A little more like Thee.‏

Family and Friends,

Well, this week was great. Truly great! A lot of stuff has happened so I’ll try to fit it all in here in just a short 30 minutes… (I wish we had more time to write!)

So, something cool that you might not know, is that were living in cocaine alley! Hahaha seriously, there's some crazy drug terrorism going on all around us. People are being taken hostage, the terrorists are bombing police stations (outside of Quillabamba), and now they’re killing people. In Echarate, where I did a work visit this past week, like 15 people have been taken hostage! So, president told them to proselyte in p-day clothes, without their tags on. But when I was there in Echarate, everything seemed to be good. In fact, it was pretty fun for the most part! We ate cacao, which is the fruit from which they make chocolate. Well, we didn’t really eat it, you just suck on the seeds that are inside. It was TASTY. You just walk through the city there and grab mandarin oranges right off of the tree and eat them while you walk. It is a big-ish sector, and I did a baptismal interview for an investigator that they had that was baptized on Saturday in a river right there in Echarate. Hahaha you should have seen me in that interview, I would be saying something like, “Do you believe that Jesus Ch---(swatted mosquito on my cheek)--- that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer?” There are SO many mosquitos there. I left Echarate after a day and a half with something like 20+ mosquito bites all over. But it was great.

Pilar was baptized!!! Wow, it was a long time coming with her. It was such a great and spiritual experience to see her be baptized. She asked if I could baptize her, and it was a really special service. She stayed firm with her decision to be baptized even though her husband was against it. Her daughter traveled from Cusco to be here, and her son also accompanied her. The room was full during the service with members that have known her for years, along with her sister (member), who is probably the biggest and best influence she has ever had. She told me yesterday after she was confirmed, “I will always remember you, forever. Thank you for your patience that you had with me, and for helping me make the decision to be baptized. God will surely bless you for your service and all that you went through in order to help me.” When she said that, it brought tears to my eyes. She is the only member in her family, and we are helping her son, who lives here in Quillabamba, to make the same decision.

Abel, who was baptized last week, received the Aaronic Priesthood yesterday, so that was pretty cool. He is already attending Seminary! He's awesome. Future missionary.

We continue to visit our other investigators who are progressing and were trying to get our less active members in our branch to come back to the church. It’s great to see their faces when we show up at their houses, all surprised and happy that were there, haha. I’m doing all that I can to leave my sector better than it was when I got here.

The next transfers, dad, are on May 1^st. Just count 6 weeks after each transfer date, and you get the next transfer date. So, the next transfer after May 1^st is June 12^th. Yes, I only have two transfers left after this one! I’m chill though, it doesn’t feel like I’ll be home in like 3 and a half months. I do need an answer though about Lake Powell! Is it gonna happen… or not?  So…. Yeah. Let me know! And I’m glad that Bridger got my letter. I’ll be sending one to each of the boys. Anyway, I have to go now, but I hope everyones good! May we all try to be more like our Savior, that we may feel His love in each of our lives, knowing that He died for all of us. I love this gospel, and I love the mission!!! I love you all!

Yours truly,

Elder Christensen

Happy Easter!‏

¡Hola familia!

How is everyone? Well, this week was really a full one. A lot of stuff
has gone on! First of all, I traveled to Cusco on Tuesday night for a
District Leader conference with Elder Graham and Hermana Lindsey. (She
is a trainer) So, that was fun! Its always nice to be motivated by
President Calderon. He is truly a great man. I have learned so much
from him! He continues to surprise me with the things that he teaches
me. He, his wife, one of his counselors, the mission secretary, and
the assistants came to Quillabamba on Friday. We had interviews with
President while the assistants taught a lesson, and Saturday and
Sunday was our District Conference. (Like Stake Conference) He really
has a great way of speaking. From one minute everyone is laughing, and
the next minute, you feel the Spirit. Its great, and I have really
seen him progress as a mission president over the course of my
mission. I love the man.

