P Day on V Day back in Saratoga Springs!

Dear everyone,

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you all are having a love-filled day full of frolicking and such. Why, oh why, am I not surprised that you all have tabs on me, know where I am, and how it all went down? Ha, that is quite funny if you ask me. So, here I am in Saratoga Springs with E. Stratton on this fine Monday morning (it's actually way nice today). Total craziness. E. Kitchen went home because he hadn't slept more than a few hours his time here in New York. From what I know he really wanted to stay and was fighting it as best as he could but simply couldn't win. Pretty sad. I can say that he certainly has changed my mission quite a bit, though, in his short time here: having been the reason for both my leaving and returning to Saratoga in the middle of a transfer. So we met at the Albany airport and I drove back here with E. Stratton and the Bullochs. Not going to lie, it was kind of a weird feeling to be right at the curbside airport check with all of my luggage at this point. The switch was pretty smooth and the drive back was much more pleasant than I had anticipated. Thanks for looking into the 'darkest before dawn' thing; I figured it couldn't be a true fact in nature but wondered where it came from and things. Anyway, side-note and tangent, in my personal study reading the Book of Mormon I got off pondering for some reason about the sun and how symbolic it is of the Son of God and just how I had never really made the connection of the similarities in the names of both. I don't know, it was just cool this morning. Thanks so much for the Valentine's stuff! I received the box from Arizona (and anticipate the arrival shortly of those of you who also mentioned to expect something. Nana, I had the Albany Elders forward it to me. I should get it today! Thanks so much! :) Thanks for the card Ste! And Mom and Dad. The family history stuff is really great, I've read some of it and look forward to finding some time to read more! The slacks are good; we're planning to go to TJM today and just see what they have but if nothing different or better they most certainly will work great. Thanks! Not to mention, too, the goodies were really good and E. Stratton agrees as well. I appreciate all of your emails and updates on how things are going in your respective locations. I love your emails, Nana, and thank you so much for them. I can't think of anything that I really need from that sale or anything but thanks again so much. Ste, way to go ballin' it up at your game and singing and tennis and baseball and school and life. Great to see the Ithaca party and things, glad it went great! I cannot believe how much Jackson looks like Braden Stevens! Justin and Camille's son? Am I crazy or do they look alike? Anyway, very cute and so exciting about him almost walking! Dad, thanks so much, as always, for your email. I appreciate what you write each week and it just even further shows how much you love me. Thank you. Mom, of course your emails are amazing, too, and I can't thank you enough for them.

So, as I said before, here I am in Saratoga. I'll be pretty open, this hasn't been the easiest thing I've done, to come back here. And the odd part is I'm not even sure why it's been so tough. I absolutely love it here. The ward is great, the atmosphere is great, E. Stratton is great, I don't know. But last Monday was certainly interesting getting the news that I would be coming here and although it's been a week and I'm here, it's still bizarre. The work had slowed down a bit but we are working hard and looking to get things back up to high-speed here shortly. President Bulloch has been fantastic throughout this whole thing, I love him so much. Wednesday after we were dropped off at our apartment and we were in Saratoga he made the special effort to call me and clarify how my call to serve as a Zone Leader was not repealed and I was just on a 'special assignment.' I essentially knew or figured this was the case and it seems incredibly simple what he did but it really meant a lot to me. Since then he has called a handful of times to update me on things in the Zone I should be aware of and such which we normally wouldn't have happen if I was in Albany. Anyway, it's just meant a lot and his support has helped me out quite a bit. It was interesting, too, I don't know why but I feel like sharing that last Monday morning (before I got the call I was coming to Saratoga) I felt prompted to read my Patriarchal Blessing for the second half, which I've never done, during my study time. I shrugged and decided to do so and focused on the portion discussing my mission. I didn't understand why, even after reading it, that was important then, but I did later in the day after this call. Just some of the things I'd read numerous times took on new meaning in light of this situation coming here. That's ultra vague, perhaps how it should be, but it was quite meaningful as well. It really has been great to see people again, though! The Badgers definitely were very excited to see me and I them! I got to meet their new daughter who was born shortly after my leaving, it was really cool! (ps. Sister Badger got all of our Arizona info to send a thank you note for the family book of mormon. I hadn't/haven't heard if they ended up doing that but if they didn't simply know that that was really significant to them and they loved it and were very thankful.) So, we've been working hard. Lauren B. is still being taught, haven't seen them yet but plan to this week. There are others who have fallen out since I left but we are eager to find those who are ready and prepared for this Gospel. Friday morning we saw Jeff, a former investigator E. Daniels-Brown and I taught a little, who is awesome. He doesn't know if God is there, though, so we challenged him to pray sincerely each day this week and promised him an answer or experience letting him know God is there. (He recently got back from a skiing trip in Japan; such a cool guy, can't remember how much I talked about him before, super into golf, etc.) Anyway, we're calling him today to see what his experience has been so far! We're also teaching a 21 year old who is married to a member who I didn't know before I left. He is getting baptized in the near future! I've taught him twice since I was here which has been great. He is in the navy and is graduating from his program early March and will go back to Colorado where they both are from and have the service there with her family. It's a really cool story and they really are awesome! Yesterday was great, all we did was teach. We taught an active family, a less active family, and a part-member family. It was a great time and the Spirit is able to be present so strongly as truth is taught. All in all, I'm looking to maximize my time here in Saratoga Springs and try not to look too far into the future. I felt prompted to have a study on patience in Preach My Gospel this morning after I read from the Book of Mormon and it was really what I needed. Mosiah 24:9-16 really meant a lot to me today. Welp, I hope you all have a great week and continue to be the wonderful people you already are. Thanks again so much for all that you do in my behalf, it means so much to me. May the Lord bless you.

