March 21, 2011

This week has been a very good week.  We are very close to achieving the Standard of Excellence.

 

We were referred this week to a very interesting man.  When we were called about Floyd we didn't know what to expect.  Floyd was a truck driver for most of his life.  When his knee began to swell up two and a half years ago he went in to see the doctor about it.  When the nurse was moving him to the X-Ray table, the stretcher slid and Floyd hit the ground, breaking his back in for places.  He hasn't been able to walk on his own since.  While on a Christian Chat room he started talking to a member of the church.  She told him about Priesthood Blessings and he said he'd like one.  The sister he was talking to called the Mission Office and they called me.  I was on Exchanges with Elder Anderson of Levan Utah that day.  We went over to the Rehab Center where Floyd shares a room with two other men.  We found out that Floyd is the last living member of his family.  He lost his 10 Year old Daughter in a car crash.  We taught him the Plan of Salvation and about Faith.  I gave my first Priesthood blessing that day.  The Spirit Directed me to Promise Floyd that through his Efforts and Faith the time of his suffering would pass.  That his friends are there for him when he calls and that the Lord loves him.  When I finished the blessing I found Floyd in tears.  The Spirit had made an already soft spoken man speechless.  We know that he felt his father's love that day and that he had found a new family in the Gospel.

 

As a companionship we have decided that we need to try and see Floyd three times a week.  Floyd misses his family and we know that this ward will be able to fill that role for him.  Elder Lyons and I have agreed that no matter what it takes we're going to try and get him to church every sunday.

 

I can testify that by following the promptings of the spirit we can find happiness and bring it to others.

 

Mosiah 2:17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow being ye are only in the service of your God.

 

Brother Braga in our Ward was driving the Missionaries over another area home from church one sunday when he saw a man broke down on the side of the road.  He stopped to ask what was the problem.  His car had run out of gas.  Brother Braga told him to climb in and he'd take him to the gas station.  Brother Braga bought the man three liters of gasoline, took the man back to his car, gave him a pass along card, and took the Elders home.  He told the Elders that the Spirit had prompted him to help the man and that the Spirit has also drained the man's Gas Tank.  We are still waiting to see if the man is going to call the Elders.

 

Love

Elder Christofferson

March 14,2011

Okay.  So this week has been a weird week for us.  We just found out that we have bed bugs and our apartment is getting sprayed for them on Wednesday.  All of our clothes have to be washed and dried, but we can't put them away for 2-4 hours after the apartment has been sprayed.  Not fun.  We have to pack up EVERYTHING and move it to the middle of the living room floor so that they can kill the little suckers.  So if you send anything don't send bed bugs.

 

We've been working really hard this week to achieve the Standard of Excellence in our work.  Last night was an interesting night.  We went to meet a potential investigator who is Pagan.  We found out that he grew up Baptist, but because of some things with other religions drove him and his wife away from Christianity.  We talked for a long time about things he believes in.  He says that he follows the Cherokee beliefs.  We found out that a lot of his beliefs are the same as ours.  Then he said the craziest thing I've ever heard.  He said, "Jesus Christ was the greatest Pagan to ever live."  He holds a lot of things against the LDS people though.  He holds us responsible for the Massacre at Wounded Knee and for what happened to the tribes when the Saints settled Utah.  He blames the inter tribal wars on the Catholic Church though.  We finally agreed that he's not ready to change yet and that the Lord hasn't prepared him for coming into the True Church of God and Jesus Christ.  Before he left he told us our Cherokee Spirit Totems.  He said that mine is the Bear and Elder Lyons is the Raccoon.  He was a pretty cool guy, but a little crazy too.

 

I can testify that the Lord works in his own time and his own way.  We've seen it with our investigators wanting to be Baptized and Less Actives wanting to come back to church.  He's chosen to bless Elder Lyons and I for our diligence and efforts in fulfilling our purpose which is to Invite others to come unto Christ, by helping them recieve the Restored Gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Recieving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End.  I know that by living my Missionary Commission I will be the best Missionary that I can be.

 

"I am Called of God.  My authority is above that of the kings of the earth.  By revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is my Master and he has chosen me to Represent him.  To stand in his place, to say and do what he himself would say and do if he personally were ministering to the very people to whom he has sent me.  My voice is his voice, and my acts are his acts; my words are his words and my doctrine is his doctrine.  My commission is to do what he wants done.  To say what he wants said.  To be a living modern witness in word and deed of the divinity of his great and marvelous latter-day work."  Elder Bruce R. McConkie

 

Hurry up and get your mormon.org profiles made.  I want to be able to put your names down on these pass along cards that I hand out.

 

Elder Christofferson

March 7, 2011

Hello Family!  So this week has been a different one.  My trainer had been gone for three days to a Specialized Training since he was made District Leader.  I was in charge of the area.  Kind of scary, but we pushed the work forward.  I was on an exchange with another Elder.

