Week 66

Hello family and friends.  Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes.  Sorry to do a lame, general, thank-you but time is a little short today.

This week was admittedly one of the rougher weeks I have had in a long while.  We only taught 3 investigator lessons, and each of those was with the same family.

On the upside, this family is so awesome.  Omar (dad), Sulema (mom), Fatima (daughter), Hugo (son), then some other little ones.  On Thursday, I had one of the best meals of my mission at their house. Costillas fritas. Translated: fried ribs.  Re-translated: HEAVEN!  We had it with eggs, beans, rice, tortillas. Man... Anyway...

This week I felt totally lost.  This area is SO different from anywhere that I've been.  The ward is pretty cool, and they have a reputation of sharing the gospel.  The missionaries that have been here recently have been struggling, bad.  Historically, this ward is in the top 5 for the most baptisms.  They have had one baptism this year, and that was in January.  This family we are teaching is one of those families that WILL be baptized, it's just a matter of when.  We are shooting for the end of the month.  When they walked into church on Sunday, everyone except the dad came, plus a neighbor kid and a niece and nephew.  Total: 8.  The ward was SO good to help them feel welcome.

Another cool part of the story, Saturday night, we are walking out of the gate with our bikes (oh ya, back on bike...not a fan) and their next door neighbor contacted us!  She said that the missionaries were dropping by their home before, then they moved.  She wants us to come over and talk with her AND her family.  Awesome.  And, the neighbor kid that came to church...Sulema said that we could go over to their house with her and her husband to meet the family so we can start formally teaching them.

So a lot of good stuff is on the horizon.  Right now there are just a lot of bumps to get through.

Random update on myself.  I went to the chiropractor this week.  It's been helping.  I think I'll go one more time then call it good.  I only had a headache that required medicine ONCE this week.  For those that are unaware, that is a HUGE improvement.

Thanks again for the birthday wishes, love, and prayers.

Elder Christensen

P.S. Raul and Rosy met with their bishop two weeks ago and are starting the temple-prep meetings with him. Their year mark is in June. President is allowing me to go to the temple with them for their sealing!