Christmas Eve at Singers
doing the "modernized" version of the Nativity
(didn't you know Pumba from Lion King was there??
In his Christmas pajamas from me (Amanda)
Tebowing Texas style!!
Monday, December 31, 2012
New Years Eve Letter (Dec 31st)
GOOD MORNING UTAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How has yall's week been? Since i last talk with you on Tuesday.
By The way it was amazing talking with yall and seeing yall. It was a blessing to have that opportunity. I know that the time will go fast to the time i get to visit with yall again. ha
This week has been a slower week than usual. One because of the holidays and everyone is gone. And 2 people are sick there is a nasty bug going around and a lot of investigators got it and less actives so there isn’t a lot that went on this week so sorry but some things were awesome.
Christmas Eve was a very good day. It was p day we went to the Singers house for dinner that night. The whole family was there except josh who is on a mission. We had some wonderful soup that they made and we sat around enjoying each other’s company. There tradition is to reenact the nativity but we put our little touch on it modern style. haha. They gave Elder Hilton and myself each gifts they gave us matching ties with their names on it. It was awesome than I gave them our gift to them they were surprised it was so cool to see. I just told them my family wanted to do something special for yall because you’re my family away from home. Sis Singer gave me a hug she was very grateful for the gifts. I finally got my packages that night. I was so happy when I got them. I loved the PJ's :)
CHRISTMAS DAY!!!!!!!!!!! We woke up and went to the other missionaries’ apartment to have breakfast and to open some of our presents. It was good to be around them and to enjoy my Christmas away from home. We went back to our apartment and we opened more of our presents. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YALL PRESENT. I know that I will surely use it a lot. We went to the Wojahn's house to eat a huge turkey feast then the main event. I got to talk and see yall!!!!!!!!!!! It was so good to see yall and talk with yall it has been 10 months since I got to do that. It was a blessing to me and I know it was for yall. After that we went to the Singers and chilled with them the rest of the night and went home and found out that we are staying together for six more weeks and not getting transferred this time. But that night I got sick, I got another really bad cold. The cough came back and the runny nose and the head ache. It is not the funniest thing you can have.
Wednesday we met with Miguel Leal. He is amazing we met and talk about the word of wisdom but that last long he wanted to talk about missions; he really wants to go on a mission. But he doesn’t want to ruin the school track that he is on to get into UTI. He wants to be a mechanic but he wants to go on a mission at the same time he is going to have to choose either leave three years of school or go on a two year mission. He said he was confused and didn’t know what to do. I felt prompted to tell him that he needs to pray about it and when you pray with a sincere heart that God will answer your prayers. Might not be what you want it to be but god is all knowing and he will provide a way for you. Miguel said that he will and I’m glad that he has so much interest in going on a mission and will pray about it. This is a really good kid that we can see go on a mission within the next year and half. We were able to meet with this mom and she was so grateful for what we have done to bring the gospel in his life. They have noticed a change in the family and in the house. So hopefully we can work with his family and see what we can do for them.
Saturday night was an interesting night. We were in a certain area and we knew that a potential investigator named Matthew Duke lived around here. He is a 20 yr old kid and he is really smart he talk’s our head off about what he believes in. It’s wasn’t religion or anything it was something to do with energy. He is very earthly and loves chi energy and likes crystals and everything natural. It was very interesting as we talk outside for about 45 mins and he gave us a rock that will cleanse our heart and purify us. hahah it was so interesting that I could help but just walk away laughing. He said that the thing he loves to do was smoke weed and just enjoy life. The earth and energy he said if I was sick that he could spiritually heal me but he would be conduit to help. Cause he can cure me through energy it was so funny. Wow I was just shocked and was amazed haha
Sunday was awesome. We had to teach the gospel doctrine class and it went pretty well we taught them how to introduce the Book of Mormon to others in a simple manner. The third hour we had a member come and talk to us about member missionary work. Her name is Diana Hoelscher . You should look her up she is awesome. This is just what we need to get things jump started to get the ball rolling about member missionary work. After church we were able to go with Bro Singer to this nursing home to go take sacrament to a member who lives there. He had a stroke and he can’t talk and use his arms very well. It was a spiritual experience to go there and to give him the sacrament. That night we went to a member’s home for dinner and his mom and dad were there. They are expecting a baby soon so the parents were there to help them I found out that they are from Richmond Utah and I know there niece. She lives right by the Hyrum cemetery her mom is the cross guard for Lincoln Elementary School. So we sat down talking for a while about Cache Valley it was awesome being able to visit with someone again from home. Man it is a small world that you meet people who know home and who are from there.
