Waste and wear out your lives in the service of God

 Hey everyone! Things continue to be amazing here in Tomball! The Lord is hastening his work. This week we were able to set 3 baptismal dates, as well as we have two of our recent converts who are committed and actively working towards getting to the temple to do baptisms at the end of the month. What better work could we be involved in! 

 I have said it so many times, but this gospel truly is such a blessing. I just think of the miracles that we were able to see this week, and again how the Lord places those who are prepared and searching in our path. We were able to teach one of our investigators that we found last week. Her name is Anca, and we were able to go to the park and walk around with her on Wednesday. She had so many sincere questions about the Book of Mormon, and about the plan of Salvation. And she just mentioned how excited she is to continue to learn. 

She originally is from Romania, and is going to be moving to Canada in a few months. She was going to leave sooner, but she is waiting for a couple of things to be finished before she leaves. So we will have the opportunity to continue meeting with her. We also invited her to a baptism in our zone this week and to church, and she was about to come but she had something come up last minute. But she said she would love to come in these coming weeks!

We were also able to teach one of our new investigators named Matt about the Book of Mormon and the restoration of Christ's church. And once he was taught about prophets he was so excited and he said how it made so much sense that there should be prophets on the earth today. And he said at the end of the lesson how he feels as if God has been leading him to the church. The Spirit was strong and we were able to leave him with a soft baptismal commitment and he accepted.  We will be hopefully seeing him this coming week. 

One of the other big miracles we saw this week was with our investigator named Brenda. I talked about her a little bit last week. She has come to church 3 weeks in a row and she is continuing to learn and progress. When we met with her yesterday she said she had been reading from the Book of Mormon and has felt as though she is becoming a better person by reading it. We talked to her about if she has had a chance to pray about it yet, and she said she wants to do it when she can go to a quiet place and ponder and really ask God if it is true. I wish I could explain it the way that she did, but she was so sincere in her response. Again you can see how she is a sincere seeker of truth. 

  Well she was keeping her commitment to read so we were able to move on to the plan of salvation. And we were able to teach it powerfully to her. She was able to answer the questions and you could just see her countenance lift as she began to understand the plan of salvation and how it relates to her. And at the end of the lesson we were able to talk about the Celestial Kingdom and how we have lives with our families eternally there. And then at the end of the lesson we invited her to set the goal to live in the Celestial Kingdom and explained how we can get on the path that leads back to our Father in Heaven. 

We read through John 3:5. We discussed how Christ taught us the way to enter on to this path. And we discussed how it is through baptism that we are able to start on that path. Once she read that it totally clicked for her! And we then let the spirit testify to her of the truthfulness of that. And then after a few moments, I looked at her and said, " Brenda, do you now see why we invited you to be baptized last time we met?" And she just was quiet for a second and replied how it made sense to her now. 

The spirit was strong and we invited to her to prepare to be baptized one March 28th. We explained how baptism was just a short term goal, and is ultimately not the end. The end goal is to return home and live with God again. But as we follow Christs example through baptism we put ourselves on the path and can prepare our self for returning to live with God. She accepted and is ready and excited to meet again. We will be able to meet with her tomorrow to continue to help her be prepared for her baptism. 

The Lord is providing! It again just makes me think of the scripture in D&C  18:10-11

10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

 11 For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.

The Lord wants all of his children to return home and live with him again! And EVERY soul is great in the sight of God. 

 13 Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven—

 14 These should then be attended to with great earnestness.

 17 Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

I know that as we follow this council in D&C 123 that we shall have great joy as we bring souls unto Christ! And that the Lord will be able to use us as instruments in his hand in bringing much good to his Children! I know this to be true and testify of is as one of His called representatives. 

I would just invite you to ponder upon other things you can do this week to help someone closer to Christ. I would also invite you to pray specifically as families for missionary opportunities, and I promise you will be given them. 

Well I hope y'all have a great week!

Elder Joshua V. Christensen

The Great Sifter

Hey Everyone! 

This week we saw more amazing miracles with finding. We were able to find 3 new investigators that we are beginning to teach. 

We are still working with some of our areas that are having a harder time finding. And we went over for a companion study to work on finding and role played talking with people. It helped us so much. We talked with them about bringing up families and how they can live together forever with the people they talk with. Everybody loves talking about their families! And alot of time people become more comfortable with talking with us once we try to relate to them. Well after practicing this with them during companion study we were able to use it that night. 

The previous night of planning we prayed to know where the Lord would have us go. And we felt prompted to knock some doors in a neighborhood near a member's house we were going to eat with. We didn't know exactly which street but we knew we wanted to be in this neighborhood. So after the dinner appointment that next night we went out and we prayed again to know which street to visit. And we felt prompted to go to a certain street. 

We began knocking, and the first person to answer really didn't want to talk with us at all. But we tried the next house with no answer. And then on the 3rd knock we had a teenage girl answer the door. It had look like she had been crying, and we began to talk to her about who we were and how we had a message about families, and how through Jesus Christ our families can live together forever.  And she look at us and said, " this is so interesting that you came tonight, my boyfriends dad just passed away a few hours ago." 

Immediately the spirit testified to us that we truly had been led to her. We were able to talk there on her porch with her for the next 45 minutes about the plan of salvation. She thanked us at the end of the lesson, and we asked her if she would be willing to meet again. She wanted us to follow up with her sometime in the coming weeks when things calm down, and hopefully we will be able to meet with her. 

