Week 25 - Inman/Boiling Springs, SC - 12/30/13

My goodness! It's my last week training Sister Gardner already? I can't even believe it! It seems like it was just a month ago that I was freaking out because I was going to be training and now here I am coming to an end.

Let's start at last Monday! Last Monday, we went to Hollywild with Brother and Sister F (Bishop F's parents). Hollywild is this non-profit zoo for trained animals. It was so much fun! I was going nuts! It's kind of like Thanksgiving Point where you get to see the lights but you stay in your car for it. Not only that, but we went to this part of the zoo where all these animals were roaming around. I got a bag of bread and I got to feed the animals. I fed an emu, a cow and some deer came up to me and ate right out of my hand. It was pretty cool. Once we finished there, we got to go to this area they call Santa's Workshop or something like that. There you get out of the car and it's basically a giant petting zoo at that point. I got to pet camels and zebras. I was a pretty happy camper! I also saw some llamas but I was kind of terrified they'd spit on me so I left that area pretty quickly. That was easily the coolest thing I got to do in this area that was not mission related.

Christmas was pretty good out here! It was different because I was with families other than my own... But I can't complain! Especially because I got to Skype y'all! Oh my goodness. I'm so glad that everyone was there for Christmas! It was so great to see everyone - especially my nephews! They are growing up so fast! It was hard to say goodbye of course but the moment I ended the call, I went out and told Sister K to put me to work. I helped her make their Christmas lunch and that got me focused back on why I'm here pretty fast!

Later we went over to a part member's house, the C’s and had dinner there (by later, I mean one hour after finishing lunch at the K's. I'm a champion for eating so much food). We had an intense discussion with Brother C, the non-member. He's a very knowledgeable man and has done a lot of research on our religion. Sister C makes sure he doesn't read any anti material but he's come across some. He had a lot of interesting questions and I feel like he's the type of guy who wants answers and doesn't really want to rely on faith. We have a return appointment with him this Friday...this should be interesting.

Yesterday, we heard that a less-active that we've been trying to see for a while, Brother B, was in the hospital. We've talked to him on the phone a few times but haven't been able to see him other than that. I guess he talked to his non-member wife about it because when Bishop F went to see him, his wife said that the sister missionaries needed to come. We went to the hospital after church and saw him. He had a heart attack and he had a quadruple bypass surgery or something like that. He was having a rough time. His wife asked us to pray with them before we left and as I was saying the prayer, I had the most overwhelming feeling come over me. I knew that the Savior was aware of this man and his family and that He would take care of them. It was incredible.

Well transfer calls are this Saturday and I'm preparing myself to hear that I'm leaving Boiling Springs. I've been here for nearly 6 months, how crazy is that? It will be sad to leave...but I know I need the change for my sanity. I'll let you know for sure what happens next Monday! Also sorry but no pictures this week. For some reason, my memory cards are getting wrecked here. This is my second memory card that the computer can't read through my card reader. 

I love y'all! I hope you have a blessed week :)

- Sister Amy Christensen

Week 24 - Inman/Boiling Springs, SC - 12-23-13

Merry Christmas y'all! It's crazy to think that Christmas is in just a few days! I'm very excited to be celebrating it out here in Boiling Springs though!

First off let me tell you about our Christmas Zone Conference! It was the bomb! We had a few good trainings but afterward, we had a ton of great skits! My district's skit was by far the best! Maybe it's on YouTube now... It's called "Knockin' On People's Doors." One of our ward members made this song for us and we made the music video for it. Oh my goodness. It was the best! President Holm even turned to us after and said "Well you are a talented bunch!" We even have the mission president's approval! Then after the skits, we watched Ephraim's Rescue! That was a fantastic movie! I laughed... I cried... Ok. But seriously. It was funnier then what I expected and I did cry but only a single tear so it was acceptable. Great movie though!

We also saw the M grandkids last Monday. We reviewed the Plan of Salvation with some cut outs I have and they remembered a lot which was awesome! We also taught them about the Word of Wisdom in that lesson. They understood the importance of it and they committed to live it but unfortunately they fell off date. They said that they weren't ready yet... I think part of it's because they're getting a little scared by their grandma who's a member. She keeps telling them they need to make sure this is the right decision because there's no backing out. What she's saying is true... but it sounds scary to a bunch of 10 year olds. Unfortunately we weren't able to see them this week other than that due to them being super sick. We're just praying that they'll get feeling better!

Other then that, we've been doing a lot of service for members because it's been raining a ton here lately and I have this dang cold that I can't get rid of. Get this! For one of our service projects, I helped a member in our ward scrub mold off of her shoes which were in storage. So I don't really like feet in the first place... That was quite the adventure. I don't know if that made me get over my foot phobia or if it made me hate feet even more. Hmm.

Well I'm very grateful for this time of year that I have to reflect on my Savior's birth. Without Him, we'd have no purpose in life. He came to suffer for all of our sins so that He would be able to comfort us when we need it the most and also so we can live with our Father in Heaven again. I'm eternally grateful for all that He has and will do for me. It has been an honor for me to serve as His representative to help bring souls closer to Him especially this Christmas season!