Love,
Elder Christensen

PS - The library will be open next Monday for President's Day, so don't worry. :)

Where's Michael?

Dear Everyone,

Hey there. Once again. it's me from Albany, New York. It sounds like everyone is doing great! Man, I'm not sure where to start with this I have so many thoughts going through my head! That is so crazy and exciting about Jean! Holy cow! I can't wait! I thought it was crazy enough the prayer at the Christmas Devotional - but now we get a full serving! So excited; I was already stoked for Conference but now I can't wait! As far as the pants go, a size 32 waist would be fine if you can't find a 33. I think I weigh like 150-5? HA. I'm really probably a size 32 but the ones I'm wearing now are 33. That's exciting about all of the fun stuff that happened this week: the Suns games and such! Way to be. Yeah, it was a little difficult yesterday with the Superbowl and of course we were out tracting at that time. But I know that no effort is wasted out here, and as we simply do our best the Lord will bless us and others. It's very literally the law of the harvest. That's intense about all of the cold. It really hasn't been too bad here; and weird about the golf tournament. I can remember being there last year waiting to get my mission call! Sweet. On that, though, I appreciate how much you guys like to keep me informed and everything but as far as which golf tournament is happening and other sporting events I'm not too concerned about it (and would prefer to not be distracted by it. :) I found myself thinking a couple times this week how the phx open was probably happening right then, etc..and that's something I (and the Lord) would prefer to avoid. Thanks so much though). I do love hearing about Ste's games and such, way to go man! I have a random favor. Someone, next time they go to the Mesa temple if they could get a 2011 schedule card with the picture on it that'd be awesome, and send it in a letter or something. (no real rush). I just like having them on my desk, I have the Provo from '09 when I was there then the Salt Lake from '10. I don't know, random. Thanks. Glad that dinner in Ithaca with the missionaries was good. That's awesome you are making profiles! Way to be. We've been using that tool quite a bit and it's awesome. Real quick that was cool in Ben Killpacks email his new companion is from Alta High so is E. Boyakin and he knows (at least of) him.

