What's so hard about having a missionary?
It's been a nice week. I've heard from Frank more in the last 3 weeks than I did in 2 months when he was away at BYU. He called Tuesday morning from the airport, then yesterday we got a package with a letter in it AND his p-day e-mail. He's being so good, writing details and sharing feeling (ugh! to get guys to share their "feelings"!) So here's his latest letter AND his e-mail.
September 24th:
Well, I did. It's about the same here with the weather, but I feel the humidity. It made it hard to get to sleep, because it felt muggy. That might have been the two hour time change however, but even though I couldn't get to sleep till 10:30 Utah time I had to get up at 6:30 Maryland time. The airplane ride was fine, only about 3 hours and I had an empty seat next to me so I had plenty of room. Unfortunately, I was surrounded by missionaries and President Moody's son and grandsons on all other sides and I had to keep my pass along card. President Moody is awesome by the way. I know he's going to be a great mission president. We spent last night at the mission home in Ellicott City. That night and this morning was training. Our preperation day is wednesday by the way, if this letter didn't give that away. After all that was transfer meeting, and I got my trainer. His name is Elder Call. He's from Orem, and went to high school with Chris; you remember Chris? I won't lie, he's a lot easier to get along with than Elder Lee. With Elder Lee I had the rest of the district around most of the time though. My area is Hampstead, in the Columbia Zone. Basically, it covers Reisterville to the PA border North, which is quite a stretch in one direction; making it hard to stay in our miles limit on the car. I'll manage though. We are living in a basement apartment with a member family named Anderson. I've only met Sister Anderson so far, but she was very nice. I met two Elders from the area next to mine, and they were way cool too.
By the way, I can't look at your pictures on the library computers. And my billing zip code for my debit card is still 84604. I'm sorry about the calls from the airport dropping by the way; they have a limit I suppose on how many calls/for how long with one card. It should only come out to about $4 though.
We haven't done much missionary work yet, being preperation day, but I know that it will go well. The Elders here are dedicated to the work and well prepared to school me in the ways of teaching. I thought I got it pretty well at the MTC, but getting out here I realized I haven't begun to know. As time goes on and I realize how little I know, I know more and more that I'm supposed to be here. That there is no greater work than missionary work and in the truth of the Gospel. During transfer meeting the departing Elders bore their testimonies, and I knew that I, like Elder Ajirogi, could speak in two years about my mission like he did his. He said that as he witnessed his last baptism last night that he had had the spirit bear witness to him that he had served an honorable mission, and that the Lord accepted his sacrifice and was pleased with him. These men are spiritual giants; if I can gain even a fraction of the power of their testimonies I'll come back a much better person. I know how important this work is.
When I talked to you at home I didn't get to hear much. What is going on? Did Megan get my message? It wouldn't let me call Hillary or Nikki by the way.
with much love,
Elder Christensen
September 24th:
Well, I did. It's about the same here with the weather, but I feel the humidity. It made it hard to get to sleep, because it felt muggy. That might have been the two hour time change however, but even though I couldn't get to sleep till 10:30 Utah time I had to get up at 6:30 Maryland time. The airplane ride was fine, only about 3 hours and I had an empty seat next to me so I had plenty of room. Unfortunately, I was surrounded by missionaries and President Moody's son and grandsons on all other sides and I had to keep my pass along card. President Moody is awesome by the way. I know he's going to be a great mission president. We spent last night at the mission home in Ellicott City. That night and this morning was training. Our preperation day is wednesday by the way, if this letter didn't give that away. After all that was transfer meeting, and I got my trainer. His name is Elder Call. He's from Orem, and went to high school with Chris; you remember Chris? I won't lie, he's a lot easier to get along with than Elder Lee. With Elder Lee I had the rest of the district around most of the time though. My area is Hampstead, in the Columbia Zone. Basically, it covers Reisterville to the PA border North, which is quite a stretch in one direction; making it hard to stay in our miles limit on the car. I'll manage though. We are living in a basement apartment with a member family named Anderson. I've only met Sister Anderson so far, but she was very nice. I met two Elders from the area next to mine, and they were way cool too.
By the way, I can't look at your pictures on the library computers. And my billing zip code for my debit card is still 84604. I'm sorry about the calls from the airport dropping by the way; they have a limit I suppose on how many calls/for how long with one card. It should only come out to about $4 though.
We haven't done much missionary work yet, being preperation day, but I know that it will go well. The Elders here are dedicated to the work and well prepared to school me in the ways of teaching. I thought I got it pretty well at the MTC, but getting out here I realized I haven't begun to know. As time goes on and I realize how little I know, I know more and more that I'm supposed to be here. That there is no greater work than missionary work and in the truth of the Gospel. During transfer meeting the departing Elders bore their testimonies, and I knew that I, like Elder Ajirogi, could speak in two years about my mission like he did his. He said that as he witnessed his last baptism last night that he had had the spirit bear witness to him that he had served an honorable mission, and that the Lord accepted his sacrifice and was pleased with him. These men are spiritual giants; if I can gain even a fraction of the power of their testimonies I'll come back a much better person. I know how important this work is.
When I talked to you at home I didn't get to hear much. What is going on? Did Megan get my message? It wouldn't let me call Hillary or Nikki by the way.
with much love,
Elder Christensen