Virginia weather!

Virginia weather!

Sup, Elders

Sup, Elders

December blast of snow!

December blast of snow!

Hunter, sis. Henrie & Elder Beaus

Hunter, sis. Henrie & Elder Beaus

yeah for PDAY!

yeah for PDAY!

its a tie fashion show

its a tie fashion show

Swamp monsters?

Swamp monsters?

The companions!

The companions!

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

MARCH 31ST

Things are going well. I am struggling a bit with my companion...s. haha. It's just hard cause they are both somewhat trunky and it's causing alot of stuff to be less effective than it should be. And you know me, I hate to raise a conflict with others so I don't fight it and it's hard cause I'm trying to be an example and get up on time and do what I'm supposed to but when I'm the only one and they act like I'm a stickler because of it....I don't know. Yeah they are wonderful missionaries though. When we do teach they are great. It's just little things here and there you know.
But things are still going good. They closed one of the areas in my district so we lost two sisters :( But the rest are doing good! And one of the sisters from my mtc district is in williamsburg now so I get to talk to her sometimes so thats cool! And I don't know if you remember Elder Barson from the mtc? But he is my zone leader now! haha. And guess who is with the zoneleaders as their companion...augh it's elder terry again! haha I'm just playing I love the elder he's just an interesting guy.
Weather has gotten alot better here...today is supposed to be 74 and tommorow is going to be 83 :D Finally slack season! haha. We had some CRAZY thunder and lightening the other night though. We were all asleep and this one crack of thunder woke all three of us up at the same time. haha. It was nuts. We live right next to the train tracks and trains are constantly going by so we thought a train derailed! haha.
I'm excited to see the yard work! Ryan said you cut down the tree! :O What's up with that! haha. But I'm sure it will be cool when I get back! We've been doing yard work too lately! haha we have a member (Who honestly is pretty creepy) who has had us over every saturday for a couple of weeks for a couple of hours to help him with hsi yard. We've transplanted flower bushes and dragged big old trees into the forest adna ll kinds of stuff. Oh! and I saw a tick for the first time there! haha they are nasty little things!

haha I'm glad you are paying attention in the scriptures! haha yes omni is an interesting couple of verses. It's good stuff though. Some really powerful scriptures especially before hand in enos. BUt pay attention in the first part of mosiah, sometimes people pass up how much awesome doctirine is in there. So don't forget it!

I'm in 3rd nephi right now, right after Christ comes to them. It's really interesting. I like that stuff alot and You should see my sciptures, cause they are like a rainbow haha. But I've gained a limited understanding that I never would've seen before my mission. It's really cool.

I'm glad y'all are doing scriptures. It's hard but gosh if Jordan and Ryan get behind it it'll be so worth it. Don't give up on it!

The intereviews were great! The first one was the best. Those interviews are some of the most spritual events you experiences as a missionary. You get to let someone new to the gospel bear their testimony to you. It's a lift when you almost get monotanous to the spirit if that makes sense! haha.

well besides that not much is going on so I'll let y'all go! I love you so much and am so grateful for you. next week is conference so take a question you have and ask heavenly father to answer it for you! And watch conference and I know you'll find an answer!

Love you all and I'll talk to you next wednesday! STAY SAFE

LOVE

Hunter.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Hey Hey Hey!!!

It sounds like y'all had a fun week! Bald hill is always a fun hike. I'm gonna have to do it when I get home. I remember all that stuff and I want to do it so bad for some reason haha. And yeah with the twilight thing, if the mission has taught me anything, it's this: a man is a fool if he condemns something he has never read. It infuriates me to no end when someone rags on the book of mormon then turns around and says they've never read it. SO. I MIGHT attempt to read it when I come home. But I won't rag on it anymore. Because I have never read it and have no idea if it is good or not. yes. /rant.

Your plans for the yard sound awesome! It's going to be weird to come home to a different yard and whatnot, but I figured it would be so long it would be foreign to me anyways haha. But You'll definitely have to send me some pictures when it happens! I wanna see the work in progress haha. How are you planning on redoing the pond? Like what is it gonna look like when it's done?

