Transfers and Another Service Project

"I've Got a Jack Hammer!"

Monday, April 27, 2015

Dear everyone,

This past week has been another super busy week. Last Monday we had some great lessons to start the week. I was pretty excited.

Tuesday was another good day of teaching as well. We had district meeting that morning. I gave out the zone t-shirts that we had done. They were actually really cool. Oh and if you want to make your own shirt, the Philippines is where it's at. There are so many places here that can print shirts for you. :) But that's that.

Wednesday was transfers and it was a long day. We went to the bus stop at about 9:00 to help get the departing missionaries on their way but we didn't want to go all the way back to La Trinidad because it's far and expensive so we just stayed at the bus stop the whole day... It was so long. My companion didn't show up until 5:00 PM... but it's all good because it's over :P My new companion is Elder Bayot. He is super cool. He's 21 just like me and he's actually my batch mate. He goes home a transfer after me because he's a Filipino and didn't spend as much time in the MTC but it's still really fun to be working with him.

Elder Tuway (left), Sister Mustaq, Elder Bayot (Brian's Comp)

Thursday was pretty good. We got some good lessons done but nothing super special happened. Friday was just like Thursday. Nothing to special happened.

Saturday was good though. We had another Service project. Or rather we did the same one again. ;P It was a lot of fun to go and demolish more of a building. They let me use the jackhammer again and it was a blast. :) I’m a little sore though.

Sunday was a wet day. I think rainy season is starting up again which means for Baguio every day it's going to rain a ton. :P But it's going to be awesome getting wet again. :P But other than the rain it was pretty good. We taught some good lessons and I introduced some new members to Elder Bayot. Stuff like that.

Well that's all for now. ingat kayo at mahal ko kayong lahat!!!

Elder Christensen

Questions from a Separate Email

Tell us more about La Trinadad?

La Trinidad is the strawberry capital of the Philippines mainly because they can't grow them anywhere else. :P The people here are very busy because it's a city. There is also Benguet State University here where a lot of kids go to school. It also happens to be the capital of Benguet Province. Go figure. I like it here. It's interesting and really cold in comparison to Utah. The people are nice but really busy.

What was a good teaching experience you had this week?

Well I had a good lesson at the beginning of this week. We taught Brothor Ador again. He's actually a Pentecostal pastor which is interesting but we get along fine and he really likes to listen. Our lesson when pretty well with him and we discussed our purpose here on earth. He liked it.

What was a time when you felt the Savior's love this week?

I can't think of any specific thing that happened where I felt his love but in the past few weeks I've felt his support because I've been so tired that sometimes I don't know if I can keep going. But somehow every time I get out of bed and I make it all the way to the end of the day. haha I know that he's helping me there.

Elder Macasaet, Sister Barboza and Sister Mustaq (She's from Pakistan)

Old School that Needs Demolished

Old School that Needs Demolished

At Service Project; Front: Sister Smith who was Just
Released 

Brother Alnie Garumbas, 2nd Counselor

It Took Three Guys to Manage the Jack Hammer

Long Week

Monday, April 20, 2015

Dear Everyone,

This past week has been long. I'm very tired. haha But when is a missionary not tired. :P It started kinda not good when we didn't get our lessons that we had planned on Monday night. kinda lame.

Brian and Elder Pandi

Tuesday was most likely one of the worst days on my mission... ok maybe not the worst but it wasn't good. We had exchanges planned for that day which we still did and that was fine but the bad thing was on our way to district meeting that morning I left my wallet in the jeep we took to get there. :( I'm super sad about that... I can't get money now because I have no cards for the ATM.. But it's ok because President Balledos was able to get me some money so I'm fine. No worries. It's just still a little sad. The exchanges went well, though. I was working with Elder Pansipansi and we had a great time. We taught some good lessons, all that good stuff.

Wednesday was another big surprise and day. Elder Pandi got transferred to San Fernando because he is becoming the new supply manager for the mission. It's cool. It just leaves me as a lone zone leader. I'm with Elder Orr right now because he also doesn't have a companion. But the rest of that day we had to do apartment checks with Elder and Sister Brown. They are a senior couple in our mission. It was interesting to say the least. We had a good time.

Thursday was the good day in the week. We got some good work done which helped take my mind of my problems. :P Nothing super special happened though.

