March 30, 2015- FOOTHILLS

alright folks here it is!

Wednesday:

First day in the Foot hills Ward area. Super awesome. Im on a bike. Lots more people. Lots more exercise. Alot less food. hahaha we had a service project wherre we made pb and j sandwhiches. like 700 of them. or so we thought. turns out they messed up the order and we made double that. so we had 700 extra that went to the missionaries. And Elder J. and I Just moved into a new apartment so there was zero food. Yes that was my food for the next week! and we wwanted to be obedient so we didnt go shopping for anything else. yes my new Companion is Elder J. from Layton Utah. This guy is awesome ! He's been out 6 weeks more than me. And, he's a district leader so we both don't know whats going on !

Thursday:

Pretty regular day. We went and we saw a less active the Elders before me tracted into. Her name is T. and WOW! She is so spiritual and desiring to come back. She said what she had no idea how she got to the church building but she got there just by walking. I have never met anyone so grateful for the missionaries yet. Just the one encounter with her on the street has changed her life !  The next was a guy named R. under us . We were coming in late (woops) but we caught our neighbour who just had a sister pass away from cancer and we gave him a quick Plan of Salvation lesson on the hood of his car, and he loved it ! It's amazing the comfort that the plan of happiness can bring! And it's a good thing we caught him at the right time! Some divine intervention there.

Friday :

SOOOOOOO today We did a huge service project. It was at California expo center and what it was was an organization that did free dental work for anyone ! You can imagine how busy that would be. There were people lined up out there for longer then 24 hours. but we were used as escorts for the patients across the expo center. They fed us dinner which was pasta but they bought huge trays extra and gave it too us when we left to go home. But on our way out there was probably about 100 people lined up to get their teeth worked on the next day and we felt we had to give them the pasta! so we did and started to leave , when we realized how upset these people were that we didn't bring out forks and knives and plates. Just kind of made me think of the Saviour and how he did what he could to help but it wasn't ever good enough. but we did get them what they needed to eat and everyone was happy and felt super awesome after that. 

Saturday:

We went back to help again with this big dentist thing! This time they had wayyyyy to many bags of baby carrots. So Elder M. and I stood at the exit giving bags of these little carrots away. For almost 3 hours. People thought we were crazy trying to give them carrots after they went to the dentist .... BUT some were super grateful ! we also taught A. today. cool experince. She  was talking and elder J. and i both flipped open to a scripture and thought it was super awkward because we didnt know who should read theirs. so i let him go ... we flipped to the exact same( not even generic ) scripture. Just proves how the spirit works the same between us as missionaries ! super cool.

Sunday:

 The ward is awesome .. We had a ward member give us a ton of food. Running out of time. love you and the new area!

This wheel has been crazy spiritual we have been placed in peoples paths who need the Lord the most and that does not happen by accident. The spirit has guided our actions to complete his work. We have become instruments in the hands of god. I'd tell ya amore about it but im out of time ! BYE

Elder KRistensen

March 23, 2015-Forgot my journal WOOPS

Hey everyone sooooo i forgot my journal so i dont remember anything about this week but i will do my best

Monday :

I think it was a normal pday. finally got to play volleyball for the first time

Tuesday:

Idont remember either so im just gong to think of highlights.

We have been trying to meet with a members neighbor since ive been in Ione and her name is J. we would talk to her everyone once in a while while she was out side. but couldnt ever set anything up. But Sunday night was a little different. We had a very sincere conversation with her and set something up for yesterday. And we had an amazing lesson regarding the restoration and she even said she would be baptized when she found it was true. J. even said she was trying to come up with any excuse that would have stopped the meeting yesterday from happening. and she couldnt. she could not bring herself to cancelling and she didnt know why. That was completely and utterly the spirit. the spirit invites us to do the right thing always. She felt the convincing power of the Holy Ghost so strongly. and that is because God knows it'll change her life so much and so well that He sent His spirit to her. 

Ummm there was also a mission farewell for a member here who got his mission call when ! first got here and leaves tomorrow thats super cool! ummm we also got to go to the temple this week with C. and do baptisms which is always super spiritual! so awesome to see how well she is progressing! 

The family we are teaching are going to push their date back a couple weeks to get over some vices, but after that they will be baptized! super excited for them also. People always talk about this glow about us because as missionaries we are close with God. I didnt get it. i didnt see how that was posssible rather. but i Have seen it with this family. they were coming from such a rough place and their lives are changing and the glow and liveliness is in them. so awesome to see ! 

also added 4 new solid investigators this week. annnnnnd last night we got transfer calls....

I have been booted out to Foot hills ward in the North Sacramento stake ! Apparently has nothing to do with hills... which might be a nice change for me because thats all ive seen for 5 months ! super excited to try something new but im going to miss this area so much and all the good that is here right now . anyways thats the quick highlights of what i could remember . Love you all! 

