July 2025 Letter

 Dear Family and Friends,

Sometimes it is hard to think of what to write to share with you and that we may look back on in the years to come.  I think that is true in life; sometimes in the thick of things, it somehow just seems like everything about our individual lives is so normal to us that we don't think it is worth writing about.  Though the reality is that if we will look, we will find sweet gems that have occurred.

So, what is our sweet gems?  I'm not sure :-)  I suppose you should keep reading (and me writing) and let's see where this goes.

June marked the end of the mission for our mission leaders.  President and Sister Condie are now back home in Florida and our new mission leaders, the Lee's are here and getting going.  We had the opportunity to go to a social with our former leaders, get a picture with them and share a few warm comments with each other.  We haven't yet had the opportunity to meet President and Sister Lee but we look forward to doing so.

I love this about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; one doesn't climb the ladder to different positions.  One doesn't aspire to be and then gets to be one thing or another in terms of positions.  If we are willing, we all serve.  And we serve where we are called.  We all have the calling to love one another.  In Sunday School today, we talked briefly about what it takes to get to the different kingdoms of heaven and that led to gaining a valiant testimony of Jesus Christ and then serving.  We also discussed the bishop's storehouse and the fact that we as members of the church are part of his storehouse.  As we serve, we are keeping the covenants that we have made with the Lord.

A woman who I was helping to fill a food order at the Bishop's Storehouse asked me recently, "do you think there will always be a storehouse where we can get help?".  I expect that as long as there are people on this earth, there will be varying needs for help and hopefully there will always be those that can help.  

We continue to have a large number of young service missionaries that we serve with.  Currently we have 50.  They are a delight.  We are excited for them as they accomplish good things.  We are excited for them as they get called out as teaching missionaries.  We are excited for them as they complete their missions.  We are excited for them as they serve willingly and with a good attitude with us each day.  

Here are a couple of pictures of just a few of them as they were serving ...

We were able to attend the temple with Carolina, the woman who we were able to help with the lessons last year. You may recall from our letters that she was baptized.  She was excited to go to the temple for her first time and to perform proxy baptisms.  She had a big smile on her face as she did so.  She is progressing with her ability to speak English and she has been granted a work permit and is now employed so that is helping her to do better.  She has ambitions to go to a university and get a good profession.  I hope she can achieve her ambitions and I hope that she will always keep the Savior in her life.  We saw a few tiny miracles occur as we met and attended the temple with Carolina.  Heavenly Father is certainly aware of each of us.  If we will just look, we will see that he does open doors for us when we are striving to do what is right.

If we haven't invited you to come see Welfare Square, here is your invitation.  It is enlightening to see what all happens there and to understand a little more about the welfare program of the church.  It is all about lifting people up and helping them get back on their feet.  If you have an interest in coming down, let us know ahead of time and if we can, we will plan to conduct your tour or at least to spend a few minutes with you while you are there.

We sure do love all of you, individually and collectively.  We hope you will have an amazing week and month ahead.

Love always,

Mom & Dad, Grandpa and Grandma, you neighbor and friend,

Elder & Sister Christensen