I'll definitely try the positives thing. I may not be very good at it haha but I will be needing it...I found out today I'm still district leader for the next 6 weeks AND we are getting a third companion. His name is Elder Reynolds. He is going home in 6 weeks >.< so he's already really trunky from what I hear. It's gonna bug me to no end!

hahaha yeah the dating thing is interesting. You get a better perspective on it out here because you see what happens when things go bad. You see that oh it's all fun and whatnot as youre a teenager to date but then things go sour and you have a baby and you've got to provide for a family when youre 18 and it's terrible. Satan so easily persaudes people to do evil for the temporary happiness. But it's just not worth it in the long run. People are just so short sighted nowadays. They have no perspective for the future. It's just "Do what you can to be happy now because you have no idea what it's gonna be like tommorow." It's really sad to see...

We haven't done the interviews yet but we are doing them tonight. I'm actually doing two baptismal interviews >.< But it'll be a fun learning experience. I'm interviewing an 20 something year old guy and a 9 year old kid haha. It's gonna be fun when I have to ask the 9 year old if he's ever participated in an abortion or had a homosexual relationship xD haha just kidding.

Yeah. The bike thing. we are trying to work it out. Don't get upset at President Millburn, it's not his fault. They have to deal with so many bikes it just hard to keep track of em all. If I had realized that this might happen I would've put my name on it to begin with. But of course hindsight is 20/20.

My Bike got lost in the transfer from Burkville to Harrisonburg. I got a temp bike up there but it wasn't mine. SO I'm trying to get that one down here because this one I'm using now doesn't have good breaks. FUN STUFF. haha.
When I get transferred, it all depends on where I'm going, but generally it's by a transfer van that the assistants drive. The transfer meeting happens in richmond, and from there they assistants drive the transfer van full of missionaries getting transfered down to the denbigh chapel in newport news. From there tehy drive down to virginia beach and drop off/pick up any missionaries moving. They the ncome back to denbigh and go back to richmond from there. It doesn't run in the northern half of the mission. So in those cases a member drives us. haha.

I'm glad you are happy that I was able to talk with President. It really was a good talk and I'm fine with the results. I am just trying to figure all this out. We are losing an area from my district this transfer because of a shortage of missionaries. But It's all good. I like it alot. It'll be much easier here with a third missionary so we can go into single sisters houses without exchanges. haha.

haha tell dad he needs to step it up on letters! I'm waiting for him! haha.

haha if Jordan and Ryan only realized how lucky they were to be bored and not have anything to do. If we have time like that (minus p-day) we're doing something wrong! haha.

yeah the coming out to virginia deal I was just throwing out there as an idea. It's too far away to make any kind of definite plans. But keep it in mind!

That's so CRAZY that mike got his mission call finally! I was wondering when the heck he would finally get going on that! And even crazier on where he is going! Philippines! That's insane! he's the onyl one of us besides David that went foreign! haha It's gonna be so awesome when he comes home...oh man.

Quick story and then I gotta go!

So the other day Elder Blair and I decided we were gonna go tract this long road at the top of our area. We get to it and realize that it's a dirt road, but that theres a house or something allllll the way down at the end. So we start walking down and we get going and it's like, a mile and a half or something to the very end. We get there and there ARE some house out there. So we walk up to the first one (who's driveway was like 600 yards long) and knock. No answer. So we're about to knock again and all of a sudden we hear a gator (little tractor deal) drive off. So we see this guy driving away and we are like ok...well he's driving off, so let's just leave a pass a long card and go to the next one. So we start walking away and we look back and I see him staring at us. So I'm like...ok? and we keep walking. Then I look back and he's following us in his little gator. And then I see something on his lap. Long and brown. And I'm like, holy cow. Is this guy really following us out of here with a gun? And we look back again and he's still following us real slow and sneaky like. And we are like holy cow he really doesn't want us out here. So we decide to leave. And we just left but holy cow I think we got chased out by a guy with a gun! haha.

Well anyways. That's all to report right now! THings are going awesome and I lvoe the work and I can't believe it's almost 8 months here in a couple of days. so crazy.

