Unique Fascinations in Finland.....Crack One Open!

What a week we have had here! my word. Well last p-day we went to this far away city to see some 3 less active members there. And we had thought we had it all set up, but when we showed up there, the guy had a swedish class in 5 minutes and the other two were not home in their neighboring cities. So we ended up touring the cities, finding lots of cool churchs and having a good time with our branch president. He used to live there. It is about 3 hours one-way from seinäjoki. Honestly though it was probably my favorite p-day so far. On the ride, The branch president put on the book of mormon audio in english. It was ether and moroni. So intense in the end of ether. The most detailed battles ever. I thought about that for like 3 days straight...and not much else. I even read it again in english and then again in Finnish. So good. I cant wait till i get there in personal study!

Personal study this week was really good. I finished alma, and studied alot the plan of salvation. I got thinking, ya know, if we ever do get to teach it, i better know how to teach it. And so everyday I break it down and study one piece of it for like 15 minutes or so. I like it a lot. In alma chapter 60, moroni is sending a letter to the chief judge back in zarahemla, and he is scolding him because of the lack of support he has provided to the war for the nephites. I mean come on! they are defending the freedom, their families and the rights to worship and this guy is just sitting there. (but in the next couple chapters we find out that he got kicked out by some evil king men...so we can forgive him) Moroni goes on to say in verse 21 Or do ye suppose that the Lord will still deliver us, while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which the Lord has provided for us? I really like this verse...sometimes we may get in the habit and think that we will have everything given to us because we are being righteous and doing the right things, obeying the commandments. Isn't is also a commandment too that we should put forth work? The way I think of it is that we are provided with the provisions or ability to accomplish the task ahead based upon our righteousness and faithfulness...but then we have to take those things given to us and go do it. If we dont put forth our full effort what reason does the lord have for delivering us or helping us finish the job. The odds arent in your favor...But I do also know that if we do our best and our righteously living, that the Lord will provide for us and in the end deliver us. Ye need not fear...At night is a great time during your personal prayer, to submit your daily work to your father in Heaven. "have i done all that I could do today" Submit your work and then go to sleep in the lord's hands. I think he already knows what we have done but it is better when we tell him our self. This is something we can all do!

Also, this week we have discussed about what success is. It isn't based on the amount of people you get to baptize, but based on your own commitement to find those people and invite them to make changes in their lives. We can each have success in our lives when we look at it like this...base it on your own commitment, not necissarily the out come. Each time you put forth full commitment, you should grow, and there fore i think the out come should be better. 

This week:

we did lots tracting this week and opened up a quite a few areas. President wants us to focus on farther away places where people havent heard our message before. It doesnt make sense to keeping walking the same route everyday does it? I say nay. We are going to try and get an english class here up and running. this week will be the week we hope. 

yesterday, we were riding our bikes and there were these ladies in front of us, so my comp tries to pass them and i ring my bell to get them to move...but she turns around and moves sideways and crashes straight into my comp as he tries to pass. Her leg gets stuck in his tire and she is dragged like 2 yards until they crash on the side of the rode in a pile of snow...It was great..no injuries which was good and then we went on our way again. It is now one of the things I have ever seen. This place never gets old. The people here are great. I remember I used to be really excited for the cold. Let me tell you, I have had multiple dreams of the summer time....it is very close...I can almost feel it. It has been -20 - -25 all week but yesterday it was only -7 and we were pretty happy because we thought that was warm...but then we went outside and remembered that that was still cold. You get used to it though. after a good bike ride...sometimes it can be refreshing!

love you all!

elder christensen

Chocolate in a REAL EGG SHELL!

short tie....and very clean apartment!

(Mom added: Good depiction of Guardian Angels protecting and surrounding our missionaries at all times.)

UNITY - Win Together/Loose Together!

Well, this was a very busy and fun week. We dont really have a p-day this week, because we are going to a city called Kristiinankaupunki and it is a little over 2 hours away. We are going to visit a couple of less actives that live there and our branch president. (he must be very committed to drive that far distance more than once a week...he is a solid guy) So we are going to be there the whole day. But I have heard that it is a very cool city...a very old one that looks cool and it is right on the sea coast. Hopefully I take some pictures. We dont have a lot of time so if I dont write back to anyone...I will do that next week. Our bus leaves in like an hour. It is going to be a good one. Anyway, here is my week.