Well after we left we received a referral for someone named Lois. It just said she was in the Hospital in our area, and that she wanted a blessing. So we went over and met her and it turns out that she wasn't a member. Her member sister referred her. She hasn't learned alot  about our faith, but she wants to learn. She doesn't live in our area, but she is an older lady who we gave a blessing to in the hospital. We were able to give her a blessing, and it went really well. She told us how after the blessing the most calming and peaceful feeling come over her. She said it was something that she has never felt before. She then told us how she wants to start reading from the book of Mormon, and how she wants us to begin teaching her about the church and the beliefs. And so we have been teaching her and we hope to go back to teach her tonight. The Lord truly is blessing us with people who are being prepared! 

The 3rd new investigator we found this week is the wife of a member that is coming back to activity. They both came to church for the 2nd week in a row, and they came up to us and said they wanted to start meeting. So we set up an appointment for yesterday at our Bishop's house. And we went to teach about the restoration. And it was so great to have our Bishop there. He gave great insight and had a lot of comments that helped resolve different concerns with this sister. 

It was amazing also because we had started to talk about the Book of Mormon and she said she was already a good way through 1st Nephi. Now already you can tell that she is being prepared. The book of Mormon truly is the best tool to see if someone is prepared. I believe it was President Ezra Taft Benson that said that the Book of Mormon is THE tool to find those who are prepared. It is the great sifter. If someone is willing to truly read the Book of Mormon and ponder in their heart the message that it contains then ask God the eternal Father if these things are true. The Lord will reveal to them the truth. I know this to be true! 

This last week we have seen how the Book of Mormon is the great sifter and through it we were able to find those who were prepared. When we ended the Lesson with this sister we committed her to read and pray, and she said that she would. And then we invited her husband to pray at the end of the lesson. And as he prayed he began to cry. He felt the spirit so strongly as he prayed to God and asked for a reconfirmation of the truth. Seriously being out on a mission is the greatest blessing I have had so far. To see peoples lives changes because of this gospel is incredible. I think of D&C 18

 15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

 16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

 17 Behold, you have my gospel before you, and my rock, and my salvation.

 18 Ask the Father in my name in faith, believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost, which manifesteth all things which are expedient unto the children of men.

I know if we follow this scripture we shall have great joy with in our families. And I love how it ends with saying if we ask our Father in faith believing we will receive, the holy ghost will manifest the things we should do. I know this to be true and I testify of it. 

So I would just invite each of yall to again pray for missionary opportunities. Pray and think of people in your church quorums or classes that you could reach out to and lift their spirits. Think of those your home teach and visit teach. What can you do to help them feel Christ love and strengthen them. I promise you as you have this mindset, great shall be your joy! I testify of this. 

Well I hope y'all have a great week!

Elder Joshua V. Christensen

Miracles in Tomball!

So we had a great week! I wish I could explain all of it but we are really short on time. But this last week we were able to find 4 new investigators. I will explain some of them real quick. 

One of the new investigators names is Paul, and we met him at a apartment complex in  our area. And we began to just testify and teach about how families can be eternal. We asked him what it would mean to him to know that his family can be together forever even after death. And he grew up Catholic, and so he said it would be incredible and so relieving to be able to know that. 

And so we began to teach him right there about the restoration of Christ's church and the priesthood and how it is through the the priesthood that we can be bound together with are families forever. We referenced Mathew 16 where Christ is teaching Peter and the apostles. And we talked about the keys of the kingdom that Christ would give to Peter was the power to seal and bind families together. And he asked if we could come aback and talk to him more about it! 

Another experience that had was with a former investigator this week. We went a back to teach her and her daughter. We taught them the restoration, and this time around you could tell that some more things clicked with them. About 4 years ago there was another daughter of the mom that was baptized. And she is currently up at BYU. 

At the conclusion of the lesson we talked to them about baptism. And they said that it was something that they wanted to work towards. But if they did continue they would want to be baptized when her daughter Cathy was home form BYU. So we are going back tomorrow to set a date with them for the last week of April or the 1st week of May. 

At church yesterday we also had two non members there that we may begin to teach in these coming weeks. They were both from part member families. And they have come consistently to church for the past few weeks. So we are excited to see what great things happen with them. 

Also this last week we went on exchanges with one of the district leaders. And we had a good exchange with them. They had a good planning session the night before, so they were prompted to go to a certain members home to check on them and see how they were doing. 

And so we knocked on the door and the family came to the door and they had been going through a really hard time. So we were able to go in and teach them about hope and faith in the atonement. By the time we had left they felt alot better and the mom asked me to give her a blessing. And so my companion and a member and I were able to give her a blessing. I am just so grateful for the way we are lead in this work. 

The elders the night previous had a prompting to visit this family and there ward, and then as we went into teach teach the spirit directed the conversation and as well as the blessing. I know that the Lord will continue to guide us! He truly is yesterday today and forever! Because he loves each of his Children he will listen and answer their prayers. I know this to be true with out a shadow of a doubt! 

Well just to close the week we had a zone conference and a mission president fireside! They both were so wonderful! This work is so great and so true!

Please keep praying for missionary opportunities! The Lord is hastening his work! 

Well I hope y'all have a great week! 

Elder Joshua V. Christensen

The field is white and ready to Harvest!

Hey everyone! It has been a great week! I don't have a ton to report this week, but Nikki and Pamela were baptized this last Saturday. It was a great little service! We had a harder time getting in with them to get things planned, but we were able to get it all figured out! And it was great! They had the majority of there family was able to attend which was great! Elder DeLuca Baptized Niki and then I was asked to baptized Pamela. 