This morning, we went as a zone to the Mandor Waterfalls. It was
pretty legit! We all got super wet, seeing that we basically stood
underneath the 200+ foot waterfall(s). It was a lot of fun.

We had the blessing to see Abel be baptized this last Saturday! He is
such a great kid. He is so intelligent! President Calderon confirmed
him, which was way cool. We were able to activate his mother (who is
single) after 30 years of inactivity. 30 years!! She is so grateful to
us for finding them and getting them active. His mom, Maryluz, took us
to the hospital here to give her aunt a blessing. She had surgery on
her throat, and was just in really bad shape physically, and was in
the ICU. She was 78 years old and cannot talk at all. She isn’t a
member, so I explained to her the best way I could what a blessing was
before asking her if it would be okay if we gave her one. Through her
short gasps for breath, she silently nodded her head in agreement. We
blessed her, and afterward we read her some scriptures. In that
moment, I felt that she would not live much longer. I was impressed to
testify of Jesus Christ and of his atonement, and how if we repent of
our sins, God WILL forgive us. I testified as well that she shouldn’t
be afraid of death, that it is just a step in Gods plan of happiness.
A single tear fell from her eye, and I almost started crying as well.
How I wished in that moment that she could share her feelings and
maybe ask a question or two, but she couldn’t. I just told her not to
worry, and that everything would be alright. My companion shared his
testimony with her as well, and then we left. We said hi to the
family, and they were very grateful for our visit. She lived for two
more days, even though they thought she was going to live. I am so
grateful for the Plan of Salvation. We have no need to fear death,
because we know exactly what will happen afterward. It inspires me to
do all that I can to share this Gospel with everyone so that they can
joy from the blessings that the Restored Gospel gives.

We continue working with Pilar. She hopefully will be baptized this
Saturday. She is an amazing woman with amazing faith. We also
challenged David to baptism for the 21st of April. He is a Jehovah
Witness, but is the cousin of a strong returned missionary in our
branch. All he needs is to receive that answer from God and make the
decision. He is a great guy. We are also working with a bunch of other
investigators that are progressing surely but a little slowly! So
please pray for all of them.

I did get the package you guys sent. Thank you for that!!! It was much
needed. Let me tell ya! Haha.

I hope that everyone enjoyed Easter, I know that I did. It was a
special day. Let us all keep the Savior in our hearts not only this
time of the year, but always. He lives, I know it. I hope you all have
a great week! Hasta la proxima…

Elder Christensen

PS, did Bridger get my letter yet?

Transfers!‏

¡Hola familia!

Well, lets see. So this week has been pretty good. First of all, my
new companion is Elder Farfan from Arequipa, Peru. He is 26, and he
has a good motivation to work which I am happy about. He has 14 months
in the mission. He’s a lot more mature, which is a big change from my
last companion... But we got right to work, and we have been
continuing to visit our investigators. Mom and dad, I wanted to thank
you again for the package! It was so great to get that for my
birthday. I am really enjoying everything you sent. So thanks again!!

So, I hear from Nano that there will be a Lake Powell trip in
August…??! Is this reliable information?? Fill me in!!!!!!! Tell Nan
that she's answered my prayers!

Also, we have an investigator that is addicted to smoking. We have
been trying to really help her, but she relapses again and again. I
don’t know how I can help her any more. We have gone all the way to
giving her a priesthood blessing, and I need some help with ideas! She
is really a great person, and my heart goes out to her. Her along with
her little sister Thalia (pronounced Talia), are hearing us, and may
be baptized next month. Pray for them please!

We also just met Melisa and Glenin who are ACTUALLY MARRIED. We are
stoked to be teaching them. The only problem is that he works out of
the house 6 days a week. Bummer. But we took advantage of the time we
had with them yesterday and gave him a few pamphlets to read while he
is in his work outside of Quillabamba. He has been listening to the
Jehovas Witnesses, and a little of the Adventists, but I’m confident
he will recognize they pray. We have a return appointment with them on
Saturday.