So this week was a good week all around. We had a great time at Zone Conference. There was a huge storm that day and about everyone arrived late which was really unfortunate and we ended a little early so people could drive slowly and safely back to their areas. All of the trainings were really good though. Ours went pretty good although all but 2 of the members we had coming to help with the tracting practice didn't come or weren't able to make it because of the bad weather. It all worked out, though, and it seemed that everyone got a lot from it. We are given an outline of what to train on in Zone Conferences from the Assistants. And we practice and work on our skills always, it's never like we are too good to be able to improve so it was really good. Again this week we definitely still faced quite a bit of opposition in addition to some sweet things. On Wednesday all of our appointments fell through which was a real bummer but we were still able to be effective nonetheless. Two times this week we were able to get a member to come out with us for a teaching appointment in the middle of the day, which is really hard, and both times the appointment fell through. There were just simple frustrations this week that really kept us in check and humble. Thursday night, though, on splits we were able to teach 2 sweet lessons. The one I went to with Elder Potter was a member named Uyi from Africa and we taught he and his non-member girlfriend. She is really awesome and we're excited to see her progress in the future. Friday we were able to see Dennis (currently now our only investigator with a baptismal date) at the University of Albany where he works. He is really sincere and has some pretty interesting questions. He's felt the spirit and knows that all of this is good but at times he is too, as he puts it, "academic about it." We look forward to seeing him this Wednesday, though. We were able to set up a ton of appointments for this week ahead last week that we are so stoked about. We have really slimmed down our teaching pool and really are looking to find those who will receive us and progress in this Gospel. Saturday was rough, too, with everything falling through and rain, yes rain. It turned everything to ice which made it really slippery. And I'm happy to report that although E. Potter and E. Boyakin (2x) fell, I have yet to do so. Yesterday we found ourselves tracting quite a bit as well and I just kind of felt 'bleh' all day - not really sick, just bleh. We worked hard though. I feel great today and am so excited about the good stuff on the horizon. We are all getting along well here together; it is such a blast to be in a tripanionship.

I have a question or I guess something I'd like someone to look into for me. I've heard the phrase that the night is darkest right before the sunrise...or something to that extent. Is that a true phenomenon? If so, why? what's the deal with it all? I don't know why but I felt like asking that last night in my email today.

WOAH!!! I just got a phone call from President Bulloch literally right now. Elder Stratton's current companion is going to be going home. He's been struggling and one of us here is going to be going to Saratoga Springs for the rest of the transfer. By the sounds of it it will likely be me with simply knowing the area and such but President said we can council about it and see what would be best, with things happening here in our area as well and such. So we are going to decide that here right now and get back to him. So, I don't think you should send a letter to this address this week. We'll see where I am next Monday! Who knows. It's likely me, but I don't know. I'm willing to do anything to help this work go forth. It's simply only a temporary fix, as President put it, and whoever goes there will likely come back or go be a Zone Leader elsewhere. Woah. Out of time on the computer, sorry!

I love you all so much and I hope you have a great week! You are all the best!

Love,

Elder Christensen

The highs outweigh the lows by a ton

Dear everyone,

Hey, what's going on? I hope everyone is well where ever they are! It, as always, is great to hear from all of you! It sounds like things are moving swiftly along for everyone else, too, which is pretty cool. I absolutely am receiving your emails, Nana, and I appreciate them so much each week! I'm glad you both in Salt Lake are doing well. I don't know of anything off hand that I really stand in need of at this time but I really appreciate all of the offers and generosity. To respond to some things in Mom's letter...I don't think I need any more warm clothing. If I was up north it would be a completely different story. Talking with Elder Miller at ZLC a week ago he was saying how it's been -20ish average for the last while. That's dang cold. This week it hasn't been too bad; a couple days in the 30's and the rest seemed to be in the 20's. We heard there is going to be a ridiculous storm here this week - perhaps tomorrow through Thursday. That should be really interesting; there is this guy in our ward who studies weather and such who is really smart who gives us the low down. I wear the penguin ties occasionally, not too much, staying more conservative. We go on Mormon.org for an hour each week other than Pday. We familiarize ourselves with the people on there, the videos, and some of the profiles. The main focus for us is to then be able to relate these people on the website to people we come in contact with on the streets, tracting, etc. We're already seeing fruit from it, it is incredible! I don't know if I'll make my own profile on there, yes we 'can' but I don't know - at least at this point - if that is the most effective thing I can do to utilize my time on there. E. Potter is a Zone Leader, all three of us are. He is awesome. He is from Coleville (spelling?) Utah and has a slight small-town accent, so cool. All of us are really getting along well and working well together. It's probable that I will stay here in Albany for a while; at least I hope so anyway. That's awesome Institute was on Jacob 5 - I agree, if you really can begin to understand this chapter and parable it really is powerful and meaningful. Really cool. That's crazy Colten Johnston and Steven Frost are getting married. How long have each of them been home now? I forgot to mention before E. Potter got here E. Boyakin and I went to Panera; it was really good, thanks again for that gift card. Speaking of Ithaca, that's cool you are having the elders over for dinner! Tell them hello for me/us. When are you having them over? We're making a new push to make sure we are done with our meal appointments on Pday by 6 so we get 3 solid hours of proselyting time...something to consider, at least in the future. Make sure they are obedient and not there more than an hour ;) ha. That's cool Orlando is going to have some visitors! Way exciting. And crazy about the evacuation at church; I've never heard anything like that before! (Super lame not getting to get the ward mission plan lesson, too. ha). So I know quite a bit about Jimmer and all of that. Glens Falls is the area just north of Saratoga! President Bulloch is all over it, wanting to get him to make a profile on Mormon.org and stuff. Way cool though! And really neat, Mom, the experiences you had this week. I got to quickly share, that's really really interesting about the family history and William Stevens being from Herkimer, NY. My first transfer out in Schoharie Valley when I was saying my personal prayer before bed I had an odd experience that I haven't/hadn't been sure what to make of it but perhaps this new discovery sheds some light on it. I was praying and I had been doing something where I had a little notebook and a pen nearby to write down promptings and things of that sort. I was pondering on something and the name "Herkimer" came to mind, so I wrote it down. I didn't have any idea what that meant, I had heard it before I thought but wasn't sure. I think the next day I asked and found out it is the name of an area in the mission! I thought, hmm, perhaps I will go there next or soon or sometime. Didn't happen, obviously. Ha, but I've still had that city and name in my head whenever I see it or read it and think about that and what it might have meant. Still, who knows? Maybe I'll end up serving there later? Crazy.

