Feb 3

Well. What a few weeks this has been. This transfer started off with everything changing (as is usually the case here in the Missionary world), and is now beginning to culminate in everything changing again! Over the course of the past two weeks we've found some solid new families, and seen some real growth in the families that we're teaching! The mission started a new program where we invite our Elders Quorums, relief societies, and high priests groups each to pray and choose five families who could use visits from the missionaries, and of the 15 families that our ward brought to us, we've seen nine of them steadily coming back to the chapel. The Power of Prayer! 

Our amazing members are working ever harder to be better members and better friends, and together we're all beginning to really feel the strength of following the council of our prophet as we work to bring sheep back to the fold.

There's just way too much to talk about! So, I'll pick a few stories for you

First of all, sergio and Mayi. They were just baptized this last saturday into the spanish ward, and they are doing wonderfully! We were at their home for an interview friday night, and watching their two little boys pray while Sergio testified to me of the change he's felt in his life and the potential he sees for his family, it was impossible not to feel the spirit whisper, 'THIS is what matters. This is why we try.' I think the biggest realization I've made over the course of my mission is how much of a blessing the gospel really is for a family. How much of a difference it makes when our comprehension of 'parenting' goes from simply feeding and clothing a child, to guiding and loving one of our Heavenly Father's children through their first crucial moments in life! And when our understanding of marriage goes beyond just dealing and living with someone else, and we start to see how that eternal partnership enables us to grow and to reach new heights.

I love being a missionary.

And I also love the temple! We had (due to a change in mission rules) the chance to go to the temple on Friday, and re-charge our spiritual batteries in that Holy House. If you're ever having a bad day, go to the temple. Even if it's just walking around the gardens, or sitting in the car in the parking lot. It'll help you out. The gospel's like that. 

But! An unfortunate bi-product of our friday temple trip, is not having quite as much time today as usual, so I'm going to have to calll this week good on that note. I'll have a bit more for you next week. Thanks everyone!

-Elder christensen