So great to talk to you!! December 27, 2015

Dear Mom, Dad, Amanda, Blake, Bennett, and Aaron,

 Sometimes the biggest weaknesses I find in myself are in the simplest human relations, but thank goodness for a Savior who gave us second, and third, and fourth, and fifth chances, Even Babe Ruth, the king of home runs, also had the less well known stat of most strike outs. 

I was thinking about your scripture challenge, Dad, and I had a really meaningful study into the scripture," give us this day our daily bread". The ancient Israelites in the Old Testament were given manna every day, exceptSunday, for 40 years to remind them of their dependance on the Lord. Even then, they were often slow to remember Him and were in need of constant correction. When Christ taught, He encouraged us to seek after correction, to submit ourselves to the Lord, rather than having to be submitted before following Him. When we pray, we should always remember our dependance on the Lord and need for His guidance in the things that matter most. I've lived many days that went according to plan, but since it was only my plan, nothing meaningful really happened. On the other hand, the days when I sought the Lord's guidance and what He would have me do have been the most meaningful and the most impactful. 

We will never reach a point in our life where "the touch of the master's hand" can't make our efforts, however big or small they may be, infinitely better. We just need to ask! And then follow the answers we are given.

What a blessing it is to serve!

Love,

Elder Christensen

This is not a random person, but an amazing family in our ward!

The kid in the bottom picture on the right is going to Salt Lake City for an exchange program!

New Area! December 21, 2015

Dear Mom, Dad, Amanda, Blake, Bennett, Aaron, and friends and family,
I've arrived safely in Kunitachi and already hard at work with 3
investigators attending the ward Christmas party, 2 at church the next
day (one of whom has a baptismal date for this week), with 3 district
meetings to attend, Zone meeting and splits with the Assistants and
District Leaders planned, and in the midst of it all, always trying to
keep our eyes and hearts open to find those people who are waiting and
ready to hear the message that Christ's gospel is restored to the
earth. I do feel a little bit out of the loop regarding the
responsibilities of being a Zone Leader and also how to help the
members and investigators that we're working with, and Elder D
and I are trying to find a way to accomplish all that we would like to
do. Prioritizing is a skill that I was never too good at!
My stellar companion Elder Dis from the faraway state of
Georgia  so I have an excuse to
travel to the Southern States in the near future. I've heard a ton
about what it's like to live in the South, but having never
experienced it for myself, I'll just have to go and check it out! He
is as serious as it gets during lessons with investigators, and you
can see that he means what he's saying whenever he testifies,
especially about the importance of baptism and God's love for them.
He is also a lover of soccer (God really does know our talents and
hobbies!) and we're going to be looking for opportunities to use that
to our advantage.

In the midst of a busy week, I was grateful for one particular
opportunity that I had to testify of God's love to a man who seemed to
have had a lot of experiences that had convinced him that God doesn't
really care. We were doing a quick kubarikai (passing out flyers) at a
park in Tachikawa when I saw this man and struck up a conversation.
Right away, he told me that he knew about the church and the strict
rules we have, but that he wasn't religious. His ex-wife was a
Jehovah's Witness had tried to talk to him about the Bible, but he had
heard enough about religion and didn't care.  After having lived in
Japan for over 30 years, he had decided he had had enough and just
wanted out. He felt like he was wasn't welcomed by the Japanese people
around him and was fairly critical of what he saw as a fear and
mistrust of foreigners.
I have lived among the Japanese people for only a year and a half, but
I knew that he had to know what I, what God had taught me through
trial after trial, about Japan. Through the true love of Christ and
the joy that comes from knowing that you and those around you are
children of God, fear is replaced with confidence, doubt with hope,
and disbelief with faith.
When I began talking about the Restoration of the gospel through
Joseph Smith, he told me that I lost him, so I just brought out the
Book of Mormon and asked him to read it for himself and see. I showed
him the story of Ammon and how Ammon's love and testimony of God
changed the Lamanites, and I asked him to apply it to himself. The
pure love of Christ and true doctrine are the solving the problems of
this world and the problems of the heart. I hope that he reads it!
I'm grateful that God gives us second chances, that he has given us a Savior!

