Can we please just have 1 more day in the week?? Time has just flown by this week, and we have been so incredibly busy! 

As I've talked about in previous emails, we've done a ton of volunteering in the community, and we've really been getting our name out there. This past week, it's been amazing to see how many people recognize us! We helped out at the Lutheran church garage sale Saturday morning, and one of the ladies, G, who I just adore, took us around to everyone she knew and introduced us! She wanted everyone to meet the sisters! She's a better missionary than most members and she doesn't even know it! Haha It's so cool to see our service in the community paying off. We're really improving the face of the church in Cold Lake. I have no doubt that that is why the Relief Society has come out with the "I Was A Stranger" initiative. If we teach about the Savior and try to become like the Savior, then we need to act like the Savior! He was constantly trying to find someone to serve, and when he served them, they could feel of His love. That's why we are encouraged as Saints to get out and serve, it helps expose others to that same love! I'm seeing it all around me, and it's incredible how service will change someone's heart.

The less active member we've been working with, J, had a pretty hardcore relapse this last week. He lost his job, and as expected, it sent him into a spiral. We saw him Wednesday night, and he agreed to work on some projects with us. But by the time Thursday morning came around, he was hungover again and completely unmotivated. He wouldn't answer his phone, so we went over anyway. No answer at the door. My eyes shifted to notice the lawnmower sitting in the grass. I knew this was our solution! And I was really miss mowing! haha so I have now figured out that the best way to wake someone up out of a hangover is revving up the lawn mower! It only took about 2 minutes to get him outside! Hahaha and it really softened his heart. He knew he had messed up, and he has such a sincere desire to be better. The next day, he was up by 8, working on projects all the way until 9 that night! I have such a testimony of service. It softens hearts!


We witnessed a miracle this week!! We have 2 new investigators! G and R are two friends who have been looking into religion for the last year. They are both 20, and G's grandfather is a member who lives in Salt Lake! We received the referral from him, and we taught them the first lesson on Thursday. They loved it! It made so much sense to them, and they can't wait to hear about the Plan of Salvation. It's amazing how prepared they were to hear this message. People are honestly seeking out truth, and it always amazes me how the Lord paves the way for us to find them! I have no doubt that G and R will find the answers they are looking for! 


Sorry this is so short this week! We get to go to the temple in Edmonton tonight! But I have grown to rely so much on the Spirit this week. I have no idea who's ready for the gospel or who is searching for the truth. The Spirit does, and has been leading us to exactly the right people this week. I pray that each of you will be instruments in the Lord's hands to help find those who are ready. Have an amazing week! 


I love you all!


Sister Bethany Christensen

#blessed

​To start off, I'll update you on eating llama! It tastes like
hamburger! Haha it was pretty good, but occasionally my mind would
remind me what I was eating, and those bites didn't taste so good...
Hahah I give it a 6.5 out of 10.

I got to cross another thing off of my bucket list! Well, I didn't
realize it was on my bucket list until I did it. Haha we got to assist
with tagging, vaccinating, and castrating cows!  the things you do
on your mission! We had a blast. It was the same farm where we did the
fencing, however, I managed to not step on anything sharp this time!

In the light of full transparency, Sister B and I had a rough
week! We are both very opinionated and headstrong, and for the most
part, we've been able to work through it. But for some reason, this
week was just difficult! We kept butting heads and it was really
effecting the work. Finally Sunday night, we just had it out. I was
finally fed up with it all, and I just exploded! After a few minutes
of strong words, we finally started getting to the root of our issues,
which was mostly just ignorance. We come from very different
backgrounds, and neither one of us have been able to mesh very well
with the others personality. Because of that, we had preconceived
notions of one another, and I think we both had just given up on
making it work. I felt like I had tried everything, and she felt the
same, but we hadn't tried together. We're both so independent, and we
don't want to admit that we need help. Haha that doesn't sound like me
at all does it??  we are still trying to figure out what specific
things we need to change, but our biggest realization is that if we
stop focusing on what the other is doing wrong and what we are doing
right, we need to focus on what the Lord needs.

Since determining that small change, we've already seen huge miracles!
Yesterday we were able to teach a less active and 5 investigator
lessons, 3 of which were with members! It was amazing how everything
just fell into place. I have no doubt that the Lord was showing us
that when he is in charge, we can accomplish way more. We're not
nearly as smart as we think we are! But he does use or talents and
abilities to bless those we serve. I was able to have an amazing
conversation with a less active's husband about business and politics!
Naturally, I was in heaven! But it was cool to see his heart open, he
is an active member, but he's had some not so kind encounters with the
sisters. His wife who is less active is originally from El Salvador,
and her parents who aren't members only speak Spanish. Man, my Spanish
is so rusty!  I made it a far as introductions and where are you
from, then I was so lost! Haha but we're hoping to get the Spanish
elders from Edmonton out here to start teaching them!


