Good Morning Yall!!!!
Today is an awesome day. I am so excited to write you and tell you all about the week. and how i am a FATHER ( in missionary terms/slang)
So as yall have heard my companion Elder Kuila got transfered to a new area with another Poly companion. I know that he will do awesome and he is alot more happier. I got to talk to President Pingree Monday and he asked me to train. I was like well if that is what you want me to do i will obey. kinda like 1nephi 3:7 haha.
On thursday 40 New missionaries came in and our mission is huge!!!! i dont know anyone any more haha but its all good. But i got my son. ( my greenie) his Name is Elder Cornwall. He is from Palmdale California. It is about 2 hours away from LA. He is the middle child of five he has an older brother and sister. He brother came home from Indiana on his mission last year. Elder Cornwall went to BYU Idaho for a semster and came out on a mission. He is super excited to be out. Except the first day. he was totally nervous. It made me feel bad. and it brought back alot of memories. Oh yeah He loves SPIDERMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and the color RED. he has red luggage, red sheets, towels everything. so that is something we have in common. He wanted to go to Africa really bad for his mission. So while we walk around he sees alot of trees and birds so he is saying that he is serving in Africa not Texas. haha
Thursday was awesome got him back to the apt and got him unpacked. found out that he loves red and spiderman. And he is really organized and a lil OCD. sigh! :/ but that is okay we will have a really clean apartment which i wont complain about. But we got to planning and told him about the area a lil and got him out. We went to an area called Fox Run and we were walking and we walked down this one street and we got stopped by some girls who wanted to talk to us. They said that there parents are looking for a church. We found out a time that there parents would be home and drive by. Elder Cornwall was happy and said that was easy this is going to be fun. i was laughing and was like that hasnt happen in a long time and its a little harder than that. but his first dinner was a breakfast dinner. And he was able to meet Shawn Beard. So his first day was awesome.
Friday. Man right when the alarm went off at 6:30 he was out of the bed made it and was like " now what do we do" i was getting out of my bed and thinking in my head well im going to use the bathroom. but i was like work out time. so he did and he was just wired up still. got to do his full day of studies and we went to district meeting. Had a good district. Im the oldest one in the district. Everyone one else has been out 8 months or less. two new missionaries and two missionaries that have been out 6 weeks and 4 months.. So its young district and we have alot of things going for us. After district meeting we went to a BBQ resturant and had some true texan BBQ. it was amazing. loved it. Than we went and visited the bishop. Got Elder Cornwall to visit him and a lot of members. So we can get the members to know we have a new missionary out. The ward is very warming of Elder Cornwall. Elder Cornwall wanted to go visit his first contact multiple time. The one who was looking for a church. but they werent home. He was like "oh man" i was its okay man we will get them tomorrow.
Saturday it was raining. This whole week we have been walking cause we used alot of miles because of transfers so i broke him into that. We didnt have anything planned for saturday but i was like well lets take him tracting. So we went into an area expecting to tract but a less active found us so we went to his house. I was a lil nervous taking this poor Innocent new missionary to this rough member. But it turned out alot better than i expected. After we talked with him we went to another area and it was the same area that he got his first contact and said lets go visit them. i said we are seeing them tonight its alright. he said alright so we went to a members house and he connected with them very well. it was cool. We went to another area to introduce him to member, but that member wasnt home so we went to another house down the street and they came out and said that they have a referal for us. He was so happy and had that fire in him again. it was awesome. he said that this is so cool and i love it. I was like what the heck we havent had this good of a week in months. He hasnt had a bad week yet so im waiting to see how he will do. So we visited his first contact that night and we got rejected hard core. It was funny it made him sad. I was like poor guy. I knocked the door and i told him that your daughter stopped us and was telling us that yall have been looking for a church. he said my daughter? i said yes sir he was like well either you are lying through your teeth or you have the wrong house. I am postive we didnt have the wrong house but he shut the door and we walked off. So he got his first rejection.
Sunday Shawn Beard Got the Aaronic Priesthood. He was excited and we were part of the circle ordaining him. Awesome moment. couldnt ask for anything better. Sunday was just an all around good day. Elder Cornwall got comfortable with the ward and being in the area. he is starting to get less and less nervous each day. So Elder Cornwall had an awesome spiritual experience. We had a lesson with michael LeBlanc and it went alright and we got into the car after it was done and he was like man i really wanted to promise him something i was like " why didnt you"!! he was like well i dont know so we went back and he was like " i promise you that if you come to church that you wont have any pain" than all of the sudden Elder Cornwall started to cry. he was shocked and i was like if the spirit prompts you to do something do it! it was one of those promptings that was like why did i promise him that. but it was a good experience to always do what the spirit prompts you to do. Now he was a lil nervous cause he hopes he will come to church. I just simply told him. If you dont have faith he wont have faith in your promise. He was like wow who told you that. i said no one did i just made it up. he was like that was deep. haha
I know that being a trainer is going to be hard cause me and him are complete opposite but we are going to work hard and i am forgetting about myself and putting him first. I know that i am going to be good cause i know that i will have some kind of impact on his life. and im excited to teach him the ropes of being a missionary.
I love yall and it has been nice writing to yall
Elder K Christensen
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013
New Companion
This week Kendall's companion, Elder Kuila was transfered to a new area in the mission which means that he receieved a new companion. His mission received 40 new missionaries this week, a record number for the mission!! The most amazing thing is that Kendall is now a trainer and he has a greenie. He will be an amazing trainer. His companion's name is Elder Cornwall and we don't know much about him. Kendall will write more about him when he writes on Monday.
