Camron's letter....March 26, 2012

Hola Familia, This week was also pretty crazy. We had a bunch of cambios in our zone but Elder Hansen and I are still here working as companions so that's good. Elder Pino, that I trained, is now in our zone, so I was way happy for him to come. He had some success stories in Riberalta. His area had baptized the most in the zone too. We have 3 companionships who are opening a new area which means that 2 missionaries left their area, and 2 new missionaries came in. It's pretty crazy. We had 16 new missionaries come to the Santa Cruz mission, and only one was from the states. He came to our zone so my comp, his trainer, and I were cheering in the meeting. It was pretty funny haha. But the new elder is from Lehi. His dad was actually born in La Paz but has lived here in the U.S. since he was 18. He's a lot like me and my comp. He's really excited to work here, but his trainer just got his call and he recieved his Visa to go to Venezuela, so he's leaving tomorrow. We were pretty sad and so was he becasue he just got called to train and be a district leader. But I'm sure he will do a great job in his new mission. We have been working hard this week and we have this sixteen year old girl Diana with a baptismal date and a thirteen year old boy Pablo. They are awesome investigators and learn really fast. I'm pretty sure Pablo will be baptized too . We did a fast this week and asked for help finding some families to be able to baptize. We could see the Lord blessing us for our faith with actions. During our fast, we were walking down the road, and this dad told us that he wanted to talk with us. We told him we would  walk with him to his house and share something with him. He said sure. He told us there is something different about you guys and the church buildings you have. They are always clean with cut grass and bushes. It's something different than all of the other churches out there that you see. We told him first that it was because it's the only true church and because the Lord deserves the best that we can give Him. It's also a sign of what the true and pure beauty that tithing will bring. Especially when the pastors aren't getting all the money from tithing. Once in a lesson I related tithing to a scripture that is in Ephesian 2:21.  It says "and every building that is very organized will grow into a temple of the Lord."  We are the only church on the face of the earth with more than 135 functioning temples with around 15 in construction. This is a sign that through the organization in the church it will keep growing and building holy temples dedicated to the Lord. It is something truly special. We have had some pretty good lessons this week. The family that we found told us they are pretty excited to go to see conference this Saturday and they are truly amazed to hear how there is a conference broadcasted world wide so that everyone can hear the prophet and apostles of the Lord. This week I've thought a lot about the scripture  "by their fruits ye shall know them."  What greater testimony could we recieve than the many fruits that this church has. If you truly think about it, you can find thousands of fruits that the Lord has blessed us with so we can know that His true church is on the earth today. So we are left without any doubts that we have this truth. I have no doubt at all that these things are true and I will never be able to deny it no matter what happens. This is the kingdom of the Lord here on the earth today for the preperation of the second coming.    Love, Elder Christoffersen

Camron's letter.....March 19, 201

¿Como le va mi Hermosa familia?, This week ended very good. We were very happy to be able to baptize Fernando. He was so excited to be baptized too.  He was so nervous before hand, but he did a very good job and the baptism was awesome. Fernando is also very excited to get the priesthood. It was nice to be able to baptize this family. They always tell us how much we mean to them and they always want to help us out with whatever we need. Carlino made me a baseball bat. It was way cool and they signed all of their names on it too. Elder Hansen has been pretty sick this week, but he's getting better. I'm grateful that when we get sick, we usually get better fast. We've found a bunch of awesome investigators. They all just seem like they have a problem with the Sabath day so we're trying to focus in really hard on it. It just seems like they will just have to leave their jobs and find new ones. I truly know the Lord blesses us when we do what he tells us to, and the bigger sacrifices bring bigger blessings. So if you truly want to receive more and bigger blessings from the Lord, you truly need to make bigger sacrafices in His behalf. That's the way you can truly show that you love Him and are thankful for all that He has given you. We had the craziest Monday last week. We went to the city of Santa Cruz. There were a bunch of tourists and people from different countries. We talked with a guy from Colorado, a guy from Norland who barely could speak Spanish, but he could speak English. We heard this girl sing in English who got on the micro(little bus) to sing for pesos. haha. And this sister missionary who is here for the educational fund for all of Bolivia. It was pretty crazy but really cool. This week there is a Cambios too. I'm pretty excited to see what is going to happen. I'm pretty sure I will still stay here in La Merced. I am excited this week to get out and work with our investigators and find a few more who are prepared for the gospel. I hope this week is full of great experiences for you guys and that you enjoy them. Read your Scriptures and pray more. It will make you happier and your week will be the best one of the year.  Love, Elder Christoffersen