LOVE

Hunter

Friday, March 12, 2010

Helllllllllloooooooooo!

that ward emergency preparedness thing sounds interesting haha. But I'm glad y'all are getting prepared! It's a good thing to do for sure. oh and by the way, "milkaholic" doesn't make sense. I've heard of alchoholics being addicted to alchohol, but never heard of someone being addicted to milkahol? Love how everyone doesn't know how to use word endings!!! haha.

That's awesome that josephs finally in the mission field. I'll have to write him today. I'm pretty sure El paso is in his mission. It probably covers parts of other states. That's intense though I'm sure he's going to be having the time fo his life. Me and wylie have started emailing so hopefully joe starts too. haha.

We have had some awesome weather too! We FINALLY hit 70 degrees yesterday. Which MEANNSS??!?!? Can you GuESSS???? END OF SUIT SEASON AND BEGINNING OF SLACKS SEASON YEAHHHHHH.

anyways.

That's cool y'all are getting some snow though haha. Doesn't happen much there. and we are done with it ourselves...ha.

Oh man tell Jordan I am the worst brother ever and I am SORRY for not saying happy birthday to him and if I could afford a gift I would SO get him one. But I will email him right after this. But at least it sounds like he had a good birthday.
That's awesome that jordan is doing well in track. What events is he doing? Any throwing events? LOL. Not. I know you told me but I forgot. Yeah definitely let me see some pictures!

Your lucky I can use my companions card for today! haha well just send the card back whenever you can. it's not any huge rush or anything. taking pictures is just the kind of fun to do things. So whatevs!

I'll be keepin an eye out for the valentines day card! Hopefully it should be here soon. Tell Grandma thank you for that!

Things are going good! I'm not too stressed out or anything, I'm having fun. We had our first district meeting on friday then another on tuesday. So that was fun. But the second one I had to Zone Leaders help in organizing a little bit so it wasn't as stressfull. But the Sisters are all awesome in our district and way chill and laid back. So it's not a huge burden or anything. The only now I've yet to experience as a district leader is baptismal interviews! I get to interview all the sisters investigators for baptism :X That's going to be a little stressful but we'll see when the time comes to it. We'll have one this month at the end! Ugh!

The companero is going alright. He's kind of bugging me a bit just because He exaggerates a ton. I could tell when he was lying and when he wasn't, But I don't call him out on it or anything like that. I think you'd be proud of me! I've gotten alot better at just keeping my negative comments to myself. hahaha. But yeah it's been a bit of a struggle with teaching, just because he has a hard time remembering what we are going to teach and so I end up doing alot of the teaching most of the time. But I am being patient I haven't gotten angry because I know I am in no way better than he is. We are all learning together and I have my own individual flaws that are probably driving him crazy! But I don't really know how to fix these problems without callin him out on it you know? But oh well.

haha you're emergency "simulation" sounds awesome! I wish we could have the power go out! haha I wouldn't be dissapointed because we don't watch tv or get on the computer so yeah...haha. But we do light candles occasionally...haha.

Oh horrible thing that happened last p-day. GOSH. It was so gross. We had still been kinda getting settled in in the area and one of the sisters (before I got there) had given the elders before us a giant cheese ball thing in a tupperwear container and I had finished off the last bit that was left. I then proceeded to seal the container and tossed it in the sink. and there it sat for about a week and a half. a couple days before p-day we start smelling this weird smell but we cannot pin point what it is. we thought it was our garbage, so we took it out. We thought it was our fridge so we cleaned it. No luck. Then as I was doing the dishes, that horrid little tupperwear container burst open. and the most horrible smell I have ever smelled exploded around me. I literally gagged and almost threw up. Oh it was so terrible. I immediately threw that thing outside and lit a candle to make it smell better haha.

So that was my adventures of last p-day.