Elder Christensen and Elder Cornwall
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Apr 22nd Pics
Chick-Fil-A Fireman Cow
Lunchtime
"Lunchtime at a ghetto gas station."-Kendall
Temple Day with the District
Men in Black
Elder Christensen and Elder Kuila
Typical Kendall pose
Kendall's District
(the elder in the blue tie is Elder Lopez, Kendall's MTC companion)
Elder Duvall and Elder Christensen
another fellow Hyrumite!!!
Elder Christensen and Elder Hardy from Brigham City
Shadow, their "tracting dog" Found him while tracting one day
Apr 22nd Letter
HELLO FROM THE GREAT COUNTRY OF TEXAS HAHAHA!!!!!!
How was everyone's week been? Well it wasn’t that eventful following last week but here are some moments that were awesome so HERE WE GO!!!
On Wednesday we went to a new member’s house they are named the Ripley's. They moved here from Nevada! They are coming back to church from not going for a while back in Nevada. They moved down here because of the cost of medical and the cost of living they say it’s cheaper here in Texas for those things. But they were really excited to see us we talked to them for a while and they brought their son and daughter in law with them. The cool thing is they want us to teach them the lessons again which is awesome cause it good practice for us to keep teaching them, and to help them feel the spirit more. And hopefully we will get the daughter in law who is not a member to sit in on the lessons and hopefully she will want to learn more so this could turn out to be really good.
Thursday was an amazing day. I went to the temple for the first time in 3 months. That is a long time for me to not go without the temple. I can honestly say that right when I walked in I felt so relieved!!!!!!!!!! It was amazing!!! It felt like I had a lot of weight lifted off of me and not worry about anything for a good two hours. I can say I took advantage of all the time I could there. I even saw Sister Singer!!!!! it was funny I went to the desk she works at and I ask the lady if Sister Singer was there and she said who and this person came around the corner and said that's me and man did Sister Singer get a huge smile on her face!!! She was excited to see me and then Elder Gutierrez came around the corner and she saw her two favorite missionaries again!!!! It was good to talk with her. I was on exchanges Thursday after the temple with my zone leader Elder Hardy he is from Brigham City and went to Box Elder!!! So Elder Hardy and I always tease one another about who is better Box Elder or Mountain Crest. I didn't know this but he is the one who actually Beat Raider Lofthouse In wrestling one year. So it’s interesting because we know a lot of the same people that we went to school with. Elder Hardy and I had a good lesson with an investigator by the name of Martha. Martha is really hard to catch, she is working two jobs. She is dating a less active. So she is somewhat interested in learning more. We taught her the plan of salvation again because last time we didn't do it as good as we should have but we taught her and found a concern out. She had a spouse pass away a while back and she is still angry about death so when we taught about the spirit world it was like she was hesitance to think about it but it’s understandable. But hopefully she will get Sundays off and come to church!!!
Update on Shawn Beard. He is doing AMAZING!! He is on fire on Sunday he was asked to give the closing prayer in sacrament meeting. He was so happy and he did a really good job!! He came up to us after and was happier than a kid at a candy shop. I love how he is so excited about the gospel. He is motivating me to become more excited about the gospel and to live it and love it. Like that talk that was given in October in general conference. He came up to us and was like you better be here next Sunday!! I ask why and he hinted that he is getting the Aaronic Priesthood next week! Man he is just rolling with it and having a blast I’m so excited to be part of this and to help him out on the way to become even happier!
Sunday evening Elder Kuila and I were walking to our dinner appointment. We were walking a lot yesterday cause we don’t have a lot of miles left, since we went to the temple it ate most of our miles up. So we were walking in the neighborhood and we saw this teenager and we said Hello and he said "hey elders" so immediately "I asked how do you know who we are?" and he said I’m a member! Now this is weird cause I have been here for a while and never have heard about you and I know everyone that is a member here. But I guess he just moved here about a couple of weeks ago. This was a testimony to me that we are noticed for both good and bad everyone know us Missionaries and members. Missionaries especially cause we stick out like a sore thumb but as members by the way we act around others and our morals affect others and others can see that so always remember who you are and what you stand for.
I love each Monday I have to write yall. I wake up every Monday Morning just happy that I get to write to all yall. Thank you for being the family and friends and people you are. We are all different, but we are loved in God's eyes and he is so proud of us for what we do. I know that because I have felt that comfort, peace and love that we feel from keeping the commandment and by doing what Elder Bednar said " be a good boy and girl"
I LOVE YALL AND MISS YALL
Elder Christensen
" Over and Out"
How was everyone's week been? Well it wasn’t that eventful following last week but here are some moments that were awesome so HERE WE GO!!!
On Wednesday we went to a new member’s house they are named the Ripley's. They moved here from Nevada! They are coming back to church from not going for a while back in Nevada. They moved down here because of the cost of medical and the cost of living they say it’s cheaper here in Texas for those things. But they were really excited to see us we talked to them for a while and they brought their son and daughter in law with them. The cool thing is they want us to teach them the lessons again which is awesome cause it good practice for us to keep teaching them, and to help them feel the spirit more. And hopefully we will get the daughter in law who is not a member to sit in on the lessons and hopefully she will want to learn more so this could turn out to be really good.
