Adam's e-mail from July 27, 2015

Dear Mom and Dad,
This last week we worked our phone, Facebook messenger, and email to death trying to find some appointments with the various people I've met over the last 6 months here in H Both Elder Mand I puckered up our courage and performed "Embark" at a Zone Music Night where there were 11 friends and investigators who came with the missionaries from H​.​
Two of those friends are high school students that we just met this last week, and they are amazing examples of simple politeness and class. I had seen them walking around together on and off for several months before I finally decided that I was tired of just seeing the back of their heads and that I wanted to actually meet them and introduce who we are. So one day, I saw them again, about 10 meters in front of me, and I turned to Elder Mukai and said,"Hey, I'm going to do something stupid." and ran up next to them and started talking.
Our ability to act is only limited by the barriers that we put up ourselves. Sometimes, there are barriers that actually help protect us, but often times, we put up walls of shame and embarrassment and fear which keep us from doing what God needs us to do.
In this email, I would just like to echo the mother from "Sandlot" and say that it is better to get outside and do our best to live life as God would have us do and make some mistakes along the way than to sit inside all day and miss out on chances to apply the Atonement in our lives.


Love,
Elder Christensen

Adam's e-mail from July 20, 2015

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

The package was a miracle from heaven thank you!  My companion's name is Elder M, and he is from Japan

​. 

I think that I think too much about my responsibilities as a district leader haha. Naturally, I want to do my best, but I'm pretty sure I try too hard to plan it all perfectly and trip up myself in the process. The most difficult thing by far  is planning activities and trying to get everyone's schedules to match because it's not a problem that can be solved by yourself. The other elders in H, through much prayer and help from dedicated members, were able to see their investigator enter the waters of baptism this last Saturday. He really exercised a lot of faith to make the step although his wife and daughter weren't too supportive, but we are all doing our best to help him take whatever steps he needs to be united with them for eternity in the temple.

English class is starting to pick up the pace! We had several new families start coming with their kids, and they are little bundles of joy. Seriously, way cute! The parents are great examples of unity and just knowing how to play simple and wholesome games. 

My thoughts are all over the place today. With the addition of Facebook again, we're still trying to figure out a good way to get in contact with everyone as well as get everything set up again. If there's one lesson, I've learned it's too not bite off more than you can chew because you rarely can handle it. Learning to juggle 10 balls at once requires the patient addition of first 1, then 2, then 3 balls and so on. Don't try to juggle them all at once right at the beginning!!! It took God seven days to make the earth and written that to all things there is a time so we should always work both intelligently and by the guidance of the Spirit.

Love, love, love,

Elder Adam Christensen

e-mail from July 13, 2015

Dear Mom, Dad, Amanda, Blake, Bennett, Aaron, and this week, I want to give a loud hello and I love you to  my  dearest friends.   I had some time to reflect this week, and I just remembered how much of an impact you all have in my life! You were forgiving when I was a little scatterbrained or immature and supportive when things got a little hard! You showed me how to be a little more like Christ in everything I do and I know without a doubt that each one of your hearts is truly kind and pure. 

I can't believe so many people have come home from their missions already! I bet a ton of people are getting married and other crazy shenanigans as well so I won't even try to think about that. Time is a slippery fella, but it is also one of the greatest gifts God has given us. Just think about for a second. Because time passes, we can look forward with anticipation and backward with a sense of accomplishment. Of course, there is also worry and regret, but in the end, we are the ultimate masters of our fate. If you get a chance, check out the poem "Invictus" or 2 Nephi 2:27 in the Book of Mormon! 

In the end, WE make the ultimate decision of what we will do and who we will become, and we have been given the time to do so. We do not have to do anything simply out of forced coercion. If we have a desire or a goal, we must let that guide our actions. With that said, I can testify that in the end, the path to happiness lies only by following the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I know that those who seek after good and seek after truth will find their way to that path.

Hodogaya is slowly and steadily moving forward and everyone in the ward is getting so excited for a baptism this weekend and the return of several longtime friends from inactivity. 

Please never forget to try to do your best at all times and to be the best person you can be,

Elder Christensen

Adam's e-mail from July 6, 2015

Adam Christensen	3:07 AM (7 hours ago)
to me

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

Im 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!