We were pleasantly surprised last evening to get some emails from Sis. C. Her P day wasn't until today, but since they were flying North today, they were allowed to have email time before dinner! It was so great to hear from her! She sounds fantastic and full of the missionary "fire"! This morning we were able to talk with her from the Seattle airport. What a fun morning to get to hear all her stories and listen to her and Aimee try to get "caught up".
Here's her email:
"The Fastest Eternity"
I can't believe another week has flown by! What has seemed like an eternity in the MTC is all of a sudden over, and it's so bittersweet! You grow so close to your district, your teachers, random missionaries that you meet, and it's crazy to think that I'll never experience anything like this again. Sometimes I feel like this is what it was like before we came to this world. SO much anticipation and learning, so many goodbyes, and yet, we could have never prepared ourselves for what was ahead. It would all be new! That's how I feel! You can prepare and prepare, but the real thing will always be different that you expect! But I cannot wait to serve the people of Canada!
Elder Claudio Costa was here at the MTC Tuesday night for an incredible devotional! He talked about how missionaries are his heros. One phrase that he said was so profound! He said, "you can count how many seeds are in an apple, but you can't count how many apples are in a seed." Dang!! How true is that?! We never know how big of an effect missionary work will have! Missionaries everywhere are planting countless seeds, and we won't know the effective we have until we get to the other side of the veil. Man I can't wait for that day! I've been able to teach 2 investigators here that the MTC, and I love them so much already! it's crazy how fast you can learn to love someone! A unique investigator we had was named L, she has severe anxiety and PTSD. We didn't teach her one lesson, we just talked to her about her life and struggles. It was such a powerful experience! She is all about people being honest and genuine so we had to really be true to ourselves while teaching her. She LOVED the penguin so thank you for sending it! She is an Evangelical Christian so she shared some of her beliefs with us, and she gave a 20 minute prayer! Ya, 20 minutes!! She asked each of us for a miracle from God we had seen in the last week, and then something we were concerned about. It was a gorgeous prayer! She was so honest, and she acknowledged so many times how merciful God is for letting us experience what we experience. So true!
Funniest moment of the whole week! We were watching conference with everyone at the MTC, and of course, we are all exhausted. So some people start nodding off. The Elders in my zone start putting skittles in peoples mouths that fall asleep and there is one elder in front of us that starts falling asleep. Before we know it, he is straight up snoring! The MTC presidency is 50 feet away, and this kid sounds like a blow-horn! We are all laughing our guts out, and they try to put a skittle is his mouth, then he flies up out of his seat! Looks around, and then acts like nothing even happened.... the struggle is real people!
Conference is amazing! I don't think I've ever taken more notes... helps when you're a missionary! The biggest take away I had was from Allen D Haynie of the Seventy. He said, "He want us to confess our sins so we don't have to suffer like He did." We a unique perspective, but this really hit home! We don't have to repent, we get to repent so we don't have to suffer that pain! This is truly a gift from the Savior! Always remember that he loves us more than we can imagine!
We had the chance to hear from BYU's Vocal Point group last night! MIRACLES HAPPEN! We only get to hear music when we sings hymns in class and at devotional, so I have been STARVED for music! It was so incredible, but also so bad for me. I'm 22 years old and single. And they are in their 20's and most are single.... the struggle was so real!! It was definitely good to see some older guys!
Well tomorrow we're off to Canada! It's crazy to think that I made my decision to serve 6 months ago, and now it's really happening! This is truly the Lord's work! Something I am slowly learning is anything worth having requires sacrifice. What a true statement. This is so worth everything, and yet the blessings outweigh the sacrifice. I love this gospel, and I love all of you!
Have a blessed week!
Love,
Sister Christensen
#blessed
"When you cannot do what you've always done, you do what is most important." -Elder Robert D Hales
Here's her email:
"The Fastest Eternity"
I can't believe another week has flown by! What has seemed like an eternity in the MTC is all of a sudden over, and it's so bittersweet! You grow so close to your district, your teachers, random missionaries that you meet, and it's crazy to think that I'll never experience anything like this again. Sometimes I feel like this is what it was like before we came to this world. SO much anticipation and learning, so many goodbyes, and yet, we could have never prepared ourselves for what was ahead. It would all be new! That's how I feel! You can prepare and prepare, but the real thing will always be different that you expect! But I cannot wait to serve the people of Canada!
Elder Claudio Costa was here at the MTC Tuesday night for an incredible devotional! He talked about how missionaries are his heros. One phrase that he said was so profound! He said, "you can count how many seeds are in an apple, but you can't count how many apples are in a seed." Dang!! How true is that?! We never know how big of an effect missionary work will have! Missionaries everywhere are planting countless seeds, and we won't know the effective we have until we get to the other side of the veil. Man I can't wait for that day! I've been able to teach 2 investigators here that the MTC, and I love them so much already! it's crazy how fast you can learn to love someone! A unique investigator we had was named L, she has severe anxiety and PTSD. We didn't teach her one lesson, we just talked to her about her life and struggles. It was such a powerful experience! She is all about people being honest and genuine so we had to really be true to ourselves while teaching her. She LOVED the penguin so thank you for sending it! She is an Evangelical Christian so she shared some of her beliefs with us, and she gave a 20 minute prayer! Ya, 20 minutes!! She asked each of us for a miracle from God we had seen in the last week, and then something we were concerned about. It was a gorgeous prayer! She was so honest, and she acknowledged so many times how merciful God is for letting us experience what we experience. So true!
Funniest moment of the whole week! We were watching conference with everyone at the MTC, and of course, we are all exhausted. So some people start nodding off. The Elders in my zone start putting skittles in peoples mouths that fall asleep and there is one elder in front of us that starts falling asleep. Before we know it, he is straight up snoring! The MTC presidency is 50 feet away, and this kid sounds like a blow-horn! We are all laughing our guts out, and they try to put a skittle is his mouth, then he flies up out of his seat! Looks around, and then acts like nothing even happened.... the struggle is real people!
Conference is amazing! I don't think I've ever taken more notes... helps when you're a missionary! The biggest take away I had was from Allen D Haynie of the Seventy. He said, "He want us to confess our sins so we don't have to suffer like He did." We a unique perspective, but this really hit home! We don't have to repent, we get to repent so we don't have to suffer that pain! This is truly a gift from the Savior! Always remember that he loves us more than we can imagine!
We had the chance to hear from BYU's Vocal Point group last night! MIRACLES HAPPEN! We only get to hear music when we sings hymns in class and at devotional, so I have been STARVED for music! It was so incredible, but also so bad for me. I'm 22 years old and single. And they are in their 20's and most are single.... the struggle was so real!! It was definitely good to see some older guys!
Well tomorrow we're off to Canada! It's crazy to think that I made my decision to serve 6 months ago, and now it's really happening! This is truly the Lord's work! Something I am slowly learning is anything worth having requires sacrifice. What a true statement. This is so worth everything, and yet the blessings outweigh the sacrifice. I love this gospel, and I love all of you!
Have a blessed week!
Love,
Sister Christensen
#blessed
"When you cannot do what you've always done, you do what is most important." -Elder Robert D Hales
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