This is officially my last e-mail from Texas……that I know about.

Hey everybody!

Hope you're all having a very beautiful day! looking forward to seeing you all again! I'm excited to be a part of Christmas with everyone; however, I'm sad to be leaving all my Texas friends as well. I just don't know how to respond to all of this you know? There are a lot of emotions that are coming and going this week, and I can't tell you how grateful I am to have served a full time mission, because at the beginning of this adventure it didn't look like I was going to be able to serve in Texas. I am amazed every day by the tender mercies of the Lord. I don't really know what my divine destiny is, but I'm grateful that I've been able to walk this road all the way to the end. I am honored to be a part of the Lord's work, and an instrument in His hands. I would encourage all to be a part of it no matter where you are in life because the power it brings to your heart is a Balm of Gilead! I know that when the road seems rocky we can press on, because the work of the Lord need never cease! To be quite honest, I don't know where life is taking me after this week has concluded. However, I will trust in my God and He will guide me in a great many ways to the path He would have me take. I pray that I may be humble enough to accept His call wherever it takes me on my journey! Sorry, I got a little carried away there. I guess I should talk about our week.

This week flew by, just as this transfer has, we were on exchanges ALL week. Sis. Thompson was gone Tuesday, I was gone Wednesday, Sister Thompson again Thursday and Friday, and then Saturday we were finally all together again! It was crazy. Nobody knew what was going and we couldn't remember who had been there for what, it was a little hectic and great fun! ;-)Saturday was the ward Christmas party! It was a luau theme, all five of us sisters did a Samoan dance! It was AWESOME! I believe that it got posted on facebook and sent to Grandpa's account. I think....So, maybe look at that if you haven't seen it yet. And if you can't figure it out I can try and show you next week when I'm home. Anyway, it was tons of fun, I really enjoyed it. AND we had NINETEEN nonmembers there; along with Less Active - Inactive members that we haven't seen in a while! It was a miracle down here in Clear Lake 2. Our God is still a God of miracles! :-) We also had two investigators at church! I've really loved serving in this area and it's been an adventure to see the change in people as they start doing missionary work! The work is going to happen, we might as well be a part of it! :-) The Christmas Devotional was also very good, if you didn't get the chance to see that I would encourage you to watch it - or watch it again! 

Know that I love all of you and I'm very excited to be seeing all of you again soon! I look forward to all that is coming, because the future holds EVERYTHING! And that's what I'm going for! Thank you for all of your love, support, letters, kindness, and encouragement over these last 18 months! I truly and sincerely appreciate it. See you soon!

Forever,

Sis. Christopherson

Wow! Can you believe it's DECEMBER?! 12/2/13

Hey Everyone!

I have to admit that I'm finding it hard to believe it's December! I could almost promise you that it was July a couple weeks ago! I don't know what has happened to these last 18 months. I'll actually hit my official 18 month mark on Grandma's birthday this Friday. It's a lot to look back on, and a lot to go through. I've come to the conclusion ending a chapter in you life is harder than expected sometimes. I don't really know how to resolve everything that has happened, and I hope that I can fulfill all Father's purposes for me out here in the time I have left. Wrap up any loose ends I guess. I'm just not really sure how I'll know if I've done it or not, I suppose He'll let me know sooner or later.

Don't worry, I'm looking forward to coming home, but this whole experience is bitter-sweet. I don't really want my mission to end either. Whatever happens the Lord is in it. He'll take care of me.

Anyway, we had a good Thanksgiving. We went to three appointments, (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and wow was I full. I still don't eat that much guys, and man, three full course feasts was a little much for me. But we enjoyed spending time with the members, visiting people with them, and hanging up Christmas decorations for service projects! ;-) 

We also took a picture in front of a tree. So, just to get everyone in the holiday mood, Merry Christmas!!! ;-)

Know that I love you all very much and I hope you have a wonderful week! I'll talk to you soon and maybe I'll remember the stories I wanted to tell you next week! ;-) Love you!

Forever,

Sis. Chris.

Another week, come and gone?

Hey everyone! How is everybody doing? Hope all is well where ever  life has found you these days! I'm just chillin' here in Texas, quite literally! :-) It's been very rainy recently and it's been getting a lot colder. Tender mercy from the Lord preparing me to come back to SNOW!!! ;-) Oh, yeah - I'm excited for all that! It's been nice to have the colder weather for sure, next week it will probably move back up into the 80's or so. At least that's what I was told the weather predictors said. 

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is this week! I hope you all do something really exciting! I encourage you to do something nice, and let someone know that you are grateful for them and why. We often think of all the things that have made a difference in our lives, but we rarely remember to thank those who played a part. And most of all, naturally, thank Father for all He has done and continues to do for all of us. We are certainly all beggars and He has shown us great mercy! Truly grateful for that. We can all give thanks more sincerely and more frequently than we do. Ingratitude is an unfortunate epidemic that can cause us to forget where we really came from, and how we really got here. It can cause us to forsake blessings that God would have willingly gave if our hearts would've remained focused in gratitude upon Him. Or at least that is how I feel.

So, this week I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting, I suppose in preparation for my homecoming talk :-), and I really wanted to share my testimony of Christ and His Atonement. I studied a couple of talks, and I prayed a whole lot! I can't say that it was a master piece in itself, however, God is good! I stood up to give my talk, and I kept praying that I would be able to bring the Spirit unto the hearts in the meeting and that they would be able to feel God's love for them. I gave my poorly organized address and sat back down. There was a great peace in the room. After the meeting quite a few people came and expressed that they really enjoyed my talk. I want to testify that the Spirit that was felt or any difference that I made was by the grace of God alone. He does answer prayers, that's for sure. It was a really humbling experience, I felt simply inadequate of all those marvelously generous compliments. I am constantly amazed at what the Lord does with my feeble attempts at performing His work. I promise, it was definitely a 5 loaves and 2 fishes kind of experience. I was not nearly prepared for that talk as all those compliments deserved. I guess the point of me sharing this story is to express a simple example of how His grace is more than sufficient. He really can take our meager offering, and turn it into the work and glory of God! It's amazing!