Merry Christmas Everyone!
Love,
Elder Christensen

Transfers!

Dear Momma and Daddy,

Yes, that will be Christmas night for you and the 26th for me! Tokyo time is 16 hours ahead of Boise time so 8 AM here would be 4 PM there. Right now shall we plan for 4:30 PM your time on the 25th? I'll make sure to call you first!

I haven't received the second package yet, but the first one that came did say 1 of 2. I'll follow up with the mission office and see if it was held back for some reason. It hasn't been sent back or anything right?

Transfer calls this week had a special meaning for me! Before coming to Japan on my mission, I heard some great stories of my Grandpa Christensen living in Tachikawa and his exploits there, and I was even more excited to be able to experience it for myself. Up until now, I've been in Tokyo, Odawara, Hodogaya, Kamakura, and this next transfer is in a place called Kunitachi which is literally built on the runway that used to be Tachikawa airfield. I've been assigned as a zone leader with Elder Driscoll, who we got to introduce to the MTC! 

Please let Grandpa know I'm going there and ask him what I should look out for! I didn't ever think I would have the chance to serve somewhere with that sort of connection, but I'm feeling excited to run through the last 6 months stretch in a place where my Grandpa served as well.

How important it is that we remember! Remember our past, remember our promises, remember our friends and family, remember how it feels to choose the right. 

I will always remember the love of the people I have felt in Kamakura. Keep them in your prayers!

Love,

Elder Christensen

Christmas package came! Dec. 4, 2015

Dear Mom, Dad, Amanda, Blake, Bennett, and Aaron,

I've had a lot of reasons to smile recently, and a hope that things will get even better from here on out. Who says you have to wait until New Years to start on my goals!

The first of the two packages showed up, and already, your stocking is the envy of the whole apartment. You have officially made this the best Christmas present ever! The spiritual thoughts were exactly what are I needed especially the kind reminder for day 7 to always work together with your companion. I wish that it were easier to express my thanks and love in recognizable ways but the feelings are there! Elder B was especially touched that you had a tie for him and was overjoyed to get a Tommy Hilfiger tie! The second one hasn't come yet, but I'll make sure to let you know when it does.

I had many impressions and trainings this last week that were sufficient in humbling me as well as raising my vision even higher to what God has in store for the people of Japan. We were blessed to have both a zone conference and stake conference!

President Wada shared his own personal conversion story with the missionaries, a story which took place near Christmas over 40 years ago when he was still a young teenager full of doubts but who, with the help of bold and loving missionaries and members, grew in his faith of the Savior set a goal to follow His invitation to all to "repent and be baptized".

 These are his own words.

December is one of my favorite times. Of course, the big reason is Christmas. On December 5, 1980, Elders Fred Allan and Elder Kurihara invited me to be baptized for the 21st of December. Since I met Elder Allan on the street on November 20, I met the elders at least three times in between. I felt that they would invite me to join the Church sometime in the future, but when they extended the invitation, I did not feel I was ready to make such an important decision at that time. For one, I had not prayed to know if the Church was true. Furthermore, my parents thought I would be discontinuing their family tradition if I chose to become a Christian. 

Even though I did not keep the commitment for December 21, that set my expectation that God (I was not sure exists) desired I should follow the example of the Savior. Since then, I became acquainted with so many wonderful and honest Church members and missionaries in the area, I felt like becoming a part of the branch and was able to visualize receiving the same blessings by being baptized. I still remember I was being converted socially and emotionally through Christmas and New Year�fs events organized by the members. 

Since that day I received my baptismal invitation, I received baptismal invitation at least 5 times before I was actually baptized on July 18, 1982. I am grateful for those missionaries and members who were patient, persistent, and persevering. Without their love and patience, I would not be here serving as your mission president. 

