I'm dreaming of a white Christmas.....never seemed so real. :) 12/17/12

So, guess what?! I will not be having P-day on Monday. So, I don't know when you'll be hearing from me next week or the week after. Who knows? So, since I don't have another chance I want you all to know that I'm thinking of you, and love you very much! I hope everyone's holiday season is most wonderful. May God help you feel my love from so far away, and bring you joy as you celebrate such a sacred, and special season!

Don't do anything crazy, please be safe.

I'm sorry I can't leave you with more of a message, but time is short and I have a lot to do this hour I have to write. I'll talk to you soon!

Thanks for everything you do and for all of the support! :)

Forever,

Sister Christopherson

 

Pictures:

Sister Lewis and I did some service and raked up a TON of leaves! We ended with 17 bags STUFFED and that not very little box full with leaves. It was some good hard work, and it was so fun! It was a miracle we compacted it down to that!

These are most of the nativities that are in our house. Sister Chamberlain has collected them from all over the world. There are some from Japan, Germany, Italy, Texas, Russia, Idaho, Hawaii, Thailand, etc. It's actually really cool. There is not enough time to send you detailed pictures of every one though. So, you'll have to see them next year! ;-)

Stayin' where the Lord wants me! 12/10/12

Hello Everyone!

How is everybody doing? I'm sure there is lots of excitment for the Christmas season! I'm sure loving the feeling of remembering my Savior's birth, and the exciting idea of when He will come again! :-) I don't know what you are doing for Christmas this year, but don't forget to think about our Savior. I've been loving the Christmas decorations going up all over Seabrook, and I've noticed there are some really pretty houses decorated more than anything I've ever seen, and there is not even a glimmer of remembrance; nothing about the Savior at all.

This is a fire hydrent dressed up like Santa....that is all.

 It makes me think of how the world really is, and they've done a very good job of trying to take God and Christ out of everything we are...even Christmas! But the truth still remains, Christ is in all of us. Give a gift to the Savior this season, do something at the temple, or share a message of His love with someone, start giving more time to the Lord in scripture study, prayer, or service. Whatever you do, do it with all of your heart! Give thanks for all that Christ has done for you; He showed His love for you throughout His life here on earth starting with His humble birth. Show your thanks and love for Him throughout this season and into the coming years. As Elder Holland commented at conference I'm sure He's asking each one of us: "Do you love me?" Let's show Him our love!

This is a NASA Spaceman Nutcracker on the Moon.
[My name for it is the Astro-naut-cracker!]

This is me holding the NASA Spaceman Nutcracker on the Moon. :-)

I thought I would share it with you because it makes me smile and I went to NASA. 

I want you to know that I love you, I really love you all! My heart is with you, and I pray all is well. Be safe and healthy and create the most precious memories with eachother. Don't waste your time on big presents or commercial things, spend your time on the Lord. Create memories with those you love and He will be with you too. May God watch over you while I'm away, and bless you this holiday season.

Forever,

Sister Christopherson

This is me.

Next week I want to send you pictures of all the Nativities that Sister Chamberlain has up. She has collected them from all over the world. They are really beautiful. I'm excited to share.

 

Super Post Script: In case you missed it, I'm staying in Seabrook for Christmas!

Happy December Y'all! 12/3/12

Howdy everybody! :)

So, I don't have any super big adventures this week. In fact I was put on house arrest....hehe! I didn't do anything crazy, but I was super sick and I wasn't staying in so it was getting worse. So, I got told to stay in and I did. I'm doing much better now. I'm not quite to the finish line, but I'm definitely out of the gate. However, I tell you this so that I can show you a tender mercy of the Lord in my life. I had strep and I was throwing up a lot. Couldn't keep anything down, couldn't swallow, lost my voice for like the whole week. (That is actually still touch and go). I got to brush up on my sign language, and my companion had to learn so patience with it, because she doesn't know sign language. It was a good adventure. Anyway, back to the tender mercy. Through all of this pain and sickness, I was praying for a little bit of comfort. I'll tell you how that prayer was answered. On the day it was at it's worst I received a something I honestly wasn't expecting in the mail. A cute little turkey puzzle! I want you to know that I don't know who thought of it, but I don't doubt that Father inspired and got it here just in time. I want to thank you for your messages of love and encouragement. I want to thank you for thinking of me at Thanksgiving, and I want to thank you for letting me know. I recognize it as one of the many comforts God has sent me this week in my time of trial. So thank you for following your prompting, thank you for your strength.

