This week has been a good week. Then again, aren't they
always?
So a cool story. Back on Tuesday, we had district meeting.
One of the zone leaders shared an idea that when we get punted from an
appointment, we should try talking to people who are nearby. There is always a
reason for being punted. Some other opportunity you can capitalize on. I am not
super good at that. If I get punted, we usually head to the next appointment.
So we decided we'd give it a try. After district meeting, we of course went out
to work. Funny story, first appointment; punted. So we headed off to the next
appointment. But as we were walking past one of the nearby houses, a lady out
front said, "Hi Elders!" If you hear the word Elders, that is a good
sign. They know something about the church, even if all they know is that we
are called elders. So we stopped and went to talk to them. It was a delightful
conversation that ended up with us having a return appointment to teach. They
are GOLDEN!! They are a nice young couple. Girl is 18, boy is 19. We have
taught them twice now. They have a baptismal date for April. They are so
willing to make changes and they are loving the gospel. They are actually
reading the Book of Mormon, which is a miracle!! The Tagalog in the Book of
Mormon is so deep, that Filipinos don't like to read it. It's too hard. It's so
hard to get people to read the Book of Mormon. But, it's incredible the
difference we have with them, a couple actually reading the BoM, to people that
we teach who don't read it. I always say it, and I can and will keep saying it.
We need to read the scriptures!! And that is a whole different ball park that I
will get to later. The point is, we followed the advice of our zone leader. New
investigators of the golden status!! Later in the same day, we did the same
thing and talked to some older gentleman. He also wants us to come back, but we
haven't met with him again yet. But basically, the idea has worked and we are
having success from it. Yes!!!
We had ward conference this week. Basically on Saturday,
some of the stake leaders came and laid down the law on our ward leaders. Told
them to step their game up. It was great! We are trying to get the hometeaching
program rolling. So we went out with some of the priesthood brethren of the
ward to visit with them. It was sad to see how hard it was for our older
brethren of the church to share a message! Practically incapable!! But that's
ok. It takes practice. When you haven't done hometeaching in 5 years, you get a
little rusty. So hopefully that will get rolling!
Sunday was still ward conference. We still had stake leaders
there laying down the law. But this time, it was on the members!! And it was
wonderful!! Our bishop gave a wonderful talk with a thought I'd like to share.
He talked about how we all have agency. We have some things that we have no
control over. And our life will play out with how we react to those situations.
For example; a mom cooks breakfast; dad and daughter are eating. Daughter
spills milk on dad's shirt. Dad reacts. Gets mad at his daughter for spilling
the milk. Tells her off for it. Girl starts crying. Dad tells mom that she
needs to take better care to raise the daughter better. Dad and mom fight. Girl
misses the school bus cuz she is crying. Dad changes his clothes and then has
to drive the girl to school. Leaves without even saying goodbye to the wife. Is
driving fast cuz daughter is late. Gets pulled over. Ticket and daughter is now
way late for school. As result, she is in trouble. Dad is then late for work.
Gets chewed out by the boss for coming in late. After a long day of work, goes
home cranky. Pretty lousy eh? Is that all caused by the spilled milk? Maybe
not. I heard a quote once. Our problems our not always the problem, but the way
in which we deal with the problem. Lets hit rewind. What if this is the
situation. Mom cooks breakfast; dad and daughter are eating. Daughter spills
milk on dad's shirt. Dad chooses to act. He says don't worry, I'll go change my
shirt. Be careful next time though! Smooches the daughter on his way up the
stairs. Daughter heads off to school. On the way out the door to work, dad
thanks wife for breakfast and leaves her with a kiss. Wonderful day of work.
Comes home to a happy family. The ending is completely different. All because
of the way the father handled the situation. In the second, he chose not to be
upset. The deed was done. He chose to be happy about it and move on. We all
have problems every day. Some are not as simple as spilled milk. But life will
be so much easier and happier if we choose not to be acted upon, but to act.