"YOU WANT ME TO PUT THE HAMMER DOWN!!!!!!" 

Friday was like Thursday and I was grateful to get some good work done. But nothing super crazy happened then ether.

But Saturday was awesome. We started the day with a service project. We went out to a school that needed some demolition done. So that's what we did. We took down some walls and other great stuff. :) It was a ton of fun and I even got to use a jack hammer! :D haha It was good to so some real manual labor again. :) Later that day we managed to get back to work and get some good lessons taught but that was the most exciting part of the day.

Sunday was interesting because we had to get up early to go to the stake for stake MCM [missionary committee meeting]. We met with the stake president and talked about what we need to do as a stake. It was good. After that we had church which is always good. The rest of the day was a little hard because we got straight punted by everyone. We had some appointments that we thought were sure and it turns out that they really were not sure. :/ But that night we had a great FHE with Sister Fianza. She is one of the sweetest members here. She was actually baptized by John Bytheway. Fun stories but we had a good time there.

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

Elder Christensen

Exchanges and Some More Exchanges

Monday, April 13, 2015

Dear Everyone,

This past week has been a good one. It started good last Monday with some great lessons and a clean apartment. :P When I first got to this apartment it was a mess and a half. I mean gross. But I finally got everything clean and organized so I felt comfortable cooking there. It's been good to cook again. :)

Tuesday we had my first zone training. It was really good. I gave a workshop about the spirit and how it applies to missionary work. I felt the spirit pretty strong and after my workshop we had a short testimony meeting. It was good. After that we went straight to Baguio because we were going on exchanges with the AP's. Elder Harris ended up working with me and Elder Pandi in our area and Elder Basco went with the Zone Leaders in Baguio. It was a good time and it was interesting riding in the front seat of a car again. But nothing super crazy happened.

Wednesday we went on another exchange. This time I was with Elder Cook. We had an interesting day. We did a lot of walking because we got punted a lot but it was ok because Elder Cook likes to talk. :P We also found this really cool new investigator named Dondon. He just really seems ready to receive the gospel and I have enjoyed teaching him so far.

Thursday was a good day as well. We taught Brother Ador again. He was saying that his family was telling him to stop listening to us but he still wants to listen. It was a really good lesson about the Plan of Salvation and he loved hearing that the fall of Adam and Eve was a blessing and not a curse. He is so cool I just hope he can hold on even with the opposition he is facing right now.

Friday was another really good day. We just got lesson after lesson rolling. Nothing super crazy or interesting happened it was just a good day.

Saturday was awesome because I got to watch conference. :D it was awesome. I learned a lot and loved all the talks. I really liked Elder Holland's talk about the boys on the ledge and how the Savior is always there to catch us when our fingers are slipping through the sand. Oh, but something crazy happened while I was at the stake center in Baguio. I saw sister Elizabeth there. The lady I baptized while I was in Loakan was there!! I was so stoked to see her there. :D :D :D :):) ;) :O :D :P :D :D :D :DDDDD Just thought I would say that.

Sunday was good to. Lots of things learned from Conference. I also saw some more old friends from my first area and it was awesome. But that's about all that happened.

mahal kita!!

Elder Christensen

Great Perspective from Separate Emails:

My Email: [You'll love Brian's response to an email I wrote telling him about the water main that broke in our housing leaving us without water for four days. This was part of my email to him.]

Talk about making you feel grateful for things you normally take for granted! We’ve had bottled water to drink. We use our storage water in the 2-liter bottles for hand washing and sponge bathing. We filled buckets full of water from Barnett’s house that we use to flush the toilets with. Yes, I’ll certainly be glad to get it fixed.

Brian's Response:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...  I'm sorry I don't mean to laugh so hard but to be honest losing water for a few days is normal here. and flushing the toilet with a bucket is an every day thing. we consider ourselves blessed when we have a flushing toilet here. :P as for drinking water I think you already know how that works here. :P I'm just saying it just sounds like another day in the Philippines except it's hotter here. :P I just found that really funny is all. we also do our laundry here by hand if you want to try that. :P you've almost tried everything else. :D

MLC and Holy Week

Monday, April 06, 2015

Dear Everyone,

This past week was pretty good. To start last Monday night we got some news that Elder Petingale was going home the next day. We were a little surprised because it was so short notice but we knew he would be going home sometime that week. The only effect it had on us is that now Elder Pandi and I are the only ones in the apartment. It’s interesting but I think we will be fine. Later that night we went to Baguio and got on a bus going to San Fernando because we had MLC the next day. It was super cool because when we got there I met up with a lot of old friends. It was a way nice night.

