Almost time for Argentina!

I'm leaving on a jet plane! Don't know when I'll be back again (jk I'll be back in December of 2015)!! WE HAVE FLIGHT PLANS FOR ARGENTINA! I don't actually have a visa in my possession, but I am leaving the country on Monday, July 28! Hermana Terry, Elders McCutcheon, Valenzuela, Gregory, Merrill and I will all be flying from Salt Lake City to Atlanta GA for a 4 hour layover and then off to Buenos Aires! I cannot believe I have been here for 5 weeks and am "ready" to leave. Don't get me wrong, I am so excited to go but sad to leave so many friends here at the comfortable MTC.
In preparation for our flight on Monday, Hermana Terry and I cleaned our apartment (which is really quiet again now that the other 4 Hermanas are in Mexico) and have begun to pack. We barely started the packing process and are nearly done, we just have out the living essentials and neither of us can figure out how or why it took the last four Hermanas 5 days to pack and they still left a few things for us to find...
Every Wednesday, our P-Day, we do service (cleaning around the campus). Our district is pretty much the coolest cleaners. When they sweep, the elders go from building to building "playing Quidditch" complete with commentary in a British accent. Hermana Terry and I are super efficient and end up doing like 5 chores when everyone else does 1-2 and today, we had our reward. There is a room here on West Campus. It is full of pillows, nearly to the ceiling and it is a blast. That is right, the workers took the 7 of us in our district to this secret room and we had a massive pillow swim/fight. It was the best!
We had 10 girls at "Girls' Soccer on Thursdays" last Thursday and all of them said it was their favorite gym experience here, so I think we have something going! I am sad that I only have one more soccer day here though :( I think we'll have a few more and hopefully it continues to happen and keep growing even after we leave. The workers here said they've never had sister missionaries organize a soccer game and they thought it was so cool to see us playing!
Our Branch President's wife, Sister Doman always has a tie contest between the Elders on Sundays and it is the event of the week for them. She doesn't like red ties though so this last Domingo, all of the Elders in our zone wore red ties just for her!
We get 12 new Elders in our zone today which puts us at 30 Elders and 6 Hermanas! Hermana Terry and I are the new Sister Training Leaders and are doing our best to keep track of the whopping 4 other Hermanas (chiste jajajajaja). We love them all and are proud of ourselves for knowing everyone's name and a bit about them. Now we just have to add these next twelve to our brains!
The devotionals this week were good! Tomorrow is Pioneer Day which is huge here in Utah, so on Sunday, T.C. Christensen was the speaker and we heard lots of cool pioneer stories and how they apply to us as missionaries! Yesterday night we had quite a treat! Stanley G Ellis of the 70 was there with his wife and 8 of his 9 children who have all served missions (the youngest is currently in Korea!) They each bore their testimony on missionary work. Talk about strong! I really enjoyed the points that Sister Ellis made, she said
Faith=power
Obedience=the price
Love=the motive
The Spirit=the key
Christ=the reason
Joy=the reward
It is so true. Each of those points are huge attributes of missionary work. Through faith, comes miracles. Speaking of which, the topic for Sunday was Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement and as I was studying and preparing my talk I came across a scripture in Ether in the Book of Mormon which says: "For if there be no faith among the children of men, God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith."
I read that and thought "Peter Pan!" Now before you all go declaring me crazy, let me explain. Peter Pan is my favorite story, not the Disney version, the book and play by J.M. Barrie. Read it this week if you haven't already. In the story, Tinkerbell drinks poison intended for Peter in order to save his life. When Peter realizes she is dying, he explains to Wendy that in order for Tinkerbell to survive, the children in the world have to believe in her. Peter turns to the audience and asks "Do you believe in fairies?" and the audience must declare their belief in fairies so that Tink can live! It is the same with God, we must have faith, we must believe, before we can see miracles. So I marked my scripture, wrote Peter Pan and "I do believe in fairies!" right next to the verse and used the analogy in my talk. And yes, I did talk on Sunday, and everyone loved the Peter Pan part.
My district is singing on Sunday since it is our last chance. We'll be singing The Olive Tree and as of now, we don't have a pianist so I might be singing and playing the piano! We'll see how that goes...
I love and miss you all! I hope that you are having wonderful summers and using this time to grow closer to Christ. I have grown so much in these past few weeks and I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord. When I came here, I wanted to help others. I still do, but now I know that I am really here to serve the Lord. For it is His work and His glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. And it is my job to help him do just that. I love the Lord, I love this gospel. I love the Book of Mormon (which I hope to finish before I get on the plane on Monday). I love missionary work. I know I am supposed to be here and that there are people in Argentina who have been prepared by the Lord to be taught by me.

