Five Months as a Missionary

 Hello everyone!!! 

I hope everyone had the best week. It was a great one here in Kirkland that is for sure!! The rain is coming full force, the leaves are as bright as ever and we are staying so busy!! Washington is so gorgeous and I really am falling in love with everything about it! (Only drawback is the slight constant smell of weed in the air but you just gotta roll with it hahaha)

I hit 5 months as a missionary today! I'm so happy and grateful to be a missionary. The last 5 months have been a rollercoaster but I never have experienced this much pure love and joy in my life! I am finding the happy in the hard and learning to love the daily grind of missionary work thanks to an amazing area, fun companions and rewarding work! Can't wait to take on the next 13!!! 

This week our zone had a challenge to focus on the miracles we see throughout the work! This encouraged us to look more for the hand of the Lord in the details and we definitely saw it!! I'll share 3 quick miracles that I witnessed the past few days. 

First, Stephanie! Earlier this week we received a referral to teach a woman english over Zoom. After meeting her, introducing ourselves and our purpose as missionaries, we had an awesome message with her and her two kids. We teach english to people from all around Washington but she coincidentally lives 3 blocks away from our apartment! We have already met with her in person, given her a Book of Mormon and set up more lessons with her this coming week. Milagro!

Second, Karina! We got a call from our english sisters in the zone that they had someone respond to a Facebook ad in Spanish and needed our help translating. We helped them with a response, passed on our number and thought nothing of it. We received a call later that day from the referral! A sweet lady named Karina. She told us she wanted to go to church and we had a great conversation with her over the phone. The next morning came as we sat in the chapel enjoying sacrament meeting and with about 10 minutes left in the meeting, there walked in Karina and her two kids. They had the biggest smiles on their faces and loved coming. Meeting someone for the first time at a sacrament meeting is pretty unheard of as a missionary and seriously so awesome. So excited to teach her this following week. Milagro!

Third, Johnny!! Good ole Johnny is still killing it. After lots of lessons, phone calls, text messages and prayers, Johnny was interviewed tonight and deemed ready and worthy to enter the waters of baptism this coming Saturday. Nothing beat the feeling seeing Johnny so happy and so excited coming out of his interview. His path has been bumpy and full of obstacles but he really is a miracle! It has been an emotional rollercoaster teaching Johnny the last 3 ½ months but wow it was been so worth it! Keep praying for Johnny and for his family to continue to support his decision to be baptized!! Saturday is the day. I could not be more excited!! Miracle!

There were so many other tender mercies and miracles I saw in the work this week and countless others that I probably did not completely recognize. I know God is in the details of our lives and I have loved the opportunity to better recognize His presence and be an instrument in His hands. It really was a week of miracles! 

For an ending spiritual thought I would love to share a small testimony I have about the Book of Mormon! I unfortunately forgot my personal Libro de Mormón at Johnny's house in Duvall after a lesson we had had and ended up not being able to retrieve it for a few days. Although I knew my book was safely with our investigator, I felt something missing from me those few days! When I was handed my Libro de Mormón once again, I felt such peace and love overwhelm me! I knew that I had the best tool in my hand and that everything I ever needed was in that book. A missionary is never complete without a Book of Mormon in their hands and I truly felt that this week! I have fallen in love with this book on my mission and truly know that it testifies of Christ and gives us the exact help and hope we need every single day! So everyone….go read it! One verse a day will make a difference! You will begin to see the light of Christ in your darkest times when you have a daily date with the Book of Mormon :) 

I hope everyone has an amazing week! I really appreciate all of the support and prayers I receive!!! I would love to hear from any of you!

Sending love from rainy Seattle!!! 

Difícil es bueno.

Xoxoxo Hermana Christensen

Sunday selfies

Running at sunrise