Personal study:

In personal study this week I studied alot about unity, and what that means. In Zone conference this week, This was a topic of discussion and how it is one of our mission's values. I was asked to speak on sunday also...so I used what I learned about unity, and with my own thoughts, put together a master talk. I was the closing speaker...and was asked to fill 30 minutes. Yes...i cannot even do that in english. But i think it was easier in Finnish because you talk a lot slower. I broke it down into a couple of different topics: what is is, why important, how to build it, and then how to use it...and a challenge (we arent doing our job if we dont extend a challenge/commitment.) So, I talked a lot about soccer, and how in soccer, if we aren't unified, we cannot be successful as a team. For example, look at Iceland. They dont have very good players compared to a lot of other teams, not really any big names, not really a famous coach, not the most fans, but they do have unity. Much more than most other teams. And that is why they are successful. If the best teams would have as much unity as they do, they would be unstoppable. If usa were like Iceland, they would have made the world cup. They win together, they loose together, and they work and try again together. Now I definitely dont think Iceland will get even close to winning the cup, but they will definitely loose as a team. We can apply this to our ward, to our families and to companionships...literally to anything. If we have no unity, we cannot have the spirit with us and there will just be confusion. But when we are unified, we really are acting as representatives of Jesus Christ. Speaking his words. You get so much more done when you work together, you are happier, you can trust each other, you are living how we have been asked to live. My challenge to all, is to take sometime to see what may be keeping you from being unified...and then to change that. I shall try it as well. Goals are best kept when written down.

my week:

We had such a great week this week. We tracted a lot of new areas...trying to find people where the gospel will be new to them. We met a really cool guy from cameroon a couple days ago. He seems like he is so ready to accept Christ in his life...he even met with missionaries like 10 years ago...so hopefully in the next few weeks we can try and contact him. he is pretty busy with work right now. So we shall see. Elder Lewis and I made some lasagne this week which was very good. We have been cooking in bulk, and then eat that same thing for a couple of days. Each day older it gets, the better it tastes...not sure why. 

We are working hard, tracting alot and having a lot of fun. We shall find new investigators this week. One of our old investigators form last week was an older fellow and we visited him yesterday. When we got home, we got a call from his daughter saying that if we go back again she will call the cops. So this week, we are going to find again and get some one really good...we can feel it. Its a work in progress.  It was a very cold week here...today as we rode our bikes here to email it was -21...but now it is -25...I dont know how we will make it to the bus station. I wont lie, we have had some great amount of fear in our lives because of the cold. Last night was only -14, and elder Lewis almost lost his toes. The summer months are just around the corner...and I cannot wait. I remember coming here and I was so excited to experience really cold...all I wanted was to go to the most northern city...now i think that would be fun..but in the summer time.

Finland is the best...We like to give it a hard time but really we all love it. You dont experience this stuff in most places. Missions are the best. Go on them

love elder christensen

Looks like the Satellite High Scorpion Stinger.....

(This worries me....mom.) 

The "Boomerang Effect"......

Well, It has been a great week for us! Let me tell you...some great stories...not lots of time though. Seinäjoki is a blessed place. It has not been forgotten by Christ in his building up of his kingdom here on earth.

My new comp is elder Lewis...He is very cool. He has been on his mission 1 year and 6 months. A very advanced man in wisdom and knowledge. We have had some great fun in our first week together. He is finishing my training...only 2 more weeks till I am done. We have set some pretty good goals and are going to try and get this place pumped and flowing with good works. I must say though, it will definately take some work.

Today I will start of with personal study:

So i have been reading in alma for a while now...this may be the last time in awhile where the verse of the email is from alma. I might just finish it this week. So while reading, I really like chapters 40 and 41...and especially the parts where it talks about the word Restoration..and what that really means. I feel like often times this can get a little mixed up with a mix between improvement and new...but lets dive into the scriptures:

12 And now behold, is the meaning of the word restoration to take a thing of a natural state and place it in an unnatural state, or to place it in a state opposite to its nature?13 O, my son, this is not the case; but the meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish—good for that which is good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful for that which is merciful.14 Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again.15 For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all.

(Picture from seminary lesson....couldn't help but share.....we are at the same spot!)