"There are two types of people in this world; those who are acted upon and
those who act." Story of John Rowe Moyle, Stonecutter Video. 2 Nephi 2:14
"For there is a God, and he hath created all things...both things to act
and things to be acted upon" Satan would have us be things that are acted
upon. We had milk spilled on us so we have no choice but to be angry. But our
Heavenly Father would have us be things that act. We did have milk spilled on
us, but instead of letting that make us mad, we choose to act and to be happy.
We have things that we cannot control. Our happiness and eternal salvation can
depend on how we choose to act. Don't be acted upon. Choose to act. Choose to be
happy.
Alright, as long as I'm up on my soap box. Thought from
earlier about reading scriptures. I will not punish you with the whole personal
study I had, but I will give a few brief thoughts. You may want to go check
this out if you find this interesting at all. I'm sure the study would be
better coming from you than from me. Unfortunately, I have no notes. So we are
running on memory. Yeah, good luck. Ok, so I was reading in 1 Nephi, about
Lehi's dream, and the tree of life and what not. Loving it. Get to 1 Nephi
8:23. It talks about mists of darkness. The mists of darkness that cause even
those people who are in the way (members?) who get blinded and become lost.
Wow, if this stuff is pulling off members from the way and causing them to be
lost, we'd best know what the mists of darkness are so that we can watch out!
What are the mists of darkness? Footnotes. I highly recommend them. They change
the scriptures. 1 Nephi 12:17. The mists of darkness are the temptations of the
devil which blind the eyes and harden the hearts and lead people away to
destruction. AH! The temptations of the devil. If we follow another footnote to
2 Peter, we read that the temptations of the devil are wells without water,
which to me means they have no reward. Why do we go to wells? For the water, of
course. We expect to receive that reward. But his temptations are wells without
water. We expect to get something, but there is no blessing. There is nothing
there. Empty promises that leave you lost. Ok, so we know what the mists are.
But it says the mists cover the path. So no one is escaping them. Everyone has
to pass through them. How do we be sure that we aren't being fooled, blinded,
and becoming lost? What do we do? Ha, of course, the answer is in the
scriptures! 1 Nephi 15:24 talks about the iron rod, or the scriptures. Those
who hearken to and hold on to the scriptures will not be overcome or be blinded
and led away. We hearken to the scriptures by studying them and applying the
things we learn in our lives. So we overcome the temptations of satan with the
scriptures!! We have to read them every day! And not just read but really study
them. Then if you flip to Ephesians 6:16. Above all, we take the shield of
faith which quenches all the fiery darts of the wicked. What's up!!! So as we
study the scriptures and apply them to our lives, we are more able to overcome
temptations, which in turn builds our faith. Our faith then becomes our shield
that we use to put away doubts and temptations and whatever else satan has to
throw at us. So!!!! STUDY YOUR SCRIPTURES!!!! No excuses!! If you don't, you
wander and become lost. Don't get lost. Read. Wassup.
Ok, I am throwing my soap box in the trash!! I will try to
never do that to you all again!! I'm sorry, I just get so excited! And just
like that, I've preached to you all and run myself out of email time. Woe is
me. Sigh. Sorry!! This was a wonderful week! We are having tons of success! My
area is great, my comp is money, and life is the best!!! Everyone should just
serve a mission and then I can stop emailing you all cuz you'll already know
what's up!! Do it!!
The pics! The first is a couple of future missionaries
wearing our shoes. Looks good. I'd like to say they'll grow into them, but in
reality, their feet will never be as big as mine. Filipinos are small. It's
just a fact. The next pic is how I spend my time here. You all thought I was
teaching the gospel? Na, I'm livin it up!! The next would be me with some
kiddies. Don't I have these every week? The next is Elder Sumagaysay during
comp study. I was trying to explain a principle in the training program we're
doing. Looked up to see that face. Man, people enjoy my teaching!! And the
final picture pretty much sums up my life as a missionary, and my missionary
character. As you can see, I'm a serious man. Sorry about the pics and the lack
thereof, but the cam just didn't come out much this week. Too much
work!!!!!
I love you all! Have a wonderful week! Don't let red heads
preach to you! RUN!!!
Much love,
Elder Christensen
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