I want you to know that I love you very much and I hope that you have a most wonderful week! Do all that you can to be thankful and love one another! Know that my love is with you!

Forever,

Sis. Chris.

Have you heard?!

Hey everybody!

This is going to be a short e-mail this week. But I want you to know that I love you! I've had a pretty good week! I can't believe another week has gone by! We were over at the Bishop's house last night, and he said, "I called President Ashton to tell him that he couldn't transfer you (my companion) and that you need an extension! (pointing to me)" So, you might have to fight with a Bishop to get me home before Christmas! ;-) We had Zone Conference this week with President Ashton, it was an awesome experience! We went over 5 trainings that are going to help us become more effective instruments in the hand of the Lord! He also talked about all that we can do, and how the Savior gives us what we need and more! I'll have to talk to you more in depth about it next month, because it was really cool. Also, there was a super funny story from this week about a man named ----. It's a good one....remind me to tell you about that one later too, okay?!

I hope that all is well and all of you have been able to feel of my love for you! I hope you have a wonderful week, and that your dreams become a little more your reality! Miracles happen! I promise! 

OH! And guess what? I found out that after I left Seabrook a man named ---- that I was teaching, he got married and baptized! And then this last Friday, I found out on too short of notice so I couldn't go, but another family that I taught five of them got baptized! Isn't that so amazing! I mean, I wish I could have been a part of it, but it's still exciting to know that those people that I prayed so hard for have come unto Jesus! I just want you to know that miracles happen! I wonder what has happened in my other areas since I've left? Maybe I had a more profound effect than I thought?! Or maybe it had nothing to do with me at all, who knows? :-)

Anyway, love you!

Forever,

Sis. Christopherson

The Dawn is Breaking

Hello Everyone!

Hope you all had a wonderful week! And that you've been able to see much awesomeness! I know you've been pretty blessed because I got some pictures of some beautiful, white fluffy-stuff!!!! Yeah, don't worry, I'm excited for all that. However, I'm hoping that it is all safely on the ground before I fly in, just so travel and everything goes well....or else maybe I'll have to just stay here in TEXAS?! Which I'm sure we're all for, right?! :-) Haha!

Anyway, I've been really enjoying Clear Lake, our Bishop is REALLY motivated to do missionary work, and it's taking a hold of the members! It's exciting to see! The ward members are all really cool, and very musically talented! It's been awesome! We actually sung in the choir on Sunday, that was fun! I'm still getting to know that area, members, and investigators; but I think it's going really well! I truly hope I can make a difference before I come home...I don't really have a whole lot of time to get it all figured out. However, I'm going to give it my best! Fight the good fight to the end, or as Beanie puts it, "Finish running faster than you started!", or any other really cool quote.

Something kind of fun, we teach early morning seminary! Woot, woot! I thought that was a really interesting experience. Those kids were definitely not awake! Also, they had had a late night because of a movie night for mutual. Although, I think there are some that really got a lot out of it! Hopefully! :-)

We're having a zone conference this week with President. I'll try and tell you about it next week. Any other questions or anything you want to know about feel free to ask!

Thanks again, for all your love and support! I invoke the blessing of heaven upon you as best I can! May you see God's hand in your life this week, and know more surely that He knows you, and your struggles! I want you to know that with a surety that comes from the core of my entire soul and with power from heaven, I know that Father lives! I know that Jesus is the Christ! I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, and Pres. Thomas S. Monson righteously guides us today. 

I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and it holds safety for our soul, and answers to life's toughest questions! I know that truth is truth, and you can't change it! Commandments are there to make us happy, and to help us become like Father. We are strengthened and empowered through our trials, as we gain knowledge and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It's never too late to know them better, and there is never a time in this life when we know them enough! I pray that you may know with a sure knowledge that at least I know, nothing wavering, that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's church once again established on the earth today! That God loves us! He wants the best for us, and He wants us to come home! Please do something this week that will help you know or share God's love just a little bit more. Because it's there, it's always there, and I pray we can all understand it better! Please, be willing to believe that He loves you!

Forever,

Sis. Christopherson

All the things that happen in a moment..... crazy. 11/4/13

Hey everyone!

Hope you all had a and will have a most wonderful week! This last week has been a little out of the ordinary, that's for sure. In summary, I was part of what is called an emergency transfer. So basically, with short or sudden notice you are told to pack up all of your things and meet somebody at a certain place in a couple of hours and you get new companions. Really, you have no idea what is going on, it's a little crazy. So, to be honest I don't remember much of what happened earlier this week. I've been so overwhelmed with just the weekend. Nevertheless, it looks like I'm staying in the area that I got transferred to for my last transfer. So, I can give you the address this week instead of next week! Yay! So here it is:

Sis. Angell Christopherson

5025 FM 2351 Rd. #305

Friendswood, TX 77546

So, I'm now serving in the Clear Lake 2nd Ward with companions Sis. ---- and Sis. ----. They are super wonderful, for sure! I really love them! It's been really fun to be with them the last few days, and I'm happy to be staying with them. It's actually kind of cool, I took Doctrine and Covenants from Sis. ----'s dad at Cedar City Institute. It was a little thing that helped me know that Father still knew who I was even though I've been having such a hard time these last few weeks. It was a beautifully simple tender mercy. I'll have to send you pictures next week, and share more stories as our stories continue to unfold!