That's awesome that you are still reading scriptures mom! Keep it up! It helps so much more when you can actually get your imagination involved. Things just start to click instead of just reading information. I love it. I'm going through the book of mormon and (because of this thing we are doing for the mish) marking all the words and references of the savior, along with scriptures that have to do with certain topics. Holy cow you would be surprised how many times the book of Mormon refers to Christ. It's crazy!

but the scriptures make the day so much better! My favorite part of the day is personal study. Not even kidding. Because I can just forget about EVERYTHING else and focus on the scriptures. It's so relaxing and enlightening.
We had a fun experience the other day. We recieved a Head quarter referral a couple weeks back for this interesting guy. He is a bail bondsman. If you don't know what that is, it's basically someone who gets people outta jail for a price. But he is absolutely obsessed with Joseph Smith. Like he's also a mason so he's even more obsessed with him for that. He's not a member of the church but he tells us all the time how joseph smith had all the answers.
Anyways! I love you all a ton and am doing real good! I'm turning into a southerner though so watch out! I'm gonna come back saying y'all and used-ta-could! (not even kidding I've had investigators say that one too me.) Some other fun ones I've heard are "I haven't seen that in a coon's age!" or the word cotton picker haha. But holy cow don't say that because I never realized it but it's a really rascist thing to say! haha.

Oh and I saw a cotton field for the first time last week! It was awesome! haha

Anyway I'll talk to y'all later. Hopefully will hear from you soon! At least by wednesday!

LOVE

Your son!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

HEYYYY

So yeah.

First things first! LOTS of stuff has changed. Elder Server got emergency transferred out to the office so that he can recooperate in the office. Less stress and whatnot. Which leaves me here in an area I've been in less than 2 weeks. I ALSO am now the senior companion and the district leader over FOUR groups of Sisters X_x. So yeah. It's pretty intense and I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to do all this. My new companion is Elder Blair. He is interesting and I'm definitely going to improve my patience with him as far as I can tell. I just hope it doesn't make these things more stressful. But yeah the areas that are in my district are gloucster, jamestown, williamsburg and Kilmarnock, all sisters! Intense.

But yeah I like our little house. It's just cozy. I think I heard we technically could be living in a bigger house, but it's not that huge of a priority. Yeah.

haha yeah we actually met in those bedrooms this last sunday. It was interesting for sure. But it is an awesome experience.

yeah the medical officer for our mission (her name is Sis. Michner) lives in Jamestown which is like, 30 minutes away, and she offered to take us to jamestown whenever we wanted (on a p-day obviously) so yeah. It'll be sweet. I'm excited to find some of that historical stuff. It's they call it america's historical triangle or something like that. Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown.

well we aren't getting much snow at all anymore. It's mostly been rain and maybe some days with sunny skies! So that's awesome. And that's way cool you are getting some good weathern going on there!

haha that's pretty funny about dad's packages. I'll definitely keep an eye out. I am still waiting for my camera to come down from harrisonburg. But I should have it on friday. So that's where that stands. but ill keep an eye out for some packages! haha. Tell dad to stop impulse shopping! That's bad for you! haha

yeah elder server had IBS if you know what that is. Just makes it much worse when you have a stressful life. So yeah he's doing fine now, just recooping in the mission office. But now I'm essentially taking over an area I do not know and with a companion who doesn't either. SO it's kind of stressful, but I know the Lord will help us.

That sun and moon thing is a painting painted for me by a member in harrisonburg named Brother Hendricks. He was the man and I love how awesome he was. He gave me a lot of great advice as well!

haha that's cool you are in contact with Elder King! You should tell him to email or write me! ha. That would be awesome :)

yeah wylie emailed me! haha so that's awesome. I'll email him about after you! But he says he's out in the middl e of no where and has super cabin fever. haha. But he's doin good I guess.

That's awesome that jordan is startin track. Don't let him quit! He needs to realize that it's not an easy thing to do a sport but it's worth it!

That's awesome that joe leaves for arizona next week. I sent him a letter so I hope he writes back! haha. But he's gonna be an awesome missionary! I wrote him but nothing back so hopefully soon! Sis. DB hasn't written either! But I could write her another letter if she'd write back! haha.

definitely write wylie joe david and neil! They need all the support they can get.

But yeah we went to this thing on sunday that's like a missionary training thing. We got to go on exchanges with the training assitants in richmond and we evaluated things we could improve on. It was really good and I learned alot of things to make myself better! But yeah.

Thank you so much for your email and everything you do for me! I love y'all so much and miss you so much.

I'm sorry my email isn't very long today...just not alot going on! haha. Just ask any questions and next week I'll answer em! haha.

again, I love all you so much and miss you more than I can say! stay safe and I'll talk to you next wednesday!

