We Were Protected

Hey everyone, This week Elder Key and I had a crazy week so hopefully in my time I will be able to tell you all of it. Especially one experience. Well I will start by saying we had two investigators at church this week, both of which will be baptized on the 27th since this week is stake conference here. Almost every day this week we didn’t have a full day to teach but it was an okay week. The main and craziest thing that happened is this… and I don’t tell you this story to freak anyone out or have mom worry but to show really how protected we are as missionaries. So on Saturday evening around 6pm we were at an investigator’s house. The Gregorio family who we have been teaching for quite a while, but they are really strong in their religion, so they are having some concerns. Anyway we were waiting outside their house for some of the family members to come home from work and a drunk man walked by and Elder key said "kumusta brud" to him which is just like "hey man" or "hows it going man" and the man, who was with his wife started yelling at us and swearing and stuff at us for some reason. His wife was holding him back but he seemed really mad at us for no reason. So he left and then after that a bunch of the drunk guys (neighbors) came over to where we were and were like "he said you two (Elder key and I) were saying bad words to him and stuff. But since we had a bunch of witnesses there (the Gregorio family) they had our backs and told them we only said hello. This is where it gets crazy, about five minutes later we were still outside talking to people about it, and the drunk man ran around a corner with a knife in his hand charging towards Elder Key and I. He was drunk so he was kind of staggering but then his wife was chasing after him. This is where I knew we were protected. For no reason, the man just stopped and pointed at us with his knife when he was about 20 yards away, which allowed his crying wife and others to grab him and take him away. Later the police came and said he told them that Elder Key punched him so that's why he was mad. All I know is he had a free shot to come get us with his knife but for some reason he stopped and I know we were being watched over and I feel really lucky. We ended up teaching the lesson and continuing the day. Please don't feel worried for us or anything. The lord is with us, he is on our right hand and our left and in this case, he was protecting us from a drunkard. I am happy you are all happy and healthy and loving life. I am loving it here and loving the people. The weather has been crazy this week, super hot, and then way rainy. I will send some photos of us in a flood! I love you all and hope you have a great week! Elder Garrett Christensen Hey dad, What’s up! This week has been really good, but super filled with weird things happening. I had my tooth worked on again. I got a haircut, I got almost stabbed haha, but it was sweet and the work is still progressing. I am happy that hunting season starts! I can’t believe it. This will be the last hunting season before I am home. Time is short and I am glad to be here. Tell James I love him and am happy for him and his call. I love you tons, dad. Elder Christensen

I Am Slowly But Surely Turning Into a Filipino

Hello my pinakamamahal na family: :) This week went very well. It was sort of a regular week but I did think of one thing I need some time in the next few months. A new journal. I have kept one every day (almost) of my mission and I am like 1/3 done with my second one so just remember that next package or something. Just a little one is fine. Thank you. So this week all of us were still recovering physically. Elder Key and I were fine and worked hard all week but Elder Farnsworth was sick still so they stayed home a couple days. Elder Scott was super bored all week haha. Sitting in the house gets way old on a mission. You just want to go out! I felt bad for him. I am excited that you all had a good time at Park City and that you got a new car and to go to a Tim McGraw concert haha. I bet you had a great time. The lake you went to looks awesome! I want to go there sometime. I am assuming since it was dad fishing that you got skunked??!! haha just kidding. I bet he caught a state record. Yesterday we had four investigators at church. Myra (who was just baptized) is turning into a great missionary! Her sister, Maria Mae has a baptismal date of August 27, along with one of her friends! They are progressing well and Myra told us yesterday that she wants to go on a mission haha. That would be so rad! She seemed serious too! She is fitting in great with the ward and is getting more and more friends. I was looking at her Aklat ni Mormon the other day and she is like halfway through already. She marks it and everything. She was absolutely prepared by the Lord and I feel lucky I got to teach her. Something cool is happening to me I think. I think I am slowly but surely turning into a Filipino. Meals without rice just aren't meals. Riding in tricycles and jeepneys is the only way I can imagine traveling. Hot and humid is the only weather I know now. Stray dogs that carry nasty diseases and fight other dogs are just part of the everyday experience. I am starting to think my real name is Joe. I am really starting to love it here. I know I was sent here and I am doing all I can to use my time wisely. I feel watched over and protected every day. I know a couple of those kids going on missions and I am excited for them all. I hope you all have an awesome week. Love you! Elder Garrett Christensen Dad, that is too bad you are back in the He_ _ hole. I feel bad for you ;) just kidding. I miss that hole! Things were good this week and I have no complaints. That is crazy that football and hunting starts so soon. I remember when you said baseball was starting and then like nothing it ended. When football ends I will have already been gone like 13-14 months! Then I will be home during the next football season. Time is a crazy thing, especially on a mission. You realize how much of a gift it is from God to have time to learn, have fun, progress, and help others to progress and see their divine potential. That would be cool to rifle elk hunt (even though I am not convinced there are elk on Cedar Mtn.) With those oil things, I haven’t seen pure olive oil so I don’t think we can buy it here. For the containers, just maybe a couple of the bigger ones like we did in Priesthood that one day and then a bunch of the small metal vials. Whatever you can do is good! I love you lots and it was good hearing from you! Elder Garrett Christensen Bert! What’s up Bert Nert! Things here in the Philippines are going way good and I am happy and healthy (but tired.) I am glad you are about to start soccer. Use all your practice time hard and pay attention so you can be the best! I love you so much and miss you! Love you too, Mom! Sorry about photos! I have no new ones, nothing exciting happened this week. I will try to take some this week Love you more!

