REMEMBER YOUR MISSION

It has been such a powerful week. We had an incredible mission conference with Elder Holland on Friday. We were in our seats quietly studying for at least 30 minutes before he came in. But right  before he walked in you could just feel his spirit enter the building, everyone was looking around for about 5-10 minutes waiting for him to finally enter the chapel. That was pretty cool. And even before he spoke to us, he was very emotional and you could just see the revelation he was receiving just while he was sitting in his seat. Elder Hallstrom and Sister Holland spoke before he did. Each of the talks were so powerful. President Packard asked us to come with questions and every single one of my many questions were answered in all of the talks.

There were a few great impacts that I received from these messages. The first was from Sister Holland, you have to love yourself in an appropriate, godly way before you are able to fully love those the Lord places in front of you. I thought that was incredible. I already feel like I love so instantly but I realized I could love these people even more if I love myself. The second was from Elder Holland. He talked a lot about staying strong in the faith and not losing your way after your mission. He emphasized how much his mission has changed his life and he was struggling with even the thought of returned missionaries losing their way. He kept saying he could not understand it. He was so sweet and powerful, very loving. The whole meeting all I felt was love from these three speakers, love and complete joy. I did not feel chastised or critiqued, I felt motivated and edified. They just poured out their love and their spirit stayed for a very long time.

I think one of the most powerful moments of that day was when Elder Holland left. We stood as he walked out of the chapel and we stood for who knows how long. I think we all were thinking that President Packard (who had left with Elder Holland) would walk back in, but he didn't. We felt it when Elder Holland left the grounds, and I think it was about that time when President Christensen walked to the pulpit and invited us to sit and record the feelings we had during that meeting. He was so sweet and emotional. There were hardly any dry eyes in that chapel. You could tell everyone was greatly impacted by the messages and the spirit that was present. It was such an incredible experience. Elder Hallstrom told us in his talk that this was such a significant day and that it will change us. It certainly did.

I only wish you could have all been there. But it was such a wonderful day that brought our mission that much closer together. I don't think anyone in that room will ever forget the things Elder Holland told us, especially that we have to remember our missions. Remember your mission when you get down, when you start to lose your way. Remember the things you learned, the testimony that was strengthened, the people you influenced and changed. Everyone has a different experience on their missions but overall, it changes you for the better. There is no way anyone can forget the impact their missions made on their life.

I love you all and hope you enjoyed your Memorial Day weekend! Remember your mission and do all you can to stay strong and be that great example of a disciple of Jesus Christ. It is through Him, anyway, that our missions change us.

Love, Sister Christensen

BUILDING ZION

 

This past week has been incredible. So many miracles are happening! The next few miracles that are listed are just from yesterday!

Miracle #1. We had branch council in the morning, our branch president gave us a few minutes to talk about our people. Before he let us speak he talked about what a blessing it is that the Lord took the Elders out of our branch because it is making the members do their part. The Elders were amazing and did so much for the Branch. But the members started getting used to them and would let the Elders do their work. They would go visit the people who needed to be visited, home teaching, bless and pass the sacrament, take the sacrament to the elderly, and so on. But now, the Lord has taken off the training wheels and expects the members to do that work. He went on to say that we, the sisters, need their help more than ever, because we do not have the priesthood so we can't bless the sacrament, or take it to the elderly. We also can't always visit the elders were visiting because we can't always get a chaperon. The Priesthood holders need to step up and do the work that the Elders were doing. We also don't have enough time and miles to do everything the elders were doing, the things we are doing, plus all the work that is starting to increase. Our Branch president then asked us to make the announcement in Sacrament meeting that we need the members help. #2 Before sacrament meeting our investigator and her daughter (we just found them on Saturday) walked in with the member who was willing to pick them up. #3 And while we were giving the announcement in Sacrament meeting another investigator came in!
#4 We have been struggling with getting into the homes of members for a little while. No one, really, has been feeding us, let alone just letting us come share a message. Which is very unusual. But, yesterday, our whole entire week got completely booked. The only hour or so of time we have to spare is Saturday or Sunday. Every minute is totally filled. I know this is because of our branch president who is so on board and so supportive of us! He is so incredible. We are so blessed to have this chance to work with him. The things that have happened in this area has a great deal to do with him!
#5 We were going to visit an elderly lady yesterday and we decided we weren't going to leave the apartment until we found someone to come with us. A name popped into my head and we called that sister, she accepted gladly. We met her at the care center and had such a wonderful visit with this elderly lady. The sister we brought was exactly the person that needed to be there with us to visit this other lady. She supported, loved, and encouraged her. She told us some of her thoughts afterwards and it was clear to us that she had a great spiritual experience while we were there.
#6 After that visit we went to visit a potential that another sister and I had stopped by while on exchanges. We went by and they immediately let us in. The wife, Elizabeth, sat us down and just talked to us for a while. She told us how she had been wanting to come to a church meeting ever since she had met the missionaries a year or two ago. She was so friendly and so open it was incredible! We talked a lot about service and why we are serving a mission, and a lot about how Christ would serve. We then asked if we could share a message. We had not prepared a message, but it was one of the few times I felt calm and collected while giving a message on the spot. I usually get really nervous or start freaking out in my head because I don't know what to say. Our lesson went so well! It was a miracle! I knew what we needed to share with them and I knew what they needed to hear and feel. They were so open and are looking forward to our future visits!
Sister Endemann and I were talking about it afterwards and we both thought Elizabeth could be the next relief society president, she was that type of person and she was just so friendly and amazing! We thought her husband could definitely be the next high priest. They have so much potential. We are so excited!

