Good Tan Lines

Saludos! So good to hear from you and see your fun pictures! We had a fun p-day today. We played futbol and volleyball with the elders in our district. The boys wanted to play dodgeball with coconuts but we didn’t end up doing that. This week I hit my four month mark and I have been reflecting on my life now and how different it is. Mission life is very unique. I made a list of some of the quirks and unique aspects of mission life. 

You might be a missionary if... 

- you make popcorn and look forward to watching The District (The District is dvds we have to watch during our training to learn how to be effective missionaries.)

- your main arsenal for jokes and quotes come from The District

- the weeks feel like days and the days feel like weeks

- the words mail, referencia, and bedtime make our heart skip a bit

- the words companionship inventory white-washing and role play-practice lessons make you cringe 

- you feel naked without your nametag

- you have dreams-nightmares about not being able to find the scripture you want

- your selection of clothes is about as versatile as your selection of food 

- you always have to be prepared to give a thought or talk because you are definitely always the back-up

- you have lost some connection with your first name and it feels like a secret identity you don’t want people to find out. 

- if male investigators or members try to hug you or grab your arm or shoulder you panic and are ready to go Jacki Chan on them, ¨No touchy!!¨

- you can’t remember things that you used to know perfectly i.e song lyrics or movie lines. I always say I´ve passed through the veil, the mission veil. 

- people assume you know everything and are perfect. 

- your tan lines are very good. Very good! 

- you have a weird, probably unhealthy attachment to your day-planner. It’s somewhat of a lifeline. 

- you give the pioneers a run for their money as far as the amount of daily walking goes. 

- when you get home for the night, writing in your journal always seems like a good idea. But going to bed also always seems like a good idea. Going to bed usually wins. 

- you can measure the end of the month by the lack of food in the house. People start getting creative and start making weird creations with their condiments and whatever else is left. 

Life is good. Transfers are in a week, I am getting nervous. We had ward conference yesterday and there was a white family that is vacationing here and attended the sacrament meeting. Later that night when we visited one of our investigators, the investigator was asking me where my mom was. It took me a while to figure out what she meant but finally I figured out that she assumed the white family in sacrament meeting was my family haha. I wish it was my family visiting haha! Miss you lots and love all the photos and letters. xoxo

 

Hermana Christensen

Hermana Christmas Had A Good Week

 

If you put our names together (Hermana Christensen and Thomas), we make Hermana Christmas. Hermana Christmas had a good week. 

Perhaps we arent supposed to have favorite investigators but Jessica is one of my favorite investigators. She is eighteen but seems much older and has a little toddler. She is from the island of Saint Martin and is waiting for her little boy to get a visa for her to return home. English is her first language but we haven't been able to teach her yet in English because her cousin, who is Dominican, is always present. After our first lesson she said she had been praying to God to know what she should do with her life and what path she should take. She´d been wanting to be more religious but is scared she will be miserable. We showed her the Restoration. It was on her old laptop without sound so we only had subtitles; her little boy was climbing all over her and there were many distractions. However, at the end when I asked what she had understood she was able to tell us every detail of the movie - dates, names, and details that I had missed. It is always a treat as a missionary to be able to teach someone who has the desire to learn and hungers for truth. She is like a friend. Jessica is going to be going back to her home any day now but I hope she can continue her search for the truth that she has begun. 

In the past I have been lazy with prayer and have been thinking a lot lately about how to have more meaningful prayers. In the bible dictionary it says, "The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and others the blessings that God is already willing to grant."

 

The lovely Hannah Jenking (who I miss dearly!) sent me a quote from Mother Teresa, " I used to pray that God would feed the hungry, or do this or that, but now I pray that he will guide me to do whatever I am supposed to do, what I can do. I used to pray for answers, but now I'm praying for strength. I used to believe that prayer changes things but now I know that prayer changes us and we change things."

And in A Grateful Heart by Ray L Huntington he says, "Does God need our thankful hearts and praise? Is Heavenly Father dependent upon our gratitude? Do our thankful prayers make God holier, wiser, or more omniscient? Absolutely not. Why, then, is it a commandment to be thankful in all things and acknowledge God's hand in our lives? In short, we are commanded to thank God in all things because it promotes our happiness and well-being. Grateful people are happier people. If that were not the case, God would not command us to express our thanks to him and to others. He loves us and desires our happiness, and He knows that expressions of gratitude to Him and to those around us will bring positive changes to our lives. 

Our prayers can enlighten, change our perspectives, sanctify, and give us an opportunity to reflect on what’s important and what blessings we have. I love the quote by Mother Teresa because more than praying for changes we should pray for changes within us. 

