WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME IT WAS EASTER!!!

Hey everyone. 

So this week was a great week, but also a hard week. I'll start off with the WATERFALLS that we went to! Whoa! They are so cool!!! One was called the Ducha del Diablo (Devil's Shower). The other one that is prettier, and doesn't just go straight down, is called the Vela de la Novia (Vail of the Girlfriend) haha funny names!! But they were the biggest waterfalls I have ever seen in real life. They were so stinking cool. To get into the Vela de la Novia we had to beg the lady there to let us in. Our taxi driver said to her, "they come from super far away and they won't be able to come back". So she went to her friend and asked if it was ok, and she said, "yeah 2 people can come and see but they have to be gringos"! jaja. So we all went and talked to them ourselves and then they let all of us in. They just thought they might have to work hard if they let us in to see .... those crazy ladies. 

Last Tuesday we worked hard. We invited a few people that we have been teaching to be baptized, and they accepted for the 16th of April. Yeah, Happy Birthday to me! 

Then on Wednesday we didn't really do anything, we worked, but Arpires got trunkier by the day, so it was hard to get him out of the room. You'd think he'd want to work hard and finish off strong! On Thursday we taught some people for Elder Arpires's last time. We had a last goodbye activity at the church that night. It was pretty sad, I guess, he cried, and everyone else was crying for some reason, so when it was my turn to say goodbye I had to pull a good ole goofy Luke, so I did, and everyone cheered up after that! Then when we were all leaving the church our super cool investigator Eddy, gave me 3 eggs. Here in Peru smashing eggs on someone's head is a way of celebration! yeah, crazy, I know! So we smashed those eggs on Arpires's head, haha super funny. Arpires left to go home on Friday.

The next day was pretty sad. After 2 months of teaching the coolest investigator Eddy, he left us. He had to move back to Chimbote for awhile. It really bummed me out! It was a bad week because we had a date for his baptism on Saturday, but he informed us on Tuesday that he wasn't going to be here, and that he had to go back to Chimbote. That just kinda ruined my whole week. 

I am getting some mail now. I got a a big envelope from you mom, with all my friend's emails and I 2 of Mimi's letters. My buddy, Ericckson, that is from here, Tingo Maria, got his mission call to La Paz, Bolivia. It's a mission of only Latinos. Woulda been cool if it was Elder Andrew Davises mission!

And also ... WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME IT WAS EASTER!!!! I just thought that the Catholics were doing crazy things and moving the date of Easter to an earlier day. Here in Peru, maybe all of South America, Easter is called Semana Santa, or Holy Week in English. They started out Sunday with a fake crusifiction with some guy dressed as Jesus, but really, it made me laugh because he looked nothing like I imagine Jesus to look. Then they reinact the resurrection. I guess it was pretty cool. I'm glad I got to see it. It made me think and realize how much I appreciate the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that because of Him I can be cleansed of all of my sins. What a huge blessing that he would take that upon himself, every sin, every mistake, every hurt or heartache. I also know that I can live with God the Father, Jesus Christ and also my family forever in the eternities. I am so grateful for what He did for me and for everyone else who has ever walked this earth. The power and magnitude of the Atonement is amazing. It's real. I want you all to know, that I KNOW that with all my heart and soul that this gospel is true and that we are here because of a loving Father in Heaven. 

I love you all, be safe. Nos vemos muy pronto cholitos.  

Elder Christensen

Ducha del Diablo (Devil's Shower)

Vela de la Novia (Vail of the Girlfriend)

Death Wish??? 

Member with a cake for Arpires Farewell Party

Eddy Lopez Sachez and Elder Christensen

Eddy is the "cool" investigator that left to move back to Chimbote, Peru

A Sweet Baptism and Tingo Maria is Beautiful!

Hey!! 

I dont have too much time this week to email. But, how are you all? This week has been great. My comp was in Huancayo from Monday until Thursday night for a District Leader training, so Elder Daza and I went to the Monkey Zoo. It wasn't all just monkeys, but mostly. The monkeys are so dang funny! They were trying to escape the whole time and one monkey stole Elder Daza's Power Ade haha! It was super classic. After that we went and got some ice  cream. While we were getting ice cream I saw some cockroaches roaming around (typical Peru) but I still finished my ice cream! It was pretty good. 