LOVE

Elder Christensen

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

A New place!

*PHEW*

Finally got ahold of you! So I lied. My address is actually:
9311 Pocahontas Trl Apt 8H
Providence Forge, VA 23140

We live in a tiny little cottage haha. It's so funny you would laugh. It has a little living room, a tiny kitchen that you can't pass one another in, and a bedroom that is about as big as the living room and a tiny bathroom. The shower is so tiny that you can hardly turn around in it! haha. But it's awesome!

New Kent branch doesn't meet in a building either. They are in the process of getting a building built, but right now we meet in the forestry center (like a meeting hall and the classrooms are hotel bedrooms! hahaha)

But Elder Server is the district leader in this district, and the district consists of 4 groups of Sister missionaries and us. haha. So it's kind of a different experience :P. It's cool though, 'cause there is so much history nearby. In our district are the williamsburg sisters, the gloucster sisters, the jamestown sisters, and the kilmarnock sisters. So we have both colonial jamestown and williamsburg in our district! haha. If you can't find new kent county on the map, it's on the middle penninsula on the coast.

Yeah but the weather is fine here. We were expecting snow a few days ago, but it didn't happen and we aren't expecting any more any time soon. So yeah. But it's still cold. I found a sweet fleece! haha it was a missionaries that went home. So I have a fleece for when it's not cold enough to wear my big coat! :)

I'm feeling pretty good now. I can finally breath through my nose again! haha but yeah I only stayed in that one day. But after that I still felt like garbage. But I'm doing alot better now. The only problem is that Elder Server has some kind of really bad sickness that has kept us from going out alot lately. He's actually been talking to President about it lately, so we'll see what happens there. He's fine, but the stress makes it worse, so who knows. I'm actually driving temporarily because of it, because even the stress of driving makes things worse. So yeah. Not to much going on lately because of it, but I know the Lord understands because it isn't like Elder Server is doing it on purpose, and he can't control it. I pray for him all the time, because he does seem like he's in serious pain ALOT. So we'll see where that all goes.

Yeah he's the man I love him. It was so nice to be able to come to the area with a companion I already know. Skips the whole awkward stage of wondering if you are going to get along with this person. haha.

That's way cool you got to go to Grandma's and Grandpa's. I really miss them all alot. Tell them all I love them and I'll write them soon! You should've sent me one of those giant camp 18 cinnamon rolls! haha that would taste so good right now :P

wow so you sent me a camera? Where did you send it to? I'll call the assistants today to see if I can call my old area to see if they received it? I never got it so hopefully I can find it! Was dad trying to pull one of those "I'll secretely send him this and he won't even expect it!" kind of thigns again? haha oh well I'll get it eventually! THANK YOU SO MUCH. It really helps me out :)


That's pretty hilarious about Joseph! I wasn't sure if he was still in the mtc or not! Cause I hadn't heard from him in a while. So I will write him today!


Yeah it's pretty funny to see how similiar the experiences are of the mtc. It's really not THAT different! haha. It's weird to think I've been out 6 1/2 months now. Elder Server and I were just talking about that. Things move by so fast. AUGH.

Yeah each mission is different I guess. I hear from wylie periodically but I got transferred so I haven't got any mail in a while. So I'll hopefully hear from him soon. Apparently our new mission president (who will start serving in july) has already been called, but not revealed yet. So that's intense. I'll basically be spending one year with one mission president and one year with another.

That's crazy about david! I wrote him recently so I hope I hear from him soon! It's crazy. David is out over his year mark. He'll be home next febuary! WHATTTT. haha.

But I guess a little about the area now!

We cover most of New Kent county, all of Charles City county and a tiny piece of James City county. Charles city county is the birthplace of two presidents I believe! John tyler, and Zachary Taylor! And Martha Washington was born in charles city county! It's pretty awesome! But like I said this area has SO much potential. I'm kind of a lame duck right now, cause I don't know the area very well, and Elder Server is so sick all the time, we can't go out alot, and so I've had alot of time to reflect and look at what I need to do to be a better missionary. It's been nice. It's helped me realize that when things are out of our control that I shouldn't stress about it. Like here, I can't do anything to make elder server feel better. I wish I could, I really do because of the pain he is in, but I am human and can't so I just have to know that this must be what the Lord want's and not to worry about it. So that's helped. I've also been looking at tiny things that will help me refine myself. It's been a great experience. haha it's pretty funny Elder Server always tells me sorry for having to stay in and I'm like, uh why are you sorry? you have no control over it. He feels like he has to apologize! I'm like, no you don't! ahah.