So this week was a great week. On Tuesday we went around training the missionaries at their District Meetings on the new mormon.org and on obedience. It was really fun and they went pretty well! I didn't really think I liked getting in front of people or teaching, or I guess both together, so much but I guess I do! Ha, I didn't mind it at all and really enjoyed it. That night I went on a split with a high priest and we taught an awesome family of 6 for the first time, we had tracted into them prior. It went so well and the Spirit was so strong! We picked them up as investigators and we couldn't have been more excited. (side note: if you think of how bizarre some of the circumstances are you find yourself in on a mission, it's pretty funny. I was here in New York with a member of the church I don't know hardly going to a stranger's home and meeting them, etc. There are so many just odd/new situations like that that are just so funny and you just go for it). Anyway, the update on that is we called them 2 days later to see how they were doing and to set up another appointment and they dropped us and told us they were all set in their Catholic faith and hung up on me. Nice. The highs and lows as a missionary never cease. There is no doubt, though, that the highs outweigh the lows by a ton. We ended up being able to pick up a couple new investigators this week, still, which was really good. The most exciting (who we technically haven't considered a new investigator yet) is a woman who was referred to us by a member who used to live here who now is in Texas who has "been working on her" for a while now. This woman, Dani, was way sweet and we have an appointment with her on Wednesday night we are really looking forward to! Other than that, though, I don't know what else is too noteworthy. Dennis was able to make it to church which was a great blessing! He hasn't been reading the Book of Mormon which is a little unsettling but we're working on it and will see him this Friday. He is still set for March 12 for baptism. Good things are happening here; we've really been working hard and being obedient. It can be tough to balance things with the responsibilities as a Zone Leader to make sure all of that is accomplished in a timely manner and accurately and have effective time to be out working (as much as I'm used to). It's great though. We've seen some opposition as I've mentioned but we are finding those that will receive us and act on this message. They are out there. Tomorrow we have Zone Conference here which is really exciting. We are making sure all of the loose ends are tied up today and we're ready for that! We're training on finding people and having some members come and be 'normal people' behind doors the missionaries will practice tracting on. ha, it's pretty cool we're excited.

Well I hope that you all have a great week and that things continue to be well for you all! I appreciate so much all of your words of encouragement, support, and love! Thanks so much! I love you all and I can't begin to write how much this gospel of Jesus Christ has blessed me and how much I know it is all true and real!