Until next time, which will be from in Argentina!

Hermana Christensen

argentinamish.blogspot.com

Sister Hannah Noel Christensen
JUL28 ARG-NEU
2023 N 900 E Unit 800
Provo, UT 84602

VISA, soccer, favorite hymns and The Atonement

Hey everyone!

I'm four weeks into my MTC training people! I'm scheduled to leave on the 28th of July, but don't have my visa yet...none of us in our district has gotten one yet! Who knows where I'll be headed on the 28th, hopefully Argentina! 

I didn't write any new jokes this week, I know you are all so upset. That last one was a knee slapper, right? 

I think I've mentioned this before, but the rule that says sister missionaries can't play soccer with Elders is really getting me down. Never fear though, Hermana Terry and I have started Girl Soccer on Thursdays! Last week was definitely a bust...we had two other sister missionaries there. But that is because all of the other sisters in our zone had something come up! 4 of them were moving to different apartments, 1 was getting her visa for Mexico, the other three were at the doctor. So tomorrow, we'll have at least 8 more there. Our elders still tease us about our 4 person soccer game :/

One of the ten elders in our new district is from the Roswell Stake! I got so excited! Scott Wilson, from Roswell 2nd ward. I don't actually know him, but I recognized him and we've chatted a bit about good ole New Mexico! 

Every Sunday, the sister missionaries get to watch Music and the Spoken Word broadcast before Relief Society-which has been such a wonderful experience. All of you know I love music and choir-y things and getting outside music is great! But this last Sunday, the broadcasting system in West Campus was down so instead of watching and listening to people sing, we sang. We had a hymn testimony meeting. One by one, sisters stood up and shared their favorite hymn and bore their testimony. After each one, we sang the favorite hymn. One of the fastest ways to invite the Spirit is through hymns. What a spiritual experience we had. It was definitely my favorite. There were so many sisters sharing their favorite song that I didn't get to.  But I did bear my testimony. My favorite hymn is number 72 in the LDS hymnbook-Praise to the Lord, the Almighty. It is such a powerful hymn of praise, my favorite line says, "Hast thou not seen, all that thou needeth hath been granted in what He ordaineth?" I know that everything on this earth is because of Jesus Christ. We may not see Him, but we see everything because of Him. I love my Lord. I was reading in the Book of Mormon the other day in Alma 26, and received yet another testimony of the love He has for us. In verses 17,19, 20 it says:

Who could have supposed that our God would have been so merciful as to have snatched us from our awful, sinful, and polluted state?...Why did he not consign us to an awful destruction, yea, why did he not let the sword of his justice fall upon us, and doom us to eternal despair? Oh, my soul, almost as it were, fleeth at the thought. Behold he did not exercise his justice upon us, but in his great mercy hath brought us over that everlasting gulf of death and misery, even to the salvation of our souls.

Wow. God has so much love for us that He allows us to make mistakes. He let us come to earth and make wrong decisions, decisions that lead us away from Him. But through all that, He loves us so much to provide mercy. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to be our Savior and Redeemer. He allowed His Only Begotten to die for His other children, us, who are far from perfect. He loves us that much and I know it. 