The parrot was an investigators that we visited about 2 or 3 weeks
ago. Haha, its such a legit parrot.

I taught elders quorum yesterday with about 2 minutes notice, it went
well, I decided to talk about the priesthood. I tried to get them all
stoked about being priesthood holders and how important it is for us
to be worthy of using it. I think it went well…

So, Elder Graham, who is from Ogden, will be coming home at the end of
this change. Which is the 1st of May. You will have to find out when
his homecoming is, and you should definitely go and see it. He is such
a great friend I have here in the mission. 801-392-9136 is his home
phone number. Give his mom a call sometime. Her name is Annie!

Dad, I don’t think that I will be finishing the mission here. After
this transfer, I have two left… So I’m pretty sure that I will be
transferred after this transfer is over. I will be letting you know
when I get the other package! Seriously, the shirts and g’s will be
muchly appreciated. And dad, I am already enrolled at Weber State… So
why did you get my grades from OHS? You don’t need them! I just need
to be registered in classes! I already have done a year of school at
Weber if you don’t remember… Haha. So don’t complicate things! If I
need to do anything, just tell me and I can ask permission from
President. He lets us do things like that here when necessary. And
mom, wow. I cant imagine you with dark hair… that’s so weird. Oh well,

as long as you like it! Haha.

Pretty stoked for Conference, like always. We are hoping to have as
many investigators as possible attend so they will be able to hear the
Prophets voice. I am so confident that it will help them immensely.

I cant send pictures here, seeing that the internet is extremely slow.
Sorry! You’ll have to wait till I’m home to see them.

I LOVE YOU ALL! Till next week…

Elder Christensen

Muñaquyki‏

Hola familia!

How is everyone? Everything is well here in Quillabamba! We have been working very hard this last week of the transfer. Last night we found out that my companion has a transfer, meaning my new comp will get here on Wednesday. Not sure who it is yet, but we will see soon enough!

So, about Pilar. She wasn’t baptized. But, she has made the decision that yes, she will. She desires more time to tell her family, to stop working on Sundays, and she really wants her daughter that is in Cusco to be present. Her daughter isn’t even a member, but she knows the church really well. When she called her daughter to tell her that she will be baptized, she said “Mom, wow. That's really the best thing that you can do right now.” Awesome, right? So, in April she will most likely be baptized. As for now, we continue to visit her and teach her more.

We have been visiting members and getting a lot of referrals to part member families. We met Abel, an almost fifteen year old that is the son of an inactive member of 30 years. We visited them, and boy, he is so prepared for baptism. He is definitely a future missionary. He asks such great questions, and understands for himself the importance of baptism. We challenged him, and he accepted. He will be baptized on the 31st of this month! (in between conference sessions!) If not then, the 7th of April. His mom also was reactivated and attended church this Sunday with her son. We are also working with Shirley who is the daughter of a part member family.. of whom was reactivated after 15 years of inactivity. We are seeing some real blessings from heaven this change. Whether they be baptisms, or rescuing inactives, I just trust in the Lord that this is His work, and not mine. All I have to do is put in my best effort and everything else will fall in place.

So, I was thinking about the fall and school, and about registering for classes… How is that gonna work? If I’m not mistaken, registration should be right around the corner, if not right now. Will you check up on that for me, dad? And about the g’s, mesh please and just 2 oer 3 shirts. SHORT SLEEVE! Of course. :) Thanks so much! Oh, and I just decided to buy a camera here. I bought one that was about $150. Its good, and it will last for a while. So don't worry about that anymore. Its all taken care of. And Bridger! Bro, you are the best. Thanks so much for that. You will have your reward. :) Just wait.

I learned a lot of precious lessons this transfer, and I'm sure that the next one will be filled with them as well. I am now starting my 3rd to last transfer! Crazy to think about.

Anyway everyone, thanks for the emails, take care! Till next week!

¡Muñaquyki pajarkinkana! (That's Quechua, yes I'm learning a little bit!)

Elder Christensen