teaching and visiting no one,
and here we were focused on what we wanted to do. We didn't leave
everything behind for 18 months to go sightseeing! We came here to
work! I was so mad at myself for letting my thoughts go towards what I
wanted, not what I came here to do, especially during the season of
giving! I am humbled, and I am grateful that I have a mission
president that will chastise me when I need it. I am now more focused
than ever on what I came here to do. I hope that others can learn from
my mistake! Because this season isn't about us, it is about our
Savior. I love him! And I will serve him with all my heart, might,
mind, and strength.

I love you all so much! Enjoy this next week!

Sister Bethany Christensen
#blessed
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Santa Claus is Canadian

12/10/2015

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Can it be Tuesday already?! Time has just flown by this week! What an
interesting week it has been! Sadly, we weren't able to teach any of
our investigators this week, but we found quite a few potentials!

We had our Ward Christmas party on Friday, so Sister L & I handed
out some invites in Rimbey & Bentley. We've really been digging
through our former investigator lists, and we decided to go visit one
in Rimbey. It didn't seem all that promising because no one had
recorded anything on these investigators for 10 years! I couldn't
believe they were still in our area book, but we thought we would see
if they happened to still live there or if we just threw away their
teaching record. They still live there!! And they are open to having
us come back and teach!! 🎊🎉 its so exciting! We plan on going back
in about a week.

Another former we visited is P.  She is an 81 year old Ukrainian,
and she has been meeting with missionaries for over 10 years! She was
so excited to see us because the missionaries hadn't been there in
over a year. There was an incident with another sister missionary who
was asked to not come back to P's home. P is Roman Catholic,
and she read scriptures and prays. But this sister told her 9 days
before she finished her mission that P is not a Christian because
she hasn't been baptized.... 😤 what?! What kind of almost returned
missionary says something like that?! I'm just so happy that the
bridge wasn't completely burned! P can't wait for us to come back,
and neither can we! She is a wonderful lady.

A fun little Christmas moment happened this week with Sister P.
She is the 92 year old war veteran who lives in an old folks home. We
brought some Christmas lights to hang in her room, but when we
arrived, she wasn't in her room. So we decided that we wanted to
surprise her! So we hung the lights right by her bed and window. It
was just the right touch. We then found her playing SkipBo with some
of the other residents. I was laughing so hard! This had to have been
the most intense game of SkipBo I've ever seen! And I thought I was
competitive! 😂 we then took her back to her room, and she just
gasped! She loved it! We acted like we had no clue who had done it.
Thank goodness she's a little out of it otherwise she would have known
exactly who it was! It was fun to be able to make Christmas a little
brighter for her.

While we were watching the game of SkipBo, there was a woman in the
corner, and by the looks of it, she has it pretty rough. She's in a
wheelchair that is propped up in a very specific position and speaking
doesn't come easy for her. Her husband was sitting with her, and all
of a sudden I heard her ask him, "do you love me?" His answer just
melted every part of my body! "Of course I love you. That's exactly
why I'm sitting here with you." #feels! It was one of the sweetest and
purest moments I have ever witnessed. What a privilege it was to see
such a great example of devoted love.

The Ward party was a hit! The ladies of the Ward spent almost 2 days
decorating the church! It turned out beautifully. We met a few new
potential investigators, including the M's. They are friends of
Sister R, the horse dentist! Haha they were fabulous people! In
their 60's, retired, my kind of people! We got along famously, and we
are working with Sister R to set up another time to meet with
them. The Primary kids did a singing flash mob with the Nativity song,
it was the cutest thing! There were a few other musical numbers, and
of course we ended the program by all singing Silent Night. I was
asked to say the closing prayer, so I had to keep it together! The
Spirit was on fire in that gym! That song brings the Spirit in in a
way I can't describe. But I was able to hold it together to say the
prayer.

