It's All in God's Timing

Hello there family and friends!!

How is life? So this week was a pretty crazy week. To start off we had a pretty sweet p-day last week, we played some soccer! It was so much fun!

Tuesday we had a Leader's Council, so every single leader all met up in Huancayo and talked about how we are going to make the mission better. I got to see all of my buds that I came to the mission with and more. Every single American missionary from my group that I came with was there in the Council, it was great to see everyone again after so long. I got to see my bud Elder Ramirez again after like 9 months, such a great reunion!

Elder Christensen and Elder Ramirez 

At Leader's Conference

So this week we had a great time and I worked so hard and kept really busy. I am still without a companion. I just have to call people everyday to figure out who can go with me for the day. So last Tuesday and Wednesday we worked super hard. I was with a young man named Daybin. Maybe you remember him, he's the young man I talked about a month or so ago, he had the crazy dreams and he is preparing for a mission. We literally saw miracles during those 2 days. We found 5 super sweet investigators on Tuesday. These people are truly looking for the truth. We just happened to show up at the exact time to be able to help them. Of course, after a lot of prayer and asking Heavenly Father to guide us to those who need us, and those searching for the happiness the gospel can bring, we were led right to them. I really have been noticing that God works in the simplest ways, and that everything happens for a reason. I know that there are people in the area that we have found, that I never would have found if I hadn't been without a companion and with a member all day. I know that I have been led to certain people that I probably would not have found. I know that even through the simple things, like putting a thought in my head to stop and wait 3 seconds can and has changed the lives of people. If we will take time to stop and listen, we can all be led everyday of our lives, even in the simplest of things.

So on Thursday (Thanksgiving Day in America!) Elder Mulatillo, Elder Ayala, and I embarked on a journey.  We went to Huancavelica! It's a place about three hours south of Huancayo. We got there and went on divisions with the Elders that are there. I went with an Elder that is a real big "Debbie Downer". He has like 19 months in the misson, but he just hates his mission. He seems so miserable. So I had to try and inspire him and give him some tips. Yeah, it was an interesting day. But he is feeling better and doing better now too. We left to go back to Huancayo the next morning, and on the way back we saw a sweet colonial bridge and a tower on the bridge. It was sweet! Then when we were walking back to get in the car we hear people yell "BOYITOS, BOYITOS!"  We were so happy! A boyito is a piece of bread, but it is not just any piece of bread, it is the best tasting bread that I have ever tasted in my 19-1/2 years of life! Eating the boyitos made the week one of the greatest weeks in my whole mission. It really is the little things! It was a great week full of success. I am happy. I am grateful for the lessons learned here. Things as simple as stopping to listen to the spirit. 

Well that's all for this week. I love you all!

Chau,

Elder Christensen

Remember to #LightTheWorld

Huancavelica

Izquchaca, Peru 

The Colonia Bridge 

"The Utah View"

As named by the Utah Missionaries

because of the Red Rocks and Green River

Small and Simple Things

Well, everyone, how are ya?

This last week for p-day we played soccer with all of the young men in the ward, and we are planning on playing again today at 3!! I love playing with these guys! 

On Wednesday we went to Pampas. Pampas is about 1 hour away from Huancayo. I went there to do divisions with the Elders there. Pampas is a super beautiful town. We ran into some people that I had contacted since my time in Huancayo, and because they knew me they invited us in. We talked to them and they were super sweet people. They really know what they need to do to be able to return to live with Heavenly Father. It was great visiting with them, and they invited us back. After leaving them, I thought a lot about them and all that they had gained since I last saw them. In my mom's email today she told me about the 2 kids in Draper that were killed in a terrible car accident. It really shook me because I knew Ethan and his sister. Thinking about both of these situations my testimony of the Plan of Salvation was strengthened, knowing that everything happens for a reason. That God has a perfect plan for every single one of his children. Trials will always come to us, we just have to work to get through them and learn from them.

Also, this week I wasn't in my area much because my mini misionary was super busy all week (he's a guy from my ward here in Huancayo). I had to find members to accompany me all week. I wasn't in my area a ton but, I feel like we were led to the chosen ones, the people that really wanted to listen to us. We found a less active dad (Marco), and wife (Margol) that really want to be sealed in the temple along with their family. First their daughters have to get baptized. So we talked to the family and motivated them with some goals. The entire family put a goal of when they are going to get baptized!! Now 3 of the kids have baptismal dates!! 

So, even on weeks that I feel like nothing huge has happened I look back and realize that God has blessed us with so many opportunities, and has put people in our path. We do have many people that are ready to enter in the waters of baptism, and that's so exciting! I love the scripture in Alma 37:6-7 "Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls."

I can't believe that I am already almost at the end of another transfer. It is going by way too fast! I feel like I am being so blessed here in Chilca. I have been 100% obedient and I know I am blessed in my mission because of it. I really hope to have at least 2 more transfers in Chilca. There's so much to do. Ma tiempo esta pasando rapido, solo tendo 7 traslados mas. I love it here!

So just a normal week, nothing too crazy or that cool, just small and simple things, but I did have a super great week. I want to tell you all to be safe, I miss you all and I love you all. So much to be thankful for... Happy Thanksgiving love you all.

