Listen to the Counsel of My Parents

Hey guys what’s going on?

   We had a pretty good week this week, although it was different due to 'holy week' and general conference. It started out with a normal day on Tuesday and Wednesday but then Thursday and Friday were super hard days of work because it is a huge Catholic celebration here. Everyone walks around town in a procession with like big statues of Christ. I think they believe that he is dead on that Friday every year or something? I don't know all their beliefs though. Then Saturday was transfer day, I did not transfer which is good, I love my companion and area so I am happy. I am like 99% sure I will transfer next transfer in May the week after we call home haha :) What did happen that was cool is that Elder Price, one of my best buddies in the mission, transferred into my district which means I see him every week. We are going to play basketball with them later. He is in Elder Adam's old area, Calinog. He came from my old area, New Washington! Then Saturday and Sunday we went to Lapaz, Iloilo to watch conference. Conference felt different this time. Like they all just talked about families and wives and stuff. Also about taking care of children. We had a good time though!

   I did get 1) your box with ties, cookies, razors, etc...2)Janet's walnut oil (I wrote them and thanked them) and 3)your small package thing with a journal and the Dixie elder which I read and loved of course haha. So thank you a ton for taking care of me!

   I missed your Easter party. Sounds like you guys all had a good time. I bet Court got to 999 girls before his mission and then Amber was #1,000....I only say that because Court and I are similar guys and I also have 900+ on record :) haha jk.  I do miss you all though and sounds like you had a good time.

   Regarding my going home time...I talked to President Pagaduan about it and he says I should "listen to the counsel of my parents" and he will support my decision whatever it might be...So it’s not 100% yet but I will tentatively say that I will be home in October...It is subject to change though so don't set that date in your minds yet.

   I am loving my time here. My mission means the world to me and it was the best decision ever. I have a testimony of this church as the only true and living church. I love to look around here at the trees and sunsets, etc. and see God’s creations...I love what Elder Nelson said..."how could this have come from a bang? Would a bang in a printing press create a dictionary?"...God is real and I know it.

All my love to you!

Elder Garrett Christensen

Hey Dada what’s up?

   Things here are going great and I am still in Pototan with Elder Miano which is good. We like each other and get along well. The work is great, too, so we are happy. We also made American brownies last night so that adds to our happiness haha. That is sweet about South Dakota or Nebraska or whatever. We will have a good time I am sure. How old is Gus right now? Is he getting real Big? I still remember when Doug said "you can play whatever sports you want Gus...But you WILL play football" haha I was laughing so hard. I love those guys. How are they? Anything new with the Snells or the Binks? I liked that picture of you and Mark!

   The Elk hunt sounds fun too! I haven’t shot a gun in so long it will be good to see what happens. Anyway, things are great here. I love you dad!

Halong, Elder Garrett

I got to give a baby a name and a blessing in church

Hey Everyone:

   Things this week are going well, we had great success. One day we got punted around all day by our investigators so we went and found inactive members(there are plenty of them) and from that we found four new investigators in one day! They are way nice, they even have a child named after the missionaries from like ten years ago! Haha I was laughing way hard. His name is like McClellan or something from a Utah missionary forever ago!

   Elder Miano and I are doing awesome. Our health is great as well. We have great things going on in our area right now. Even though transfers are this week, I think he and I will stay together. I will be shocked if I leave.

   I did something cool this week haha. We have an investigator named Christine Buison and she just had a baby on March 5. Her mother in law is a member and so they wanted to have the baby blessed in the church even though she isn't a member yet. We just assumed that our branch president would but when we showed up to church, she asked me if I would. So I got to give a baby a name and a blessing in the church. It was cool.

   Elder Adams went home today which is crazy. He and I have been way good buddies since September when we lived together in Roxas. His homecoming is April 15 I think so you should go! Contact his mom (Monica

Adams) so you can go if you have free time. He is a stud and I will miss him.

   This week will be a crazy week. On Thursday and Friday we have to be in our houses by 5 pm due to holy week. They celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ which is cool, but they do it by getting drunk and stuff haha. Then on Saturday and Sunday we get to go to Lapaz, Iloilo (like 45 minutes away) to watch general conference, which will be sweet. I love conference as a missionary.

     I also got a letter from Elder Wulfenstein this week which was sweet to read. He sounds like the language is hard but he is doing well. I love reading the Dear Elder thing. Sometimes before bed if I have a minute I will read and just think about how different all our missions are. I love it that lots of them are serving.

   I am loving my time here in Pototan, it is such a cool area. It is huge but that just means lots of people to talk to!

   Sorry I am late writing this week, we went this morning earlier but the website would not work, so I am glad it is fixed right now. It is 2:45 pm here.

I hope all is well with you all and you are having fun.