Our Sunday devotional speaker was Richard I Heaton. He talked about charity, the pure love of Christ. He invited us to ask ourselves, WWJF, What Would Jesus Feel? Something I've learned a lot here at the MTC is to have charity. I have felt the love of God, the love He has for us, I feel it in my heart when I teach my investigators.  

Last night, our speaker at devotional was L. Edward Brown. He reminded us that as missionaries, we have taken Christ's name upon us. We are His representatives and that should not be taken lightly. In our devotional review as a district, Elder McCutcheon said something that really stuck out to me, he said: "Because we have taken His name upon us, the phrase 'taking His name in vain' applies to more than just our words. It applies to our actions." Takes on a whole new meaning doesn't it? I'm trying to really take it to heart and always do things that are pleasing to the Lord. I'm no where near perfect, but it is through little goals that we improve! 

Here are some pictures of our happenings this week:

Provo Temple with my district!

Hermana Terry and I with the Hermanas in the district just younger than us at the Provo Temple!

I love and miss you all!

Love, Hermana Christensen 

Fouth of July pictures

The Beautiful Provo Temple :)

Singing Battle Hymn of the Republic on the 4th!

Patriotic Companionship!

Stadium of Fire Fireworks!

The Zone! Before our oldest district left... we get 10 new elders joining us today!!

Storytime with Hermano Castro!

xoxo
Hma C, Aunt Hannah, Awesome sister, etc. :)
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Music at the MTC!

Whoa...we're halfway there! Whoa! Living on a prayer!
3 weeks down, 3 weeks left at the MTC! Hermana Terry and I are going crazy with excitement, nerves and as always, Spanish! Sometimes I still can't believe I'm a missionary! But here I am, learning lots and growing so much!
Our 4th of July was pretty good here at the MTC; we had classes and study time like normal all day, but in the evening-we partied...well...for missionaries. That means a devotional for those of you wondering how missionaries party. We had a devotional on freedom and then we watched 17 Miracles-a movie about the miracles that happened to some of the pioneers as the crossed the plains to go to Utah-while we waited for the fireworks! We got ice cream and a firework show from BYU's Stadium of Fire! It was fun! I love the 4th of July. We are so blessed to have our freedoms, both in this country and the freedom from God to make decisions.

On Sunday, we had a "Mission Conference" where we heard about some changes in the roles of missionaries! Now, we get to remain in contact with our converts after we leave the area and are supposed to remain in contact with them for at least a year! Not only do we teach people and bring them to Christ, we help them stay close to Him. Each new member needs a 1) Friend  2) Responsibility/Calling in the church and 3) Nourishment in the gospel.

Our Sunday Devotional speaker was Josh Wright-a pianist! We were treated to some very beautiful piano music: Chopin Ballade Number 1, La Campanella (I'm not sure if I got that word right...I wrote what I thought I heard him say...), his own arrangement of Clair de Lune and How Great Thou Art (BEAUTIFUL!), and All Creatures of Our God and King. It was such a blessing to hear that music. I miss music so much! I'm surprised my companion hasn't gotten tired of my constant humming and singing :) She claims to like it actually!

Tuesday's Devotional and devotional review with our district were an answer to mine and Hma T's prayers! We've been having a hard time being with 5 18 and 19 year old boys all day. They are quite literally like brothers. And they don't have any problem being annoying :) but all of them stayed awake during the devotional (a first) and then after, during our brief discussion, the Spirit was so present. Each one of us bore testimony of how we felt the Holy Ghost testify to us earlier in the evening and each of us was touched by each other's words. As I bore my testimony, I felt the Spirit stronger than ever before in my life and I know it was because it was testifying the truthfulness of what I was saying. I know the Holy Ghost is a comforter and testifier of truths. The speaker in the devotional was Elder Neil L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve and he spoke on the Holy Ghost. His wife made a comment in her testimony that REALLY stuck out to me. She said "Sometimes I sit and think about the blessing of the Holy Ghost, and I think how wonderful it is that we have the gift to have a member of the Godhead with us at all times." She said that and I was struck, I had never thought of it that way. When we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost after baptism, we literally have the gift and ability TO HAVE A MEMBER OF THE GODHEAD BE WITH US, ALWAYS. I had to say that in all caps because that is how it came to me. With such strength and power in that thought. I love this gospel and the blessings it brings me.