Love,

Elder Christensen

- 2 That's pretty cold

Dear everyone,

Hey there! I hope everyone is doing well all back in their respective residences. As always it is awesome to hear from you and how well you are all doing. Sounds like you're settled and things are more normal. This week has been pretty cold, not going to lie. When we went out this morning the van said it was -2. Yep, below zero. That's pretty cold. And last night we were out tracting for about an hour and it was pretty cold. Thank goodness the gloves arrived on Saturday! Thanks so much for that as well as all of the other sweet stuff. I was nervous the tie was going to be pink, great choice though! I'll talk more about it later, perhaps, but I've been trying to make sure I'm being as obedient as I can - including wearing only ties that are "conservative in color, pattern, length, width.." But yeah, I can't believe all of the sickness that was going on at home! I'm glad you guys are better though. I got the letter from last week (with the memory card) as well as the letter from this week on Saturday the same time as the package. I appreciate it all so much. The craziest thing I've eaten is home made sushi and this straight seaweed salad that was pretty nasty. Other than that, though, it's been really good. The pictures Ben (Lewis) put in the email, from your blog I believe, didn't show up but it sounded like you had a pretty awesome time. That's awesome E. Shrader is there in Ithaca; he is an awesome kid.

So this week was a pretty good week, definitely not normal but rarely is there ever a 'normal' week I feel. Pday last week on Tuesday was good. Wednesday we had to help orchestrate the transfers and make sure everyone had rides and knew what was going on. The weather was crazy that day. Thursday, oh my goodness, there is a funny story Thursday. We went in to get the car fixed and were going to 'Weekly Plan' while that was getting taken care of to be effective at UAlbany near by. Turns out it's not as close as we thought walking there. Long story short when we realized we were only like half way there we decided to make some "snow chairs" over in some trees off of a busy road and plan. Most ridiculous idea and plan ever. Anyway, many details aside, after climbing a snowy hill to get there, there were picnic benches (snow and ice covered) and we thought perfect for planning today. We made it about 20 minutes of freezing cold planning with all our warm gear on and it just wasn't happening. We decide to just go back, and luckily by that time the car was fixed. Ha, I wish that description did it justice; oh well, you can use your imagination. Later that day, though, we taught Tony (the man who came to church last week who asked for a ride). He is so sincere and we set him with a date for baptism in March. This week really was a roller coaster with the work. We saw some great blessings as well as some unfortunate happenings. As a whole, though, we are looking forward with faith, excited for the future. We have Tony and Dennis with dates in March. Dennis came to church this week! And we're seeing him tomorrow! There is so much work that can be done here, it is nice having 3 of us. So Friday, E. Boyakin and I drove to Utica (nasty weather that day) for Zone Leader Council. Whoa, this was awesome. We meet in the High Council room all at a "roundish table" and it is exactly that, a council. It's cool. The underlying discussions and themes of it all were faith, obedience, and accountability; evaluating increasing all of these in the mission. The most crazy thing to note, though, is missionaries are now allowed, and encouraged, to get on mormon.org. We are to get on 1 hour a week, other than on Pday, to familiarize ourselves with it. We can make a profile if we want, can show members about it, and everything! The January Ensign article on the new mormon.org explains it really well. We have new pass along cards we can use directing people there, and it's really exciting all of the things we can do with it! We're working already with 2 recent converts here to make profiles so we can direct people to their page as we feel they could relate, etc. So cool! So we get to train the missionaries on this at their district meetings, 2 tomorrow and 1 on Wednesday! Should be awesome. With all of this 'freedom' it raises the opportunity to exercise our agency righteously and therefore receive a greater endowment of faith and the Spirit. As President put it, there will be casualties (people misusing this privilege and blessing), but those who use it for the purpose intended will see great blessings. Obedience is directly correlated with faith. The more willing we are to obey and make sacrifice, the more abundantly we will be blessed with faith and the Spirit! And we are also preparing for our training at Zone Conference a week from tomorrow where we are having members come in and act as investigators or normal people where we practice door approaches tracting. Hilarious. E. Potter came back with us from ZLC and he is here now. He is a great missionary, perhaps one of the most diligent missionaries in the mission. It's really fun working with him and having 3 again. The dynamics of a threesome are definitely different from normal but we are working well together so far and only continue to grow in unity each day! Follow up on the investigator we gave the promise to last week...he stopped about 2 days in unfortunately. We're still teaching him but we'll see how it goes from here. He feels some pressure as his wife is a member and us sharing this with him but we think, and he says, it'll happen but maybe a little slower than we would have liked. The Lord's hand is in it though there is no doubt about that. We will have a good week this week, I'm excited for everything happening and the strength I'm gaining out here.

I love you all so much and appreciate your love and support always! Have a great week and continue to strengthen your faith through obedience to our loving Heavenly Father's commandments.

