welcome home sister christensen from amelia christensen on Vimeo.

Last Days in Pictures

Last district meeting creating with Play-doh

showing our talents

Fun exchange with Sister Li in Manchester

China Town in Manchester

Planner I made Sister Oli for next transfer

Best looking companionship in the EMM

Last meal of Fish n' Chips

I made my companion dinner...my Mum's recipe for Salsa Chicken...YUM!

Last P-day at Trafford Centre
One of the Largest Malls in the UK

                                      

                                                

 Disney Store

Build a Bear

Thank you to the Ribble Sister's and J & J

For me and Sister Madsen...and to our companions for always calling us fat:)

Lego Harry Potter

New purse...only 5 pounds!

WE STAND THE TALLEST WHEN WE FALL TO OUR KNEES

The Dream Team




So, I guess this is my last email home. That went by quick.

Of course this week has been a roller coaster of emotions but the Lord has not ceased to bless me. I just have two miracles to share with you today but I have seen so many over the past 18 months. I'm overcome with gratitude for all those who have helped me and put up with me along the way. Thank you for being apart of this spiritual journey with me.

On Thursday, we were going to teach a less active member at the chapel but it suddenly fell through. We had in our back up plans to do some tracting. So whilst we were walking to the street we had previously picked, a man called after us. We turned and he asked us as he approached, "are you from the church up the road? Are you the Mormons?" Yes, we are. He proceeded to tell us that he is actively catholic but had a disagreement with his local leader and is looking at other churches and is interested in ours. So we got his number and gave him ours and told him when the services are. Sunday rolled around and we called but his number was busy. We then texted him in hopes that he would come. We were just a minute or two late to the meeting because we were walking with some of our other investigators but thankfully the elders were there to greet him when he came. It was very different to what he was used to but he walked away with a Book of Mormon and a gospel principles manual. He said he will come again next week and if he enjoys it, he will "enrol in discussions".

This next one is simple but special to me. Saturday, we had planned to go by a less active family in the evening. So we went and found they lived a bit of a walk away from the bus stop. Not a problem. We always walk a lot in Walkden. Hahaha. We knocked their door and, to our surprise, they were very active. We had not connected the name to the face. Sister G saw our surprise and informed us that they were members of the church to which we responded with an awkward laugh and recognition. She invited us in and we had a lovely gospel discussion about protecting our homes and the importance of family scripture study. It was really sweet though because they told us that during the time they've been married, missionaries had never just "popped by". They expressed their gratitude for our spontaneous visit a couple of times and that helped me to really believe in their sincerity. 

It can be hard to go to new areas, and for me knowing that I would only be in Swinton for 6 weeks, it can be hard to build relationships with the ward. It sometimes seems that the members are too busy for you. Don't get me wrong, Swinton is lovely. The members are great and they serve us constantly. But when you have been tracting all day and no body is listening and you can't find a Fellowshipper for the one scheduled lesson you have for the day, you feel like the whole world is against you. And to have someone say that they are grateful for your visit can mean the world.

                                      

Also, I think I have taken it for granted always having the priesthood and the Holy Ghost in my home. I have seen what a difference there is without it in people's homes. When I go to a members home now, I feel the spirit so strongly and it gives me a spring in my step to walk away from their home. They may say is a blessing for them to have missionaries in their home but it really is a blessing for us as well. So that experience helped me feel the Spirit and know that people  accept and benefit from the gospel. There are good member missionaries out there. I am not on my own knocking doors in England. God is aware of me, loves me, and loves the people in England. He shapes all of us to bless each other. I know it to be true.

I love you all and I look forward to seeing you this week. Thank you for your love, support, letters, emails, and prayers. I will see you soon!

Love, Sister Christensen 

Some funny things I forgot to include from last week:

In England you will see ice cream trucks around all year and you can always hear the music playing from them as they go around the neighbourhoods. There is an elder from Bosnia and he always hears the music but never sees the truck. So whenever the music is playing he looks around then says, "Ugh, ghost van!" Haha I laugh every time I  think of it.

The other week we were walking and sister oli was holding an umbrella, the map, a Book of Mormon, and something else, I can't remember. But when I asked which way to go she directed me by pointing with her lips. I laughed and she said that her hands were full! So she couldn't direct me using her hands. I thought, fair enough. Then she started doing it all the time even when she was holding nothing! "Sister Oli, where should we go?" Pucker up buttercup hahaha she's a cutie. 

