Matt 1-24-11

Wow sounds like things are going great at home! Yes I did get my birthday package and I’m so excited!! I loved the basketball and Frisbee. And the journal is so cool. So I have to admit that I haven't been keeping a very good journal... but since I opened the package with the journal I have written every day. I think it gives me some inspiration to write so I can use both of the journals. And the cd is awesome! I love it! And those pictures are way cool! I especially love the ones of the cabin and the moosen and all the snow at the cabin holy cow!!! Where did you take that picture from I have been trying to figure that out for along time haha. I can't believe that I will be 20 tomorrow it’s crazy.

Well things here have been awesome! So we were able to teach Dale Bogardus like 3 times and it was so great!! He is so ready for the gospel. When I asked him why he finally was interested he said " Well I guess I just had to push the I believe button" haha that works for me! :) So he is going to get baptized this week on Saturday! It was kinda weird teaching him cause he just believed everything we said and didn't really have any questions about things. So the lessons went really fast. We taught the first three lessons in like one hour haha. We also taught Jared twice this week and it went well one of them was at the visitors center. (While I was on exchanges) so elder Tsang and elder Shipley went up there. But I had a really great time with elder Harman in SanLeandro. We were able to meet a couple of good potential investigators and the day went really fast in a car.

So on Tuesday I was invited to a special district leader meeting by President Wade. And it went from like 9 to 12 and I was able to learn so much from him even though I wasn't a district leader. I learned how to do the weekly training and it has really helped my study through this week. Then we went through the week just as normal. And we got transfer calls on Saturday and....... well I have to say that I’m a little sad but I will be leaving Alameda!!!!! Ya!!!! haha I will be serving in the Hilltop first ward in Richmond and also the Laotian ward. cool huh. but I don't know any Laotian haha I guess I will learn some now :) I will also be the district leader. wow I feel like this is going to be a lot of stress but also very rewarding!

I can't believe that it is already the end of the playoffs for football! the Super bowl is coming so fast. Well, I don't care who wins but I say go packers. just cause haha

Wow! That is so cool that Danny might be coming to my mission for the summer! I sure hope that he gets a call back for the interviews!! that and I’m glad to hear that he and Adam both did well on the G-mat. I don't know if I will ever try to do something like that. hahaha

Way to go SAM!! making it to state!! That is so awesome!! I sure miss swimming! It is the best way to clear your head in the whole world because you don't have to worry about anything but going forward. haha and I sure hope that Mitch is able to drop the time that he needs to. I know how hard it is to shave off just a few seconds or less but if you just keep working as hard as you can then everything works out in the end.
so it has been fun here in Alameda I have been able to see some amazing changes here in people including myself. I know that the lord is watching out for all of us and that he loves us so much. I know this church is true and I’m so glad that I have the opportunity to be out here to serve the Lord with all my might. I hope that I will be able to touch the hearts of the people in Richmond.

I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week.

Elder Christensen

p.s. Happy birthday to me and Been!!!! :)