XiliHui

XiliHui means baptism! And boy did we have one! It was the first baptism I have seen that came from a companionship I was in, which was cool. His name is Lin Cheng Rong and he is ten years old. He is awesome and though he is a little shy, he has a lot of faith and righteous desire. 

Since I haven't been in this area very long, I am not super close with him but since I got here we have been trying to visit him or at least contact him everyday and now we are friends so it was awesome seeing him get baptized! The baptism was awesome. A ward member baptized him and had to do it three times which is a miracle because before the baptism Cheng Rong told us he wanted to be in the water as long as possible. He got his wish haha!

We made sure to invite all of the investigators and members we could get a hold of to attend the baptism and it was a great turn out. Also, those who spoke shared very powerful testimonies which I think might have gotten to his parents (who are both supposedly not interested.) Their situation is really hard but he is improving everyday and finding joy and comfort in this gospel. There are a lot of people that love and support him in our awesome ward! 

We also met with a Wang Zi Chen. He is a recent convert who is about the same age as Lin Cheng Rong but a lot more wild and energetic. He is an awesome kid but getting him to focus was hard. He also has a very difficult family situation in which he gets spoiled by his grandparents but not shown any love by his mother. 

So when we asked him to pray sincerely to close our lesson he started crying and refused to pray.. It was sad, but we called him later and he said he would pray and read.We think he needs a little more support so we will be working pretty hard to get him doing the things which the Lord would have him do. He is a little kid but one scripture I think really captures his situation is Ether 12:6. It states: 

"Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not,for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." 

our park which is one of the biggest in Taiwan! It is beautiful!!!!!!!

When we face these trials that cause us to lack desire to do small things that bring joy like reading and praying, we are in the trial of faith. Once we can recognize that we are being tested we can show our faith and endure. Resorting to disputing is taking a step back away from the light at the end of the tunnel. After Wang Zi Chen is able to overcome his families problems he will be able to receive that witness from prayer and scripture reading that he is not alone. 

really cool table

We saw a lot of miracles this week and though we have a few things to work on we are doing great as a companionship. We are learning quickly how to teach well together. I am loving Luo Dong!! I have accidentally called about 8 different girls guys over the last few days. They sincerely look like boys because they cut their hair short for tennis and then on top of that they dress like boys. I feel really bad and that is the most stressful thing right now. But things other than that are really great! I hope you all have a great week and remember to read your scriptures!

Love, 

E.H.C.

p.s.Grandpa Reed is so awesome I am excited to talk to him when I get home. Can you get me Spencer's talk?? Thank you for your prayers! I miss Mexican food.. I do pushups every morning but am still scrawny as a maobi(broom)

I still get asked almost everyday if I am Asian and I tell them my ancestors are Dutch and Swedish because I am not positive but I know I am not asian. hahaha

I am glad you miss me but you shouldn't cry over me mam!

I am doing great here. We had a good week and I love this area. We might go to these natural springs and you put your feet in and little fish come and bite off all the nasty stuff hahahahahah

Thank you mommy I love you! 

I'm Lovin' It

This week was an interesting one for sure. Early last Wednesday morning we received a call that we (Elder Dexter and I) would both be leaving Daxi and that it would be closing down. The area was going through a rough patch but it was mostly due to the fact that there have been no new missionaries for a while because of visa problems. So there were quite a few areas that got closed down. 

We were told to just pack all day and we had to pack everything. Literally every thing left our apartment and it was left empty. We had some movers to help luckily but that took up the whole day. 

After all of that we had a baptismal interview with George but he forgot a lot of the things we taught him and he did not pass which was sad but we made a goal to get him baptized! 

    

Anyways, we had our English class party and Elder Dexter and I played guitar and Uke songs for a game of musical chairs! It was really fun and kinda wild. We spent the next day saying goodbyes and then slept at the other Elders apartment that night. 

In the morning we headed to Taibei for the transfer meeting! Elder Dexter was sent to Hua Lian which is the most beautiful area apparently but it is super far away so I won't see him for a long time... I got called to serve in the east zone with Elder Love who is from Utah and went to Orem High! 

MY NEW COMPANION ELDER LOVE!

He comes from a family of 8 kids and likes to make weird voices. He also has a good music taste and is really good at remembering to call our investigators. He is also very handsome and the girls here make a point of telling him every five minutes haha. He is awesome! He is a really hard worker and we are already really good friends. I LOVE HIM! Haha. He lives his name to a point. He loves everyone and works really hard to prove it. I was getting kinda depressed in Daxi to be honest but I am so happy now! 

We are serving in Luodong which is right on the coast on the east side of the island. It is a bigger city with a lot more people, no hills, and a whole lot of wonderful members! It is pretty much the opposite of Daxi. Our apartment is also a lot nicer but that isn't too important. 

We have an investigator named Lin Cheng Rong who is 10 and so prepared. His baptism is this Sunday! When Elder Love told me about this ten year old I was doubtful to how much he knew or understood but I should not have doubted. He has a lot of strength and understanding. I have met some wonderful people and we have already seen a lot of success as a companionship! I am very excited to tell you of our adventures here! I am doing so well and I LOVE MY NEW AREA! 

I learned a lot from Daxi. I can only go up from here. 

Love you all and if you have any questions email me at: christensen.henry529@myldsmail.net 

Love, 

    

Elder Henry David Christensen 

p.s. We taught a lesson on the tree of life last night and today I got a letter from Papa all about it and a small painting of the tree of life. WOAH I must need to learn something from it because it has come up a lot recently..

