I have just completed my first week at the Provo MTC! I have 8 more weeks to go. My P-Days are on thursdays throughout the rest of my stay I think. This place is such a spiritual Fortress...I have never felt it so strongly in my life. A couple times I have felt it so strong that I basically become paralyzed haha...cannot take notes or read or nothing because than I just start to cry:) I love it here.
I arrived on wednesday around 12:00 pm...the host who took my luggage was really nice and cool, his name was also Ryker! We went straight to drop off my luggage in my dorm, and then straight to Finnish class. It was way crazy...The teachers would not speak any English and we couldn't understand anything they were saying...my companion elder Homer (From idaho) arrived 3 hours late because of the plane shuttle...he missed the entire first class. He is a cool guy. There are 14 Finnish missionaries right now, 10 elders and 4 sisters. We all get along great.
In my dorm there is me, vanhin (elder) Homer, and two missionaries going to Denmark.. Elder Danielson-Jenson (from austrailia) and elder anderson (from utah). Elder anderson talks louder than anyone i have ever met. I think that we definately have the best dorm. There is this really awesome swedish elder who is going to finland also...his name is elder englund...he loves soccer and we always talk about it and it is fun.
the basic Day here is:
wake up at 6:30
breakfast at 7:30
than usually 2, 3 hour language classes...one in morning and one in afternoon.
And 1 hour each for personal, language, and companionship study.
lights out at 10:30
In our dorm floor is all of the Scandinavian missionaries. The swedes and Norway missionaries left on monday. They sang a going away song during sacrament in their native language...It is so spiritual, "sisters in zion" and "sons of heleman". We all looked up to those missionaries as older siblings. It was sad to see them go.
Never don't sing the hymns, you are only cheating yourself out of blessings. On sunday we got to rewatch elder Holland's talk from this past recent general conference. I Forgot my notes back at my dorm, but basically he was saying that God doesn't expect us to be perfect. "We dont have to give a 100 talents effort" just "100 pence" "which is clearly in our grasp" God doesnt and will never give us a commandment that we cannot keep. We also got to watch a talk by elder bednar, called character of Christ, it is a longer talk but really really good. THe part about the brother of Jared is really good. If you get the chance, watch both of them. watching is better than reading i think.
On one of the days here, we had the chance to do a personal prayer thing during our language class, we went to the newly constructed building and just walked around and prayed and looked at the pictures of Christ's life. For some reason, I was reminded of a time back in Florida where sister wooley was going home from her mission and wanted a blessing. In it my dad said that her Father in Heaven is proud of her and that He will say upon her return back home to Him: Well done my good and faithful servant, you have fought a good fight. You have sacrificed a little, but I shall make you ruler over many. "You have returned with honor"
I have made it my goal to do whatever it takes in this life/mission to have my father in heaven say the same thing back to me.
I have been able to give my companion a couple blessings...he isn't getting the language and is a little homesick. The power of the priesthood is so real. Elder danielson-jensen told me that God is still "actively" running his church. This means that he is physically running it. he has been to his temples here on earth, he has spoken with the church leaders. Neil L anderson said awhile ago: "I have seen his face and heard his voice." Jesus Christ is real, and he lives.
On Tuesday we had to fly to L.A to meet with the Consulate to get our Finnish passports! IT was so bad. we woke up at 2:00 AM, got on a bus, drove to the airport, checked in at like 5:30. It turns out my driver's license fell out of my wallet sometime last week so i didnt have any identification. I didnt check my wallet because i never take it out of there. The police at the airport did like a fulll body and bag check at both airports. I was able to get through because i had a credit card and mtc card with me. (The MTC securtiy found my license and gave it to me today). L.A. is trash town. We met with the person for three minutes, scanned all our fingers, and then sat there until 7:00 pm for our flight. for some reason the building was in the middle of the hood. so we just sat on some benches and went to Jersey MIkes subs. We got back and were so tired.
It feels like everyone at the mtc knows someone that someone else knows. like their uncle or cousin or neighbour or someting random. IT is such a small world. We met tons of finnish people while in L.A.
The new swedish elders got here on wednesday. we decorated the door with so much stuff.
IT was so exciting to see them come. They leave in six weeks though. we will still be at the MTC. we will meet 3 different sets of scandinavinan missionaries. If you want to send me random toys, or decorations or letter ;)
MY address:
Elder ryker ace christensen
DEc 05 FIN-HEL
The church is true. No doubt about it. Love Elder Christensen
Heippa!
missionary in finnish : lahetysaarnaaja
P.S. Satan does not want missionaries to go into the field. My luggage which has locks on it like exploded three times the day i came here. my roommate elder anderson's dad got in car wreck and broke his arm. elder danielson-jensnen got really sick first day. Also the food here is thumbs down. it tastes alright, but you either have diarrhea after or are plugged up. we ate taco bell earlier this week, tasted so good but everyone had to keep going to the bathroom after. It was poisoned.
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