But we digress…

Sister Ranku & me

Whenever we get off topic in a training, meeting, lesson, or just conversation Sister Madsen always says in the middle of it all, "But we digress..." She is so funny. It is good though because then it gets us back on topic and we can get down to business.

This week has been quite an adventure. We went on exchange with the Preston sisters and I had the opportunity to go with Sister Ranku. She is from South Africa and she is hilarious. She doesn't like saying, "I love you" and she doesn't like hugs or touching at all. When ever I gave her a compliment she put on a very polite voice and said, "Thank you, Sister Christensen." I'd then awkwardly reply with.."No problem!" She is such a character. She has no fear and says hello boldly to everyone she sees but also really listens when people take the time to speak with us. I love that girl.

I got to give a talk on Sunday about being physically healthy and taking care of our bodies. I wonder if they could have picked a better person to give that talk... I think it turned out well. I just turned into a Word of Wisdom message and talked about the physical and spiritual benefits of being healthy and overcoming health challenges. 

We went to the temple yesterday! I love the temple. Immediately afterward we had a leadership meeting and we all got iPads! 
We don't have facebook yet but we have the gospel library and access to different teaching tools. It is very exciting! I got a really bad head ache from the training though. I've gotten used to not using technology for such long periods of time and I'm actually embarrassed for how much I have forgotten. I felt like an old person, I had no idea how to use different features of the iPad that I used to be able to. Oh well. 

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

Love, Sister Christensen

It's been a blustery week in the hundred acre wood :)

Hiya! I hope everyone is doing well. I've been good despite the wind and the rain :) 

We had a great week this week. We were able to see most of our investigators so that was a miracle. This week will be a bit harder because they are all on holiday! But I finally met Jane and she is a sweetheart. We talked about the Book of Mormon with her and I got to know her a bit. 

Celebrating with Ice Cream that Sister Madsen passed her driving test!

I also met Diane and Rachael. Diane is the mum and she is in love with Donny Osmond. She has pictures with him set up on her mantle. She is so funny! No matter where we went with the lesson, it would always come back to Donny. She absolutely loved it when I said we were 5th cousins. I showed her my little family history booklet and showed her a picture of uncle Bruce because I think he looks the most like the Osmonds. I also told her about Jeff and Amy. They are a riot and such a sweet family. I'm so excited to keep teaching them and seeing how the gospel can strengthen their family.

We have a new investigator named Jim and he is so good! We taught him the Restoration and gave him a Book of Mormon. When he took the Book of Mormon he took it and held it in his hands as if we had just given him something so fragile and valuable. 

It has been a really productive week because we have been getting in contact with the sisters old investigators that they haven't been able to contact for months and we're able to make some good progress with them. I love this area. The people are so good and are definitely being prepared.

Dad will be proud to know that I organized a musical item for our zone meeting this last week. Sister Madsen and two other sisters sang and I played the violin for accompaniment. It was a self-arrangement of I Know That My Redeemer Lives, Sweet Hour of Prayer, and Did You Think to Pray? I think it turned out alright :)

I love you all and I love being a missionary in Sunny England. The Church is true and is the best thing in the world. I hope you have a brilliant week!

Love, Sister Christensen

Luff ya!

Leaving Sister Reed

This week has been great! Transfers was Wednesday and we have been so busy from the get go. We went straight to a tea appointment then straight to a meal appointment.

Sister Madsen...round 2

 The next day we did finding and I met some more members. One of them reminds me of mum because she has beautiful blue eyes, her name is Christine, and she has the same sense of humour. She is lovely. She is a convert and was found through her daughter. She knew the church was true when she was taught the Plan of Salvation. She said she'd heard it before (even though she hadn't in this life) and it all made sense.

Skyping at the Blunks...Thank you!
The next day we had a meeting all day in Manchester, which was lucky because it poured buckets and buckets that day. We came back and we had twenty minutes left in the day so we went street contacting. I thought it wouldn't be that long so I didn't take my brolly. We stopped this lady who was out walking her bear of a dog and we had a long but really good discussion with her and gave her a Book of Mormon. We were out a bit longer than I thought we'd be and I got absolutely drenched in the rain. Sister Madsen said I looked oppressed. haha

The Shaw's have finished their mission

Saturday we just had a tea appointment, so the whole day was finding but it was so good! We found two families, gave out four copies of the Book of Mormon and invited someone to baptism! They said no but they invited us back to learn more! 

Sunday I got to meet the ward and they are all lovely. They are so welcoming and want us to participate and be involved in the lessons and things, so that was lovely. We then went to the Blunks for a meal and I got to skype ya'll :) it was so fun to see everyone!

We went finding with a member afterwards and had a discussion with a Jehovah Witness. Then we went to meet with the Bishop properly and I got to get to know him and his family. He is from Yorkshire and has a really strong accent. I love the northern accent. It is the one I can't do as well but I'm going to practice and I'm going to have one by the time I have to go home! haha

Elder Butterfield (on the right) has finished his mission

I love it here. I feel so connected to the ward and the area already. I can't describe the excitement I feel to do missionary work here! I feel like I'm on a search to find everyone in our family that didn't come over with the pioneers. I'm so happy to be here and I'm excited for the miracles Sister Madsen and I are going to see this transfer.

I love you all and hope you have a brilliant week ;)

Love, Sister Christensen

There and Back again. More literally because I'm going to Preston!

I am being transferred! I'm going up to Preston to serve in the South Ribble ward! I will be serving with Sister Madsen! yes, that's right. I'll be serving with Sister Madsen for the second time. I'm excited and I will be skyping you from Preston because transfers is tomorrow.

Make over on Lizzy

I don't know who is more excited, me or dad? There is a lot of our family history up North, so hopefully I'll get to look around. Plus, it is by the Lake District, which is probably one of the most beautiful places in the UK. Also, Liz (Liz from Wrekin Liz, not Liz from Newcastle) moved to the Preston ward so I hopefully will see her on Sunday! 

 So the highlights of the week have been giving Lizzy wizzy woo a make over last Monday, going on exchange with Sister McDonnell in Wrekin, and we had a huge mission conference on Saturday in Manchester. It was so great. Two members of the Seventy came and trained our mission about iPads and gave us materials to study to prepare for it. We don't have iPads now but hopefully sometime in the future we will get them. 

The Wilkes

Fun in the car

Exchanges with Sister McDonnell in Wrekin

One year later...

Ben & Misha Wiles

I love England. I love being a missionary. It is really tiring and sometimes stressful but it is the most fulfilling thing I've ever done. I get to be in a beautiful country around lovely people (mostly lovely ;) ) sharing with them the most important thing I know of. I love the gospel and I know that Jesus Christ lives and that he loves me.

I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week. Ta ra!

Love, Sister Christensen

P.S. and I don't know if I said last week, but I'll say it again: happy bday to Whitney like 2 weeks ago and happy anniversary to Nathanael and Whitney and congrats on the baby blessing