Tuesday was MLC (Missionary Leadership Conference). It was very long but it was nice as well. We had some good workshops and discussed current mission rules and ways to improve the mission. Over all it was a good experience. The interesting thing about it was that we had to wait for a bus home and it took a long time. We were done by about 4:30 but were not able to get a bus until about 7:00. The funny thing about the bus ride up is there weren't enough seats so I ended up standing the whole ride up to Baguio. :P haha it was fun though.

Wednesday was back to work. It was a harder week for us because of Holy Week and a lot of people went out of town. We still did alright though. But nothing super exciting happened.

Thursday was another pretty normal day for us. Really nothing special to report.

Friday was about the same as Thursday to be honest. We just worked. A lot of people were out and about but not a lot to teach.

Saturday was interesting because we had to go do a baptismal interview for one of our District Leaders. It took a really long time because we had a question for President Balledos but he was in a meeting. So we had to wait for about an hour for him to get back to us. We got it all worked out and the baptism will continue, so it's all good.

Sunday was interesting. The first thing that was interesting of the day was when a police man waved us over to talk with us. I thought we were in trouble or something but he just wanted to listen to our message. So we sat down in the guard station and taught him about the Book of Mormon because they had one in there for some reason. Later that day it started to rain pretty hard so we had to find some shelter under a shed. haha But funny thing was we started teaching the people that were waiting under the shed with us. But as soon as we finished, the rain stopped. :) It was pretty good. But that was about it.

Well that's all for now. Mahal kita!

Elder Christensen

Busy Week

Monday, March 30, 2015

Dear Everyone,

This past week has been super busy. We are just constantly going on exchanges and making plans ect. But we had a good week.

To start on Monday after I emailed we went bowling. haha That was the fun part of the week. We didn't get much else done but it was good. That night we also taught our investigator brother Ador. He loves our message and said he would get baptized if he felt our message was true. :D We are super excited for him but we still have a long way to go.

Tuesday we had exchanges and it was not good. I don't even know why it was bad. The exchange itself was fine. I was working with Elder Grimploma and he's a super cool elder. But their work was just hard. No one was home and then when we went finding, a guy told me he didn't know how to read when I offered him a pamphlet. But I'm pretty sure he did because he spoke good English. Another guy just walked inside his house and ignored us... It was an interesting day.

Wednesday was better we were able to teach some good lessons and I really liked one where we taught about the nature of God. We were teaching a Born Again, a Seventh day Adventist, and a Catholic. They asked about God’s name so I showed them some scriptures from Exodus and then John and explained to them how Jehovah and Jesus Christ are the same person. They really seemed to like it and it helped answer their question. We have not been able to teach them again but I hope we get the chance I liked the lesson.

Thursday was another hard but we made it though. Nothing too interesting happened though.

Friday was a fun day even though we had a bit of a hard time teaching. We taught a few lesson but then we had a ward family home evening that we had to go to. It was fun and they had a lot of food. :P But it was really interesting when they made the missionaries give the games. So we had to lead a big group of people in games. It actually turned out pretty good.

Saturday was still hard but we got thing's working. We taught Brother Ador again and cleared some things up for him and got him to commit to church the next day even though he had work. The best part is he came. :D

Sunday was a good day. Brother Ador came to church and everything was happy. :P We taught some good lessons and ended the week on a good note.

For today we had a zone activity earlier this morning and it was awesome. We got permission from President Balledos to watch "The Best Two Years" and it was awesome. We also played a little dodge ball and some other fun stuff but all in all it was just a good time. Later tonight we are going to San Fernando for a leadership meeting so that should be fun. But that's for next week.

That's all for now. mahal kita!!!