I LOVED THE PICTURES OF SPENCER! HE IS SO AWESOME. I could feel the spirit by just looking at the pictures! it was really weird. He is a spiritual giant. I hope to become as powerful of a missionary as he was and is. 

so long Elder Dexter!

Daxi District

the dark haired man is my district leader

this is calligraphy of my fav scripture alma 26:12 that my bishop did for me.
he is renowned around the world and this would normally cost a couple hundred
but the gave it to us for freee.
He signed my name and his on there~!! 

Last week with Ding

Our friend who let me play his guitar~! Jason Chang

This paragraph is in memorial of my time with Elder Dexter (Ding). This week will be our last week together! This Wednesday is transfer meeting and one of us will be moving. 

Elder Dexter is from Tennessee. He likes anime, pokemon and has a pretty good taste in music. We never fought and resolved all concerns without a problem. He is always willing to do the hard things and is a great missionary. I feel honored to have served with him. 

One thing in particular I noticed that I loved was that he was really good friends with a lot of members and people he had met throughout his mission. They would drive over an hour (which is a lot here) just to visit him for a half an hour. I would love to gain that kind of friendship with the people I meet and I learned a lot from Elder Dexter. 

We had some hard times this week but I learned some good lessons. I got to go on exchanges with Elder McClellan and he is awesome. He is always happy and it helped me learn how smiling can help even when you are not too happy. I used that theory the next day while English boarding. As we tried to hand out tracts we got denied and denied but I took the opportunity to just smile and I noticed a lot more people that were willing to listen because I looked happy. So this week was another week of small but important lessons. 

A bishopric member's kids when they fed us dinner we played chinese chess after

Our Buddhist friend said they needed help in their Miao-Temple, so of course we went to help. They took us in and went upstairs. We walk into a room full of monks praying and bowing and singing and all the like. Worshiping false idols and stuff all day everyday. They took us in and all the monks just stared at us but didn't break their worship. We just stood there and our friend said, "hey, do this" and bowed or something. I was thinking, OK this is weird, and I am not worshiping these false Gods but I didn't want to offend so we went through the actions and then left. Then they told us to come back the next day. 

Haha so we got spiked by a Buddhist, which means they had a lesson with us and set up another "lesson" so we count as a new investigator. It was really weird... We didn't go back. I did learn something important from that experience. Whenever we invite someone to Church and they don't know what to expect then they will feel like I felt. It is really important to explain Church to people or else they will not want to come back, and also be welcoming and don't just stare at people I learned that too.

Butterfly hallway

I may move this Wednesday! But if I don't move then my companion will and it will be a new experience! SO wish me luck! I love you all and have a great week! I love you mom and I pray for you every day. I pray you can overcome your trials and stay the happy lovable person you have always been. I miss your hugs this week and the smell of Doterra that always wore off on me after I hugged you. Love your son,

Elder Henry David Christensen 

Art museum

p.s. I GOT YOUR CHRISTMAS CARD AND LOVED IT! I HAVE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY!!!!!!! Thank you. I keep it with me all the time. 

Their Souls Are Precious

In Alma chapter 31, Alma and his fellow missionaries have encountered a people who worship false idols and will not listen to their wonderful message.

He gathers together his brethren and this is his prayer: "Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee." Soon after this prayer the lord grants this blessing. 

"And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith."

    With these scriptures as a background I want to tell you about my week and relate it to each of you and how praying for an opportunity to help someone find the path that leads to Christ, if done with faith, will yield countless blessings.

I was able to go on exchanges with an Elder Bennion, from Bountiful Utah, this week. He is one of my zone leaders and is what some would call a "consecrated missionary." He, to me, is a great example of putting everything on the alter of sacrifice and going to work. Throughout the exchange I noticed he was praying a lot more than I was. And each and every time it was on his knees. He never mentioned it or told me to pray as he did, but a short lesson here is that leading by example can have great effects. 

As I began to try harder to pray more, on my knees, and with the faith of Alma, I noticed a change. It wasn't a large change but I have noticed a change in myself. Alma also says that it is by "small and simple means that bring miracles," and so it is with prayers. Kneeling down with all sincerity and willingness shows our faith and will bring blessings.

    In D&C section 24 this revelation is given to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery:

 5. And thou shalt continue in calling upon God in my name, and writing the things which shall be given thee by the Comforter, and expounding all scriptures unto the church. 

6. And it shall be given thee in the very moment what thou shalt speak and write, and they shall hear it, or I will send unto them a cursing instead of a blessing.
7. For thou shalt devote all thy service in Zion; and in this thou shalt have strength.
8. Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many;but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days.

24. And in temporal labors thou shalt not have strength, for this is not thy calling. Attend to thy calling and thou shalt have wherewith to magnify thine office, and to expound all scriptures, and continue in laying on of the hands and confirming the churches.

Last Pday we went to this cafe overlooking Sherman Shui Ku which is a lake you can see from space so it is huge. and it was soo beautiful but we didn't eat there because it is expensive.

These scriptures don't just define missionary work. They define life at home, at work and at school. I have had countless times where I just did not have the courage or strength to share this message. But sometimes you just have to say "not my will, but thine be done," and then kneel down and pray. 

I have learned a lot while I have been out here. I walk past countless amounts of people that need the gospel and will not receive it. All I can do is invite them. And I do so to you. I invite you to share this message and to pray for the strength to help those who need it to find it. 

I love you all and hope all is well. 

Love, Elder Henry David Christensen

p.s. CONGRATULATIONS on your 25th anniversary!! That is so wonderful! You are both such wonderful parents and examples to me. I do hope I can be as good of a husband and father as ole dougly is.