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

Week 19: Like Dragons did they fight | Grandma broke her coccyx riding dirtbikes in the dunes of Tacna

Hey everyone. I am doing well here in Tacna. Also, ratchet keyboard of the day doesnt feel like doing uppercase so sorry for all the errores. If you google map tacna you will see that it kind of looks like a star wars planet. I miss the mountains in Arequipa but oh well!! the sandunes always remind me of napolean Dynamite. 

Also, Happy Halloween!! the daughter of our pensionista always tries to scare us so we borrowed a really creepy mask and we are plotting to get her after dinner tonight. I will let you know how it goes. 

this week has been really long. We dont have a ton of people to teach so we have been walking a lot a lot alot and have been knocking on doors and contacting in the street and using the area book. My companion is very hardworking and obedient which I am thankful for. We dont have a ton of support from the ward but we are hopeful that we can work with them and improve things. My spiritual experience of the week comes from my book of Mormon reading. I really liked Mosiah 20:11 "and it came to pass that the people of Limhi began to drive the Lamanites before them; yet they were not half so numerous as the Lamanites. but they fought for their lives, and for their wives, and for their children; therefore they exerted themselves and like dragons did they fight"

Sometimes I look like a dragon at the end of the day and I feel I have exerted myself but every morning I wake up and say prayers and thank Heavenly Father for the opportunity I have to start fresh and work hard again. things are a little slow right now but I know if we work hard and are obedient and do everything we can, we will "win". Love you all. 

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Sister Madeline Christensen

Week 18: Transfer to Tacna

This week I am writing from Tacna. It is the furthest city in the mission. I had a 7 hour bus ride this morning through pure desert. As one of the elders said "every time I look around, it reminds me of a planet from star wars" like one of the planets that has no trees; only sand and rocks. It is another world. The good thing is, it is more humid here. I cried my eyes out when I found out that I had to leave Hermana Albornoz but I know that President Johnson receives inspiration. So I should just get over myself and go to work pretty much. I am excited to be here and I will most likely spend Christmas here so that is fun.

Not much happened this week. Only that we went to the birthday party of Hermana Maria. She turned 84. She is the mom of the lady we live with. Very Catholic and very amazing. The party was kind of awkward at first but then her blind friend, Rosita started playing the guitar and singing traditional Arepiqueña songs. I totally almost started crying (Eloise, dolphin show vibes) it is crazy how strong the Spirit is sometimes. A guy asked her how she can play so beautifully and if she could teach him some of her sweet skills (paraphrasing here haha) She said something that I thought was very profound "Todo el mundo canta" or. "the whole world sings" It was a good reminder that we all are children of Heavenly Father and we all have the capacity to be amazing. I love Peru. I love the Gospel of Jesus  Christ. 

pictures- last picture with Hermana Albornoz and one with Hermana Juana. She is a less active who is just so cute.

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Sister Madeline Christensen

Week 17: Working Hard, or hardly working?

There is some construction going on in Paucarpata (the neighborhood I live in) and they have all these signs that are like "Please forgive us, we are working. I tried to explain the phrase "Working hard, or hardly working" to my companion but it just doesn't have the same punch in Spanish hahaha. Anyways, I thought you would all enjoy the awkward eyes-half-open picture of me with the sign.

Really, I am so grateful to be working here in Peru. The week before last was frustrating as we were not able to work with our full abilities. This past week was super awesome, however. We had interviews with President and it was super awesome to get to know him better. The next day we had a zone conference. One of the district leaders was like " This zone has more lessons taught each week than any other zone but not any more baptisms" we concluded that sometimes we go to visit people that dont really need a visit just so we can meet our goals of lessons. We decided to make an effort to contact more people and find new people to teach. It was really scary at first because we get comfortable with where we are a lot but in the end, we found 7 new people to teach this week. One of them is Anna Claudia. We knocked on her door and ended up teaching all of lesson 1. It is so amazing to see the tender mercies. We are told that the people in Peru are ready to hear the Gospel. It is true. I am glad for my leaders that give us motivation to work harder and differently than before so that we can become better missionaries. I am sorry for the email, it is getting harder and harder to write and talk in English. Love you all. 

p.s. picture of me and my glasses club at English class. I love 12-year-oldgirls. Probably because I still am one haha.

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Sister Madeline Christensen

Week 16: The Intestinal Devil

Good Morning,

This week was kind of funny and sad as Hermana Albornoz and I have been hit in the gut by the devil of diarrhea himself. I think we ate something but it has been a rough week haha. It has made me really appreciate the days when we feel good and when we can work. We are feeling a little bit better but today we are going to rest. Hermana Albornoz´s birthday was on Saturday and I woke up early to blow up balloons and decorate her door. I like that tradition in our family. 

She basically had the worst birthday ever because we were super sick all day and in the afternoon we got a call that Jimmy, the brother of Angelito, had passed away. He has three daughters and he got hit by a car after driving back to town after baptizing his oldest daughter. I think the older I get, the more I realize how short life is. There are many miracles and one of them is waking up every morning. Hermana Albornoz and I have been praying for Angelito and his famil

y. I am so grateful for the plan of salvation; for the chance that we have to live with our families again. I also remembered the talk from conference. That even though we keep the commandments and live righteously, we will still have trials. And just because we are righteous, we won't suffer less. A trial is still a trial. But that we can have "Godly Purpose" in our suffering.

Also, read the Book of Mormon. Every day, no matter what. I love you all and would love to hear from you. 

p.s. my district loved the Zotz and Valentina really enjoyed the peach rings. She is such a cutie. 

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Sister Madeline Christensen

Week 15: Goals and Volcanoes

To whom it may concern:

We did not get our second baptism for the month of September. We literally tried everything. We taught a lesson with the mission president and his wife, brought in a member that was training to be a Catholic priest before his conversion and we fasted three times in the month of September. Sometimes, no matter how much faith you have, the Lord has a different plan. I have also learned to appreciate and detest "albedrìo" (free agency). It was kind of frustrating but I truly know what it means to work your tail off to try and invite someone to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The beautiful thing about this world and this gospel is that not everyone is going to be a member. Not everyone is going to listen to me or feel the Spirit. But that is ok. I know that Heavenly Father has perfect timing and perfect perspective.

I was able to watch conference in English with two other gringa sisters. We almost died because a little kid turned the gas stove on and left it. Fun. But really, general conference was so amazing. Every day that I read the scriptures and teach, it becomes more and more apparent to me that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is truly the Church that Jesus Christ established on the earth but restored in these latter days. How amazing is it that we can listen to men to directly communicate with Heavenly Father. I loved the emphasis on missionary work and on repentance. We can always be better, we can always try harder and one day we will make it back to live with our Heavenly Father. 

Not much to report here. It is slowly creeping into summer time. Also, Hermana Diamond gave us some clothes (spot the sweet zoo-keeper skirt. I know, total win). I am continually swept away by the beauty here. Misti is the giant volcano that you can see from pretty much anywhere in the city. The sunsets are breathtaking. I miss the trees (there are pretty much only bushes and cacti here) but I also love the mountains. I love my Savior and I am so glad to be here. Only three months until Christmas!

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Sister Madeline Christensen