Thursday was an amazing day. I went to the temple for the first time in 3 months. That is a long time for me to not go without the temple. I can honestly say that right when I walked in I felt so relieved!!!!!!!!!! It was amazing!!! It felt like I had a lot of weight lifted off of me and not worry about anything for a good two hours. I can say I took advantage of all the time I could there. I even saw Sister Singer!!!!! it was funny I went to the desk she works at and I ask the lady if Sister Singer was there and she said who and this person came around the corner and said that's me and man did Sister Singer get a huge smile on her face!!! She was excited to see me and then Elder Gutierrez came around the corner and she saw her two favorite missionaries again!!!! It was good to talk with her. I was on exchanges Thursday after the temple with my zone leader Elder Hardy he is from Brigham City and went to Box Elder!!! So Elder Hardy and I always tease one another about who is better Box Elder or Mountain Crest. I didn't know this but he is the one who actually Beat Raider Lofthouse In wrestling one year. So it’s interesting because we know a lot of the same people that we went to school with. Elder Hardy and I had a good lesson with an investigator by the name of Martha. Martha is really hard to catch, she is working two jobs. She is dating a less active. So she is somewhat interested in learning more. We taught her the plan of salvation again because last time we didn't do it as good as we should have but we taught her and found a concern out. She had a spouse pass away a while back and she is still angry about death so when we taught about the spirit world it was like she was hesitance to think about it but it’s understandable. But hopefully she will get Sundays off and come to church!!!
Update on Shawn Beard. He is doing AMAZING!! He is on fire on Sunday he was asked to give the closing prayer in sacrament meeting. He was so happy and he did a really good job!! He came up to us after and was happier than a kid at a candy shop. I love how he is so excited about the gospel. He is motivating me to become more excited about the gospel and to live it and love it. Like that talk that was given in October in general conference. He came up to us and was like you better be here next Sunday!! I ask why and he hinted that he is getting the Aaronic Priesthood next week! Man he is just rolling with it and having a blast I’m so excited to be part of this and to help him out on the way to become even happier!
Sunday evening Elder Kuila and I were walking to our dinner appointment. We were walking a lot yesterday cause we don’t have a lot of miles left, since we went to the temple it ate most of our miles up. So we were walking in the neighborhood and we saw this teenager and we said Hello and he said "hey elders" so immediately "I asked how do you know who we are?" and he said I’m a member! Now this is weird cause I have been here for a while and never have heard about you and I know everyone that is a member here. But I guess he just moved here about a couple of weeks ago. This was a testimony to me that we are noticed for both good and bad everyone know us Missionaries and members. Missionaries especially cause we stick out like a sore thumb but as members by the way we act around others and our morals affect others and others can see that so always remember who you are and what you stand for.
I love each Monday I have to write yall. I wake up every Monday Morning just happy that I get to write to all yall. Thank you for being the family and friends and people you are. We are all different, but we are loved in God's eyes and he is so proud of us for what we do. I know that because I have felt that comfort, peace and love that we feel from keeping the commandment and by doing what Elder Bednar said " be a good boy and girl"
I LOVE YALL AND MISS YALL
Elder Christensen
" Over and Out"
Monday, April 15, 2013
10 more months and pics
Today is Elder Christensen's 14 month mark so that means 10 MORE MONTHS TIL HE COMES HOME!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait, we have missed him so much but he is doing amazing as you read in his letters every week.
MORE MONTHS!!!
In his area
(His favorite picture)
Elder Crane and Elder Christensen
Elder Christensen and Elder Carson
Shawn Beard's Baptism
Elder Kuila and Shawn's daughter? (Not sure who she is)
Look what he found this morning!!!!
Apr 15th Letter
IT FINALLY HAPPENED. SHAWN BEARD GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!
A little bit more on that later I want to show you the cool things that have happened this week so here we go.
So on Thursday I was on exchanges with my old MTC Companion Elder Lopez. And what a day it was. First we had to go to this restaurant Called Cheddar's. Wednesday was Zone conference and my old ward Spring Creek provided the food and when I saw them they said that they would give me the left overs so I went into the fridge and grab everything in the fridge. When I got home I noticed that I grab someone's Meds I was like o crap so I called up the Elder and he told me to meet him at Cheddar's Thursday at 1030 in the morning. So that is what Elder Lopez and myself did we went and exchanged drugs. (Medical drugs) (I thought I would never do that on my mission exchanges drugs haha ). After Elder lopez wanted to go to this BBQ place called Rudy's so we went there and it is the best BBQ so far. So right when I was going to pay we hear this " Wo Wo i got yall" I look and this guy hurry gives the cashier his card without me saying anything. I was like thank you! Come to find out it was a first counselor of the bishopric in a ward close to us. He sat next to us and talked with him for a little bit. I guess he got converted in 2000 and he married the sister missionary that taught him! So that is pretty awesome. The rest of the day kinda went downhill. Here are some of the experiences that we encountered. So we were walking around this neighborhood called Spring Trails. We were walking back to the car when this white BMW was slowing down and pulling to the side acting like they wanted to talk with us. He said the following words ( Editor’s note: We are not going to put down what was said but trust me, it wasn’t very nice.) and he let us know that we were #1. haha. It was one of those things that I was like wow I hope you know that you didn't just say that to us but to the person we represent. Then about 1 hour later we got these teenagers driving past us screaming "PRAISE THE LORD, PRAISE THE LORD. DO NOT FEAR" man the people down here are pretty crazy but it’s funny to watch and it makes great stories to tell so I find no offense to them what so ever.
