Constantly Rejoicing

January 18, 2021

Constantly Rejoicing

Zone Conference

Hey everyone! Another week in the books here in Kirkland. We were really busy, had lots of sunshine and were spiritually uplifted all week long! I love being a missionary…the grind of missionary work is always so worth it in the end!

One of the highlights of the week included Zone Conference this past Wednesday! We enjoyed some good food and lots of good training. Our companionship was asked to give a training on how us missionaries can use the Book of Mormon more effectively in finding more people to serve and teach. I had lots of fun with this and have to give a shoutout to Brother Benyon from the Canon YSA ward back home and the advice he gave me a few days before I departed for Seattle. He told me that through his experience as a mission president in Brazil, he came to better realize how important it is to always lead off with the Book of Mormon in all contacts, lessons and finding efforts. The Book of Mormon is what stands the Church apart from every other Christian denomination around the world and is what helps missionaries draw prepared individuals to the gospel. Brother Benyon told me that more return appointments and overall converts to the gospel will always come through our use of the Book of Mormon. This advice has stuck with me my entire mission and I loved having the opportunity to share it with a ton other missionaries here in the WSM during Zone Conference. Thanks Brother Benyon!!!!

Other than Zone Conference, we had a busy week of lessons, exchanges and knocking on doors. Some highlights include: 1. Enjoying a Cafe Rio dinner date overlooking the Puget Sound after a long day of exchanges with my comps. 2. We had a lesson with cute Liliana this past week and she surprised me with a late birthday present of flowers, a poster and a stuffed animal pig named Lili to take with me to other areas as a reminder that "nunca tu puedes olvidar su mama colombiana aquí en redmond!" Haha she is the sweetest!! She might be a little too attached to her Hermanas so for Liliana's sake you can pray I don't get transferred ;) 3. Our good friend Felipe came to church yesterday for the first time! We have been teaching him english and he finally accepted our invitation to come enjoy the Sabbath day with us. He has a hard time with the name Christensen so I am known as "Christy" to him. Hahaha funniest old guy ever. So it was definitely a solid week full of lots of hard work and fun times with other missionaries!

My spiritual thought for the week comes from another worldwide missionary devotional that Elder and Sister Rasband gave. His message was simple but strong as he emphasized the importance of constantly rejoicing as we go about our missionary efforts. He explained that many of us will face times of discouragement and darkness but then went on to promise us that if we realize how blessed we are to be fully immersed in the ongoing Restoration of the Gospel, we will always continue on rejoicing. No matter the situation, problem or political uprising any of you may face this next week, I promise that a focus on rejoicing and just being joyful will really go a long way. I’ve found this to be true in the mission field and know that it will be just as useful back home as well :)

I love you all SO much. Thank you all for making me feel so loved and so cared for. Have an amazing week and I hope everyone stays safe as our country might blow up this week! Stay tuned for next week to see if I will actually leave Kirkland or not…8 months and going strong ;)

Sending love from sunny/chilly/rainy Seattle!!!

Difícil es bueno.

Xoxoxoxo Hermana Christensen