Happy one year to Meish! Spence - a little jealous about Elder Holland’s visit and love the Bienvenidos a la obra quote. Rest of the fam, have lots of fun but lie to me and tell me the trip was awful when you get back. Thanks. LOVE YOU!

 

It's Hot Here

 

Jovelys

We had a baptism this week! Jovelys is a darling 14 year old, who was baptized Saturday. There was a little bit of miscommunication about the clothes she was supposed to wear so she came in her own white dress and shorts and was baptized in them. She looked so beautiful. Her mom owns a store where she sells used clothes. We have been meeting at her mom´s store after it closes for the night to teach her Jovelys. She is so intelligent and always had the desire to get baptized. Her boyfriend is a member and she knew a little bit before we met with her. We are starting to meet with her mom and little sister now. It’s a very cute family. 

Not everyone is so easy. To say that every single person on this island believes in God would only be a slight exaggeration. Religion is very important to Dominicans. The grafiti on the street is commonly Cristo Viene, many stores and restaurants are named something to do with God, and there is a church on every corner. One thing that always makes me laugh is after every lesson we invite the people to pray to know for themselves that the message is true. More often than not, the people jump into a speech about how they pray all day every day. I usually say “that´s perfect, will you say the closing prayer.” They usually get embarrassed and don’t want to say the prayer. But religion is very important to Dominicans. There is also a very prevalent mindset that there is only one God so it doesn’t matter what religion you are. It makes our job a little tricky trying to explain why it does matter. Even after explaining the restoration many people think it’s a beautiful message but that they already have their church.  

At times I do wonder in what way our message can add to the lives of our investigators? Many of them are very spiritual and dedicated to God. But I would have to say that I know our message can add to their lives. The evidence of the blessings of the gospel is the lives of the members. I am so impressed with the members here. In Mattew 7:20 "By their fruits you shall know them". We are in so many houses every day. And in each house you can get a pretty good sense of the lives of these people. Many of them are outstanding people. But something I did not realize before my mission is the extent the gospel blesses families. There is peace, harmony, and love in the families. Of course none of us come from perfect families, but the families in the church have been a huge testimony to me while I have been here. In Stephen Mansfield’s article The Mormonizing of America  he says:

“Plant Mormonism in any country on earth and pretty much the same results will occur. . . . It will produce deeply moral individuals who serve a religious vision centered upon achievement in this life. They will aggressively pursue the most advanced education possible, understand their lives in terms of overcoming obstacles, and eagerly serve the surrounding society. The family will be of supernatural importance to them, as will planning and investing for future generations. They will be devoted to community, store and save as a hedge against future hardship, and they will esteem work as a religious calling.”

It is so interesting to see that the foundation of the gospel can give its members distinct characteristics, anywhere in the world, independent of nationality. Of course, there are so many wonderful people out there who live incredible lives; I just think the emphasis of the family is something special. 

"When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchen prove to be more controlling than what happened in congress? When the surf of centuries has made the great pyramids so much sand, the everlasting family will be standing, because it is a celestial institution, formed outside a telestial time." -Neal A Maxwell 

Almost every day we pass by a man who sits on the corner of a street. Every time we pass he sings an American song. There has been a great selection so far from Killing Me Softly to Stand by Me, to a great Backstreet Boys song which I sadly cannot remember the name of. I secretly love seeing him – it’s a little piece of home. 

I miss you family! I love hearing about your lives and everything back home. But life is very good. I love my companion like a sister and I am learning lots. 

con amor, 

Hermana Meg

 

On A Scale of 1 - 10

Meg has had a stomach bug these past few days - so no new post this week.

 

I emailed Meg back and asked how sick she was on a scale of 1 - 10.  She said to watch the Brian Regan bit on rating pain.

 

In the picture below, Meg is with Elder Matt Cowley (Joe Jr.'s Son).

 



Mother's Day

 

 

I think everyday should be Mother's Day! What a treat to talk to the people I love most. There are few things that can make me happier than seeing the familiar faces of family members after months of being away. And a birthday shout-out to the woman who I am convinced is the best mom in the whole world.

 

I had the best week yet since leaving three months ago. It is fun to be able to connect more with members and investigators as the language barrier is slowly lessening. And I love my companion. Hermana Thomas has made it her job to shake the white girl out of me and turn me into a Sista. I think I’ve made some serious progress but she says ive got a lot of work to do before I’m an honorary Sista.