It was so awesome to see how excited they were for there baptism. We went by this week like I said to plan the baptism but as well as that we taught them the last few principles of Lesson 5 which talks about missionary work and temples and family history. And when we talked about missionary with them they were about as excited as they could be! We asked them who they wanted to invite to their baptism and they just started listing off members of there family and extended family that were less active members or even not members of the church. They also talked about inviting different friends to attend. It was very neat! 

We sadly weren't able to see them confirmed on Sunday though because we had meetings the Stake presidency that morning. But they said it was so amazing. And then even brought some family members to church. Their older Brothers name is Orian and he said he wanted to start learning more. He is about 14 years old, and had a great time at church being with the teachers quorum. 

Other than that the only other thing to report on is specialized training and interviews. It felt quite different not being apart of the training with President and the Assistants. While I missed that for the first part it was still very nice to be able to listen to the meeting and help give feedback and training more one on one with the zone. We also had members of the stake their to discuss how to work more effectively with ward councils and with the members.

  So during the stakes training I went back with President Mortensen and had my first interview with him. I walked in and he looked at me and said, "Wait a minute is this our first official interview together since I have been here?" We kinda joked about it, but he said he was with me so much with training and we had contact almost daily he didn't need to interview me! But I had a great interview with him. 

We discussed more about the zone and potentially some changes that may take place with the zone. And then also he talked to me about where we are at in terms of getting on the Tomball lone star campus. He then helped me to think about some personal goals that I want to set between now and the end of my mission. So It was a great discussion and a great week! 

After my interview I just went back in and we helped train the missionaries on finding more effectively and we actually did role play door approaches with them. So we had 4 different doors they would knock on in the church building, and then they would practice talking to the person who answers the door and how to make it a conversation that is focused on the person and their families. And I think it did a lot to help the missionaries feel more comfortable. 

And looking at the key indicators this week again almost all of our areas have found new investigators each week in the zone! We know that along the way we are hear to plant seeds, but our main purpose as missionaries is to harvest. That is what all of our responsibilities are. 

I love how in the Doctrine and Covenants section for it says, if ye have a desire to serve God, you are called the work. The Lord needs every single one of us to accomplish his work as it hastens! I would invite you to think about if you have the desire to serve God, and if you don't how can you get it? Also what can you do to show God that you have a desire to bless his Children?

I love how in Enos it talks about the great change that took place in Enos after he had received forgiveness of his sins. He then began to pray for his brethren the Lamanites. Once we experience this change we want to bless the lives of others just as Enos did! But it doesn't just take prayer, it takes mighty prayer. 

I just have such a strong testimony that this is the Lords work, and he is preparing his children to receive the gospel. WE are seeing so many great things happening! 

Well I hope y'all have a wonderful week! And I would please just ask you to pray as a family each day for missionary opportunities. Be specific. I promise you that the Lord will bless you to see opportunities as you do this! I know that to be true! 

Elder Joshua V. Christensen

Miracles in Tomball!

(Email from Elder Christensen dated 2/2/15)

So we have had another great week here in Tomball. We had MLC this week, and it was so nice to be able to listen to the meeting and then participate with the thoughts that I had! But we did a great training on incorporating family history early on in the teaching process. Before hand it used to be we would cover it in lesson 5 or when we felt it would be best for the investigators. But now after we teach the plan of salvation lesson we we will talk to them about family history and temple work.

 We were able to meet with a few of our investigators through out the week, as well as we were able to do some more finding in one of the areas in our zone. This week we went on a little exchange from 6-9 with one of our district leaders and his companion to help them find more people to teach. They had voiced in zone meeting on Friday that finding was an area that they wanted some help with. So we went with them on Friday night! 

And as always, the Lord provided people to teach!  I went with the District leader, and his name is Elder Meyers. He is a fantastic missionary. This area has not had any baptisms for about a year, and so going into the exchange Elder DeLuca and I both were ready and knew we would see some great miracles. We starting knocking on doors in the area, and we still ran into people who didn't want to really talk with us, but we also had 3 different people say we could come back and share a message with them. 

We kept knocking, and right as we were walking up to this next house a car pulled into the drive way. I turned it Elder Meyers and said, " this is divine intervention elder!" I was joking when I said it, but a 18 year old girl got out of the car and saw us and started asking questions about who we were. We were able to then teach her about the restoration over the next 30 minutes. We invited her to read from the Book of Mormon and committed her to pray. 

We then asked her once she comes to the knowledge that the Book of Mormon is true if she would follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone who holds the priesthood authority of God. After thinking for just a couple of seconds she agreed she would do that when she finds out it is true. We walked of the porch of her house, and Elder Meyers said " That was so awesome!!" They now have a return appt for tomorrow and they will be taking a member who goes to the same high school as her to have another lesson. 

It was great because Elder DeLuca and Elder Meyers companion were able to also find a new investigator who also accepted to be baptized once he knows the Book of Mormon to be true! The Lord defiantly provides. That is just another experience where were were blessed to be able to see the Lord work Miracles! 

And then to finish the week we had two of our investigators name Nikki and Pamela have their baptismal interview. They are the little girls we have been working with. And so they are planning to be baptized this weekend! We are just seeing so many great things happen this week! 

Well I hope y'all have a great week!