I loved President Packard's letter today that I had to share it with all of you!
"We had a wonderful conference this weekend in Providence with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland! During one of the meetings, Elder Holland mentioned the power of words. When God created the universe, he used words. When we make covenants, we use sacred words. When we invoke the priesthood, we do so with words. Words are the most powerful tool we have.

Yet, words do have their limitations. If someone tries to explain what a morning cup of coffee tastes like, those of us who have never tasted coffee will not really understand. This is because words themselves do not generate understanding in a vacuum. (Even if you have tasted coffee, we have no way of knowing whether we actually experience the same taste. Have you ever wondered about that? We have all been taught that the sky is blue, but do we really know that the “blue” that I see is the same “blue” that you see?) The point is, if we are going to teach or learn anything new, we have to use language, but our language only communicates meaning if it triggers knowledge or experiences that are shared by both the teacher and the learner. For example, we can tell you what it is like to love a child, but you younger missionaries can only process that concept through the lens of a child – not as a parent. You will not truly understand until you have your own children. Each one you will have difficulty using words to explain what happened when you cried out to God for forgiveness and felt His love and acceptance wash over you. Those of us who have lost loved ones in death can’t really use words to communicate the profound comfort that the temple ordinances and our faith in Christ brings to us. Moreover, words don’t adequately explain what “spiritual experiences” feel like or, more importantly, what they mean, and words don’t fully explain God’s love, His acceptance, or His fullness. Doctrine can be explained with language, but true comprehension of spiritual matters comes through experience – personal, individual experience. As Ammon explained: “I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.” (Alma 26: 16). Elder Boyd K. Packer is fond of saying that he cannot teach us most of what he knows. Paul said it this way: “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor. 2:13–14.) If we are trying to teach someone who does yet understand the things of God, or if we are trying to understand spiritual truth ourselves, words fail us miserably because we are trying to explain something that is learned primarily through experience. When it comes to the deep things of God, we are unable to learn or teach very much on our own. However, we can connect ourselves to the True Vine! (John 15:5). Christ can and does teach people every day in a way that transcends language or even human thought. With His infinite mind and through His Spirit, He speaks directly to our souls and gives us the capacity to comprehend things that we could not naturally comprehend. Christ also gives people what they need to understand – experiences through His Spirit that communicate what words cannot."

I loved this so much because I have been having so many amazing spiritual experiences and learning so much about the gospel and what it means to me this past week, and I wish I could just tell you all and explain how incredible it has been. But, sadly, the truth is I can't. There are no words to describe these experiences. You just have to go through the experience for yourself to understand at least somewhat of what I wish I could tell you.

I hope you all have such a wonderful week and are able to see the Lord's hand in your life. He is there and He loves you! You are so important to Him, and so are all the wonderful people around you. So share the joy and the love you have found through the gospel and help others find their way :)!

Love,

Sister Eliza

cupcakes for Elder's Birthday

Cupcakes for less active member

                                     

smashed bumble bee

                                     

MIRACLES

It was so good to see and hear from my wonderful family last night! Seems like everyone is doing really well and have so many good things happening in their lives! I love you all so much!

Let me just tell you. Miracles happen everyday if you look for them. We have seen so many this week!  First of all. We went on exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders and both sets of us found more people to teach!! Miracle #1: Sister Bingham and I were driving back from an appointment and she was telling me about this lady she had met while she was serving here in North Brookfield. She was showing me where the lady lived so I could go by another day when we had more time. But we thought "why not just stop in right now?" So we did! We both were pleasantly surprised and so glad we did. The lady wasn't home but her husband was. He was so unusually nice (for a New Englander) and friendly! He recognized who we were and even knew some things about the Mormon's and knew where our church was in North Brookfield! It was awesome! He said he would be so glad to give his wife our number and would love to get to know us better! He said that his wife had mentioned how she had met the missionaries before and he was so positive about it! It was seriously incredible. We are so excited. It seems like we have been finding people to teach right and left!

