Monday July 25, 2011

(Almost a week late posting this...Sometimes life is just crazy)


I'm sure it is unusual.  One kid on a mission.  One not at home.  One always busy.  But don't forget!  Families are eternal!  You'll still have us.  I'm so grateful for covenants.  They provide so much hope through the darkness and sins that riddle the world. 

Jase and Dillan looked like they had fun.  (At the flag retiring crermony) I'm so happy that they got involved in scouts.  Hopefully they'll be eagles at 13 instead of putting it off till the last minute like some people we know.

Did you realize that in missionary work:

1/1000 people will be baptized by the missionaries just knocking on their door, talking to them on the street, or in the park

80/1000 people will be baptized if the missionaries use a members name

340/1000 people will be baptized if a member introduces non members to the missionaries

660/1000 people will be baptized if the missionaries teach an investigator in the home of a member or in the church.  They're the two places where investigators can feel the spirit the strongest.

Did I mention that our Missioin President is a stattician?

You should try to overnight some ugly steak to me.  I'm so craving one right now.  Yeah.  I did see the email.  We'll be picking it up just in time for Mormon Night at Camden Yards.  Its the Stadium the Oriols play in.  Maybe Kadee and I wil lhave to come out to it in a couple of years.  We get to meet their starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie.  Who's a member of the Church and served a mission as well.

Thats awesome that the Johnsons have their mission call.  We need senior couples just as much as we need young missionaries.  For those who are retired there are opportunities to serve a mission in your own home city, live in your home, and work from your home.  You go to the MTC for three weeks just like other missionaries, but don't have to fear being away from your families.  The Lord strengthens us in our time of need.  As long as we put our faith in him things will work out for the best.

It was in the low 110's for a couple of days.  Then we got hit by a huge storm that was actually caused by the heat.  It ended up knocking over a few trees at the church house and several others around town.  No worries.  We were inside for the storm, but missionary work goes on even in the heat.

 

No.  We haven't been able to teach Katy's dad anymore.  He hasn't called us and Katy hasn't said anything either.

 

No.  We haven't been able to meet with Trust lately.  We've been calling him every other day, but no answer or return call.

 

Sister Gammell has been running into some anti stuff somewhere, because she's starting to doubt everything we've taught her and is now regressing in the gospel.

 

So this last week was a slow week.  We don't really have any new stories to tell except about this investigator named Abib Niang.  Abis was born in france.  He grew up catholic.  One parent is muslim, one is jewish, both are from Egypt.  I don't know how that works out, but it does.  Abib is really close to the Harrast family out here.  They're members.  They're so cool.  Sister Harrast and Molly have similar personalities and she thinks of the missionaries as her kids.  The Harrast's have five kids.  Amanda is 15.  Daniel is 14.  Samantha is 12.  Dino is 8.  Sidney is 4 or 5.  D. Todd baptized Sister Harrast's mom in Argentina.  Thus.  They instantly love me and so do Sister Harrast's parents.  They live in DC.  Saturday we talked to Brother Harrast about Abib and Brother Harrast asked us to come over to Abib's to give him a blessing.  He'd been rear ended while driving to the office and was having a lot of problems with his back and neck.  We went over.  Gave him a blessing and shared a message with him.  She started asking us about the church and we told him that if he wanted to understand all the answers that we can give him then he needs to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if its the word of God.  That its the only way.  Abib said that he'd read it.  The spirit moved so much more powerfully on him in this instance than in any other time we had been to see him.  We hope to see him again soon.

 

The gospel is perfect.  There can be no flaw.  The priesthood has been restored and we now have access to it at any time.  Of this I testify.  In the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

 

"Feed my sheep..."

 

Elder Christofferson

 

P.S.  Did you tell Daffany to email me?  