Elder Christensen

Excerpt from Letter to President Balledos

As for my studies this past week I have been reading from John. I read chapter 14 this past week and I really like Christ's teaching about prayer. He first states in verse 6 that he is the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the father, but by him, establishing our reliance on the Savoir in our lives. But then in verse 13 he makes it clear that we are to ask for things in his name meaning when we pray we pray to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. After which he describes how we receive his spirit or answers to our prayers by simply stating "if ye love me, keep my commandments and I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever." So if we desire the Holy Ghost we must first ask in the name of Christ and then keep the commandments which Christ himself has given us.

Exchanges and Work

Monday, March 23, 2015

Dear everyone,

This past week has been pretty crazy. It's always interesting to adjust to a new area because you need to learn so much so fast in order be effective here. But it's been good. So to start last Monday we visited our bishop and got to know him a little better. Iit took a lot of our time but we did alright.

Tuesday we had exchanges with the Irisan Elders. I was with Elder Abad. It was a good exchange. I helped him learn a few tricks. Nothing super crazy really happened though. We did have a PEC with his bishop and his bishop is super... intense but funny. It was interesting.

Wednesday we just went to work. We have been doing a lot of finding in our area because we are a little short on people to teach sometimes but all in all we have been doing pretty good there.

Thursday we did about the same. But Friday we taught a nice part member family. We took Elder and Sister Brown with us. They are the couple missionaries assigned in our mission and they are currently assigned in La Trinidad. Anyway we taught this family and I found it really interesting to teach in English for the first time in a long time on my mission. They all understand it very well and Elder and Sister Brown don't know Tagalog. It was interesting to say the least. haha

Saturday we took Elder and Sister Brown with us again and taught a different family that I really feel for. They have a son in law who just passed away last January because of a car accident. He left 4 small children, 3 boys and 1 little girl. The oldest is 11 and the youngest, the girl, is 9 months old. We haven't had the chance to meet the mom yet but we are teaching the grandfather who is a retired principal. They are having a hard time right now and I just want to help them out. But it was a sweet lesson the other night all about eternal families.

Sunday was good. I felt the spirit a lot but nothing super crazy happened... except at our last appointment with one of our recent converts. They had a clarinet, and they let me play it!!! haha It sounded really bad because I haven't played in so long a time. But it was fun to play around with one after so long. haha

Well that's all for now. Mahal kita at ingat kayo lagi

Elder Christensen


Questions from a Separate Email

* What is your companion like?

He is interesting to say the least. The more I get to know him the more I'm surprised. haha I like him but he is a little off the wall sometimes. He’s from Manila so he's pure Tagalog and he is trying very hard to pick up English while he is with me. He's 26 and he has a funny high pitched voice. We all call him "Master" Pandi because he was into mixed martial arts before the mission but he's gained a lot of weight since then and we just laugh about it with him. :P

* What are your responsibilities as a zone leader?

Well I have to handle all of the people's problems in the zone so we just stay busy. We have to plan zone activities and they always want a zone t shirt so we have to do that as well. haha It's a lot like being a district leader just on a bigger scale.

* You said it is like being a district leader... What are the differences?

Well the difference is I don't give workshops every week I only do it once a month and I have more meetings with the mission now. there's just more responsibility to be an example now.

* Do you go on exchanges with the other elders... Are you trying to help train them when you do? How does that work?

I will be going on exchanges almost every week for the rest of my mission... as long as l'm a zone leader for the rest of my mission.. But we do that a lot. We do it to help them if they are struggling or having a hard time. We also go with the DL's in our zone because we should. It’s just to help and in a way yes it's to train them on how to do it all the right way.

* How are you adjusting to being in the mountains again?

It's cold but it's getting hotter because it's almost summer in the Philippines so that's good. All in all I'm adjusting fine. I'm just very tired all the time but I think that has less to do with being in the mountains and more to do with the fact that I've been out for so long.

Birthday, Manila, and Transfers

Surprise Birthday Party

Monday, March 16, 2015

Dear everyone,

This week has been the longest week of my mission. It feels like it's been a month since I last emailed so much has happened.

To start last Monday night we had an FHE planned with sister Flory aka Mommy. We thought it was going to be small. Just us with her husband and daughter... It was not small. It was half the branch at our house because we share it with Sister Flory. It actually turned out to be my birthday party that they planned behind my back. haha It was a ton of fun though and I'm very thankful that it happened. You can see what happened by the pictures. It was pretty crazy. [See a lot more pictures at the end of this entry.]

