Hello there Kirt and Emily. I hope that wasn't too friendly of a greeting. Maybe I should have been more formal, but I feel like I already know you both from what Hermana Christensen has told me.
I should have written this email long ago, but here I am in the first few days of my transfer away from your daughter and WOW, I miss her. I can't imagine how you must miss her. But THANK YOU for sharing her with the Lord, with His people in Panama, and with me!
Hermana Katelyn Christensen is AMAZING. When I first received transfer news, I was kind of laughing because I would be with someone who had my same name. My dad has always told us to represent the Christensen name well, and your daughter sure does! I did not know much about her when I learned that we would be companions. All I was told was that she was from Idaho, and was a good worker. Both of those statements were wrong.
I quickly learned that Hermana Christensen is from the great state of Washington, not Idaho, and that she was not merely a good worker, but a GREAT worker. A living wonder of a missionary. She wore me out the 3 months that we were together. There would be times I would be like man, I am ready for a little nap or something but she would get right out of a lesson and be like "Ok, what is the plan for the next lesson?"
When we headed out to our area together for the first time, I felt like a bit of a mess, leading the area out for the first time. But we got all her luggage on the bus, and I remember her talking to EVERYONE. A contacting machine. And I was jaw dropped by her Spanish. she speaks very well. And she is so good at building connections with people and just being bold. The people love her! They cannot help it.
One of the greatest lessons I learned from Hermana Christensen is the importance of obedience. She is incredibly, mindfully, obedient. I was not a disobedient missionary before, but Hermana Christensen showed me how to hold oneself to an even higher standard of personal righteousness before the Lord. She is in a constant state of improvement, trusting that if she is obedient and does her part, it will all work out. She ran our area.
I honestly would call Hermana Christensen my trainer. With her in San Vicente, I learned not only how to be an effective missionary, but also how to love being a missionary. I also met my very best friend. I love my tall beautiful blonde friend who is incredibly smart, funny, kind, and righteous. She is an amazing leader and will change this entire mission. She is doing so now.
some things about Hermana christensen the missionary:
- she loves to eat yogurt and granola, every day. also peanut butter is a must. i have never seen a big jar go so quick
- she loves her family. she worries about you all and prays for you all by name. she misses you!!
- she not only loves all the sweet experiences here on her mission, but she also wants to share them with you all. she tells me often that she wishes you were here to see all the crazy things that happen.
- she is BOLD, I remember her calling people out for not getting to church, inviting people to be baptized when i didn't have the guts, and talking to the random people on the street.
- she has an amazing memory. she remembers everyones names, scriptures we shared, and all the little things we can't forget. i don't know what i will do without her!
Thank you for raising such a faithful, wonderful daughter, and for paying for her to be here, for allowing her this opportunity. I am forever thankful for her. She changed my mission, and she changed me! She was and is a miracle in my mission and my life!!
Hermana Christensen
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