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
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