Week 20

Jan. 25, 2016

Dear Family and Friends -

This week was a weird week! It rained like crazy on Saturday!! We had a full day of lessons but they all fell through than in the evening the rain came! We went into the neighborhood Leiba Gardins and it started pouring. Elder Bischoff and I didn't know what to do so we said a prayer. We were walking down a street and we went under a tree to get out of the rain for a minute and a man from a upstairs house called down to us and told us to come into his house. We willingly went and we started talking to him and learned a lot about him. We than pulled out a restoration track and asked him if he believed in Christ. He said I don't believe in him i know him! It was great! He is a 7th day Adventist and he believes in a lot of the same things we do! He is a great guy! He said we can come back Wednesday. That day got so much better after that even though it was raining like crazy. We were walking in the rain and a car stopped and a family was inside and they told us to get in and they drove us to our house. Tender mercy right there. The people here in Jamaica are so kind you just got to find them!

 On Wednesday we had a World Wide Missionary Broadcast. They talked about teaching repentance and baptizing converts. They haven't done one of these in over 10 years! It was great I learned a lot about teaching by the spirit and we just need to be worthy to have the spirit with us when we are teaching. It is not us that teach people it is the spirit that touches people’s hearts if they are willing to open their hearts to the spirit.

Dwayne and Yaneek are not getting married until the summer. Dwayne's mom said he couldn't get married until she was there. Yaneek really wants to be baptized but because they are living together they can't. Dwayne doesn’t want to be baptized anymore. He isn't sure. He said he is confused. He also isn't reading and hasn't been to church in 5 weeks. Once they stop doing the simple things the spirit starts to not be there as often. The ward is really trying to help them now. I hope it works out!!

 Nuff Love, Elder Christensen

 

 

Week 19

Jan. 18, 2016

 

Dear Family and Friends -

 

This week had its ups and downs.

 To start the week I got sick so I got to stay in the house for 5 days. Friday I was feeling better but Elder Pulsipher got sick as well. A lot worse than me. He got bit by some bug and it gave him something. We stayed in together and listened to talks and i read the bible and book of Mormon. I learned a lot reading the bible this week. There is great stuff in there about Jesus Christ's Ministry. I really wanted to figure out how I could become more like him because I’m doing his work!

 I listened to a talk this week called Teaching by the spirit. It was 1 1/2 hours long. I was super great! I was glad I listened to that because Zone Meeting was this week and it got pushed back to Saturday so hopefully Elder Pulsipher would of been better. He didn't so Elder Gordon called President Brown and he said I would be helping teach Zone Meeting. I found that out Friday Night at 9pm. So Saturday I woke up at 5:15 to prepare for what I was going to talk about which was Our Purpose lessons when we first meet with an investigator. so I read the whole section and I looked up some scriptures and then I had faith that when I had to go present the message that the spirit would guide me what to say and that I would remember the scriptures I studied. It worked! It was a great discussion and the spirit was there and we all learned something!

 After Zone Meeting we went to Jennys which is a nice Cook Shop. When I was there Bro. Cardoaza saw me from outside and came in and said I would be Teaching in Elders Quorum. I looked at Elder Gordon (the other Zone Leader) and we just laughed. I guess the Lord is trying to teach me something this week. So I read over the Lesson and we had a great lesson! I love being able to teach. Teaching by the spirit is the best way to teach because the lord knows what the people need to hear and he will put the words in your mouth of what you need to say to help them. I'm so grateful for all that the lord has done for me! I love Jamaica and have some of the greatest Missionaries around me! Keep up the faith!

 

Nuff Love, Elder Christensen

 

Elder Christensen and Elder Bischoff

Week 17

Week 17 - Spanish Town

Jan. 4, 1015

Dear Family and Friends -

This week was a lot better than last week, for lessons. With the holidays nobody wanted to see us so we only got 10 lessons. This week Elder Bischoff and I got 20 lessons! That’s the most I’ve ever had on my mission! We are working hard here in Spanish Town! President gave us a goal to baptize for valentine’s day. We are going to try to get 2 people baptized.

This week we found a lot of great people! They are already reading the book of Mormon! One Lady we found was 20 and we were talking with her and trying to get a return appointment. She was with 2 guys too and after she said we could come and share a message with her tomorrow she shook our hands and she tried to hold Elder Bischoff's hand. Than we left and she blew me a kiss and winked. We biked so fast out of that place. We aren't going to go back and see her. There is a girl in the ward who has been baptized for a year. Her name is Tarique. Her family isn't members but for some reason all of them are now wanting to learn more! We are teaching her mom and sister and grandpa!! We are excited to bring this family into the gospel!

This week i went on a trade off with Elder Kolomalu! He is awesome! I learned how to play the Uke! I can play how can i be! I love that song it reminds me of the great time we all had in the rain at the temple dedication! I can't wait for Jamaica to get a temple! The States are so lucky to have so many temples! I miss it for sure!