Elder Kristensen

This is M. he is nice and going on a mission

March 16, 2015-Apostles

monday:

so not to much happened today but we played this game called milk jug lacrosse. try to picture what that would look like!

Tuesday:

We had interviews with President J. I seriously Love my mission president. this man has to be the most genuine person ever! I really do feel his love for his missionaries.  he made us read some scriptures in Romans 8. i suggest you read the last two verses in that chapter becasue they are very true and very powerful!

Wednesday:

soooo the last couple days ive been praying about how to make my studies more effective or how i can have better study habits. and it constantly has come to me to keep a good study journal..... i dont know what a good study journal looks like but im going to try ... so good luck to me! we also had to drive up to Folsom for a doctors appointment and it is amazing to see that THERE IS MORE TO THE WORLD THAN THE HILLS. seriously strange to enter civilization. Also the Girl that we baptized a couple weeks ago now has a temple recommend and we will be attending the temple this weeks!

Thursday:

Little bit of a hard day. nothing seemed to go our way but we had an awesome district meeting. We were studying and talking about Talks that Elder David A Bednar of the quorum of the 12 gave us. They were "converted unto the Lord ", "praying in Faith" and "learning by faith". And i will talk about them more later.

Friday:

Okay i can talk about the talks now because they were given to us to prepare for a training that we did with Elder Bednar. SOOO AWESOME. Apostles are spiritual giants and ive never seen so much inspiration at one time and there is no way im going to be able to have time to write everything ive learned. But basically it was a question and answer period and we could ask him anything ( besides anything super deep). But a couple highlights are basically We are all agents ! and agents Act. we are not objects to be acted upon. So when we pray, we pray about what should we do to receive something we want not just pray for something and expect to get it without work. For example if we prayed for a new investigator but just sat in the apartment all day. there is no way we are going to be blessed with a new investigator. the same implies when we are studying. He also promised that if anyone were to read the Book of Mormon everyday they would never fall away from the church. and that was a pretty bold but honest promise from an apostle. One last quick thing. someone asked " as an apostle have you ever seen Christ?".. almost everyone rolled their eyes but Bednar gave the Best answer and said " Through time I have received a witness that Jesus is the Christ that goes beyond the 5 senses of the human body." if that is not the most amazing thing ever I dont know what is. And that is going to become a life long endeavour for me to obtain. Because that is the witness that will keep you truly converted and that is a witness we can all receive. We got to shake their hands. Never washing my hand again

Saturday:

We worked up at preston Castle again and got a little sappy from moving lots of pine tree twigs. awesome right ? then we went to the Market to buy some sandwiches and all of a sudden E walks in! the lady we do service for at preston and bought us all lunch ! tender mercies.

Sunday:

The sabbath is always special. C's mom came to church so hopefully we will teach her soon! almost all of our actively teaching investigators showed up today! 

Im super out of time so i have to stop there. but my testimony has grown so much from hearing from one of the Lords apostles. He really has called prophets again on earth.

Love Elder Kristensen

March 9, 2015-Another week in Zion!

Hello everyone Here it is:

monday:

had more of un usual day because for pday we played nerf guns for 4 hours in

the church. not kidding that is something our whole mission does. everyone

collects nerf guns and play zombies in the churches. 

Tuesday:

Was awesome. We gave L. ( the recent convert) a Preach my Gospel and he

LOVES it so much. we Told him to go to the Christ attribute and pick one to

work on. He Picked hope. there is an awesome scripture about hope in Moroni

7 but i dont have a copy of the Book of Mormon on me so i cant tell ya so

everyone read the whole chapter!

wednesday:

was a regular day but i was on exchanges ! 

Thursday:

I GOT SUNBURNT. yup that sucked. we were laying sod and game over from there.  we also taught the lady we met in the park last week! She is so awesome and open and said she'd get baptized!!

Friday:

Spiritual overload. We had an amazing zone training today centered on our

potential and our identity as missionaries for Jesus Christ. some of the

things everyone came up with was " we are proof that God has not left the

World Alone" also " we are the most noble and brave  18 - 26 year old Kids

this world has ever known" and "we are Childern of a lovingGod who see's our

potential when we cant "

Saturday:

Lots of service mostly ! all day. 

Sunday :

Rough day. which is weird because it is the sabbath but the lady that we met

in the park dropped us out of the blue and kinda bummed the whole day BUT

the Lord pulled through and we added another investigator.

Sorry i had to keep it short this time and i dont have my camera so no

pictures but love you all. remember to turn to our Lord and Priesthood power

for help!

Yours truly,

Elder KRistensen

March 2, 2015- First time for everything

monday:

Basic Pday things except we got to play softball!! that was awesome . I do

miss Baseball thats forsure.