We had more lessons this week than I have ever had in a week since I've been in Tingo Maria. I really think it was because Elder Arpires was gone. But, he is trying hard not to just curl up into a ball and trunk out. He has been trying to work a little. Sometimes I think that I was sent here to Tingo to be tested on my patience, because I have learned a ton!!!! Or maybe I am just forced to learn patience to help me with others and because there is not a way that he is really going to change. He leaves in the morning on Friday to go home and I will be here in Tingo until the 10th of May or until the end of July!!! I am really happy about that! I really love it here in Tingo Maria!

Saturday we had the baptism of this little girl that we were teaching. Her parents are members, but they didn't have her baptized when she was 8, so she had to take the lessons from us. Her dad baptized her. Before the baptism we kept asking the dad if he knew the baptismal prayer and how to say it. He recited the baptismal ordinance and the beginning of the confirmation to us perfect. He got into the font and forgot! I went over to the font and talked to him and taught him again what the words were to do the baptism. He got back into the font started out and forgot to say "Amen". So he had to redo it all over again. He started saying the words and forgot to say one of the words. haha This just kept happening for about 10 MINUTES haha. I was laughing so hard I almost cried. He finally got it after half of the congregation got up and left and his daughter was a sleep. BUT HE GOT IT!!!! haha crazy guy! 

Well, that was my week. Today I am pretty sure that we are going to a waterfall. My comp wants his last p-day to be super cool, so hopefully we can go. It is pouring rain and it is kinda cold (I looked at the weather in Tingo to see what "cold" was to him .... it is 81 degrees and feels like 90 degrees with the humidity, I guess that means he's acclimating to the heat!) I love it here! I love serving! This gospel is true and will bring us all so much happiness! Live it always! Good bye everyone! Nos Vemos muy pronto. Nadie va a saber que estoy diciendo, pero si sabe español, tu eres chevere. 

Chau!!!

Elder Christensen

One of Luke's Pensionista's and another Elder

The Pensionista's cook all the meals for the missionaries

Lucky missionaries! Luke's says she's a great cook and he's getting fat because of her!

Beautiful Tingo Maria

A monkey drinking Powerade

At the Monkey Farm

This cute little Monkey looks like he's saying .... "get me outta here!"

The Monkey Farm in the beautiful Selva (Jungle)

Elder Christensen's plaque and his beloved Stripling Warrior ring his brother gave him.

Tingo Maria, Peru after a rain storm.

What a gorgeous rainbow.

Baptism of the "Little Girl" by her father.

The Traditional 6 Month "Burning of the Tie"!

Hey there everyone!! 

So this week I have been working as hard as I can with a trunked out companion! haha This guys just needs to go home!!! I can't hardly stand him, or his laziness! But it's ok, I only have to make it like another full week because he goes to Huancayo tomorrow and gets back on Thursday, and then the next week he goes home on Friday!!!!!! yay!! 

I'm really wishing I could hold Teigen and play with her. I love babies. She sounds like a little stinker, not sleeping at night! Can't wait until Mother's Day so I can meet her. Its only like a month and a half away. I can't wait to play with her when I get home! She's so cute! 

This week was cool! We worked hard this week. We found 7 new investigators and 5 of them are super cool. One of our new investigators is Jina. Jina was a reference that we got from some guy in Huanuco. We visited her and we found out that she had something troubling her. We found out that she had lost her baby 2 weeks before. She as really struggling she didn't think she could survive this loss. I can't imagine either how hard that would be. She was crying to me and I didn't really know what to do. I listened to the spirit and I started talking about the Plan of Salvation. We explained everything as clear as we could, and she asked me at the end, "so what you are telling me is, That I will be able to meet and be with my baby again?" The spirit was so strong that I started to tear up. It was so neat to see her get this great plan that Heavenly Father has given us, and know that she can be with her baby again! We'll see what happens next with Jina!

