Opening Up

the New Crew!

 Hello everyone!! 

I hope everyone had a great week!! Well duh of course you did because I hear Utah football is coming back!!! I know the people at my house are happy. It was a really rainy week here in Kirkland but the work moves on and the miracles never cease! The leaves are starting to change here too so I'm feeling right at home with the colorful leaves and chilly weather!! I definitely miss the mountains in Utah but nothing beats the fall. 

It was a pretty exhausting and stressful week as I attempted to adjust to all the changes. I got to do a ton of explaining and showing my companions around but they are both quick learners and adapting really well! We are having a great time together and it has been a ton of fun. Hermana Mason is an avid golfer and boater, and Hermana Zacarias has awesome Spanish and is a fellow nerd of 'The Office' with me. The total dream team! As all of us are still young and new to the mission, we've been focusing on enjoying the work instead of just enduring through time! We had a week full of phone contacting, English classes and teaching lessons. It's only been a week of this new change and I've already seen a ton of growth in my Spanish so that's been great! The gift of tongues is SO real and I know that Heavenly Father's hand is in every part of the work that we do as missionaries. 

A definite highlight of the week was church opening up! The Kirkland stake went back to in-person church for the first time since the beginning of March and it was awesome to be back with the members in person. It's a lot harder getting to know the members with no meetings or activities so it was a good refresher to see everyone's faces and to pretend like I knew all the people that we talked to hahaha! Making church even better was that Johnny was able to come! He drove the 40 minutes in from Duvall and showed up in his best flannel and jeans with his Book of Mormon in hand. He is awesome. The spirit was strong throughout the whole meeting and Johnny told me afterwards that he felt so much happier once he walked into the chapel. This was yet another example to me that the Holy Ghost really is the missionary in an individual's conversion! We were able to have a lesson with Johnny the following day and he will hopefully be interviewed for baptism this coming week. We are so excited for Johnny and I feel so blessed to have been here working with him the past few months. We really can see a light in his eyes and I have seen the Atonement work wonders for him. Nothing is for sure yet and the adversary has continued to throw things his way but Johnny is doing great and will enter the waters of baptism so soon!! I love being a missionary and seeing this change in people's lives! Please pray for Johnny! 

I want to invite you all today to take time to prepare for the upcoming General Conference happening this weekend! I am so excited for my first conference as a missionary and know that direction from the prophet is exactly what the world needs right now. As a zone, we have been getting ready for Conference by listening to all of the talks from the April 2020 sessions. This has given me such a sweet spirit throughout the week and helped me better understand how I can "Hear Him". I'll be completely honest and express that personal revelation and receiving answers to my questions has never been a strong suit of mine! I've never been able to relate to the stories of receiving a direct and clear answer to a problem while listening to Conference. But I have been doing my best to change that mentality and ponder about the ways that I best can hear my Heavenly Father's voice as a missionary. I've found that the more I seek to have the spirit with me and to exercise my agency to focus on His will instead of the will of others, this is when I have the best communication with heaven. I challenge all of you to listen to a few of the talks from past conferences to bring the spirit of revelation into your hearts and minds! Try to write down any concerns or questions you have and continue into General Conference with a prayerful and open perspective about receiving your own personal revelation. I know that phrases, words and ideas will stand out to you as the leaders of the Church speak and give us direct words from heaven. I teach every day in the lesson of the Restoration that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that He gave His children prophets as a way to know our way back home to His open arms. Enjoy General Conference and take full advantage of this amazing opportunity we have to be spiritually uplifted and enlightened through our own intimate and personal revelation from God! 

Quick shout out to my sweet cousins Nate and Meg getting married in the temple this coming week! I am so happy and excited for both of you and will be sending so much love your way as you celebrate. Welcome to the crazy Paxton squad Meg!!!! We LOVE you!!! 

You are all in my prayers daily and I love you all so much! Have another great week and enjoy the best time of the year in Salt Lake! 

Sending love from sunny & rainy Seattle!!

Difícil es bueno.

Xoxoxo Hermana Christensen 

the Mission office

Smiles for miles

P-Day Views of Lake Washington