Camron's letter.....March 12, 2012

Hola familia, This week was a pretty good week. Fernando is really ready for his baptism Saturday. It's going to be awesome. Something really cool happened this week too. Carmelo was going to have to go to work Sunday and they really need the money too, but Saturday at the end of the night, he told us yes, I'm gonna go to church tomorrow. It's way awesome how he is so willing to go to church and leave behind work even when he knows he can't make money going to church. This family will probably be the most loyal family to the church and to the Savior than any of the converts that I've been blessed to bring into the gospel with my comp. I also heard some good news from an Elder who worked in my first area his last Cambio. He told me that Ricardo and Jampier are both working on going on a mission and they are going out with the missionaries to do visits. I am so grateful to be able to help those who can go out and serve missions and also be able to bring to pass the salvation of many souls. It's pretty crazy how we will never be able to see the true effect that we  have on people when we serve the Lord and them at the same time. Every month that passes, I see more blessings that come from serving faithfully in the Lord's work. I have seen so many trials come to people and they are so depressed and sad but its crazy how all the hardest trials seem to go away with time. You just truly have to be patient and keep enduring and everything always ends up back to normal. We had some good lessons this week and we have found some great people. We're teaching this sixteen year old girl who has gone to church twice and seems to love the church. Also this 40 year old guy named Javier who is an incredible investigator, he just can't seem to get to church. But this week we will hit him strong with a good Sabbath day lesson, haha. Yesterday we had a cool Stake conference for all of Bolivia. It was in their stake center and Elder Holland gave a talk by satelite. He started off in Spanish and he was pretty bad with his accent. He even admitted it was bad, so he decided to let the translater do his job haha. But he ended in Spanish with his testimony. It was so strong and the spirit was burning very strongly. It's weird how I feel the spirit stronger in Spanish now than I do in English. I truly have realized my testimonio has grown so strong. Every time I hear a scripture recited that I use when I teach by the speakers, the spirit burns so strong. It's pretty crazy how faith turns from what you believe into what you know. But something pretty funny happened while we were in the primary. My comp was under a ceiling fan and one of the kids said "levante la mano (lift up your hand) haha. The kid wanted to see him get his hand hit by the ceiling fan. There is some funny stuff that happens here. Well things are going great with the work and the blessings are truly coming becaise of hardwork . I hope you guys have an amazing week, and April conference is soon!   Love, Elder Christoffersen

Camron's letter.......March 5, 2012

Hola familia. Things went really good this week. Carmelo received the priesthood yesterday and we had a couple of new investigators in church yesterday. Marcos is doing awesome. He turned down an invitation to play soccer on a cool field and go to church. He's still excited for his baptism. Alejandro is also doing good and he just promised to stop drinking coffee even though he loves it and drinks it every night.  My comp and I are starting to work really good together and we're developing a lot of unity. We're really good friends and we have a lot in common, so it makes things great working together. The zone was really blessed last month in February. We were priviledged to baptize a lot of people. We are trying to do all we can to continue helping out our zone, and this month looks like we will do pretty well too. The little girl of the parents Carmelo and Catia that we baptized, was in the hospital with bronchitis. The doctor said she was going to be in the hospital for at least a month. They were suffering financially so they were so depressed and didn't know what to do. It was so sad. But we got permission to go and visit her. She told us the night before when everything was really hectic, that Carmelo said we were going to pray together. She was surprised he suggested that. They knelt down together and he offered a prayer, and afterwards, he said "Valeria is going to be fine tomorrow". Catia asked "how do you know that?" he said, "I just know, I can feel it." I find it so amazing how the holy ghost can reveal to us that everything is going to be ok and that the Lord is preparing the way before us. I love having that same feeling of peace that our Heavenly Father is preparing the investigators that we have. I've also been thinking a lot about how many of the strong converts that we have, are going through so many trials. Especially here in plan 3000. I have truly come to realize how important it is to suffer. Especially for those who are strong and those who our Savior truly trusts to carry out His work. It's how the Lord makes us stronger. I know that all of the converts here share a big importance in the work for the future. All of those who the Lord wants to help in his work have gone or will go through strong trials to become stronger and to be come what He knows they can become. I truly know that all of the trials that I have had and all the hard things I've gone through have all been put in my life because my Savior loves me and knows who I can become. I'm thankful for who I am and all the things I have gone through to become a better missionary. The harder the trials are that we go through just shows us how strong the Lord knows we can become. Every strong person in the gospel has been through difficult trials and I'm pretty sure that the strongest have gone through the hardest. At first I couldn't understand how so many people could suffer so much while being faithful followers in the church. I'm so happy now. I truly know it's because the Lord wants to make them happier and stronger. But to get there, they are going to need to go through difficult trials. The church is obviously true. It's so amazing how it is unmistakably the church the Savior organized and established when He came here. It becomes so much more real every day. I know I am serving in His work. If you want a stronger testimony, all you need to do is serve more in his kingdom and you will gain seven fold. I am glad to be guided by the Lord to those he is preparing. I know happiness can be recieved when working at His side. I Love you guys so much!  Thanks for your prayers.  Love, Elder Christoffersen

