Week 16

First to answer your question Mom, yes my house is the one with the
circle stairs. (see below)


Ia ora na tatou!

So this week was a blast as usual. We started off the week last monday
by cutting our hair. I bought a machine while I was on Tahiti and now
we look pretty again. haha. The reason I'm late for this email is
because today we went in a boat to another tiny little motu which is
just a little island. Don't worry it's allowed I checked haha. We
didn't break any rules. But yeah we went there with our branch
president and his wife and they did some work while we just kinda
walked around. We saw a dead beached whale yay and an octopus too. It
was just absolutely gorgeous. I'm also now pink because of the sun.
Yay for being super white! At around 10:30 the branch president got
his mask, snorkel and spear gun and went fishing. He caught about 8
fish and we cooked them there. Seriously best fish I've ever eaten.
They just threw them in the fire and then peeled off the burnt skin
then we ate it on leaves with coconut milk as a drink. It was awesome!
This last week I started reading the Book of Mormon in Tahitian. (Te
Buka A Moromona). I read with a dictionary right next to me and right
down definitions of words right in the book. I think that will help so
much with learning Tahitian considering we teach in it...haha.
Also during one of our lessons this past week, at the end of the
lesson with the Tavana (mayor, he's a member too just inactive) he
told me my last name in Tahitian means Tane Tahu'a which means healer
man. I first heard it as Tane Toa with means store man but Elder
Barfuss helped me to realize what he actually said.
yesterday we gave a training to the branch after church. Only about 12
members showed up but that's okay because at least people were there
haha. It was about how they can help the missionaries with the work of
the Lord.

Okay last thought. I was reading in Alma 10 this week in the book of
mormon. I actually haven't read the book of mormon in english since I
started. It was so hard at first but now i can actually understand
what I'm reading which is so nice. Anyway it's when Amulek is
testifying of what Alma had just said to the people. After Amulek
spoke, it says the people were étonné which means surprised or amazed
because of the second testimony. I loved that because as missionaries
we testify all the time of the truthfulness of what our companions
say. I know that because we do that, the spirit can touch the hearts
of those we teach. So yeah that's it.
Love you all! Until next week

Love, Elder Christensen

Week 14: There Was a Baptism

Hello everyone!!!

So this week was pretty cool. We taught 8 inactive lessons! That's
usually how it is here actually. Also most of the kids of this island
left for school in Makemo which is another island that's pretty close
to us. So now there are only about 80 people on the island. Mostly
adults and little kids that are still in elementary school. But yeah
that's pretty cool. I hope the subject of this week isn't misleading
too much. There was a baptism, yes, but it was at the catholic chapel
for a baby. We went because we were invited and we didn't want to be
rude and most of the island was at the baptism. The baby was very
cute.

Guess what? It's my sister's Birthday! Happy Birthday Erin!!! I love
you lots:) My sister is awesome.

We're still waiting on the boat for our bikes and suitcases which
might come tuesday. We're not completely sure though haha. It'll
probably get here this week. Elder Barfuss has been without his stuff
for 3 weeks. I can imagine that he can't wait for his stuff. In my
suitcase there are also 30 bags of popcorn that Elder Sovereign and I
put in so that Elder Barfuss and I can have something to look forward
too haha.

I've noticed lately that it's super easy to judge others, especially
when you know that they know what the right thing to do is, but the
only person who has the right to judge any of us is Heavenly Father.
No one here on earth is perfect, we all make mistakes and we can all
work on our weaknesses and that's okay to not be able to do everything
perfectly. Trust me I see every day a weakness that I have being a
missionary. The trick is finding that thing and focusing on improving
it, which is super hard, but I know If we ask our Father in Heaven for
help, he will help us. He is always there for us, all we have to do is
ask:)

So yeah that's about it.

Love you all!!!
-Elder Christensen

Week 13: Goodbye Hitia'a, Hello Hikueru

Yo so this week was absolutely nuts as I'm sure you can imagine. 

I packed up my bags on monday and sent them to the mission office to be put on a huge boat that arrives in Hikueru the 14th. My bike is also on that boat. Elder Barfuss and I are living off of just our tiny carry ons and what we crammed into our backpacks for the flight. 

So yeah I got on a plane Thursday morning and flew about an hour and a half to the tiny island of Hikueru. I replaced Elder Heward who has been out here for 6 months. That's super long haha. But yeah I arrived and took a boat across the lagoon because the village is across from the airport. Our house is  right next to the chapel which is extremely tiny. It's only a branch out here. We have no running water except for a water spicket (absolutely no clue how to spell that). We can't drink that though or we'll get sick. We have water to drink though so don't worry haha(talking to you mom) We take bucket showers. We heat up the water in the microwave haha then put that in a bigger bucket. So showers are interesting. There are about 100 people on  this island which is super cool/super hard  because everyone knows the missionaries which is awesome but also hard because there  are only Members and Catholics. Everyone knows us by name. That's pretty cool. We live in the mayor's sister's house. It's pretty sweet and big. Just Elder Barfuss and I and the tiny island of Hikueru.

Also the ocean is the most gorgeous thing I have ever seen. It blows my mind. I look to the left and there is the ocean and then I look to the right and it's the lagoon. The stars here are amazing too. And the sunsets are the most beautiful sunsets. This place is just unbelievable. Elder Barfuss has only been here for 2 weeks so in a way we're almost white washing. I'm excited for whats to come. If you have any questions let me know! I'll try to respond to them next week. 

I'm definitely feeling the Lord's hand in my life and in the lives of the members here. There is so much love that I've felt from these people. I am for sure blessed and thankful for this gospel in my life. I love being a missionary!!!:)

Love Elder Christensen

Week 12: No one saw this coming. HIKUERU transfer!!

It was a good week. I need to start with a story. 

So we had interviews with Président Bize last week and he asked me if I had any questions. I didn't so he proceeded to tell me about how I'm getting transfered to a tiny island that has only Mormons and Catholics. HE didn't tell me which island it was. But that night we got transfer calls. I will be going to the island of Hikueru in the Tuamotu islands. It's ridiculously small. (less than 100 people) Also there's no shower; Just a bucket. And it'll just be me and my new companion Elder Barfuss. Elder Sovereign is staying in Hitiaa and no one thought that would happen to be honest. I get to spend my birthday on a baby island. I'm stoked. I'm pretty scared too. I take a plane thursday morning and arrive on the island at about 2 I believe. That's all I got time for really. 

I'll send something next week from the island of Hikueru!!!!

Love you all!

Elder Christensen