Well I will end by saying I hope yall have a great New Year’s eve and a happy New Year, have a good time don’t party too hard and I will talk with yall next week.
Love
Elder Kendall Christensen
How has yall's week been? Since i last talk with you on Tuesday.
By The way it was amazing talking with yall and seeing yall. It was a blessing to have that opportunity. I know that the time will go fast to the time i get to visit with yall again. ha
This week has been a slower week than usual. One because of the holidays and everyone is gone. And 2 people are sick there is a nasty bug going around and a lot of investigators got it and less actives so there isn’t a lot that went on this week so sorry but some things were awesome.
Christmas Eve was a very good day. It was p day we went to the Singers house for dinner that night. The whole family was there except josh who is on a mission. We had some wonderful soup that they made and we sat around enjoying each other’s company. There tradition is to reenact the nativity but we put our little touch on it modern style. haha. They gave Elder Hilton and myself each gifts they gave us matching ties with their names on it. It was awesome than I gave them our gift to them they were surprised it was so cool to see. I just told them my family wanted to do something special for yall because you’re my family away from home. Sis Singer gave me a hug she was very grateful for the gifts. I finally got my packages that night. I was so happy when I got them. I loved the PJ's :)
CHRISTMAS DAY!!!!!!!!!!! We woke up and went to the other missionaries’ apartment to have breakfast and to open some of our presents. It was good to be around them and to enjoy my Christmas away from home. We went back to our apartment and we opened more of our presents. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YALL PRESENT. I know that I will surely use it a lot. We went to the Wojahn's house to eat a huge turkey feast then the main event. I got to talk and see yall!!!!!!!!!!! It was so good to see yall and talk with yall it has been 10 months since I got to do that. It was a blessing to me and I know it was for yall. After that we went to the Singers and chilled with them the rest of the night and went home and found out that we are staying together for six more weeks and not getting transferred this time. But that night I got sick, I got another really bad cold. The cough came back and the runny nose and the head ache. It is not the funniest thing you can have.
Wednesday we met with Miguel Leal. He is amazing we met and talk about the word of wisdom but that last long he wanted to talk about missions; he really wants to go on a mission. But he doesn’t want to ruin the school track that he is on to get into UTI. He wants to be a mechanic but he wants to go on a mission at the same time he is going to have to choose either leave three years of school or go on a two year mission. He said he was confused and didn’t know what to do. I felt prompted to tell him that he needs to pray about it and when you pray with a sincere heart that God will answer your prayers. Might not be what you want it to be but god is all knowing and he will provide a way for you. Miguel said that he will and I’m glad that he has so much interest in going on a mission and will pray about it. This is a really good kid that we can see go on a mission within the next year and half. We were able to meet with this mom and she was so grateful for what we have done to bring the gospel in his life. They have noticed a change in the family and in the house. So hopefully we can work with his family and see what we can do for them.
Saturday night was an interesting night. We were in a certain area and we knew that a potential investigator named Matthew Duke lived around here. He is a 20 yr old kid and he is really smart he talk’s our head off about what he believes in. It’s wasn’t religion or anything it was something to do with energy. He is very earthly and loves chi energy and likes crystals and everything natural. It was very interesting as we talk outside for about 45 mins and he gave us a rock that will cleanse our heart and purify us. hahah it was so interesting that I could help but just walk away laughing. He said that the thing he loves to do was smoke weed and just enjoy life. The earth and energy he said if I was sick that he could spiritually heal me but he would be conduit to help. Cause he can cure me through energy it was so funny. Wow I was just shocked and was amazed haha
Sunday was awesome. We had to teach the gospel doctrine class and it went pretty well we taught them how to introduce the Book of Mormon to others in a simple manner. The third hour we had a member come and talk to us about member missionary work. Her name is Diana Hoelscher . You should look her up she is awesome. This is just what we need to get things jump started to get the ball rolling about member missionary work. After church we were able to go with Bro Singer to this nursing home to go take sacrament to a member who lives there. He had a stroke and he can’t talk and use his arms very well. It was a spiritual experience to go there and to give him the sacrament. That night we went to a member’s home for dinner and his mom and dad were there. They are expecting a baby soon so the parents were there to help them I found out that they are from Richmond Utah and I know there niece. She lives right by the Hyrum cemetery her mom is the cross guard for Lincoln Elementary School. So we sat down talking for a while about Cache Valley it was awesome being able to visit with someone again from home. Man it is a small world that you meet people who know home and who are from there.
