And Another Week Down

Monday, November 17, 2014

Dear Everyone,

This past week has been ok lang. We had a hard time teaching. We would go to teach but sometimes they would be busy or more often we couldn't teach because we didn't have a fellowshipper. But it's all good. We are working hard and that's what's important.

So for Tuesday... I really did not like Tuesday. It was rude. We went to a lot of our appointments and we didn't teach a single lesson. I think those are the hardest days. When you try your best the whole day and no one wants to listen to you.

Wednesday was better. We had another district leader conference in San Fernando. It was really cool. There are a lot of changes happening in my mission right now but I really like them. We are adjusting the schedule so that we can all have more time to teach more people. But it was also nice to see all the friends in the mission at the conference.

Thursday was a sweet day. We found a new investigator named Karen-Joy. She's 17 and super smart, second year college. We are teaching her with her mom. (Her mom's a little more hard-headed then she is. haha) But the one thing that makes Karen different than all the other people I've taught is that she's blind. She's still a new investigator but I really hope she's progresses. She is super sweet. It was funny. She got some paper out and wrote our names in braille. It was super cool. I tried it and spelled something like this (C?Is'#k\N) when I was trying to spell Christensen. haha I can't even spell my own name.

Friday was also a good day. We had our 2nd counselor working with us and we had a ton of fun and a ton of lessons. haha Nothing super crazy happened but it was a really good day.

Saturday and Sunday we had a district conference in Bawang. I really enjoyed it. We didn't get a lot done work wise but the conference was really good. Oh and some other good news is that Brother Pepito hasn't smoked in like 2 days. It's been super cool to see his progress there. :) Super excited for him.

Well that's all for now. Mahal na mahal kita!!

Elder Christensen


Excerpt from Letter to Mission President

This past week I have spent a lot of time in the book of Mormon and the Bible. I read Hebrews 11. I especially liked the examples of faith given there. It really illustrated to me how much we can truly accomplish with our faith. It's a principle of action because when we do our part and our best the Lord truly shows his hand in our lives and our work. I hope to apply that to my work the next few weeks so I can go forward with faith. And by so doing do what’s best for my area and the people I teach every day.


Questions from a Separate Email

* What do you think about not being transferred?

To be honest I'm at the point in my mission where I really don't care as much about where I am or what position I have because the way I see it I'll be happy no matter where I am. That's a choice. But I'm happy to stay. Naguilian is hard but I love it here.

* What do you like about your companion?

He's really funny. We just get a long really well. To be honest I've had a hard time getting along with most of my companions because I always want to be perfectly obedient but they don't care... But Elder Cabase and I are doing great. We understand each other very well.

* What did you do for the mini MTC that was a week or so ago?

Well I just welcomed them and gave them their name tags. We had some workshops where they practiced teaching some of the lessons we teach as missionaries. And they had a demo for laundry and things like that. It was pretty fun and the kids liked it a lot.

* A couple weeks ago you mentioned you were fasting for your area? What kind of miracles and changes have you seen since your fast?

Well today we just got news that brother Pepito hasn't smoked for 2 days. That’s a miracle if anything is. Every lesson we teach I feel the power of the spirit there. The only problem is we are having a hard time getting a lesson. But I know the Lord will provide.

* What coincidences (also known as small miracles) have you seen this past week?

Well we went finding this past week and I wanted to try this road that we hadn't been down yet. We went down and we took turns knocking the doors because neither one of us like doing that. We came to this one house and it was Elder Cabase's turn. He didn't want to go but I pushed him. Haha It was interesting because when we first walked up they didn't seem like they wanted to talk to us. But then the sister called for her daughter. Her daughter is 17 but she blind. Super sweet. She's also super smart. She's in her second year of college. haha. It was just sweet teaching them. Her name is Karen Joy. I want to get her a brail book of Mormon but I don't know if we can do that here. Could you look in to that for me? I'm trying here but we might need to custom order it from there. Just look it up for me please. Thank you.

* Next Sunday Dad is giving a talk in Church on salvation for the dead. What thoughts, experiences, doctrine, have you had or learned about this topic on your mission?

Read Alma 40. I just read it this morning I found it interesting how much Alma states that it's not important the order we come out of the grave but it is much more important that we remember that we all come out of the grave. good or bad we are all resurrected. Also the section in "Jesus the Christ" about Christ ministry in the spirit world is very cool. I would recommend that to.

Transfers! (Nothing Happened)

November 10, 2014

Dear everyone,

This past week we had transfers and. Elder Cabase and I are still companions and Elder Tupou and Elder Markantano are still in our house. haha We just keep going like nothing happened.

So to start on Tuesday we taught the Davera family again. It was a great lesson. I love teaching them.