SAILING THROUGH SWINTON

Me with my Brilliant Mission President
President & sister Ulrich

                                       
This week has gone by so quick! I can't believe it! This next week is going to go by faster..It kind of scares me. 

We've done so many things! We had a tea appointment on Tuesday- I ate so much I couldn't eat for three days-I kid you not.

The next day we went to the temple! It is my last time before going home. It was wonderful to go with the missionaries in my departing group and with President and Sister Ulrich. They are both fantastic!

We got out late and "had" to have a sleep over with Sister Madsen and Sister Arias. I love them so much and we had a blast with them.

A Britian Sleepover

                                                                                                                                                                                                          

We've been having a great week getting to know the ward more. Everyone has been on holiday until this week because school has started again. So people are inviting us to meals again. I love getting to know the members and hearing their conversions. They are all so stalwart and incredible people.

James was baptised on Saturday! 

James' Baptism

                                                                                                                                                                                                          

President loves them so much and was the one who got to baptise James. I love their family so much! They are such a miracle. I would even say they are the biggest miracle of my mission. Sister Madsen sent this to me last week concerning James deciding to be baptised, "He said he'd been reading in 3 Nephi 11, when the Saviour comes and visits the Nephites, and he felt something. Then he said that he heard a voice speak to him almost, and it said, "you were born into a Catholic family for a reason. Having this faith in Jesus Christ blessed you and your family so much. And the Lord isn't trying to take away any of that; but now, He's shown you and your family more, and it's up to you to make the decision to follow him." In that moment, the spirit literally filled the room. Perhaps some tears escaped from James, Jane, and I as he shared his experience. He gets it, exactly. We don't come to tear down what others believe in, but like Joseph Smith said, we invite all to bring whatever they have that is good, whatever they have that is true, and test our message. Add to what they have. And James fits this statement perfectly."

The Blunck's--Greatest Missionary Couple Ever

                                     

Isn't that incredible? wow. Jane was also able to speak at a fireside yesterday. She was so nervous but did an amazing job. She is so lovely, I wish you could all meet her. This family has made a special impact on my life and I can't express in words the love I feel for them. They are amazing.

This House is ready to receive the Gospel, too bad no one was in...

                                     

I love you all. thank you for all your letters and prayers. I look forward to seeing you all soon!

Love, Sister Christensen

                                             

Sleepless in Swinton

Beautiful English Sunset

This week has gone by quick! We went to the university museum in

Piccadilly, in Manchester last Monday, so that was really fun. I
talked to my district leader and one of the other sisters about deep
doctrine and people from the Pacific Islands because there was a
special exhibit on about Easter Island.

The next day we had a meeting that went a bit late so we had to move
one of our appointments. It was okay though. The meeting was really
good. We talked about purifying our desires and becoming more
Christlike. We watched a video of President Eyring speaking and I
loved what he said. He said that when we are facing something hard or
feel like our trials never end, to remember the Saviour. I've had the
opportunity to try this and it works! I immediately feel comforted and
that I am not alone in my trials. God is never far from us.

                                   

Our investigators are doing really well as well. We are teaching two
families and one came to church on Sunday! One of the girls came for
the first time but the other two it was their third time! They love
the Book of Mormon and they pray everyday. They love church and youth
and they are starting the recognise the spirit on their own. It is so
beautiful to see people become more happy as they discover the gospel
and love the way it makes them feel!
I love you all and hope you have a great week! I hope everyone is
enjoying their first week back at school :)
Love, Sister Christensen

So Tired!  Some days are just like this...

SUNNY SWINTON

It has been quite rainy this week, but we're in England so what can
you expect? It actually got up to 80 degrees F.
it was so warm!
The highlight of the week: quite a few things actually.
We went up to Preston and I got to see J and her family!
She was baptised and it was probably the most beautiful service I've
been to on my mission. The Spirit was incredible. I really feel like
sister Madsen and I knew J before this life and we promised that we
would help her find the truth. Words cannot describe the love I feel
for their family.

J's baptismWe called by a less active woman who lives near us and she

invited us in and allowed us to share a scripture message with her. It
was actually pretty miraculous how the spirit was there almost
immediately. It touched our hearts and no doubt touched hers as well.
That was a tender mercy and really nice because we haven't been able
to visit many less active members in the area.

We went to a tea appointment and it was pouring rain and our shoes were soaked through.  The members gave us slippers to wear.  Sister Oli's were normal, but this is what I got.  They thought they were so funny so they wanted me to keep them.