Michael LaBlanc.
Oh man good old Michael LaBlanc he is one of our investigators. He has been interested in the church for about a year and I am his 8th missionary that has been able to teach him. Well we went by on Saturday. We invited him to the baptism of Shawn Beard, and he said that he would maybe attend it which unfortunately he did not attend. We went over to his house afterwards and visited with him for a bit. In the beginning I didn’t know what we were going to teach him but I remember that we left him with a challenge about being baptized. So we ask him how his reading was and finding an answer. He answered that he hasn’t done anything like that. At this point I was really disappointed in him so I basically just said something on the lines of this. "Michael you know you need to be baptized, the only thing we are asking you to do is what God wants us to do, and just follow the example of Jesus Christ, in getting baptized. How hard is it to follow him" The rest of the time it was him crying we made it a point that he needs to get baptized. We sat there for a while talking and he said these things. "You know I have nothing holding me back, Your church is the fastest growing church in the world how can 14 million be wrong, and how can this be wrong if over 200,000 people got baptized last year". He said that he has a friend who is putting anti stuff into his head like how Joseph Smith is a false Prophet I had a huge prompting to go to the verse of Matthew 7 20-24 which talks about by the fruits ye shall know the truth. He said that is making a lot more sense because that is your church yall produce all the good fruit and not bad. We are finally making progress. It was just a really spiritual experience with him and just throwing out his concerns. Before we left I had this huge prompting that I needed to ask him this question "Michael will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of god?" He said YES. “we have a date of the 27th of April will you be ready by then?" He said let me pray about it. As we left he asks if it was fast Sunday tomorrow and we said Yes! He said Man this is perfect timing Thanks Elders!!!!
NEXT DAY!!
Fast Sunday arrives and Michael is not at church. I was like are you kidding me where is he at. So after Church we went over to his house and he just look so tired and look like he was crying all day. He told us that he woke up at 7 crying. He has been doing what we have been asking him to do and that was to pray and find out the truth. He said that the truth hurts I ask what do you mean. He said that I was finding out stuff about my old church The Catholics and it hurts me what they do and how they are so wrong. I have been doing a lot of research and its making me appreciate what your church is all about and I’m loving your church more and more which is good. I’m glad that he is finding the truth he said that he hasn’t received an answer about the date but he will soon.
SHAWN BEARDS BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday was the day!!!!!! Shawn got baptized and what a spiritual experience it was. I felt the spirit so strong and so did he. He was just crying after he got baptized I was so happy. After he got changed we ask him to bear his testimony and man was that really powerful!!! He expressed how he finally found the church that is Christ's church and is true he just became overwhelmed and it was awesome seeing him after the baptism. He just gave us a hug and didn’t let go for a while. It was amazing.
The next day I had the opportunity to confirm him a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and receive the Holy Ghost. Now that was a way cool experience. I can honestly say I don’t remember anything that I said, I know that it was by the spirit that it happened. My legs were just shaking I felt the spirit so strong never have I felt it this way in my life.
I wanted to close with my testimony. I am so grateful that I was able to teach and confirm Shawn Beard. I know that if I didn’t come out here in my mission that I wouldn’t have been able to bring him in the fold and he would never find the truth. I know I have promised many people that I will work my butt off and find those in need. I know I promised Shawn I would find him. I’m so grateful that God knows where I need to be, I know I can touch the hard headed Texans here. I’m so grateful for the spirit testifying that these things are true and testifying to others that this is the true church. I’m grateful that yall can attend Saturday. I know that you were there in spirit but this is OUR baptism it’s just not mine but it our family effort and it’s another soul that God has coming back.
I love yall be safe and thank you for all the love and support and sacrifice you do for everyone.
Love
Elder Kendall Christensen
A little bit more on that later I want to show you the cool things that have happened this week so here we go.
So on Thursday I was on exchanges with my old MTC Companion Elder Lopez. And what a day it was. First we had to go to this restaurant Called Cheddar's. Wednesday was Zone conference and my old ward Spring Creek provided the food and when I saw them they said that they would give me the left overs so I went into the fridge and grab everything in the fridge. When I got home I noticed that I grab someone's Meds I was like o crap so I called up the Elder and he told me to meet him at Cheddar's Thursday at 1030 in the morning. So that is what Elder Lopez and myself did we went and exchanged drugs. (Medical drugs) (I thought I would never do that on my mission exchanges drugs haha ). After Elder lopez wanted to go to this BBQ place called Rudy's so we went there and it is the best BBQ so far. So right when I was going to pay we hear this " Wo Wo i got yall" I look and this guy hurry gives the cashier his card without me saying anything. I was like thank you! Come to find out it was a first counselor of the bishopric in a ward close to us. He sat next to us and talked with him for a little bit. I guess he got converted in 2000 and he married the sister missionary that taught him! So that is pretty awesome. The rest of the day kinda went downhill. Here are some of the experiences that we encountered. So we were walking around this neighborhood called Spring Trails. We were walking back to the car when this white BMW was slowing down and pulling to the side acting like they wanted to talk with us. He said the following words ( Editor’s note: We are not going to put down what was said but trust me, it wasn’t very nice.) and he let us know that we were #1. haha. It was one of those things that I was like wow I hope you know that you didn't just say that to us but to the person we represent. Then about 1 hour later we got these teenagers driving past us screaming "PRAISE THE LORD, PRAISE THE LORD. DO NOT FEAR" man the people down here are pretty crazy but it’s funny to watch and it makes great stories to tell so I find no offense to them what so ever.