Elder Joshua V. Christensen

Another Great Week in the City of Tomball!

(Email from Elder Christensen dated 1/26/2015) I am a little behind on posting:

We are continuing to see the Lords hand here in the Tomball 2nd area and the Klein 2 zone! We are still trying to do what we can to help out some of the surrounding area so that they can also see more success in the areas. 

So about 2 days this week we were in other missionaries areas trying to help them out. And we saw some good stuff. One of the areas we felt needed some help was up in Magnolia! We have some great missionaries up there, but they have just been having a harder time this last transfer finding! They are working so hard to find. So we decided to go to there area and see some miracles! 

And as always the Lord provides! I went with one of the newer Elders in the mission named Elder Hanks. He is a good Elder! So we talked about how we were going to go knocking from 6-8, and we had them pick the area just previous to going. And we went out! It gets darker a lot faster, and so the neighborhood we went to had a lot of big dogs, and its so dark you can't tell where they are you can just tell they are close! But we continued to knock even with the dogs out everywhere, and we were probably knocking for about 1 hour and 50 minutes, and we had about 4 people say that we could come back and visit. 

During this time we were talking a lot about the need to have the faith to find. I was talking to him about how we need to have the belief that people are prepared and then we will be blessed for it! And the Lord blessed us again. 

At 7:50 We knocked on the last door we had planned on doing and a couple walked outside and started talking to us saying that they have been looking for a church. We were on there porch for the next 40 minutes teaching them about parts of the restoration and the plan of salvation. They had worries and fears about not having enough faith, and so we were able to talk with them and by the end the spirit had testified to them. It was so amazing! They asked us if we could come back and keep teaching them! They were very sincere! 

So as we went out together that night to find those were prepared the Lord provided! I hope it was a good experience for Elder Hanks. He seemed to come out of it more confident, so we are excited to see the miracles continue! 

Also this week we met with some more of our investigators. Our top investigators right now are Nikki and Pamela. They are two young girls in a part member family in our ward. One is 9 and the other is 11. And these girls have been taught over the past several months, and I think that they are ready for baptism. I was very surprised with how much they knew and could remember. We went through the baptismal interview questions with them, and some of them we had to word a little different so they could understand but they then answered great!  So right now with them we are planning on having there baptismal service on Feb 7th. So we are excited to continue working towards that with them! 

  The Lord is just blessing us so much right now! I am just so grateful to be apart of this wonderful work! This gospel changes lives! We are so blessed to be apart of it. I would just please again invite you to continue to look for service opportunities, as well as chances to bring others to Christ. 

I hope y'all have a wonderful week! 

Elder Joshua V. Christensen

The work is booming in Tomball!

Hey everyone! 

Things are going great in my new area! Elder DeLuca and I are back in business and we are going full on!  It is nice to be back and being able to proselytize full time again! I am going to miss having the opportunity to work with so many missionaries, but I am excited to be able to focus on my own zone again! 

And so far this week we have seen some great miracles! So like I have mentioned in previous email, we have been really focusing on finding new investigator from 6-8 pm. That time is set apart each day for finding. And coming in to the zone I had a goal of wanting to have each area be finding new investigators weekly! I hope that all the missionaries in my zone will be able to have plenty of teaching opportunities. 

So this week we had a lot of phone calls we were making discussing goals that have been set already, and following up on how they were doing and asking what things we could do to help! We have also been out almost every night talking with everyone in the neighborhoods that we go to to find. And this week we were able to get 3 new investigators, and even a couple of families that said we could come back. 

One family we got in with the husbands name was Bill, and we had knocked for about 2 hours with having little success in the area we were in. And then the very last house is when the Lord blessed us. We knocked and Bills wife answered the door and before we even said anything she invited us in to talk with her and Bill! The Lord truly does provide!  So after seeing these miracles we started sharing them with the zone. We have been trying to encourage and just get everyone as excited as we can! And it has been paying off. 

  Its been cool to see just his week even how the missionaries look at contacting at night differently. I love the example of Alma and his bretheren in Alma 26.  

27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.

 28 And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.

 29 And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills;

 Even though there are still people who are not excited when they have missionaries knocking on there door, the missionaries are doing everything they can to share the message and help bring others to Christ. With this and their increased faith we are all seeing miracles. This zone's average for finding in the past has been about 4-5 new investigators per week. This last week we got 18! So we are getting the ball rolling! I am just so happy and blessed to be apart of this great zone!  

Also this week we have been on the Tomball Lone Star campus trying to get LDSSA up on this campus. And so it was cool because on Wednesday they had a club fair day. So we went and were advertising for the club, and we and we had different people coming up to us and asking us questions! It was so great! So that is another thing that we are working on. We are also trying to use the campus as a way to find and help out these young adults! And then to finish this week we had a baptism! It was a great week! 

But yeah that has been our week so far! I wish I could have more time to share with yall the great things happening! But it will need to wait till next week! I hope all yall are doing well and keep praying for missionary opportunities I know the Lord will bless you with it! 

I hope yall have a great week! 

Elder Joshua V. Christensen

Time for transfers!

 So I am getting transferred this week! And originally I was planning on being sent back to an area that I previously have served in. One where I was able to get to know the members really well and gain their trust. 