I want you to know that I know that the gospel is true, come what may, I believe in Christ and in His promises! I'm not sure the lesson that I need to learn from all that has happened but I'm confident that I'll figure it out with the help of the Spirit! I know that we can receive great and profound comfort as we read the scriptures and take time to be still and listen for the voice of the Lord. I know that trials come whether we are keeping the commandments or not, but when we're doing our best to stand by God He will always stand by us; When the path is smooth, and when it gets thorny! I pray that I will have the strength to fight the good fight and finish my course.

Thank you so much for all of your love and support, I truly appreciate all that you have done for me. Even the little things have had added great strength to my spirit! So, thank you. I'll be forever indebted to you for the love you have shown me. May God be with you, watch over you, and bless you throughout this week I pray with all my love. 

Forever,

Sis. Chris.

Post Script:

I remembered something that I wanted to tell you about this week! For Halloween we had to come in by seven o'clock unless we had scheduled appointments. Well, we went and did service at the Ronald McDonald House until nine o'clock! It was really cool. We went and played games and did fun activities with the children and their families! It was such an interesting experience. I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to do it! The Ronald McDonald House is a place for children with cancer and their families to stay when they are coming down for treatments and things. It's a really cool set up, and they try and make it feel as much like a home as possible. It's pretty amazing all that they do there for those kids and their families.

Life happens... isn't that great? :-) 10/28/13

Hello family!

I am pleased to announce that nothing super out of the ordinary happened this week. YAY! We taught lessons, we went on exchanges, we did service, and we went to a Rockets game! ;-) All that fun stuff. We have been doing are best to just keep working. And I realized that I haven't sent pictures in a while so I wanted to send some of those.

Sis. ---- and I standing outside the Toyota Center, which is where Houston's NBLA team plays, the Rockets.

I don't know how allowed this is, and it's a little blurry, but I took a picture of the players on the court. So, there you go.

This is the Elders. Elders ---- (Mulan) and ---- (Mushu), we were at a service project for a family night. I couldn't resist, and I got a picture of them too! Haha! 

This is us. Sis. ---- (Mulan) and Me (Mushu). Yup, I'm that cool! ;-) 

I want you all to know that I love you with all my heart, and I'm so grateful that you've been placed in my life. I can't tell you how intricate the design really is when paths cross in mortality, especially if they'll be bonded for eternity! I'm so grateful that you are part of my family! I declare it, so you are! :-)

I hope you all have a wonderful week! We have a lot to do today and we're running late, so, sorry the e-mail is short. Ask me questions and I'll answer them next week!

Thanks for all your love and support! You're more than the best to me! You're a miracle!

Forever,

Sis. Chris. 

"The future belongs to those who show up for it!" ~Elder Holland 10/21/13

Hello everyone!

I hope that everyone is in good health or will return to health soon! Also, that you are all safe and happy!

I don't even know what words to begin with right now. This week has been full of ups and downs like you wouldn't believe. To kick it all off, our car got broken into this Monday during FHE. They broke the driver's window and then popped the trunk and stole our stuff out of the back. Including my scriptures. I must admit I'm very disappointed by it all. They got a lot of my personal things like my backpack, my scriptures, and the pictures that I just got from Beanie and Grandpa of ----, ----, ----, and ----. They got a letter from Grandpa, my patriarchal blessing, and all my notes and a study journal. Plus, a whole lot of other stuff and Sis. ---- things as well. I was quite devastated by it all. The most frustrating part is that they are probably just going to throw all of it away, and the police basically said they aren't going to do anything about it. I keep telling myself it's going to pop up, or somebody will find it, but everyone else is telling me to forget about it because I'm never going to see it again. And they have a fair point. I've learned sometimes it's hard to figure out what to put your faith in, but you can NEVER go wrong with putting it in Christ.

Honestly, I don't know what I'm to learn from all these really hard experiences I've been going through in rapid succession. Nevertheless, I know and believe in the gospel and in the Atonement. And I know that the Atonement doesn't always make things up in the way and in the moment that we want it to be, but you can count on the promise that it will be made up! I've realized faith isn't there for when it makes sense; it's there for when it looks like everything is against it. I've been thinking a lot about a lot of things, and so there is a lot to express I'm sure; ultimately, I've resolved that this is an appointed moment of learning, and I truly and sincerely believe that all things shall work out for our good. In order for our losses to be made up, we kind of have to suffer the losses. And that's okay because Father and Christ ALWAYS keep their promises!

I'm want to thank ---- and ---- for providing me with my scriptures for my mission and sincerely apologize for losing them. I should not have left something so precious to me, and that was given to me, where it could be so easily taken. I want you to know that I truly appreciated them throughout my mission and they held many wonderful memories I was looking forward to sharing with you, now, I guess we'll all have to settle for stories with no visual aids.

The rest of the week has kind of been a little off with all the crazy that started it, but we'll keep moving forward. The future is still there, and it's as bright as our faith! As our Prophet testified a handful of years ago. And I believe that there is still much to learn from all that I'm going through. I'm looking forward to gaining understanding and blessings from Father as we move forward in faith! I mean, really, that's all we can do, right?

A couple of highlights from Elder Golden when he was here:

• "You don't always see the consequences of all the good you do."
• "It's taken us 130 years to get members into the scriptures, and now it's going to take us 130 years to get them to think about them!" He commented on how it wasn't very common for people to bring their scriptures to church so while he was younger, and now almost everyone brings them even with electronic devices. I thought it was interesting.
• "You cannot see the true doctrines of the gospel without the gift of the Holy Ghost."
• "When your faith is low, I promise you're not living the gospel as you should."
• "If we truly understood who we were - we will desire others to know their identity too."
• "There are many people round about us, pleading our cause to the Lord."
• "We need to tune in with the Lord, He doesn't need to tune in with us."