Well this week marked the 6 month mark of me receiving my mission
call! Where does time go?! I cannot believe it's already been 6
months. I couldn't have imagined all that has happened between now and
then. But it was been incredible. I have made incredible memories both
before and during the mission. I have grown more (not physically) in
the last 6 months than I think I have in the last 6 years! It has been
a privilege and an honor to be able to serve my Heavenly Father. I
can't wait to see where the next 6 months take me!

I loved the First Presidency's Christmas devotional! One phrase that
stood out to me came from Pres. Uchtdorf's story about the wheel
chair. When the man received his wheelchair and was told it was his,
the man asked, "Is it truly mine?" The reply was, "It is a gift from
people who love you." That's how I feel about my mission! It has been
because of the sacrifices of the people that love me that I am able to
be here sharing the gospel. So thank you! This is the greatest gift I
could have ever received.

Have an amazing week & don't forget to focus on the Savior!

Love,

Sister Bethany Christensen
#blessed
#asaviorisborn
Sorry!!!  This makes me crazy!!  I have no idea why most times it loads properly and then suddenly one will come in upside down!  Headstand anyone?? :(
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Buffalo Hot Dogs!

12/2/2015

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Hello! What another amazing week! So many more adventures are coming
this month, but here are some I've had so far. :)

I got to be in Red Deer for a day! I was on exchanges with Sister
L who is from Spanish Fork. I love this sister! She is so kind
and loving! We met with one of their investigators, L. She is a 70
year old British woman! I was in heaven! She was hilarious! We
listened to her talk to her daughter on the phone for 20 minutes! Haha
she was talking about how eating beef is bad for you, the government
is corrupt, dentists have no idea what they are talking about, and
many other things! Haha I could have listened to her all day! We also
helped her start putting up her Christmas village. She would go
downstairs to grab boxes, she would talk the whole way down and the
whole way up! She just never ran out of things to say! I was grinning
the entire 2 hours we were there! We had the chance to go to
Blackfalds to meet a potential. I love the mini 20 minute road trips
we get to take! Haha

A miracle happened this week! I got to go to a dance studio! Haha one
of our less active's has a studio with her mom, and they told us to
stop by. I. Was. In. Heaven! I even did a pirouette contest with one
of the girls! It was a blast! They want me to come back for hip hop!
Haha I think I may be the first sister missionary in the history of
the church to be invite to a hip hop dance class! 😂

We don't have any new investigators... But we have a ward party on
Friday! So we're really hoping to find one there! Sister L has been
battling off a headache 🙄 all week, and so we've been moving slower
than normal. But with so many Christmas events going on in the next
few weeks, we're going to be so busy! I can't wait!

On Wednesday, there were two 7th day Adventists there to film a video
promoting the food bank. We got talking with them, and before I knew
it, I had spent an hour talking with them about myths versus truth
about our religion! They really tested my knowledge! But I was able to
clear up the whole polygamy thing! Haha

We had the chance to teach the Young Women on Sunday about Divine
Nature and how that relates to charity. What a tough crowd! Haha I
hope I wasn't that boring! Participation was very low, but by the end,
they opened up a little bit. It was a hard lesson to teach because
Sister Lee & I are at different stages in understanding our divine
nature. But I think we were able to touch a few of them. We taught by
the Spirit so that's all you can ask!

I am so happy! I still look down at my name tag in shock. I still
can't believe that I'm on a mission! But I am so happy to be serving
the Lord. It's hard to imagine my life without the people I have met,
and it's only been 2 months! My testimony has doubled in size and so
has my heart. I love this gospel, and I love the Savior! He is the
reason for the season! And I love that I get to spend that season
representing him.

Have an incredible week! I love you all!

Sister Bethany Christensen
#blessed

P.S. My subject line is describing what lunch was for us on Saturday.
Best hot dog I've ever had! Haha #canada
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    Aimee & Sheri
    Christensen

    We are Sister Christensen's mom and twin sister.  Aka: Mama S & Aimee  We will be updating this blog with emails, photos, and adventures from Sis. Christensen

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