Week 2: Jesus, Quotes, And Shenanigans

Hey everyone!

 

So much has happened this week but it's also gone by super fast! We've taught a lot of lessons and done a ton of role play this week. I still get pretty nervous when I have to teach but I've noticed I'm getting better. Also Elder Harper and I will be teaching a guy named Austin a few times next week so that's exciting! Elder Harper is more of a go with the flow kind of guy when it comes to teaching and I'm a planner/overthinker, so I think we're both learning a lot from each other. 

 

Next week is my last week of MTC and then I head out to San Antonio on July 7th! I'm not sure how to feel about it. I'm anxious about leaving and saying goodbye to my family but I'm also super excited to start doing the Lord's work and not be staring at a screen all day haha. I have seriously bonded so much with my district this week though. We watched a devotional on Tuesday and then met on zoom to discuss it and let's just say there wasn't a ton of discussion going on... After about 10 minutes of talking about the devotional we were all laughing and goofing off. The sisters ended up leaving and the elders and I drew some pictures on the zoom whiteboard. We also figured out how to apply different effects/filters on zoom, so we've been using it to mess with the sisters. They're probably so tired of us. 

 

Despite our craziness, I have really learned a lot this past week and felt the spirit so much. We had a lesson on the Atonement of Jesus Christ and less than halfway in I was already in tears. A lot of us shared our testimonies and it was a really humbling and special experience. I also took a Book of Mormon timeline and authors workshop yesterday and it was so good! It was jam packed with information and the teacher gave us things to study so I'm excited to do that! 

 

Learning about Jesus Christ and His gospel everyday has seriously changed my life. The love he has for each and every one of us is incomprehensible. Sister Walker shared a quote with us and it really hit me. It says, "He died for me knowing that I might not ever want him. What a love. I'll live for that." I hadn't given much thought to that before. He died and atoned for the sins of EVERYONE... Even the people who choose not to accept Him. What. A. Love.

 

I found so many amazing scriptures this week so I'm gonna share 2 scriptures from the Book of Alma. The first one is Alma 32:21. It says,"And now as I said concerning faith—afaith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye bhope for things which are cnot seen, which are true." I really like this one because I often feel like I'm not knowledgeable enough in the gospel and that makes me feel inadequate, but that's okay because if I have faith in my Savior, he will make up for the knowledge I lack as long as I seek to learn more of him.

 

The second scripture is Alma 26:15. It says,"Yea, they were encircled about with everlasting adarkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his everlasting blight, yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love; yea, and we have been instruments in his hands of doing this great and marvelous work."This one stuck out to me because it really applies to me as a missionary right now but it can also apply to you! When we are encircled about with darkness, He will bring us into his light and love if we choose to follow him and be instruments in his hands. Aaaahhh I love the scriptures! 

 

I hope you all are doing well. Thanks for reading my novel... if you made it this far haha.

 

Elder Christensen

 

Pictures

1. The Elders playing with the zoom effects

2. Our rendition of Samuel the Lamanite

3. Just one of Idaho's beautiful sunsets

4. Another amazing quote from Sister Walker (IKR? She's on a roll)