Week 25: Sing Out Loud

This week was kind of weird...Hermana Diamond and I get along really well but we are kind of worried about our ward and area. We have a lot of work to do!! This Sunday we gave talks. When I was playing the opening hymn, there was probably 60 people there and I couldnt hear anyone singing. So when I was wrapping up my talk, I pulled out my hymn book and read to them the introduccion that talks about how music is a part of our worship. I encouraged them to sing and right after my talk, the second councilor was like "thank you Hermana Christensen, now we are going to sing "The Spirit of God" on our feet" I think everyone was a little surprised that I burned them but I am glad I said something because the spirit was really strong during the intermediate hymn. We have a lot of plans to improve the ward and sometimes it feels a little overwhelming to be living in South America by myself, to only be 19 and have to be an example of leadership, to have doors shut in my face and have drunk men try to marry me. But then I remember that with Heavenly Father, I can do pretty much anything. And I remember that we are all children of God and that he wants all of his children to have joy. I am grateful that having joy is one of our purposes on this earth. And that with Jesus Christ, we can have joy because he already experienced everything kind of crappy that we experience. And that he knows how it feels. I love Christmas time and even though cacti with lights is a little different, I know I am so happy to be here. I love you all and I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season! :)

pictures: I bought a cool Peruvian bedspread, there is a strange crack in the wall that I decided to try and fit into and Hermana Diamond and I have a lot of fun on the streets of Tacna haha

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Sister Madeline Christensen

Photos from Arequipa

some pictures for the blog that rachel sent me. A week after this picture, Rachel and Angel got engaged!!! yay!!!

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Sister Madeline Christensen

Week 24: World Day of Service

This week was fun as I got some letters from the family reunion (In September?) and the package from my family. Shout out to Cares LeBaron for making me a sweet keychain and also to Aunt Mary and Nanny and Krista for the letters. Probably than reading about Atomic Sit ups (if you don´t know what this is, you can ask someone from my mom´s family if you really want to know)  was me trying to explain it to my companion in a mixture of sign language and Spanish and her not thinking it was funny. I guess the LeBaron sense of humor is a little different hahaha. 

This week was the world day of service. All the missionaries in our zone went to a cemetary to sweep (since it never rains and we live in a desert, sweeping is the eternal chore) it was really pretty and I love service projects and it was a nice change of pace. Also this week we had transfers. Hermana Baez se fue a Arequipa and Hermana Diamond is going to be my companion. President Johnson moved a ton of people around and no one was expecting such drastic changes but President is super awesome and inspired by the Lord. 

We have been working with a lady named Graciela. The other week she just showed up at church and we had a lesson with her and she came again this Sunday (and fasted) and is overall so golden. She has a baptismal date and I am super excited to keep learning from and working with her. The coolest part is that she has received so many little answers and promptings that have her prepared her. It is super awesome to know that God loves all of his children and wants all of them to return to live with him. And that Heavenly Father works through other people to touch our hearts sometimes. For this, we should always have charity and serve others. Because we might be the answer to someone´s prayers. I love you all and I hope you are having a happy holiday season. 

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Sister Madeline Christensen

Week 23: Thanksgiving 2016

Thanksgiving was 100% uneventful for me. For "Thanksgiving dinner" we ate salchicha with fried egg (its like hot dog but mushier). Our pensionista makes it a lot because my companion really likes it. It is pretty yummy. I think everyone forgot it was Thanksgiving. I celebrated by making a list of things I am grateful for in my journal and we tried to find apple pie but there was none. It made me super grateful for family and for the chance we have to reunite with our families and give thanks. 

This week we probably walked a million miles because we contacted a lot. Contacting is pretty much trying to let people know who we are and we try to share a little bit of what we believe in (usually by knocking on doors or going to parks or stopping people on the street) Hermana Baez and I had a goal to contact 20 people every day. The elders made fun of us because I guess they think its a lofty goal. But I am happy to say that we met our goal every single day this week. It makes me happy to meet new people and share with them a little bit of my testimony of Jesus Christ and the light that we have. We almost had a Bible Bash with a Jehovahs witness, a man told us that Moroni is reincarnated and living in India and also that he has direct contact with extraterrestials, and several people closed the door in our face. But it was fun. 

I read a scripture this morning in Alma 20:4 that says "I know, in the strength of the Lord thou canst do all things" I am glad that I have Heavenly Father on my "team" and that my parents and friends and family are all rooting for me. I can feel your love even though I am far away. Have a great week!

photos: mis amigas Janet and I forgot the name of her cousin, my hat that makes me look like a Jehovahs witness and also my thanksgiving dinner

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Sister Madeline Christensen