Baptism!?

    This week was a challenging week to say the least. Definitely one of the most challenging one I've had out here in the mission field. Here is why: Missionaries have been working with this investigator, Maggie, since April and all the way back in August she personally set her own baptismal date for this past Saturday the 21st. Since then missionaries here have been working hard with her to help her overcome her mom's "fandui" or protest about joining the church. So all the way up to last Monday she had been working hard to overcome it and then we got the permission from her mom to get baptized so we rushed to get her a baptismal interview for 2 days later so she could make her baptismal goal of this past Saturday.

    She passed her baptismal interview with flying colors and then we got permission for Elder Wayment to come back to baptize her since he had been working with her since May. So we're all excited and then we get a call from a ward member (one of her friends) on Friday night at about 9:30pm saying that she might not be getting baptized because she was telling people at work that she was getting baptized the next day and a christian from a different denomination absolutely railed on our church twisting our doctrine to sound like we're a cult and stuff like that.

    Later a couple of members went and talked with her till about midnight and she said she pray about it and make a decision the next morning (that part we didn't know since we had to go to bed). So we get a call from the member at 11 the next morning that she decided to get baptized so we went forward with it and get everything ready. And then 90 minutes before the baptism we get a call from the member and the investigator. She cancelled the baptism. Apparently after she made the decision she went to go talk with her boyfriend (another one of our investigators) and in the words of Elder Anderson "HE FLIPPING PERSUADED HER NOT TO....." (we later found out the boyfriend has absolutely no interest in the Church or God in general and only kinda started taking the lessons to make her happy).

     We had to hurry and call everyone and tell them that the baptism was off. She luckily had already called Elder Wayment to tell him to hop off the train because she cancelled the baptism. My companion and I were absolutely heart broken because she is so well prepared for baptism. I was downcast to say the least, but then, I assume with permission, Elder Facer, my son, reached me to tell me that Chen Jia Wen, who I had taught from the beginning was baptized just last week. I missed it by a week and didn't even know it was happening for sure till after the matter but I was mostly just happy that it happened. It made me happy and was sort of this weeks saving grace.  

Another fun thing was last night. While we were contacting people at the train station this crazy guy came up to us and tried to give us these bike accessories for free. We looked inside them and they both had wallets in them. And then he tried to sell us a bike for $100NT (about $3USD) that was the same brand and model as my companions bike (just 2 frame sizes smaller) which is very very expensive. We didn't buy it from him but we got his contact info so we'll see if he shows up to English Class this week. 

Love,

Elder Henry David Christensen 

Exchanges X3

This computer cafe is the pit of despair so I am not able to send pictures this week! sorry! I want to, but these computers are horrible!

On Thursday my companion and I boarded the early morning bus to Toufen. After arriving, I went with Elder Pack and left my companion in Toufen, as we headed to Taibei. Once in Taibei, we had our English leader meeting and then I left with Elder Hammond during Elder Pack's district leader meeting. Elder Pack is my district leader and Elder Hammond is a missionary in Tiabei that is also getting broken (trained). 

Once in Elder Hammond's area, we went finding for about an hour, found a solid new investigator and had a lesson with him, then headed back to the headquarters switched back and then headed back to Toufen, ate dinner, and went back to my area. Then the next morning we switched with our zone leaders. I was with Elder Marks who is super cool. He is from Utah but his mom is Vietnamese and his dad is Canadian so he has some cool stories about them. We had a lot of fun and success together. 

Anyways, needless-to-say, I am tired. This last week was super good but really hard too as we were finding the whole entire time.

I really was able to learn a lot from those exchanges. It was fun, tiring and well needed. I have been with missionaries that haven't been on island for a very long time so switching with Elder Marks, who is very experienced, for even a day was a nice burden lifted. I do end up talking a lot. Haha.

Love you all!

Elder Henry David Christensen

MIAO LI

Well, I got moved!! 

I finished training my son, Elder Facer, with glorious pride, and was moved out of the lands, leaving my posterity to him. I am not worried, although I am sad because Chen Jia Wen is getting baptized next week and I will miss it by just a week.. Super sad, but I will see her again hopefully. She is a good friend.

The transfer meeting was fun at first but as more and more calls were made, it just felt wrong. It was a really strong and odd feeling that just made me feel there was something wrong. I think something is going down at the headquarters...Nevertheless, I cannot complain. I like my companion a lot and I also think we will see a lot of miracles together. 

My companion is Elder Anderson. He is big and from New York! He also just finished getting trained so I am his second companion and breaking him which is funny because he, just like Elder Hansen who I broke, is a ginger! This is only significant because I think it means I will train again right after this transfer hahahah. 

The area is good too. Close to the Taizhong (Taichung) mission boarder, so we are a little farther away from headquarters and actually really close to my last area. So close that if I wanted to I could hang out with Elder Facer every P-day haha. In fact, we will be going to the beach with them today! Anyways, back to my area, it is a little smaller city. Less people and farther distances to get anywhere but that is OK. I like biking and it is getting colder anyways, so we will stay warm hopefully. 

I am loving life and the mission. Get convicted! 

Elder Henry David Christensen 

MA! DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA!

