November 2024

 Dear Family and Friends,



Last time I wrote, I shared that we had been helping teach a young single woman (Carolina) from Angola Africa that speaks Portuguese and that she was scheduled to be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Well, it happened.  Toni was asked to speak at the baptismal services and I was asked to translate the messages and all that was said.  I was provided the talks to be given along with much of what the Mission Leader was planning to say as he conducted the services.  Since I had this information ahead of time, I was able to do a better translation on it.  As the person speaking would talk, they would pause periodically and I would say the same things in Portuguese for the benefit of Carolina.  The missionary doing the baptism had worked on memorizing the baptismal prayer in Portuguese and did a good job.  When the bishop of our ward got up to welcome her into the ward and say a few things I got to interpret extemporaneously.  While I know I wasn’t perfect at it, I enjoyed doing it and I think I did okay.  (see picture below)


From time to time, we have some cool cars that show up in the parking lot at Welfare Square.  Below is a picture of a couple of our Service Missionaries by one of them.  There is an old classic car that comes by periodically too.


During October, we received permission to host a pancake breakfast for our missionaries at Welfare Square.  That turned out to be a big hit.  Our missionaries enjoyed the treat and I don’t know of any that turned it down that were there except for one that has challenges with gluten.  We sure do love our missionaries and are grateful for their goodness.  This was fun to be able to do for them to show our gratitude to them.


Our missionary leadership holds a monthly meeting with the senior missionaries.  I think the purpose is two fold, something to uplift and a good reason to get together and socialize.  In October we were able to attend.  It was small in number which made it kind of fun too since we had the opportunity to visit with most of those present.  It sounds like they have guest speakers at many, if not all, of these meetings.  This month we were privileged to hear from former General Young Women’s President, Elaine Dalton and her husband.  They did a wonderful job sharing their messages.  Brother Dalton shared how important it is for all of us to reach out and share the message of hope that we have because of Jesus Christ.  Sister Dalton shared several things too.  One that stuck out to us was of at a particular time during her calling when she had an assignment to travel distantly across the ocean her family was struggling with a number of different challenges, including her daughter who was struggling with a difficult and precarious pregnancy where there was concern that the daughter and/or the baby may not make it, and she was feeling like she just could not go, that she was needed by her family.  While struggling with these feelings, she recalls one day having felt the impression “You take care of my business and I’ll take care of yours”.  Having received that prompting, she resolved to go.  She pointed out that all who are called on the Lord’s errands have this same promise.  She read from the scriptures where it says 


“And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face.  I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:88)


I believe her message and this scripture.  We have seen this in our lives and here on our mission as we are serving.  We are not without trials, but God does support those that are doing his work.


After the Dalton’s shared their messages, we heard from our Mission Leaders, Sister and President Condie.  They also shared good messages.  We then had a potluck dinner and visited which was very enjoyable.


At our low number, we were at 27 Young Service Missionaries at Welfare Square.  As of tomorrow (November 4th) we will be back up to 37 with two more committed to start during November.  We do lose two missionaries over the next two weeks as they complete their missions.  We are still hoping and praying for more missionaries; particularly some more sister missionaries.  We currently have only 3 sister missionaries and one of those is finishing her mission this week.


Since we live close enough, we were lucky to attend our daughter Kelli’s play at “The Old Barn” theatre.  The play was “Freaky Friday”.  They did an amazing job and it was fun to be with my sister Denise and my Mother too.


Our dear friends Wayne Willis and Steve Huggins passed away this past week.  They are from our home town.  We have often said that we would like to be like Wayne when we grow up.  He and Steve were always amongst those that showed up to service requests.  We have admired Wayne’s ease at getting to know people.  He was never afraid to go up and meet someone and once he met someone, he didn’t forget them either.  He always had kind words to say and was concerned about the needs of others.  Both Steve and Wayne were very kind individuals, both exemplified their love for God and Jesus Christ and tried to live lives worthy of being called disciples of Jesus.  Steve served with me when I was the High Priest group leader in our ward and Wayne served with me while I was the Sunday School president.  Both were great men and excellent mentors to me.  I do wish to be like them!


We are doing well.  We are exhausted most days when we arrive back to our apartment.  We have done a couple of things in the apartment to make it more comfortable (we bought a nice reclining couch and brought a rug for the floor).  


We are ever praying for each of you, that you are safe, that you are able to make good choices, that you can overcome your sicknesses and trials quickly, and that we will all seek to follow God.


(to our children … if you haven’t been doing so, please read our email to our grandchildren … at least one of them has mentioned that they haven’t been hearing from us … hopefully it has just been the one and he was likely distracted with some technology when you read it ;-)  )



We love you.  We hope you know this!!!  We feel God’s love in our lives and hope you do too.  He lives.  Jesus lives.  May we all have a great week and may we find a way to lift another from their trials this week too.


Love Mom & Dad, Grandpa and Grandma, Elder & Sister Christensen

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