My desire for you is very simple. Please be that missionary who is bold enough to extend an invitation to follow the example of the Savior by being baptized. Even if the one who receives the invitation is not ready, please work with the members to ensure the support system is in place, so that a person who meanders still may recognize that God will be there no matter what. Please be aware that you have the Spirit and all the necessary resources and training available to succeed in this great work of Salvation. Have faith that all of these things are given you because it is the Lord�fs work and He is allowing us to be a part of it. 

There are many reasons why we all hesitate to invite those we know and love to come unto Christ, to follow his teachings and example, and partake in the joy of the restored gospel. Perhaps they aren't Christian, and you don't know how to invite them to follow someone they don't really know anything about. Perhaps they are already Christian! Why then is it so important that we do it? And how do we do it?

I would be lying if I said I knew how to do it perfectly, but if you pray to know how, with the "real intent" to follow through on the answer you receive, the Holy Ghost will guide you to know what to do.

I love you all,

Elder Christensen

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dear Mom and Dad, Amanda, Blake, Bennett and Aaron!

I always loved going to Court of Honors and only mostly because of the refreshments (naturally I went out of a desire to support my fellow scouts in their achievements :). That being said, I am still amazed by the incredible leaders that helped Blake, me, Bennett, Aaron, Patrick, Logan, Sam, and the list goes on and on. To Brother Sam Matthew, Brad Wiskirchen, Dave Litster

​, Jay Larson, Doug Hughes​

, Daddy Christensen, and the many other fathers and mothers I say thank you, thank you, thank you. The Scout Program is still blessing my life even now! We actually just had a man come to a church activity for the first time and part of the the reason he came was because his father was the head of scouting in Chiba Prefecture and trusted Elder B and I since we are Eagle Scouts. This is is his father with the Emperor and Empress of Japan!

It's getting pretty cold over here, but with the help of thermal underwear, heating systems, and bike riding we're doing ok! We had planned to go with our two university student friends who we taught English and a short gospel lesson to, but they had a study session for a test come up at the last minute and cancelled. However, all was not lost. At the dinner put on by the amazing members of the Zama military branch, I met a recent convert from Hodogaya who is keeping the faith and helping his family every day to have more love and unity. Right now, he's trying to implement a family home evening schedule in the home and is meeting resistance :) Come on people! This is time where as a family you can talk about the things that are most important to you, learn to trust one another, and enjoy each other's company. Is there any reason why this wouldn't be a good thing?

I hope we all are making time for REAL family time and this does not include just watching football, playing video games, texting each other, or the like. If such activities are included that is ok, but take the time to let your family know that you care for them. If you don't care for them that much, then you are missing out on one of the most beautiful relationships this world has to offer and missing out on the blessings of an eternal 

​family ​

in the world to come as well. 

I testify that the Savior lives! "After the many testimonies given of Him, this is the testimony that we give last of all..that He lives!" 

He was born as a humble child, grew from childhood into the faithful Son, and overcome every trial, every injustice, and every temptation to do the impossible and rise from the grave, put on immortality, and bring a promise of forgiveness of sins and eternal life to those who exercise faith in him, repent, are baptized, and endure to the end.

That we may all achieve all that God hopes for us is my prayer.

Love

Elder Christensen

e-mail from November 16, 2015

Dear Mom and Dad,

There isn't anyone that we're teaching regularly to prepare them for baptism, but there are several men coming to a Book of Mormon Study Class we have on Wednesday. Neither of them consider themselves Christian, but they do want to learn more about who Jesus Christ is and why we believe so strongly in Him and in a Heavenly Father. One of them actually commented that all of the members of the Latter Day Saint Church that he knew were all good people that he trusted. Up to this point, he's avoided praying personally for various reasons, which does hinder the ability of the Spirit to testify of truth, but he has at least gained a testimony that members are good people. As we talked further, we concluded after reading scriptures in Moroni 7 that simply speaking a good person is one who will make a good choice when given the choice between good and bad, no matter the situation. 

I pray every day that we can all start simple and be "truly good and without guile" as Elder Ringwood of the Seventy taught.