Myra's Baptism

Elder Farnsworth, Lia, Myra, Me (back)

Elder Key-McDonald, Elder ?

Elder Key-McDonald, Myra & I Myra & I Elder Farnsworth, Lia, Myra & Me

Hello everyone, Happy birthday Grandma Sherry and Papa Joe! I love you guys lots and think about you lots too! Things this week have been okay although kind of a rough week haha. Starting Tuesday Elder Scott got sick, then Wednesday Elder Key-Macdonald and Farnsworth were sick so I though I was going to be okay but then Thursday I got sick too :( We talked to Sister Pagaduan and she told us we had some virus thing and we should just rest. We all had really sore throats, sinuses, felt very weak with no energy, and achy. So this week we did very little missionary work which stunk. One thing that was good was Myra was baptized! The first baptism ever in my 7 month-old area! So we promised her we wouldn't fill the water very high. She agreed and we went home. Then on Saturday we had her baptism and the baptism of another girl (who was taught by the other elders) which went very well except since the water was so low, I had to baptize Myra three times cuz she kept coming out of the water. It was okay though although a little awkward haha. I also got your package Friday and loved all the stuff, it was awesome. The shoes are perfect and also the toothpaste, not sure what I should do with the dental supply things but they are cool too haha. I already used some seasoning yesterday to cook chicken. I liked the voice recorder too it was awesome, The Dixie Elder I also got in the mail and it was awesome! I love hearing from everyone. I only have one question to mom. Who is Mark Quilter Johnson? He is a man from St. George and has cerebral palsy I believe, he writes me a letter every week but I have never met him. Any way it was good to hear about everything and I hope you are enjoying Park City. I love you all and will send some photos. Love, Elder Christensen Hey dad,This week was okay haha. We were sick but I am feeling a little better today. We do have a lot of investigators. We have three people that will be baptized in August. One of them is Myra's sister. She went to the baptism and liked it so she said she wants to be baptized even though she hasn't been taught yet haha.That makes work easier! For the oil I want a couple(2) big bottles just of oil (2-3 inches tall and not yet consecrated.) And also quite a few (10-15) of the small vials so I can give them out to priesthood holders who have none. Thank you! I am still in New Washington with Elder Key and we will be here at least until September so we are happy. Nobody in our house transferred so that's good! I bet you guys are having fun and loving Park City! I love you tons dad and thanks for all you do for me! I am not positive where the range finder is, sorry. I would look in my closet if you haven't found in in the trailer or anywhere. I Love You dad! Elder Christensen That is way cool about Ayami! Hey Britt, Whats up? I heard you playing the piano and you are so good! Is that a keyboard or a piano you are playing? I bet you are loving soccer huh? I am so proud of you and hope you have fun in park city! I love you.

You Look Like You Are Flying Without Wings

John Ray & his soon-to-be wife

John Ray's soon-to-be wife

Foot spa with Elder Farnsworth from Mesa, Arizona

Hey Family: This week has gone really well! To be honest it was pretty average but that is okay. I have been thinking lots about Dallen this week and how he went into the MTC. I am way happy he made the decision. Also I am very jealous that you all went to the lake on our boat haha that is BAWAL without me there! I bet you guys had a blast. Also I bet the 24th weekend was a good fun one. This week we had two investigators at church which was Myra (getting baptized Saturday the 30th) and John Ray Fernando (getting baptized on Aug. 13.) He will be married and then baptized immediately after so it should be a cool day. He is way awesome. When we first met him he was a cigarette addict and was using alcohol. Now he is completely done with everything and is going to church and loving it. His family is awesome. They always try to talk to Elder Key and I in English but the only phrase they know is "It looks like you are flying without wings" haha so they say that to us and we just laugh and talk in English so they don't understand haha. But John has picked up on some stuff like when we get there he says "come in." Myra is still doing very well and we are very excited for her. The other day we started teaching her dad and got his permission to baptize her. This week is transfers but I think that the four of us will stay here in New Washington. We haven't found out yet but I don't want to leave. We have a sweet house, roommates and lots of good things happening in our area. If I do transfer, you will find out I guess next Monday. Last Monday we got a thing called foot spa which is where they put our feet in hot water and it has the vibrating things haha. It felt so good. I will send photos. Not a lot has happened this week so sorry my letter is short. I Love You All! Your Boy, Elder Garrett Christensen Hey Dad that is sweet you all went to the lake except I am jealous haha. That is also a bummer about the 24th party that you got called out. This week has been weird with the power here. We have things called brown-out which is when the power just randomly shuts off. Sometimes for one minute, sometimes for hours. We have had a lot this week. It sucks when they are at night cause we just sweat as we try to go to sleep and it is rough haha. Anyway I love you tons and hope you are having a good summer. Love your son, Elder Christensen

