June 15-June 26, 2023-Week 7-Mexico City MTC & Guadalupe Panama

To family and close friends: 

Hello!! I have no idea how much time I'll have in my schedule so sending all my laughs in this email.

We were doing a kahoot in our spanish study and everyone who didn't get first had to do pushups. Our teacher is so funny and always makes us do random workouts. One time he almost made us do burpees and i was lke "that is way too dangerous in a skirt". Anyways, i didn't think my teacher would actually count my pushups and he's like "hermana christensen that was not enough. Elder trendler plz finish". Rip elder trendler but thank you very much! 

There's this brand here in mexico for bread products called bimbo. Of course it has causes a few laughs every here and there, especially since we plugged it into spanish dictionary and its translation is "barbie cabeza hueca". So any time we have teams for games there is at least one team bimbo. I've been called a bimbo more than ever before at the ccm, who woulda thought?

Hermana Sass played flute to accompany the choir this Sunday. The director didn't show up for the practice so we suggested names to the hermana who was in charge of it, hermana reyes who is one of the couselors of the missions wife. She is so animated and kind of crazy and talks to fast and with a thick accent. Anyways, we suggested an elder who had done it the last few weeks. She immediately turns it down saying he ruined his chances since right before the last choir performance he buzzed his hair and looked ugly. So blunt, but yes so true. Elders have been banned from shaving their heads closer than a 3 ahha. 

We had a practice lesson all in spanish with a member. He was probably like 25 and works grounds at the ccm. His name was Guerillmo and we taught him the plan of salvation and he was really nice and I'm grateful for people like him who give their time to serve the missionaries. But, as we ask him to pray, he repeats back our names to pray for us individually, and accidentally calls hermana Sass hermana Ass. Of all english words he barely seems to know, he knew instantly that one was not a good one. It was so funny and he was so embarassed. What adds more to it is how hna Sass is so shy but as we walk out she quietly in her reserved nature says "why all the sudden when I'm a missionary are there all these super cute guys, when I traded my young adult heart for my missionary heart??" She's not wrong, he was a good looking guy.

Elder Rrendler and i have been sweeping the floor with other people in our district in spike ball. All that spike ball at the lake with my siblings is finally paying off. 

Randomly one day this girl comes up to elder Kersten and says "Have you ever been to mexico?" He's super taken off guard and ljke "uhhh nogales". Ever since then we find this girl staring at him and always trying to talk to him. She came up to our table the other day, showed elder Kersten her hand and was like "i got stung by a bee" and all he says is "wow" and she walks away. We joke that they will get married one day since they both went to byu. Thus really doesn't sound funny but it was. Because she literally just shows up put of nowhere wherever he is. 

There's this one elder who loves orange. Has an orange belt, only orange ties, wears all orange workout clothes. Explain. 

Hna Wilson is team Jess.  i knew she was a real one. If you know you know. 

Hna Wilson had a hot take: pacey witter. Also, if you know you know. 

So the elders endlessly quote this one meme from six years ago about all girls and to prove their point that all girls are the same. It goes something like this "Eat hot chip, charge they phone, twerk in line, etc." Someone please find me this meme and forward it to me, hna Wilson and i have no idea what it means but sends us to tears nonetheless.

"All the babes love it" elder Ganus and then proceeds to do this: (see attached video). Don't know how he's had three girlfriends but alright. The elders are veryyyyyy friendly with one another and do lots of fake smooches. Some almost too close. Reminds me of Garret, so its a nice piece of home. 

Letter to everyone:

Title: MADE IT TO PANAMÁ

Hello everyone!!!!! I made it to Panamá this last Thursday. I left from the CCM around 2:00am. Two other elders from my district, Kersten and Hulme, traveled with me as well. I hated saying goodbye to Hermana Wilson. Best friends forever and I am grateful for the mission bringing us together. Once at the airport, we waited in the check in line FOREVER! Copa airlines needs to get their act together. Two hours later we boarded and got en route to my home for the next 17 or so months. Everything else went smoothly and we were greeted by the APs. We got a little introduction to the mission and met our trainers. 

My trainer is Hermana (Joanne) Anderson. She is awesome! She is from Herriman, UT and went to one semester of BYU before her mission. This is her LAST transfer and she leaves for home August 3. She has the kindest heart and loves the people. She is a great teacher and I have been really blessed to know her. My zone is called Chorrea, and I am in the Guadalupe ward. We ward share with elders since the area is huge. We take buses everywhere, called Red Diablos. The other elders in our ward are Elders Weaver and Campbell. Elder Weaver and Hermana Anderson were really good friends before the mission and leave at the same time, just like Cole Clark and I! We already have had so many lessons. I understand pretty much all that happens at church and in lessons, but conversational talk is still a little hard, especially on the bus since we split up and just talk to people. I usually have people write down if I don't understand or just nod along and fake it til i make it. The gears are turning in my head and i know i have been blessed to understand so much and speak well already. We have meals with members every lunch and dinner, which has been a blessing. In our house, it is just us two, which is normal throughout the mission. We have lots of fans to fight the humidity, too. 