MA! DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA! (I told him that I missed him so much that sometimes I cry)

This week I was talking to a friend who was visiting from the other side of Taiwan and we started talking about you. She was asking what kind of food you made and all that you did. I was very grateful reflecting back on all that you made for me and did to make me happy. I am always sad looking back because I know I wasn't the best to you, but I am hopeful looking forward because I am getting better and I have realized now just have amazing you and Doug are. I am only happy that you are happy. I hope when I get home to be able to make you proud again and again.     

We have one investigator, Sister Chen Jia Wen, who is progressing really well and was able to attend all three hours of church yesterday and then meet with us after. She was actually a referral from a member in the Philippines who has been teaching her English over Skype. We are very blessed to be able to teach her. 

We have had quite a few lessons end with her expressing how moved she was by our message. The Holy Ghost is really working with her. She says she doesn't like rules and doesn't like meetings, but our meetings and commandments make sense to her, and she is willing to keep all that we have taught her. It has been really cool to watch her and help her progress. We are praying for the 14th of this month! She also has an 8 year old son so hopefully we can start working with him soon as well. 

One fun thing about the week is that I was able to go on exchanges with Elder Rasmussen who is one of my brothers here in Taiwan. We were in this village and found this 7 floor empty tower and decided to check it out. The basement was full of water and almost all of the windows were broken. It was sketchy but cool too.

My companion and I are well. We have always gotten along really well, and now we are working together really well on top of that too. I must say it has been a huge honor serving with him and I'll be sad when it ends. This week I sort of bore my testimony to him about the power of the spirit and the fact that each of my companions have taught me something I needed to learn. Meaning, I know that the spirit has helped my previous presidents and is helping President Jergensen when he assigns who I will be companions with. 

This next transfer is not very certain but I would love to stay here in ZhuBei and even have another transfer with Elder Facer. 

Elder Henry David Christensen 

p.s. It is great to hear all is well. I am prepping my legs for those long hikes. Thank you for the prayers. I also fasted for you this week. I love you!! Hope you are happy and also that you know you are super awesome!

潘安再世

This last week my brother and MTC buddy, Elder Perkins and I were able to go on exchanges. He is my zone leader so technically this should have happened multiple times but this was probably the only time because I may be leaving in two weeks. But, who's to say?

As Elder Perkins and I were contacting we ran into an Amah (women older than dinosaurs) who just pointed at us and kept calling us pretty. She was really funny and was super into white people haha. After a little bit of talking to her she gave us apples that she got for free because they went bad. They were pretty rotten and sort of useless but it was nice of her.

Later, we ran into this guy who would take whatever we gave him and would listen. But he didn't say one word ever so we kind of got bored and decided to go. As we were leaving I shook his hand and then Elder Perkins shook his hand and the guy just squeezed as hard as he could. It was really funny and very confusing.

The next morning at the track we were doing some stretches and another Amah came a'walkin by. She had quite the strut on as she successively let loose some inner air between each step. It was kind of funny, but immature of us to think so.

Right after the exchange, at about 8:30 we were out finding. We are supposed to be home by 9:00 so we were sort of looking for a miracle when I ran into Jimmy Dai. Brother Dai was a very nice guy. At the beginning of the conversation he was being very Buddhist with us, but by the end after some real talk he sort of realized there might be more than what he previously thought. He prayed a few times and kind of practiced and we gave him a Book of Mormon.

It was a great experience and shows that when you have a willing heart, contrite spirit and a smile on your face God will let you experience some miracles!

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Elder Henry David Christensen 

烏龜 (tortoise)

In accordance with the title, this last week was slow! Most of our investigators were unable to meet with us and we were outside on the street biking from person to person trying to strike up a conversation good enough to lead to salvation. However, we did not see very much success. 

I am trying this next we to be a little more consecrated and focused on my investigators at all times. I ask for your prayers to help me be able to do so.

In most contacts we usually will start by giving them an English tract and an invite to English class, then we'll try to take it from there into a spiritual discussion. Sometimes we don't start that way but that method, carried down from our fathers, works pretty well a lot of the time. Most people here are pretty "open" with religion, but in reality don't even understand their own beliefs. 

This makes it difficult because for them it is like trying to fight a man with your legs tied. They don't know who the enemy is either, so it makes fighting the natural man and satan himself quite the challenge. 

Elder Tang is my district leader. He is from California but his mom is from Taiwan and his dad from Hong Kong, so he is pretty Asian. About half of my companion's and mine discussions are about him and all his Tangness. He is a very quirky dude. We love him a lot. 

One cool experience (that probably didn't seem much to him) was when we were reporting this last week's indicators. Our indicators weren't terrible, but they we not as good as they should have been. In the past district leaders would be stern or harsh and I would always think "what am I doing wrong here?" but Elder Tang responded differently. He was very understanding and only encouraged us to keep going. It was well needed and this week is already better. I also could testify that listening humbly to leaders is the only way to be happy and successful in whatever work you are affiliated with. I also testify that doing so is really hard, but again 會帶來祝福. (It will bring blessings.)

Love,

Elder Henry David Christensen 

mowing lawns in Taiwan!