Michael LaBlanc.
Oh man good old Michael LaBlanc he is one of our investigators. He has been interested in the church for about a year and I am his 8th missionary that has been able to teach him. Well we went by on Saturday. We invited him to the baptism of Shawn Beard, and he said that he would maybe attend it which unfortunately he did not attend. We went over to his house afterwards and visited with him for a bit. In the beginning I didn’t know what we were going to teach him but I remember that we left him with a challenge about being baptized. So we ask him how his reading was and finding an answer. He answered that he hasn’t done anything like that. At this point I was really disappointed in him so I basically just said something on the lines of this. "Michael you know you need to be baptized, the only thing we are asking you to do is what God wants us to do, and just follow the example of Jesus Christ, in getting baptized. How hard is it to follow him" The rest of the time it was him crying we made it a point that he needs to get baptized. We sat there for a while talking and he said these things. "You know I have nothing holding me back, Your church is the fastest growing church in the world how can 14 million be wrong, and how can this be wrong if over 200,000 people got baptized last year". He said that he has a friend who is putting anti stuff into his head like how Joseph Smith is a false Prophet I had a huge prompting to go to the verse of Matthew 7 20-24 which talks about by the fruits ye shall know the truth. He said that is making a lot more sense because that is your church yall produce all the good fruit and not bad. We are finally making progress. It was just a really spiritual experience with him and just throwing out his concerns. Before we left I had this huge prompting that I needed to ask him this question "Michael will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of god?" He said YES. “we have a date of the 27th of April will you be ready by then?" He said let me pray about it. As we left he asks if it was fast Sunday tomorrow and we said Yes! He said Man this is perfect timing Thanks Elders!!!!
NEXT DAY!!
Fast Sunday arrives and Michael is not at church. I was like are you kidding me where is he at. So after Church we went over to his house and he just look so tired and look like he was crying all day. He told us that he woke up at 7 crying. He has been doing what we have been asking him to do and that was to pray and find out the truth. He said that the truth hurts I ask what do you mean. He said that I was finding out stuff about my old church The Catholics and it hurts me what they do and how they are so wrong. I have been doing a lot of research and its making me appreciate what your church is all about and I’m loving your church more and more which is good. I’m glad that he is finding the truth he said that he hasn’t received an answer about the date but he will soon.
SHAWN BEARDS BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday was the day!!!!!! Shawn got baptized and what a spiritual experience it was. I felt the spirit so strong and so did he. He was just crying after he got baptized I was so happy. After he got changed we ask him to bear his testimony and man was that really powerful!!! He expressed how he finally found the church that is Christ's church and is true he just became overwhelmed and it was awesome seeing him after the baptism. He just gave us a hug and didn’t let go for a while. It was amazing.
The next day I had the opportunity to confirm him a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and receive the Holy Ghost. Now that was a way cool experience. I can honestly say I don’t remember anything that I said, I know that it was by the spirit that it happened. My legs were just shaking I felt the spirit so strong never have I felt it this way in my life.
I wanted to close with my testimony. I am so grateful that I was able to teach and confirm Shawn Beard. I know that if I didn’t come out here in my mission that I wouldn’t have been able to bring him in the fold and he would never find the truth. I know I have promised many people that I will work my butt off and find those in need. I know I promised Shawn I would find him. I’m so grateful that God knows where I need to be, I know I can touch the hard headed Texans here. I’m so grateful for the spirit testifying that these things are true and testifying to others that this is the true church. I’m grateful that yall can attend Saturday. I know that you were there in spirit but this is OUR baptism it’s just not mine but it our family effort and it’s another soul that God has coming back.
I love yall be safe and thank you for all the love and support and sacrifice you do for everyone.
Love
Elder Kendall Christensen
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Apr 8th Letter
WHO DIDNT LOVE CONFERENCE THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t know about yall but I thought it went by so fast. It’s crazy how it’s on and then it goes by fast than we have to wait a long 6 months until it comes on again but I just have to think that the next time conference comes on I will have only 4 months left!!!! Now that is nuts.
This week was a good week a lot of things happened toward the end of the week So LETS GIT ER DONE!!!!!
So do you remember the family that we came into contact with? We were just walking down the road and we saw the kids riding their bikes and they almost hit us and the mom said. Hey watch out for the missionaries? Well we met up with them for the first time this week. And they are an awesome family. They use to be really active but they have things falter and they just have become less and less active but when we met with them they really loved us coming by. They said we can come by whenever we want and they only ask that we don’t give them the lessons but we can give them spiritual thoughts and they don’t want a calling haha. I see a lot of potential with them and they said that our ward is a lot different than others in the past so they feel really comfortable.
Alright so the big story this week is Shawn Beard!!!!!!!!!! This man surprises us every time we go by and let me tell you what happened this week.