Due to a lot of interest, we are starting an English class! There are a ton of Filipinos out here who want to improve their English! So we are starting our first class on Saturday, I'm pretty excited! We went to a Filipino member's house for supper on Saturday, and like the amazing missionary she is, she had a ton of nonmember friends there! Something that I didn't know about Filipinos is that they LOVE karaoke! Hahah who knew?? so they asked us to sing with them! We even attempted a Filipino song! hahah My tagalog needs some work! It was so much fun, and we were able to builld really great relationships with her friends, and they all said they would come to English class! So I'll let you know how it goes!

In light of the fire in Fort McMurray, I've been thinking a lot about Emergency Preparedness. In General Conference, we used to hear all about food storage, and making sure we had our 72 hour kits ready. But for the last few years, they've stopped saying anything. The more I ponder on that, the more I realize that they probably stopped saying it because we weren't listening! We've seen all throughout the scriptures that the prophets can only say things for so long before they have to let the people choose. Natural disasters and financial hardship aren't going to stop just because they aren't telling us to be prepared. The Second Coming is on it's way! So I would encourage each of us to take a look at just how prepared we are for something unexpected to happen. There's a lot of great suggestions to look for in this article. 

 https://www.lds.org/ensign/1982/01/when-disaster-strikes-latter-day-saints-talk-about-preparedness?lang=eng

Now I will step off of my soapbox to tell you that I love you all so much! I've learned so much this week about letting Heavenly Father take the lead. He knows everything about us and everyone around us, so why wouldn't we let him take the lead?? haha it's the most logical thing we can do, it's guaranteed success. I hope to report next week with many more miracles! Have an amazing week!!

With gratitude,

Sister Bethany Christensen 
#blessed

Happy Tuesday everyone! I know I say this every week, but what an amazing week it was! I keep wondering when I'm going to have a boring week, but it hasn't happened yet! Haha I better start with my subject line so I don't give Mom a heart attack! 

Friday, we went to help on a member's farm. His health has really declined in the last year, and he doesn't have much time left on this earth. His daughter had to move home to help with maintaining the farm. We felt prompted to call and see how we could help, and they took us up on our offer immediately! We got to help with fencing! I've always wanted to learn how to fence! We were on the last stretch of land, and I was helping roll out the barbed wire. They I felt it! I've always wondered what it would feel like to step on a rusty nail! Now I know! Haha it didn't' really hurt until I took off my shoe to check out the damage. It wasn't too deep, but I have been limping for the past few days! haha it was a unique experience for sure!


Another cool thing happened while we were fencing! One of the daughter's friends was there, N. He's an interesting fellow. Haha he identifies himself as a Buddhist, but he also believes in God. He was wearing a suit while we were fencing! hahah ya it was interesting, but he asked a lot of questions! By the end, he pulled out a cigarette, saying he had waited as long as he could because he didn't want to offend us! It was the perfect opportunity to teach him about the Word of Wisdom! We had a great discussion about it, and although he had a difference in opinion, I was able to testify to him how living it has blessed my life. I just love when those perfect teaching moments come up! Heavenly Father is so great with his timing! 


Speaking of Word of Wisdom! W has committed to live it for a month! We knew that this wouldn't be too big of a struggle for him, but being the logical man that he is, he'll want to know why. The moment we said no coffee, his eyes just about popped out of his head! hahah totally the reaction I was expecting! We had a great conversation about obedience and the promised blessings from the Word of Wisdom. By the end of the lesson, he was ready to try it out for a month! He's had a few withdrawal headaches from the coffee, but he's very competitive, so I have no doubt he'll keep his deal!


I think we have worn jeans more than skirts this week! We have been doing service almost every day! More and more opportunities have been coming up, and our time fills up so quickly! I was starting to wonder if this is what we should be doing. It's nothing like I pictured a mission being like! As I was pondering and thinking about this, I was studying the story of Ammon in the Book of Mormon. As always, I was looking at the institute manual for further insight, and there was this quote by Elder Eyring. 

"… Never, never underestimate the spiritual value of doing temporal things well for those whom you serve.“… Be their servants, and you will love them. And they will feel your love. And more important, they will feel God’s love” (“The Book of Mormon Will Change Your Life,” Ensign, Feb. 2004, 13–14).


