Riley's Mission

So I've been in Chile for 2 weeks now and it's crazy it's literally felt like maybe 3 days. I don't even know where to start. My area is pretty small but has a giant population. It's in a town called San Felipe and it's the most North area in my mission, right at the base of the Andes and a ski resort which means it's freaking COLD. but está bien we are still thriving. My area consists of a bunch of little neighborhoods and then an area that is called Las Tomas. It's basically just a bunch of shacks that have no running water, heat, or light. This is where we spend a lot of our time because there are a lot of people prepared to accept the gospel in this part of town. Actually, it feels like everyone in this town wants to accept the gospel!! Right now, we have SEVENTY AMIGOS that we are working with right now. San Felipe is popping off to say the least. However, a lot of people want to listen but few want to commit. So in reality we onlyhave about 20 amig

I hope you made it there safely!   I went to lunch today with Sabrina and Lynda and it was so fun to catch up. I love both of them so much. Lynda now uses a cane and moves very slowly. Yet she always has a beautiful smile on her face. It’s so hard to feel pain when no one knows how bad it really is and no one cares really. she is an example of a cheerful countenance. Sabrina said something today that I want to remember. She was talking about how so many people (women mostly) talk bad about other people or are just critical but they would never say those things to their face…and at one point in her life how she decided she was just never going to do that anymore. It was just a decision she made. And it’s true, she doesn’t do that. She told me she likes being around me because I don’t talk bad about people and I felt a bit guilty because I try not to gossip, but I definitely say things about people I would never say to them. I am going to work on it and get to a point where I would never

  Hello I love you all and hope everyone is doing so so great I pray for all of you EVERY DAY. I dont have much time this week because we got to go to the Mexico City Temple today and that took up like all my time but it was so worth it. I love the temple! It was also my first time in 4 weeks since leaving the walls of the MTC and it was so cool. I absolutely love Mexico City and I was only outside the walls for like 5 hours.  I got my flight plans and I am going to Chile on Monday at 9 PM! It was a little scary for a minute there I thought I would have to get reassigned but we are all good! Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes! The Lord provides a way for his plan to be fulfilled!! Everything is going great down here and I am so sad to leave the MTC but am literally so excited for Chile Hope you all have the best week ever and please email me because it makes my day lols Pictures: - temple and bus ride!! - had to say goodbye to my fav h. garvin and h. king but they

Let’s see…the people this week who asked me how you are doing… Laura Denney, Sarah Hamblin, Jana Anson, Janina, Carlyn Thompson, Tyler, Tiffany Wellman, and Jeanie Vance. We tell them you are doing GREAT! And that you love the Mexico MTC! We ask them to pray that you may get everything cleared with your vaccination verifications so that you can go as scheduled to Chile. 🙏🏼 Luke left on Thursday for HXP. Brad told me about an HXP instagram which is fun because they take his phone (hallelujah) and we get to see pictures. It doesn’t look too much like service yet, it looks like a ton of fun. It is so good for him to be out of his normal environment, away from the pressures of football, baseball, trying to be cool, and his friends and just be Luke. He’s a great kid and a good person, but he needs to find himself and there are so many distractions keeping him from knowing his true identity. This is a process I have watched with all of my kids and it is both satisfying and stressful to wat

Alive and doin well. People are great, food is great, gospel is great, spanish sucks but esta bien. Time is irrelevant here but it goes by way too quickly. Things I learned this week:  1. Sunrises and sunsets are my most favoritest thing in the world. They are so pretty here and always have so many colors which I think is because of the pollution so not cool but we roll with it  2. THE SPIRIT TEACHES. NOT YOU. Pray for guidance by the Spirit in all that you do  3. The fruit on the Tree of Life was pineapple  4. 4th of July is a bigger deal in the Mexico MTC than it is in Utah   5. Don't eat the papaya  6. Role play is not my thing  much much love, h christensen  Pictures: - 4th of July lunch and hermanas - weekly hermana sunday pic - lots of waiting around while waiting to teach lessons - beautiful gardens that I get to see every day - WE CUT H. SMITHS HAIR

I’ve decided to designate Sundays as days I will write letters to you…like it or not :) I guess you don’t have to read them, but I know it will be a blessing to me to write. I enjoy your emails! It is obvious you are learning a lot and growing in testimony. It is awesome to see. I wanted to share my own thoughts on missionary work. From an early age, I had to understand that my beliefs set me apart. I always tried to share with my friends because I wanted them to know what I knew. Most times, I felt like everyone thought we were weird, because they had a false understanding of our faith. But I continued to live my life by the commandments and share my beliefs when I could. I prayed for missionary opportunities. Outside of Utah, members are much better at this. I remember pleading with Heavenly Father to send me just one friend that would join the church so I wouldn’t feel so alone in my beliefs. He sent me many people. Looking back, I can see His hand in my missionary efforts and I am