Mom, I am out of time for the day. I love you so much and thanks for the photos! I love seeing you all! I hope you have the best week ever. Thank you for all your sacrifices you are making for me! Love Your Star Child (I wont tell Macy or Britt,) Elder Garrett Vaughn Christensen

Hey Barbara, What is up with you? Life is really good here in the Philippines and we are having fun. I hope you are having a good summer! Love Garrett!

Stoked about Doing the Work

Elder Teh (General Authority over Asia) and his wife, President Pagaduan and his wife and our zone.

Hey, what’s up everyone? This week was a pretty normal week as far as the work goes, but at the same time we had a bad Sunday yesterday! We had like 8 people commit to go to church and when we got to church we waited and waited and not a single investigator showed up! Zero! It sucked haha. You work all week to get people to church so when they don’t show up it hurts! But whatever, it will all work out. We still have three people right now with baptismal dates. Myra Nerval (18) will be baptized the 30 of July...It should have been the 23rd but since she missed church this week (she was out of town with family) we have to move it back a week. Another story we have from this week is that we are getting people married! We have an investigator named John ray Fernando who is like 27 and has three kids with a returned missionary (less-active), but hasn't been baptized or married. He wants to be baptized but has to get married first. The problem is they have no money. So Elder Key and I just paid for them to get a birth certificate, then marriage license. Now all we have to do is correlate to get a bishop to marry them since ours doesn't have a license to marry people. Our third baptismal date is to a woman named Lola Pilante (71)...lola means grandma haha I don’t know her first name! She has family that are members, but has never listened to missionaries until about five or six months ago, then her husband died from a disease and she stopped listening for some reason. We started teaching her and it took her a long time She kept saying she wasn't ready for baptism but she has finally realized that it is something she has to do in order to get back with her husband someday. She will be baptized in August, Right now she still has a problem with drinking coffee so we are working on that. Elder Key and I are doing awesome. I love our apartment and all the roommates so I have no complaints. My health is good and I am stoked about doing the work. I am glad you all had fun at the family reunion and thanks for the pictures. Another thing that happened this week was that we had a general authority come visit us. His name is Elder Teh. He is our area president of Asia. He was awesome and I will send a photo of our zone with him and his wife, and President Pagaduan and his wife. They talked a lot about lifting where you stand. Just do your job in the church and the church will grow so much. It is when we start worrying about things out of our hands when we have stumbling blocks. It was really awesome. I am loving my area. We have lots of good things going on here. I am also happy about your business mom. I always wished you would move it to St. George now you did it! Tell Dallen I love him and am way proud of him. This week he will start his journey of a lifetime and he is way lucky. Tell him to be patient with himself at the MTC and try to enjoy it and the food haha. I know he will be fine. I love you all and thanks for all your support to me and your sacrifices so I can be here. Palangga ko kamo, Elder Garrett Christensen Hey dad. How is your week going? I am having a really good time right now and no complaints. I bet you had a blast with all you family this last weekend. I know I miss stuff like that. You look like a stud playing horse shoes in the photo mom sent me. Are you excited that we are getting close to hunting season? Which also means that the weather will get better for you. I am healthy and happy with everything here. I hope all is well with work and everything. Thanks for everything Dad I Love you and miss you lots! Elder Garrett Britt, That is so awesome you made the soccer team, I am so proud of you! You are my hero! I loved getting pictures of you! You are so gwapa, maganda...or beautiful :) Keep being a good girl to mom and dad. Love ya! To answer Dad's question about how the mission works....So how it works is the mission president lives in the mission home and has an office which is in a church in Iloilo. He and his wife have two kids. The highest missionaries are called AP's or assistants to President. There are two of them in our mission. Next is the zone leaders, we have six zones in our mission so there are twelve zone leaders. They are experienced elders who help the zone and also do interviews for baptisms, then the district leader. They also do baptismal interviews and they teach a training every Tuesday morning on subjects like teaching form Book of Mormon, how to begin teaching, finding, etc. There are three districts in our zone so each district has like 5-10 missionaries. Then you have just your normal senior and junior companions. I hope that answered. Love you dad!