But as we met with our mission president on Wednesday to discuss transfers. We started off with a prayer so that the spirit could help guide us. And then after the prayer we dove right in and started discussing the thoughts we had of where people should go. Well about 10 mins in President Mortensen just looked over at me and said, " your going to a new area, I received revelation last night about where you need to be!" Immediately my stomach dropped with the surprise. I stood there waiting for him to tell me where my next assignment would be and then he smiled and said," I think I will let the boil with in you for a little bit! So he had me wait about 30 min until he told me where he would have me serve. After having me suffer he let me know where I was going. 

He asked me to go serve as a zone leader in our Klein 2 zone. I will be serving in the Tomball 2nd ward there. And it will be cool because I will get to serve with a companion that I actually trained. But after next transfer the Klein 1 and 2 zones will combine and I will be over that zone. And it will be the largest zone in the mission. So it is going to take some work but I am calm knowing that the Lord will bless me and strengthen me! I am excited to be back out and help out in a zone where I can work with more missionaries! It will be a great experience. But my new address will be:

Elder Joshua V. Christensen

1515 Rudel Dr. APT# 1207 

Tomball Tx, 77375

So that is the news for right now. But this last week we were able to see many miracles! We had two exchanges planned as well as conference for all of the YSA missionaries in the mission. So it was a busy but great week! 

It was Tuesday I was on an exchange in College Park. And we had the chance to teach one of of the people they were working with. They met Marissa on Lone Star campus, and then began teaching her. She had come to church a couple of times, and has loved learning. But she had some family and friends that found out she was learning from the missionaries. And they began to question her decision and so it started to bring up more questions about if she should be doing this or not. 

So we knew she had questions coming into the lesson. So we were prepared to answer that. She had questions about our beliefs on Heaven as well as Hell, as well as the kingdoms of glory. (being in the south it is very common to have questions like these.) So we went through and answered many other questions she had. She has a very sincere desire to learn. 

So we were able to teach her from Mathew 25, as well as we referenced Alma 40: 11-14.( In the Book of Mormon.)  Now these scriptures expound on the belief of Heaven and Hell. Alma 40: 11-14 helps us to understand this principle. I would invite you to read it and look for..

1. Where does our spirit go after our life here on earth. (Vs 11)

2. What is the state of the righteous, and where does that sound like to you. ( Vs 12)  

3. What is the state of the wicked, and where does that sound like. ( vs 13) 

4. And now look for how long they are in this state. ( vs 14) 

So while many believe Heaven and Hell are our final destinations, they are not. It is a state of mind that we are in while we are in the spirit world. So we taught this to Marissa and she understood it.  Then she had questions about the kingdoms of glory. She asked where in the bible do we learn about the kingdoms of glory. And so we took her to 1st CRN 15:40-42. We taught after the spirit world we are resurrected where our bodies and our spirits are brought back together never again to be separated. And then we will be judged according to our works and desires. Then we are judged into one of the kingdoms of glory. 

She asked if there were any other references. And so then the spirit brought back a scripture into my mind. It is 2nd CRN 12:2 Now as you read this look for what Paul was caught up to. Now can there be a 3rd Heaven with out a first or a second? Here Paul is seeing a vision of the kingdoms of glory. 

We testified so strongly to her that we know for our selves that this is true. "This is the plan God has prepared for all of his children to return home. And truly the goal is to get to the highest kingdom of Glory known as the Celestial Kingdom! That is where God wants us to be because that is the only place where we can live with God and our families forever! I want you to take a second and really think about that. Do you feel this is something that you desire?" 

I would invite you to ponder on the same question. Marissa then replied that this is what she wanted. And we began to teach the key to get there. In the new testament Christ teaches us the way to enter into the kingdom of God. In John 3:5 read and look for what Christ says we need to do to enter into the kingdom of God. 

Marissa read this and we asked that question. She replied back by saying she needed to be baptized. We told her she was exactly right! This is what Christ teaches us directly out of the Bible. We need to follow the example of Christ and be baptized to return home to him. Now this is just the key to open the gate that returns to Him. So we extended the invitation to her to prepare herself to be baptized the first week of February. And she was very nervous about it. She said she still had her concerns. 

Now if many of you can remember my email from the previous week where I talked about Peter and how he overcame his concerns. Now we went through this with Marissa. just as I explained it in the email last week. And after she felt the Spirit testify to her that it was true. She identified the winds in her life. She saw that here situation in "leaving the boat" of friends and family to follow Christ was more important. And it is for the reason of it is the way to return home to God! I know this to be true! And she felt it that day! So we had a powerful lesson with her and now she is ready and continuing to prepare herself for that day. 

 I again in closing just want to bear my testimony that God does have a plan for us. And he wants us to return home and live with him again. And not just us but our families. There is power and spirit that will come into your life as you focus on getting you and your families on the path returning to God! I know that to be true and I testify that it is the celestial kingdom God wants us to return home to because it is the place Heavenly Father has prepared for us to be with our families. 

I would just invite you to ponder on what you need to do now knowing this. What is the next step to prepare your self to return home and live with God someday? And think of who you can help out along the way! Again I know these things to be true. 

Well I hope y'all have a great week! 

Elder Joshua V. Christensen

(Goodbye to some of the Ward members)

It is going to be a great year!

Sorry, Today we  were talking to our mission president for a couple hours about transfers, and we also went ice skating, and it took us longer to get back then we expected because of the traffic here! 

So we won't really be able to write along email! I am sorry about that! Next week I will catch you up on all of the details. But I will try to highlight the great things that happened this week! 

