Hermana Elizabeth Christensen

Skibby sent us the following email and photos on Monday, November 28, 2016:

Date: November 28, 2016 at 5:38 AM

Subject: Everything that happened this week, and all I’m grateful for..

Hello Family! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. I forgot to wish you a happy thanksgiving last week because they don't celebrate it here. Also I hope Christmas tree hunting was fantastic and that Cubby's feet weren't too cold.

This week has been really good.

On Wednesday we went to see Carmen. We arrived right when her visiting teachers were beginning their lesson. So we just sat in on their lesson. While they were teaching I thought about how lucky we are to have this opportunity to talk about the things that are most important. Visiting teachers are one of the arms of the Bishop, Stake President, Apostles, and Prophet, that help protect and take care of all of the people in the church. Even though sometimes it seems like a burden, it really is a way to serve God and our fellow men. I'm also grateful that I have the opportunity to be a missionary and be called to talk about the gospel to all people for a short period of time. I'm also grateful for faithful members who are strong in the church and help others stay strong.

After Carmen, we had to hurry for our appointment with Andrew, but on the way an older man stopped us and said, "Now I want to talk! I have time now!" I was surprised that he stopped us. Usually it is the other way around. Anyway, he said his name was Pepe and we received his number so we could talk in a different time. Then Andrew called. If we are not right on time for our lessons with Andrew, he assumes we decided to do something else or aren't going to come, and leaves (like we have other things to do!). I had called him 5 minutes earlier to tell him we were on our way, but he called and said he didn't see us and so he was going to leave, so I kept him on the line while we ran to the bench where we teach him. He was standing up because it was cold. I have been trying to get Andrew to come to the church for weeks. So, we decided to walk to get him warm. I am grateful that my companion doesn't speak English and he doesn't speak Spanish, because they taught each other while I walked to the church. Several times Andrew expressed a desire to go back to his bench, but finally we arrived at the church. It usually takes about 15 minutes to walk to the church, but it took at least 35 this time because I didn't know exactly where we were going, all I knew is that we needed to keep walking so that we didn't go back to the bench. We arrived and taught our lesson, and everything was good. I hope it helped Andrew to feel a little bit more comfortable with the church and want to come on Sundays. That is the end goal so far!

Earlier that day, another guy stopped us and asked, "so, you guys are missionaries right? I have a question, is Joseph Smith real, or is he a myth?" His name is Ernesto and he has a lot of interest in different religions. That was also a locura [a crazy thing]. We're going to call him this week.

Thursday, we had a zone training, so we all ate together. It was a potluck. We had chicken, a little bit of stuffing, and a little bit of potatoes. It was great! I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. It felt a little bit like Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving.

That night, Hna Vilma had an institute activity and made a Thanksgiving dinner. I am grateful for Spaniards cooking Spanish food, and Americans cooking American food. It was really good though because Miguel Angel and Francisca came.

Saturday we visited a pueblo called Mentrida, and taught the daughter of a member named Xiomara. Her daughter's name is Xiomari. She is married and has 2 kids. Her husband is Catholic, but she and her kids are interested in learning more. Anyway, we are blessed to have her and her kids in our lives, and hopefully we can help bless their lives with the Gospel.

Luz. We have been calling Luz for the past week and she never picked up. I was worried. We called on Saturday, and FINALLY she answered. She said her husband took her phone away because a relative escaped from Colombia and needed help from her, and her husband didn't want her to help him. But I think things are getting better, and she was able to come to church yesterday. I am really grateful for you guys (family) and for the example of love and respect you are to me.

Well, that's about it for this week. Sorry that this letter was really boring. Right now I'm in Pavones and my companion and I are going to go to sol to buy rain boots for her because it has been raining steadily the past couple of days. We are wrapping our Books of Mormon in saran wrap so the water doesn't ruin them..:)

Hope all is well! I love and miss you! Have a great week!

Hna Christensen