 

My favorite thing to teach is Lehi's vision. It is my favorite story in the Book of Mormon and I love to share it with investigators progressing. At the beginning of the vision Lehi sees a man in white (the Savior) and follows him. The man leads him to a dark and dreary waste. It’s not exactly the place you would expect the Savior to lead you. But after hours pressing forward in the darkness he encounters the tree and the most sweet and delicious fruit. I would say those first few weeks in the field felt like a dark and dreary waste. But I know that if we trust the Savior and press forward we will be led out of darkness into light. I love seeing our investigators connect with this vision. The imagery and symbolism is rich. There are mist of darkness, great and spacious buildings and strange roads in all of their lives; but there is also a tree with fruit most desirable. And there is nothing more sweet than partaking of the fruit with your family.

 

I am so grateful to be here and love the people here.

 

"We have been created for greater things. Not just to be a number in the world. Not just to go for diplomas and degrees, this work and that work. We have been created in order to love and be loved." Mother Teresa

 

 

Blind Leading the Blind

 

It’s official, the blind are leading the blind. Transfers are tomorrow and they are shipping my trainer back to the capital and I am now companions with Hermana Thomas from Washington DC. Both of us only have six weeks under our belt in the field and technically the training program is twelve weeks - but they need our trainers for a massive group entering the field. All the other other Hermanas are in tripanionships to finish the training program; muchas Hermanas. I’m glad the president trusts us to be on our own... hope we don't destroy the church out here. The problem is that both of us are still trying to figure everything out. I have learned that having a sense of humor is the best way to deal with stress and being out of your comfort zone. I have learned from my experience here that my life is easy and my struggles are nothing compared to the struggles that many people have. We will still be living with Hermana Espinoza and the two Hermanas she is training.

This week we contacted a house with two deaf ladies. Either they knew a little American Sign Language or Spanish sign language is similar; but we were able to communicate. It was so fun to talk (or sign rather) with them and share a little bit of our message. They were so kind and patient trying to understand me.

There is a woman we have been teaching and she lives in a pretty house. My companion complimented her on her rug, telling her how beautiful it was. When we were finished and leaving, we heard the woman call after us. She had the rug all folded up and gave it to my companion. She insisted she take the rug with her. The rest of the night my companion carried the rug with her to all our other citas.

I often get asked if I am Italian - way more often than if I am Americana. And everyone asks if Hermana Arce and I are really sisters.

Those are all the updates for now. I’m so grateful for all the prayers and support. It’s not easy but it’s an experience like none other.

Happy Cinco de Mayo

"A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in" Greek Proverb

Hermana Christensen

 

 

"How Are You?"

 

 

Hola!! A wonderful week in the DR. It’s fun to feel a little more settled in. We pass by a lot of the same streets everyday and it’s fun to have the ¨regulars¨. There is a little girl who every time we pass by says, "how are you?"  We respond in English but she just repeats how are you over and over because it’s all she knows. This is starting to spread and the whole street is now saying it. I absolutely love the Dominican people. 

We greet all the women with a kiss on the right cheek. Men also greet women this way, but as missionaries... we don’t kiss the men on the cheek. Something interesting- all the women have curly hair and all the women want straight hair. They all wear curlers around everywhere and then blow it dry and wear these hair nets to keep it straight. I guess we all want what we don’t have, I love their curly hair. 

Mango season is in full swing. YUM. My companion and I were at a members’ house and we had a bag of mangos. We offered her a mango and she accepted and then ran into her back yard and put a handful of mangos from her tree into our bag. This is completely symbolic of how the people are. So kind and generous. 

Everyone on this island has heard of the Mormonas; the church is pretty strong here. It’s amazing to see how much missionary work builds the church. Most of the members are converts. All three of the missionaries I live with were either converts themselves or their parents were converts; and now they are on the flip-side of the work. It really is a church built on converts.  Of course we are all converts. 

I believe I have found my new favorite talk: Faith, Reason, Knowledge, and Truth by Richard N. Williams. It is incredible and it has changed my perception of faith.

This letter is a little bit all over the place but that is how my stream of consciousness is, so it is fitting.  

Thank you for your letters!!!!!!!!!!! I am far from the office so it may take a while for the package to get to me. But transfers are next week so someone may bring it to me. Thank you!!!! I am nervous about transfers. I think I’ll be in a tri-companionship. There are four of us together now and because I was with Hermana Thomas in the MTC and we live together now; we have grown close. She is from D.C. and she is already fluent because her mom is from El Salvador. I love laughing with her and talking to her. Thanks for setting up the Skype account. I am SO excited for Mother’s Day.

Loved your letters!!!!! and pictures... cute Owie as a lunch server. I am glad you guys are doing well. I get so much strength from your insights and laugh at your stories. LOVE YOU!

Thank you for all the support and love. 

Hermana Meg