WEEK 27 IN STRAIGHT-UP HEAVEN!

This week was simply wonderful!

 

Sister Brems turned 22 on Wednesday! For a special treat, one of the families in the ward had us over for dinner and made CAFE RIO because they have the recipe! It was SO GOOD.

 

This week, we got to go to a wonderful baptismal service for a woman the elders taught. It was such an amazing day! Her husband has been a member his whole life but was less-active. He just recently became active again and was able to baptize his wife! Their family will be able to be sealed together in the temple in a year! They have two adorable kids. The Spirit was so strong. It made me so happy to see her making the decision that will change her life forever! It was amazing.

 

Okay so I have some numbers for this week....

 

Number of dead mice we saw this week: 2

Number of frozen toes I had: 10

Number of walls we painted: 9

Number of birthday packages Sis. Brems got: 16

Number of dreams I had about Daft Punk: 3

Number of prayers we had answered: infinity

 

OH ALSO something terrible/hilarious happened this week. Tom is the older man in our ward who we read the scriptures to every night because he has bad eyes and can't read them for himself anymore. Anywho, this week he needed us to read him this packet he got in the mail about insurance and stuff. It was like 10 pages of dense, dull, material. But Sister Brems really wanted to read it, so I let her go ahead! Meanwhile, I'm sitting in this really comfy recliner, listening to her read about insurance policies, conditions, etc. Next thing I know, Sister Brems is waking me up! I FELL ASLEEP FOR 30 MINUTES. They had finished reading the packet, said the closing prayer, and everything. It was terrible and hilarious. Well, at least now I can say I've fallen asleep in an appointment. NEVER AGAIN, THOUGH!

 

This week was full of miracles as usual, but one thing that I really was reminded of this week was that life is fragile. We had two members of our ward pass away this week, and it's been really hard on everyone. However, we are so blessed to know that death is not the end for them or for anyone. I am so grateful to have that knowledge and to be able to share that good news out here in Michigan! Life is fragile, but it's WONDERFUL. Make the most of it! And even with all the incredible experiences we have, this life is just a blip in the timeframe of eternity. There is so much more ahead!

 

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

 

<3 Sister Christiansen

 

P.S. MERRY CHRISTMAS. You all need to watch this video. It's INCREDIBLE!

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=1337791375001

 

P.P.S. Please enjoy this adorable, fat cat that we met this week.

 

 

Week 26! BREAKING NEWS

This week has been hilarious and wonderful. Sister Brems and I got to tour the local TV station this morning because a member of our ward is an anchor there! Check it out!

MISSIONARY NEWS ANCHORS!

BREAKING NEWS: THE BOOK OF MORMON IS TRUE.

 

It was awesome. We get to go back next week and play with all the green screen stuff and actually click around on the weather maps and stuff!

 

Okay, sorry for that tangent. Time for missionary news!

 

It's been a wonderful week in Holt. I feel like I say this every week but the Lord truly is hastening His work. The members are getting so involved with and excited about missionary work. People keep referring us to their friends who they feel are ready for the gospel and it's been amazing to teach them. I love Holt!

 

The day before Thanksgiving we got to visit a family that has 10 kids and 10 puppies!

 

 

Cutest puppies ever!

 

I can't believe Christmas is coming! I am so excited. Sister Brems and I found a fake Christmas tree in our apartment that we're going to put up tonight. Yay!

 

One spiritual truth that has really been manifesting itself this week is the principle of GRATITUDE! Gratitude gives us the strength to resist temptation, to acknowledge our blessings, and to continue on with hope! Check out this awesome video as a late Thanksgiving treat!

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=911161818001&cid=HPWE112713180

 

I love you all so much and am so grateful for all the support you send me each week!

 

<3 Sister Christiansen

Week 25!

This week I hit my 6 month mark! CRAZY! This is going by WAY too fast. I can't believe that I've been out that long. It seems like two days, haha.

 

So church yesterday was pretty awesome. Sister Brems and I gave talks in sacrament meeting which was nerve-wracking but also exciting. We talked about doing good to others. Yay!

 

Last General Conference, Elder Nielsen invited everyone to pray for the missionaries in the ward by name. Well, Brother Dale, being hilarious, decided to print out the names and pictures of each of the 5 sister missionaries in the ward and hand them out. So now everyone has a little slip of paper with my face on it! Crazy, haha. But it's cool to see the members getting so excited about missionary work!

 

A member just got back from Hawaii and gave us ToffeeMacs, which are toffee and macadamia nuts covered in chocolate. DELICIOUS. I don't know why I'm including this. It was just exciting.

 

We had a bunch of investigators at church on Sunday! It was so cool! We've been praying to know how to help people get to church, and those prayers are being answered! Prayer is so cool. As Thomas S. Monson said, "What an amazing source of power, of strength, and of comfort is available to each of us. He who knows us better than we know ourselves, He who sees the larger picture and who knows the end from the beginning, has assured us that He will be there for us to provide help if we but ask. We have the promise: “Pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good.”"

 

Well, for some reason my mind is just blank this week about other exciting things that happened. I love you all and hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

 

<3 Sister Christiansen