Prayers are answered!! The moment I read that, I felt so much peace, and I knew that we were doing what the Lord needs us to do! It's so hard to compare my mission to anyone else's because every area and every mission is so different. The only way I can know if I'm being the "right kind of missionary" is by asking Heavenly Father. I think the same goes for members of the church. We all have different families, different circumstances, and different testimonies. So often we get caught up in trying to be the "right mormon person." We forget that God made us to be individuals, and the way we live the gospel will be just as different as our personalities! What matters is that we are living it in a way that is pleasing to Heavenly Father. 


I wish I had more for you, but that's really all I can think of! I always pray before I write my email, because I want to write words and share things that will build and inspire you. I want to help lift all I can, and I hope these stories and the words I share help lift you. Have an amazing week, and I can't wait to tell you about my adventures next week, especially because we're eating Llama tonight!  I'll keep you posted!


Love,


Sister Bethany Christensen

#blessed

​Have you ever had so much to tell someone one that you want to blurt it all out, but all you can get out is bah?! That's my week this week! Haha things are crazy here in Alberta! I'm sure many of you know by now that Fort McMurray is on fire. Well the good news is my area is safe for now! We're about 5 hours away from the fire, and it should only hit the north part of area, where no one lives anyway! Haha

I've been speechless throughout this last few days as I've watched people come together to help the evacuees. We have over 300 in Cold Lake alone! Everyone wants to something, anything to help those effected. Wednesday, we were at the food bank, and we were approached my the Anglican and Lutheran pastors. They asked if we wanted to participate in a council with all of the religious leaders of Cold Lake! We were so shocked! But of course we said yes! We were able to attend a meeting on Friday with everyone, and it was amazing to see all of us work together, even though we are of different faiths. We all knew it wasn't about us, it's about the people in Fort McMurray. It's easier to help people when you are unified in your purpose. As of right now, there's not much we can help with besides gathering items that are needed, but we're on call for when the Red Cross comes in to help.

On Wednesday, we got to go to the coolest concert I've ever been to! It's a group called Watoto. It is children from Uganda who were either orphaned or abandoned who have been taken in by this group to receive an education. They go around the world singing to raise money for their school, and everything they sang was about their gratitude to Heavenly Father for loving and caring for them enough to send His son, Jesus Christ. I was in tears before the first song was over! So often we here people talk about how God can't exist because he lets children starve in Africa. And here are those starving children who know that Heavenly Father has a plan for them! It was incredible to hear their stories and testimonies. I think the coolest part was towards the end. They took time during their show to pray specifically for those effected by Fort McMurray. It was so emotional to see 18 kids all praying out loud for people they didn't even know! It was one of those experiences that you know will change you forever!

We got to do something pretty crazy on Thursday in St. Paul, we got to help slaughter a pig!  it was crazy! I never thought I would do something like that, but it was pretty cool, not gonna lie! Haha we got to see all of its organs, and how to properly cut all of the meat. Pretty crazy! Then the guy gave us some LLAMA hamburger to take home! Yep, llama! This guy is so crazy! But I can't wait to try it! I guess it's supposed to taste just like beef, I'll let you know next week! Haha 


Friday, we had a lesson with our investigator, W, and a members house, the W's! They've been friends for a long time, and it was awesome of them to have us over. We showed the Mormon Message, Sanctify Yourselves, and talked more about the Priesthood. He looks at it as a military structure or flow chart, but we helped him see that it's more than an organization, it's a power! The Spirit was so strong, and it seemed to really effect him! We're getting through to this guy! It's an absolute blast teaching him, and I've never met someone so blunt and straight to the point. It's so easy to discover his faith need because he tells you what he needs! He's still got a long ways to go, but his conversion process is helping him gain his testimony through his own experience, and I couldn't ask for anything more!

It was so amazing to talk to you guys on Sunday! It felt like a dream! Haha and it went so quickly, but it makes the world of a difference to have an entire force of people supporting me in this experience. I know I can do this because all of you are telling me that I can! I feel of your prayers and love in more ways than I can say. Thank you for making my life so much easier by sending that extra strength my way. It is truly appreciated. 

Between the economy plummeting and nature taking its course in burning Fort McMurray, the people of Alberta have been humbled in almost every way possible. I feel so blessed to be in this province in the greatest time of need. People are just reaching for hope, and I know that the source of that hope is Jesus Christ. There isn't a better place in the world for me to be a servant of the Lord than right here, right now. I get to witness miracles every single day, and I know those miracles will continue as we work towards recovering Fort Mac. Please pray for those who lost their homes, businesses, and especially for those fighting the fire! They have worked tirelessly and selflessly to contain this beast of a fire. Any and all faith in their direction can and will make a difference! I love you crazy people! Thank you will all of my heart for letting me experience this glorious mission.

Have a wonderful week!

Sister Bethany Christensen
#reallyblessed