There are plenty of other people who we come into contact with and with whom we are working to create some sort of foundation of trust in the missionaries and interest in the church to go off of. Starting from ground zero is one of the more difficult places to start since there are so many different things that I want to improve so I end of worrying over where to start. It reminds me of one of those really difficult Sudoku puzzles with very few numbers filled in. You start "hypothetically" filling in numbers to see where things go, hit a dead end, back up, and start over without any visible progress to show for it. 

Keeping it simple and focusing on a few people has helped us to make a little bit of progress.

To David and Amanda, I love both of you so much, and I know that Adalyn has received a princess's welcome back in her heavenly home! After all, the King of both Heaven and Earth knows each and every one of his precious sons and daughters and certainly would never let even the smallest one go unnoticed. I can think of no better place for such a perfect little girl than sitting in our Heavenly Father's lap! 

I too am grateful for the promises that we are given in the temple of the Lord. When we hold out faithful to the covenants we have made, we have been promised eternal life, bound together forever in love with our families. Without those special covenants, we lose the only means by which we can live with our families forever, and a life without family isn't much of a life at all. I love what President Monson has spoken about the temple, "Come! Come to the house of the Lord. Here is found rest for the weary and peace for the soul. The temple prepares all who enter to return homeward-homeward to heaven, homeward to family, homeward to God."

I would invite everyone who hasn't yet entered the temple and received those blessings to not put it off until a later date. Prepare now! Do whatever is necessary to receive those blessings! There is no substitute for the peace of mind and hope that they bring!

With tests coming up, I'm sure that everyone is excited!

Head's up, Bennett! I'll be sending you an email soon!

Love forever and ever,

Elder Christensen

November 10, 2015 email from Adam

Dear Mom and Dad,

Transfers went very smoothly and safely with Elder B coming all the way  to K by train, especially considering that we have to carry our bikes with us. Elder B hails from the state of Virginia and a family of athletes. He's very thoughtful and concerned about the people who we meet with, and we've already been blessed with many good conversations and little acts of kindness. 

f

rom here on as well, I will look at the world, at the people on the street, at the grumpy looking man staring on his phone on the train, at the members of my district as Elder Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles counseled, through God's eyes.

 Living in such a densely populated place as Japan really isn't as hard as I might have imagined, and somehow, I feel like I've adjusted after a year and a half to where I'm not completely overwhelmed anymore. The language is flowing smoothly, and the habits of daily scripture study have helped cement them in my memory so I can teach them on the fly. 

That being said, the city version of Elder Christensen is definitely different from the Boise, Idaho version of Elder Christensen. With so much going on around me, it is difficult to justify taking the time to develop the talents that I devoted so much time to growing up. Singing, soccer, frisbee, reading, jokes always seem less pressing then the matter at hand so they have started collecting dust. 

We've been asked by President Wada to stay off of the beach entirely, but we do get to see it still! The mountains and forests in Kamakura are very beautiful and sprawling. A big portion of our area is covered by forests and mountains.

We've been able to meet with some great people this last week, including a  music composer/arranger, two students studying to become pharmacists, a psychologist with a love of foreign relations, and a woman who had lived with an LDS family on an exchange program in California and whose son is currently in St. George in the same situation! 

Each and every one of these people is as different as you could possibly imagine in terms of hobbies, likes, dislikes, talents, friends, etc. but as we've interacted with them, they all have things in common: desire to be accepted and needed, fear of hurting others, desire to help others. These things are what bind us together as a human family. As interesting as our Facebook likes and pinterest walls are, I'm more interested in what motivates them as a person and the quality of their heart. The gospel of Jesus Christ won't help us decide who is a better musician between One Direction and Taylor Swift, but it can help us decide how to serve others and increase our desire to do good. It changes hearts. For that reason, it is the most valuable treasure this world has to offer. It is the pearl of great price!

I love you dearly!

Elder Christensen

e-mail from November 2, 2015

Dear Mom, I got the package! The Halloween decorations are quite
snazzy so thank you! We actually gave the bat stickers to a potential
investigator who lives near us, and he and his wife were surprised but
accepting of the gift. They also gave us cake in return. He knows a
decent amount of English, but he isn't quite as good as I think he
believes he is so we have tried to encourage him to speak Japanese not
English (which definitely wouldn't have happened when I was a new
missionary!)