Lots of Love,

Elder Garrett Christensen

Dad, 

   Wow that is crazy that Devin Bennett is 19! I can’t believe it. Korea will be crazy. He is a pretty shy kid so that will push him haha. I'm stoked for him...please tell his dad that I got his letter, but can’t write him back since I have no address (he didn't write it on the envelope) unless you want to just give me his address and I can write him and Devin?

   I do not think I will leave Pototan this transfer, probably in May, I think. We have good work going on and I would be shocked if I left. I like my companion a lot. It gets hard sometimes with all his questions. I have to be patient, but I love him and am trying to help him as much as possible.

That is crazy that it’s Kentucky and Kansas again. They are powerhouses now in college basketball.

   So what kind of cool plans do we have for this winter when I get home? We going to South Dakota? I would love that haha we should take Breck too! He is apparently turning in to quite the hunter.

Thanks for everything dad,

Love you tons, Elder Christensen

Golf Outing

Me in my new golf shirt

My companion in his new golf shirt.

Hello:

   I will try this week to express more of what I FEEL, instead of DO...since that is what momma wants haha :) 

I feel good this week. I feel like through our work, we helped people come closer to Christ. I feel like we can always do better but I feel we are doing our part. I feel like we are lifting where we stand. I feel humble to hear about your fast Sunday and that so many of the youth are getting involved. I feel tired, but focused.

   We had a very successful week this week. We were able to have three investigators go to church and they are progressing well. I feel like we are always thinking of ways to help these people through personal experiences and scriptures.

   We had an awesome P-day today (that is why I am writing so late) We went to Santa Barbara (like 30-40 minutes from my area) and went GOLFING! Haha! It was so fun. They had rental clubs and it wasn't a bad course. We had a caddy and all! The only problem was that it was raining super hard and we all got soaked. I got pictures that I will try to send. We even bought special shirts for golfing in haha. It was 11 of us in all. It felt super nice to relax and hit the links! I didn't shoot a very good score to be honest, but it has been like a year and a half so I am happy with my score haha. Drive for show, putt for dough. :) That is dad's saying...

   I am loving my area and companion. We get along better and better every week. He is slowly but surely learning how to speak, act, get around and everything like that. I am proud to be his tatay (dad) in the mission. The reason we went golfing was since it is Elder Adams last week in the mission. He goes home next Monday. Its super crazy. I will follow him soon which is even crazier. We talked a lot today about things like our first area and stuff, crazy to think about stuff like that now. 

   I am super excited for Brock Aldred, I received a letter from them (Brock, John, and Sherri Aldred) which was super sweet. Sherri said she hopes I see Brock when he gets here...She must not know His mission is like twenty islands, like a twenty hour bus ride, and a whole different language away haha. I will never see him but I am super excited for him and all the boys back at home....you said Bro. Ivie spoke and said something about Matt. Where is Matt Ivie right now? Is he out on a mission? I don't remember anyone telling me he went on a mission already...

   I e-mailed President about if I should go early or late, we will see what he says and I will probably have a solid decision by next month. Everyone I talk to (family, and friends) all say I should go home early haha so we'll see.

   Sounds like Dottie had a sweet baptism and that is sweet they are enjoying their new house.

   I am loving the work and we are doing well here in Pototan.

Love you all, 

Elder Garrett

Hey dad what’s up? This week was sweet. We saw good results from our hard work. Sorry I spent kind of a lot of money today for golfing (about $30 American dollars), because my companion didn't have any money so I paid for him too. We had an awesome time and I thought about you lots as we golfed. I loved golfing with you and spending time. I am excited to spend more time with you all after my time here in the field.

   That is crazy about Payton Manning. I hope he does well. I like him. It also sounds like you all had a good time with Brock Aldred's farewell. They are all leaving soon, it is pretty crazy. Sounds like you are doing a great job magnifying your calling with the basketball thing! Keep it up.

Love you dad,

Elder Garrett Christensen

A Little One on One

Hey everyone how is things?

   Our week was alright, I won’t lie though, I am kind of frustrated with some of our investigators and people we are visiting. We only had one investigator at church so we were super bummed. I feel like Elder Miano and I are being the best missionaries we could possibly be. We are effectively studying, working on our teaching, the language is not a problem...it’s just frustrating working so hard and not seeing the results you feel you deserve haha....We will just be patient and wait on the blessings of the Lord. :)

   As for everything else, we are doing great! I love my bata Elder Miano, he is a stud and we get along great. We have sweet members here too in Pototan so we are doing well.

   I am sad that Spanish Fork won again haha. Dixie should stop inviting them to the Sunshine Tournament :) That would be so funny haha. You SF guys would freak out. Sounds like you guys all had fun though, the jet thing sounds cool too.