Wednesday was our best day. We taught a lot of lessons and found some new investigators. It was a little interesting because we taught one of our investigators at his house but one of their family just died so we taught him in front of the casket. It was really strange. But it was still a pretty good lesson.

Thursday we taught Brother Pepito the word of wisdom and he told us he's been smoking. We set some goals with him and are working to get him to quit. It will be interesting.

Friday there was a mini-MTC for the youth in our ward. They had us come and be their hosts. It was a lot of fun and they all learned a lot. It was a lot of fun. Saturday we had had a day mission and Elder Cabase and I worked with our 2nd counselor in our area. It was a pretty good day even though we got punted a lot. haha It's all good though.

Sunday was good as always. We taught Brother Dilizo again though he was about the same as always. He is super hard right now. He just won't read the Book of Mormon or pray no matter what we do or say. :/ It's all good though. We will just keep trying. But that's about it for my week. Ayayaten Ka!!!

Elder Christensen

Questions from a Separate Email

* What tiny miracles did you see this past week?

Well I was really thankful to see the branch go to all the funerals here. They do them differently here. They take the caskets and keep them in the house for about a week and have a ton of people come over to give condolences and then they have a service and parade them down the street with a ton of music. It's really prolonged and dragged out but that's what they do.

* Did you help with or attend any of the gatherings for the viewing or funeral?

We went to their house once and taught a lesson to one of our investigators who lives there. But to be honest we aren't supposed to go to the services. That's what President told us.

* What was your best teaching experience and why?

When we taught the Devera Family. They are super sweet and brother is really trying his best to understand. Also our District President is working with us for them. It's always a good lesson when we teach with him there. All in all it's going good.

* Last week you talked about listening to President Oaks. What was one of the things that he said that you liked and why?

He talked about how we all need to be willing to change. And that doesn't mean just want to but it requires action. Without our action nothing will ever happen and nothing will get better either.

* What was your favorite part in studying the scriptures this past week?

Well I read about Ammon. I always think of that song from Aspen Gove whenever I read about that story. "blood splatted and spluttered.. " You know that one haha. But I also really liked the story. Ammon served first and then found and opportunity to teach and it really worked for him.

Good Times and Bad Times

November 3, 2014

Dear everyone,

This past week has been a hard one to be honest. But we need hard weeks so we can know when we have a good week. :P Opposition in all things right. But honestly there were a lot of good things that happened this week to.

To start with on Tuesday we taught the Devera family again. They are super cool. Our District President is working with us because it's his friend. They really understood the Book of Mormon and I really hope they do something about it.

Wednesday we had exchanges and I went with Elder Marcantano. He's the new elder in our apartment. Elder Tucio got emergency transferred to San Fernando because the ward hating on one of the missionaries there so they pulled them out. It was a pretty good day. We taught a long time less active for the first time and he committed to pick up the Book of Mormon again.

Thursday was one of the hard days. We taught Brother Dillizo again and he told us said wala akong gana, meaning he'll still listen to us but he really won't change. It's kinda hard. The rest of the day was pretty hard we did get to teach Devera again. But that's the only thing that went well.

Friday was Halloween which means almost nothing here haha. It was just another normal day. But what was sad about it was we went to our less active/recent convert/investigator family and it turns out that one of the members of the family died. :( We didn't actually know her but we did know her daughter. She was only 35 but she was sick for a long time so it wasn't a surprise. It was kinda sad.

Saturday was hard. Everyone was at the cemetery [for All Saints Day holiday] so we just walked around all day and didn't teach a single lesson... very long day.

Sunday was good. I really felt rejuvenated. Church was good and we taught a great lesson to one of our investigators, Mark. He is super cool. We can only teach him on Sundays because he has a super crazy schedule but it was really good. That night there was also a special area broadcast for the Philippines and we got to listen to Elder Oaks. It was pretty awesome.

Well that's all for now.

Elder Christensen

Questions from a Separate Email

* What did the people in your area do for Halloween?

Well it's the same as last year where Halloween they did nothing but the next day everyone went to the cemetery to visit their loved ones there. They have some interesting traditions there. They give food to their dead while they all eat and drink and have a party. They used to play music and drink but now that's against the law. haha

* What was a spiritual moment you had this week?

Yesterday when I was fasting. I struggled a lot this past week with but after fasting about it I really felt like everything was going to be alright.

* What was a time when you really felt the Savior's love carrying you this past week?

Yesterday again. I literally felt like I was being carried on his back yesterday because I was so tired. It was sweet.

Cool Stuff Like Bridges and Spiders

Monday, October 27, 2014

Dear everyone,

Brian at FHE

This past week has been pretty good. To start with Tuesday was kinda of a slow day but that's ok because we had exchanges on Wednesday. I went and worked with Elder Bacanowa. He's actually a batch mate of mine which is pretty cool. We worked in his area in Bawang and we walked forever. It's all good though because we had an FHE there and the food was awesome. :P All in all exchanges were pretty good.