So we had MLC on Tuesday, and sad to say but it will be the last one that I will be teaching at! Not everyone knows yet, but I will be getting ready to go back out into the field! It will be a great experience to be fully out and really apply all of the wonderful things that I have been taught! I am so grateful for President Mortensen and for all the things I have learned! Now transfers are still a week away , but we have already discussed that I will be leaving the office. 

But we did a training on Fasting as well as a wonderful role play on Mathew 14. We really have been having alot of missionaries run into the concern that a investigator does not feel quite ready yet to make the decision to be baptized. And this is a very common and sincere concern. But now when we are teaching we have a tool to help them overcome concerns and feel at peace with their decision to be baptized. And what is great is this applies to so much more than just baptism. 

I would just invite you to go read this experience and think about these questions. 

Starting in vs 27-28 look for:

1. Who comes to the apostles and look in vs 28 for what peter desires of Christ. 

2. How does Christ respond to Peters desires?

3. How would you feel if you were in Peters shoes and the lord specifically invited you to come out to him! ( Remember that Peter is leaving the safety and comfort of the ship. Everything that he knew before to follow our savior!) 

4. How do you think Peter felt after Christ invited him to come?

So we know in vs 30 that Peter walks out on to the water. And we know that he begins to sink. 

5. So look for what causes Peter to sink, and how did peter feel?

6. What are the winds in your life that sometimes causes you to feel afraid or feel like you are sinking? 

When Peter was focussing on Christ he was walking upon the water. But when he took his sight of of Christ be became afraid. He saw the winds and he began to sink. I think that this is a very important principle that we see. And think about what someones natural reaction

​is when they are sinking. They reach out for help. I love this visual of Peter reaching out to Christ. 

7 Now look in vs 31 and see how Christ responds to Peters cry.

Christ responds immediately to Peter and grabs him. Christ will alway be there to lift us up! He will never let us fall! We do go through trials and pain sometimes to help us grow! And even during the time it happens we feel like we are sinking! It is very natural to feel that way and be hesitant to leave the boat. But as we follow the example of Peter we will be blessed. But remember Peter had to reach out also, so I would just invite you to think of what things you need to do in your life to reach out so Christ can help you. This may be more effect daily scripture study, personal prayer, and temple attendance. It may be serving others or having a positive attitude. Just ponder about what you can do and then have a hope in Christ that he will save you and help you! I know that to be true! 

This principle also applies in the work place or in school or what ever setting we are  in. Sometimes we have decisions that are placed in front of us that cause us to have to leave our comfort zone or "leave the boat". Maybe walking out of a movie or standing up for what you believe. I just know again as we put our trust in the lord we will not fail! He will lift us up and help us become better than we were! I would again just invite you to ponder how you can apply these principles in this upcoming year and they will help you to have an amazing year where you can grow your relationship with our savior Jesus Christ! I know that to be true and I testify of that! 

Sorry again this is so short but I will catch y'all up on everything next week! 

Elder Joshua V. Christensen

A wonderful Christmas Week.

 Again this week we don't have a ton to report on! Being in a singles wards during the holidays its a bit harder to meet with many of our investigators as well as members. But it was a wonderful week! We did have members have us over for Christmas eve and Christmas! And then of course being able to see the family was great! So it was a great Christmas!

 So one of the big things we are working on right now is working to find more investigators. We have pondered a lot about what things we can improve on. And the big thing we have decided on is to find effectively in a YSA (Young Single Adult)  ward we need to be working through the members. So we are going to make a bigger emphasis to have members help us by bringing there friends to activities as well as institute classes. Activities definitely play a big role in finding people to teach in the ward.

So to also find more people we went through our area book more in depth this week and called about 35 former investigators. We were able to get a hold of quite a few of them, and then there are a handful of people that would like to meet up again! So we are hopeful that we will see some great miracles come from that! 

And also we had our ward mission leader call us this week and invite us to come play basketball with him and a bunch of his friends who aren't members. And he brought some of his less active friends also.  At the end of the game we had a great lesson with them! We heard from our ward mission leader the next day that one of his less active friends after hearing the message on faith in Jesus Christ now wants to take the steps to be active and make his way to the temple! It was a great opportunity. 

He also told us that many of his friends thought very highly of us. They were impressed that we didn't let the game get to us, or get us to competitive. In there words they said, " I totally just blocked him and all he did was smile and give me a high five saying nice block! Who does that!" 

Now as funny as that sounds it really made me ponder. They saw something different in us that caught their attention. It was as small us not getting upset with a game. When we are baptized we promise our loving Father in Heaven to take the name of Jesus Christ upon us, and always to remember him as well as keep all of his commandments. Now focusing on taking Christs name upon is and always remembering him play a huge role in helping other recognize the light of the gospel. 

When we honor these covenants and as we stand as examples of our Savior Jesus Christ people will notice. They will feel a difference. That feeling they have will be the spirit testifying to them that there is something more for them! Now a lot of times they may not realize this at first, but little by little your example will bring people closer to Christ! I love the saying, " Preach the gospel always and when necessary use words! " Your example will go far beyond what you expect. 

I would just really invite you to ponder on this last week, and think to yourself. How did I take Christs name upon me this week? Did I look for opportunities to serve others? How can I improve this next week? 

I promise you that as you take these thoughts into consideration that you will be able to help others come unto Christ! Many will see and feel of the light that you have! I know these things to be true! 

I hope y'all have a great week! 

Elder Joshua V. Christensen

Christmas time!

