Monday November 28, 2011

Our thanksgivings were awesome.  All three of them.  Yes.  You read that right.  We had three.  Lunch with the Kuhn's.  Dinner with Shawn and Sister Ashcraft and her family, and 8:00pm dessert with the Spencer's.  The east coast doesn't do much different for thanksgiving than the west coast.  Other than missionaries not being allowed to participate in the turkey bowl it was pretty much the same as Utah.  We did have a different kind of stuffing though.  Shawn brought back this blueberry stuffing recipe from when he served his Mission in Canada.  It was delicious.

So this week was a tough week.  Even though we didn't reach our goals we've learned what we need to do to improve.  We had a great finding experience though.  We were driving to see a less active family in the ward when we see this guy broken down on the side of the road.  His name is Derek.  We pulled over and found out that his front right wheel isn't turning.  So we get out and I jack up his car, take of the tire, and find out that he only has 2 1/2 lugs!  No wonder his wheel is wobbly and not turning.  I look down behind the brakes and find out that another lug has popped off and is inside of the the axle.  After a lot of muscling and a little McGyvering I manage to get the lug out.  We then put the tire back on. (The lugs remaining are bent so it took a little more creativity to get it back on) We then follow him to his house.  Derek it turns out is from Ghana and has friends in the church.  So we give him our number, write down the address, and tell him we'll stop by soon.  Thank goodness for what dad taught me about cars otherwise he would have never figured it out.

Anyways.  Thats be biggest news of my week.  Okay.  If you're doing dollar store shopping I'd like candy.  Lots of candy.  I'm just kidding.  I'm trying to cut candy out of my diet.  We'll see how it works though.

Anyways.  I'd like to close with my testimony on finding people to teach.  God places people in our paths that are ready to hear the gospel, but may not realize it.  I dont know what will come of Derek, but we met him at a time and in a circumstance that was prepared by the Lord.  I know this work is true.  I know this is eternal and that we need to push on through it.  I bear you this witness in the name of the Savior.  Jesus Christ.  Amen.

"Feed my sheep..."

Elder Christofferson

Monday November 21, 2011

Before anyone reads the blog this week I'd like you all to watch this video that the church released.http://lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng&query=opportunities+do+good#opportunities-to-do-good

Can you feel the love in President Eyring's words?  Is there any doubt at all that this man is an Apostle of the Lord?  Think about them for a minute.  Now you all have a non member or a less active friend that you can send this too.  I invite you to do that.  Send this link to them. 

So the mission this week was pretty cool.  Till we found out that our one and only investigator lives in the Zone Leaders Area!  So we have to transfer him over to them.

For thanksgiving we're going to be at Sister Ashcraft's.  She signed up over a month ago because she thinks that since we live with her it would be better that way.  Shawn is cooking us the Ugly Steaks the next night for dinner. (Yes I got the package) I dont really know if Sister Ashcraft decorates for Christmas.  She didn't for halloween or thanksgiving.

Max is awesome.  He's got one of the most genuine smiles of anyone that I've ever.  I don't doubt that a family was baptized because of that smile.

Dont think about how soon anybody gets to talk to me.  I don't need you being trunky.  I'm not so you shouldn't be either.

Thats great that you got to see Braxton this week.  He's such a cute little guy.  I can't wait to see how big he's grown.

Well I want to close with my testimony.  That Jesus Christ is THE Master.  He lived for us.  He died for us.  He was resurrected for us.  This is his church.  Its true and full and gives light to all the earth.  Of these things I testify in his name.  The name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

"Feed my sheep..."

Elder Christofferson

November 14, 2011

Impressive.  I'm happy to hear about the boys heading out.  They're in for the best experiences of their lives.  I'm going to have to talk to someone about teaching a mission prep class when I get home.  I know I went, but I wasn't nearly prepared enough for what was to come.

Good old Max. (He is talking about Max Bingham returning from his mission in Japan)

Did I tell you that I met one of the companions of Kyra's Fiance?  He's pretty cool.  He played volleyball and football with us.  We played more sports today.  My companion is putting me through training to get me ready for Rugby when i get home.  We went to the turf fields to run some drills today.  Pretty cool.  We'll probably be doing it again tomorrow or the day after.  I love working out now.  I feel better physically than I have in a long time.


We're the highest baptizing mission in the north eastern states.  Something President Belliston is proud of and we don't blame him.  We worked hard for this.  Now we're working to exceed our goals.  We wanted to baptize 400 this year.  For a state side mission on the east coast thats hard to do if you're working the way you're supposed to.  But reward and blessings come from faith.