Another Miracle, we had breakfast with a wonderful member this week and she lives nearby a few less actives and invited one of them. Sister M (the less active) was so sweet, she doesn't act like she would be less active but she is struggling with a few word of wisdom issues. When the waitress came to get our orders she started sharing the gospel with her! Not only that, but the girl seemed pretty genuinely interested too! It was so fun to see. You never know who is waiting or ready to receive the gospel, let alone who is willing to share it! So amazing.

Since I didn't really get a chance to share my testimony with my family I thought I might just share it with you here :). I loved what Andrew said about how to prepare for a mission. He is so wise! I am so proud of that kid. I just want you all to know that he is completely right on that. You have to have a testimony of Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith. My testimony of all three of those things has grown ten fold while on my mission. I could not serve God as sincerely or as hard as I have if I did not have a testimony of Him. I want you all to know that I do know that Jesus Christ lives, that He is the only way we can return to our Father in Heaven and that He has truly felt all our pains and is with us in every one of our challenges. I do know that He is with us more that we even know. He helps us even more than we can imagine. I love this gospel and am so grateful I have this chance to serve Him with my whole heart, mind, might, and strength. I am still learning how to truly consecrate all of those four things to Him, but that is a lifelong process. Luckily I do not have to be perfect to have the chance to use the Atonement in my life, how silly would that be? :) If we were perfect there would be no need for the Atonement.

I love you all so much and hope you are doing well and loving life as much as I am! Hope you have such an amazing week filled with miracles!!

Love, Sister Christensen

CHANGES

This week has been so crazy! but so wonderful. We got a new investigator! Woot woot! her name is M and her husband is an inactive member. The Elders visit him somewhat regularly just to chat, but never really get a chance to talk to M. So a couple of weeks ago we stopped by and M was home. It was not a good time for her but she said that we could come back another time. So we called and set up an appointment this week. We went on a rainy day but it was so perfect. We got to know her a little bit, she has never been taught by the missionaries, but she knows a little bit about missionary work. Her brother in law served a mission in Argentina. We started talking about God and she has such a strong and deep testimony of God and Jesus Christ. About at this point in the visit her husband came home and joined in on the conversation. He, too, has a strong testimony. I think he just didn't have a strong enough knowledge or testimony of our church. But we are going to help them out :). We are so excited!! When I first got here we had basically no investigators and now we have 3!! :) So excited.

We had a great zone meeting on Friday! Our mission has been focusing a lot on how we can "become the fabric of the ward" and now, since we have accomplished that, we want the ward mission leader to "become the fabric of the mission", so we had a few trainings on how to help make that happen. It is pretty awesome. We had a fun time making lunch together and then t-text came! Sister Endemann and I are staying together!!

                                         

 I was worried she would leave because she has already been here for 6 months. But she is definitely leaving next transfer. :( Sadly, they are taking the Elders out of North Brookfield... The mission has been way over the complement of missionaries and so now there are a ton of missionaries returning home and hardly any coming out. So they have to "slim down" the areas.  So instead of having elders and sisters in almost every unit they have to take out one or the other set to cover other areas. It is sad. But I already feel like this next transfer will be so good! They also made a few other adjustments, now we have mostly sisters in our zone! it is crazy! There are about 5 sets of sisters and 3 sets of Elders in our zone. Naturally they had to switch the districts around so now we don't have a district of all sisters and one set of Elders. We have 2 and 2. This is going to be such a fun transfer!

We had our spring fair on Saturday!! It was a total success and so much fun! Our investigator and her family came, a couple of potentials, less actives, and non members too! There were a handful of people who were interested in learning more about the church after the fair.  It was definitely a success.

I can't believe next Sunday is Mother's day!! Time has flown. It really feels like I just talked to my wonderful family for Christmas, a week ago! Since it is soon to be Mother's day, I just want my beautiful, wonderful, dear mother to know how much I love and appreciate her. I wouldn't be on my mission without you! I always talk about what a great influence you were on my decision to go on a mission, and how you influenced me in so many other ways in my life. Everyone knows you are my best friend, and that I really love and respect you. You are amazing and such a light and example to everyone around you! I hope you can see that and know how much people love you. I hope you have the best Mother's day ever! I can't wait to talk to you in just a few days! Love you so so much!

Love,
Sister Eliza