Oh hey!

OHHHH hey my favorite people!!!

  So basically I have so much to say that I hope I get it all to you!!!  First off my Birthday was INDEED fabulous!!!!!

  Lets backtrack to the MTC. I met Thurl Bailey's nephew....pretty cool huh? Idk if I already told you that or not, but if I did too bad, because its pretty cool news to me.  I was even the one to ask him about his relation to Thurl because I was dying to know.  He was super cool and yeah....thats all I have to say concerning that.

  As long as I'm on random news, last week I totally drank out of a Speedy Gonzales cup and it reminded me of the Name Game, so that was fun.  Yay for random trivia/news.

  Moving right along this is actually a story for you.  Last week after emails we went grocery shopping and at some point I said Indeed, but it actually totally fit within the context of the situation.  Anyways back to the story I was totally waiting for an echo and I kind of paused and actually waited.  Cole and Dillon I was waiting on one/both of your voices. Funny huh? :)

  Alright so now to some other news. I need you to all do me a favor and keep President Nilson in your prayers.  He wasn't feeling too good and went to the hospital, turns out he has a tumor and they will be operating next Wednesday. So please keep him and his family in your prayers!

  On Monday we met this awesome new investigator named Jason.  I really liked him. One thing I did not like, was the humidity.  We were doing the lesson outside, and I thought I was going to sweat to death and die from the humidity.....well only kind of.

  I have an newfound appreciation for cleanliness.  Not that I didn't like being clean before, but we were helping someone clean their room and it made me really appreciate things like a garbage and vacuum for being invented...just so you know I am being dead serious here!!!!

  Tracting is interesting.   We have had some people look at us and just shake their head and say no, others very quickly tell us their religion and the part it plays in their life and others, I think just don't answer their doors.  It has made me appreciate kind people.

  We had an appointment with 2 girls on Tuesday and they are really awesome.  They are both very much into their bible and are very knowledgeable about it. We took Sister Olsen with us and they liked her as well.  Also her smartphone proved to be quite helpful!  Anyways the lesson went pretty great.  I really liked the way they would ask questions if things didn't make sense to them.  I actually extended baptism to both of them.  They didn't say no, which was fabulous! They both said if it is God's will for them then they will. So hopefully they just keep progressing in their knowledge.

  Zone Conference was really great! It was weird that it was the last time we will see President and Sister Nilson though.  I have become more attached to them than I thought  I would.  We talked about a lot of great things. Like our covenants we have made and the specifics of those covenants and the blessings the Lord has promised us if we keep those covenants.  I really learned a lot.  I felt like my mind was being overloaded with all this awesome pertinent information but not too much of it was actually saturating in my brain....but I loved it.  Also as a side note, the food was simply outstanding!!! The RS sisters that put it together completely won my heart with the food they gave us!! I really could go on about it but, alas I feel like there is more important info to share with you.  We learned of the importance of simplifying and intensifying our message, so we can teach more in a more clear way, also better ways of finding and making sure we make the most of the productive hours of the day.  At the end of ZC we were able to all go thru a line saying goodbye to President and Sister Nilson and then we all had a Golden Bear.  Because go figure it is the official drink of the mission.  I would give it a 6 at most, and that my friends is me being kind. 

  Dinner with the Robinsons was soo fun! They were so nice and we laughed a lot! It was great.  Everyone here is so kind when they feed us.  They are all really great meals, and the company makes the meals that much better!

  On my last day being a teenager we went to visit a LA mem. and we got to see some old airplanes and such. We took pictures, but I forgot my camera so maybe next week I can send you some pictures.

  My Birthday really was very fabulous.  My comps would randomly sing to me thruout the day, and they were so nice.  We had to go get the oil changed in our car, so while that was happening we did our weekly planning in Skyline Chili while we ate some pretty good fries.  While we were out and about we also had lunch at Smashburger. Oh. My. Gosh. That my friends was super enjoyable! I'm just saying :)  Brother Blackham made dinner for me, and it was soo good.  He did steak, potatoes and carrots, grilled zucchini, and the most delicious butterfinger pie!! I was in heaven!!! I really really really loved the cards from everyone!! It really made my day to know that I was loved! Also while I opened my presents my comp took some pictures. Thank you for everything. It is really all very appreciated.

  Skipping ahead...that fireside last night was soo good.  I feel like Missionary work is the Lords main focus right now and it was so amazing to know that I am a part of this.  I am so humbled to know that the Lord places his trust in me.  It is so amazing to see how powerful it is when ward members work with the missionaries.  I really liked having the experience of being out here and then having that fireside so I am actually able to really see the difference of what they were saying and how much it really does affect things.
 

I love you all so much! and I really appreciated your letters as well.  I wish I could write more, because there is so much more I'd love to say, but I have to go!

