(So busy, no title to this e-mail)‏ Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 5:53 PM

Hello,

Hey huge sorry to everyone. Last week were transfers and I didn't get moved but I had to accompany an elder to go get other elders and basically we visited every zone in the mission and I didn't have time to write..

So, I am sorry, you guys know that I love you, don't doubt that. Also I have two weeks to cover and 15 minutes to do it.

Long story for why I don't have time but I'll get to that.

First, my mailbox is full. So um.... I got a lot of letters from mom and no one else haha so if you happened to send a letter to me for the last two weeks, a re-send would be great. Or if you didn't write me, you got luck this week and can make up for the next.

But yeah, so that was kind of a shocker when I got to the computer today. If you all could send it to my hotmail or my msn address for next week until I figure things out that would help a lot.

Two weeks ago, the last week of Elder Candiani. We didn't do much... haha it was kind of frustrating but he was ready to go and had a lot of families to say good bye to. He went to Hidalgo with all of the cows and chickens and I am sure he will have a great time. My interview with Presidente went really well, we just had some good laughs and then the usual go get em. I liked it, it helped.

My new companion is elder Hernandez. Yes I have completed a year with a Mexican companion. No, my spanish has not improved because of it, haha no but he is why cool. He is from Oaxaca and has little time in the mission. What I mean to say that he is from Oaxaca is that they are like Samoans... just big happy people and I love him. We had to drop a lot of families this week because they didn't go to church last week so we were basically started from new and we needed some miracles. We worked our butts off the first three days trying to find new families. And by the end of three days... we had two new... they weren't that hot.

So Thursday night I was a little like, freak, I'm tired, but I asked the Lord for a little help for one more day and wow... he helped. We found some bomb families that at the end of the lessons called us heaven sent and then went to church... I felt pretty good. It was just such a great blessing I can't even explain it. We are going to do great things here. I love my mission.

Speaking of which we climbed the mountain again. No, I will never climb it again but this time we went up as a zone and yeah... one of us five got lost thus the lack of time to write. It is all good now. Also Elder Heap is my new ZL!!! That kid is such a stud.

Everyone, I love you all so much. I can't believe this is all starting to end but know that I am here and loving it. I still haven't talked to Pres about the summer arrangments but it would be easier for you guys to visit Mexico to come pick me up. But yeah. I'll write more next week, sorry again, love you!!!!

to the moon and back
con amor

elder christensen

Not sick anymore‏ Sent: Mon 10/12/09 3:23 PM

Hello Familia,

How are you guys doing? I keep hearing that the the Broncos are doing well so I just assume that everyone is doing great. Thanks for the sports pop. Also, I am in the area of Elder Farmer so I left all of my letters in my house and I am going to try and remember how well everyone is doing.

Mom, keep it up with the business. I was going to tell you that my two journals that I have are exactly the same brand and color haha so maybe like a Vol 1 and vol 2 thing or idk.

Still haven't seen the package yet but we have interviews tomorrow so I am hoping for a gift.

Dad, you are stud. I hope the paper is finished and that you are tearing it up in all aspects. I loved the photo of all you guys at NMSU.... it would have been better in blue.... BYU! No not really but I have to have some pride.

Sisters, hope work and school and life are all staying up with you two. You guys are my heroes. It will all pay off in the end. Brit, you keep care of them bro.

Coop, congrats on the goals, sometimes that's all you need to get back into the habit. Have confidence in yourself but never be prideful. You can always work harder haha if you learn that now you wont take so long to learn it here in the mission like me. Yes, I have undertaken the task of ridding all pride from me... some may ask, what will be left? That's a good question, we will have to see, idk but I love you guys. I can't believe everyone is having birthdays and growing and moving on with life haha we don't have birthdays here. We are elders.

I thought I was getting a little of a belly so I went and weighed myself with my mission leader and I am actually a little under normal haha like 163... I need to do something with that. We will have to see what I look like when Christmas comes around.

Transfers next week, I am probably staying cause my comp and I now have 6 months here, but yeah, I love the kid. He is such a stud also if I have another Mexican comp next transfer I will have had one for an entire year.... yes, i do know their culture very well.