The mission has been the best thing I’ve done with my life so far. Even though it can be rough at times the happiness it brings when people read and come to church is just remarkable! I hope we can all bring one person into the fold this year!

Nuff Love,

Elder Christensen

Roaming goats!

Week 16 - Spanish Town

Dec. 28, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was super fun! We had our Mission Christmas Party with the Kingston Zone and i Got to Skype my Family!! Those were some of the best parts of the week! Besides the great lessons we are having!

The Christmas party was fun! Lots of missionaries sang and played instruments. We had a great dinner!! We had Rice and Peas and chicken, more rice and fruit cake! They had a really good drink called Sorrel. They put some ginger in the drink so it burns your throat when you drink it! It is a good burn though! haha.

Skype was awesome! It was so great to see my Family for 40 Minutes. It was short but every minute was awesome! The work here is going good. Dwayne and Yaneek are having some in-law problems. Jamaicans and their families i swear. Every time someone is going to get baptized something crazy happens with distant family. We need to be nice to everybody and love each other. Dwayne and Yaneek's baptism date got pushed back another week. I know they can get over this though! I love the lord he is my savior!

On Christmas day Elder Pulsipher woke us up with some lovely Christmas music! We opened our presents and then made an amazing breakfast! We had French toast, muffins, hash browns and sorrel. We got some Egg Nog too!! I don't like egg nog here. there was chunks of egg. It was gross. Probably won’t drink egg nog until i get back to the states.

Keep reading the scriptures i love spending 2 hours in the morning studying! Elder Bischoff is such a great teacher. I've learned a lot from this humble elder. Idaho Missionaries sure do work hard! He’s the second one from Idaho!!

I love my savior and the atonement! I'm grateful to be able to see it work in people’s lives. Some choose to use it and others are too stubborn to try and test it if it really works! I love this work and the people here in Jamaica!!

Nuff Love,

Christmas Breakfast

Gifts on Christmas Morning

Excellent Christmas Tree - Present for Christmas Morning.
The rest were opened at the Mission Party.

Boys need toys - a mini drone from Santa

Week 15 - Spanish Town

Dec. 21, 2015

Dear Friends and Family -

Read a great story this morning in Personal study. one of the best things i got from it was:

         "If you want to punch Satan in the mouth.......Open your mouth and Preach"

Wow is that ever so true. Satan is the one that wants us to be scared to share this gospel. I've learned here the importance of members and without them this work is so hard to do. During this Christmas season we should all open our mouths and give Satan the old one two. Share why Jesus is so important to you and how you can come closer to him is by learning more!

I got a new Companion this week! His name is Elder Bischoff! He is from Idaho and lived on a dairy farm! He has got some sweet stories! He is a hard worker! We work great together. Our lessons get more powerful every time we have one! Love that Elder!

During a lesson with a woman named Polleen, We were talking to her about the book of Mormon. It was the first lesson. After we talked a little she said before i came today I prayed if I should believe in these things. And then she started crying a little. We asked her what she was feeling and she didn't answer. A member at the lesson who was baptized 3 months ago finally said she is anointed. I was confused but I soon understood what she meant. Palleen got up and started shouting JESUS! and other things. They call that getting in the spirit. She was walking around the room just shouting and then a man who was drunk as could be who was sitting in the lesson with us started doing the same thing but he was waving his arms and stamping his feet. Well let me tell ya... That was.. Interesting. We didn't know what to do. Having the spirit includes temperance or self-control. There was no self-control there. It was a cool experience i will never forget.

We had a little district Christmas party! We saw some Christmas lights. The lights are on 1 out of every 200 houses it seems like. We love Christmas but Jamaicans don't like it that much. We try to bring up in street contacting but it never works. There was a baptism this week too! Ramone and Janell who got married last Saturday. It was so special! They are excited to be members now! They want to go teaching with us now too! They are awesome! They don't take this gospel for granite.

Christmas day will be fun! Everybody have a joyous Christmas!!

Elder Bischoff and Elder Christensen

Week 14 - Spanish Town

Dec. 14, 2015
Dear Family and Friends,

This week was super fun! There was lots of work to be done!

We saw Dwane and Yaneek this week again a couple times. Things are getting better! They are going to get married on new years!! How Awesome!

We had a marriage today! One of the other missionaries couples they were teaching got married and are getting baptized on Sunday! Super excited for them! We have another strong couple in the church in Jamaica. Ramone and Janaell were excited for the wedding today but they kept on talking about in a year they will get to go into the temple and be sealed for time and eternity!

Today we are also doing a white elephant with all the missionaries! It will be fun! I'll send pictures next week.

Transfers are this week. I get to stay in Spanish own and Elder Graham is leaving to Savannah-la-mar. Jamaica is pretty awesome. It rains a lot everywhere but Spanish town. I still feel like I’m in Arizona!