   I still haven't gotten a solid decision about when I am coming home, but just so you know I am leaning towards October. Unless I feel otherwise soon, that is what I will do. My time is going so fast, it

is nuts...Elder Miano was telling me the other day how close I am to going home and I was trying to say I still had a long time but it’s nuts how fast all the time here is. I am loving it though. We are healthy and working hard. I hope you all continue to stay happy and I love you all!

Elder Garrett Christensen

I played a little one on one this week. I had fun playing....everyone there yells "dunk, dunk" to me so sometimes I will dunk it for them and they all go crazy since they are so short they could never dunk. I gotta get off Mom, I love you most!

Your Star Son,

Elder G

P.S. Tell Brock Alldred I am stoked for him. Love you mom, bye!

 

Leadership Training - March 2012

Photos

Lunch at a celebration for a Catholic baptism haha. It was weird, but we were invited....

Eating Balut with my bata(son)(trainee)....

 American beef stew! Yeah boy!!...

 Posing with the tricycle of some members...

 Elder Price and me at training.

Training with (left to right) Me, Elder Collins, Elder Jenkins, Elder Burton, Elder Price

A bullet and ginger that they put on babies clothes so they don't get taken by strangers and witches or monsters.... 

Our meal at Ramboys....

 

Our district....

 

Elders Price, Jenkins & Collins

Hey Good Morning from the Philippines:

   This week was a super quick one for me...too quick. We had regular day on Tuesday and then on Wednesday I had to go to Iloilo City for a  leadership training. Elder Tran (who is also training) and I met up and went down Wednesday night. That was my first time spending  time with Elder Tran and he is sweet. We get along well. He came to the Philippines the same time as me. When we got to Iloilo we went to a restaurant called Ramboys which is a meat restaurant like Litson Baboy, Litson Manok and other meats and it was super good. We then slept at some elder’s house in Iloilo. Thursday morning we woke up at 6 and got ready. We then had breakfast at the Stake Center in Arevalo, Iloilo. There we had a training which is where all the leaders in the mission are gathered and listen to President and other Elders train us on topics like our missionary purpose, revelation through prayer, revelation through church attendance, etc. for us to apply to help our investigators better. That lasted until about 4pm, Then, Thursday night I worked in the city in an area called Mandurriao, with Elder Lado, who is from Cebu City and is an awesome Elder. 

   Then Friday we woke up at 6 again and got ready, we had another day of training until about 1pm. Then I bought some new shoes since mine were broken (don’t worry about sending me shoes.  I can get them here.) and headed to my area. Then we worked Friday night until yesterday and had a good time. I love seeing all the Elders there like Elders Price, Jenkins and Collins. They are some of my good buddies in the mission.

   My trainee is really sick right now haha.  He has like a flu and he has what’s called “Sore Eyes” which makes your eyes super red and you get lots of eye gunk stuff haha.  It’s no good! I feel bad for him.

   Sounds like you guys had a good time speaking in sacrament. Missionary work is a super good topic. It needs to be done more by members! To answer your question mom, I feel like there are a ton of reasons I was called here. Too many to count. I definitely needed to be humbled and see the circumstances of the people here. I have met people that have helped and inspired me. I have learned from my leaders, I have learned to appreciate air conditioning, vehicles, American food, the cleanliness of American places, American medical resources, on and on haha.  But I have so much more to compliment the Filipino people about! They are so great. That’s all! 

   All the vacation things sound fine mom, I am easy to please so don’t worry about me. I think Park City sounds great. All is well here and I am enjoying my time and training a new missionary. We are seeing great success in our area and we will continue to work hard. Love you all

Elder Garrett Christensen

Hey Papa:

   What’s going on with you all? Things here are great and we are enjoying our time here in Pototan. My companion and I are doing well together and have good work right now so we are happy! That is funny that you cried in church haha wuss...just kidding.  I laughed when I read that. That is great you put a lot of work into your talk.

   I am glad Ipson is doing well at Dixie. He is such a good coach, I loved him. The tournament sounds fun. Next week is the one you are looking forward to though huh? When Spanish Fork will go down and wreck Dixie again haha. Are they good again this year or not as much? 

   Well dad I miss you lots and thank you for everything. I assume there is no turkey hunt for you this year? I can’t believe Britt is twelve this week and you will be married for thirty years this week! It’s crazy. I love you lots dad and hope all is well!