Then on Wednesday we went to Huanuco for a Multizone Conference. President Henderson taught us. He is such a great teacher!! I love learning from him! I learned new ways to be a better missionary, and serve more effectively. I also learned some things that I have been doing that I shouldn't have done, but, I didn't know that, so I'll change those thing!! but yeah. I am learning everyday. 

I am trying to read and finish the Book of Mormon in Spanish by the time I have 7 1/2 months or 8 month. I do love reading it in Spanish. I think it's really helping my Spanish. After the Multizone Conference we had a multizone p-day. Everyone went to this huge soccer field, with turf, and we played soccer all afternoon and into the evening. Then went got ice cream (nothing like American ice cream) and then we got pizza, (again, the pizza was good, but nothing like American pizza). Again I've realized that I am not in America, and I am in Peru, and it's so different, and things here aren't going to be the same as at home! 

Last Tuesday, March 8th I hit 6 months and so I burned the tie!! Elder Daza, and our mini missionary named Ivan burned the tie while my dumb companion was downstairs lying in bed. He's just so lazy!  But it was pretty fun! Can't believe it's been 6 months!  

All in all it was a good week. This week will be good. We are going to try to go to a cool waterfall today if the other elders aren't too lazy. They're like a bunch of sloths eating some birthday cake (that's pretty lazy if you ask me).

Everyone have a good week. Miss you all!! Write to me!!!! I don't get nearly enough emails!! Just a reminder my email is .... lucas.christensen@myldsmail.net

Bye!!

Elder Christensen

Elder Christensen, mini missionary Ivan and Elder Daza

The traditional 6 month "Burning of the Tie" 

with Elder Daza

The beautiful Jungle of Tingo Maria in the background.

Elder Christensen looks pretty good too!

A crazy traffic jam somewhere.

Probably between Huanuco and Tingo Maria

The Elders are not allowed to travel this stretch of road in the dark

(hopefully they're not breaking any rules!)

It's a very dangerous stretch, and often times the road just slides away

from the mountain during heavy rainfall. And yes, they've been having

heavy rainfall for a few weeks and several roads in the area are washed away!

After the Multizone Conference in Huanuco the Elders went to this indoor 

turf field to play a little futbol!

I'm An Uncle!!!!!!

Hey Everyone! 

This was kind of a dumb week. But I am now an UNCLE!!!!!!!! and I have 6 months away from home and in the mission!!!!! and about a year and like 5 months left haha.  

I have been teaching a lot lately. I had to leave Tingo and go to Huancayo for a few days. I got back and my comp hadn't done one thing. He was with a member and he had only 1 lesson, and that was when he taught the member. It counted as a recent rescue?? We just rescued him like 2 weeks ago, but whatever!  I got back and I was pretty mad. He won't tell me what he did the whole time I was gone. So, I'm super scared he did something super malogrado!! haha this guy is nuts! He dies (finishes his mission in 2 1/2 weeks so he is super lazy). But, I am trying to work hard with him to the end. When I can get him to actually help teach the lessons you can definitely feel the spirit. 

We are teaching the brother of Aamir. Aamir is our recent convert, and now we are teaching his brother Eddy. Eddy has one problem, and it is that he thinks that you have to read the entire Book of Mormon and a ton of other stuff to have a testimony, and be baptized. We've tried to explain to him that you can get a testimony of the Book of Mormon and feel the spirit before you've finished the book and done a list of other things! I want to show him the story of Phillip in Acts 8, and how Phillip was in a church with Simon and Simon was asking about God, and Phillip said that all you need to do to be baptized is to have faith. Then they went straight down to the waters and baptized him. I really want to show that to him but I don't know for sure if I will. I guess we all have to make those decisions in different ways. If the spirit tells me to I will.  

Well, it's baseball season back home. I've thought a lot about it lately! Do you know who all made the team? I'm really happy Blake Tempest will represent this season wearing my #7 on the field! Tell him to do that number right!! He's a great guy! I really miss the guys and the coaches from last year's team. I hope they have a great season!