 

Exciting news of the week!:  If I didn't tell you the story about Nick I will now and I'm going to add to it.  Nick is a 17 year old boy who was studying to be a Theologian.  Through his studies he came to investigate the LDS Church after having been raised Catholic.  As he investigated he was scheduled to be Baptized almost 6 times and fell through on all of them.  A few weeks ago he put himself back on date to be Baptized.  He called us a short time after putting himself on date and told us that his girlfriend Sarah wanted to talk to us.  Saturday night we taught her a simple Restoration and she soaked all of it up.  She accepted a lot of what we told her and extended and invitation to be Baptized.  She accepted that also.  Nick and Sarah have been dating for almost two years and just started talking about Marriage.  Nick has very curious about Eternal Marriage for a short time now.  He said that its something that he wants.  So it seems that we're either preparing him to be a rockstar Missionary or Eternal Marriage.  Should be interesting to see the outcome.

 

I know that the Gospel blesses lives.  I'm seeing it first hand.  I encourage you all to go on mormon.org, create a profile, and extend your testimony to someone else.  It's brand new and equipped so that members can do Missionary work from home.  It'll bless your lives and the lives of someone you haven't met and may not meet.  Testimony is a powerful tool.

 

Love

Elder Christofferson

March 4, 2011 Letters, Pictures, and Scriptures!

I love it when we get mail from our Missionary!  In Zanes letter, he sent a Birthday Card and a Picture. 

In my letter he sent pictures, and NO letter.  Only one of the pictures has names on the back. (Silly Boy)

And, in Kadee's letter, he only sent scripture references......

Oh well, at least we know he still knows our address!!

February 27,2011

Hello everyone.  I'll put as much information in this email as possible, but I have a time limit for the computer so bear with me.

 

The week has been good.  We've been working hard and have some new ideas to help us make it progress even further.

 

We've been spending time with a lot of Less Active and Active members in an attempt to find new investigators.  It can be messy or fun from time to time.  The mud is from us fixind a water pipe that was burried almost 6 feet underground.  The guy did a faulty job when he fixed it so we tried to help when we found out it was bubbling up.  The Picture of all the people is my District from before transfers.  The one of me with the gun is me holding a Russian AK-47.  Fun stuff.  The one of my companion is when he found out our regular bowls and spoons were dirty so he tried eating out of a wooden bowl with a 1 Tablespoon measuring spoon.

 

The ward members are trying to take care of us.  A few try to give us rides whenever they can.  Which is convenient because we have the car for usually only a week and there are a lot of hills for me to bike up.  Not fun.  Now that my bike is fixed though its easier.  I think I'm still losing weight.  We have some new plans to find people.

 

One of our investigators named Jawhara had her baby.  She also really likes the Plan of Salvation.  She wants to know why all the other churches dont believe it.  She's awesome.

 

Mom and Dad.  You dont have to be retired to start a mission.  Offer to go on splits with the Elders or the Sisters in the area once in a while.  Feed them a meal once or twice a month.  Offer them a ride to an appointment.  Try to help them out.  Missionaries in your Area need some loving too.

 

Elder Christofferson

February 21, 2011

Hello from Ballmore! (Thats how they say it around here) I'm happy to hear that MOST of the family is okay.  So is Colton at BYU-I or UVU?  I'm so confused.  Everyone moves around so much that I'm getting whiplash.  Tell Cameron and Colton not to burn the Camp down.  Thea wrote me last week and told me that I need to go work at MMSR again when I get home.  Apparently Ace and Griz quit the council so they need help.

 

Do you know if Gary ever got the letter?  I wouldn't be surprised if Daniel forgot.  I keep trying to think of experiences that would benefit the boys in the ward.  Most of mine have been pretty lax lately.  We're having trouble reaching our goals.

 

You should charge rent to those that want to stay in my room from time to time.  You could make a little extra money.  I'm telling you I wish my large comfy bed.  If I could have it sent out here I would, but that would make moving inconvenient.

 

I'm trying to remember everything that has been going on.  We found a new investigator.  Her name is Christina.  She's 41.  She seems to think that she has a unique connection to my companion on a spiritual level. (She tends to flirt with him.  We hope he doesn't have to go through an Emergency Transfer)  We're hoping to put her on date for Baptism soon.  She used to be Episcopalian. (I think thats how you spell it)

  

Thats awesome about Tyson and Teancum.  They're going to be awesome.  I hope they find success.

 

I'm not sure if I get to perform the baptism.  Thats up to our investigator.

 

Well I'm going to sign off for now.

 

I love you all!

February 7, 2011

WHATS THIS?!?!?!  NO EMAIL?!?!?!  I guess Thea and President Shepherd love me more this week.

 

This week has been bitter sweet.

 

Sweet because we've a baptism and three confirmations.

 

Bitter because we can't find any new investigators.  Keep praying with us.  We did get to go see several members though.  This one man showed us his gun and blade collection. (Pictures to come)  One is a double barrel flintlock Black Powder, M14 on a hunting stock, M16, an M1 Grandea REAL Russion AK-47, and several other famous guns.  He has the James Bond Pistol, but I didn't get a picture of me holding it.  He wants to arm the missionaries in our area with blades so that we have protection on us at all times.  He has a friend that will sell us high quality knives for like 40% off.

 

Please continue to pray for us this week so that we can find those ready to hear our message and that those we are teaching with have the desire to enter into the waters of Baptism.

 

I love you all!

Jess