October 2024

 Dear Family and Friends,

As many of you already know, my father passed away on September 10, 2024.  We are so grateful that our mission has been so close to home such that we have been able to go spend some time with my parents during these last days of his life.  What a great father, grandfather, man, husband, person he has been.  We will miss him.  We feel that this has been a tender mercy for us to be close to home.

This weekend, we made a quick trip up to Soda Springs, ID to see Toni’s parents and 4 of her sisters.  We left after our service at Welfare Square on Friday and then came back Saturday afternoon.  It was nice to spend some time with them both Friday evening and again Saturday morning.  We love all of our family and extended family on both sides.  They all are so supportive of one another and of us … Thank you!

During this past month, we have had the fortune of getting involved with the teaching missionaries that serve our ward here (the Salt Lake Center 3rd Ward).  We have met a man (Wayne) who has been attending at the Center 3rd Ward for a couple of months.  We have sat by him in church a few times but we hadn’t really gotten to know him other than very casually with a kind hello.  We have since been to his home a couple times and also took him with us to the baptism of our friend Kayla a couple weeks ago.  He is learning of our church and seems to like what he is learning.  He has lived a rough life but has done really well for the past couple of years.  He seems determined to live his life now with Jesus as his example and guide.  We invited Wayne to attend a session of General Conference with us this weekend but he hasn’t been feeling well so he ended up not joining us.  

Another person we have been involved in the teaching and baptism was Kayla (mentioned above).  She seemed so very ready and desirous and then so very pleased at her baptism.  It was very nice to be a part of this teaching and baptism.  Kayla mentioned to the missionaries that she would like Toni and me to speak at her baptism.  We felt privileged to do so.

At Stake Conference a few weeks ago, we learned of a young mother that is being taught but that doesn’t speak English.  Her native tongue is Portuguese.  What?!!!  So we offered to assist with the teaching of Carolina and that has been enjoyable to get to know her and her cute little daughter.  We had them over to our apartment to get to know them a little more.  I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to both teach as well as to speak Portuguese.  Carolina is currently scheduled to be baptized this coming Saturday evening.  We are excited for her.  We do feel that she is truly wanting to be baptized but we are a little concerned for her in as much as she does not speak English and our Ward is in English.  I know there are Wards in South Salt Lake that Speak Portuguese but I think that will be a challenge for her to go there.  She is also in need of employment and wants to take English classes to help her out.

This has been so nice to be involved with the teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ to people here.  We didn’t think we would get this opportunity but we feel blessed to be having these experiences.

At Welfare Square we have lost several more missionaries; some that we knew would be ending and others that decided they wanted to serve elsewhere.  We have had a few start with us though so that has helped.  Our numbers are down enough that it is putting a lot of extra load on everyone, including Toni and I.  We are praying that we will get more missionaries soon to help.  The missionaries that serve with us there are so good to help and do their best.  We are trying to be mindful of them and their needs.  We continue to remind ourselves that our most important calling as missionaries at Welfare Square is to help these missionaries have a successful mission.  We don’t take this assignment lightly and often wonder if we are meeting their needs.  It is so easy to get caught up in the tasks and the business of the day and forget this.

Toni and I attended the Saturday evening session of General Conference in person.  That was nice to be there in person.  We had a couple of missionaries that have served with us at Welfare Square singing in the choir that evening too.  They sounded wonderful.  The messages that we have received this weekend have been great.  There are many things that I want to do better at.  Some of the messages that I really liked and want to do better at are:

• Even when we make mistakes, the Lord is not giving up on us.  He isn’t finished with us.

• We signed on for the full course, not just until the first exam.  “None of this works if we keep cutting the class”.

• God’s laws and commandments are not meant to be an obstacle

• Mortality Works

• We are not sent here to fail but to succeed

• Being too busy to nourish ourselves spiritually can lead to spiritual death

• We are not ordinary passengers … We are members of the crew.

• By attending the temple, we receive the power of God (his angels to surround us) to lift and help us in our lives.

• We may all hold up the light of Jesus Christ

• The scriptures are the original handheld device

• As we study the Book of Mormon every day, we will make better decisions every day

• Now is the time for you and for me to prepare for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ

• There is no limit to the Savior’s capacity to help you

• His infinite atonement is for you

There are many more that I liked but I wasn’t taking notes during them.  I’ll need to go over them again and take some notes on them as well.

It was nice to be able to hop onto the light rail system just a block away from our apartment and ride it to Temple Square (and back after the meeting).  That beats trying to find a parking spot.

I’ve been loving the cooler temperatures lately.  While it still reaches the 80s, that has been welcomed over the triple-digit temperatures.  I know we could use some rain but I’m not at all ready for cold.  60s and 70s during the day will be okay for a little while.

We sure do love each of you and are grateful for your love and prayers.  We definitely feel your love and appreciate the prayers.  We truly believe that we are engaged in the Lord’s work.  He knows what is best for each of us and he is in charge of his work here.  We see his guidance and influence in our lives and in the lives of those that we are serving with.

Have a wonderful week!

Love Mom & Dad, Eugene & Toni, Elder and Sister Christensen

P.S. We are the proud grandparents of a wonderful baby girl that was born last evening. We got word of her birth while we were seated in the conference center waiting for the Saturday evening session to begin.