That is basically it, my week wasn't the best. But, I did get to have pizza 2 TIMES. Pizza is like gold to me these days, especially one that is really good. This week we have a multizone conference in Huanuco, and p-day is going to be on Thursday. So today we are emailing and then going out and working. 

Last week for p-day the other elders and I went shopping. I bought two pair of pants that are about $279 American dollars I bought them for $8.40 each!!! what a bargan! They are super cool dress pants.

Well everyone, that was my week. I am sorry I was boring this week!! I'll do better next week. haha!! All of you have great weeks. Be safe, and say hi to my new baby niece Teigen for me!! I'll see her on Skype in 2 months from today! I can't wait! Miss you all! 

Love ya, 

ELDER CHRISTENSEN is the best

Family Home Evening at Juana's house. David on the left, my companion and me. 

The others are Juana's family members.

Look close... it's a monkey! The monkey roams the house while we are teaching lessons to 

this family!

A gorgeous bird on the side of the road as we were walking down the street one day!

These birds are everywhere!

And just to show you my nice suntan ... a selfie!

I got this picture from a member in Luke's area! He posted it on Facebook!
Thanks Ericckson Rodriguez Venancio!!

I Love Tingo Maria!!

Well, what's up everyone in the greatest nation ever! haha. I only say that because I just hear so much funny stuff about the United States here. Everyone wants to go there, but they all talk trash about it too! I love it! And I love that I'm from the USA!  I really am learning to love the people here in Peru though. They all make me laugh! Literally half of the people remind me of a new born baby just lost and confused about what everything is haha! These people are hilarious to talk to and to just watch them walk around. 

To get down to it, this week was a great week. We had another baptism. It was JIN. I'm still not sure if it is Jin or Jim because everyone says it different. But, to start off I am sorry I didn't do anything too exciting last week to report on. My comp is super lazy and doesn't ever want to do anything. I think it's because he is going home in 3 weeks, so in 3 week I will start to do exciting things for p-day. But, we are having a good time and loving it in Tingo. The other missionary, Elder Espinosa got transfered to Tarma and a mini missionary came in for his place. It was me, Elder Arpires and Elder Daza, the Three Amigos for 3 days preaching. Then on Friday the mini missionary came. A mini missionary is a member that lives in the zone of our mission and is helping us out because we don't have enough missionaries in our mission. He is here for 1 change only. He is from Oroya. This kid is 22 years old and is the most awkward person  that I have ever met!  He walks into my room at night while I'm solving my rubics cube (I got 26 SECONDS!!!!!!) and of course, other things, and he just stares at be for like 2 minutes, but it feels like an eternity. Then he just walks back out of the room and leaves. It's like he is just always sleep walking. haha!!  

This week we found 7 new investigators and I really think that 3 or 4 of them should be baptised this next month. That is our goal at least, of course, I'll try hard to help all of them understand and love the gospel so they all want to be baptized. 

I did get the package and I'm getting fat again because of all the good stuff that was in it! Mom, your homemade cookies made it! And even after the trip to Peru and sitting at the bus station for a week they were still amazing! I really enjoyed them! The food here in the jungle is good. I eat a lot of papaya, mango, banana, and watermelon. for dinner with yogurt, and sometimes it's rice with egg. For lunch we have fried bananas and fried chicken! Paul Mayer will be the perfect Bishop! He's the best guy ever, he's so good with people and everyone loves him! I'm excited for the ward!

So back to the baptism on Saturday, we had the baptism for Jin and it was really neat. We started an hour and a half late becuase that is just how Peru is. When we were about to start the power went out! So, I grabed my flashlight and we grabbed 3 candles and started. We did everything, I shared the spiritual thought and it was Mark 10:38-39. "But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? And be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:" We baptized him with just candles and a flashlight and about 5 seconds after the baptism ended the lights came on, stinking Satanas! That guy is always trying to ruin the beautiful things, but not this time. It was very spiritual in the dark. It was the highlight of my week. 

I really have learned to listen to the spirit in our lessons. My comp has told me that I have been saying inspiring things and asking inspiring questions. I feel so good about that. I feel great, and I haven't thought about home since last Monday. I really do love what I'm doing, and I love the gospel. I love you all. Have a good week. 