Some of Brian's Favorite Investigators

Tuesday was my last day in Naguilian and we just worked hard the whole day. I said some goodbyes and then we had another small FHE with Pepito family. They were super sweet and it was sad to say goodbye but that was the end for me in Naguilian.

Wednesday morning I was packed and I got on a Partas bus going to Baguio because I am in La Trinidad. It’s not technically part of Baguio but it's so close we count it as such and it is cold here. haha I took an ice shower the first morning because the heater was broken and it was cold. But it was a good experience. We fixed the heater now. :) When I got to my new area we just went to work and it was good. Oh and so I don't forget HAPPY BIRTH DAY ADAM!!!!!!!!!!!! I remembered the whole day. ;)

Brian's New Companion, Elder Pandi

Thursday was the only really normal day of the whole week. I got to know my companion a little better. His name is Elder Pandi. He is from Manila and is 26 years old. He’s an interesting guy to say the least but I like working with him. To be honest being a zone leader is not all that different than being a district leader. The only difference is that your companion has to help you because he is also a zone leader. :P I like that.

Friday was my birthday. I am now legal... in the states. I've been legal since I got to the Philippines because here it's legal to drink and smoke when your 18... but that's beside the point. :P Friday was interesting that night. Nothing crazy happened in the day but that night I did not get any sleep. The reason is I, along with 4 other Elders had to get on a bus at 2:00 AM going to Manila. They needed us to go get our finger prints done so that when it comes time to leave the Philippines I can. :P It was a very long night, and I had no sleep for almost 40 hours.

Back in the Mountains Again

Saturday we got to Manila around 8:30 AM and we just stayed at the MTC for a while doing paper work. It was fun to see so many missionaries from so many different missions because there were tons. We had 60 from our mission and then there were a ton from all the other missions too. It was crazy but they got us all taken care of. On our way back we stopped at Subway because they have one in Manila and it was awesome. :P Then we had another super long bus ride back. Yuck. haha

Sunday was a good day. I met the ward members and that was nice. Nothing super crazy happened on Sunday though. I was just super, super tired. :) But it's all good. I got this. Well that's all for this week. I love you all a ton and hope you are all doing well. Oh and one more thing. I just want to give a BIG CONGRATS TO MY BIG SISTER ON HER ENGAGEMENT!!!!!!!!! yan lang. :P

Mahal kita!!!

Elder Christensen


From a Separate Email


* What did you think of Katie’s announcement?

I'm still trying to process it. :P It's way cool but I'm still waiting to meet the man in person. haha. I'm excited though because the only thing I need to know it that it's in the temple and that makes him a good guy. haha but I still want to me him before he marries my sister. :P




* [Comment Brian sent back in response to this picture of Adam's "test" for Wesley, Katie's fiance'.

hahahahahahahahaha I'm so sad that couldn't come and have my own arsenal for him haha. That's awesome. That puts my mind at ease knowing that he is passing all of your tests for him. :P


* How big is your zone?

Well we have two chapels, but it's not super big. It's just super densely populated.

* What cities are included in the zone?

La Trinidad is the biggest then Gesad. But I don't think Gesad is a city, nor do I think I spelled it right. :P


Excerpt from Letter to President Balledos

For my personal study this past week I was reading in Ether 12. I was impressed with how much it relates to Hebrews chapter 11. I marked every time it said the word faith. Time and time again it gives examples of what can be accomplished by our faith. And in every example I was coming to the same conclusion that if we want a miracle in our life we need faith. But more, we need faith without doubt because the minute we doubt our faith that is the moment we need it the most. I hope that I can develop this kind of faith without doubt so that I can bring miracles into my life and the life of those around me.

More Pictures

Karen Joy, Reading her Braille Book

Saying Goodbye to Some Favorite Investigators

More Pictures from the Birthday Party

Surprise Birthday Party

Brian; Next to Brian is Sister Flory "Mommy"

Birthday Packages from Home

Sister Flory Smeared Cake on Brian

Surprise Birthday Party

Surprise Birthday Party

Surprise Birthday Party

Surprise Birthday Party

The Young Women, including Sister Flory's Daughter