Week 33: Hot hot hot in Tacna

Hey Family and Friends!

This week flew by!! I think my pit stains are almost as big as my love for this work. It has been hot, hot, hot here in Tacna. Happy Birthday to Nanny this week and congratulations to Evie!!! love you all. 

We had a world wide missionary conference and then a multi-zone conference with president later this past week. I am sure you all know, but they have made a lot of changes for the missionaries. The schedule is a lot more flexible and allows us to choose when we study and allows us to change the order of stuff. I love it. It is a testament to me that our church is a church of revelation. That Heavenly Father reveals his mysteries to His prophets and that personal revelation is a huge part of this Gospel. Also, we will no longer be reporting the same numbers that we used to. We are a lot more focused on baptizing and working with investigators. I hope that within a short period of time, we will see a lot positive consequences from these changes

Also, Eduar is doing great. I looked back and saw him laughing and smiling with the members the other day in church and it made me so happy. He truly has found a family with the ward members. He sings all the hymns even though he doesnt know them. His faith is such a great example to me. I really think I am on a mission to learn how to be a better person from the people here. Heavenly Father knows what he is doing. ALWAYS. We have to trust in Him. Sometimes its hard but it is always worth it. I love you all and I hope you have an amazing week. 

photos- on a park bench, with hermana Diamond, Maria Lupa making french fries. 

-- 

Sister Madeline Christensen

Week 32: Being a Missionary and Everything

Hey hey hey!! 

This week was pretty uneventful but still amazing because you know...being a missionary and everything. This morning we woke up early and went with all the sisters of Tacna to climb a sand dune. I was a little bit skeptical at first but it was fun! first, we went down into a trash ditch and then we struggled up the side of a sand dune. Tricky, because its sand. So, handholds and all that jazz dont really exist. But, we made it to the top. Tacna isnt exactly breathtaking but it did make my heart do a little extra hug. To see how humbly these people live and how humble they are. To see the dusty streets from way up high and to see how isolated it is from any other town. I think Tacna is and will be one of my harder areas in the mission. But as Macey Lane Smith told me in an email one time, "nothing good gets away". Today was a good reminder to treasure the tired feet, the slammed doors, and the celestial moments that we all have as we strive to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ. I love being a missionary and I love our Heavenly Father. He really has an eye on all of us and he has blessed with so many beautiful things. Plants, families, friends, personalities, the life of His Son and so much more.  As Hermana Diamond gets closer and closer to going home, it is making me savor every moment that I have here. The time goes by so fast! I love you all and I am so grateful for all that we have. Love,

Hermana Christensen

photos! 

-- 7 months!!! time is flying

-- the sky of the giant sand dune we climbed

--hermana Ahumada and hermana Navarro (they are so cute and nice!)

-- mama Hilda and her kids. Briggitte and Jefferson. She cooks the yummiest food!!!

--Stray dogs follow us everywhere...even up the side of a sand dune. 

--the view from the top! pretty, eh?

Week 31: Sensational

This week was sensational!! Last Sunday, we were fasting that one of our investigatores would accept a date to be baptized. We talked to one of them and she gave us a vague and not confident answer. A little discouraged, we went to find Eduar who was also at church. We asked him how he would feel about getting baptized that following Saturday. He looked at us and said that he was actually wondering if he could get baptized on Wednesday!!!. We were and are so happy. Eduar has been coming to church for almost a year and recently got out of a month long hospital stay. Heavenly Father prepares people to hear us, fasting works, and prayers are always answered. We had a huge turnout at the baptism. We felt so happy to see many of the members there and supporting him. They even brought two cakes and smashed one in his face! I love this ward. Even though I get frustrated with the way things are run here, it was a good reminder to see that even though the technical stuff isnt always 100% here, the peoples hearts are 100% committed to this Gospel and full of love for their fellow men. Very humbling for me to see. In his testimony, Eduar shared that with Heavenly Father, you can do anything. So true. It is cool to hear that from him because he is 22 and an orphan and working his own business and going to school and recovering from major stomach surgery. He is a great example to me. We also had transfers on Saturday. I love Hermana Diamond and I was worried we would get split up but I will be with her for the next six weeks and then she will go home at the end of February!!! We have been coming up with game plans out the wazoo to find new investigatores, strengthen the ward and improve our companionship. I feel very at peace with my life. I know Heavenly Father sends us huge showers of blessings. Sometimes we just have to close our umbrella. (I think that is a mormon message somewhere, very good) I love you all and I am always thinking and praying for you. 

photos-Eduar and us!, Eduar, me and a friendly stray dog with a tumor, looking both ways before I cross the street )see all the houses on the sand dunes in the background), me and hermana diamond. 

-- 

Sister Madeline Christensen

Week 30: The Dunes of Tacna

Hey everyone! I dont have a lot of time to write but this week was another great one here in the dunes of Tacna. We had interviews with President Johnson so that was fun. Also, fasting and prayer work. Also, I have successfully learned to eat huuuuge plates of Peruvian food. I am quite surprised at my own stomach capacities these days. The days are flying by and thats hard for me because every day I fall more in love with this beautiful country. Heavenly Father loves all of his children and has a plan for them. Have a good week!!

-- 

Sister Madeline Christensen