I went on a trade off with Elder Knight this week. It was great. We got KFC for Lunch and the lady at the counter said she needs help getting away from the devil. Then she asked if I could take here back to America. I told her I would have to come back in 2 years. Probably won't be able to find here. Oh well haha.

The Mission is great I really love it here in Jamaica. 

Week 13 - Spanish Town

Dec. 7, 2015
Dear Family and Friends -

This week was great!! I learned a lot! I also had some weird things happen to me...

After district meeting we went to go get cook shop (better than fast food) When we were waiting in line some homeless guy walked by and saw 4 white people and pulled a gun on us telling us to give him our money. We were all pretty scared. We said we didn't have no money and he walked right up to us and held out his hand asking for the money. It turns out the gun was just an orange water pistol. Ha-ha it was so funny the guy left and all of us missionaries lost it.

Dwane and Yaneek are doing good! They are praying about December 19 for their wedding. They haven't prayed as a couple yet so i stood up and told Dwane and Yaneek to stand up and we walked into their house and I asked where their room was and i said go in there and pray together. They were laughing and giggling but we finally got them to pray for the date. We will see them tomorrow and see what happened! I have faith they will get an answer!! I love the people here in Jamaica! We are praying for the lord to bless us with a baptism before Christmas! Dwane said he wants to be a Mormon so that’s a start ha-ha and Yaneek wants to be baptized they just don't know how to do the wedding. They will get married though soon!!

The rest of my birthday was great! had some cake and it was yummy! We got ice cream too!! That was nice to have! I have missed it. They sell a lot of rum and raisin. Jamaicans sure do love Rum. There are almost as many bars as churches here in Jamaica. After church there are always people at the rum bars. Church, bar, repent, repeat haha.

Love ya guys! Hope everything is going well in the states!! 

Got a flat tire - funny thing is they NEVER use the car!
What are the chances!

Nuff Love, Elder Christensen

Week 12 - Spanish Town

Nov. 30, 2015
Dear Family and Friends, 

This week was great! We are teaching a not married couple Dwane and Yaneek. They are going to get married He said! Finally we have been trying to get those words to come out for 3 weeks! They also will be baptized by the end of december!! So excited for them. They have been to church for 2 weeks in a row! Members are the ones that really help with this work to progress. 

Thanksgiving was awesome! We had a turkey bowl in the morning. Our team won!! After that we got to work and preached to gospel!! everything fell through that day. at 8:30 we took dinner and had a pizza party! I got super full. It was like i had a thanksgiving feast! 

This week it rained 4 days in a row. When it rains here everybody just stays inside. Its annoying because our lessons fall though and we are just trying to find someone to teach but we usualy find a lot of people those days. member referals are the best though! 25 days til christmas!! 

Today i got flowered. On peoples birthdays here they taking baking flower and just throw it at you. It took a long time to get out of my hair and clothes! It didn't taste too good either. Got a flower bowl straight to the mouth!

Love doing this work!! 

Nuff Love,  

Elder Christensen

Happy Birthday Elder Christensen - Jamaican Missionary Style - Floured!

With companions - Elder Graham and Pulphiser

Hang Loose Birthday boy!

Week 11

(Nov. 23, 2015 letter)
Dear Family and Friends -

This week was a wonderful week! We started off strong. We had an Emergency Zone Conference. President Brown was having this to get us to be more obedient. One of the things we weren't fallowing as a mission was having a male at every lesson when teaching a female. Its to protect us and the investigator. I'm glad we are fallowing that rule! We have received so many blessings from obeying that this week! We found a majority of males this week! We need Males in Jamaica so hopefully they all turn out good! President also challenged everybody to baptize before December 25 to give our Heavenly Father one of the Greatest Gifts! We will do it because God doesn't give a commandment that we can't accomplish.

We dropped Annie this week. She has been drunk and high for the past 3 lessons so she isn't ready saddly but there is someone else ready out there! She has invited us to her parties! She said we could come before 6 when there won't be any acholical and weed! So kind of her but we passed it up.

Had my first meal at a table on Sunday! We had Rice and peas and baked chicken with plantin. It was supper good! Her name is Lisa. She is a recent convert and is such a good cook!! It was nice to sit at a table as well haha!

I went on a trade off with Elder Pulsipher on Saturday. We did finding all day. Every lesson fell through. It was hard but we found 2 families and 7 men. The lord is blessing us that s for sure! During the trade off we found some drunk guys at the bar and were teaching them how to tie a tie! it was funny! they gave us a D&G soda! The soda here is more sugary! they use real cane sugar! it burns!!

We had a turkey bowl this morning! It was fun! Wishing i could have a thanksgiving here! Gonna miss being stuffed!!

I'm so Happy to be out here on a mission in Jamaica! Hope all is well!

nuff love
Elder Christensen

Eating at a table - a first on the mission