Music Is How The Spirit Speaks To Me. (30)

Hello!

     Not really a ton to talk about this week but I will say it has been a test of patience. It was pretty tiring and the week felt so slow. But sometimes you just have those. Anyway, here is basically what happened this week and what is next to come.

Interviews and Meetings

     So this week we had interviews which was nice to see our mission leaders again. Although I only got to talk to them for a little bit. I got to see some of the Elders in our zone which was cool. The main reason we went there was for an exchange. This week I led out my area in Gongju with my exchange companion Elder Hornberger. Quite the interesting name I know. He's a really cool guy from Canada and I'd say we got a long pretty well. The other cool thing was during this exchange we had a member appointment and also a lesson with our friend who is on baptismal date. We got to teach the plan of salvation to him and he seemed to like it. He had some oddball questions like "If I were to lie to you right now and then not repent would I not make it to the celestial kingdom?" We just told him if he wasn't baptized he wouldn't make it and that seemed to switch his focus on to something more important. We are hoping to continue to see him more often and teach him the rest of the principles along with getting a baptismal interview done soon as his baptism is scheduled for the next Sunday!

Apart from that nothing else crazy during the exchange. But, one interesting thing that happened after we had exchanged back, the next day, was we had been informed of some emergency mission wide zoom meeting that was happening. We got on the call and the first thing our mission leaders shared with us is the scripture(s), Jacob 2:8-9. You can read them if you want but essentially the scripture was talking about how instead of healing sins you hide them and continually make them fester, grow, and eventually make them worse. So, we were a little confused as to why that was the opener and then they said that they were going to talk about travel reimbursements. They talked and showed general conference videos for about 40 minutes but what basically happened was clearly too much money was being taken for these reimbursements and now the mission leaders had to do something to fix it. So, they just completely removed the ability for missionaries to be reimbursed for travel expenses. I'm going to be honest that doesn't really affect me because I have never sumbitted a reimbursment before and I've been fine. But it will definitely affect some areas that need to travel really far to certain places. One thing they said was we have until april 1st to submit any last reimbursements you might have before they axe it. So, that might cause a ton of missionaries to withdraw all their money and put it on a bus card and then immediately reimburse it which might cause more problems! All I know is I spent all my money this month anyway so I wont be able to do that even if I wanted to haha.

From mom: he has a credit card from us he can use ANYTIME, but he’s so frugal about money he never uses it 🙄

Its Warmer. Its Brighter. Festival Finding.

This week was a finding week. I think the majority of what we did this week was walk around in the blazing hot sun with suit jackets on (Because we can't take them off until after general conference, mission rule) trying to speak to as many people as we can. This week was kind of unique in the fact that Gongju had this crazy large festival that was happening across town. We actually had no idea about it until we just so happened to see it while on the bus. We both decided to check it out while also seeing if we could try to talk to the massive amounts of people that were there. Unfortunately everyone was mostly preoccupied with all the events so it was pretty hard to get people's attention. Did I mention that it was also hot? Apparently the temperature is going to get much worse in the next couple months. I've heard it gets so humid and hot that your shoes stay damp with moisture for about the next 6 months.

With all the Finding we did we have yet to set up a single lesson or even get in contact with people. So, its been a real struggle and thus it has felt slow.

Conclusion

Well, that has been the week. It’s been a test but I think surprisingly I have grown my appreciation towards music even more. When times felt especially hard this week I have found music to be the best way for me to feel the spirit and refresh myself. So my testimony for this is week is the power of music. Gospel related or not it can truly change people for the better. It’s something truly amazing and I never understood just how much I've missed it ever since I got out here. Some of my most cherished memories have been music related. Long roadtrips with my family with songs blasting on the stereo. (It was the only thing that got us off our phones.) Singing my heart out on my way to work everyday. Watching Mom bust out the most impressive dance moves with the Alexa blasting music in the kitchen while she cooks. Driving home from Oregon with my Dad blasting Michael Jackson, Metallica, Guns & Roses, Killers, etc. To even going back to Oregon blasting christian country songs with my companion hyping ourselves up for lesson. To now coming to Korea having a whole new culture of music opened up to me.

Some notable songs that I have gotten to listen to that have honestly saved me from sadness have been: 

"Brother" 

"Temporary Tears"  

"Fall On Me" 

by NEEDTOBREATH.

"Gethsemane"

"I Will Walk With Jesus"

"Come thou fount"

From the Hymn book

"Altars Over Stages"

"I Am Barabas"

By Josiah Queen

And some others.

In the end I firmly believe that music can really help people, especially missionaries. Its special to people and it can bring people closer. 

I want to especially give a shout out to my good friends in Gokbanjeong right now Elder Sassing and Elder Centeno for allowing me to use their speakers for some of the music I've played. I hope some of the songs I've shared with you has made you feel just a little bit more joy. 

Thanks guys. Thanks for increasing my confidence in my voice.

Love Y'all,

Elder Christensen

P.S. if your the type of guy to call any song outside of the gospel Library app "Apostate" take a break.

interviews with President Baek and his wife Sister Kwak

Exchange with Elder Hornburger

Rain in Gongju