Hola everyone! 

How are you guys doing? I'm doing great! I love it here in the MTC. Everything is so beautiful, and there aren't any distractions from the spirit!

This last week has gone by really fast, and has been just great! I have had a TON of spiritual moments. I wish I had time to tell you, but I don't. 

So we finished teaching our investigator, Alexa, and guess what: she's our afternoon teacher! What? Haha It was kind of awkward when we found out XD And now we're teaching two new investigators (Jorge and Carolina -- but they're both our morning/afternoon teachers). 

After the last lesson we taught (with Carolina), I was feeling kind of down because my spanish isn't as good as I wish it was, and some of Andy's advice popped into my head: "Don't worry about the language, it will come. Worry more about learning to listen to and teach with the Spirit." It was a real teaching moment for me. And, our next lesson (with Jorge) was super spiritual, and his eyes were teary.

On sunday, all the girls in my district and I sang in the choir for the devotional. We had Elder Velenzua (I don't know how to spell it) speak to us. He and his wife did great. I got teary, and the spirit was super strong.

I sent a letter to you guys this week, so hopefully you'll get it (it includes a birthday letter to Bekah). Everyone one in my district signed Bekah;s birthday letter, and Elder Myler (the popstar) note was hilarious. You'll have to wait till it gets to you, though.

The past couple of nights we have been singing hymns as a district, and it has helped bring the spirit to our nightly study sessions. There really is something about singing hymns that just invites the Holy Ghost and makes everything peaceful.

Today me, H. Messer, H. Christiansen, and H. Montuy went on a adventure; and that is what most of our pictures are of. We are only allowed to take pictures on P-Day, so that;s why haha

Sorry this letter is short, I have a lot of emails to send and I want to to reply to all of you wonderful people! 

I know that this church is true and that Heavenly Father really loves us. I'm so grateful for the opportunity that I have to be away from my family for a little while, so that other's may be with their families in the eternities to come. I love this gospel, and I know that Joseph Smith really was a prophet of God and that he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet of God. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Con Amor,

Hermana Christensen

A couple of days ago at lunch H. Otteson looked at me and said: ''I hate sitting by you -- you eat so ladylike and I feel like a pig!'' The whole table laughed. And now she has a goal that by the end of our stay at the MTC, she will catch me eating unladylike. A couple of days ago the cafeteria ran out of forks, so we had to eat french toast with spoons and knives and she was like ''Yes!'' But guess what? Apparently I can eat ladylike even then! Haha I love the hermanas in my district. We are like one big, happy family

Hey everyone! How are all of you guys doing! Wonderful, I hope! I apologize if this email is weird--mexican keyboards are so strange! 

Anyways, I made it safely to Mexico without any problems! I didn´t lose my baggage or anything. I'm so glad that we were able to fit everything into two bags. I have no idea how I would have survived with three. 

MTC life is sooo much different than it was at home! But I love it. I feel like I´m on a spiritual high and It. Is. Amazing. I love it so much. I´m so much closer to my Heavenly Father than I was before. I never want this feeling to leave!

The first few days were really long, and kind of rough. I was homesick, and missed you guys! But the other districts and hermanas/elders gave us great advice: just make it til sunday! And they were right! I can´t believe I have been out for 8 days. It feels like I just got here! 

My companion´s name is Hermana Messer, and she´s from Fulton, Missouri. We get along pretty well. She doesn´t move fast (unless it's meal time), and the first couple days were kind of frustrating because we were late (she doesn´t have the biggest concept of time). But she is really kind, service oriented, and happy. She also makes animal noises...but isn´t near as good as Haley.

Kodi, Grammy, and Ami were right! I do have the drummer from Beyond 5 going to my mission. And he´s in my district. He is hilarious!! And has the greatest testimony. I´m not surprised that he´s our district leader. His name is Elder Myler and he is short! So don´t feel bad Mary. You´re not the only short one!

Also in my district our Hermanas Otteson, Christiansen, Montuy, and Tervort; and Elders Birrell, Penman, and Gifford. The elders all claim that I need to be wrapped in bubble wrap and sit in a wheelchair (because of my klutziness). But it´s all good! Haha

I am so grateful for the chance that I have to be out here, learning to speak Spanish and how to teach. I´m so grateful for the opportunity to bring my brothers and sisters back to my Heavenly Father. I love this gospel so much. There is nothing greater than being in the service of my Lord.

