Week 14: The Book Of Mormon Is The Bomb.com

Hey everyone! I hope y'all have had a good week. Here's some random stuff that happened during mine:

- A guy asked us if we wanted to smoke weed with him as we were riding by on our bikes so that was funny haha.

- I fell into the road while biking and almost got hit by a car... oops. I promise I'm being safe Mom!!

- I've been on two exchanges in the Spanish branch now and it's been pretty fun! The food the members fed us was really good, except for the jalapeño that I was peer pressured into eating. 

- Our friend Daron ranted to us for 45 minutes on the phone. We lost connection in the middle of it and he thought we hung up on him so he sent a really angry text. We called him back and he just went on like nothing happened so we were really confused. He's kinda crazy though so it makes sense.

- We met two families and a few other people that seem really interested in hearing a message, so I'm excited about that! 

We met this guy named Jesse a few weeks ago and finally got to have an official lesson with him! Soon after we met him he said he didn't think he'd ever be a Mormon but that there might be something for him in that "Bible" we gave him. He seemed pretty critical of everything at first, but I think after he read in the Book of Mormon he became a lot more open to hearing our message! When we met with Jesse there was a guy sitting at the table next to us so Jesse invited him to join and he did! He told us his name is Michael but he didn't say much after that. We think he's homeless cause when we asked if he lives close he said no and he also doesn't have a phone. We told him to meet us back at the park this Wednesday at 7:00 so we're hoping he'll show up but it's probably not that likely. 

Remember that lady who cut my hair and I gave her a Book of Mormon? Well, she happened to be the one cutting my hair again today and she told me she's been reading The Book of Mormon during her breaks with one of her coworkers!! I explained more of the background of the Book of Mormon and she gave me her phone number so we can meet and talk more about it!

We went to the temple with Lola on Thursday! It was Lola and her family's first time going through the temple so it was a really special experience. (Lola's daughter and her kids joined the church about a year ago and then Lola joined a few months ago) Right before we got in in car we asked Lola if she was excited to get baptized again and she was like, "What?! You're dunking me again?!" We told her it's not for her but that we were doing baptisms for the dead. We're pretty sure we told her that's what we were going to do but apparently she thought we were just gonna go walk around and pray hahaha... oops. For those of you that don't know, one of the things we do in the temple is baptisms for the dead. So we get baptized in place of people who have passed on and didn't get the chance to be baptized. I got to baptize Lola's granddaughters for some of their ancestors and I felt so honored to be apart of that! Being in the temple just makes me so happy. I wish I could go every week.

Elder Teh and Gilbert visited our mission this last week and gave a ton of trainings!! We all got to meet them individually which was really cool. Their talks really confirmed to me that I'm where I'm supposed to be right now and that my sacrifice is worth it. 

The scripture of the week is brought to you by 2 Nephi 28:30

It says, "For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have." 

I like this scripture cause it shows that God will be patient with us as we learn and give us wisdom when we listen to Him. I have noticed this a lot on my mission. I came out feeling pretty helpless and inadequate but God has built upon the knowledge I already had and given me more! I'm starting to feel a lot more confident in my teaching and talking abilities and I know that's only because of God's constant help and patience with me. 

Love yall!

Elder Christensen

Pictures!!

1. Training with Elder Teh and Gilbert

2. Outside the temple with Lola!!

3. Some good ole street contacting

4. We stopped by a member's house and their little boy gave us a bunch of Halloween fruit snacks so shout out to Camden!!

5. A little friend we found outside Lola's house