Learn Ya Good

We were finding yesterday and were short on time because we had an appointment soon, but my companion felt prompted to talk to a lady at a bus stop. We ended up teaching her a short but powerful lesson and in the end she was holding tight to the Book of Mormon, as if it were an anchor. It was a wonderful spiritual experience! My companion is a great teacher. I think that he is teaching me more than I could possibly teach him. Elder Facer is the man! 

This morning we woke earlier than usual and headed to the chapel to play basketball. We called the sisters to see if they were coming and after some complaining, they said they would come. So we went up and started playing with our investigators and Joel who is an recent convert. After about 40 minutes of playing, the bishop's son came in and told us we were needed downstairs. We booked it down to find Sister Juarez hunched over on the couch, sobbing. 

Just as we arrived the bishop laid his hands on her head and prepared her for a blessing of healing through the anointing of oil. He then motioned that I should follow suit and give her a blessing. It was short and to the point but soon afterwards, she stopped crying and was able to stand long enough to walk to the car. Later we were informed she would be getting surgery again to work out some kinks from the surgery that she had had a few weeks before. 

I was grateful at that time for my ability to worthily hold the priesthood of God, and to be able, in an instant, be lead by the spirit to heal another based on their faith. That is what was most amazing to me. Her faith. It takes a lot of faith to be healed. But when we have that kind of unbreakable faith we will be healed. 

I finished just the Old Testament and one scripture toward the end that stuck out to me was in Zechariah 13:6. "And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." I thought that it was really interesting and Elder Facer and I spent a few minutes talking about it during studies. Sort of about the Jewish beliefs on Christ and how when He comes there will be those that still won't accept him. 

But we mostly just talked about how it will be for those who do believe with an open heart He is our Savior. Isn't it wonderful that Christ, knowing He would be betrayed by his friends, sacrificed Himself for us? I hope when He comes again I will be able to recognize Him and won't even have to ask. It reminds me of Romans 5:1-8. If you have time in your busy schedules, I invite you to read them. 

(1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.)

Love,

Elder Henry David Christensen 

Neat ~ I ain't got hair

這個禮拜我們沒有做什麼,可是我還是很開心!　我們今天要去新竹市跟那邊的長老去玩! 我們有可能會去買雪花冰,還是不一定. *Google Translate (This week we did not do anything, but I was very happy! We're going over there today Hsinchu elders to play with! We have snow ice might buy, or not necessarily.)

So that is wonderful! I am doing pretty good. My son, Elder Facer, is teaching me everyday. He is a super hard worker as well as a fast learner. 

This last week I got really hot, so I took a bath.. But I still felt really hot so I shaved off all my hair. And I persuaded Elder Perkins to do it with me so I am not bald and alone.

    

我們一直很類可是這個工作很美好的和我應該要继续做神像要我做的事!我覺得當我們的目標是跟神的目標一樣我們會能夠找得到快樂! (We have been very kind but this work really good and I should continue to do the gods want me to do! I think when our goal is the same goal with God we will be able to find happiness!)

The sky was really cool this week because of the typhoon that is passing by. It won't hit us this time and is not even really effecting us so far. 

     

我愛你們,和我希望你們愛我 :) I love you, and I hope you love me :)

Elder Henry David Christensen

How Do You Like Them Apples?

Transfers this week:

We headed to ShiLin, which is in the east zone, at around 11:00 on Thursday and switched around companions leaving Elder Hansen there and then Elder Hughes, who was my previous Zone Leader and I, headed to TaiBei for some special training thing. 

After that we traveled back to ShiLin and spent the night there. Then the next morning we all headed to the transfer meeting and got our new companions. 

My companion is Elder Facer and he is from Tennessee just like my trainer which is cool. He has two older brothers that served missions and one younger brother that is a senior. He is a super hard worker and we already get along pretty well. Today is his 5th day on island, so I am trying to help him get used to it pretty fast but he is already doing pretty good. 

Nothing special besides that really. I am almost done with the bible so within 2-3 weeks, I will be done with the missionary library. So that is pretty neat.

One thing I have learned over and over again is that God, when he calls us on a mission, calls us to work two by two. For example, I had a conversation with a guy where it was mostly me talking and after I just did not feel great. So we prayed again and my companion led and we ended up switching off and using more unity while teaching the next person and it was full of the spirit. His ways were not my ways. But I am trying.

Love,

Elder Henry David Christensen 

Don't get blown away by the winds of Satan

TYPHOON!

We had a great storm this week that was very similar to the Rhino storm in James and the Giant Peach. Scooters getting flung around by the wind, trees snapping and the city lights growing dim were all side effects of the colossal storm. 

However, as missionaries we are pretty protected so we went outside for a quick L.A. (less active) visit during one of the more quiet hours. We shared Alma 26:6 which reads: "Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry them." 

We compared this scriptcha to our lives and it was kind of funny because at that moment it applied in more than one way, haha. 

We do face storms. Literally, figuratively and spiritually. A storm is a great source of power and can cause great damage, but I have to say for myself I didn't fear the Typhoon. I just thought it was really cool. Our perspective can determine the outcome. Also, I noticed afterwards hundreds of people helping clean up fallen trees, which leads me to believe that when we are hit by a storm, others can and will help us "clean up." 

Lastly, the power of God is great. God will tear us down, so he can build us up. With all the confusion in the world people are swept away by storms of immorality and things that only bring sorrow all of the time. When the storms come we must hold onto our tether which is Jesus the Christ. 

Elder Henry David Christensen 

My buddy Joel got baptized this last week which was super cool, and my companion is leaving me so next week will have a lot of fun times. I am a little sad. I love him to death. He is the best. I have come to love the scriptures a whole lot. Like I would rather listen to music and read the scriptures than go talk to people or whatever.

"That Which Thou Puttest On Me Will I Bear"

This week was great! I love the temple and It was definitely needed! We had a few odd experiences throughout the week but in all it was a good turn out. We got two new baptismal dates and we were really excited about that. Elder Anderton, my district leader, gave us the good advice to invite people to baptism more often! Genius! Needless to say, it worked really well.

We biked a whole lot this week. In the end it wasn't as much the distance that mattered but the fact that we were doing hills every day. I am sore and tired but it is sure worth the rides downhill!

One special experience I had this week was when I prayed and got an answer! 嗚嗚嗚嗚嗚嗚! But.... it wasn't that easy. I fasted and prayed and went to the temple and prayed some more. Then, I fasted again and prayed and finally I got my answer. I felt something was missing the last little bit of my mission and I couldn't figure out what that thing was. So really, I was praying without a real question. Kind of like when you forget something and you know you have forgotten something, but you can't remember exactly what you forgot. 

I mostly just wanted to know what my problem was so I could fix it. The answer came clean and clear. I heard in my mind a voice say to me, "You need to stop focusing on you and your problems and focus on the people that you were called to serve." I knew it was true. And I knew I needed to change a lot. 

Now, I am working hard to teach according to people's needs. I think the problem started because I was just teaching lessons and not the people. 

Of course I love the people! That was never the problem. The problem started with me relying on myself and not God. That is when I started to feel down and only until after I was humbled, was I able to know what I needed to change. Now I just have to work at it. 

I do however find it funny that even as a servant of the Lord who spends everyday preaching the word of God, you can still struggle in this kind of way. I hope that can help those who are not on missions realize how much more easily you can fall away if you are not always focusing on the gospel. So, my invite to you is to read the Book of Mormon. As our dear prophet, Thomas S. Monson, says, "if you have not read the Book of Mormon, read it!" 

Also, I invite you all to ponder this verse, "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.” Isaiah 45:7

Love, 

Elder Henry David Christensen