I was going to send a picture with this e-mail to see if I did it right, I mean all the messages made sense, but you never know. :-) However, I forgot to take a picture with it. So, I guess you'll never know.

I can't believe that I've been out for six months! That is a little crazy to me. It feels like I've been gone forever, and not that long all at the same time. It's all sorts of crazy. I hope this next year will be as fruitful as these last few months, and I'm looking forward to seeing you next Christmas! ;-) God be with you, and bless you.

Also, next week is transfers. So hold on to any letters to be sent out Monday until after I e-mail you. So you know if I'm staying in Seabrook or moving on to the next adventure. It's likely I'm staying, but you never know what the Lord will do with you! :)

 

Pictures

I thought this was a funny sign that you might enjoy. And it's not a bad picture either. :)

This was hanging on our front door, and I thought it was funny because "the field is white", you know? Do you get it? :-D

This is me and a Turkey cupcake! They're super cute and delicious! :)

 

Remember that I love you forever and always! Keep the faith!

Forever,

Sister Christopherson

NASA!!! 11/26/12

Hey everybody! I'm going to try and send you a handful of pictures so the e-mail might be short and you'll have a lot of them! Anyway, I live with a NASA doctor, basically he makes sure the astronauts are all good before, during, and after their space flight experience. And because he is who he is, I got to go places that normal people don't really get to go a lot. 

I went into the places where they do the training for everybody. I got to see all sorts of stuff up close, and it was SOOOOO exciting! I was like a kid at Christmas! (haha, look at me being funny.)

If you were wondering I was taken care of for Thanksgiving, but it was NOT the traditional meal I remember. And like nobody actually has Thanksgiving at night here. It's Thanksgiving lunch with the football game. The Texans won don't worry. I was under the impression that Thanksgiving was about family, and eating, and giving thanks, and all those fun things....not in Texas. Here Thanksgiving is about football. That's all. As we all know, I was a little out of place in those conversations. Partly, because I can't watch the game, and partly because I don't believe the Texans winning will effect my eternal salvation in anyway, so, I have no interest in it. I guess after my mission I'll have to look into it a little more closely....try and figure out what all the fuss is, you know? :-D

Anyway, Here are as many pictures as I can send you before my time runs out. All is well in Texas. :) Sending all my love your way!

Forever,

Sister Christopherson

I'm a shuttle driver!!! I'm sitting where REAL astronauts have been....that's right....I'm famous. ;-)

I wanted to know who got permission to put a Christmas tree up at NASA....Just sayin'. It made me happy!

Real Flight Director on call at that time...That's right I was in an active command station! Looking at space!!!

 Sorry, but this is the end. Hope you enjoy the pictures! Love you more than anything!!!! :D

Oh, the stories you get on your mission.... there's nothing like 'em! 11/19/12

Hello Everybody!

I hope everybody has a most wonderful Thanksgiving this week! It's going to be a little weird not being able to snitch dressing when Bapa's not looking, and no bubbly...none of that. However, I do get to spend Thanksgiving with a fantastically hillarious Scottish woman who I love! She makes me laugh so much! I had a crazy week! But most of the stories I have I don't think I should share with you....it's been a strange week. However, I got to go on exchanges with my MTC companion Sister ----. I love her! And it was so much fun teaching real people with her. We actually had a really cool experience. We were trying to figure out where to go, so we said a prayer and looked at the ward list, and we decided on a Sister I had never met. We got there and were sitting outside the house going. We have no idea why we're here! So we said another prayer to make sure we were in the right spot. And we were. So, we went up to the house, and we had a really cool lesson with her. She has been struggling and we were there as a reminder the Heavenly Father is aware of all of His children even when His servants are not! I didn't know this person, this precious daughter of God, but Heavenly Father knew she needed to be reminded of His love for her. I was grateful to be a willing servant and to give the message to her.

Pictures:

Sister ----'s year mark picture. We were eating gingerbread house ice cream with tiny spoons. It was fun.

This is just funny! Enjoy!

This is Sister ---- and I on our exchange.

This is a sign in the middle of a residential area....no hiking. It was something I felt needed to be shared. Texas is still crazy!

Know that I'm grateful for every one of you, and for all you do. I love you and miss you very much. I appreciate all you do for me and have done for me. I don't know where I would be without you! Remember my love for you at this time, and remember God's love for you. He is aware of you....ever aware of you and your struggles. Remember, please remember. Hold to the truth, and be who God intends you to be.