Nos vemos,

Elder Christensen

2 Little Peruvian Girl doing a traditional dance called the "Santiago" 

Playing statues at FHE at the Quispe's house

Preachin' To The Police

Hey there peeps. 

Well how is everyone and how is the whole Donald Trump thing? Even the people here in Peru are super angry. They keep whining and saying that Trump's going to send every Latin back to their home land!! So other than that Peru is doing good. 

This week on Tuesday the missionaries that I was with had to go and travel throughout the mission, so they called a mini missionary to be with me until the next change, so in like 3 weeks, then I'll have a real comp, I think anyway!

But to start off, I got the mini missionary and the first thing that I told him was, "I feel like doing some crazy things this week!" So basically this week we were contacting and finding new people to teach. We played volleyball with some people in the street and then contacted them. It turns out they are super cool people!! They really like to listen to us teach about God. And, they invited us back to talk to them again. Their names are Vicki and Fil (Phil). We also found this man and his family, his name is Malanio. He and his wife have this sweater factory and they make hundreds of sweaters a day. They really are so cool. They are super interested in the messages that we teach them too. Malanio and his wife came to church yesterday and they now have a baptismal date in December. I'm super excited for them!

So this week we went to Chacapampa. This is where Jose Luis lives. You might remember that he was baptized a few weeks ago and lives out in the country. We talked to Jose, but when we were leaving we decided to hitch a ride from a bus to get back to Chilca. So while we were riding home on this bus, we got this idea to stand up and talk to people. I guess it was one of those crazy things I wanted to do! So, in this traveling bus we started to preach to the people on the bus. We preached to like 40 people about the gospel, and gave away pamphlets and contact cards. You hear stories of missionaries in the early church days preaching on the corner, I felt like that! It was so cool!!! We'll see what comes of it!

On the way to Chacapampa 

Luke and his new companion a Mini Missionary

On Saturday we felt like doing something crazy, again! We're getting really creative! So we went to the police station and we talked to the Chief of Police, the boss of everyone. We talked about how we can change the community, and how we can help the families in our community be stronger. He told us to come back to the station another day. So just this morning we went back to talk to the other police officers, and we were able to talk to every officer that he is in charge of! It was like 30 officers!! We told them our plan and how we are going to help them. They all invited us to go to their houses to help build their own families, then they will go out and help build the families of others! It really was so sweet. The spirit guided our words, and when we were leaving we got a picture with all of them. We looked at the picture after, and something was different, it was different that everyone was normal but my comp and I, we were brightly shining, like we had an aura around us! The fact is that we were outside and the flash wasn't on, but the way we look in the picture is exactly how we felt after talking to them! We were so happy and glowing! It was a remarkable experience! Really it was just an amazing week. The work continues! It's the greatest work ever!

I miss you all! I love you all! bye!!!

Elder Christensen

Contacting at the Police Station

Mama Pachis, Luke's Pensionista, and her sons 

Luke, Winnie the Dog, and cute Pachis

Luke loves Pachis, his pensionista

In the Right Place at the Right Time

Well Hello There!!!

Well, I don't have much time to write, but I do have some sweet things to say, so I'll hurry so that I can tell you my sweet story. Basically, it is just about little miracles that I have seen this week. 

So this week we contacted a ton! Well, I was with Elder Leifson and Elder Mendoza, (the AP's) and a member.  We were walking by a store and I heard a lady yell "ELDER!" I turned to see, but no one else heard it. So I went back and I said, "hey how are ya!" But, of course, I said it in Spanish. haha  Then the lady said to me, "Can we go to my house and talk?" So we did! It was like she was ready and waiting for us to walk by. We went back to her house and we had a sweet lesson, and talked to her for a while. She was a great lady! I played with a mini goat at her house and the mini goat sucked on my finger, and also bit me slightly!! I'm ok!

Elder Leifson (right) Elder Mendoza (left)

We left there at about 8:30 and we were on our way back to the house to eat, and we walked past a Catholic church. We saw a mom, her son, and a new born baby sitting outside the church. The mom was crying her eyes out. She was talking to her husband on the phone, crying the whole time. So Elder Leifson looked at us and said, "should we go talk to her?" and I said "of course" so we walked over to her and talked to her to see what was going on and to see if we could help her in any way. We had a conversation with her, and listened to her problems, and then we testified of the Book of Mormon. When we were each finished testifying of it's goodness, I looked at her and she was completely calm and fine and seemed happy. I pulled a Book of Mormon out of my case and said to her, "Take this, this book is my life, my treasure, everything that I have to live for. I want you have have it, take it, read it and keep it safe! It will bring you happiness." In that moment she again started to cry. She was so humble. Through her tears she said, "thank you". Her ride arrived, and she gathered her stuff and her children and got in the car and left.  The three of us stood there watching her and then we walked away in total silence. None of us could speak at that moment. There weren't any words for what had just happened. I felt the spirit, at that moment, in a way that I have never felt it before. My testimony continues to grow.

I love you all,

Elder Christensen

A Chapel in Huancayo

Members ... Jersin and Daybin