Anyways.

Also, so something funny I've been thinking about lately. You are probably going to laugh when I come home and talk haha. I don't have an accent or anything, but I say some words differently now, just because of the culture around me haha. The missionaries in this mission have a saying, it goes like this: There are 3 languages spoken in the Virginia Richmond Mission: Southern, Ebonics, and Muttered grunts & cuss words. haha! it's so ridiculously true too...oh gosh. And apparently in this part of virginia there are people called "guinea men" who are a totally different culture all their own. I haven't run into those people yet though, so I have no idea haha.

Yeah so that's my story right now. If you have any questions let me knowwww. And if there is anyhting I can do for you mom and dad let me know :) Thank you for being there for me always and teaching me the right things in life. It's helped me alot lately. I love you all so much and miss you a ton! I'll talk to you next wednesday :O

Love you son,

Hunter

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Transfer number 3!

Holy cow! I almost didn't get to email you today! The library is closed on account of the snow. Bah! So we went to the university and used their library. So yeah. But Hey! I'm getting transferred again :(

New address:

9311 Pocahontas Trail
Providence Forge, VA 23140

Also, you should just tell everyone from now on to write me at this address:

9327 Midlothian Tpke STE 1-B
Richmond, VA 23235

The richmond address is my mission office, and that way, no matter what, I will get it. So just post the richmond one for people to send packages to, and the pocahontas one as where they can write LETTERS to.

Hopefully that makes sense!

But yeah the snow has been crazy. We have been stuck inside forever! And Yeah, I did get sick. I had to stay in one day cause of it and I still have it somewhat. But I'm recovering. And I got the package last wednesday! Thank you SO much for it! I love the hat! and I was so happy to see a scarf. I lost franks address! I want to write him and thank him, so please email that to me! The pictures were perfect thank you. I really liked all that, thank you SO much!

That's cool about your new calling! I bet it'll tire you out real quick with all those kids. haha. But guess whats awesome about transfers? I am going to be companions with one of my friends from the mtc! Elder Server! We are serving together in an area called New Kent county! So another country area. He is the district leader haha. Our whole district is just him and I and the rest are all sisters! haha.

Yeah like I said I got real sick. First it was just a little coughing and then it got worse. Mostly the coughing is gone now but my nose is fluctuating between running and stuffed up. So yeah, not fun, but we've still been out working with it.

Yeah the teaching is going alright. I guess now it's outta my hands since I'm getting transferred. But I'm going to really miss this area...I loved it alot! "Bob" is really sad I'm leaving and it's going to be really hard for him to say goodbye to me. But yeah, I hate snow now. Especially getting stuck inside :(

We drive outside, but the roads are pretty clear. The car accident wasn't our fault anyways so yeah. But we are being safe that's for sure.

I'm glad ryan is still doing good in basketball! it'll help him stay fit I guess! Tell him just to try the football camp all the way through and then if he doesn't like it he doesn't have to do it! Tell him it's worth it though even if it's hard! He sounds like me not being very aggressive haha.

I liked the blog comments haha let everyone know I say hi! And that they should write me so I know they want to hear from me! Cause I figure if someone actually wants to hear from me, they'll write me a letter :P

But yeah things have been going really good. I'm excited to serve with my friend Elder Server, but I'm sad I have to leave here. But it'll be fun I'm sure! I'm glad I got to go to west virginia when I did...ha!

But yeah, I had a rough day yesterday with Elder Hiltbrand leaving. Not specifically him leaving, but that coupled with how sick I was and other stuff it just wasn't a good day. But I'm doing better. yes.

I'm sorry the email is so short. But there isn't much else to tell ya! Let the cox's know I'll be getting the package they sent to me tommorow at transfers!