Funny story: last P-day, Hma Terry and I were back at our apartment; she was writing letters and I was laying in bed chatting with her. I started to doze off and as I did the weirdest thing happened. My brain decided to write a joke. As it finished the punch line, it woke me up and I literally sat up and looked at Hma Terry and said, "I just wrote a joke." And we both just busted up laughing because it was so random, she thought I was asleep and then out of nowhere I had a joke! After I told it to her, we laughed and laughed and laughed! But when we stopped neither of us could decide if it was actually funny or just the whole situation was what made it funny...So here it is:
Farmer Brown's vet was out at the farm doing his yearly check up of all the animals. After assuring Farmer Brown that they were all healthy and doing well, he began to leave. Before he could, Farmer Brown stopped him and said, "Wait, would ya look at my cat, she keeps getting pregnant and I'm tired of having lots of little kittens running all over the place."
The vet thought for a moment and then asked, "Why don't you just get her fixed Farmer Brown?"
And Farmer Brown said "Because! Before you begin fixing others, you must first fix yourself!"

Yes, that was it. And yes, we've come to the conclusion that really what was funny was the situation. Everyone in our zone might have helped us realize that when none of them laughed...
We were sad to see our oldest district go this week. They're all in Mexico now!! We get 10 new elders today though!

I know God is our loving Heavenly Father. I know He wants us to be happy, and I know that we can be happy through His plan for us. I know that plan includes this life on earth, and although it is very difficult at times "It will all be worth it in the end" (17 Miracles) when we have endured it well. I know the Book of Mormon is true and is another testament of Christ. I know that we can get "nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book" (Joseph Smith). I read it every day and every time I do, I receive a confirmation that Christ died for me and atoned for my sins. I love my Savior and am forever indebted to Him. I am so grateful for this opportunity I have to help others come unto Christ.

I love you all!
Hermana Hannah Christensen

argentinamish.blogspot.com

Hermana Hannah Noel Christensen
JUL28 ARG-NEU
2023 N 900 E Unit 800
Provo, UT 84602

Pictures

The District!

The field is white and ready to harvest... ba dum..tsh!

Me and Hermana T outside the Provo Temple

Awkward no-touching picture with our favorite teacher:)

ARGENTINA, HERE WE COME!!

Game Day Baby!!

Hola Amigos!

This week has been full of ups and downs! But what a great week it has been overall! Sad news and crazy things first: our teacher Hermano Graff has been transferred to teach another district :( along with losing him, we also lost his alter ego Alfonso, who was our "investigator". Our zone is sickly and falling apart! Elder Skalla had a hernia removed, Elder Garnett had an appendectomy, Elder Marshall had an absyss from a dry socket, Elder Merling had a cold, Hermana Jensen had a kidney infection, and two other sisters had to go to the doctor for other illnesses. And I managed to hyper extend my knee during a relay race to 'reduce stress'. Everyone is slowly getting back to full health though! One of the districts in our zone leaves next week! Hma Terry and I are sad to see them go, they are hilarious and we're all best friends now. Also, Hma Terry and I have discovered that we have the worst age perception ever. Pretty much all of the elders in the other districts are younger than we thought, some are even younger than us! Last week on our prep. day, Hma Terry and I somehow managed to not know how to work the laundry machines or dryers at the laundry place...which resulted in only half of her clothes getting cleaned and all of our laundry drying in our apartment. It looked like we lived in a clothing shop with everything laid out to dry. You would think that seeing clothes all over our apartment would make us fail our room inspection, but no. While we did fail, the note said it was because of our bathroom, even though it was definitely the cleanest room in the apartment! We laughed for a while about that. Another sad fact: sister missionaries can't play soccer with the elders. Our elders have decided they like that and have taken to playing soccer without us every day this week. :( 