He talked about a whole lot of different topics and all sorts of different depths. It was a really powerful experience. I'll have to tell you about the BYU football devotional next week...if anybody wants to hear about it? :-) It was actually a really cool experience. That is where the heading of my e-mail came from.
I want you to know that I love you all very much, and I'm grateful that we have a loving Heavenly Father who takes care of us, and is willing to lift us higher! I'm grateful that we have a loving Brother who was so willing to make the atoning sacrifice of the Atonement and allow a way for us to be healed from all mortal experiences and prepare a way for us to return home! I'm grateful to receive the gift of the Spirit and all that he brings. I'm grateful for every opportunity I have to make, keep, and renew sacred covenants! I'm grateful for my gift of faith and testimony, and for my determination to get through anything that will come my way. Because I know, without a doubt, that I wont go through it alone! I would have you, but also I have my Savior who experienced exactly what I did, do, & will. He is the only person who can have perfect empathy for any of us! I love Him, and I love you!
I hope you have a most wonderful week! And I need your prayers because who knows what's coming this week, eh?! :-) May God be with you, and watch over you! And don't forget to find joy in the journey, it's really the only thing that gets us through it! ;-D
Forever,
Sis. Chris.

Let us all go forth in the work of the Lord! ;-) 10/14/13

Hello, hello, hello!

I hope that everyone is finding themselves in the blessings of the Lord! I can't tell you how much I've been in His hands this past week! We've been able to teach more lessons this week than we have in a while. Which has been fun. We also have been serving up a storm! Which is my favorite part!

Oh! And we had zone conference with Elder Christoffel Golden from the 1st Quorum of the Seventy! That was AMAZING! He taught us about missionary work, but mostly about our divine identity! Which has a lot to do with our service as missionaries. He also testified of Christ very powerfully. It was beautiful. And his wife was just was wonderful. If you don't remember who he is, he gave a talk Sunday Afternoon Session of April conference this year. He is a very good man. I took pages and pages of notes. Hopefully I'll be able to have a shortened list by next week and I can share more specifically what I learned in part.

Nothing crazy happened this week really. No injuries, two weeks in a row! Woot, woot! There is more I wanted to express; however, time is running out and we have a lot to do today. So, I want you to know that I know that you are a child of God! You are something divine! Whatever the world around you says, or your current situation it doesn't change you're divinity! It doesn't change where you came from, or who you came from! And just think, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!" Yay! We are and can be more like our Father every day of our lives! Just tell yourself that every day. "Remember who you are," as Mufasa declared to Simba, and as I am sure our Father says to us every day! You are His son or daughter!

Know that He loves you and I love you! Hope you have a most wonderful week! Sorry it's so short!

 

Forever,

Sis. Chris.

Once there was a snowman, snowman, snowman.... 10/7/13

Hey Everybody!

So, everyone keeps talking about how you're getting snow! Lucky. I'm not going to see any until December when I step of the plane. Unless the hand of God intervenes. :-) Don't worry, I'm sure it will cool down here eventually. It's actually been cooling down a little this week...sort of. What I consider cool here, and what you think cooling down is there are very different things! ;-)

So, I'm sure everyone will be happy to note that I have not obtained any further injuries or damages to myself, my companion, or our car! YAY! Miracles do happen! On the tooth front (haha, I'm so funny.), they put a temp. in. They expressed that they would need to put a crown on to fix the damage, so...there you go. I will now have a crown. I'll be getting that put in next week sometime. It's been an interesting experience that's for sure!

I SUPER enjoyed conference!!! I tried to convince everybody they wanted to watch it in ASL, but I was not persuasive enough I guess. We watched it in normal English. I couldn't begin to tell you all that I learned from this weekend's feast, and I know that I will learn more as I study them once I have my Ensign. I look forward to that! I think there were a lot of talks that were profound, beautiful, and spiritually uplifting! There were also a lot that addressed warnings, I would encourage all of us to watch and hearken to these words from the mouth of our Lord! They will bring us far greater spiritual blessing and strength as well was Eternal joy and peace! Know that I am truly grateful that we have organization that existed in the primitive church! Grateful that I know I can hear their words, and know they are servants of my Master! I'm grateful to have such guidance and protection in these last days. Truly the time is NOW! Let us take up our cross, and come unto Him who will heal us!

Now, I know that many of you are probably well worn out and tired of my testimony, so I'll stop myself there. Nevertheless, it's all true! It feels so good to believe it; so, liberating to have it so deep in my heart! That is all. :-)

The computer is being funky....and so I guess I'm going to have to be done. with everything else too. We did a lot of service in the office this week as well, preparing for Elder ----'s coming. A lot of things are going on down here. We're preparing to open the church buildings now, and the rest will be soon to follow that was announced in the Work of Salvation. Which I hope you all watched in June.

Know that I love you all very much. Thank you for your support and prayers. Hope you're reading the Book of Mormon, and the New Testament!

 

Forever,

Sis. Chris.

 

Post Script: I heard ---- got her call, but I have no idea where to or when. I would congratulate her on that, and inquire further about more detailed information.  

Haha! What a week! 9/30/13

Hello to my friends and family!!!

How is everybody doing? Any exciting adventures? Random stories? I don't know, anything you'd like to share I'd be willing to know about! :-) I hope all is well with everyone!

Now, I know you want to hear about my week! So, we were biking at the beginning of the week, obviously, because we wrecked our brand new 2013 Toyota last week. I don't think I told you it was a new car...so yeah, rough. Moving forward, you'll all be happy to hear I'm still alive! Although, I almost got hit a couple of times....so, thank you for your prayers, and know that Father has answered them! Our week has been really slow, I'm not sure what's been going on, but we just haven't been able to get in and meet with people! However, we were able to do service for Pres. ---- and update and re-do the transfer board. Which is a white board in President's office (and a secret duplicate at his house) that has (what you see) a picture of everyone, with their companion, and what area they are in. It also shows whether or not they have a car or bunk beds. (What you don't see) Writing onthe back of all the picture cards the transfer date, area, status, and current companion(s). So, it tracks where they've been, what they've done, and who they've been with. It's pretty cool! So, doing all that, plus making the picture cards for the new missionaries that just came in, and putting the exiting missionaries picture cards in the special binder for President along with anything else they needed us to do. It was fun to have so much to do, it took us roughly two days or so. President made two new zones this transfer, so now we're up to 13 zones in our mission and roughly 250 missionaries! Crazy, huh?