Camron's letter......2/27/2012

Hola Familia, Things went fantastic this week with the baptisms. Carmelo Catia and Cristhian were all baptized and confirmed. They were also very happy to become members of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints (the only true church). I have never been able to baptize a family that pretty much says everything that a missionary loves to hear. It's fantastic! They both told us that they felt amazing when they were baptized and also when the were confirmed. But it's really sad how things are going so rough for them. They have had so many trials and dificulties, yet they're staying so strong and firm in the church even though these problems came when they started listening to our message. They are struggling so much with money and Carmelo is still sick and so two days before their baptisms they really were down and sad about things. We offered to give them blessings. One of health (I don't know if it's called that) and one of comfort. I was able to give Catia hers and Elder Hansen gave Carmelos. The spirit was so strong that everyone was silent and just enjoying how powerful and peaceful the atmosphere was. It was truly awesome! Catie explained that she felt some warmth that she had never felt before move throughout her body, and Carmelo just smiled and said he just can't explain what he feels. They are truly an awesome family. They wanted to go with us to the baptism even though we needed to go an hour early to set up. But they were with us and we had a great time too. It's so sad that they are really having some tough times. Their 4 year old daughter is now in the hospital and they say she will be there for a month with bronchitis. They are really sad, but I just know that things will go good and that she will get better. We pray that they will. We are going to be able to baptize their son the 10th of March. He's told us like four times that he is excited for that date, and that he is excited that he will be passing the sacrament too. I'm so thankful that the Lord trusted in me and my companion and helped us bring this family into the gospel. I'm excited to find another family that we can help as well. Have an awesome week.   Love, Elder Christoffersen

Camron's letter....Feb. 13, 2012

Hola Familia, This week was pretty great! We had a good time but we also had a lot of crazy things happen with the zone. We were doing a lot to get the Elders to their new areas. We had half of the zone leave to new areas. So we had a fantastic Thursday going to the airport and sending missionaries off. We had 2 go to Beni and one to Yucuiba (that's close to Argentina). Flights got canceled and moved so we went to the airport like 4 times, but everything was finally done by Saturday. But I'm excited to be here as a zone leader. We have great elders that are working hard and the blessings are showing. The two district leaders in our zone are pretty experienced. One was a Zone leader for a whole year and leaves in May, and the other was the assistant to the President 3 months ago. They were also one of my zone leaders at one point in Riberalta. So things are going really good with them. They are way excited to work before they go home. Our awesome family went to church again. It was awesome. The mom wants to be a teacher or leader in the church too haha. Her husband is always ready and willing to go to church. He is so receptive to the holy ghost. It's pretty crazy. We had a pretty special lesson with them on Saturday. They had sent there kids to their grandparents because they were so stressed out with money problems because the husband was getting sick and they had to pay rent, utilities, and medical bills, so they were really stressed. We planned to teach them the word of wisdom but we decided to teach them about the Atonement and how much their Father in Heaven loves them. He truly wants to help them out with the trials that they are going through. I explained to them the story of the "current bush" by president Brown. (the one that you love dad", and I told them that they will have to suffer in life so that they can become stronger. Sometimes we have trials in life that we cannot understand, and it doesn't seem that we deserve them. Even though it looks like things won't get better our Heavenly Father has all the power to makes things better. We truly need to kneel down and ask Him for the strength and comfort to get through these hard times. Just as he said in D&C, your trials will only be for a brief moment, but if you endure it well, I will exalt you on high. Our Heavenly Father will never truly let you suffer. You are his children and He loves you. Everything you suffer through will be for your good if you stay loyal to Him. The mom couldn't stop crying. After we taught our lesson, we asked if we could kneel down at their bedside and pray together asking God for comfort, faith, and the strength to get through these hard times. This family is truly special and we can't wait to help them make a covenant with our Heavenly Father through baptism. Thanks for all of your prayers and fasting.  It truly helped me. I'm doing great and I'm excited to keep on working in the mission. Have an awesome week!    love,  Elder Christoffersen

