Families

December 06, 2020

Families

Flores Family

Hi everyone!! I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving and have kicked off Christmas celebrations already. I'm doing great up here in Washington and truly had an unforgettable week!!

Thanksgiving as a missionary really was a ton of fun. We spent most of the day raking leaves for homes around the neighborhood and enjoyed devotionals from our mission President and Elder Christofferson. We unfortunately can't eat within member homes so we got creative for dinner! Thanks to Trader Joe's I was able to make the 5 of us sisters our own Thanksgiving meal! It was so much fun and actually turned out so yummy. Attempting a holiday meal like that on my mission was definitely a first for me but it was worth it! I'll never forget my only Thanksgiving in the field with some of my closest buddies Hermana Zacarias, Bringhurst, Callahan and Nelson :)

Another amazing highlight of the week was more time with the Flores family! We helped them with a family home evening a few days ago and it was so much fun. I showed Karina how to make some "American" muffins and they showed us their best Latin dancing skills. I surprisingly didn't make a complete fool of myself either so I'll take that as a win! Even better than enjoying FHE with them was our discussion afterwards. We read through some scriptures and bore testimony of how the gospel has blessed our lives and families. Shortly after, they accepted an invitation to be baptized later this December!! They are so amazing and I'm so grateful for them. Sitting at church with my cute Ecuadorian family is my absolute favorite way to spend a Sunday. Keep praying for the Flores family as they prepare to be baptized!

My past few experiences with the Flores family have definitely been some of the most memorable of my mission but nothing really tops Friday night seeing my best friend for the first time in 6 months! Thanks to a last minute schedule change in the Pac12 football season, Utah football traveled up to Seattle this weekend to play Washington Saturday afternoon. Due to several tender mercies, I was able to meet up and spend some time with my older brother Scott!! It was such a happy moment getting to see him again and we had so much fun. Scott has always been one of my greatest examples of missionary work so it was awesome spending time with him during my own mission! I'll never forget that night. A hug from Scott was exactly what I needed and the BEST early birthday present. Even though they lost the game the next day… go freaking utes!!!!

To end I would love to share a favorite quote from Elder Holland that I read this past week. This quote comes from the talk "Maybe Christmas Doesn't Come From a Store" and was the perfect reminder for me to readjust my perspective beginning the holiday season. Elder Holland is finishing his description of the sacred nativity scene when he says this:

"At this focal point of all human history, a point illuminated by a new star in the heavens revealed for just such a purpose, probably no other mortal watched—none but a poor young carpenter, a beautiful virgin mother, and silent stabled animals who had not the power to utter the sacredness they had seen. Shepherds would soon arrive and later, wise men from the East. Later yet the memory of that night would bring Santa Claus and Frosty and Rudolph—and all would be welcome. But first and forever there was just a little family, without toys or trees or tinsel. With a baby—that’s how Christmas began."

I hope all of you enjoy this quote as much as I do. There is always so much excitement about gifts, parties and celebrations this time of year. I hope as all of you enjoy these highlights of December, you can always remember that Christmas began with that young family in a humble stable bringing our Savior into the world. I promise all of you will feel the Spirit stronger in your life and strengthen your testimony of the divine design of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as you focus on the true beginning of Christmas. It really is the best time of the year!!

I hope everyone has a fantastic week!! Thank you for all the love and support I continue to receive on a weekly basis. I love you all!!

Sending love from chilly Seattle!!

Difícil es bueno.

Xoxoxoxo Hermana Christensen