Love,

Elder Christensen

Our Heavenly Father Loves Us

Dear Everyone,

It's been a battle to find a computer today where we could email. Currently we are experiencing freezing rain and a lot of places are closed and driving is bad. Some areas won't be able to email this week, unfortunately. (probably Saratoga one of them; so just be aware that if perhaps sometime I don't email in a week it's likely due to weather and I'll at least send a letter in the mail) Nonetheless, we made it and here I am! Unfortunately one of my gloves is gone; my snow/snowboard gloves. If it's at all possible it would be awesome to have another pair of black warm gloves like that. If not I can maybe find some here. Just please let me know. That's awesome Ste got straight A's and Rachel and Jackson are in Mesa. Hopefully you are all still having a great time together and things are well. The elder going to Ithaca, if it is E. Schrader, did come out with me; he's a cool kid. Sweet hockey game story and pictures, too. We won't drive to Utica or anything for transfers although people will be taking our van. Friday, though, we will go into Utica for Zone Leader Council with President; it should be really awesome. That happens every transfer. I didn't get your letter and the memory card yet, but we had no mail yesterday so I'm sure I'll get it today (we saw mailmen out in the storm already today so keeping our fingers crossed it comes). Congrats for Jennie and Jr. Miss, that's really cool. Other than that though, everything sounds pretty good for all of you guys!

It cracks me up how you find out about transfers and things before I even write you guys. Yes, I will be staying here with Elder Boyakin. Perhaps a bit of new news for you guys though there will actually be another missionary coming here to Albany with us as a Zone Leader. His name is Elder Potter (no, not related to Harry; already heard that from members like 6 times, haha). I've heard really good things about him; he trained when I came out and I think he's been out about 18 months. I hear he's really really hard working which will be awesome. Having three again will definitely be different just like it was before but we will be able to get so much work done it should be great. We found out this morning, though, we don't know now when E. Potter will come here because a missionary had to go to the hospital last night and E. Potter will be this missionary's companion for the next few days; so it may be Elder Boyakin and myself until Friday when we go to Utica or until next Pday. We're just on standby with that. Elder Johnson has been gone since Friday morning and E. Boyakin and I have been trying to find our stride with just us 2 and it's been going really well. We got some good work done this week, though, amidst all of the crazy weather and such. Tuesday I experienced more of the administrative aspects of being a Zone Leader putting together some numbers and things for a Stake Correlation Meeting we had on Thursday night. Wednesday we woke up to a ton of snow so we went out shoveling people's walk and helping people out; it was good. Definitely not something I am used to though. On Friday we got a call from an investigator we set with a date the previous Sunday and she had her "ah-ha" moment. It was really sweet she said she was reading a Plan of Salvation pamphlet and it just hit her how she wants to "go home" etc, it was awesome. Unfortunately she didn't make it to church as she said she'd be there but we're not too too worried. On Saturday we blitzed the elders in Gloversville - meaning E. Boyakin and I both worked there with them. It was a good experience and we worked hard. It was pretty funny, though, considering both of the missionaries I was working with have been out over a year. They still respected the 'leader role' in trying to learn as much from us as possible and everything went really well. We all learned from each other and gained greater perspective on how to carry out the work. The most notable things, though, were Sunday and Monday. Sunday Elder Boyakin and I were teaching a part-member family. The husband is an investigator. Long story short, as we were teaching it was going really well. I felt prompted, though, to promise him he would receive his witness in one week if he read from the Book of Mormon everyday, praying before and afterward, and attended church this upcoming Sunday. It was pretty forward and bold but we really feel it was inspired and will happen as he does it. We realized later, too, he's going back to school next week and will be way busy and seeing him/them will be much more difficult. We gave him specific reading assignments for each day. We've been reading them personally and it's awesome how applicable there are to him specifically. Today we read Moroni 7-10. Last night we texted him to remind him and ask how it's been going and he said he had an incredible experience with his prayer to have his heart softened and open his understanding! It was one of the coolest texts ever! We are going forth with faith - as miracles were never produced without prayer, felt need, and faith. We're excited. Yesterday, Monday, E. Boyakin and I taught Dennis an investigator (the man we taught at U of Albany when I was here on exchange!) And that was actually the last time we had met with him due to things coming up, etc. It went so well; we met at the church and read through the introduction to the Book of Mormon first thing. It naturally came up and we felt prompted to invite him to be baptized on 3-12. At first he declined, as many do, but we resolved his concerns and he committed! It was awesome! And we then watched the Restoration DVD and the Spirit was so incredibly strong it was incredible! We look forward to continuing to work with him and help him progress. He's committed to church this Sunday. Speaking of that, Sunday morning a former and current potential investigator called us asking to get a ride to church! We got it coordinated and he came! It was really cool, he's looking for something in his life now and we look forward to our appointment tomorrow morning! We have a lot of good work going on here that we are really excited about! Just typing all of this and reflecting back on the tremendous blessings we have seen it gets me even more excited to go out and help others! I hope that you all know how much I appreciate this Gospel, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no question that this all is true and real. How humbling and comforting it is to know that our Heavenly Father loves us as much as he does, and how he is eager to have a personal relationship with us as we do our part. I pray that we are willing and desirous to do so.

