Tender Mercies

Marino was baptized!

Hey hey hey!! I hope this email finds everyone happy and healthy. Seriously another awesome week here in Federal Way and I feel so blessed to serve here! I'm loving the 70 degree weather and sunshine here even though I can't stop sneezing ;)

We ended another transfer this week! These past 6 weeks have easily been some of my favorites of my mission. I'll be staying here in Federal Way in the Dumas Bay branch with Hermana Merrill! Our baby is leaving us for another area and this will be the first time in my 11 months as a missionary that I won't be in a trio! Hahaha it's been a long time training and I'm excited see what duo life without a trainee is like! Saying goodbye to other missionaries that have become some of my close friends is never fun but I can't wait for another transfer in my favorite place. 

Marino was baptized on Saturday night!! It was such a great program and night. The Spirit was really strong and Marino was so happy afterwards. We have a solid group of recent converts in the branch and it was awesome seeing all of them there supporting one another. The next day at church Marino was confirmed and other converts, Andres and Alex, blessed the sacrament for the first time. It was definitely a weekend to remember for the branch!! 

There were lots of tender mercies throughout the week. The last week of the transfer tends to go by slower for me and the adversary definitely didn't help as lots of lessons fell through. But even though we saw cancellations, we saw lots of miracles filling our time instead. For example, as we got back into our car one day from a no show lesson we felt prompted to visit one of our referrals in the area. We knocked on the door and met Yesenia! She had watched the Joseph Smith movie on YouTube and requested a Book of Mormon from us on the church website. She told us that as she watched the video she had a voice in her head telling that she needed to read this book immediately. She told us that she has been to lots of churches but never has felt anything in her heart until she found herself watching that film. There we were a few days later with her new Book of Mormon and she tearfully thanked us and accepted an invitation to church. This is just one example of many that Heavenly Father always knows where we need to be to answer the prayers of others in need!

On that note, I wanna share one of my favorite quotes from Sister Michelle Craig that hangs on the wall above my desk. 

"The prayer Heavenly  Father seems eager to answer is our plea to be led to someone who needs our help!"

I know this with my whole heart to be true! We don't need to be wearing a missionary tag to ask our Heavenly Father to put someone in our path that needs our help. It's the best and easiest way to become better disciples of Christ. Embrace the unexpected ways to show kindness to others this week, you could easily become their answer to a prayer. 

And I've got another birthday shoutout to my best friend Jane!! Jane turns 20 this Wednesday. I'll be sending all my love to her from WA! Jane is the funniest, sweetest and most genuine friend I could ask for. I love and miss you tons Jan!! I hope you made it this far in my weekly to read this ;) 

I love you guys!! I appreciate you all a lot and would love to hear from any of you. Have an awesome week!! 

Sending love from SUNNY seattle!!!

Difícil es bueno.

Xoxoxoxoxo

Hermana Christensen 

Dumas Bay Branch Recent Converts

 

Companionship Play Date

Matching hoodies...just in case the black name tags aren't enough!