So, one last part of my week that I should maybe mention....through a series of events, which I'm probably not going to elaborate, my face came in contact with the hood of a car on Saturday! Yeah, which is all fine, except for the simple fact I am now missing my left front tooth. Yup, hopefully I have one again before I come home, right? ;-) And don't worry! It is just another testimony of God's understanding and timing in life. He allows small amounts of suffering at times, so we wont have to suffer as much later! I will show you with the parable of the missionary's missing tooth! You see, as some of you may remember, a couple of years ago my left front tooth just up and died. No idea why, but it did. And it kind of hurt, but then I got a root canal! Yay! Also, not the most pleasant, but not the worst experience. Now, other than the initail contact with my face to car, I feel absolutely no pain! Which is good because they aren't going to be able to fix until later in the week, and it definately wasn't going to happen on Saturday! Haha! You see?! It's a great parable! All things denote there is a God, and a loving one at that! Even a toothless missionary!

Seriously though, as weird as it is, and as much as I'm not really fond of being toothless, I can see how Heavenly Father helped me not have to go through as much pain as breaking my tooth off would have been with full feeling in it. I think this story is a keeper...It will be shared in talks, lessons, devotionals, and spitirtual thoughts throughout the world!!!

I want you to know that I believe Father answers prayers, which is why I'm still alive, and He also prepares the way before us. Just as the whale was prepared for Jonah, and the waves for the Brother of Jared and the barges, so are the trials on our path prepared for us, so that we may endure it well and be saved from a more dreadful or painful state.

I want you to know that I love you all very much! I love Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ! I love the gospel and the strength and answers it brings. I love that I know that I have not been abandoned by my Father or Brother and nor has anybody else! I love that I have been given this precious gift of my testimony that will burn brightly through constant care for the rest of time! My lamp will be burning when the Savior comes again! Will yours? :-) Take time, remember Him, pray, study, prepare! It's all there, and we can all do it together! I encourage you all to think of a question that you have for Father and really ponder on it this week, write it down, and while you listen to general conference this weekend you'll have a more profound spiritual experience in simplicity; as well as, receiving your answer directly from the mouth of the Lord through His servants!

Also, I hope all my wonderful sisters in the Christ listened to the Relief Society Broadcast because it was WONDERFUL! I loved all of it! I encourage you to go back and look at at least one of the talks this week!

I've gotta peace out, but know that I know my Savior even in my toothless state! ;-) Keep the faith! I love you all!

 

Forever,

Sis. Chris.

Post Script: I forgot to tell you! Elder Andersen told Pres. ---- that we should study the life of Christ. I was going to bring my Ebenezer to type it word for word, but I forgot it. So next week, but I still need to tell you this much: We have been asked to read the four gospels by the end of December in order to study the life of Christ. Pres. ---- said that if we read a chapter a day starting Oct. 1 we should be able to do that! So, my invitation is for you to join me, for fun, and in preparation for Christmas. Study the life of Christ, and learn of Him! The invitation is there, I'd love to share this experience with you! Thanks for all your love and support!

It's been a LONG week! 9/23/13

Hello, hello, hello!

Hope all is well! For me, this week has been CRAZY! No, seriously. To start off, we got in an accident on Tuesday - We are fine but our car has seen better days. Because that happened we've been on bikes the rest of the week! Yup, biked to Sugarland again.....Just for fun, you should get on lds.org and look up the ward boundaries for Braes Bayou (1101 Bering Dr. @ 1:00 p.m.) Our area is HUGE! Yeah, we're biking that until further notice. But don't worry, the Lord will prepare a way for us to do the things which He requires of us. The work will still move forward, just on two wheels instead of four! ;-)

With that starting off our week, the rest of it just sort of followed. It's just been one of those up and down weeks where everything seems to be coming up against you just for fun. In case you didn't know, that happens out here as much as it happens in every day life. But it's been fun to see the rays of tender mercies and hope scattered in the rainstorms of this week! Which by the way, we did have some of those too! Which was nice for biking, except for getting wet and muddy- but definitely a lot cooler to bike in! Haha, count your blessings, right?

So, I bet you're all expecting me to say that I'm getting transferred this week....and you would be........................................................................................not very correct. I'm staying! I know, we can all be surprised together! I'm not really sure what's going on with it all. But it's good stuff! If anybody has any fun ideas or activities that we can do in a singles ward to help members introduce their friends to the gospel, keep me posted! Because any idea is a place to start. President said he might keep us both here until we go home in December....so who knows? I don't. Maybe it's because we couldn't bike all my stuff to the mission office for transfers, and he just thought he would let us stay! Haha - I'm so funny. ;-)

Anyway, hope everyone is doing well! And I want you to know that we all can truly have peace in the midst of crazy days, or full on trials. We can feel our Fathers love in the hard times and especially as He lifts us up out of them. I promise that the temple is a place to be. As we go there and do baptisms, other ordinances, or just sit on the grounds and worship in study and prayer we will be lifted up and strengthened to what God wants us to become! Please listen to what He is teaching you! Follow where He guides you, because at least part of the time it's not really going to make that much sense! I can testify that Jesus is the Christ, and whatever comes He is with us, He will fight our battles! I know it, I love it, I need it! I'm so grateful for every day as a missionary, and for every moment I come closer to Father. For every lesson I learn, good or bad, hard or easy- I'm learning and I'm grateful!