Well I will end by saying I hope yall have a great New Year’s eve and a happy New Year, have a good time don’t party too hard and I will talk with yall next week.
Love
Elder Kendall Christensen
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Merry Christmas!!!!
No email from Elder Christensen this week but we were able to have the wonderful opportunity to be able to Skype with him on Christmas. It was so wonderful to be able to talk to him and see the changes that he has made. On Saturday Dec 22nd, he had what he calls his "Christmas Baptism" of Elena Kent. His former companion Elder Gutierrez also made his presence there. This now brings up the total number of baptism to 12 so far. Not bad for only being out for 10 months. Way to go Elder!!!
New investigator Bobbi Jo (the mother)
Temple Day
Elder Hilton and Elder Christensen
Elder Gutierrez (former companion) Elena Kent, Elder Christensen, Elder Hilton
Skyping with him Christmas afternoon
Friday, December 21, 2012
The Mission Call
It is hard to believe that one year ago today, a certain white envenlope would change all of our lives for the better. We remember like it was yesterday how a certain soon to be missionary got the exciting call from the post office that his call had arrived. In spite of his excitement, he didn't realized til he got to the post office that he was there 30 minutes before it opened. With that and having to wait til 7:00 til he could open his call, it was one of those days where he had to test his patience. Anyone who knows Kendall know that he doesn't have alot of patience when it comes to certain things. But all in all, we are grateful for the willingness and desire he had to serve a mission.
The envenlope
Calling friends and family
The Call
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Dec 17th Letter
WHATS UP YALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How is everyone back in Utah!!!!!!!!! How is the weather? Still cold haha? Well it’s humid and rainy for the past couple of days and I was told that, that is Houston’s Snow ha. I’m just glad that it isn’t white. The coldest I have seen it here is 37 and that was in the morning. And that was soooooo Cold I actually saw frost for the first time in Texas It was crazy I thought I was in Utah.
Man lately it has been so busy! I love it but it’s crazy sometimes, this week we started out having Interviews with our mission president. That was really good it is always good to talk with him, whenever I talk with him one on one I can feel the love that he has for us. It is really true that mission president and there wife are your parents out here. We learned at interviews about lesson plans and how we prepare better for our lessons our Mission mom Sister Pingree taught us about manners haha that was really funny. After interviews we met with Kelsey Hodson she is doing good she bore her testimony two weeks ago in church and she wants to do it again real bad. It’s good that she has a desire to share her testimony more often. We met with Leticia Banos she is doing well she is still going through the grieving process of her dad passing. But we are just showing her love and support from the ward and from us.
Wednesday was a very busy day that started at 5:45 in the morning when we woke up. Our zone had the opportunity to do some service at the HUGE Houston Food Bank. We worked there from 8-12 in the morning and while we were there we processed about 14,000 pounds of food and that feeds 12,000 people. I think that was pretty amazing I didn’t have part of that fun. They needed some volunteers up in the administration offices so that was where I was and all we did was put stuff in envelopes and put them to the side so they can be shipped off, let’s just say we did about a 1000 of those and it was alright. Not the best job but it was cool to see what goes behind the scenes. After that is when our day got hectic. We had a baptismal interview for Elena Kent for her baptism on the 22nd than we had another lesson after that with a new investigator her name is Bobby Jo, than off to dinner with Monica and Justin at around 8pm so the whole day we were walking around with our heads cut off but I’m not trying to complain because in a couple of weeks it’s going to be slow with the holidays and we won’t be busy as we have been these couple of weeks.