Much love

Sister Christiansen

Real Life Missionary

What's Up Peeps??

  So this week I feel all legit, since I'm a real missionary.  And I will be in the Cincinnati Mission instead of Columbus, so I kinda hope you haven't already got my plaque...but whatere!  I have an assignment for you all.  Ready hymn 145 and really pay attention to the lyrics.  It will make you really think about the way you pray.  That is one thing that has really changed for me, my prayers are way more sincere than they ever were before.  But you have to really think about it and have a discussion about it because then you will all learn so much more.  I got to meet Elder Mervyn Arnold, so that was way cool.  When he walked into our class you could feel the difference, he had such an amazing power about him, so that was amazing to shake his hand twice and hug his wife twice, I feel so privileged!!

  Yesterday a family in the ward had a bunch of us "Fatherless Children" over for dinner.  They are so very nice and the meal was fabulous! The father is actually the guy that makes the LDS action heros, and he let us choose one, so I am the proud new owner of Ammon. That also made me feel pretty legit! Haha But anyways we went around the table and each said something that we had learned and one of the bug boys (Jared) said that when they were discussing the Word of Wisdom in D&C 89 verse 21 is pretty powerful and we usually skip over it. But anyways he said by obeying the word of Wisdom we are protecting ourselves from the Destroying angel.  I honestly know that is true! WofW problems are pretty prevalent here, and I can already see that that is something we are going to have to work pretty hard at getting people to understand. 

  In church we went to the Gospel Principles class and we were talking about the HG and the power of prayer.  For me it was stressed the importance of praying out loud, because it shows your faith, you believe that your prayers really can be answered. I think that is very important, so I would challenge you all to pray out loud...at least every once in a while.

  Alright now for the big news.....as for my companion.  I actually have two.  Sister Ward is my trainer, and this is her last transfer, and the picture that Sis. Gold sent was me and Sister Denison.  We were in the same District back in the MTC and now we are companions.  Long story short this last weekend we had to do a few lessons on our own, which was slightly/extremely terrifying.  Sis Ward had to be w/ her minis so it literally was just the two of us and the spirit.  I am so grateful for the spirit, because it is so helpful to feel him guiding me.  I know that by listening to him I can learn so much more than if I try to do it on my own.  Being in a trio is a bit of a different experience, but I am grateful that the Lord trusts me enough to be in Eastgate.  This area has had 13 baptisms this year already, and the ward is so mission centered, it is incredible.

  One blessing I have already felt is love for the people. I was so afraid that I wouldn't feel love for them, but I really already do.  I am so terrified to open my mouth and speak to them, but I do feel like the Lord is blessing me to have a love for them!

  MoTab was excellent...in case you were wondering.  I was dead tired tho. Also the humidity was pretty apparent on Wednesday when we flew in, but it hasn't been so bad since. 

  I love you all, but I have one request.  Don't write me long emails!!!! If you want to write a lot please send a letter! I don't have much time to read novels when I am emailing so if you could keep them kinda short and to the point I would appreciate that a lot!!!

Lots and lots of love to you,

Sister Christiansen

Also I can't tell you how much I love hearing my name from you all.....I am quite attached to it still :)

Me and my Comps

Sister Denison, Sister Ward, and Sister Christiansen

 Columbus Temple

It is really super beautiful, and it might be the only time I actually see it, so I am glad I got a picture of it to send to you!

My Favorite Elders.....

 They tried their best to spell Ohio

MTC District

Back row: Elder Erickson, Elder Beutler, Elder Nelson, Elder Silvester

Sister Baldridge, Sister Johnson, Sister Penrod, Sister Denison, Sister Ribeira, Me and Sister Nalls

I Love them so much!!!!

Julie's Officially in Ohio!!!

My mom and Kammie were able to talk to Julie on Wednesday during her layover in Georgia.  The main take-away from it was that Julie is doing great!!  Julie attended the Tuesday night devotional at the BYU Marriott Center that you may have read about here http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=25561483  She even got to sing in the choir.  She was able to meet Elder Arnold of the Seventy and his wife.  

During her infield experience her and her companion were teaching a lady who could tell they were nervous, she asked them if they believed in the Bible and they told her yes.  She said that it says "Fear not" in there so they should remember that and fear not!  

Julie was one of twenty-five missionaries that flew out to the Columbus, Ohio mission on Wednesday.  At the airport while the missionaries were waiting to fly out they met up with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (they were going to Ohio too you can read about it here:  http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765632078/Mormon-Tabernacle-kicks-off-summer-tour-in-Ohio.html).  I think the MoTab made it to Ohio a little bit quicker than Julie did though! 

Julie loved her MTC experience, and said that everyone was so kind and that it was such a great spiritual experience and that the food was top notch as well!!  She said that there were 700 plus missionaries dropped off the day she was and 900 the next week.  So Julie was there during couple of busy weeks! 