So we learn from these verses that the word restore basically means to bring back the same. So, the things we do in this life will be given back to us, whether they are good or bad. The church on the earth today is not any better than the one that Christ set up while he was on the earth, nor is it worse..but the same. I love the last verse...that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored. Lets always focus on sending out good works. As we do this, good works will be send back our way. I know that this is true.

My week:

So, I said goodbye to elder fielding and got elder Lewis. Both are awesome. Elder Lewis and I have set the goal to find one baptism this transfer. This is a high goal...and it is going to push us...but we can do it. First, we need to find an investigator..which also is very hard..but we can do it. So, we set our goals and head out the door. Friday night we found two people! who let us in their homes and we were able to share the message of the restoration...and get return appointments! What a blessing that is! We hope to be able to teach both of them again this week! the work is coming along.

Also, this transfer we arent going to eat out as much as last time. We have been addicted to greek yougurt this first week. we each ate 3 kilograms in the last couple days. The members here in seinäjoki are the best...we love them to death. In the meeting we had after church, one member stands up and says :I have given the elders 4 names for them to go and teach and report on next sunday. We were like yes!! no way! he gives us the names and I see them and realize they are the same 4 names they have been giving out to new missionaries since 2010. yes, elder fielding and I got those same ones when I got in town. Bless his soul. 

The church is true! love elder christensen

Me trying to work off yogurt.

Grocery run this morning....most money spent ever..there were some good deals. hardest bike ride back ever!

Sometimes the Hardest Things for Us to Do, Are the Easy Things.......

Wow! this is my last week with elder Fielding! We have transfers tomorrow..(that's why p-day is on monday) I am staying here in seinäjoki for another transfer. I am getting elder Lewis as my new comp. I have heard he is way cool...he has about 6 months left in his mission. He trained elder enlgund (mtc friend..the swede that likes soccer) in the city called Rauma. I am excited. Elder Fielding is going to jyväskylä...a city just about and hour and a half below seinäjoki. We are going to be in different zones though so thats sad. He is going to be district leader there. We are both excited.

I will have to learn the city though..now I am the one who is going to have to lead us everywhere...I only know how to get to a couple places...piikki pizza, church, lidl (food store), Smarket (food store), train and bus station, and Samburger. Speaking of restaurants, we have eaten out 21 times this transfer...! Thats a record breaker. I actually have been fasting this morning because we are going to a piikki pizza after this...need to have maximum room because it is a buffet...the greasiest pizza i have ever had...so good. Also, last p-day after golfing..a member took us to this pizza place and order us pizza with pickles and salami and tuna and spam on it...probably the grossest thing i have eaten...didn't know pizza could be bad. In Finland, they don't cut the pizza in slices...it is served as the full circle...you use a knife and fork to cut it. 

It was way cold this week. (i actually had to use my beanie...i hate wearing those things) and My comps bike is broken, so we walk everywhere. (i had to pull out the thermals) It takes a lot longer to get everywhere, but gives us a good chance to talk to people on the streets. I feel like when we aren't on our bikes zipping around, they are less intimidated by us. haha

We are still working on finding investigators to teach...We had another great fast on sunday so that others will be able to find. January has been a really good month for missionary work in Finland. there was 3 or 4 baptisms. And there are more scheduled for february! As president Aura says, a baptism for one companionship is a baptism for everyone. We have some work to do still. I have got a feeling that this next transfer is going to be a way good one for seinäjoki!

Personal Study:

I have been reading a lot in Alma this week...I am trying to keep up with the seminary kids...but they already passed me and are gaining even farther ahead everyday. I read a lot about the rameumpton...i have been waiting for this day for a long time. There is this one huge Lutherin tower that stands high above the earth in seinäjoki...the great tower of babel.​

​I love alma 33:21_ O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?

The people could have been healed if they just looked at the sign..but they were so prideful that they wouldn't even do that...If that was me...I would want to be one of the very first ones...I would look as fast as I could...All I would have to do to be saved is look at something. Such a steal of a deal. It is so important that we are humble enough to be able to do the easy things and then even eventually the hard things that we are asked to do.

Alma 37:46 "O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever."

This verse is way good as well. Sometimes, for some reason...the hardest things for us to do is the easy things. The easy things are easy to do...lets do them. They prepare a way for us to be able to do the hard things. I know that this is true...If we focus on being obedient and continue to build our testimonies on firm ground...we will never fall away and will be able to live happily eternally. ​