Thursday was a little hard. Didn't get to teach very many lessons but I started a new hobby that night. haha We found 2 spiders while we were out and my companion knows how to take care of them and fight them. haha I's super fun. I know it sounds strange but the spiders here are super cool and not poisonous. But yeah that's was fun.

Brian on Suspension Bridge

Friday was another kinda hard day but we managed to get through it. Saturday was about the same but we went to Sili again and that's where the super cool suspension bridge is. It so huge haha. We had a ton of fun crossing it. Then we made the decision that we shouldn't work over there because it's too far away from the church and it's mainly farmers over there so they can't come to church every week. We have to focus our work on areas that people can get to church fairly easily.

Sunday was good. We had church and taught a few lesson but nothing super special happened.

Elder Cabase

Well that's my week. I hope you’re all doing fine. mahal kita!!!

Elder Christensen

Suspension Bridge

Elder Cabase at FHE

Brian's  and a Spider

Great Week

Monday, October 20, 2014

Dear Everyone,

Sonny and Brian

This past week has been a good week. haha We started working with Brother Pepito's son Sonny. He's super cool. He worked with us almost every day this week and we got a ton done. It's the first time in my mission I have ever taught so many lesson with a member present. haha It almost felt like we had another Elder with us. haha

Tuesday was not another palpak (fail) day. We taught some great lesson and we started teaching Sonny's girlfriend Charnie. She's super cool. She’s going to a school of IT in Baguio but spends a lot of time down here.

Wednesday Sonny started working with us and we got so much done. haha We just taught so many people with him there.

Thursday was almost exactly the same as Wednesday. Lots of lessons. Good times. Friday we had zone interviews with President Balledos. But that morning we went out and taught 3 lessons in about 2 hours. I'm not even sure how we did it but we did haha. The interview with President was pretty good. It was a little different because we had it in our apartment but it was good still.

Saturday was a little hard because Sonny couldn't work with us so we didn't teach as much but overall it was still a good day. Nothing special happened though.

Sunday was a little different because we didn't have enough young men to do the sacrament so I had to bless the bread but I forgot that it was in Tagalog and let me tell you it's a lot harder to do it in Tagalog... I didn't mess up though so we are all good. haha The rest of the day was pretty good we finally taught one of our long time potential investigators. His name is Mark and he's super cool. The whole time we were teaching him I was just blown away at how prepared he was for the gospel. He asks tons of awesome questions and really wants to know the truth. I'm super stoked to keep teaching him.

Well that's it for now. mahal na mahal kita!!!

Elder Christensen


Questions from a Separate Email

*Did you see the movie Meet the Mormons? (Your cousin missionaries in the U.S. did.)

No we didn't. To be honest the only reason I know about it is because you told me about it. I think that's just for the States right now.

* In your last letter you talked about a new convert, Mark. When was he baptized? What are the lessons that you give him now?

He was baptized the Saturday before I got here. We actually started teaching his little brother so we are on lesson two. We are going to teach our purpose in this life tonight. They are super cool the only problem is both their parents are less active. We are trying super hard to get them to come back to church but their father works all week and he can't get Sunday off. We are still working with the mother.

* Have you had any experiences where you've seen the ward/branch leaders make a difference in the lives of one person?

Not specifically. No sorry. To be honest we don't have a lot of support from our branches here in my mission. That's one thing that we are all trying very hard to fix in the Philippines. It's just really hard. They all have jobs, families, and lives outside the church.

* How is your health?

I'm doing fine. I'm actually gaining weight here. haha. I did have a nasty head ache last night but that happens when I'm at home. So no worries here.

* How are things going with your new companion?

We are doing awesome. I love working with him. He's super funny. We sometimes stay up talking and then realize it's way past 10:30 But it's all good we are having a great time here.

* What are Brother Deliso's questions about the Gospel?

He more complains about how life isn't fair. He always asks why bad people always seem to be the most rich and don't have any punishments for being bad... He asks us why God lets that happens or why bad things happen to good people. It's really hard because he isn't praying or reading and I think that's his real problem. That and he doesn't have any money to go to church.

* How is Brother Pepito doing?

He's doing great. We are working with his son almost every day and he came to church yesterday. I'm super pumped for their family. They are doing great.

Conference and a Zone Activity

Monday, October 13, 2014

Dear Everyone,

This past week has been pretty good. I love it out here in the Philippines and General Conference was awesome. So to start this past week, Monday night we taught a lesson to our recent convert Mark. He's 16 years old and doing well. It was a good lesson.