Camron's letter.... 2/6/2012

Hola familia, First of all, thanks so much for the fasts that you guys did
because I honestly don't have back pain. The doctor said I was for sure
going to need surgery. I also had dengue again! So I was not very happy.
Worst of all, thinking I was gonna be going home because when there
is a major surgery you go home without exceptions. But I don't know
how, but every day, more and more, my back pain started going away. 

I had a feeling you guys were praying for me at home because the doctor
told me "your pain isn't going to go away until you get that surgery
done." But I am feeling way good and I'm so excited starting off again
with the service. Prayer is real and so is fasting! Thanks so much for
your faith with works. They brought me a miracle. Speaking of miracles we
have been able to be a part of a few. The amazing family that we were
blessed to be guided to had really a lot of miracles in getting them
to the church. The mom almost stopped listening to us three or four
times. But because she showed her faith through letting us teach them
and going to the church, God fulfilled his promises and they recieved a
witness that these things are true. Like she was told, we are racist
and there is always a gringo with someone who has darkened skin. My last
comp, Elder Frost was really tan, so she believed the person. But then
cambio emergencia, and Elder Hansen comes and he is as white or whiter
than me. So that helped her to believe them again. She came to
church and saw a member who got in a fight with her and almost went
home because she was there. Then Elder Hansen and I looked and saw
her right before she left, so she stayed. She told us if we hadn't seen
her she would have just left. And last of all in the church she was
thinking "If my kids really like their classes, and if my husband
does too, maybe I will stay." They all said they loved it and her      

husband said "this is where I'm staying." He had never gone to
church before. It was so cool. The dad is awesome! He's never told us
he had doubts. He just always tells us that he has feelings he's never
felt before. "I don't know how to explain these feelings that I am
having." He is truly fantastic. I love being able to teach this family.
They even invited us to eat with them after church. We went and
they made me my favorite food here, el Piquemachu mmmmmm! I took a
picture too.  They invited her dad who was way against Mormons. But
we talked with him and he said to the mom, "get baptized" and told her he
was just really surprised that Carmelo actually went to church, cause he
hadn't and wouldn't go for 10 years or so they had been married. After
my comp and I left their home, we both said the church is true
It's so great how powerful this work is, and God is a part of it! This is
so awesome wooooooooooooooo! haha. It was a good day. We also had the dad
come from the Romero family and he told us that his wife an kids were
going to come but they didn't make it. But he said he enjoyed church and
I'm sure we will be able to help their family come too next week. 
We had another investigator come who's wife is paralized over half of
her body. He said he liked church also, so maybe we will be able to get
his family to come to church too. The work is moving on it's rolling
like a rock cut out from the mountain side. A Couple funny notes.. an
elder on the internet here is blasting church music with all the
computer game music playing and it's pretty funny. It's loud but awesome.
The other thing is that we taught some new converts yesterday and the
dad and his family were members of a church that is almost as
abominable as the Catholic church. It's like the second biggest here. But 

he tells how he notices every day how blind all the other churches
are and we could hear this rock music way loud from a rented stadium

where they were holding some church. The dad said that just like
this church it's so rediculous how loud they play the music. It's like
they think God is deaf and can't hear so well, haha. It was so funny
because he said it so seriously too, haha. But I'm excited for this
week. Cambios are Wednesday and our zone is working so hard, so I hope
they don't change too many. But whatever happens, we will continue to
work hard. We are truly being blessed as a zone and I hope we stay
sufficiently humble so the blessings continue to flow. Thanks so much
again for all you do.    Love, Elder Christoffersen