I'm Out

This week was transfers! So just in case one of us were leaving, we went out to eat with all our favorites and it was a fun time. 

Like usual, we didn't know until Wednesday night at about 9:10 P.M. who would leave, so we just pretended like we would both stay. 

Henry didn't like tomatoes at home

Wednesday was our English Class party! We made a bunch of cookie batter the day before and then the day of, we cooked sugar cookies, which we ended up frosting and eating. So that was our first activity, which was followed by writing letters to moms in English and then a round of musical chairs. It was pretty fun and smooth but all the missionaries were on edge because moving calls had not yet come. The class ended at about 8:30pm and calls come at around 9:00 usually, so we waited at the Church with some friends. But when it hit 9:10pm, we decided we better go. 

We were about 2 minutes away from the church when the phone rang. Haha, My companion picked up and then with wide eyes handed the phone to me. I was moving! 

The next day I packed and packed and packed. (I have a lot of stuff). It was a long and monotonous process, but I was also excited! I love Luodong, but it is always nice for a change. Anyway,  we visited with a few people that we loved and I said my goodbyes. Then before I knew it, I was lugging my luggage onto a bus, then an MRT, and finally to the Temple grounds. 

The transfer meeting was good. I was pretty sad because so many wonderful missionaries went home but it was also fun to see them and hear their testimonies. 

My new area is called BeiTou. (北投) and my companion is 王長老 and he is from Taiwan! It has been fun the last few days because I am almost always speaking Chinese. He can understand simple English, but it is just better to speak Chinese haha. 

Henry's new companion. I have no idea what his name is :)

I was also called to be the Language Resource Leader which doesn't mean that my Chinese is good but I think it is just so I feel important hahaha. Anyways, because of that I get to help newer missionaries test their Chinese to get through the first phase book which we are given. And I already got to help one sister pass it off, which was fun! I like my new area and will send pictures soon!

Love,

Elder Henry David Christensen

p.s. to mom

I met your friend here and she brought me a package but I am picking it up today. She seems nice. 

It was funny to see a Utah mom. They are different than the moms here hahaha

I love you and thank you for caring about me so much!!!!

TEMPLO

my homies

photo credit:lds.org

 Templo is Spanish for temple ;)

We went to the temple this week! We only get to every three months, so I am always excited. In the past there have been times where I was impatient. It was more like I was just waiting to go have fun after we were done working in the temple, and not really enjoying my time there. 

photo credit:lds.org

But this time, (as well as the last) I have really been able to feel the spirit and to recognize the importance of temples. I think what helped me prepare for this was President Thomas S. Monson's talk last conference:

He said "As I think of temples, my thoughts turn to the many blessings we receive therein. As we enter through the doors of the temple, we leave behind us the distractions and confusion of the world. Inside this sacred sanctuary, we find beauty and order. There is rest for our souls and a respite from the cares of our lives. As we attend the temple, there can come to us a dimension of spirituality and a feeling of peace which will transcend any other feeling which could come into the human heart. We will grasp the true meaning of the words of the Savior when He said: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. … Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” 

When we enter the temple, no matter the reason, if we have an open heart and a willingness to focus on where we are, we will feel the spirit. I know that to be true.

Thanks for your support! I have been pretty happy recently and I can feel your prayers for me. Thank you.

litchi fruit. It is really sweet and good to eat too

Love, Your son.

Elder Henry David Christensen

turbulence

This week was great! We worked hard and saw a lot of miracles happen for it! One of my favorite parts besides the cool beach art was going on exchanges with Elder Rasmussen. 

Some of you may remember him as my first district leader but now he is my zone leader. He is a very smart man. He will be going to Princeton when he gets home and his Chinese shows it. His vocabulary is immense and I haven't heard so many words I didn't know in one setting for a long time. 

Chinese is of small importance though, what really matters is that he is a hard worker. He is close to going home and he is in no way slowing down. I really respect him a lot. It was nice to go on exchanges with him again after so much time. I feel like that really helped me see that I had improved how ever small the amount. 

Sometimes I just stand still for a second and look at the sky and it is nice to just take a break from it all. President Uchtdorf said once "My dear brothers and sisters, we would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most." and I agree with that.

I am tired. But also, I am exhausted for others and not for myself and that is just enough to keep going. I know this is not my work. I realize more and more this small and simple truth. 

Hebrews 11: 34

my luggage

"Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens."

Qin DX (who is a jedi master)

Elder Francis showed me this scripture and I thought it was really funny so I am going to make some cool comparisons, but mostly it is just a weird scripture so I hope you enjoy that. Also, take note that my opinions are not always scripturally correct. 

Quenched the Violence of Fire- In Daniel we are told this story: "Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire. And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them." 

I believe that as missionaries we are protected. There have been many times where I have almost been hit by cars and hurt (because I have been hit but not hurt), earthquakes, sporadic fireworks and dog attacks have all been close to getting me but I am protected from the fire. 

Escaped the Edge of the Sword- This one I think of as sin. The sword is the penalty and we can only escape by repenting. I have escaped the sword in a lot of big ways just by a hair and I'll tell ya, it means a lot.

Out of Weakness Were Made Strong- Simply said, I am like Moroni in that I am not strong in writing but I can convey to you that if you bring your weaknesses to God. He will strengthen you. Moroni didn't become strong just from recognizing weakness, he relied on god and wrote one of the most powerful scripture sections ever! 

Waxed Valiant in Fight- Give it your all. DO everything you can and fight for what you believe in. 

Turned to Flight the Armies of the Aliens- I think in this passage flight doesn't mean running away necessarily, but to take swift action. This army of aliens is those things that we are not yet familiar with. So be bold, take flight and follow the prophet because he will let us know which of today's modern "aliens" we must avoid or join. 

Easter eggs

Also this week: Hanny had a beautiful baptismal service. She had, like I said last week, been an investigator for a very long time. She committed once and on that commitment she was baptized! I appreciate she only made that one commitment. She never ever backed out or deceived. She waited till she was ready and knew for sure, then she took action. Of course it is better to act with that first bit of faith than wait for it to grow a little bit, but still I was joyous at her decision to be baptized. She was very nervous the entire thing but I think it was a good experience for her in the end. What a miracle! 

mangoes

fisherman

We all need the church. You don't realize you need oxygen till you are underwater. 

I am always with you. 

I am not even that far away. 

Love your one and only boy.

Elder Henry David Christensen