Yup.  Transfers is the day before my 1 year mark and five days before my halfway mark.  At least thats what my district leader keeps reminding me. (He goes home in a month and he's trunky beyond all belief)   I have some for you now though.  Okay.  The little girl with the red and black face is Anna.  The six of us sitting on the couch from left to right is Elder Dutson, Anna, Me, Tommy, Allison, and Teressa.  This was at the Trunk or treat.  For the Zone Conference over halloween we had a pumpkin carving contest.  My helmet to second place.  I can a sucker, Where's Waldo hat, some goofy eyes, and Where's Waldo glasses.  I thought it would look cool.  The other two are just sunsets.  I took them last night.

I'm going to close with my testimony and a link to a talk from President Monson that I want anyone who reads this email to read alsohttp://lds.org/general-conference/1974/10/my-personal-hall-of-fame?lang=eng&query=My+Personal+hall+Fame

I wrote out my own hall of fame, but I'm not going to put the names on here, because everyone means something different to me.  Just as you mean something to the Lord for each of your own reasons.  If you wonder if you made my list just think about if you made the list of your Father in Heaven.  Think about it.  You chose to follow his plan and come to earth.  You chose to leave him for a time.  You chose to be live his teachings.  If you think differently then just remember that with his plan you chose agency.  Whether you want to believe it or not I testify to you in the name of Jesus Christ that its true.  Never forget that.  Think about it often.

"Feed my sheep..."

Elder Christofferson

Letter from the Mission President.....

Dear Parents,

 

Thank you for having such a wonderful missionary in the Maryland Baltimore Mission!  The mission just exceeded the baptisms for all of 2010.  There are many miracles taking place in the lives of your missionaries in this remarkable work.  The Lord is richly blessing us!  It is a tremendous joy to see the changes taking place in the missionaries as they exercise their faith and work diligently.

 

Please send any Christmas packages to the Mission Office address below.  There will be transfers the middle of December, and some of the missionaries will be changing areas.  If it is possible, it would be best to try to have the packages arrive before December 6 as we will be having our Zone Conferences and can distribute them at that time. 

 

We are most appreciative of your faith and prayers.  Please don't hesitate to ever contact us if you have any concerns.

 

Warmest regards,

 

A. Brent Belliston

Maryland Baltimore Mission

 

Mailing Address

Maryland Baltimore Mission

4785 Dorsey Hall Drive, Sutie 105

Ellicott City, MD  21042

Monday November 7, 2011

 I'm very happy that I didn't get transfered.  It means that I'll be spending thanksgiving in this area and probably Christmas.  Its awesome.

The young men in the ward continually impress me.  They're strong in their faith.  They'll go far. 


AH!!!  I only have a year left!  I need to work harder or else it'll pass me by.

Okay.  Its really cold here.  We're supposed to be expecting snow this week (Not fun on a bike).  I'm always full.  Members like to feed us.  So now Elder Dutson and I go running every other morning for 1.2 miles.  Just till I can work up enough endurance to go longer.  It'll happen someday.  I can't think of anything I need right now.  I'm just trying to be a little more thrifty so that I can look into a few other supplies that are designed for this area i.e. a backpack.  Mine is about thrashed and not waterproof at all.  I'm looking into finding one that is though.  We're going to go check out R.E.I. today and see if they have any holiday deals coming up that I can invest in.  I don't have a CD Player.  The mission has provided every companionship with a portable DVD Play for trainings that we use to play music right now.  My daily can be found in the White Bible (handbook) that Cameron and Colton have.

So we've been blessed with some new investigators.  Charles is on date for baptism on the 19th of this month.  He's a really humble guy and pretty much accepts everything that we teach him.  We have a few more appointments with him to make sure he understands everything, but otherwise he's just an awesome guy.  We always feel the spirit while teaching him.

I know that Jesus is the Christ and our savior.  He did more for our salvation than any other man.  Joseph Smith is the Prophet called to restore the Church of Jesus Christ to the earth and now Thomas S. Monson is the President of the church.  Christ chose, prepared, and ordained this man to fill this calling.  I bear this witness in the name of our savior.  The son of God.  Jesus Christ.  Amen.

"Feed my sheep..."

Elder Christofferson

Monday October, 31, 2011

We got the call for transfers today and!  Drum roll please!  I'm staying in Columbia.  So is my companion.  He'll have been here 7 1/2 months.  The longest out of any missionary since the Elders started living with Sister Ashcraft.


We've been told almost 30 times that our Halloween costumes of going as full time missionaries is VERY original.  We've heard all the jokes.  Tonight we're going to hang out with our ward mission leader.  We have a hard time tracting during all major holidays including Thanksgiving, Valentines day, and when the Ravens play the Steelers.  The last one might as well be treated as a state holiday.  Not very fun if you ask me.  Speaking of football.  I hear the Cowboys are getting slaughtered this year.


Kadee is ambitious.  I dont think that I can say more than that.

Its weird.  I have less to report from this area than I do from any of my other area's thus far.  I love you all though!

"Feed my sheep..."

Elder Christofferson