Tuesday:

Was again pretty basic day. Except we got to pour concrete at a members

house again with some of the guys hes hired. They Actually listened and we

had a great gospel Discussion about Jesus Christ and His Atonement for us.

They Both Accepted a copy of the book of mormon and fingers cross they read

it! I also met up with the zone leaders for exchanges , and Elder W.

already has taught me a little something about not Cheating the Lord on

ANYTHING. So awesome, great missionary.

Wednesday:

Zone leader for a day. Going to be Honest, zone leader would not be a fun

Job. CRAZY BUSY. but was still a good day full of all kinds of swapping

around that would take a year to explain. so just know today was hectic. but

We did teach this one Lady who said shed be baptized but she

was super afraid what her parents woould think. She texted us later that

night as we were driving to switch back up to exchange and asked if she

could call us. we basically taught a lesson in

the car to her and even  prayed over the phone with her. The spirit was so

strong. so sweet. on a funnier note i was in a car chase. I forgot the zoneleaders phone in my pocket as we headed Back to Ione. So we had to whip around and chase the Zoneleaders down the 88

. 

Thursday:

Super awesome miracle today. First off the day seemed to going super sucky.

District meeting went late... soo placing flyers started late. But we kept

the faith. We placed all the flyers and we ran out but luckily Elder

B. grabbed a couple of pamphlets as did i. so we could finish the

street. Thank Goodness because it lead us to a park where there was a mom

and two young childern. Talk to everyone right? so we did. offered her a

pamphlet and She Accepted. Then she started talking about the tragic  event

in her life and has been trying to repair that pain but doesnt know how. she said shes tried

everything. The Lord Made our day suck at first and made us late and prompted us to grab extra pamphlets just so we could meet this lady. Every event of the day lead up to meeting her including

praying about where to place the flyers. we taught her and she invited us

back. Such an amazing experiece to see how we were lead to this sister in

need.

Friday:

Not a Lot happened ! we went on exchanges again. other than i was freaking

out about the baptisms on saturday!!

Saturday:

Baptism day.Talk about a busy day that started at a 9 am Baptism for C. (on her birthday). First baptism ive ever had.... plus i was baptizing her.

HOW DO YOU BAPTIZE SOMEONE? all good though i figured it out before i got in!

went very well and super spiritual. Some of her family even got to go. The

next was S. and N. The two boys at 11am. Then we did service for 4 hours laying sod! Then back to the church for another Baptism in the ward that we had a part in. THHHAANNN we had

another discussion with T.and J. and their 11 year old daughter decided to sit in onn this one.... She also wants to get baptized! on march 28 with her parents! Miracles all day long. Also Elder S ( or now brother S) came back for the baptisms. It was awesome to see him again. miss

that guy. he even came tracting with us.

Sunday:

Fast Sunday! always an awesome sabbath. We got to see L , the recent

convert and introduced him to Preach my Gospel. He was sooooo excited that

he didnt have to read small pamphlets anymore . Plus all the confirmations

happened today. which made sacrament especially awesome to see 3 people

recieve the Gift of the Holy Ghost. 

My week has been amazing and busy. Miracles keep happening. Love you all.

Elder Kristensen

February 23, 2015-Another one bites the dust!

monday:

Pretty good day! finally decided to go play zone sports in Lodi which is a

new thing for us... we had the miles so thought why not. Also got to meet a

missionary who just returned home is the new tackle for byu football. If you

see austin hoyt , thatd be him.. great guy, amazing missionary!

Tuesday:

Super cool miracle. Elder B. and i were going and seeing a bunch of

potentials until we had the impression to go see an inactive lady. so we drove the 15 minutes out of town to go see them and THEY WERENT HOME. Great right? well we were leaving and

started to drive out when another impression came to GO BACK. so we did. AND THEY WERE HOME. went to the Door he answered welcomed us in. They said it had been an emotional day, and the lady we had come to teach wasn't home but ten minutes later she walked out of the Bedroom door and was shocked to see us and she said " oh wow, i had just finished praying for help." So we shared a message about the atonement of Jesus Christ and it was super spiritual and we gave them both

priesthood blessings.

wednesday:

We went on exchanges and had district meeting today. Elder B said

something that was cool regarding diligence. He said " you may think you are

being diligent , but does the Lord think you are being diligent." that one

has been hanging on to me for some reason. Another miracle was we went to

see a lady we worked with to come back to activity and a former

investigator happened to be at her house. So awesome because we got to teach

her. 

Thursday:

we were able to teach 3 of our investigators who have dates and all is going

well with them:)

and we were able to introduce them to priesthood blessings to help them get

over their vices!

