Well, I hope that you all had a great Navidad! I had a really great one! It didn't seem a lot like Christmas since it feels about 110 degrees here in the jungle of Pichanaki! Not a White Christmas like you all had!
Drinking coconut milk out of a coconut on Christmas Day is not the same as
drinking hot coco and watching it snow on Christmas Day!
The Christmas Tree sent from home with twinkle lights and pictures
of Elder Christensen's family and extended family!
So let me tell you about the adventures that have happened this past week. Hopefully, I can tell you like it was. Today I am so tired and so lazy! But like every week we were just working hard and loving it! Well we worked as hard as we physically could without passing out from the lack of water. Because seriously, I sweat all of the water out of my body in the day, it is just so hot here. It really was a great week, but I was on the verge of tears on thursday night. because so many cool investigators just randomly said they don't want to listed to us. It was just awful. So Thursday night the revelation came to my head that I needed to go to the Comiseria (police station) in the morning. So I told the other missionaries about the plan and what was going to go down they liked the idea! Do at 6:00 we woke up, we got ready, wrote out the address to the church, and our names and our phone number on some contact cards, then went on a journey to visit the Police. We got there and contacted about 43 police men. It was a sight to see. I didn't get a great picture because the stinking guard was being a jerk, but everyone cooperated well and promised us that they would help us out. So we'll see how that goes! I love going there!
There were some pretty crazy things that happened on Saturday too. On Saturday we were feeling a little crazy, so we were thinking that we were going to be like Alma, or like Samuel the Lamanite. And the idea came to our heads that we are going to go and preach to the hundreds of people in the Plaza (the Plaza is in the city centre where everyone gathers). We planned to have a big crowd just listening to Elder Gonzalez and I, while our comps were taking down appointments with people. So that was the plan. So we took about 200 Liahona's (the church magazine) to the Plaza and set everything up. I started preaching to a small group that was growing in size, and it was all going great. And then... Flippppppping SATAN came to the park at the same time, well actually 2 Satan's came. They were 2 street performers that thought they needed to steal all of the people from us. So they started talking bad about us and said, "don't listen to them, they are just Mormons! Come and be entertained!" Seriously, isn't that exactly what Satan would say! haha So we packed up and went to the corner of the park and just contacted people. We contacted about 150 to 200 people. We almost gave every single Liahona away! We also had Books of Mormon that were gift wrapped that we gave away also. Nice gifts huh! We found so many people that were old investigators that want to listen again, and tons of new people that want to investigate the church. It was a huge success! So we're back on track now, with lots of people to see and lots to teach! It's going to be great!
In Peru they start Christmas on Christmas Eve, they give gifts to the kids, they eat, do fireworks and get drunk. Then sleep all day on Christmas day. We had a brunch on Christmas morning and then went to the church to skype with our families. It was so great to see everyone!! I miss you all and love you all! Happy Birthday to my bro Nick, and thank you to everyone who sent cards and gifts! I am here in Pichinaki with 3 Latin missionaries so I just shared everything that was sent to me with them. It was a very Merry Christmas!
Love you all,
Elder Christensen
Drinking Inca Kola on Christmas Eve, while the rest of
Peru celebrates very different!
Christmas Eve Fireworks show
Christmas Lunch at Hermana Helady's house
Hermana Helady and her 2 sons
Mama Mary and her husband
Luke's Pensionista in Pichinaki
Talking to Elder Christensen on Christmas Day.
The connection wasn't too good, and his face was so bright and pixelated
on the screen.
But he looks good and sounds so good!
He's loving his mission!
Got this picture on December 26th from
Elder Christensen's Pensionista while he was eating breakfast!
Playing a White Elephant Gift Exchange Game
at the Christmas Multi-Zone Conference
They also watched videos of their families that were sent from home.
They also watched videos of their families that were sent from home.
Back in November 2016 several families (mothers) put together Christmas
bags for Elders/Sisters who would not receive a gift from
home. These bags included Candy, Bookmark, Chapstick, Pen, Tie/Scarf,
a Christmas Story, Christmas Card and a crisp $10 bill (equal to about $30 in Peruvian Soles)
these gift bags to Elders and Sisters at the
Multi-Zone Conference.
Luke reported that "it was such a cool thing for you to do".
He thanked everyone who helped, and said what a great thing
it was!
Hopefully this can be carried on year after year!
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