Light the world

This was a full week with Thanksgiving, two baptisms in the branch and the new Christmas video!

Thanksgiving: the morning started out with district meeting, and then we went to lunch. It was a huge family meal with a family in the English ward, the Taylors and the zone leaders. It was so fun. We are outside and there was a ton a food. Afterward they had us do some service, mainly hanging up some Christmas lights and other outside
Christmas decorations. It was all worth it. Then we did training and language study and had time to walk out to our dinner appointment with the branch president's family. (The elders had the car). There we had Kentucky fried chicken and tamales with flan and cake for dessert. A very good day.

Then Saturday and Sunday the branch had 2 eight year old baptisms and so we ended up helping out with both. We were okay with it though because I love baptisms, be they for 8 year olds or converts. The one on Saturday was for a cute little girl and the one on Sunday was for the two little boys we have been teaching for the last month or so. There was a little drama with that one. The dad of one of the boys didn't give permission for his son to be baptized, so we spent the whole week praying that he would only to have him call us Saturday night to say no again. Then Sunday morning, as we were making the program for the baptism, Elizabeth, the mom, ran into the office to say that the dad had changed his mind and had given his permission! We all nearly started crying. It was a true miracle.

Also this week it didn't just rain, it poured. Right as we were out walking around. Fortunately we had the car that day, so we didn't get completely soaked. The elders did. We felt bad. But we got two new investigators out of it because people feel bad for us when it's raining.

And finally the new Christmas video! This year the theme is light the world, with 25 days of service leading up to Christmas. Go to Mormon.org to learn more. I'm so excited. One of my favorite parts of Christmas is all of the lights, because they remind me of the greatest light of all, our Savior Jesus Christ. Through Him we can rise above the darkness around us and become more than we ever thought possible. And then we have the opportunity to be smaller lights, to help guide others to him.

Thank you for all of your love and support! Only two more E-mails to go!

Hermana Christensen

What are you grateful for?

A slight preface: I was emotionally exhausted and out of time to e-mail so this week's e-mail comes courtesy of Hermana Johnson. Welcome to the mind of my companion. 

We had a really great week :) lemme share some of our highlights!

1. We've taught SO many more lessons than we've been able to lately, which is awesome! It feels so good to have investigators who are truly progressing, who you can SEE change. It's been amazing teaching Roger and seeing how well he just understands and loves and accepts what we've taught him. He loves all the commandments we've taught about and is so excited to live them. Enthusiasm like that is AWESOME ❤️

2. We got a new car! That's just been so fun ;) we used to have the oldest car in the mission, so it's a nice change!

3. CONSEGUÍ UN WAFFLE MAKER!!!! ETERNAL shoutout to an Elder Nielsen who's serving in Bel 1—my homeland! Having served there, I happen to know that the elder's apartment there had a waffle maker. And because Elder Nielsen is also training, he's been at the training meetings with us. And SO, we asked if he'd be willing to part with it and send it across the mission. Let me just tell you, homemade waffles are the best. I haven't been so happy in a long time! (Okay, slight exaggeration, but whatever)

4. Carne asada at the branch president's house. 'Nuff said.

5. Receiving 5 invites to different thanksgiving dinners. I am so excited ;) we will FEAST.

6. Our ward's pre-Thanksgiving celebration dinner extravaganza thing. All you need in life is good food (preferably tamales) and good music ;) and Latinos always have both! Probs the best part I've ever been to

like ever.

So yes :) in light of Thanksgiving, I'm so so grateful for so many things. I'm grateful I get to be a missionary during this holiday season again; for the chance to serve here in Los Altos and meet all

these AMAZING people; for the Gospel and the indescribable impact it's had on my life; for my family and friends—both home and here (because these people ARE my family now ❤️); for good waffles.... and so many other things!! Living in a spirit of thanksgiving is the best, happiest way to live, no doubt about it :)

Hope y'all have an amazing Thanksgiving! Tell me what you're grateful for! 

Hermana Christensen 

Just a picture week

 Bikes on the car.

 Bikes in the car.

 Lunch with Hermana Zohler

 Time for a new pair of shoes

The trio: Hermanas Christensen, Johnson, and Zohler