Well I'm sorry the email is short! but things are good and I'll send the card home soon so you can see it all! Love you! Be safe and I'll talk to you next wednesday hopefully!

Love

Your son!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Brrrrrrrr its a Freezing here in Virginni!

Hey Hey it's your favorite missionary again.

not!

ha

anyways.

I still haven't gotten the package! It's 12:09 pm here and we haven't checked the mail yet so it may be there today. I Hope so! But get this! We have been snowed in twice this week haha. Somewhat at least. And this friday/saturday we are supposed to have a HUGE snow storm. like 40+ inches in two days AHHHH! we are gonna be stuck inside FOREVER :'(. But Virginia actually had a big ol' snow storm last week and the whole state got covered. But we are getting another one that's going to destroy us! haha.

Yeah West Virginia was way fun! I've hopefully attached some pictures for you to check out. When we went to west virginia we actually found a grave site of a famous hessian mercenary (dad will know what those are) from the revolutionary war that founded that area. It's really awesome. I love the history here! woodrow wilson was born just a few cities south of us! and thomas jeffersons house (monticello) is in charlottesville which is about an hour away! Crazy stuff.

That emergency preparedness thing sounds pretty cool. A little extreme but cool. Yeah you should definitely be prepared though. I know out here since we've been having these crazy snows that people just absolutely lose their minds when they forcast snow. It's not even like oregon. All they have to do is FORCAST snow and school is cancelled. RIDICULOUS. But then you go to the store a day before it's supposed to snow and people just horde all the bread milk and eggs they can get. It's cleared out. That's virginia for you I guess.

Yeah my companion is getting sick too. I might get it eventually. I hope not, we have been having a junk week this week. And this would just make it worse.

I'm glad dad thought the indian dancer story was funny. haha it was a weird thought that just popped up into my mind. I hadn't remember that in forever.

I'm doing alright. Still worried because all of our investigators have dropped off the face of the map. We are teaching NO ONE. It's frustrating. We had a baptism on sunday, and that was amazing, but it seems like after that everything just dissapeared.

Oh but I have a story for you. And I don't want you to freak out when I tell you what happened, because we are all fine and we're not hurt and the Lord protected us.

Me and Elder Lowry had to get a baptismal record signed on monday. In order to do this we had to drive about 30-45 minutes down to waynesboro where our district leader lives. Because our bike rack is such a pain in the butt to put on these '08 malibu's, we left ours on without the bikes on, but the rack still sticking out on the back.
So we drove down to waynesboro on the free way, all fine and dandy. We got to where our district leader was, got our things signed and walked out to go. Then Elder Lowry said, "I think we should put our bike rack down, (like folding it down, it's on one those foldable ones) because it might be messing up our gas mileage or something." So we folded it down. And we get going on our way. as we are driving home on the free way, we come up on a ramp, where this lady in a van is starting to merge onto the free way, but we think we were in her blind spot, and she starts forcing us over into the other lane. Elder Lowry had very little time to react, and as a result didn't notice the semi-truck that was coming up on the left lane behind us. So we were forced over into the left lane, and the truck is going faster than us. So we get rear ended and bumped forward by this semi and because of it, we get knocked forward. We got pushed far enough forward that we could get in front of the lady in the van, so we pulled over to check out the damage. Expecting the truck to stop, we didn't bother to get the liscense plate of the truck, and he just keeps on going. Doesn't even stop. So we pull over and look at the trunk and there's some minor damage, but the bike rack took the brunt of it. But here's the part I am grateful for: If it hadn't been for elder lowry's prompting to put down the bike rack, I don't really know what would've happened. For all we know, the prongs on the rack could've gotten stuck in the grill of the truck and caused some bad things to happen. Not only that, but if we had been hit in any other way we probably would've been caused to spin and get hit by another car. The Lord really does take care of his missionaries, mom.

I hope I haven't totally freaked you out by now. But I'm safe, and the car is going to be fixed eventually and we are all good haha. But just goes to show you how much a prompting of the spirit can mean.

But I love you all so much and I hope you are safe. And by this time next week I'll find out if I'm here for another transfer or not! So I'll let you know then! And we should have a ton of snow as well! ha.

BYE!

LOVE ELDER CHRISTENSEN