Thanks so much for all of the love and support that you offer me; it means so much. And I hope you all know how much I love, appreciate, and support you. I hope you have a wonderful week filled with the Spirit of our loving Heavenly Father!

Love always,

Elder Christensen

I am loving Albany

Dear everyone,

Well, I'm just going to tell it like it is: this was probably the best week of my mission! It was definitely the most fun, funny, and even spirit and blessing-filled! Thanks so much for the letter/thank you note Ste, that was really nice and thoughtful! Thanks, too, for all of your concern with the events mentioned in the last email ;) haha. You rock. So the apartment we live in here is awesome; definitely the best I've lived in as well as seen out here. We all just sleep side by side in a room and there is room for my clothes and stuff in a couple extra closets that are there. I'm settled but not totally unpacked just because I'll wait to do that once we find out the happenings with the upcoming transfer call. So the way we do it in the New York Utica Mission is Zone Leaders are companions. There are 5 zones, so 10 in all - or currently 11. But it's awesome, I love it so much. Glad you got my package with random stuff; with that sent home because I didn't need it I was able to fit all of my things. I may be sending some more things home, though, in the future. We never wear 'casual clothes' because we are so busy going to other District Meetings and things that we don't do service that requires it really; or I suppose the need to have multiple days' worth. Anyway, the scarf was one I bought with Paige in Provo. The CD player and speaker I came out with, to be honest, I haven't used hardly at all, because every apartment already has a set up. But it's all good. It doesn't happen too, too often but you don't necessarily have to be a District Leader in order to be a Zone Leader. Elder Boyakin, one of my companions, for example, wasn't one before. In fact I don't think Elder Johnson was either. Ha. But it's awesome here. We drive a sickk 2010 Dodge Caravan. We rofl at ourselves at times but it really is nice and roomy. I did actually notice the Mark Mabry note on the picture right before you told me about it. That's so nice and awesome of him and I love it so much on my desk. Thanks again, hope it wasn't too much or too much of a hassle. I'm way good for music, too, for a while. Thanks so much for all the goodness but I'll be good for now. Fyi, Ste the picture you attached to your email didn't work; but that's awesome you had a good week! We get the Ensign out here and I read it in the very limited spare time I can find. It took me all of November and December to finish the Conference one though; so good! Also, I used my credit card to send that box home at the post office last Monday so look for that when the record comes in and do with it as you will. Occasionally, if you will, give me an update on my debit card, too please. Oh yeah, in the package you send could you please put in one of my hackysacks: the sand-filled kind, like my green and yellow one? Thanks.

So this week was incredible. Seriously we had so much fun. Tripanionships are the best. And what's been best is we all know how to use the on and off switch for having fun/being goofy and being serious and inviting the Spirit. Really good. So Sandra was baptized on her 25 birthday on Saturday in Saratoga Springs! It was such a great service, the Spirit was so strong there! I'm so glad I was able to go and attend. She was so happy and loved it all! I'll attach pictures. Elders Stratton and Kitchen seem to be doing pretty well. E. Kitchen is way trunky about his previous mission in Africa and stuff; ie. wearing his old French tags, etc. It will really stretch E. Stratton but I know he can do it and will learn so much from the experience. I'm banking on probably staying here in Albany for a while. I can't believe I've still never been with a companion for 2 transfers. Crazy. Anyway, the teaching pool here is so good - and growing!! We were blessed to find 4 new investigators this week! A husband of a member. A Jamaican couple who one was a Head Quarter referral for a Bible - sweetest people ever! And a 20 year old girl who we tracted into earlier in the week and taught last night and set with a Baptismal date! She is such an honest seeker of truth! We also set another baptismal date last night of a middle-aged woman. So so sweet! We have other investigators we are planning on setting with dates this week as well! In short just know that I am loving Albany, loving my companions, loving being a Zone Leader, and loving it all. I look forward to what the week ahead has in store!