July 19, 2011

The Pizza party.  We were trying to have a loaves and fishes situation.  Apparently God didn't want us to so one of us ended up paying.  Part of our district wanted to go to dinner one night and Pizza Hut has an all you can eat buffet.  We didn't know that its only for a couple of hours at lunch time though.  Everyone started getting disappointed so I stepped up and requested a table and payed for dinner that night.  Now that I'm out of money no more paying for them.  Don't worry.  I have plenty of food at the apartment to live off of for the rest of the month.

 

Wow.  Utah needs some blessings.  You think they'd be protected and all having the MTC, Church Headquarters, the General Authorities.  Just kidding.  Thats unfortunate.  I'll keep them in my prayers.  Are Colton and Cameron doing okay?

 

I'm happy to hear that Dad and Matt are getting some R&R.  Hopefully dad gets his job.  I'll keep praying for him.

 

I did take collection of my new Wheels.  Its a Trek 4300.  Aluminum frame.  26" wheels.  24 gears.  I'll take lots of pictures.  You might not like it though.  I've wrapped the frame in plastic wrap and duct tape to keep it looking nice.  I'll take a picture when I replace the wraps in three months so that you can see what it looks like.  So far its been getting me around quite nicely.  I'll be a biking fool when I get home you wont be able to keep me pinned down.  Better start getting in shape because you're all coming with me.  You have two years to prepare.  You've been warned family.

 

We haven't been able to meet with Trust.  Stupid Satan hid his phone and we've been calling, but he wont answer or he hasn't found it.  He has our number though and we hope to hear from him soon.  Sister Gammell has finally worked up enough resolve to live the Word of Wisdom.  We were on the verge of fasting for her, but it appears that she didn't need it.  She's still on date for the 30th.

 

Okay.  So cool story for the week.  We went over to Katy Jones house. (Mom you talked to her on the phone a couple of times) Katy is a recent convert.  She read the Book of Mormon in three days and was baptised two weeks later.  Her dad had called us up to come help him work on their house.  He was installing electrical wire.  I said to myself "Self!  I know how to do that!"  So we go over and we have to monkey climb into the upper floor wich isn't connected by any doors to the rest of the house.  My companion now has to crawl down the chimney to get to the Wire.  Katy's dad had dropped it down there.  We get the wire run no problem.  He fed us pizza and we were going to share the restoration with him.  He's Lutheran, but he's so disgruntled by other churches that he almost wants nothing to do with them.  He hates the hypocrisy in the churches.  We have to be delicate about this situation, because Katy's dad can be set off by anything at a moments notice.  We just bore testimony and the Spirit that I felt was so powerful that he has to have felt the truth of what we teach.

 

I know that Christ lives.  Not lived.  I know that God sends mortal men and women with angelic messages.  I know that Joseph Smith was called to restore this church and everytime we do something for good he see's it and it chisels his sacrifice and great example that much deeper into the stone of eternity.  I bear my solemn witness of this in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

 

"Feed my sheep..."

 

Elder Christofferson

July 11, 2011

Its tough to hook up a disposable camera to the computer and email pictures home.  I'm still working on that.  I only take pictures when I think the situation is cool or funny.  I'll send some as soon as I can.

 

Details on me.  Okay so I've been in Hagerstown for a while now.  I've mostly been trying to find ways to work harder and smarter at the same time.   Lately I've been studying the fundamentals of Preach My Gospel.  Mostly on feeling the Spirit.  Thats the toughest thing to do when teaching a drinker or an addict is feel the spirit.  The little things add up.  Like how messy the apartment is determines whether or not you feel the spirit at all.  So I've been trying to keep it cleaned up.  I may come home OCD.  YOU"VE BEEN WARNED.

 

Kadee often shows wisdom beyond her age.  Pay heed to her.  She may someday teach you more than you taught her.

 

I still haven't taken delivery on my bike yet.  That should be tomorrow or the day after.  They're bringing it down from Ellicott City to our Specialized Training.  I'm still borrowing Elder Gilson's bike.  Which he's okay with because my seat is softer than his.  We've been working on finding people a lot and looking for the quality lessons to teach.  Sister Gammell is having a few difficulties in the Word of Wisdom.  We'll overcome those though.  I'm not too worried.  The Spirit is strong in her home and she loves to hear testimony.

