Community Service Project

After a Soccer Game

 Teaching the kids how to brush their teeth.

 Kids eating the 'bihon' we made for them

A dessert called 'halo halo', which means 'mix, mix'.  It's just a ton of stuff in milk and ice.

I am Loving this Country

Well, we had a sweet week this week. Monday through Wednesday were the same but then we had interviews with President Pagaduan on Wednesday so we had to go to Lapaz and do that. It went well and he always has good insight of what to do for our areas. After that we got to eat at McDonalds in Iloilo...Who would have though McDonalds is so good? I think Granny was on to something :)

   On Saturday we had probably the most fun CSP (community service project) that I have done on my mission! We went to a barangay way far away in the middle of nowhere. It was Elder Miano, about 20 members and I. We played soccer also while waiting for a ride haha. It was the first time I have played soccer in like....ever haha as you can imagine I was bending it like Beckham. When we arrived at the place, there was tons of mothers and little children. What we did was teach the children to wash their hands, brush their teeth and we also fed them and played way fun games with them. The kids loved it and it was so fun and rewarding to serve them in such humble circumstances. I think that was the day that it really sunk in how much I will miss this place when I am no longer here!

   Our investigators are doing well, I think a few that we were working with might be hiding from us haha. I wish they just tell us not to go to them, it would save us time. But we will see. We also got some sweet referrals from the ward this week so our work should progress better and better the next few weeks!

   I am loving this Country, area, members, companion and everything about my time here now. I saw an American dude this morning on a bus and it was crazy to see how out of place he was haha. I feel like I belong here though :) He had a DC shoes hat on backwards haha. Crazy to see!

   Sounds like the weather there is wacky. Who is Nate Binks getting married to? That is crazy how fast that is haha. He hasn't even been home six months has he? I am happy for him though. I am also happy for you mom that tax season is almost over so you can relax a bit. Thanks for the schedule thing too. It’s cool to think of doing that stuff since it seems kind of foreign to me right now. Thank you for the recommendation on school as well. I love you all and miss you, can’t wait to talk to you next month.

Your boy,

Elder Garrett Christensen

Hey Pops, Sorry you have been sick lately. I have really realized on my mission how lame it is to be sick, it’s so useless and lame haha. Hope you get better soon...Haha that is funny that you talked to Bergeson. I hope to play with them on their softball team when I get home.. I can’t wait to be a little more active. I feel like here, nothing is about me...I feel like all my time and energy is on others, which is good. But when it comes to athletics and stuff it will be fun to work out and lift and play sports, things I can’t really do here except on P-days. I am loving life, I like my companion and also my area is great. I love the members. I hope you get better. Love you tons.

Elder Garrett

Hey Britt, it’s okay if you didn't write me. You probably already forgot what I look like and stuff :( haha. Just kidding, I know you are busy...I am glad that you like track so much and I hope you continue to have fun. Guess what? We have a big huge rat in our house. We saw it and tried to kill it yesterday with a broom but it got away through our window! Hopefully we get it this week :) love you!

Elder Gary

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....