This week has just flown! For the most part we just have classes and things everyday, but this MTC is cool because we get to LEAVE it like once a week. On P-days we walk down to the shops and the LDS bookstore here and I ooh and ahh over all the amazing pictures and the little lds necklaces that for some reason are so cute even though they aren't church related, they just have a scripture on the packaging.... haha!
On Thursday though we got to do a church history tour of Preston here as it was the first place in England where missionary work was done. We went to the river Ribble where the first baptisms took place and walked down the streets and saw the houses that the Apostles and missionaries stayed in, including the house where President Hinkley stayed on his mission and received the letter to 'Forget himself and go to work'. My companion and I were apparently a magnet because out of the 57 missionaries on this tour, we were approached by people for information and were able to give out pass-a-long cards more than anyone else.... it was actually really cool! My favorite by far was Downham though (look up pictures guys it's my new favorite place on the planet) which is a little village that has been owned by the same family since the 1500s.... We went to the chapel there (more like cathedral) and learned about the town a bit. Then afterwards, the mission president asked me to sing a slow, classical version of 'Called to Serve'. I almost choked on the first note because the spirit was so strong in the room it was like there wasn't room for my voice. But I got to stand in the oldest building I've ever been in and sing about my calling to the Lord. It's a memory I'll hold onto for a while I think. I haven't even been gone two weeks and I'm already seeing how the Lord has given me things to help and share with people, from being asked to design a card for a missionary who lost his brother, to singing, to simply talking with people on the streets. Every morning I physically put on the name of Christ with a weight and a wonder that cannot be described, but I've never been more happy. I love being a missionary.
I love you all!! All the best wishes and prayers!
-Sister Christensen-