ELDER CHRISTENSEN

My Blue Eyed Boy turned Brown Eyed (with the help of some contacts)

I really love his blue eyes!

A beautiful Chapel in the Jungle where the baptism of Jin took place

on Saturday, February 27, 2016

Baptism of Jin by Elder Arpires (Luke's companion)

Luke and his companion Elder Arpires

The King of Tingo!!

Hey!! 

So this week has been a pretty crazy week. How are ya'll in the best place on earth? The good old United States!!!! haha I am really starting to like this place. The only downfall is there is no Mountain Dew or any good candy!! Nothing is sweet here! This week is transfers and I'm pretty sure I'll be staying in Tingo with Elder Arpires for another 4-1/2 weeks. He goes home at the end of this transfer and it's a short transfer of only 5 weeks. I guess I'll be killing him off!

To start off, last Monday we didn't really go anywhere super cool because we don't have any pesaje, so we walked everywhere. We just went into the forest and messed around, it was super fun! And, this week I will just walk a lot! We had a ton of lessons this week. On Wednesday my comp and I went to some lady's house who is in the Relief Society presidency. She is super cool. She gave us 2 whole Panetones for free, they are like 20 Soles each for a decent one and this was a pretty good one!! I am starting to like Panetone! (Panetone is like a fruit cake but it is not sweet).  We had the interview of Edmunda that day also. She passed the interview and I hung out with Elder Evans!  That is probably the last time that I will see another kid from Alta in my mission. I'm a lone wolf now.  

I have had a great week. I have really learned to love the Latinos. haha It was so hard to love them at first, but now that I can speak better they respect me and don't try to make fun of me. So yeah, I guess basically I'm the King of Tingo!!! haha Really, I'm just kidding!! On Saturday we went to do service, and after, the lady we did service for gave us some really good soup! I attached a picture of everyone eating the soup. This is the Elders Quorum and us, the Elders in the house. The guy on the left in the green shirt is a goon! He's the son on my Penchion and I love hanging out with him. On Saturday, we basically just did service, and then on Saturday I baptized Edmunda!!!! She asked if I could baptize her. She said, "you were the one that gave me the scripture to read that made me know the gospel is true! I want you to baptize me." It was so great!!  Before the baptism there was a funny thing that happened to her. The clothes we had for her from the church were too small. so the bishop ran and got a white shirt and a white gown, it was a very hectic time, but she looked great dressed in white, she was glowing! 

On Sunday I spoke in Sacrament Meeting and I gave  a talk about how the people should be reverent in Sacrament Meeting. After I talked the whole congregation was silent!! haha I loved it!!  Now everyone is makeing jokes with me about how I changed it all in just a minute!  Jhordy, my Penchion's son, says that it was revelation that is spoke about reverence. 

It really was a good week. I just want you all to know that Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father are real, Joseph Smith is the Prophet of the Restoration, and I love all of you. I miss you all, but I love it here. Be safe and love you all and have a good week. 

Elder Christensen

Elder Christensen's plaque, and a favorite, his Stripling Warrior Ring.

Luke's brother Nick also wore this ring when he served in Peru. 

Nick gave it to Luke to wear the day he left.

Exploring the Jungle

Tingo Maria on a rainy day and a beautiful rainbow.

Lunch with the Elder's Quorum and the other full time Elder's.

Erick (the red and white in the back) Renzo (the black shirt in the back)

Jhordy on the left (in the green) He is Luke's Pensionista's son

He didn't remember the names of the others.

Elder Christensen and Edmunda

Luke said Edmunda "was glowing"!

Yes, she is!