Basically, I really love the mission. It is everything I hoped it would be and more. Latino time is a real thing, so I need some more patience with that. But, my first day was kind of hard. I think i got hit with some homesickness, which is really weird. Also, being so tired from traveling did not help. But, i prayed and immediately felt so much better and everyday since I have loved my time and the days go by fast. I know God is aware of our needs, and that's why i am here in panama to testify boldly of this!

Hermana Anderson and I made some goals for this transfer:

1. Act on spiritual promptings with no hesitation. The scriptures describe such actions as straightforward, quickly, immediately. We are working towards that, especially for me on the bus. Because it is sometimes so scary to go up and talk to people about my purpose here, but they are all very kind.

2. Study patience.

3. 20 contacts a day...which is a whole lot. But, God will provide people for us to talk to and we will have to go outside of our comfort zone. 

4. 3 baptisms!

5. Pray for us to find the chosen.

6. Talk in Spanish and try in Spanish first.

7. Find something everyday that is noteworthy to write in the journal, just to make the mission fun and joyful.

My scripture of the transfer that runs through my head is 2 timothy 1:7 and it gives me the strength to be bold and not fear!

We also did two biggggg services projects this week: helping move blocks to build a new school and dejunking and cleaning some members yard.

I love the mission and love testifying of christ!!

Last few days in CCM

Preach my Gospel Class with Hermano Rubalcava

Last day with Hermano Rubalcava as our preach my gospel teacher

Curled hair for Sunday

We cannot determine what color my eyes are: green or blue?

Mirror selfie 🤩🤩

PANAMA

Service project in La Valdeza helping build the foundation of a school

Eating sancocho, the national soup of panama. It is a chicken soup with yuca, corn, and other vegetables that you eat with rice.

My first member meal with the Medina's! It was my first time eating patacones, basically fried plantains.

MY TRAINER HERMANA ANDERSON

 

June 8-June 14, 2023-Week 5.3-Mexico City MTC

 This is my last few weeks in the CCM! I am so excited to be in the mission field. My Spanish has progressed a lot and i even taught two 20 minute lessons all in spanish to some members of the church that went very well. I know the lord is magnifying my efforts through my hard work. 

Regarding the title: imagine being awoken from the most vivid dream to a blaring fire alarm. Well, that pretty much catches you up to how it was Thursday morning with Hna Wilson and I. We were pretty confused to say the least. There was no fire anywhere, but we went to the reception. It was super eerie and cloudy, but it was the first time i have not been hot here, so it was heavenly. The worker came back to our apartment, in a golf cart, might i add. He did not like the cold though and he animatedly yelled "TENGO MIEDO HACE FRIO". It was very funny considering the state i was in, half asleep, in my pjs, with my shoes completely untied and my eyes half way opened. Luckily everything was okay. 

I had the opportunity to play piano this week at the missionary council I attend as a Sister Training Leader. I had not accompanied in a long time, but I made a goal on my mission to share my talents and be willing. It went well, but is definitely different when everyone is singing in spanish. 

I also received a new companion this week. Her name is Hna Sass and she is from Port Orchard, WA. she's 21 and went to BYUI. She is quiet but seems sweet. Luckily, Hna Wilson and I were able to stay together as well.

My spiritual thought of the week is to commit to convert yourself to Christ. It is not a one day thing, but every day and in every decision we have to think as He did and love as He did. Even though it is so hard at times, it i s so worth it!

I leave next Thursday at 5:50am for Panama and could not be more excited!

Temple pday with many other missionaries

ONE MONTH DOWNNNNNN

17 MORE

In the family history center printing out names to take to the temple the following preparation day

Sticky noting more doors to welcome more sisters to the CCM as their Sister Training Leaders

He should hit me up

(Katie has been slightly stalking a EWU basketball player named Casey Jones. He is a member of the church and Katie thinks he's cute. We tried to set them up on a date, but it never happened. Kirt's friend Brad Hemenway is the single adult Bishop for the Eastern ward and he was supposed to make it happen but could never pull it off. Katie convinced me to buy his shirt. I tried to get her to post a picture of her wearing it on Instagram but she wouldn't)

Madison Crandall's friend, Lydia, was in the CCM at the same time as me. We were able to take a photo and it was fun to see her as I had met her before. They worked together at Desert Book in SLC. 

District with our spanish teacher Hermano Valesquez

Me, Hermana Sass, and Hermana Wilson

June 1-June 7, 2023-Week 4.3-Mexico City MTC

Letter to everyone: 

Once again, it was another great week to be Hermana Christensen. On the mission, I have learned who I want to be and how to do it during the mission and after the mission. The gospel of Jesus Christ requires a lot of sacrifice, but nothing is expected of you that cannot be achieved. 