I hope y'all have a very merry Christmas! I'll talk to you in two days! Now go read Luke 2 or watch Mr. Kruger's Christmas or something ;) Love y'all!

- Sister Amy Christensen

Merry Christmas from the Boiling Springs Sisters :)

My Christmas sign. Pretty crafty, eh?

Week 23 - Inman/Boiling Springs, SC - 12/16/13

Spoiler alert: It's a White December here in Boiling Springs!

Greetings family! This week has been kind of a crazy week. Unfortunately, not a whole lot of eventful stuff happened because Sister Gardner and I decided that this week would be a good week to get sick. That was a joke. It is never a good week to be sick especially as a missionary. But get this! Even with us being sick, we still taught a lesson every day! *High five* We just didn't get to go out tracting or anything.

Some cool stuff that happened this week though: Sister Gardner and I did our first FHE and it was on what happened in the Americas and in Jerusalem when Christ was born. All inspired by (my brother) Aaron's FHE that he gave last Christmas! It went pretty well if I may say so myself! We also had some great service opportunities by helping out ward members in their homes and setting up for the Relief Society dinner on Thursday. That was actually super awesome because we usually can't get any service anywhere! I also got two packages this week - one from the Crescent Park 6th Young Women and one from the Crescent Park 6th Relief Society! It was basically the best! Especially since the Young Women gave me a tree. Yup. Our house is decorated now! It actually feels like Christmas! Woo hoo!

Anyway, on to the big news! Yes. The Boiling Springs ward had not one, not two, not three, but four baptisms on Saturday! The Elders had one and we had three! It was the best feeling ever! It was also super chaotic because this was mine and Sister Gardner's first baptismal service so we were kind of running around like a chicken with its head cut off. But it happened! And K, S and P are some happy kids! We're super excited for them to continue on this path back to our Heavenly Father!

I love y'all! Have a blessed week!

- Sister Amy Christensen

My 12 Days of Christmas package from the Crescent Park 6th Young Women!

The Baptism! Me, S, K, P, S and Sister Gardner! #BoilingSprings #Baptism

Week 22 - Inman/Boiling Springs, SC - 12/9/13

What's up family? It's been a crazy long week and I'm excited to have a new week in front of me!

Lots of great things are happening! We are going to have not one, not two but three baptisms this week! Hallelujah! We're so pumped! Let me tell you what went down this week because as Sister Gardner describes it, we had "emotional whiplash" big time! This week has been way crazy on my emotions.

We went to see C and her kids on Tuesday in which we taught them about the Word of Wisdom. Unfortunately that was a problem for C. We talked to her about doing the 15 Step program that the church has put out for missionaries to use. It helps people stop smoking within a week... She was ready to quit but I guess something came up and she decided not to do it. It was a sad day for us missionaries.

A few days later, we returned for another appointment where we taught them about the Law of Chastity and Tithing. First of all, I want to tell you that at the end of the lesson, P prayed and his prayer was the funniest and cutest thing ever. The whole prayer was just "I'm grateful that Sister Christensen and Sister Gardner came over to teach us about tithing and chastity." Hahaha. I think that's going to be the only time anyone gives thanks for Sister Gardner and I teaching them about chastity. I loved it!

Anyway I guess after the lesson, C talked to her sister-in-law about tithing and there was a lot of misunderstandings of what tithing actually is. From that conversation, C thought that she had to donate every week and that she had to pay for her kids to be baptized. We're not quite sure how that happened... So we went back the next day to clear up any confusion she had and her kids said to us "We think we're going to wait to get baptized." It was heart breaking. Luckily the Lord loves His Sisters in Boiling Springs. After our conversation, the kids decided to be baptized even though before the lesson they were determined not to do it. Oh man. That was a tender mercy of the Lord for sure.

As for the other family on date for baptism, the M's... The grandma has been sick this whole week. She's been in and out of the hospital so her grand kids have been at her daughter's house. We haven't seen them at all in the past week so hopefully they're all still on track! We're going to try to see them this week!

Other then that, Sister Gardner and I went to the lighting up of Inman. It was decent. It was like 70 degrees which was odd for it being December and all. The thing that cracked me up the most was that they had a bubble machine that was blowing out clumps of bubbles to look like snow. It was hilarious. Hahah. Then on Saturday, we had our Ward Christmas party which was pretty great! We had a good turn out of actives, less-actives and nonmembers so I definitely consider it to be successful.

To close this email, I'll discuss the Christmas Devotional. I loved it! President Monson said something along the lines of the Spirit of Christmas is really the Spirit of Christ which is so true! It was a great reminded of what Christmas is all about! And that little boy who winked at that little girl. Oh my goodness. I died laughing because it was so cute! Hahah. Anyway, I love y'all! Have a blessed week!

-Sister Amy Christensen

Sister Gardner, C and me.

 

Me, Sister Gardner, S, S, K and P (who's on the floor)! K, S and P are all going to be baptized this week!

  

The "snow" at the lighting up of Inman.

 

Sister Gardner and I were clearly going crazy because of the first snow fall...

REAL SNOW! It melted half an hour later.