Tuesday was another hard day. I don't know what it is about Tuesday here but we just can't seem to teach a lesson on Tuesday. We walked around a lot and literally got nothing done. It was hard.

Wednesday was better. We went to Guesset. It's kinda far out but we managed to get some lessons and we found a new less active we didn't know about before. haha It's kinda sad how often that happens. We start teaching a lesson thinking we have a new investigator only to find out they are just a long time less active member. But it was still a good lesson.

Thursday was another kinda hard day. We taught brother Deliso. He's a retired army guy with one leg. He walks around on a prosthetic leg which is really cool. He's pretty hard headed but we have been teaching him some pretty good lessons.

Friday was pretty good but we still got punted a lot. We went to Sili which is the furthest out we go and we tried contacting some people we had met the last time we were out there but they are all pretty busy. Nothing special really happened though.

Saturday was really good because of General Conference. I loved it. There were so many great talks. That's about all we were able to do the past few days though. We did manage to teach one lesson on Saturday to a man named Rayco. He's supper cool. He has a broken leg right now so he can't leave his house but he was very receptive to our message. He commented that he really liked that we prayed to Heavenly Father and not someone else. I really liked that lesson.

Sunday was about like Saturday we only taught one lesson to a less active man, Brother Pepito. He's really nice and after the lesson said he would come to church this next week because he feels like he's missing a lot. I really hope he holds to that.

Earlier this morning we had a zone activity in Bawang. It was pretty fun. We played a bunch of native Filipino games and we all brought food and shared it with each other. It was pretty fun.

Well that's all for now. mahal kita!

Elder Christensen

Questions from a Separate Email

* From your letter last week, I gather you are still district leader?

Yes I have been for a long time now. haha It's all good though I'm pretty good at it now.

* Can you describe your new area?
      (I saw Naguilian on a google map. Is that the city you're located in or is that simply the zone? Where does you area extend to? Are there mountains? Etc.?

Yeah but we don't live in the city exactly. We live just outside of town but we work on the other side of town so we have to ride through town every day. It's kinda fun. The area is a little hard because we just can't seem to get any traction with our teaching pool so we do a lot of finding and very little success. It's hard but I like it. It's not really mountainous but it is on the way to Baguio so there are some hills. Also you can look up the Naguilian chapel on lds.org and that's the chapel we go to.

* What is the weather situation like in your new area? What about typhoons?

Very sunny pretty much all the time. We haven't had any problems with typhoons since Mario.

* How is the program to get the members going out with you working?

It's not... I'm still working on it but as we all know getting something started for the first time is always the hardest at the start. So we will keep working on it. :P

* Will you please tell me about a good teaching experience you had this week?

Well we taught one of our new investigators and he was supper receptive. His name is Reyco. He's 52 and has a broken leg right now. While we taught him he kept telling us how much he liked that we prayed to Heavenly Father and not some other name. He has a problem smoking but I really like teaching him. I really hope he progresses.


Excerpt from Letter to President Balledos

As far as studies go for this past week I have spent a lot of time in the Book of Mormon. I just read chapter 24 of Mosiah and I really loved the verses about the how the people of Alma were afflicted. Hhowever even though they had such great burdens put upon them they continued to pray and the Lord strengthened the people rather than taking away their afflictions. I feel like that's how our life is sometimes the Lord won't always take away the pain but he will give us the courage to face it, for as perfect love casts out all fear.

So Much Walking

October 6, 2014

Dear Everyone,

This past week has been awesome. I really don't have a lot of time right now so I'll just give you some highlights. So last Tuesday we found some new people to teach after walking around a lot. We didn't actually get to teach any one that day though.

Wednesday was pretty good but I didn't spend very much time in my area because I went to San Fernando for a meeting with all the District leaders and Zone leaders. It was fun to see a lot of old friends there. But that's about all that happened.

Thursday we did a lot of walking and managed to get some good stuff done but nothing special.

Friday was super fun. We went to Sili which is the furthest area we can go to right now and man it's really far. I mean really far. Did I mention we did a lot of walking this past week? haha We had a great time looking up less actives and trying to establish our area. When I first got here it was kind of a mess because the Elder who was here before me was super trunky. But we are fixing it now.

Saturday was a lot like Friday because we went finding members. Most of them have moved or died but we did find two. All in all it's looking pretty good there.

Sunday was good as usual. I really like this ward. Right now I'm working on getting our branch mission leader a schedule for each missionary so he can assign individual members to work with us for 1 hour throughout all our days so we can really get the branch involved. It's pretty awesome.

Today was pretty fun to because we had an activity this morning and I played basketball for like 4 hours strait. grabi. sobrang pagod na ako pero ayos lang. [I’m so tired, but it’s okay.] :) masay yan. [Happy.} haha It's been fun.

Well that's all for now. mahal kita!!!

Elder Christensen