Thursday was pretty good day. We met with an 18 yr old teenager that was baptized when he was 8 yrs old but has never come to church. So we have been able to go to his house and sit down and talk with him. He has a HUGE desire to come to church and loves it; he said that it is helping him make some important decisions in his life. He has received some good support from the ward and the young men. When we meet with him we treat him like we do investigator that means go through the whole lessons and teach him. Well this week we were teaching him the gospel of Jesus Christ which talks about faith repentance baptism receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end it was a pretty good lesson the spirit was strong. After we were taught him the lesson we got into the conversation of missions and he ask if we had any interesting stories or experiences we have had on our missions as I was talking I felt the spirit more strong I told him about the Rios family and the wonderful opportunity I had to find them and teach them. After my companion and myself both shared stories he ask if you can go on a mission when you are older like 24, we said yeah but you should go sooner my companion and i had the feeling to mention to him that he shouldn’t wait but you should go when he had the chance. He said yeah. He said that he doesn’t know a lot but he is going to church more often and now is going to seminary which is awesome. We promised him that if he continues to do this (going to church, reading, praying, going to seminary) that he will know enough that he will go on a mission he said yea i want to do that. It was a blessing to be in this area and find this kid and meet with him and bring him back to the fold and get him a huge desire to come to church it’s a tender mercy of the Lord.
We had another huge spiritual lesson this week. It was with Elena Kent. We are getting her ready for the 22nd and we went in to answer questions that she might have or concerns. She had one and that was prophets. She has never been exposed to the thought of prophets on this earth, she was concerned because when she went to this one church the pastor she thought was leading them and guiding them wasn’t really doing that for them and some things were going on there so she has a lot of trust issues, so she said that there couldn’t be another person that is leading and guiding us. But we read a scripture in Matthew that says that a prophet of god won’t lead us astray it was good that we brought a return missionary with us he has been home a week and he help us out so much. He connected with her a lot and we watch the restoration dvd and we bore her our testimonies about prophets. And we challenged her to go to sacrament meeting with this concern that she has and we promised her that if she does that her testimony will strengthen and that she will come to an understanding that we have modern day prophets on this earth in these days. So yesterday we were fasting for the chance that she will be able to know for herself that we have prophets and she will get her answer. We are meeting with her and find out if she has come to knowledge of prophets. BUT she is still good for baptism on SATURDAY
This week is going to be very special I’m having two people that i have taught getting baptized. One is Elena Kent and the other is from my old area Spring Branch Jacob Alonzo. He is getting baptized I’m so glad that i have been seeing fruits of my work being coming about this work is true. I wanna leave you with my testimony. That i Love this work it has changed my life and i love it, i know the gospel is true.. I know that our savior Jesus Christ loves us and I’m so glad for this time of season for the love that we feel and the spirit. I CANT WAIT TO VISIT WITH YALL NEXT WEEK. I can tell you one thing counting down to Christmas makes the month go slow so don’t ever count down any days.
Love yall
Elder Christensen
ELF QUOTE. CONGRATULATIONS THE WORLDS BEST CUP OF COFFEE GOOD JOB EVERYONE!!!!!!
How is everyone back in Utah!!!!!!!!! How is the weather? Still cold haha? Well it’s humid and rainy for the past couple of days and I was told that, that is Houston’s Snow ha. I’m just glad that it isn’t white. The coldest I have seen it here is 37 and that was in the morning. And that was soooooo Cold I actually saw frost for the first time in Texas It was crazy I thought I was in Utah.
Man lately it has been so busy! I love it but it’s crazy sometimes, this week we started out having Interviews with our mission president. That was really good it is always good to talk with him, whenever I talk with him one on one I can feel the love that he has for us. It is really true that mission president and there wife are your parents out here. We learned at interviews about lesson plans and how we prepare better for our lessons our Mission mom Sister Pingree taught us about manners haha that was really funny. After interviews we met with Kelsey Hodson she is doing good she bore her testimony two weeks ago in church and she wants to do it again real bad. It’s good that she has a desire to share her testimony more often. We met with Leticia Banos she is doing well she is still going through the grieving process of her dad passing. But we are just showing her love and support from the ward and from us.