Bennett, how do you feel now that your eagle project has been
accepted? I've actually been surprised at how crucial being an Eagle
Scout has been on my mission. In those first few moments of speaking
with people, trust is very important. Whenever I get a chance to share
that I'm a Boy Scout, I've noticed that people noticeably open up to
me and my companion.
After all, a scout is supposed to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful,
friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean,
and reverent. These are some pretty amazing qualities that you have
Bennett, and they will help you go far! Being a Boy Scout is one of
the best ways to learn what it means to be a "real man", and you
probably noticed that being super buff or really hairy isn't part of
the scout law. The content of your character, the measure of your
heart, is what qualifies you to be a scout.
The qualifications for missionary service aren't that much different!
Doctrine and Covenants 4 states,"And faith, hope, charity, and love,
with an eye single to the glory of God qualify him for the work.
Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly
kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence."

First of all, transfer calls have come once again! I will be staying

K for another 6 weeks and getting Elder B from my MTC
district as a companion. Also, after a one transfer break I was askedby President W to become the District Leader here in K, and
after being invited to attend the Mission Leadership Conference inK with the Zone Leaders from F, I felt the enormous
amount of trust that was being placed in me to represent the Lord andPresident W in directing missionary work in K. Actually, the
feeling of attending the leadership conference was very similar to
being called up from the B team to play with the A team on my Rush
soccer team. I was surrounded by some pretty incredibly talented and
gifted people who had been working together as leaders for months withPresident W at the head. Granted, we're all still 19,20,21,22 year

old youth, but anyone who was in that room would have felt the Spirit
very strongly. I pray that I can have the humility and the love to see
what the Lord sees in K

​ ​

 and in the missionaries here and not to
rely on my own vision.
 We are gathered as an army to stand for truth, to stand for virtue,
and goodness, and in doing good to all men, and while we may not be
perfect, I promise you that you would be hard pressed to find a group
with this strong of a desire to do good.

Hurrah for Israel! Love you all!
Your son, brother, and friend,
Elder Christensen

Keep on going forward in faith!

Dear Mom, Dad, Amanda, Blake, Bennett (in Fiji you lucky dog), and
Aaron (in Logan studying up some gospel stuff)


I'm just trying each day to do the simple things that God asks me to
do, and do what little I can to improve in being more loving, more
reliable, more caring, and that is a pretty long and imposing journey
that doesn't really have an end. However, there are blessings and
checkpoints that I have noticed that God provides to let us know its
not for nothing.

We really don't have any progressing investigators, but we do have one
investigator that has faithfully hung around for the whole time in
H since he can't be baptized until next year.
His journey has been an uphill battle as well that still keeps going,
but we have a lessons with him tonight and with our recently returned
less active member (25 years ago that we met on the train) who has
just received his temple recommend. Eternal blessings are the reason
we do all of this anyways. Baptism was never the end, nor even just
going to church. Seeing him devour the Book of Mormon and set his
sights on bringing happiness that lasts to himself and others is one
of the most humbling things I've ever seen, and hearing him thank me
over and over again makes me feel so undeserving of that kind of
gratitude. Flip, I can't even work ATMs correctly sometimes, who would
believe that we could change people's lives? Keep on going forward in
humility and faith, and watch the Lord work His wonders.
I love you guys, and I'll never get tired of saying it

Love,love,love
Elder Christensen

Cleaning our bath tub (just for you mom)
Temple!

small world meeting!

September 14, 2015

Dear Mom and Family,

The American man who came to church and sent you the picture of us is actually in the mission presidency of a mission in Georgia and has met the Hansens before! Small world stories just keep popping up! His former mission president is in our ward and loves giving us advice on what to do during our proselyting haha, to which we kindly respond that we follow both our mission president and the Holy Ghost but we would love to help him and his family with missionary efforts. 