Myra is Golden

Hey what’s up everyone. This week has been a really awesome/weird week. The best news of the week is that we gave out 4 new baptismal dates and all of them accepted. So now we have five people with a baptismal dates of July 23 - August 6...We also had four investigators at church this week, one of the investigators with a baptismal date was unable to go to church since he had to work. We also had a weird week since we tracted a lot and had quite a few people fighting with us over doctrine haha. In my first area, I had one guy the whole time, fight with us, but in this area there are a lot of "born again" people and they all listen to their pastors about verses in the Bible that say things about angels and stuff so they claim that the Angel Moroni thing could not have happened. It is hard to ever have the spirit when they start arguing so the lessons don’t go as well as we hope. Myra is still going to be baptized on the 23rd and she has been progressing amazingly. Probably my best investigator ever, haha. She is golden. We have also started teaching her sister. But her dad is always at work so we haven’t taught him yet. My tooth feels great and thank you for the shoes you bought. I hate the shoes I got from here. Just cheap, uncomfortable and already breaking. I don’t have anything in mind special for my birthday. Whatever haha. I ate the roast beef you sent last night and it was awesome hah! I also love the Gatorade packet things you sent, and Propel. Elder Key-Macdonald and I are doing well! I also got the Dixie Elder thing in the mail this week and was way good to hear from everyone! I am way excited for my buddies. They are studs. That would be awesome to go to Mexico when I get home. Seeing the beach everyday makes me want to scuba dive haha. When we come back to the Philippines we should go stay in Boracay and then it is very close to my area now and I can show you other areas too. It was good to hear about the family reunion. I bet you had a blast. Sorry nobody caught any fish at Kolob except dad. Since I wasn't there he has no competition! Better enjoy your time dad because when I get back you are no longer going to be champ. Anyway, things are going well. I love you all! Elder Garrett Christensen Hey Pops! Things here are going well in New Washington! We have definitely seen our hard work show awesome blessings to both us and our investigators! Our health is doing well and we are having a good time together. I am glad you are having fun with Britt and running her around. Also I bet you guys had fun in Kolob. I miss that place a lot and can’t wait to go there again. How is work going for you and how is church? Do you guys have any new callings? I won’t lie, Sunday here is the most hectic day because nothing is organized right. We are like the organizers/ushers/bouncers haha. It is quite funny but frustrating too! Anyway I love you dad. Talk to ya next week! Hey Bert, I bet you had fun at Kolob! I wish I could have been there. That is a funny story about mom sleeping with the mice at the cabin! I bet she was scared when she found out! How is track and soccer? Alright Bert I love you tons. Have a good week!

The beach I live by is prettier!

Myras Family

Lechon Baboy (rotissari pork)

Myras

YO!!! Whats Hatnin'??!! Things here in New Washington are going awesome. I am really enjoying my new companion and our area. We have been working so hard and have definitely been blessed to see the results of our labors. This week we had four investigators at church(the most ever in this area) and it went so well! We still have the baptismal date for Myra Nerval on the 23rd of this month and she is doing awesome. It was her 18 birthday yesterday so we went to her house and they fed us bihon and some dessert made out of banana which was way good. We finally got to meet her dad and he seemed way rad. His wife(myra's mom) died four years ago so he is a dad of four and single. He has to travel about twenty minutes to work every day and back late at night. He is a care-giver at a hospital. Also we have been doing tons of tracting and it has been going very well. We have met lots of awesome families. I would like to say happy birthday to Grandma Hirschi! I can't believe it is July already! Also of course, Happy 4th of July haha! Nobody knows what that is here but us Americans are representing our country haha. It sound like you are all having a good time in Laguna(although the beach I live by is prettier anyway) :) By the way tell Cambria I said hi, along with all the rest of the family! I hope you can all feel my love for you! That "laughing club" thing you went to sounds rad haha. I want to go there sometime. My tooth has been doing great, no problems at all so that is good. It has been super hot this week and hasn't rained very much which is wierd this time of year. I bought some shoes here but they suck way bad haha so I am thinking maybe for my birthday or something you could send me some shoes? To be honest if you go to Dillards at the mall they have "ECCO" brand. That is the brand of shoes I wore up until now and I loved them. They were slip on black shoes. Size 11 or 45. Please make sure they are slip-on...we are constantly taking off and on our shoes so to tie them would suck. Anyway thank you all and I love you all and hope you have an awesome time at cuzzie camp! p.s. Court is sure looking buff in that picture you sent me! Love you all, Elder Garrett Vaughn Christensen