Also, funny story of the week. We were knocking doors and we got to this door that had two cables coming out of the hole for the doorbell and so my comp is like, I'll just put them together and the doorbell will sound. And it made perfect sense to me so I was like go for it. So he put them together and Boom haha all I saw was a pillar of light, more brillant then the sun.... directly behind my comps head hahahaha oh man, we booked it out of that building pretty quick after we realized we had knocked out the light for the entire building but we had a good laugh and my comp didn't die haha and then we went and found two awesome families.

We might be having a baptism this week, the grandson of my Mexican grandma, but we have to see some papers first.

Also Elder Francis and I are now best friends. It's just people from the north west.

I do use the word flip haha things change in the mission. Just know that Halloween is pretty soon and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Hope its not too cold there... the sun is quiet nice here.

Ok I got to go eat some tacos and chill with Elder Farmer before my junta. You all take care and know that our Heavenly Father loves you and that he has so much planned for each one of you. Be great cause that is who you are.
Con amor
to the moon and back

Elder Christensen

Almost not sick...‏ Sent: Mon 10/05/09 12:11 PM

Hey Fam,

How is everyone doing today? I feel like I ask that question a lot but people respond to it so I guess I'll just continue with it. But really I hope everyone had a great week and an even better conference. Flip, that was the best conference I have ever been to. I dont know if I just haven't payed attention before or if it was in another language... possible. I just went with the right spirit and a lot of questions but I left a new man... boy haha no with 20 and a half years under my belt I think I qualify for man. I loved it. I loved the apostles and the first presidency. I wish I had a testimony like Elder Holland or could call everyone to repentance like Elder Bednar. They are my heros. I think they should put conference on dvd. I'ld watch it haha and that's what a year in mexico does to you.

Nano, congrats on the job, work hard and be humble. Learn everything you can.

Jen and brit, thanks for writing me. I know you guys are busy so thanks for taking the time to show some love. Also Jen, we take taxis if it is over 30 mintues walking and we don't have time. There are about 5 families that have cars but a ride is a very rare occasion. And it always happens right as we are about to arrive at our destination.. ironic haha you guys keep tearing it up and work hard. That Lacey fireside sounded bomb.

Also I think it was funny that today everyone decided to send pictures to me and I wasn't able to open them... sad days. next week. Dad, you are a stud man, you keep working hard and stay positive. Good luck on the document.

Coop, idk if you are dead or alive, but you keep it up man, I hope you recover soon. Also, no worries, i have a whole book of advice that I am writing down for your mission haha.

Mom, love you. Thanks for all of your sacrifices and work. You are great. Thanks for the shoes, but i think we should just keep them there in the US and then I just get these fixed up for 20 pesos.. also still havent gotten the box but ill be looking.

The reason I have been taking other money out is because when I went to the temple E Farmer asked me to buy him the new bible in leather... Yes, new bible in spanish. It's sweet. Idk if anyone else saw Presidente Monson explain it on the Saturday morning session. I loved his spanish haha also I listened to conference in english, and yeah I understood everything in spanish but it is better in english. for example, when everyone is making jokes and laughing, the translator is in his monotone voice for the punch line and it ruins everything haha no all of it was great.

On Wednesday, we had a leadership meeting and I saw Elder Brown, love him. Also it was basically a, "we need to do better pep talk." Also that some dls are going to be let go to give other kids a shot. Well its been fun haha no I wouldn't be sad, I could handle less stress.
This week we found some bomb families. The only thing was that only one went to church... but this next week. Also i need prayers and fasting.... not me but just we have alot of people that can get baptized this month but everyone is having something come up. So a little help if we could.

Mom I was wondering if you could help me out with one of those containers for consecrated oil and rechargable batteries.. idk, i actually love the idea of just putting money in the bank for when i get back haha cause ill need it... but yeah if i only had two christmas gifts, it would be those two. Other than that life is normal.

I got to jet and do some paper work haha really official right haha no but you guys have great week and of course happy b day bro!!!!! i cant believe life moves on without me but your a man now. Keep being a stud bro, you can do anything. YOu are my hero. Everyone take care and see ya in a week.

to the moon and back...

Elder Christensen