We were supposed to have a lesson with him on Friday but we couldn’t find a member to come with us to his place. I looked at the dinner calendar and saw that we had a certain family who has really fellow shipped him so we called and ask if we could bring him over to dinner and to have a lesson. They said of course so we called Shawn and ask if that would be alright if he comes over to their house for dinner and a lesson and was willing to come over. Now this is Friday night and he walks in and he is just all smiles I was like man he is so happy what is going on. He comes up and was like “Elders are you ready for this Saturday?" I said of course are you and he said “its 8 days away and I’m counting down the days till it gets here" I was like yes it is. He later said that he has some news for us but I was a little nervous cause coming this close to his baptism anything can happen but he said that he finally got his answer!!!!!! I said For Real! (Shawn has been waiting for this answer that is like a sledgehammer to the face and that he will know without a doubt that this church is true.) I said what happened. He told me that when we went over to his house last Tuesday and was talking about the spirit and how we can feel and recognize the spirit. And that he needed to pray to God and say hey I have been praying ,reading and I know it’s true please just confirm it to me. Well that is what happened Thursday night. He was telling me that God woke him up Thursday night at 2 am and he felt like he needed to pray he told us that when he prayed he said that he knows without a shadow of a doubt that it is true and if it isn’t then show it unto me right now! Shawn said that he got this overwhelming feeling that this Church is true and that he needed to get baptized this coming week!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy that this has happened and that he is ready for this week.
We had Shawn over to a members house Saturday to watch the first session of conference and i don’t know who took more notes me or him I had about two pages he had about three to four pages. He was so amazed about conference and he loved it. He was so amazed he went to the priesthood session with us and he loved it.
We talked to him about Saturday and his baptism and the program that we have for him and he wants his friend that introduced him to the church to baptize him he said that he wants me to confirm him on Sunday. I am so shocked and honored to do so we keep joking with him I hope the water is warm and he said that either way he is going to be warm with the spirit and he might feel up the font with his tears I said well ill join ya ahaha
General Conference:
Here are some quotes and some talks that really stood out to me.
"The Priesthood is the way to protection in the house" - President Packer.
“I loved his talk about the way we need to be protected in our house with Satan throwing everything at us)
"RETURN TO VIRTUE!" - Elaine Dalton
(I really loved her talk. she was so bold to the women about virtue and how we need to be in these days)
Satan's destiny is decided, and he wants others to join, he knows that he is going to be destroyed" - Elder Richard G Scott.
(he talked about having a Christ centered home )
"CATCH THE WAVE" - Elder Russell M Nelson.
(he pretty much taught the first lesson, restoration)
"Breaking the law of chastity is a gruesome Sin" - Elder Bednar
(loved how he was like you need to live the law of chastity)
"Do not hyperventilate when issues arise" - Elder Holland
I just want to end with my testimony adding on to Elder Holland's about believing. I felt like he was talking straight to me when he was speaking. I was in the same boat. I believed it was true and I was doing everything I knew I was supposed to do but I didn’t know for sure it was true. I wanna let you know that in the past 14 months that I KNOW THAT THIS IS TRUE. I know this and I know that the people that I’m teaching can feel that it is true. Conference was full of the spirit and I knew that this is the true church. I am so grateful that we have a loving prophet and apostles to lead us and guide us if not we would be doing as it says in amos 8:12 "And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it."
I love all yall and please be safe this week. I pray for yall every day and night.
Love
Elder Kendall Christensen
I don’t know about yall but I thought it went by so fast. It’s crazy how it’s on and then it goes by fast than we have to wait a long 6 months until it comes on again but I just have to think that the next time conference comes on I will have only 4 months left!!!! Now that is nuts.
This week was a good week a lot of things happened toward the end of the week So LETS GIT ER DONE!!!!!
So do you remember the family that we came into contact with? We were just walking down the road and we saw the kids riding their bikes and they almost hit us and the mom said. Hey watch out for the missionaries? Well we met up with them for the first time this week. And they are an awesome family. They use to be really active but they have things falter and they just have become less and less active but when we met with them they really loved us coming by. They said we can come by whenever we want and they only ask that we don’t give them the lessons but we can give them spiritual thoughts and they don’t want a calling haha. I see a lot of potential with them and they said that our ward is a lot different than others in the past so they feel really comfortable.
Alright so the big story this week is Shawn Beard!!!!!!!!!! This man surprises us every time we go by and let me tell you what happened this week.
We were supposed to have a lesson with him on Friday but we couldn’t find a member to come with us to his place. I looked at the dinner calendar and saw that we had a certain family who has really fellow shipped him so we called and ask if we could bring him over to dinner and to have a lesson. They said of course so we called Shawn and ask if that would be alright if he comes over to their house for dinner and a lesson and was willing to come over. Now this is Friday night and he walks in and he is just all smiles I was like man he is so happy what is going on. He comes up and was like “Elders are you ready for this Saturday?" I said of course are you and he said “its 8 days away and I’m counting down the days till it gets here" I was like yes it is. He later said that he has some news for us but I was a little nervous cause coming this close to his baptism anything can happen but he said that he finally got his answer!!!!!! I said For Real! (Shawn has been waiting for this answer that is like a sledgehammer to the face and that he will know without a doubt that this church is true.) I said what happened. He told me that when we went over to his house last Tuesday and was talking about the spirit and how we can feel and recognize the spirit. And that he needed to pray to God and say hey I have been praying ,reading and I know it’s true please just confirm it to me. Well that is what happened Thursday night. He was telling me that God woke him up Thursday night at 2 am and he felt like he needed to pray he told us that when he prayed he said that he knows without a shadow of a doubt that it is true and if it isn’t then show it unto me right now! Shawn said that he got this overwhelming feeling that this Church is true and that he needed to get baptized this coming week!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy that this has happened and that he is ready for this week.