I love you all so much and I hope you have a most WONDERFUL week! I send my prayers and my love!

 

Forever,

Sis. Chris.

Time is very fleeting! 9/16/13

Salutations everyone!

I hope that this e-mail finds you all well and happy with peace in heart! And if not, may you be that way soon! Sorry, I don't have a lot of time to e-mail today. Life has been crazy, but I wanted you to know that I am alive and well!

This week has been a crazy ride of ups and downs. Such is missionary life, but that's to be expected a true change of nature doesn't happen overnight, and definitely not with ease!

Sis. ---- and I are just trying to build up the kingdom, and hopefully we will see the fruits of our labors soon! But if not, God is still God and I still love Him! I can't tell you enough how much I love Him! Or how much I truly know and believe that this is His work, and it is being directed by the Savior! Continue in faith, fight the good fight! The day dawn is coming!

Anyway, know that I love you all very much and hope you have a super wonderful week!

Forever,

Sis. Chris.

Picture Day!!! 9/9/13

Hello Everyone!!!

How is everything going?! Hope all is well! So, ----'s baptism was beautiful! The Spirit was really there - it didn't go perfectly, because they never do - it was an amazing experience nevertheless! I can't express how much I truly enjoy being a missionary and being a witness to this sacred work! It is astonishing, often my whole soul stands in awe of all that I have been a part of down here. I know that it is by my loving Father's hand, I know it is from the sacrifice of many of you as well. I am just grateful for it!

So, last week was crazy! Man, I don't even know where to begin. The Astros game was tons of fun, we lost. That's okay though. It was an exciting adventure. I never done that before so, it was cool. Another crazy thing from this week was when got stuck down in Rosenburg ALL DAY Friday! Yeah, crazy. We were helping a sister move down to Rosenburg, which is like 20-30 miles away from Houston. She was told she could move in on Friday, so we packed up her and our car in the morning, and we drove down there. The apartment wasn't ready until 6:30 that night! We had her things in our car, and didn't have the miles to go and come back because it is so far away. We had to stay in Rosenburg all day, it was crazy. They let us sit in the Model apartment while we waited. We finally got her moved in at like seven! But she's in, and everything worked out okay. God is good!

I really enjoyed the CES broadcast last night. I think it was a really powerful message. If you missed I would encourage you to look it up and read it this week!

I want to send you pictures, so I'm going to get all that worked out and then see how much time I have left to write more, okay?

But know that I love you and I know that the Church is true and we can trust in God with all our heart! When trials come we need not fear! What a miracle that is! :-) I believe it with all my heart! Life is glorious!

 

Okay, Pictures:

The Astros game! Whoot, whoot!

This is everyone.

Sis. ---- and me on the Baseballs.

This is me catching a ball....sort of. ;-)
It was shorter than I was, I thought it was pretty funny!

So, this is a memory of being stuck in the model apartment all day!
L-R Me, ----, Sis. ----. Haha!

This is us and the Elders playing baby uno in the kitchen at the church during our lunch break.
Yup...that happened! ;-)

This is a zone picture, a bunch of crazy missionaries dedicated to serving the Lord! :-D

This is "Texas Drivers" Those cars are driving off the on ramp...
don't worry though, it's normal!

This is a sign that I thought was awesome. We haven't gone there because we aren't sure what's inside, but I had to take a picture of the sign!

Speaks for itself! ;-) Questions of the soul.

Oh, yeah! That was fun! I hope you enjoy all the pictures! Know that I love you all and I'm looking forward to all the wonderful miracles that will come this week! I know my God and He is my Father! I am grateful for what I do know, and look forward to what I can learn! I believe with all my whole heart and soul - study the scriptures, keep the commandments, keep the faith even when faith doesn't seem reasonable!

I hope you all have a wonderful week and I'll talk to you later!

 

Forever,

Sis. Chris.

I can't believe it's still this hot! 9/2/13

Salutations to all the people that I love!

So, it's a quick e-mail. We had the baptism! AMAZING experience! I'll have to tell you more about it next week, but I wanted to send you a picture. We don't have a lot of time because it's Labor Day. Also, we're going to an Astros game today! Yay! Major League Baseball! Whoot, whoot!

 

Know that I love you and I am still alive!

Love you lots!

Forever,

Sis. Christopherson

Hey, Hey, Hey!!! It's Raining Today! Yay! 8/26/13

Hey everybody!

Hope all is well where 'er thou art! Know that I love you very much! So, do you want to hear a crazy story about how much Father loves His children?! This last Monday night we got a text from a someone saying their sister-in-law wanted to be baptized! Later we got a text from her saying roughly, Hey this is the girl who wants to get baptized before the end of August! Say what?! Yup. That just happened! :-) She is scheduled to get baptized this Friday. And if all goes smoothly she will! It's just been a great thing to see. She just moved down here from Vegas and before that she was going to SVU. She has been taking missionary discussions for almost a year, and has decided that now is the time to make sacred covenants! It's so cool! I just want to say that the Lord helps us. He really helps us. When we want to do His work, when we have righteous goals, when we desire good things. He helps us! When the Lord commands us to do something, He helps us!

So, the THSM has baptized more people up to this point in the year, than we did all of last year! However, we're still a large chunk aways from reaching the goal the Lord has set of 1,000 baptisms. Which makes it a commandment, because Father asked us to. Right? I've just been looking at it, and I can see so fully how much He really does help us keep His commandments! When we desire, we can! We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! Promise!

I'm really excited for this week, it's going to be beautiful! And hopefully the rain today will keep the heat away for a day! ;-)

I want you all to know that I have seen many, many miracles down here in Texas, and in my life back home. Our God is still a God of miracles when we have the faith witness it! Look for the miracles in your life this week, okay? It will really make a difference!