Wednesday was a very busy day that started at 5:45 in the morning when we woke up. Our zone had the opportunity to do some service at the HUGE Houston Food Bank. We worked there from 8-12 in the morning and while we were there we processed about 14,000 pounds of food and that feeds 12,000 people. I think that was pretty amazing I didn’t have part of that fun. They needed some volunteers up in the administration offices so that was where I was and all we did was put stuff in envelopes and put them to the side so they can be shipped off, let’s just say we did about a 1000 of those and it was alright. Not the best job but it was cool to see what goes behind the scenes. After that is when our day got hectic. We had a baptismal interview for Elena Kent for her baptism on the 22nd than we had another lesson after that with a new investigator her name is Bobby Jo, than off to dinner with Monica and Justin at around 8pm so the whole day we were walking around with our heads cut off but I’m not trying to complain because in a couple of weeks it’s going to be slow with the holidays and we won’t be busy as we have been these couple of weeks.
Thursday was pretty good day. We met with an 18 yr old teenager that was baptized when he was 8 yrs old but has never come to church. So we have been able to go to his house and sit down and talk with him. He has a HUGE desire to come to church and loves it; he said that it is helping him make some important decisions in his life. He has received some good support from the ward and the young men. When we meet with him we treat him like we do investigator that means go through the whole lessons and teach him. Well this week we were teaching him the gospel of Jesus Christ which talks about faith repentance baptism receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end it was a pretty good lesson the spirit was strong. After we were taught him the lesson we got into the conversation of missions and he ask if we had any interesting stories or experiences we have had on our missions as I was talking I felt the spirit more strong I told him about the Rios family and the wonderful opportunity I had to find them and teach them. After my companion and myself both shared stories he ask if you can go on a mission when you are older like 24, we said yeah but you should go sooner my companion and i had the feeling to mention to him that he shouldn’t wait but you should go when he had the chance. He said yeah. He said that he doesn’t know a lot but he is going to church more often and now is going to seminary which is awesome. We promised him that if he continues to do this (going to church, reading, praying, going to seminary) that he will know enough that he will go on a mission he said yea i want to do that. It was a blessing to be in this area and find this kid and meet with him and bring him back to the fold and get him a huge desire to come to church it’s a tender mercy of the Lord.
We had another huge spiritual lesson this week. It was with Elena Kent. We are getting her ready for the 22nd and we went in to answer questions that she might have or concerns. She had one and that was prophets. She has never been exposed to the thought of prophets on this earth, she was concerned because when she went to this one church the pastor she thought was leading them and guiding them wasn’t really doing that for them and some things were going on there so she has a lot of trust issues, so she said that there couldn’t be another person that is leading and guiding us. But we read a scripture in Matthew that says that a prophet of god won’t lead us astray it was good that we brought a return missionary with us he has been home a week and he help us out so much. He connected with her a lot and we watch the restoration dvd and we bore her our testimonies about prophets. And we challenged her to go to sacrament meeting with this concern that she has and we promised her that if she does that her testimony will strengthen and that she will come to an understanding that we have modern day prophets on this earth in these days. So yesterday we were fasting for the chance that she will be able to know for herself that we have prophets and she will get her answer. We are meeting with her and find out if she has come to knowledge of prophets. BUT she is still good for baptism on SATURDAY
This week is going to be very special I’m having two people that i have taught getting baptized. One is Elena Kent and the other is from my old area Spring Branch Jacob Alonzo. He is getting baptized I’m so glad that i have been seeing fruits of my work being coming about this work is true. I wanna leave you with my testimony. That i Love this work it has changed my life and i love it, i know the gospel is true.. I know that our savior Jesus Christ loves us and I’m so glad for this time of season for the love that we feel and the spirit. I CANT WAIT TO VISIT WITH YALL NEXT WEEK. I can tell you one thing counting down to Christmas makes the month go slow so don’t ever count down any days.
Love yall
Elder Christensen
ELF QUOTE. CONGRATULATIONS THE WORLDS BEST CUP OF COFFEE GOOD JOB EVERYONE!!!!!!
Saturday, December 15, 2012
10 Months!!!!!!!!!!
We have finally hit the double digits!! Elder Christensen has now been out for 10 months!!! We are getting closer to the 1 year mark!!!
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