We had Shawn over to a members house Saturday to watch the first session of conference and i don’t know who took more notes me or him I had about two pages he had about three to four pages. He was so amazed about conference and he loved it. He was so amazed he went to the priesthood session with us and he loved it.
We talked to him about Saturday and his baptism and the program that we have for him and he wants his friend that introduced him to the church to baptize him he said that he wants me to confirm him on Sunday. I am so shocked and honored to do so we keep joking with him I hope the water is warm and he said that either way he is going to be warm with the spirit and he might feel up the font with his tears I said well ill join ya ahaha
General Conference:
Here are some quotes and some talks that really stood out to me.
"The Priesthood is the way to protection in the house" - President Packer.
“I loved his talk about the way we need to be protected in our house with Satan throwing everything at us)
"RETURN TO VIRTUE!" - Elaine Dalton
(I really loved her talk. she was so bold to the women about virtue and how we need to be in these days)
Satan's destiny is decided, and he wants others to join, he knows that he is going to be destroyed" - Elder Richard G Scott.
(he talked about having a Christ centered home )
"CATCH THE WAVE" - Elder Russell M Nelson.
(he pretty much taught the first lesson, restoration)
"Breaking the law of chastity is a gruesome Sin" - Elder Bednar
(loved how he was like you need to live the law of chastity)
"Do not hyperventilate when issues arise" - Elder Holland
I just want to end with my testimony adding on to Elder Holland's about believing. I felt like he was talking straight to me when he was speaking. I was in the same boat. I believed it was true and I was doing everything I knew I was supposed to do but I didn’t know for sure it was true. I wanna let you know that in the past 14 months that I KNOW THAT THIS IS TRUE. I know this and I know that the people that I’m teaching can feel that it is true. Conference was full of the spirit and I knew that this is the true church. I am so grateful that we have a loving prophet and apostles to lead us and guide us if not we would be doing as it says in amos 8:12 "And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it."
I love all yall and please be safe this week. I pray for yall every day and night.
Love
Elder Kendall Christensen
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Apr 1st Letter
MERRY HAPPY NEW EASTER HAHAHA (I love being random)
How was yall's Easter? Mine was wet. It rained on us but i felt like it was a blessing. I LOVE TEXAS RAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looks like it is warming up there it’s the same here It’s finally spring in UTAH and it’s almost summer in TEXAS
So here is a look at my week in Texas. It kind of was slow this week but I have to admit I could see that it was going too happened because I have seen this before. When weeks like this happen the next weeks are full of miracles and awesome moments so I’m looking forward for that.
This week we only met with one of our investigators and that was Shawn Beard. He is the one that is getting baptized on the 13 of April!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is still so golden and so excited to get baptized. This week we talked about the spirit, and the spirit in conversion. Now Shawn is waiting for this so called " sledgehammer to the face" That means once he knows that this is true it going to be a wondrous experience. But the spirit doesn’t work like that sometime I mean don’t get me wrong it happens to special people like Joseph Smith but it doesn’t happen to everyone. Well we had a member come with us and he put it so simply he said that right now he is praying to God to put him on the right path and let these things that I’m reading and doing to be true. But now we need to ask god this I’m reading, I’m praying and attending church and I feel good Confirm this to know that this is what I’m supposed to do. That is a really different way and you will be able to feel the spirit and to know for a fact that you will get your answer. He keeps mentioning that he feels like Joseph Smith in finding what church is true and Shawn has said that every time that we come over, or he goes to church that what they say is what he needs and it helps him out. That right there is the spirit.and we pointed that out to him. Shawn is amazing. I LOVE HIM.
Okay so I went on exchanges with Elder Ririe this week. And what we did for the day was not that fun. We did service all day long 11 am -5pm It TOOK FOREVER!!!! So what we did was first was we had to weed her flower garden. Now the flower garden is pretty big but the thing is she hasn’t taken care of her garden for about a year and a half so the weeds were huge and it took forever. The worst part was that one of the plants she wanted to save was a rose bush now those things hurt let’s just say I got poked too many times. Then we had to turn the dirt in her other garden, that wasn’t too bad that was easy than came the hardest part we had to dig four holes. Now yall are thinking well that seems so easy. Let me tell you the difference from Utah soil and Texas soil. TEXAS HAS NO DIRT ITS ALL CLAY. Now anyone knows how hard clay is that thing took us about 30 mins to dig a hole about a foot deep. Than the fun really started we had to plant the trees. Now yall are asking how hard is that. So this was special tree. (I found out later why it was) This tree couldn’t get out of its pot so when we were pulling it out I had the trunk of the tree and my companion was hitting the bottom trying to loosen up the soil, well we got it out and I lifted the tree to the hole and dropped it in and then I notice THERE WAS FIRE ANTS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TREE AND NOW THEY ARE ON ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a new meaning of ants in the pants dance. Freak those things hurt I got bit and it was not funny I got so pist luckily I didn’t swear but you know me haha needless to say it was a long day hahah
Easter was pretty awesome It rained for most of it which made me happy. I rather be happy with rain than snow. But in the morning we got a text from this kid named K.T. he is a friend of an investigator and he was asking if he could come to church today, we said of course. Well he came and he had such a good time he wants to learn more. He is 21 and black. We are going to teach him for a little bit than pass him off to the Singles Ward Missionaries we were talking about baptism and Holy Ghost in gospel principles and he wanted to learn more about that cause he has already been baptized twice in his church it shouldn’t be a problem with him he is legit. For dinner we had Hamburger and hot dogs that is what we requested cause we haven’t had a good hot dog and hamburger in a long time. I ate three of each and we went to two dinners Yesterday.
