Getting Busy in Bothell

Bothell, Washington

Hello to everyone I love!! I hope everyone is doing well! It's been such a fun, exhausting, chaotic and worthwhile couple of weeks here up in Bothell.

My new companion, Hermana Rich, and I have had such a fun time the last 2 weeks. This area was sadly dead when we arrived so we have been starting from square one! Lots of finding and tracting in trailer parks and lots of efforts to meet with inactive members. We have seen some amazing miracles and it's obvious that the Lord is guiding us. The fall season in the Pacific Northwest is absolutely amazing!! It's gorgeous up here. The mix of color with all the dark pine trees and constant light rain make it so fun to explore a new place. Pictures don't even do it justice! Even though it's been weird back in this same ward... (I got a lot of confused looks my first Sunday haha) I'm so happy to be here!! Such a good way to end. 

We saw a huge miracle a few days ago when we visited a referral from the Portuguese elders we work with! We knocked on a door in our own apartment complex and met an entire family from Ecuador! They have lots of family that are members of the church down there and have been to church several times before they moved to the states. They are the sweetest people! Andrea, the mother, described to us that there was an immense sense of relief that came over her having the missionaries in her home. She told us she has been waiting for 2 years for someone to find them! We're working with their whole family on coming to church and we're planning a "noche de hogar" this week. How crazy that Heavenly Father guided us missionaries right to this family less than 2 minutes away from our door!

There were too many good talks from Conference to pick a favorite but Brad Wilcox's definitely hit home to me! It was so strong. One of my favorite parts was,

"God loves us as we are, but He also loves us too much to leave us this way. Growing up unto the Lord is what mortality is all about. Change is what Christ’s Atonement is all about. Not only can Christ resurrect, cleanse, console, and heal us, but through it all, He can transform us to become more like Him."

The Atonement of Jesus Christ is truly a transforming power!! I'm grateful that this restored gospel always reminds us of our divine potential. We always can become someone better with Christ. I know I have lived the reality of that the past year and a half! 

I love you guys!! Hope you have an amazing week. See you all soon. Go utes baby!!! 

Sending love from rainy Seattle! 

Difícil es bueno. 

Xoxoxo Hermana Christensen