I hope you have a great week and that you all continue on the path of righteousness! There isn't anything better or more important! I love you all so much and thank you for all of the support you offer me.

Love,

Elder Christensen

PS- the pictures. That is our first presidency pic. I am Utchdorf. Note the faces compared with the real one, nice. Next is Sandra's baptism! E. Kitchen on left, Phil Brewer Sandra's brother which is how we found her and started teaching. So cool and crazy how it all played out!

Sorry so short on time, hope my email uplifts you all and you can feel my love and appreciation for you all!

Goodbye Saratoga...Hello Albany

Dear Everyone,

Man, oh man. If I could just head-butt you all so that everything inside my head could just be instantaneously transferred over to you that'd be so much easier. My time today is a little more abbreviated - which I'll explain in a minute - so I'll start with the most important things and move down the list. First and foremost, I'm currently not in Saratoga Springs. I underwent an Emergency Transfer this week and I'm actually serving in Albany! Crazy! So an Assistant to the President went home, was scheduled to, on the first in order to get home in time for a semester of school. Because they knew this in advance they had called 3 Assistants at the start of this transfer so there'd still be two when he left. On top of this, though, I found out an additional single missionary came here the start of this last transfer as well - he was serving in Ivory Coast, got sick, and is here now! So long story short, he had been working with the Assistants, 4 elders together/splitting up, etc. Once the one went home for school there was an odd number of missionaries; and, in the end, President had him come to Saratoga Springs with Elder Stratton! President Bulloch called Elder Stratton and I on Thursday night at 9:15 and told us the news. He told me I was going to go serve as a Zone Leader in a tri-panionship here in Albany. It utterly shocked us. It was out of nowhere that this happened! I couldn't believe it; Elder Stratton and I really were working well together and he was stepping up big time, it was great. But the Lord called. I wish I could go over all of the surrounding events and everything about this all but it's pretty intricate how it all happened and the tender mercies seen and witnesses that took place testifying that this needed to happen were pretty great. So Friday we just went about our work as normal and at night I saw some people I wanted to say bye to and things. Saturday was when I was to leave at 5:00pm. President and Sister Bulloch came to Saratoga with Elder Kitchen. We then proceeded to have Sandra interviewed for baptism by president (which was one of the tender mercies that fell into place as we found out she needed that to happen before her baptism). I then was picked up by my new companions, Elders Johnson and Elder Boyakin. They're awesome and I was already really good friends with them. E. Johnson is awesome from Cali and has only 2 more transfers. E. Boyakin came out with E. Miller, and was recently made a Zone Leader this transfer; he' sweet. So, as bummed and shocked I suppose as you may be or that you'd think I was/am I'm really actually content with it all. There is incredible work going on here that I am truly excited about. It's funny, too, when I was on exchange here with E. Boyakin the week of Christmas I really felt comfortable here and enjoyed it a lot. I'm stoked. Being a Zone Leader definitely is bringing on a whole lot of new responsibilities but I'm learning and it's been great. Being with 2 other companions is new too; it's basically a party, ha. So that is some crazy news. Oh man, it was quite the day to say the least. One I will NEVER forget. Anyway, the work is great in Saratoga. I'll get to go to Sandras baptism on Saturday which is so exciting! President is letting me. We taught some incredible lessons this week too that went really well. With Tom in Saratoga. And yesterday we taught 2 part-member families that are investigators which went really well! It's awesome here! I'm way excited! President told me it's likely E. Johnson will leave and I'll be here with E. Boyakin next transfer but you never know. Regardless it's likely I'll be here.

So, I'm emailing in downtown Albany with the Elders serving here, too. There's five of us. We're all together and leaving at the same time, etc. So I have to run but know I am happy, excited and love the work!

I love you all so much and wish you a great week! Thanks for the support.

Love,

Elder Christensen