Week 22: My First Prayer

Today, I have 5 months in the misión. I am really excited to be here and to be working. This week we had a lesson with Yaritza. She is the life long friend of Briggitte, the daughter of our pensionista. Briggitte has always been a really good example to Yartitza and answered her questions about our Church. Yartitza finally made the decision to receive the lessons from us. It was kind of a lot of pressure to teach Yari the first lesson because I didnt want to mess anything up. We were planning on teaching the Plan of Salvation but as we were getting to know her more and asking her some questions, I felt we needed to teach the Restoration. As we taught, I could tell we were answering some of her questions. It wasnt the most spectacular lesson ever. But right as we were going to say the closing prayer, Mama Hilda walked in and shared a little testimony of the power of a faithful and sincere prayer. Yaritza said the prayer and it was the most sincere prayer I have ever Heard. As she finished, we all said "Amen" and she had tears streaming down her face and then we all started crying haha. The Spirit was so strong. She said "wow, my first prayer, I will never forget this moment" It was so amazing. Even though we arent perfect and we are for sure not perfect teachers, it was cool to see how the Holy Ghost testifies to people. As thanksgiving is this week, I am grateful for many things.

-my family. I miss you guys every day but I know that I am where I am supposed to be. I am grateful for the example of my parents and for the love of my sisters.

-Prayer. I am so grateful that we have the opportunity to converse with our Father in Heaven. How lucky are we.

-The opportunity that I have to be in Peru and learn from these humble and hardworking people.

-All of the really nice emails that I get from everyone. They make my week always.

photos- Hermana Rufina is so awesome and always accompanies us. She kind of looks really grumpy in this picture haha. Hermana Baez and I eat a ton of watermelon. It is so delicious.

Sister Madeline Christensen

Week 21: Cuadra

Hey kids, hope all is well on the block. If you want to give directions here, you have to know the word "Cuadra" which is block. "dos cuadras arriba". The people are experts in giving unspecific directions haha. This week was pretty uneventful except for the fact that we found three new investigators to teach and a lot of the less actives we visited came to church on Sunday (yaaaaayyyyy). I am happy to see that my feet arent falling off for nothing.

Sometimes, I am kind of a wimp because a lot of the people here (including my companions) are converts and have really interesting stories and experiences. For example, my companion and her family walked 15km every Sunday to and from church for 5 years. Now they have a capilla more close but how cool? Anyways, I was feeling kind of lame when all of a sudden Heavenly Father gave me some comfort through my favorite book, the Book of Mormon. "Behold, I say unto you they are made know unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true, for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the Spirit of revelation which is in me" Alma 5:46 SO GOOD. Basically, when we were sharing what we studied, I shared this with my companion and totally started crying because I just felt that it was written just for me. That I may not have a really cool story but thanks to my amazing parents and family, I have had the opportunity to strengthen my testimony over the years by doing the small things a lot of times. Reading scriptures, saying prayers, attending church and church activities and keeping the commandments with the help and example of all of the wonderful people that surround me. I have "fasted and prayed" many times and each time, my testimony of the Gospel and its principles is strengthened. I am grateful that we have the gift of the Holy Ghost. To guide us, protect us and to testify to us of the truths that consist the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Amen amen amen!!!! 

Also this week, I taught Tamara and Fiorella (sisters 12 and 17) a piano class. We are learning how to play "I am a child of God" I started with the rhythm of the notes and taught them how to read music. They can each play the first measure by memory. I am really excited to keep working with them. I was such a snot about taking piano for so many years and yes, this is a public apology to my parents for complaining so much. I am now a little bit less dense and can testify of the power that we have in opportunity. I h

ere is pretty much no one here that knows anything about music. It is really sad but I am excited to work with the youth in the ward to help them learn to read music, so when I go, they can play the hymns in church. 

Also, I included a picture of Jesus. He is 94 and after 30 years of investigating the church, he got baptized with the companion before of Hermana Baez. He is super funny and always falls asleep when there is a pause in the conversation. It is crazy how close babies and old people are to heaven. I love you all and I hope that you have a great week :)

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Sister Madeline Christensen

Week 20: Back to the Drawing Board in Tacna

I dont have time to write much because I had so many sweet and encouraging notes to read this week! Thank you all. You have no idea how amazing you all are. Our only investigator moved to Chile this week haha. We are working a lot with the less actives and recent converts. If you guys know anyone that lives in Tacna and wants to hear the Gospel, shoot me an email haha :). My companion is really great.  Her name is Hermana Baez and we are getting along really well. A lot of the people here dont believe that I only have 4 months in the mission. They are all really impressed that this is only my second area. Hermana Baez thinks that my spanish is super good.  I dont know about that but I am happy that God is blessing me with the gift of tongues. I dont know why I am having such an easy go of it with the language. I am really grateful though. 

This picture is from an activity that we did with the youth. I was on divisions with Hermana Thornton. This is Flor and she is going to get her mission call any day now! 

They dont really celebrate Halloween here but they do celebrate day of the dead. Not like with parties but every one and their dog goes to the cemetery. We went and contacted with Plan of Salvation folletos. It was neat. I love you all. To answer your questions: I never see other white people except other missionaries, we send our dirty clothes to be cleaned by a lady in the ward, we eat all our meals with our pensionista, I am teaching English class again, the food is still the same here, my favorite food is a fruit that has the consistency of boogers but tastes heavenly. Also, watermelon here is really top notch. 

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Sister Madeline Christensen