Also, this last week we were able to do a TON of service. Add that into your life as well! We worked in a soup kitchen for quite a few hours, we put together care packages for veterans, we served the Lord, we helped Sis. ---- in the mission office putting together a whole bunch of stuff for the exiting missionaries and the incoming missionaries! It's all for God, so we're good! ;-)

Mom - get feeling better and I hope your new self gets going soon! Just don't forget not to run faster than you have strength! ;-)

I've gotta peace out, but know that I love you all. And know that the Lord does too, and if we will come unto Him, He will heal us!

Forever,

Sis. Chris.

Hello, Hello! We welcome you today!

Hey everybody!

This week has been pretty basic. Just going about doing the work, you know? I mean, doing my best to get it right. I think we all learn something new everyday about how we can do things just a little bit better. I realized a long time ago that I'm never really going to get it all down before my service is up. That's the beauty of the Atonement, it fills in the cracks of my weaknesses. I love how careful and loving Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are. I love that they have patience with who I am, and love me enough to help me become as they are. I know they've made a lot of sacrifices and so have so many people that came generations before me just so I could have this opportunity.

We're still gearing towards 1,000 baptisms in the year of 2013. We're actually doing a fast in all the stakes in our mission! Yeah, it's pretty cool. We've invited everyone in our ward and stake to participate and so have all the other stakes in the mission. I sincerely believe that many more miracles are in store for us. I'm excited to see what Father will do, and how He will do it! I'm always suprised by His handy work! :-) For real. Anyway, it's going to be pretty cool, I'm excited to see all these faithful saints and missionaries call down the powers of heaven. Because we have to do it together, all of us, with God.

We got to go to the temple this week! Surprise! I really enjoyed the new video. It's very thought provoking, as well as will help with translations being insync. That's nice, right? Is it playing in all the temples now, or just some of them? What exactly have they said about it or did they just start playing it in the temples? I don't really know how those kinds of things work....It's really good though. So, you should go to the temple and recieve further light and knowledge. It's always a wonderful experience when you go the temple you know? You'll find answers there!

How is everybody doing on their scripture study? I've finished the Book of Mormon twice and I'm half way through Alma again. Although, I think I might need to pick up the pace a little again. So I can acheive my goal of 5 times this year. What goals did you have for this year? How does it look at your ability to accomplish them? If you need to revamp and keep going!

Know that I love you all very, very much!

Forever,

Sis. Chris.

Transfers.... they just keep coming!

Hey Everybody!

Hope all is well! I'm sure everyone is gearin' up for school again. That's what we're doing down here. Getting ready to set up booths and stuff trying to promote Institute on some of the campuses down here! It's been a lot of fun though.

Today is the beginning of my 10th transfer and I only have three left! Crazy huh? Looking back I don't know where these last 14 months have gone, but I'm grateful that I know they've gone to God! Looks like I'm staying in Braes Bayou for another transfer! Woot, woot! It's going to be fun!

Well there have been many miracles in my week. We taught a new investigator on Tuesday, right before her and ----(the memeber who invited her to church) were going to the pool party her apartment was having. Well, later ---- sent us a text and said something similar to, "The other day ---- brought alcohol to the pool party, but after the lesson she decided not to drink it!" Yeah, the Spirit really does move people to keep commandments, whether they know they're commandments or not! I thought it was a really beautiful blessing.

And we have another sister that invited a friend to church this last Sunday, and now she's planning on feeding us on Friday! Yay! It's really cool and exciting to see the member missionary work that's going on! We wouldn't have very much to do without them. I can't tell you how important your part is to the Lord's work especially in the Hastening! Actually, that reminds me of an e-mail President Ashton, my mission President, sent out the other week. Here is his testimony on the matter! It's pretty cool too! ;-)

 

When we first arrived in the mission, I had a certain way of talking with people about the gospel. The first day that we were here, the movers arrived and I was able to share the gospel with them in the way I had always shared the gospel. Later that day, I went out to get some food for the family. I tried to share the gospel with the cashier. That was not a good experience. She was clearly afraid of me and our message. When I handed her a pass along card, her hand shook as she took it. I knew that I had not helped that cashier draw closer to Christ, but rather had driven her further from Him. That experience left me feeling unsettled, and I began to wonder if the Lord would have me do something different.

As a result of that experience and others like it, I studied and sought to know how the Lord would have me do. I found my answer in Alma 17:29. In that scripture, the flocks of King Lamoni have just been scattered at the waters of Sebus and the servants of the king have begun to cry. We then read:

Now they wept because of the fear of being slain. Now when Ammon saw this his heart was swollen within him with joy; for, said he, I will show forth my power unto these my fellow-servants, or the power which is in me, in restoring these flocks unto the king, that I may win the hearts of these my fellow-servants, that I may lead them to believe in my words. (Alma 17:29, emphasis added)

What struck me about this scripture is that Ammon had to win people’s hearts before they would believe him. I realized that the way I was doing missionary work at that time didn’t allow me to first win people’s hearts. The Spirit then told me that I was going to have do missionary work differently than I had done it in the past.

I spent the next six months trying to come up with an approach that I felt the Lord was happy with and that was effective. I often felt very uncomfortable. I had been doing missionary work for one way so long that it was hard to change. Each time, I spoke with someone about the gospel, I said a silent prayer. I asked God if I had done okay. I also asked Him if I had met that person’s needs and what I should be doing differently. God helped me. And, eventually I started feeling comfortable with my approach again.

I relate that experience because we all have been asked to work with and teach members. Many of you have tried to do that the last couple of week. Our key indicators have dipped because we were teaching members instead of investigators. I sensed in your emails to me last week that many of you felt uncomfortable with the new approach. It seemed that for many of you, you felt like you weren’t really doing missionary work by working with members.