 

I can testify that being obedient to the commandments. Every single one, will bring you more blessings, in more ways than you could ever imagine. It's not worth living the gospel half way, it's not worth keeping on half the commandments. You will sacrifice more than you know if you are not doing your best to be obedient to your loving Heavenly Father. He loves you, knows you, and more miraculously knows what's best for you! Trust in Him and find out His plan for you!

 

God be with you,

Forever,

Sister Christopherson

Hello, Hello! Don't worry I didn't forget! 11/14/12

Happy Marine Corps Birthday!!! And Vetrans day! I told you I didn't forget! ;-D

Anyway, I bet you're wondering why I didn't write you Monday...Well, because we thought the Library would be closed but it wasn't! :) And yesterday I was in a conference all day with the 1/2 the mission, and the other 1/2 is having their  conference today. So here I am, and you're all probably thinking that I don't love you anymore, but that is not true. I've been thinking about you since I left! Well, as much as I can and still be doing the Lord's work anyway. :) I'm growing accustomed to Seabrook. It's different than Houston that's for sure! They just barely set a part the R.S. President. She is a really cool lady. She is Scottish, and when I met her she was talking about getting asked to be the president, and she said, "Last time I was Relief Society President Moses was the Bishop!" I laughed a little and thought you might too.

This last week has been rough. Me and my companion were both sick! I got a cold! Who get's a cold in Texas! I guess the AC was on 70 instead of it's usual 75 degrees. I'm doing a lot better now though so don't worry! Anyway, I have some exciting news. Did I tell you I live in the home of a NASA doctor? Well, I do. And next Tuesday I get to go on a special tour of NASA!!! Guess who is super-super excited...? I AM! I'll have to send you pictures. :) Also, I am sending some pictures today. I wanted you to see the house I live in and show you my cool Mustard yellow coat! That's right I'm still a twin! Let Dot and Charly know. ;-D

...Me in front of the house in my coat!

...Me and my companion Sister Lewis! :)

...Me holding a turtle....I haven't changed too much there is a towel under it preventing me from touching it.

Close up of turtle.

                                    

                                  This I just thought you might enjoy! Happy Thanksgiving! 

                             What are you thankful for this year? :)

I want you to know, I am grateful. My whole heart is full  that I have a knowledge of the gospel and I get to share with everyone I meet! I'm so lucky to be a missionary, and I want you to know that God is a God of miracles! If you haven't seen His hand in your life look closer, because He is there! And if you want to see it more be obedient to things you know to be true. Be good. I  you to know that I know that my Savior is real, He lives! I'm grateful for all that He has done my life. All that I am is through Him! I know it! And I'm grateful to know it! I send all my love to you, be safe and stay healthy.

Forever,

 

Sister Christopherson

Drum Roll Please.......Here am I! 11/5/12

Salutations from Seabrook!

Hey, Hope all is well with everybody, and I pray if there is hardship or physical distress in anyway that the Lord with be there to strengthen you. Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I love you.

My new address is:

2209 Lake Cove Way

Seabrook, TX 77586

I hope at least some of you will take the time to use it! ;-) Letters that go to the Mission Office with take a lot longer to get to me know, because I'm further away. Somebody from out here needs to go inland with a purpose other than mail, and then they can bring back the mail if they remember. That's how that works. I moved from an apartment to a bedroom. We live IN a members home and we get a little bedroom and our own bathroom. I didn't realize I had so many things! ;-) The room is a large-small bedroom with two sisters living in it. Crazy! My area covers small towns along the coast and borders the Galveston area. However, the ward just barely got split roughly a month ago, and we just got our Relief Society president called on Sunday, and Primary partly organized. I don't know it's a little out of control, but we'll fix that soon! My new companion is tons of fun. She is from Vegas and her name is Sister Lewis.

 

Photos:

 I HAD to get these pictures....I'm sure you understand why. :-D

I hope I sent the right one....Right to Left: My companion, Previous companion, 1st MTC companion, me. There was a motorbike rally on Galveston so the Galveston sisters had to come stay with us in our tiny room. It was out of control!

Anyway I'm out of time, so I have to sign off, but remember that I love you all very much! Don't forget to pray and fortify yourself against the things that easily beset you! Our Father misses the sound of your voice! Rock the Gospel - Live it!

 

Forever,

Sis. Chris.