Hey we don't have alot of time this week, but just wanted to give a brief update with this last week! We spent a lot of time just preparing for out Christmas zone conference. It was such a great time! We had the conference on Friday, so the night before we were up a bit later getting everything set up! I think it was a fun thing that the missionaries were able to come to! There were great talks given by president and Sister Mortensen on the atonement of Jesus Christ as well as His Birth. 

 Other than that this week we went on an exchange. I was able to go back to the white oak ward which is where I was first at when I arrived here in Texas. It was great! We had a couple of lessons that were set up that day with some of their investigators! One of their progressing investigators right now is named Will. And we went to teach him about the Plan of Salvation! It was great because when we got there he had one of his friends that were there. And so we began to teach him also about the plan of salvation! And at the end of the lesson we invited to be baptized! He said yes and accepted a date for Jan 17th! 

So the work is continuing on! I love it so much! We are seeing so much success right now in the mission! I am just so glad to be apart of this great work! I know it is the Lords work and that we are blessed to have the opportunity to be apart of it! All you need is a desire, and you are called to the work! 

Well I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Remember the true meaning of Christmas and I promise you will have a very memorable and joyous Christmas time with your families! 

Elder Joshua V. Christensen

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Hey everyone! 

Again I can not believe another week has gone by so fast! December is just flying by! Well 

things have been going really well this week! We are continuing to work with our two progressing investigators. Right now they both have baptismal dates for December 27th. There names are Christian and Alicia! 

We have been meeting with Alicia since late September, and then we started meeting with Christian a couple weeks ago. We were able to meet with them a couple times this week and things have been going so well! I went on a mini exchange on Thursday so we could have one of our zone leaders meet Alicia. 

So during that time I was back in college park. It was fun to be able to meet with some of the members up there again, and we were able to talk to them about He is the Gift video. But with our investigators they are doing very well!  As they continue to read from the Book of Mormon they are gaining their own spiritual conversion. 

They were both at church yesterday and it was such an amazing Sunday. Our Ward decided to do a Christmas program this last week. So if was a very powerful experience. It was perfect for the investigators we had there! 

Other than that we spent the week checking on referrals. We have been getting more and more lately! It has been such a blessing and our teaching pool is now increasing! The Lord is blessing us so abundantly! Also we were visiting one of our missionaries in the hospital this week who got and infection in his hand after wrecking on his bike. But he is doing great now !

I just want to share one miracle real quick that we saw this week! So on Saturday night. So we got home around 8:45. And we were walking around the complex to see if anyone would be out walking. And so then went through different buildings and we found this guy who was just sitting one of the flights of stairs. And we invited him to watch the He is the gift video. 

And after watching it he began to ask us more about what we do as missionaries. And we were able to answer him and talk to him more about the church and the teachings of Jesus Christ. He mentioned how he had some friends who had passed away a couple weeks a go in a car crash. He said he had been thinking more and more about what our purpose is here on the earth. And we were able to talk to him briefly about the plan of Salvation. And he accepted a return appointment. 

So just because of the video it opened up missionary opportunities, and as well as that it caused him to think more in depth about what role Christ has played in his life! I know that as we continue to share that video with others that it will bring many unto Christ. And millions of Gods Children can experience the true spirit of Christ this Christmas season!! I know that to be true! 

​( Very top part of our Christmas Tree) 

Well I hope y'all have a great week! 

Elder Joshua V. Christensen

More Random Picks from Josh:

You would be so proud of me! I totally fixed this! Like father like son! 

Finding those the Lord has prepared!

Life is just so good!  I am loving being a missionary! It has been kinda a crazy week with transfers, but we have also seen some crazy miracles! For the most part things with transfers went pretty smoothly. I just can't believe how fast time is continuing to fly by. I am not sure how much longer I will be able to serve as an assistant, but I sure have enjoyed it. 

 Well I don't have a lot of time to email today so this will need to be a bit shorter. But this week we have seen some incredible miracles with our investigators. And previous to this we were having such a hard time getting in and meeting with our investigators. And so I was pondering this last week about what things we could do better to help the people we are working with. And I just had the thought that we got to be making sure we are getting our weekly planning in each week. 

Sometimes with how busy we are we don't get the opportunity to get our weekly planning done. And this is somethings I have been wanting to make a greater priority with. Weekly planning is the time that we get to sit down and have a divine appointment with the Lord where we can seek and learn his will for our individual areas. I have some  amazing spiritual experiences where I felt I received direct revelation about lessons we need to teach and how to overcome there concerns or questions. 

And so with that being said as we sat down and pleaded for the help of the Lord, we were guided with the things we needed. We planned lessons for two our our investigators we have been working with, and they went so well! 

(This is one of the missionaries I worked a lot with while I was in the Woodlands. He has finished his mission and we dropped him off at the airport on Wednesday.)

Alicia is one of our investigators we met with later in the week after our planning. We had planned to teach the plan of salvation because she has continued to keep her commitments to read the Book of Mormon. And we were feeling like she was ready for the plan of salvation. So we decided we would have this lesson at the temple this last Friday. 

Just before our lesson with her we met with one of the recent converts in our ward named Evan. And he was getting ready to leave when he ran into one of the members that was coming to teach. Well we invited both of these members to come join us for the lesson with Alicia. And it was such a powerful lesson with her. We were master teaching and she was understanding so well. And there were some different points where this recent convert Evan just jumped in and started teaching. 