 

We had a miracle this week.  Elder Schwicht and I were riding in a rainstorm.  We decided to pull under some cover of a picnic shelter.  A couple minutes later a man pulled in.  His name is Trust.  We talked with him and gave him a book of mormon and some pamphlets and set up an appointment to see him the same place the next day.  He came back having read the Plan of Salvation, the introduction to the book of mormon, part of 1 Nephi, and part of Alma.  He was filled with really good questions.  We explained it all to him and he told us he'd like to know more...

 

The Spirit directs those who are willing to listen and heed its promptings.  People cross paths at the times the Lord needs them too.  I testify that God directs his servants who are living righteously.  I bear you this witness in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

I have a challenge for EACH family member.  Bring a non member to every ward activity, fireside, young mens/womens activity, and sacrament meeting that you attend.  The Missionaries need you.  This is how real missionary work is done.

 

Elder Christofferson

 

"Feed my sheep."

Tuesday July 5, 2011

I was fine on the 4th of July.  Some members took good care of us.  While we were out a member heard that I want a Mercury Cougar when I get home so he bought me one of the little 1/25 Scale models of the 1969 Mercury Cougar CJ428.  Its a kit so I have to put it together, but hey.  Its part of the R&R of P-Day.  I think I'll paint it with Paisley designs.  Red and black.  Yeah...

 

So another Transfer has ended.  My last companion finished his mission and is now home.  My new companion is named Elder Schwicht from Anchorage Alaska (He was born in North Pole).  He was home schooled for most of his life, but went to some high school.  He's a singer and has a very dry sense of humor.  Probably the driest of anybody that I've met (Beware of implosion).

 

Wanting information is a tricky thing.  I'm so busy that I can't do much looking around for any, but at the same time I don't know how to describe anything except the Origins of the Book of Mormon and how awesome the Burgers at the Basin Drive In are.  Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

 

Elder Motes is in my District.  He's a pretty cool guy.  A very hard working missionary too.  Him and his companion cover two wards and a branch.  They live in a mansion.

 

I haven't taken collection of my new bike yet.  Its a Trek 4300 with front end suspension.  Its one of the two that are recommended for our mission.  I keep checking to see if the payment went through, but my account still reads $599 and I don't dare spend any money in case I have to get some other bike supplies.

 

Thats cool that Cameron left for South Dakota.  I guess if the offer is good enough then you'll do anything.  Maybe he just misses it.

 

I'm excited to hear about the progress Shon is making.  He's a rockstar missionary.  I dragged him in and introduced him to my District in the MTC.  They all loved him.  The Sisters thought he was a cute kid and they're proud he's serving a mission.  Tomadakis boys.  They get so much attention.

I'm going to choke Colton.  He didn't email and tell me before you did.  Oh well.  At least he'll be there for my temple wedding even though I won't be there for his.  But he better be there to pick me up when I get home.  Lets not talk about that though.

 

I had a feeling someone in the family was injured.  Didn't know who though.

 

I have been trying to keep a journal.  I'm not very good at it.  I'm going to tell my companion to make sure that I write in my journal every night till I get the habit down.

 

This last week we were able to teach Sister Gammell again.  She's slowly learning to recognize the spirit and be able to rely on it.  We had her watch one of the greatest Conference talks of all time.  Elder Holland's Safety for the Soul.  Great talk.  She said that she felt the spirit so strongly as she watched it that it just filled her.  She was a little disturbed by Elder Holland, but she is trying to put that behind her and trust the Lord.

 

I want to bear you my testimony.  That the Spirit works in miraculous ways.  It gives us knowledge and understanding that we cannot gain through any amount of worldly study.  Its amazing how the spirit helps us to feel full.  To know what we do not.  I bear this witness in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

 

Elder Christofferson

 

"Feed My Sheep..."