This next one is actually kind of funny. We went up to a place called
Worsley and were calling by someone when a member approached us, so to
speak. We were crossing the road and a car was coming, so we stopped.
They stopped and motioned us across. We started walking  and I waved
to say thank you and the driver honked at us and rudely gestured for
us to hurry. I was appalled and thought that was so rude! He then
yelled out of the car, "those Mormons! Always getting in the way!"
Then I was like, "wait a minute.." I have only been here for a couple
of weeks so I haven't met everyone yet, but I concluded through
deduction that this man was a cheeky Englishman and member of our
church that was just pulling our leg.
                                               
He then pulled over and started talking to us and told us to call by
pretty much everyone he knew in the neighbouring streets. I think we
contacted 6 referrals in the space of an hour. He also suggested that
we tract a specific street, so we did and we found a few people but
particularly a family! They are not Christian but have a religious
background. We taught them about the godhead and prayer and one of
their friends that was there when we visited was very receptive to the
spirit and loved when we said the two prayers. And the member offered
to give them a lift if they are interested in coming to church. Boom!
Haha
We have another family that we are teaching and they've come to church
for the last two weeks, so things are looking good! They both prayed
for the first time yesterday and the boy said, "please bless us that
we can continue to have these meetings because I really like it..."
(Meaning the missionary discussions) They are still a little insecure
but they are so sincere in their prayers and in Reading the Book of
Mormon. They are so good and sister Oli and I think they are the
biggest miracle for the Swinton area this transfer.
Such a good week! I love you all and hope your week is good as well
and everyone is excited for starting school again!
Love, sister Christensen

I fell up the stairs getting on the bus...I keep damaging the same knee!

SWEEPING SWINTON

District Meeting

 We have had  wonderful week! I'll just go through the days:

Tuesday: we were calling by less active members and tracting in the
area and were invited into two homes of two families. One family is
from the Republic of the Congo and the other is from an island In the
Indian Ocean. Two miracles just like that! In the words of sister oli:
Boom!

                                      
Thursday: we get off the bus and a woman is waiting for the next bus
and keeps smiling at us but we start to walk away toward the home we
are calling by but I felt a strong impression to go back and speak
with her. She is atheist but wants to know if God is there. We gave
her our number but the bus came and we didn't get her number or her
address but she said she would text us. I thought that was going to be
it but sure enough, five minutes later we got a text from her saying
that she was really grateful that we spoke to her and she wants to
meet again. The address we originally were going to call by doesn't
exist. 

Beautiful view

                                     
Friday: this day was really rainy and cloudy and miserable and I had
an attitude to match. All of our appointments had fallen through, even
our tea appointment, and I just wasn't having any of it. It wasn't
until later in the day that I was sick of myself and decided to say a
prayer for forgiveness and repent. We didn't get any new investigators
or anything like that but people were friendly and we laughed on the
door steps of friendly strangers. it was really funny, we got four
referrals right in a row because people would say, " I'm not
interested but you could try joe over there, he might be!" Good
neighbours looking out for each other.

Hugging the milk on the bus..or bringing it home from the Market...Love Sister Miller

                                         
Saturday: was amazing. Our tea appointment didn't fall through! That's
it. Just kidding! We went by two potential investigators and we got
into both homes! They are so receptive and invited us back! Sister oli
found both of them on the bus and one didn't speak hardly any English.
When we went by to her home, we taught her son and granddaughter and
they translated to her. The son and granddaughter came to church
yesterday and even though it was really different and new, they still
are interested in learning more! That is probably my favourite miracle
of the week.
Sunday: we had the two investigators come to church :) had an
appointment with another potential and she has such a strong faith in
Christ but is so open minded to other faiths. She wants to read to
Book of Mormon because she is constantly looking for ways to learn
more about her Saviour. She's not naive about it though, she is very
intelligent and recognises and follows the Spirit in all that she
does.
We've seen lots of success this week, it has been great! I love sister
oli and we are having a blast together!
I love you all and hope you have a great week!
Love, Sister Christensen
P.s. The son of one of the members (he's 6) was telling us about a
collection of superman DVDs his neighbour loaned to them and he said,
"we've only watched one of the [films] but so far it is my favourite."
It was so cute and funny.
Sorry the funny things are short, I never write stuff down and sister
Madsen was good at making a list of things.
Love you all!

Sister Christensen