There is a saying by Boyd K. Packer that is when a testimony is found as it is shared. And literally as Evan taught he began to see even more fully how strong his testimony was! It was incredible! And we ended by inviting her to prepare to be baptized on Dec. 27. She accepted!! She was about to bring up concerns but Evan jumped in again and testified to her to really just remember back to the way that she felt since she has been meeting with missionaries. And so it helped her to overcome some of her concerns. So she is pumped! She texted after saying she would do her best to find her answer! 

And then also our investigator Christian we planned for also in weekly planning in depth got back in contact with us. And he has had a rough week. He lost his grandfather this last week and that is why he didn't show up to our appointment with him. But we asked what we could do to help him out. And he mentioned that he just wanted to meet up with us! 

And as we planned previous to that we had planned to go in and teach him the Plan of Salvation. That right there is just another testimony builder of the fact that God is aware of all of his Children. I know that to be true! So Saturday he also came to frisbee and got to be fellowshipped really well with members of the ward. He mentioned that he wanted to come to church also. So we gave him all of the information. 

  So fast forward to Sunday, he came and he loved church so much! This last week was fast Sunday. And we were getting right towards the end of the meeting. There was a common theme of people talking about trials and how we go through trials to make us stronger. And it touched him so much. So he said, " I think I want to go up there." and now remember this is his first time ever coming to church. So he went up to bear his testimony. And it was almost like he has been a member for his whole life. 

He thanked the missionaries for helping him. And he mentioned how when we started teaching him he had the question of how to know if this church is the true church. He said to me, " I have heard so many different stories about these churches coming up and being "true". How can I know if yours is any different. " And he is using this example during his testimony and then he said, " I had this question and I posed it to them......................... and then, Christensen just had this big old smile on his face as he looked at me. And he said,  Christian the beauty of this message is  you can know for yourself.   Pray and ask God to know if this is true! I testify to you that He loves you, and he will answer you!" 

 Christian said at that point he was going to give his all to know if it was true. And again while bearing his testimony he said, " Some of you know that I use to work t the Galleria Mall. And it required me to have to work on Sundays. Well since then as I have prayed, He has taken that job from me so I can be at church." He was laughing and said if that is a good enough answer I don't know what is. He just then continued to testify of his experience of him coming to know if this is true! It was such a powerful testimony meeting! 

And just as I mentioned that when Evan testified he found his testimony the same happened to Christian. Members were thanking him after for his testimony. And many thought he was a member. And just told them. I am preparing myself to be baptized. So we will meet with him on Wednesday. And we plan to also to extend a baptismal date to him for the end of the month. 

I have a firm testimony that the Lord is preparing his children. Christian and Alicia are just two examples of that! There are so many more who are prepared. It just takes our effort in reaching inviting people to come closer to Christ. With the initiative that the church has with He is the Gift, it makes it so easy to be able to invite people to come closer to Christ. Christ is the Gift, so again I just want to invite you to prayerfully think of who you can Share the Gift with this Christmas season. I promise you as you do you will experience the true joy of Christmas. And you will feel Christ loves more abundantly this season. 

I hope y'all have a great week! 

Elder Joshua V. Christensen

Some more pics from transfer week. 

He is the gift.

  Sorry this is going to be another short email. It has been a really crazy day for us. But I can not believe that we are officially into December now! Where is the time going! These last few months have gone by so fast. 

   This last week has been another great one! We were able to have our mission leadership council. And so we help lead many of the discussions, and then we finished out by helping watch the role plays that were taking place. And we were able to help provide feed back and training. We practiced teaching the Plan of Salvation again. We are doing everything we can to master our teaching here so that we can be the most effective in helping bring others unto the truth. And helping them to receive the restored gospel! I love it so much!

Then of course later in the week we had a wonderful thanksgiving. We had the chance to go over to our mission presidents home. We got to spend sometime with his whole family! They are such a great family and every time you are with them you just learn so much from them and there family. 

It was also nice to because while we were there we had some opportunities to discuss more about transfers. We have taken a lot of time this week with preparing for transfers. But it was such a nice day and a great chance to spend with there family.  

These were just some of the main things that we did! But something I really wanted to take some time to talk about is the new video the church has put out called He is the Gift. Many of you may be familiar with this already. But if not I would encourage you to look it up. The church is going big this Christmas with helping spread the true message of Christmas. 

  This last Easter the church also made a video called Because of Him. And that was a great success! There were about 4 million people who viewed the video. Now the reason I say this little fact is to set up this next statement. The church is estimating about 220 million to see the He is the Gift video. I may have already mentioned this in past emails also. 

But the Church has bought the mass header on youtube for the month of December. And it will start December 7th. And then the Church has bought video boards in Time square in New York City. And the video is such a great video! Here is the link for the video.  As you watch it please think of who you could share this with to help bring them joy this Christmas season. 

   http://www.mormon.org/christmas

You can also find it by going to 

christmas.mormon.org

See it is such an amazing video! But to help spread this to as many people as we can, we as members need to share it. You may have noticed in your ensigns that they have packets of pass along cards for he is the gift. That is one simple way you are able to share it. You can also post it on Facebook, twitter, or any other social media way. 

I would just invite you to please just do your best to share it. I promise you that it will bring such a stronger spirit of Christ in your home this Christmas season! It will bring you and your families closer one with another as you unite in sharing it together.  This is the Lords work and this is just one more way we see that the Lord is hastening His work! I testify of that!

Well I hope y'all have a great week! 

Elder Joshua V. Christensen

( here is a pic of the mission presidents fireside the week before. )