Love Elder Garrett Christensen

His Will Be Done

Hey Guys,
   This week went great and super quick for Elder Miano and I. We are doing so well and it is fun to help him and watch him adjust to the life here. It is so weird when he asks me questions about like transportation, food, the way to do small things, what groceries to buy, etc. It really is like I am his father. It is crazy how all the things he asks me, I was asking not too long ago!
   They only difference with being a trainer is two extra hours of study everyday which is okay....but long haha. We have learned a lot though so it’s all good. Our work is going great here. We have six investigators with a date for baptism.
   We had kind of a crazy thing happen this week which was one of our members calling us at night and asking us to go way far away to bless her father. He had a really bad sickness and his liver was messed up. So we cancelled our appointment and went to her house. I blessed him. About two hours later, he died. I felt really bad, like my blessing didn't work or something but then I was studying The teachings of the Prophets: Spencer W. Kimball and it talked about how God limits our abilities to bless the sick. Like for example he talked about how if he had boundless priesthood power, he would have healed Christ so he didn't have to suffer for us, but if he did that, God's eternal plan would have been frustrated. I felt comforted that that is what I needed to hear. I am only a person and even though I have the priesthood of God, His will be done.
   The members here are great and helping us a lot. We went out to a far place this week called Mina which is another municipality but part of our area. We visited inactive members who were like the pioneer members in our area but now they live far away from the church so they don’t go whether it’s due to lack of money or just being lazy, I'm not sure.
   To answer your quiz question mom, I'm not sure because there are tons of witnesses of Christ in the Book of Mormon, but for my answer I will say Lehi, Nephi, Mormon, Moroni, Ether, and the sixth I am unsure of haha. Hopefully I am close or that will be embarrassing as a missionary :)
   Sounds like you guys are all having fun at home, I am glad things are going well and everyone is happy. I love getting to the computer shop and reading everyone is doing well. It makes my week. I just won’t worry about school I guess. Except my only question is this...Say I decide that I want to go to the U. Would one semester at Dixie just mess me up? Or would it be better just to go straight to the U? I have heard it is lots harder to get good scholarships (which I could at the U because of my grades) after you already went to a different college for a couple semesters? Like the U would rather give them to new freshman than to a transfer from Dixie State haha. I don't know.  We will see when time gets closer.
   I won’t be able to work in my area much this week because Wednesday through Friday I have a leadership training in Iloilo so we will see how the work goes this week, hopefully we can still help all of our peeps progress!
   I have two requests also. I am getting close to finishing my journal! I need a new one. It doesn't have to be fancy :) also, my retainer that I use at night isn’t like all the way broken but like where my molars are (since I grind my teeth at night) is worn away, so there is a hole there in my right molar. Will you please call Doc. Simister and see if I should get one made here or just wait it out to get home in a few months. All the rest is in good shape just the hole in the molar section from grinding my teeth. Also I am going to buy some new pants for proselyting so will you please see if I have any money left in my account? I am sure I do but I don't know how much?
   Anyway the work is going well and please tell Joann Certonio happy birthday for me :) I received a letter from her a while ago but haven't had time to write her back. I will try soon! Also Happy Anniversary to Brian and Lisa!
I Love You All,
Elder Garrett Christensen

Hey Papa, Thanks for the e-mail!
   Things here are excellent. To be honest, I pay a member to do my laundry (handwashing is only for the greenies in the mission haha) :) but she is really poor so I feel good helping them out by paying her to wash my clothes. My health is great. No problems at all except my retainer thing. I could get a pretty nice one made here. In Iloilo City they have good doctors and orthodontic guys. My stomach is good, my eyes/contacts are good as well. Thanks for the info on college football. I am not really worried about social life haha what do you think I'll be socially awkward when I get home??!! Rudie! haha jk:)
   I love baseball season, the second best season to be alive (right after fall). How do you think Dixie will do this year? Anything new going on with them?
   Regarding going home early or late, I am still leaning...early. I think as long as I work my hardest every day I can, I will have no problem going in October.  It is the missionary department that wants us to choose so I will work my best every day and if I go home October I will have no regrets. Either way it will be two years of service. Unless President Pagaduan talks me out of it haha...Thanks for all your support and help Dad, I want you to know you mean a lot to me.
Love you,
Elder Garrett "sharpshooter" Christensen

E-mail chatting  with Mom-

Elder Christensen - Yeah the thing is where ever I go to school, I will be able to get a pretty good scholarship and what I have been thinking is that I really want to do Med. School at the U.  I don’t want to go far away like Uncle Court did, so I wonder if I went straight to the U of U, if it would help my chances of getting into the U Medical school? What do you think?...No I have not gotten my package yet, maybe tomorrow I will?

Mom - I've never heard that scholarships work that way. I'll check into it. My guess is that you'll save a ton by living at home and going to Dixie for a while. I'll find out how it works.

Elder Christensen - Alright I will just trust you I guess! I think there are lots of pros and cons of both places haha, but I will just see in about seven months haha :) fast huh mom?

Mom - Yes, 7 months will fly. Just focus on your mission. It will all work out.

Elder Christensen - I know it will fly. I am more focused now than I ever have been, I won’t worry about school or anything. It will all work out :) I gotta get off, I love you all tons! Halong!
Elder Garrett