Tender Mercies and a Baptism

So how is everyone in Utah? Freezing their butts off jajajajajajaja! I am getting super used to the great 100 degree weather here, it feels good in the day, pray for rain still!! Mom, you asked where I’m living. I live in a 3 story building with my companion and 2 other Elders. I like my pensionista, she is a great cook and makes the best food! I am starting to get fat from all the yummy fried stuff! jaja

Last week we went to Huanuco on Sunday. I stayed with Rocky Evans, he’s my zone leader. Then on Monday we went to La Corona del Inca. It was super cool. It is as high as Cerro de Pasco (almost 15,000 feet). I got some super cool pics! The pics that I sent on top of it look like I just smoked a ton of marijuana (haha). But, I didn’t!! It was super bright that day, and it’s so high, like right next to the sun! haha It was so hard to breath walking up there, funny how fast my body lost it’s acclimation from that high, high altitude and went right down to jungle elevation! The weird Peruanos were singing some weird creepy satanic song to us as we walked up there!  Going up I didn’t really notice how narrow the road was, but when we were going down the mountain, I realized just how skinny the road really was! We were literally driving 40 mph on a road that is one lane with a cliff with a huge drop, a foot away from the road, and it has a million turns. It was super sketchy, and so scary, but fun, and was it ever beautiful!!! 

This week was crazy. We did divisions, I went with a member and my comp went with another member. Remember the lady I talked about last week with the dying mother …. Well, when I showed up at her house again this last week with the member I was talking to her and she was said, " I have been investigating your church for five years Elder Christensen, the Church of the Mormons, but it wasn’t until last week when you showed up at my house with your companion that I really knew it was true. You Elder Christopher (yeah, no one can remember my name or pronounce it for some reason, I guess it’s way too long?? haha ) you gave me a chapter to read to my dying mother (this is Edmunda, the lady with the mom that is paralyzed) and I read it to my mom and I really feel like I want and need to get baptized, and in time, I want to go to the temple."  I sat there and almost burst into tears!! It was amazing to me, the spirit was so strong, and because I listened to the spirit that day I made a difference in someone’s life. I love seeing the Spirit in action! She has a baptism date for either this Saturday or next Saturday. We’re thinking it’s probably the next because her mom (the paralyzed lady that I was able to give the blessing to) died on Friday morning. We visited her on Saturday and she was super chill, and she wasn’t crying at the funeral because she said she knows the Plan of Salvation now, and knows that she’ll see her mom again. That was a super big tender mercy in my life, to see what the gospel did for her, hearing her testimony, and hearing about the life of her mom. 

On Friday we went to Huanuco again for a Multi Zone Conference. Elder Godoy came to teach us. It taught me a lot about how I can better myself. I really loved it every minute of it.  That night I got to see my “dad” in the mission (Elder Bullock), it was super cool, I’ve really missed that guy. After, every zone leader and district leader went to Lookcos (it’s a burger place like Astroburger, but it is really more like McDonalds) haha . I was the only “non leader”! But so fun to see and be with all those guys! 

I can honestly say that I know that this church is true. If not, why in the world would Joseph Smith do and go through all of the things he did in his life. It was all for us, those who were coming after him, he witnessed and saw God the Father and His Son. He knew! Why would he have died for the gospel if he didn’t know for a fact that Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father live! This church is true. I love Joseph Smith and I know he was a prophet. I know Jesus Christ died for us and God is our Father. It’s so great to have that knowledge. I’m happy and I love what I’m doing, serving my Heavenly Father!

Happy birthday to KAITLIN, DEMI, GRANDMA LINDA, AND GRANDPA VERN!! All of you have a great birthday this week, and for the other people reading this…. you have good week also!!!  love ya all!              

¡nos vemos pronto!

Elder Christensen

At La Corona del Inca near Huanuco, Peru

He said it was so bright and so high that it felt like it was next to the sun!

He couldn't open his eyes!!

Hope he could open them to see how BEAUTIFUL it is!

Peru is amazing!!

Elder Christensen and Elder Rocky Evans (Zone Leader)

Rocky and Luke went to Alta High together!

Luke with an Incan Indian Chief pointing to the "temple" on the hill

Elder Christensen back with all of his Alta boys ...

Elder Rocky Evans, Elder Luke, and Elder Landon Albrecht on the end

Elder Bullock (Luke's "dad" in the mission or his trainer) and Elder Luke

Not sure what this is unless it's where Luke lives?

Beautiful Tingo Maria, Peru

Luke's home for now.