Friday:

Super awkward experience. We texted a member asking for her dads number.

turns out it was the wrong number and this person we accidentally texted had

her dad pass a way a few months ago so we got a pretty angry text back. BUT

we were able to change it into a missionary moment and shared how families

can be together forever and how there is life after death and offered to

give her a pamphlet about gods plan... hopefully she'll send us an address.

saturday:

Did Lots of service pouring concrete and working at preston castle! i also

studied about Diligence again and how i can gain it. But it seems everything

comes down to having charity . Seriously CHARITY> 

Sunday:

An RM gave his homecoming talk. Amazing talk about prayer but what was

interesting is right when he finished A non member grandpa who lives for his grandchildern and was so angry and frustrated when his grandchild first went on a mission. his grandchild is

this RM's bestfriend and is still on a mission) stood up and asked if he

could "bare his testimony." He began to apologize for the anger he had

towards the church taking his grandchild away. He then began to explain how

after hearing how this RM gave his talk and the experiences he shared over

the pulpit made him realize why we go off on missions. And told everyone in

the congregation that he understood and was sorry.

I know why i came on a mission. Not alot of people understand though. but

the change of nature that occurs on a mission is so immense and there is no

other experience that will do that for you. I know there is no more imprtant

work then sharing the gospel. This gospel is true and everyone needs it.

"Open your mouths and the shall be filled"- Doctrine and covenants 33:10 .

thats a commandment and a promise. rely on the spirit. love you all 

Elder Kristensen

February 16, 2015-BIG CHANGES IN IONE

Monday:

So today began awful because preston castle cancelled zone service ! that

sucked but it was one of elder s.' last day so we didnt let that get us

down! we visited a family to say good bye to them, such a great

family, and they took us out to lunch to a mexican place where some random

person payed 20 $ for "the boys in white shirts and ties." soo cool to see

how people respect messengers of Jesus Christ! We also were finally able to

commit C. to a baptismal date on feburary 28!! the same day as another

baptism we have for N. and S. who we have been teaching ! (two sons of

a less active lady coming back into activity). super excited ! the Lord has

poured out his spirit and blessings upon us

Tuesday:

so today was transfer. The coolest thing that happened today is we were

teaching N. and S. about service. Especially missionary work. and i

was reminded of something that has stuck with me my whole life. I was in CTR

8 or 7 or something....it was whenever Bro Shaw was my sunday school

teacher. He asked which one of us were going to serve a mission. as young

boys we all raised our hand.... Then He gave us a statistic that only 1 in 5

men will actually end up serving a mission. so Bro shaw gave us a

commitment. He  asked us if we would beat those odds and committed us to all

serving a misssion right then and there. so we all did. And i often think

about that experience and how it is now happening. So i shared that

experience with both of the boys and committed them to the same thing, that

when the time comes that they would both serve missions.

Wednesday:

"the race is against sin, not against eachother "-Elder Jeffrey R Holland.

thought that was a cool quote. 

Today i got to meet Elder B. Awesome guy..I could learn something from him. Transfers are strange and i dont know if i will ever get used to them.

Thursday:

Missionary work is a lot easier when you listen to the spirit. We were

starting flyer tracting and we said a prayer to know where to go. At first i

blew off the first impression because there was too many houses there and we

werent going to be able to have enough time. so we chose a different street.

before we got out of the car we prayed again to confirm that this street was

the right one and flat out the spirit said no and i went back to the street

that had too many houses. That night we taught 5 lessons, added 3 new

investigators and found a less active lady who hasn't come to church in

forever! Absolutely need to rely on the Spirit more often... It blesses. Also

weird story. We received a referral we were suppose to go contact with the

member that gave it too us.. but the member cancelled so that sucked. But

then we decided to go see a former investigator and the referral we were

going to contact just happened to be there, so we contacted him anyway! yay!

Friday:

ZONE TRAINING. always a super spiritual time.  We learned about not only

binding ourselves to our investigators but also binding ourselves to the

spirit and how important that is. We also got to Teach T. and J. tonight.

Great couple ! They are getting baptized hopefully on the 14th of march! Ya thats right, The Lord pulled through for us and them again! and They asked if i could baptize them! i

feel honoured that they would ask me !

Saturday:

Today we tried setting something up with a former investigator that we've

met once. Turns out she happened to be free, went over and taught her the

Restoration and committed to baptism in march!! whats going on right !! the

Lord is blessing this area like craaazzzyyyyy !!! The Hills district is on

fire! (because of the spirit)

Sunday:

BIG CHANGE. At church today they announced that we had to meet at the

Jackson church building for an announcement at 6. Turns out they are

splitting our area and giving more to Jackson!! I'm totally heart broken

because we lost some amazing families and areas. but thats okay. It was Gods

will! 

I hope everything is going well for you guys at home! Miracles are coming

down in cali like rain! Love all yall,

Elder Kristensen