Howdy Y'all!
This has been a really good week. We had some really
great miracles happen. We also had some fun with car troubles. So Monday night
we got a call from our vehicle coordinator telling us that we need to take our
car up to the Ford dealership to get some repairs on the transmission. ( It has
been miss shifting really bad, probably for about a month and a half.) So
we did that and we dropped off the car and got a ride from some of the Elders
who work in the office and they drove us up to the mission office where we got
a new car to use. It was a 2014 Chevy Cruze which was a fun little car to
drive. But we used it for two days and got our car back.
Thankfully it actually
wasn't the transmission, it was actually the software that was loaded into the
cars computer that went bad. So they changed it and now out car runs so much
better. That is what mainly happened on Monday and Tuesday. We also went
around to members of our ward to try and get to know them better and help them
in any way we could.
Well Weds was a day of Miracles, the first
being that is actually when we got our car back and it wasn't to much trouble
with it. But Weds I was scheduled to give a baptismal interview to an
investigator named Loveline from one of the other wards. And so we got there at
5:00pm and we were expecting her to be there at the same time as us. But she
didn't end up showing up till about 6:00 pm. But the whole time I was super
nervous about giving the baptismal interview. 1. being that I have never
given one before and didn't receive any training on how to do it. 2. being that
Loveline is a super nice Nigerian lady with a really thick accent. I was told
by my companion and by the other Elders that it was really hard to communicate
with her and understand her. I was praying so hard that it would all go well.
Well at 6:00 when she got there, I introduce myself to her and lead her to
the room we would do the interview in. And we went in the room and started off
with a prayer. I said it and asked for the spirit to be there and some other
things that I can't remember. At first I just had to listen really careful to
her, but the spirit was absolutely there. The gift of Tongues must have
kicked in or something. I was able to communicate with her and could
understand her completely. It was truly a miracle!
The spirit so strong and you
could just see the desire she had to make that promise with our Heavenly
Father. She wanted to be take upon herself the name of Christ. I can't even
tell you everything that was said, but the conversation was led by the Spirit.
I know that because of the Help of my Father in Heaven I was able to understand
her, and she was able to understand me. Our Heavenly Father does listen to our
prayers, we just need to remember to have faith and know that he will provide
away for us.
So right after the interview we drove over to the house of
one of our members. They invited there friend from work to come and listen to
the missionaries. We learned that there friend was afraid of dying, and didn't
know what would happen after death. So we got to teach the Plan of Salvation!
It was so good! We were teaching her and she had a lot of great questions about
it, and the best part was when she learned about the great gift we receive
where we will all be resurrected. This made her so happy, and at this point we
were able to bare testimony to her about the truthfulness of this principle.
And it was cool because after we said this she looked at us and said I know
that you believe this but how can I learn this for myself? So it was the
perfect intro to The Book of Mormon. She said that she would start reading it,
and she said she wanted to see how it compares with the Bible. But she has
started to read it. I can't tell you everything that was said but it was
defiantly driven by the Spirit.
I have said that a couple times already this
email but it is so true we had this happen to us so many times this week as we
tried to meet with investigators and members. We come out of an appointment and
can't even remember how we answered the questions. The Spirit is the true
teacher in missionary work. As missionaries we prepare and do the things
necessary to have the Spirit, but in the end the Spirit communicates through
us, and it can tell us the things that we need to say to be able to help others
out.
Thursday we had a great meeting with the Bishop where
we talked about what was going on in the ward. But after we thought we should
go check on an investigator that lived by. And we knocked on the door and no
one came. So we were walking to the car and Eva walked out and we were actually
able to meet with her that day. And her biggest concern about being a member is
what her family would think. She come from a Roman Catholic background, and so
she doesn't want to disappoint her family. But just asking her how she was doing
she began to start crying, and me and my companion didn't understand, but we
just let the Spirit speak through us again. I don't know what was said but the
lesson was great!
This week was so full of miracles! I just love seeing the
tender mercies of the Lord. He does care about all of his children and wants
them to be able to return and live with him. I know that this is true! I have
seen it out here as I have come to know the people here in this area. I care so
much about them and there are amazing people here in this area!
Friday we had a good district meeting, but at first I was
worried that I taught terribly, I was worried I didn't help the district out in
ways we can use The Book of Mormon to help our investigators. But I have a firm
testimony that the topic is presented each week in district meeting is
inspired by the Mission President. After district meeting I heard of different
companionships using what they learned that day in their missionary work. And
we had an experience that night where we were able to give Ashlie (The leasing
agent for our apartment complex) a copy of the Book of Mormon. The things
president asks us to teach on is really to be able to help us in all of our
missionary work!
Saturday we met with different members and went to Lovelines
baptism, and that was it for that day. The spirit at the baptism was so great!
You could tell how excited Loveline was to be able to be baptized and feel
clean from any feelings of guilt and sin. Her countenance has changed so
much! This gospel can change lives and can bring so much happiness to others.
It is a gospel of change and joy.
Sunday we had our normal meetings, but for the 3rd hour we
talked about a new program the church has come out with for family search. They
have a booklet called my family, and it is so great! I would invite all you
that are reading this to look it up and get a copy. It is such a great way to
be able to look at your family history and get started and show it with others.
It helps deepen that connection you have with your ancestors. Please look into
it.
But to finish off my week we had a devotional at the bishops house. And I
was asked when we got there to share my thought on goal setting and how we set
goals here in the mission field. I loved being able to stand in front of all
these youth that I have been able to get to know and share my testimony to
them. I talked to them about how it is important to set goals that are
important to you and to check back in with them and measure them.
There is a
quote in Preach my gospel that says, " When performance is measured,
performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of
improvement accelerates." That is so true. When we report back on our
goals we can see how we have improved and see how we can improve. But the
important thing about goal setting is having your Heavenly Father involved.
With the Lord nothing is impossible, and he can help you to be able to
accomplish any goal you have in your life. I know that this is true. I know that
this church is true, and that Jesus is the Christ, I know that Heavenly Father
hears and answers our prayers! He cares and wants to help us we just need to go
to Him! I say that in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
Well I hope y'all have a great week!
Elder Joshua V. Christensen
Elder Christensen sent the following pictures of P-day activites:
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