It rained for a solid week here in Yokohama, but it didn't really flood here and cleared up beautifully! As of right now, we haven't heard of any instruction to assist with the relief efforts, so it seems like we will most likely be staying. Thank you for being such great people and giving your best in everything you do! Bennett, Sounds like your senior year is off to a great start! Keep it up my brother! How did you feel about the test?

This week we've been working to meet with those we've found over the last few months and helping them grow in the gospel and becoming more Christlike. With transfer calls in one week, we're trying to get in contact and meet with as many of them as we can just in case I end up leaving. One of the opportunities we had was to paint a bed frame for our investigators' daughters. Their dad is an uptempo man who often jumps to quick conclusions and judgements, which can be kind of frustrating since when we make even the smallest mistakes he points them out. While we were painting it was obvious that things weren't planned out very well and there were lots of flaws in the plan laid out: not enough paint or time to do it, kids running everywhere, etc. It could have been very easy to say either out loud or in my heart something like "who's talking now! It's not so easy being perfect is it?" But even stronger than my desire to be right or to defend my pride, I felt a love for him and for his family. How many dad's hand paint their children's beds? He may have many weaknesses, but he loves his children which is something praiseworthy and a godly attribute.

As it says over and over in the Book of Mormon God has "given us weakness that we may be humble" (Ether 12:27) for " this life is the time for men to PREPARE to meet God" (Alma 34:32). If we were already perfect or had everything handed to us on a plate, this life wouldn't be too fulfilling. 

This week I learned how to be more patient with the weaknesses of others and to forgive them their trespasses as I wish to be forgiven of mine. In the end, we all " sin and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) and we all rely on Christ's Atonement for ultimate forgiveness. Don't hold grudges. It's not worth it. Help others be better than they are now and it will all be worth it!

I love you all!

Elder Christensen

small world experience! September 14, 2015

September 14, 2015

Dear Mom and Family,

The American man who came to churchs and sent you the picture of us is actually in the mission presidency of a mission in Georgia and has met the Hansens before! Small world stories just keep popping up! His former mission president is in our ward and loves giving us advice on what to do during our proselyting haha, to which we kindly respond that we follow both our mission president and the Holy Ghost but we would love to help him and his family with missionary efforts. 

It rained for a solid week here in Yokohama, but it didn't really flood here and cleared up beautifully! As of right now, we haven't heard of any instruction to assist with the relief efforts, so it seems like we will most likely be staying. Thank you for being such great people and giving your best in everything you do! Bennett, Sounds like your senior year is off to a great start! Keep it up my brother! How did you feel about the test?

This week we've been working to meet with those we've found over the last few months and helping them grow in the gospel and becoming more Christlike. With transfer calls in one week, we're trying to get in contact and meet with as many of them as we can just in case I end up leaving. One of the opportunities we had was to paint a bed frame for our investigators' daughters. Their dad is an uptempo man who often jumps to quick conclusions and judgements, which can be kind of frustrating since when we make even the smallest mistakes he points them out. While we were painting it was obvious that things weren't planned out very well and there were lots of flaws in the plan laid out: not enough paint or time to do it, kids running everywhere, etc. It could have been very easy to say either out loud or in my heart something like "who's talking now! It's not so easy being perfect is it?" But even stronger than my desire to be right or to defend my pride, I felt a love for him and for his family. How many dad's hand paint their children's beds? He may have many weaknesses, but he loves his children which is something praiseworthy and a godly attribute.

As it says over and over in the Book of Mormon God has "given us weakness that we may be humble" (Ether 12:27) for " this life is the time for men to PREPARE to meet God" (Alma 34:32). If we were already perfect or had everything handed to us on a plate, this life wouldn't be too fulfilling. 

This week I learned how to be more patient with the weaknesses of others and to forgive them their trespasses as I wish to be forgiven of mine. In the end, we all " sin and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) and we all rely on Christ's Atonement for ultimate forgiveness. Don't hold grudges. It's not worth it. Help others be better than they are now and it will all be worth it!

I love you all!

Elder Christensen