Week 26: Beanies And A Christmas Movie

Hellooooo

Double covering this past week has been pretty difficult cause we both have set schedules so we've had to cancel so many things. I'm getting a new companion on Thursday though so it'll be all back to normal soon. 

We taught seminary on Wednesday so that was fun... besides the fact that we had to get up earlier than normal haha. I seriously have so much respect for seminary teachers though. Teaching a bunch of teenagers early in the morning 5 days a week is a mighty task. 

We had a Christmas party as a mission and we watched How The Grinch Stole Christmas!! I would have never expected that President and Sister Tveten would play a movie for all of us but I'm so glad they did haha. It was so fun and they even encouraged us to sing along! Sister Tveten gave a spiritual thought about it and related it to missionary work so there was a purpose behind it, don't worry. They also got us all beanies with "TSAM" on it. I look horroble in beanies but you know imma wear it anyways. 

We met this guy named Rudy the other week and he said he believes Christ visited the people in the America's after his resurrection and that he's read in the Book of Mormon before. He also had some interesting beliefs about a spirit named "Sophia" so that was kind of confusing but then he texted us a few days later and said he wanted to learn more about becoming a Mormon. We were like wait what?? So we had a lesson with him over the phone and he wants another Book of Mormon cause he can't find the one he has. 

We unfortunately had to stop teaching Jose and Nicollet cause they said they will never be open to reading the Book of Mormon. They're really nice people but there's not much we can teach them if their hearts aren't open. :( 

Recently I've been studying about faith. In Alma 32:17-18 it says, "Yea, there are many who do say: If thou wilt show unto us a sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we shall believe.

Now I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it." This principle of faith coming before knowledge reminded me of Ether 12:6 which states: "Ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." We live in a world of immediate gratification where answers to our questions are just a click away, but when it comes to spiritual knowledge it's different. If we want to understand something (ex. a commandment, doctrine, principle, etc.), then we must first exercise our faith, and then will come our witness and knowledge of that thing. What would the point of our life on earth be without faith? It wouldn't be much of a test, would it? That's why God wants us to exercise our faith because it shows our devotion to him and helps us grow as individuals. It's all part of His plan for us, so trust in Him and you will find peace and satisfaction.

Oh and I hit my 6 month mark this week! Time has flown by so fast.

- Elder Christensen

Picturessss

1. The view from the temple at night

2. Elder Josephson and I being weird

3. Christmas party!!

4. The temple!!

5. Modeling the TSAM beanie

6. President and Sister Tveten

7. Proof that we watched a movie!