3/14/2011

These two weeks were great! I spent a whole week in the area of my district leaders teaching with them. This was good because they want to work also. They are great teachers so I learned a lot. We had great success and also had some great experiences. We taught this family, a husband, his wife with two little kids. They told us that they were almost divorced and they were thinking of having an abortion because it would be too much money to raise another kid. So we taught them the plan of salvation and how abortion was wrong and how the power of the gospel can bring strength into thier relationship. This felt very powerful! One of the zone leaders asked if they wanted a blessing on thier home. They said yes and we went inside thier house. We knelt down and Elder Castillo gave the blessing. It was a great blessing! The spirit was very strong. After he said amen, we stood up and gave the husband a hug and he broke out in tears thanking us and telling us how hard his life was and that he needed that. Then we spoke with him and his wife about how things will work out. Then Elder Castillo asked the wife to hug her husband. For like 10 minutes she wouldn't. She wouldn't even look at him, but we didnt give up and kept asking. We then asked the husband to apologize if he had done anything wrong. Finallly after this and more persuasion, she hugged her husband and they decided to keep thier baby. They also went to church the next day. This was an awesome experience. We also taught this one guy who is a member and his girlfriend who he lives with. We got to his house, he let us in and the girlfriend disappeared into the kitchen. He said she didn't want to talk to us. My new comp Elder Inoñan said, "just tell her to come out so we can get to know her". She came out sat down and we talked with her and him. She seemed to become a lot more normal because we are normal too! FYI, she thought I was 23, ha,ha. But I gave the opening prayer and I felt the spirit strong but it was a different feeling. It was more calm and soft. It was nice, but when I finished, I looked up and her eyes were watering. IDK why, but I was hoping it was the spirit. We taught about the law of chastity and got another appointment to teach her again. We also taught this other family. A Father, his wife and a baby. They accepted everything we taught,and when we spoke about the book of mormon, they wanted to know how they could get a copy. So I took my comps and said this is yours now, haha. My comp was kind of shocked because of how fast I grabbed his book, but it was a paperback that we give, so it was all good. They said they would pray about Joseph Smith, so hopefully, we will find out soon about that. Well, news about what is new. My new comp is awesome! He works hard and knows what to do. He is from Peru, and he is like me in many ways. Carnaval was good for studying. I read 300 pages of Jesus the Christ and know alot more now about the Savior's life. We rested and I studied a lot of spanish too. I had that pain in my ribs again, and went to the doctor. He said my tendon in my rib is ripping, so I can't exercise for 3 months! Since taking a break, the pain is gone. So I'm thinkning he was right. Well I wish you guys an awesome week! I will tell you more next week about the things you asked about. Love you all, Elder Christoffersen

Feb. 28th, 2011

Hola family, I'm sorry that my email wasn't very long last time. I didnt have much email time. It will be easier for me to answer your questions if you "Dear Elder" me because I have to read them on line super fast. You can still send brief emails. I love you guys a ton! You mean a lot to me and I am very thankful for our family and my friends. We are truly blessed. YES, Monica's baptism went through. Everything went smoothly. It was great! My comp baptized her and she was confirmed in Church. Kind of dfferent, but it went way smoothly. We taught some cool families this week and the Spanish is starting to come better. It's a lot more comfortable. I also sang during the baptism for the musical number. I sang "Nearer my God to Thee." The first line in English, and the second two in Spanish. I was surprised because it was my first time singing by myself in front of others, and instead of being nervous I felt the Spirit way strong! It was nice and comforting. When we were teaching this one family, they were very interested and they were asking questions and were very accepting. But I felt strongly to share a scripture about how there is need for a Book of Mormon. Right when he said the first word, the music next door was turned up a load, and thier dogs came over. It was hard to hear. Then after the lesson they gave us hot cocoa, (which idk why they give us hot cocoa when its already hot outside, and in the house, ha ha I sweat from just eating. Then I wash it down with scalding hot cocoa ha ha. (It's the good stuff) but he asked a question to my comp and you could feel the Spirit come back strong again, and then his phone rings. What are the chances when the whole time we were just talking, things were fine. The Gospel is true because it happens all the time. When the Spirit is about the strongest, something happens. Its Crazy but that family is way nice and made sure we were going to return to teach them again. I also had a split with another American on Wednesday. He only has one cambio more than me, so we knew it would be interesting. But we taught pretty well and with the Spirit it was way cool! I also realized that when someone truly needs the Gospel, you're helped out a lot more with the Spirit because we taught this family that didn't understand a lot and they were having trouble with our questions. My comp and I got down a litttle but the next lesson was way strong! The Spirit was awesome and they had no questions after the lesson. It was cool. When the time comes and you need the help of the Spirit, it will be there. It was great. On the same day, the American comp and I were contacting, and this drunk guy came up and took my bible with the new case I got. He wouldn't give it back to me. He kept trying to joke around and say that he would fight me. Finally after a long time, he gave it back. I think he started to feel bad. It was pretty funny. My comp still doesn't want to work and I try to pressure him. He only has two more days, so I'm praying for a comp who wants to work hard, because I don't want to put up with the laziness again. One last story before I end this letter. We went to this house of a less active member, and we were going to see if they had time because his wife is Catholic. But there was a nun there, and I got pretty nervous, because that's the first time something like that has happened. My comp and I offered a prayer in English because we both know it well. I was having the hardest time praying in English. It was weird, but I know now during my mission I will not pray in English, because I'm more comfortable praying in Spanish. To answer your question mom, none of the missionaries in my house know English very well. Just lines that are funny, and songs we have that our popular, and simple stuff. I love you tons! I can't email you next week. It's "Carnival" from the 5th till the 8th, so I'll be in my house those four days. Look forward to talking to you in two weeks. Love, Elder Christoffersen

Pcitures from Camron.

This is where Camron lives.