Thank you so much for the goody packages!! I loved them. I have been on a sugar withdrawal the past few days. Mom, you´ll be proud of me: I have a banana and watermelon with each meal :) Never eaten so healthy!! The chocolate was amazing! I loved it so much! And the pringles and donuts. Thank you!!! 

I think that´s all...I don´t have a ton of time left and have a few other emails to send...so enjoy the pictures! (Mom, you remember how to post to the blog? Have Mary and Bekah help you with the pictures and stuff). 

I love all of you so very much!! ¡Buenes suerte! 

Con Amor,

Hermana Christensen

Fun Facts

Here are some fun facts about McAllen!

• The Texas McAllen Mission was created by the division of the San Antonio Mission. 
• There are four stakes in the mission and one district
• McAllen
• McAllen West
• Harlingen
• Corpus Christi
• Laredo (district)
• Population
• 1,800,000+
• Full Time Missionaries
• About 178
• Climate
• Very warm and humid during summer, spring, and fall; mild during the winter.
• Cotton, sugar cane, sorghum, and citrus trees grow well in South Texas
• Foods
• Fruits and vegetables grow abundantly and are readily available
• Beans
• Rice
• Tortillas
• Largest Cities
• Corpus Christi
• McAllen
• Brownsville
• Harlingen
• Laredo

Other Links

Here are links to other mission sites/blogs, site I love, and all that fun stuff :)

• Al Fox
• http://www.alfoxshead.blogspot.com/
• Sister Ali Gomez
• http://fearnotdoubtnot.blogspot.com/
• LDS Website
• lds.org
• Another Awesome Site
• mormon.org
• These have cool missionary blogs that you should check out
• http://preparetoserve.com/missionary-blog-index/
• http://ldsmissionblogs.com/
• The Sacrament -- A Renewal for the Soul
• https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/the-sacrament-a-renewal-for-the-soul?cid=HPTU010615611&lang=eng
• Follow the Prophets 
• https://www.lds.org/liahona/2015/01/follow-the-prophets?cid=HPTH010115599&lang=eng
• Families are Forever -- Beginning Today
• https://www.lds.org/church/news/families-are-forever-beginning-today-say-primary-leaders?cid=HPFR010115601&lang=eng
• Feeding of the 5,000
• https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/the-feeding-of-the-5000?cid=HPTH102314509&lang=eng

McAllen Mission History

Here are some fun historical facts about the Texas McAllen Mission that you may enjoy!

• The first person to serve a mission in Texas was a man by the name of Preston Thomas. 
• He served a total of six missions -- ten years!
• Since Elder Thomas, Texas has had eleven missions: including McAllen!
• Since McAllen is a neighbor to Mexico, for many years it held two missions: 
• English Speaking
• Spanish Speaking
• They were both separate missions!
• In 1940, Texas became part of the Gulf States Mission. 
• On February 17, 1961 it was changed to the Texas Mission.
• The Texas McAllen Mission hasn't always been in Texas. Prior to it, Texas has held the following missions:
• Central States Mission
• Texas and Louisiana Mission
• Gulf States Mission
• Texas Mission
• Spanish American Mission (American portion of the Mexican Mission)
• Texas South Mission 
• Texas San Antonio Mission
• Texas Corpus Christi Mission
• Texas Houston East Mission
• Due to all the changes in the mission boundaries, the mission headquarters have been in multiple locations:
• Houston 
• Dallas 
• El Paso
• San Antonio
• McAllen (current)
• The Texas McAllen Mission covers the southern tip of Texas
• It starts about 50 miles south of San Antonio, includes Rockport on the Gulf of Mexico (east side), and Laredo on the Mexican border (west side)

Testimony

I would like to bear my testimony that I know the church is true. I know that Heavenly Father lives, loves us, and that He sent His son to save us from our sins. I know that Joseph Smith was called of God to bring back His restored gospel; and I know that he was a true prophet of God. I also know that Thomas S. Monson is a latter day prophet and that he, too, was called of God. I know that our Heavenly Father wants us to live with Him again. I know that no matter what we may be going through, or what mistakes we have made, that we can repent and be forgiven of our sins. I know that we can communicate with our Father in Heaven through prayer; and that through baptism, we may be given the power of the Holy Ghost and feel His Spirit with us always. I say these things in the name of my savior, Jesus Christ, amen.