Hermana Terry and I loved singing in church so much that we sang in one of our lessons to our investigator Lorena! In the intro to the hymnal it says that one of the easiest way to invite the Spirit is by singing hymns. Amen. After we finished singing (in Espanol), I could feel the Holy Ghost much stronger than most of the times when we stumbled through the lessons speaking broken Spanish. Speaking of language, both Hma Terry and I felt like it was a rough semana (week) for Spanish. While we are getting close to understanding most everything, the speaking part of learning a language is struggling. Neither of us felt like we really were learning as much as we did the first week. So we have a new language plan. We now learn 20 palabras (words) a day. We write them on a notecard and quiz each other all day. Woohoo! 

Devotionals!! Twice a week, all the missionaries in the MTC get together to listen to a speaker. It might be one of my favorite times during the week. They've all been so good so far!! No, I haven't seen the prophet; being on West Campus, we don't see hardly anyone. But so far, I've heard D. Todd Christofferson speak, Janice Kapp Perry speak, Stephen B. Allen (managing director of the missionary dept), and Lowell M Snow (former member of the 70). Each speaker has had a profound and very spiritual message. Also, after the devotional on Sunday, we watched a video of David A Bednar's "Character of Christ". Oh my goodness people, what an amazing message! I invite all of you to listen to it, watch it, read it, whatever! It has a message for everyone! He talks about becoming more Christlike by putting of the "natural man". If anything, you have to watch it to find out who he compares the "natural man" to! It is the best!! 

I really loved what Brother Snow said last night in his talk. (Side note, Sister Doman-who is the wife of my Branch President- says all the time "Everyone just wants to be loved!") Brother Snow said something last night that ties in to that statement wonderfully. Everyone just wants to be loved, and "Those who are lost are without affection." As a missionary of the Lord, I am finding those who are lost. I am teaching them that Heavenly Father loves them, that because He loves them, He provided a Savior, His own son, Jesus Christ to die for all of our imperfections so that we can be worthy to return to Him. What an astounding blessing! Brother Snow also gave 5 points to help us become truly converted to the Lord. 

1. Choose Him. Choose the Lord

2. Take His spirit for your guide.

3. Be a true disciple

4. Help Him do His work and exercise His power.

5. Seek to have His image in your countenance.

Beautiful words, aren't they?

Hermana Terry and I are practically best friends now. We were talking last night about ourselves and people in our lives and she exclaimed, "We are twins! We are literally the same person!" I'm so lucky to have such a great companion who I get along great with-we're quite literally together 24/7. 

Sister Doman also told us a story about her son DJ, who now plays football for BYU. Game days were always his favorite, the excitement of having a game that night, putting on his jersey, listening to music to pump him up, getting ready with the rest of the team. Looking in the mirror and seeing himself in his football jersey and saying to his reflection "It's game day, baby."  All those things were the best feelings he experienced. He loved game days best of all. But when he served his mission, he would get ready in the morning and put on his white shirt and tie, and his name tag. And then he would look in the mirror and see himself as a missionary, a representative of Jesus Christ, and the feelings he felt when he looked in the mirror as a missionary by far surpassed those he had as a football player. I have the same experience every morning when I get ready. I put on my skirt, or my dress and get ready like normal. But when I put on my name tag that says Hermana Christensen La Iglesia de Jesucristo do los Santos de los Ultimos Dias, I am overwhelmed with joy. The gospel is a message of great peace and joy and I am blessed to have it in my life, but now I want to share that peace and joy with others. It's game day baby. It's time to spread the word.

Lots of love,

Hermana Christensen

argentinamish.blogspot.com

Sister Hannah Noel Christensen

JUL28 ARG-NEU

2023 N 900 E Unit 800

Provo, UT 84602

P.S. There's this awesome thing called Dear Elder where you can type up a letter and have it printed and delivered to me here at the MTC that very day if you want to send me a letter without spending money on a stamp :) I'm pretty sure you just need to know my address (which I conveniently typed for you just above this post script). Love you all! :)