Dear Family and Friends,
It has been another wonderful and busy week in
the great metropolis that is Hurricane, Utah. So many wonderful and maybe some
not-so-wonderful experiences. The Lord is ever with me though and blesses me
every single day that I am out here. This weekend was the big yearly event in
Hurricane called peach days. It is an event that is comparable to the Island
County Fair. With the mission president's permission we were able to have
dinner at peach days and to proselyte. We walked in and we were pretty popular.
A booth on the far end had already offered us dinner the day before. As we were
walking to this booth we were offered free food at almost every station. I
think that they really like to fatten us up down here. I even got free funnel
cake! Even though I was not able to ride I still got the "get sick off of
junk food" experience that every fair usually offers. We saw some
investigators and members there and it was a fun experience.
I took pictures my favorite ward mission leader
Brother Gary Erickson. Later that night we got a call from Brother Erickson's
fiancé. Brother Erickson was in the hospital. They were running tests because
his leg was swelling and they thought that he had some pretty bad blood clots.
We prayed harder than ever, he has been such a great friend and help in the
missionary work in Hurricane. He told me at the baptismal service that he
wanted to come visit me in Seattle when I go home. (He is thinking pretty far
off in the future). After a day in the hospital he was discharged, he had
forgotten that he had fallen carrying in groceries a couple days earlier and
the swelling was associated with the fall.. Thank goodness.
On Sunday we were supposed to do confirmations
at a 9 o'clock service for Anthony and his brother. We were about to leave and
the car wouldn't start. Our car battery had been giving us some trouble
for a few weeks and our car coordinator had told us to wait until it officially
dies. Well it officially died and we had to find a ride, one of our rides got
lost so we had to call another. We arrived exactly after the sacrament was
finished and we were able to confirm both Anthony and his brother. The Lord
does answer prayers! On Sunday we also went to one of the biggest wards I have
ever seen, the 13th ward which is about to be split could be a stake. The 13th
ward also has the most interesting people and the most interesting fast and
testimony meetings. A professional photographer invited us to his studio so
that he could take missionary pictures for us for free. We said yes very fast.
Look for the pictures coming up maybe you can put one of those on the plaque.
Now it is time to bear my testimony and I will
do it through an experience we had just last night. We are teaching a new
investigator named Justeen. We had a lesson with her about the restoration. I
was able to relate the story of the first vision. As I uttered those memorized
words from Joseph Smith History I knew what I was saying was real. I knew that
this message and its simplicity could change lives. It was such a spiritual
lesson and we committed her to be baptized at the end of this month. The Lord
blesses us so much, he gives us constant reminders of what and why we believe.
I love Elder Holland's most recent conference talk about belief. Belief leads
and guides us, it is that seed that can grow into a beautiful tree of deeply
rooted faith. My faith has gown so much from when I decided, just a year ago to
ACT. I began to search, ponder, and pray about the things of the gospel. As I
acted on gospel principles I was able to find more knowledge than ever before.
I hungered for the peace of the beautiful gospel. As we continue to act on the
principles and doctrines of the gospel I know that we are blessed with added
understanding and added purpose. This is my testimony in the name of Jesus
Christ amen.
I love all of you and miss you! Be strong!
Elder Ammon Christensen
Ammon with his Ward Mission Leader
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