I want to testify to you that we must work with members. The people who are prepared to receive the gospel are the family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances of the members. Elder Neil L Anderson made this clear in the April General Conference. He said:

Brothers and sisters, as surely as the Lord has inspired more missionaries to serve, He is also awakening the minds and opening the hearts of more good and honest people to receive His missionaries. You already know them or will know them. They are in your family and live in your neighborhood. They walk past you on the street, sit by you in school, and connect with you online. (“It’s a Miracle,” April 2013 General Conference)

What’s more, the members have already won their hearts. Because these people trust the members, they will believe you as you teach them.

I know it is hard to change our approach to missionary work. When I was changing mine after first arriving in Houston, I sometimes felt like the new way I was being instructed to do missionary work wasn’t missionary work at all. But I can testify to you that working with members is missionary work. It is what the Lord wants us to do at this time in the work. It is only through working together with the members that we will find those who are truly prepared to accept the gospel and that we can help hasten the work (D&C 88:73). Thank you for teaching the Preach My Gospel lessons to the members. Thank you for helping the members to read the scriptures, pay tithing, attend church, pray, do family history work, and attend the temple. Thank you for showing the “I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go” video to the members and for inviting them to find someone for you to serve. I promise you that as we strengthen the members, we will find more prepared investigators to teach than we have in the past, and we will baptize more people.

 

Yup, I thought is was pretty cool! Pres. Ashton really strives to follow the Spirit and do what the Lord has asked of him, even when it's uncomfortable. I mean, we all have growing pains. It's a part of the prepatory experience! Anyway, don't forget to do the Lord's work throughout every single day! Whatever work you can do, do it! I love you lots. There are also a couple of videos that I've copied the links for! One is talking about obedience to the basic principles of the gospel by Elder Scott, and the other is a music video that makes me happy(Included in posts below)! ;-) I hope they can brighten up your day too! And teach you something more.

I know that obedience is the first law of heaven. It is a very important message and is something that we should strive to implement further into our hearts every day! It also has been a principle that has been talked about in the message of Pres. Monson last conference. I'd say that's probably something we should pay attention to, eh?! Hehe! Don't you love that we have an inpsired man of God and Prophet for these days?! I do!

Okay, well, know that I love you all and I hope you have a super wonderful week! You're all just so wonderful! I love you lots and lots!

 

Forever,

Sis. Christopherson 

Video 2

A music video that makes me happy!

Video 1

Obedience to the basic principles of the Gospel by Elder Scott.

If I had a blessing for every blessing you have......oh wait! I do! 8/5/13

Hey everyone!

Hope all is well in the far off lands of who knows where! ;-) I want to send a shout out and congrats to ----!!!!! Oh my goodness!!!! Germany here you come! That is so SWEET! You should totally bond over that with ---- and ----! I know that this time is going to be so amazing for you! You are a wonderful young man, I truly believe you will be a wonderful missionary! Missions aren't what you think they are though...remember that. If you have any questions I'd love to answer them! ;-)

This week I just wanted to talk about how much our Father in Heaven really does bless us, and He blesses us all equally but individually! I love that! The blessings that I need and that mean so much to me, aren't necessarily the blessings that the next guy needs. But I get what I need and he gets what he needs and nobody is left out, forgotten, misplaced, or short changed! Sometimes in life we can look at others success and wonder why Heavenly Father is blessing them more than us. Sometimes that causes us to believe that it's because we're not good enough, or Heavenly Father doesn't love us the same, or He loves them more. Whatever the case those are all EXTREMELY false.

I firmly believe that Heavenly Father loves all of His children, and throughout life in order to help someone feel special they're treated differently. Heavenly Father treats us differently, not better or worse, just differently. Because it's so dearly important to Him that we all feel His love, and how special we are to Him! It's the same reason why I am asked to preach the gospel in Texas, Ivan is in West Virginia, Travis in Germany, and others elsewhere or not at all. Because my life doesn't need to be exactly like anyone else's to know that my Father in Heaven loves me! When I look at my life and how much He has protected, guarded, lifted, comforted, loved (and so many others) me I know that He is there and that I am special to Him.

I know that I am far more blessed than I deserve, and I also know that I am not any less blessed and valuable than any of my brothers and sisters!

I know this seems a little random I suppose; nevertheless, it's what I felt like I needed to write! I hope that you can feel the Spirit of it, and know deeper how much your Heavenly Father loves you. Even in your trials! Especially in and through your trials! Just know that I know that! ;-) And I'm grateful that I do!

I wanted to send a couple of pictures! We helped some members in our ward move this last week, and it was tons of fun! You have no idea how easy it is to get super disgustingly sweaty in Houston. You go outside and your drenched - crazy! Anyway, we were moving a lot of stuff, and it lasted almost all day. We actually had to leave and come back. Because of that...I got to wear a hard hat! Haha! One of the people we were helping move had one for whatever reason. So when we were carrying a load down ---- put it on my head. It stayed there...yup! I wore it all the way to our appointment and back again. Don't worry though, I took off for the lesson and left it in the car! ;-)

----, to finish my letter about the pan-handler- the rest of his sign says, "donations for karate lessons appreciated!" HAHAHA! Isn't that great! Only in Texas....maybe even only in Houston. I'm not sure! :D

Also, in the bottom right hand corner of by the Dumpster is a raccoon. In daylight- thought it was fun and a little weird since it was light outside. So, I took a picture. There were two, but I only caught one. Sorry. Hope you enjoy it!

 

Anyway, I've gotta peace out. Know that I love you all with all my heart. I hope you have a most wonderful and fantastic week! You'll see Heavenly
Father's hand in as you're looking! Go and do great things this week! Be a better son or daughter of God! Show the world what we're made of! It is truly divine lineage!

 

Forever,

Sister Christopherson

 

Don't forget to read your scriptures daily!