 

Happy Sister Christiansen and Denison say hello to you! They are wonderful - thank you for raising great women! - Sister Denise Gold, Eastgate Ward, Cincinnati, Ohio

Can I tell you how happy my mom was to see this show up in her email on Friday.  So now the title of the blog is officially correct and Julie is in Ohio!! 

The Second Letter!!!

My favorite peeps

Wow this week has flown by!!! Today we had to do laundry and I'll let you know it wasn't my fav! Ewww it was toasty with all those dryers going and so Sister J and I spent some time outside and I attempted to get caught up on my journaling, but alas. oh well!

  I feel like I have been in the MTC my whole life but I love it!! My district is seriously the coolest people, I am so glad we are all going to the same place so that I can still see them all.  I feel bad I forgot to tell you to tell Gpa Happy Birthday so Happy Bday Gpa.  Yay for Wyatt Wayne, he is soooo cute! I am so excited for him and I love the pictures.  Thanks for that.  I am so excited for Kelsie and Jocelyn that is awesome.  They are both going to be awesome missionaries, so tell them Congrats for me. 

  Sunday was an extremely long day.  I felt like I hadn't ate in days, instead of just 24 hours.  The Temple walk was wonderful though. It was great to spend some time on the grounds.  We had an awesome devotional that night by Ted Gibbons but he was Willard Richards the whole time. It was way sweet, and just built more upon my testimony of Joseph Smith.  I have had some great classes this week, and I have spent more time praying than I ever have before.  I can tell a difference in my prayers though so that is good.  I am glad I am getting so much spiritualness.  Hopefully I will be ready to teach those Ohioans!

  We leave the MTC on June 12th at 4.  Our plane leaves SLC at 7:10 we fly to GA get there abt 12:47 leave theree 2:20 and get in OH at 3:50. Turns out when we get there we are going to a MoTab concert. So that should be exciting.  It seems like I am more likely to call in GA. So sometime expect a call.

  We had infield training all day yesterday, and it made me excited and nervous at the same time.  I really really like the MTC and I am afraid to leave my teachers and all their answers behind but I keep reminding myself that the Lord will help me because I have put in the work.  Our temple trip was good today. I am glad for the opportunity to go and spend time there.  We started learning our Ohio Mission Song together and it is actually pretty cool.  I really like it!

  Trying to decide what to say to you all is causing me a little anxiety because I don't know all what to say, but my time is growing short so I would like to say that I love you  all and The Church is True!

Much Love Sister Christiansen!

The FIRST LETTER!!!

Hey Errrybody!!!

 Sorry I don't have a ton of time so I only did the emails I remembered off the top of my head.  Convey my deepest apoligies to everyone else for me.  I'll get them next time.  So far so good.  I love it here!! My comp is Sister Johnson and we had an instant kinship since we both went to USU.  My whole district is actually headed to the same mission so it is nice to know that the friends I am making now are friends that I can literally know my whole mission.  There are a few Elders that are 18 which kinda blows me away.  My my I am disappointed Faabs got her call and I had to wait like 5 emails to find out where she was going.  Also to those of you who have written to me, and you know who you are I think you are all absolutely faabulous!!!  So far we have been very busy.  Today is our Pday...obviously... but anyways because of that we got to go the Temple together with our Zone which was awesome.  So the exterior of the Provo Temple wasn't that wonderful, but inside is absolutely GORGEOUS! Also side note I don't know if I already said this, but I really like my current Zone, unfortunately they are all leaving, but my district on Tuesday, but they are so friendly and welcoming to us.  This is honestly the most friendly place on planet earth! Who woulda thunk w/ it being in Provo eh??? But I seriously love it.  Yesterday we met our Branch Presidency and our Sacrament meeting is at 7:30....lucky us huh? Since it is Fast Sunday we do a mission conference instead of RS and Priesthood.  But those are at different times anyways.  Yesterday we did so much personal study....it was kinda insane for me, cuz it was a long time, but I was able to pay attention thruout the whole thing, which is a new thing for me.  Sorry this is everywhere but I don't know what to tell you, because there is seriously so so much.  Meals are excellent here!! Just saying that I am loving the food.  Tomorrow is my first gym time, so I am excited for that.  We have only had one class so far.  I love my teachers, it is kind of like everyone here is on a serious Spiritual high, because you feel it everywhere you go!! Almost like a million Kayd's walking around.  I totally understand what Dillon was talking about with the room parties now.  Yesterday my room and I just started to click. and we are much better friends now! I am even wearing my wolf shirt today, and I was going to send you all some pictures, but I forgot my camera cord so I can't transfer them to you, so if you would like to send me that it would be great.

 

I love you all.

 

Love,

 

        Sister Christiansen