I wanted to close with a little testimony I developed yesterday and that was of Easter. Yesterday was the day I really reflected on my Lord and Savior and what he has done for me and mankind. I can’t honestly know what he went through and couldn’t honestly comprehend the whole atonement. But what I do know was the feeling I felt at Church. I know for a fact that God sent his only begotten son Jesus Christ to be our savior and redeemer in these last days. I know that he loves us personally and knows us I couldn’t image not knowing that we have a Savior. I know that times are tough especially in the days we are in but I’m so glad with the fact that I know we have someone we can turn to and someone we know who is always happy. I love reading the Book of Mormon I finally finished reading it for my third time I know I KNOW that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and contains the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ I’m so grateful for you (Christensen family) for the love that we have in the gospel and that we know that we can be together forever.
I hope yall have a good week and i will talk with yall soon.
LOVE
ELDER KENDALL CHRISTENSEN
How was yall's Easter? Mine was wet. It rained on us but i felt like it was a blessing. I LOVE TEXAS RAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looks like it is warming up there it’s the same here It’s finally spring in UTAH and it’s almost summer in TEXAS
So here is a look at my week in Texas. It kind of was slow this week but I have to admit I could see that it was going too happened because I have seen this before. When weeks like this happen the next weeks are full of miracles and awesome moments so I’m looking forward for that.
This week we only met with one of our investigators and that was Shawn Beard. He is the one that is getting baptized on the 13 of April!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is still so golden and so excited to get baptized. This week we talked about the spirit, and the spirit in conversion. Now Shawn is waiting for this so called " sledgehammer to the face" That means once he knows that this is true it going to be a wondrous experience. But the spirit doesn’t work like that sometime I mean don’t get me wrong it happens to special people like Joseph Smith but it doesn’t happen to everyone. Well we had a member come with us and he put it so simply he said that right now he is praying to God to put him on the right path and let these things that I’m reading and doing to be true. But now we need to ask god this I’m reading, I’m praying and attending church and I feel good Confirm this to know that this is what I’m supposed to do. That is a really different way and you will be able to feel the spirit and to know for a fact that you will get your answer. He keeps mentioning that he feels like Joseph Smith in finding what church is true and Shawn has said that every time that we come over, or he goes to church that what they say is what he needs and it helps him out. That right there is the spirit.and we pointed that out to him. Shawn is amazing. I LOVE HIM.
Okay so I went on exchanges with Elder Ririe this week. And what we did for the day was not that fun. We did service all day long 11 am -5pm It TOOK FOREVER!!!! So what we did was first was we had to weed her flower garden. Now the flower garden is pretty big but the thing is she hasn’t taken care of her garden for about a year and a half so the weeds were huge and it took forever. The worst part was that one of the plants she wanted to save was a rose bush now those things hurt let’s just say I got poked too many times. Then we had to turn the dirt in her other garden, that wasn’t too bad that was easy than came the hardest part we had to dig four holes. Now yall are thinking well that seems so easy. Let me tell you the difference from Utah soil and Texas soil. TEXAS HAS NO DIRT ITS ALL CLAY. Now anyone knows how hard clay is that thing took us about 30 mins to dig a hole about a foot deep. Than the fun really started we had to plant the trees. Now yall are asking how hard is that. So this was special tree. (I found out later why it was) This tree couldn’t get out of its pot so when we were pulling it out I had the trunk of the tree and my companion was hitting the bottom trying to loosen up the soil, well we got it out and I lifted the tree to the hole and dropped it in and then I notice THERE WAS FIRE ANTS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TREE AND NOW THEY ARE ON ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a new meaning of ants in the pants dance. Freak those things hurt I got bit and it was not funny I got so pist luckily I didn’t swear but you know me haha needless to say it was a long day hahah
Easter was pretty awesome It rained for most of it which made me happy. I rather be happy with rain than snow. But in the morning we got a text from this kid named K.T. he is a friend of an investigator and he was asking if he could come to church today, we said of course. Well he came and he had such a good time he wants to learn more. He is 21 and black. We are going to teach him for a little bit than pass him off to the Singles Ward Missionaries we were talking about baptism and Holy Ghost in gospel principles and he wanted to learn more about that cause he has already been baptized twice in his church it shouldn’t be a problem with him he is legit. For dinner we had Hamburger and hot dogs that is what we requested cause we haven’t had a good hot dog and hamburger in a long time. I ate three of each and we went to two dinners Yesterday.
I wanted to close with a little testimony I developed yesterday and that was of Easter. Yesterday was the day I really reflected on my Lord and Savior and what he has done for me and mankind. I can’t honestly know what he went through and couldn’t honestly comprehend the whole atonement. But what I do know was the feeling I felt at Church. I know for a fact that God sent his only begotten son Jesus Christ to be our savior and redeemer in these last days. I know that he loves us personally and knows us I couldn’t image not knowing that we have a Savior. I know that times are tough especially in the days we are in but I’m so glad with the fact that I know we have someone we can turn to and someone we know who is always happy. I love reading the Book of Mormon I finally finished reading it for my third time I know I KNOW that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and contains the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ I’m so grateful for you (Christensen family) for the love that we have in the gospel and that we know that we can be together forever.
I hope yall have a good week and i will talk with yall soon.
LOVE
ELDER KENDALL CHRISTENSEN
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