The language is coming along fairly well. My listening skills are getting a lot better, but sometimes we are asked to repeat it back and I am NOT good at that. I know exactly what is said, but to repeat it is a different story. I don't even know if I could do that in English to be honest either haha. We took a grammar assessment this week as well and I did pretty well on it too. I also taught a latino a lesson and she said my Spanish was really good! So, it is encouraging that my spanish is progressing and I am not getting deterred. But, I know in panama there will be days when I say, "that is not the spanish they taught me in the mtc" haha. 

Hna Langkilde switched to a latino district this Tuesday. It will definitely be weird to not have her in our trio anymore, especially since she taught me and Hna Wilson so much. But, she has been so bored in class recently and it will be good for her to have a challenge. I got to practice some spanish with her new companion, which was fun as well. 

This week, the choir sang Joseph Smith's first prayer. In spanish, when it mentions birds, it says "pajaritos" which is little parrots, or parakeets. So, at the beginning of choir practice, one of the mission presidents wives comes in holding a basket that has a full on BABY PARAKEET in it. I kid you not. It was so funny. And she is like, "this is what inspired me to choose this song this week. Eight days ago it fell out of a tree and I've been nursing it back to health". Hna Wilson has been fascinated with the parakeets so she went up and asked and got to hold it!! Made her life!

Something that I have thought a lot about is answers to prayers. We talked a lot about the story of Joseph Smith. When you think about the timeline of the revelation he received from the lord, at age 14 he saw God and Jesus Christ and they told him to not join any other church. But, for three more years, we have nothing recorded about what went on other than the fact that he was persecuted greatly for his testimony. Then when he was 17, angel moroni appeared to him and then subsequently for four more years until he got the plates. Gradually and line upon line, he received more. He didn't ever have all the answers to his questions, but that did not stop his faith. Like Joseph, we may have "top shelf questions", or questions that we can't quite find the answer to, so we just need to tuck them away and focus on the "bottom shelf answers" that we have been so lucky to be blessed with. Slowly, top shelf items can move down a shelf or two with more knowledge and personal revelation, but, we don't ever need to let them stop our faith. So, doubt your doubts before your faith!

Letter to family:

This was my first fast in the mission. It went really well. We fasted from lunch on saturday until lunch sunday. I fasted for michelle, as always, and for Brooke, since she has been having a really hard time. I didn't feel too hungry which was a blessing. I read an article about fasting how any time that you would normally eat, read your scriptures. Any time you feel hungry, pray. I just really liked those suggestions and will keep them with me for future times of fasting.

An hermana in my house threw up this week. Sadly, she didn't get the toilet but the sink. On top of that, it would not drain. So, for three days we petitioned to reception for them to drain our clogged, nasty vomit infested sink. Finally, they drained it. The tender mercy is it never smelled bad and it was just a case of food poisioning, not stomach flu!

I have been eating so many tic-tacs and popping them like pills from the store here. We get money each week to spend, so of course i am going to use it. I also have been eating lots of rip off ritz, called crackets. They are way better though. 

An Elder in my district HATES the pope. For no reason too. It is so funny. Then he asked our teacher about his thoughts on the pope and he responded "el papa es el diablo". So, apparently pope haters reallyyyyy hate the pope if they hate him. 

For our final Sunday in two weeks, our district is singing a medley of I know that my redeemer lives and i feel my saviors love. Shockingly, one of the elders in our district can sing so well, so he carries the elders part. It is really pretty and i will get a recording of it soon. 

Hermana Langkilde switched to a latino district. Though sometimes she was a little controlling, I really do love her. That is what i love about people. You can always see the good in them. Her good way out weighed her bad. She was a great example of sacrificing for the lord, hard work, and sharing her knowledge. She will do great things in Colombus, Ohio for sure. 

I love Hermana Wilson. She is so fun, sweet, the best cheerleader, easy going, and funny. We have a great time together. 

Our teacher, Hermano Valezquez, despises the Pope. Of course this led to him to show us some of his theories for why he is an evil man.

I was so tired during class so I took a nap on the floor for a few minutes

Eating nutella packets!

Be fierce sign. Many people in my district did not know what this was, fifth grade me would have been devasted

Apartment A105! Left to right: Hna Langkilde, Wilson, me, Curtis, Larson, Beckstrand (all going to Atlanta North mission)

Matching in blue

José Smith statue

Us hermanas with our old teacher, Hermana Garcia. All our classes had two teachers, but with all the new high school graduates coming to CCM, now the classes only have one teacher, so we no longer get to learn with Hna Garcia.

We decorated the doors of the incoming sisters since we were assigned to be Sister Training Leaders.

Teaching what faith means to me

Hna wilson holding a parakeet that one of the mission counselors wife brought in. Apparently it had fallen from a tree and she was nurturing it since its' wings had broken in the process.

Hermana Langkildes new companion she received when she switched to the spanish speaking district