Pictures

 Gettin some study on!

Me, Elder Talbot, Elder Trevino, Elder Worthington, Elder Mather, Elder Owens

Subject: Re: E-mail Sent: Tuesday, January 28, 2014 10:38 AM

Oi Meu Familia!

Second letter of the mission here we go! Things at the CTM are moving pretty fast and heavy now. I feel like now that I've been here for longer than a week, time just decided to move lightning McQueen status (fast).  So crazy how quick time can fly here. A crazy thing happened this week! Our first investigator Evandro, the one I mentioned in the previous letter, is now my teacher Irmao Gray! I would be lying if I said that I wasn't expecting it but that day in class when he walked in I couldn't stop smiling! Its incredible how true it is that once you pour your heart into someone (trying to learn the language so that they can understand you, trying to improve their lives by introducing them to the gospel) how much you grow to love them. Even if it wasn't technically speaking real, the spirit is was so strong. So yeah now I have two teachers (Irmao McGloughlin being the other) and they couldn't be better! I am so happy and blessed to have them! Learning the language is a grind! I feel like some days I honestly can't speak anything, and then I go back to my room and start yelling at my companion in Portuguese as if I was a local! (We had to make a rule that I wasn't allowed to make fun of him unless I could say it in Portuguese. Since you guys know me pretty well you can see how hindering that was to me) haha Without even really knowing it I learn so much everyday. I just have to keep in mind that I can't learn it all at once. My district is pretty great! Still working out kinks and differences but we all seem to know why were are there and the importance of the work. Me and Elder Trevino must have been best buds before we came to earth because I love that peruvian! We have so much fun together and I am trying to get him to move down to Logan after the mission so that we can kick it at Utah State but the Minnesotan (canadian) in him won't budge. Imagine him as the hispanic Breynton and you pretty much understand most of his personality. Me and my companion Elder Talbot are getting along better everyday. I almost killed him last P-day but then I went into the temple and all is well. haha Tudo Bem. He is a great Elder and it picking up on the language super fast. He pushes me to learn faster everyday so thats also a blessing. As far as my zone we just received another district so we are no longer the Newbies. They are all going to Mozambique though which is pretty gnarly. 

Alright so I will try to answer all the questions you guys ask and feel like I know what's going on in your lives. As far as sending food here to the MTC, please do! Dad your jerky is a hit! Pretty good batch and it always nice to know that the meat you send is actually from an animal! Yeah the cafeteria is pretty good don't get me wrong I just don't trust half of it! Mom thanks for the Tie as well! Its going to be my temple tie today! One thing I kinda wish I had here while I waste my days here in Utah is a sweater! or at least something more warm than a church sweater.. Whenever we have to go to morning service or walk outside for GYM I freeze! I'm pretty sure that Dalton left for Brazil and got his VISA. They generally don't let Elders know if they have their VISA or not until the Thursday of their last week. I don't know why but that's just how they do it. So I have no idea about that. Can't wait for Daniel to get in tomorrow though! Hopefully I will see him! I haven't met too many elders going to Albania but they would most likely be here rather than the MTC West Campus.

You guys are doing great though! Dad & Mom you guys are the best! Dad your letters make me so happy! It's always nice to read the opening line and see a "Dear Elder Coop". Makes me feel like I still have a first name! I love all of the ya's instead of you's as well! haha Mom you're the best, you already know I love you to the moon and back forever! Lambson clan! I love your letters! Conway, I find your jokes to be extremely funny! You're the funniest comedian I know! Elle you're well on your way! Love the pictures! Britton stay at it. You're still less  of a man than I am but that still gives you room to be more manly than the rest. West & Stasia! whats crackin my provo amigos! I loved the letter you sent! For whatever reason I got like 3 copies of it so yeah I read it three times. haha Sounds like you guys are living the dream going to B-ball and Concerts! Enjoy the phone and make sure you send some pics my way some time! Nano and Anton! BABY CAN COME ANY DAY NOW! It hit me yesterday that I will most likely be in the MTC when this all goes down! At least I can claim I was in the same state when the kid grows up to love me more than all of you! I pray for you specifically everyday! You will be an incredible mother. Start working on your patience now because that baby I'm sure is already gonna start giving you some grey hairs haha. Anton thanks for the email. The brazilian in you makes you ten times cooler now that I'm struggling to learn Portuguese! Você é jagunço! 

Alright I hope this letter was long enough. I still feel like I forget to answer most of the important questions but hope that this will satisfy until next week. 

(Just Remembered - None of the elders in my district know about their VISAs either. My companion never did a fingerprinting but his VISA is going through the LA one since he did his while he was a BYU. The travel office told him not to worry about it though and that some consulates don't require it... ? I don't really know all about that. But yeah VISAs are picking up around here and the word on the street is that they will discontinue to call Elders to Brazil from that live in America in order to flush out all the VISA waiters and all the mess before they start calling Elders there again. I think that the government isn't that stoked with all the Missionary Traffic. I'm fine with waiting and honestly it would be pretty exciting to get another call!!)

Ok seriously I wrote down so much love but now I must away! 

Talk to you guys again next week and I will try to add a pictures or something. I don't know maybe I will try to send some right now. Stay posted for a possible picture email after but I really do have to leave! 

Eu amo vocês!

Tchao!

ELDER CHRISTENSEN

Subject: Re: First Letter Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2014 10:29 AM

Oi Familia! 

This is officially my first letter home! MTC is crazy busy and incredibly stressful but I can't lie, I love it here! The spirit is so strong, all the time. Its so much fun. So after some time getting orientated on Wed, I finally got to meet my district. They are some pretty cool, pretty interesting Elders. My companion for the MTC is Elder Talbot from Fort Lewis, Texas. Not so much a cowboy or anything but he loves saying Y'all and overall I think the best way to describe him would be McKay Parkinson. Not even a joke. If you really want to know what my companion is like, just think of McKay. haha We get along great and our work together is pretty on point. He went to BYU for a semester and is actually still 18 years old. As for the other Elders in my District. We have the Southern combo meal with Elder Mather (Missouri) and Elder Owens (also Texas,.. also says Y'all). Then we have Elder Trevino (Minnesota)  and Elder Worthington (Vermont). So yeah we have no one in our district from Utah or Idaho which is pretty impressive! We all get along pretty great but again its only been a week so we will see... haha. I probably get along with Elder Trevino the best. He is such a funny guy and his ignorance to the Canadian trends from Minnesota is hilarious. I am not the district leader nor do I feel like I would want to be, however Elder Worthington is pretty stoked about it and probably wouldn't be able to handle it if you know that I'm trying to get at. haha

Portuguese is defiantly not English.. haha It is coming along slowly but surely. Third day in the MTC me and Elder Talbot had to go in a teach our first investigator Evando, only using Portuguese! Not the best lesson I have ever been apart of for sure. haha It pretty much went like this... Oi Evando!... (and then uncomfortable animal noises until the lesson was over haha) But regardless, the language is coming along and we have taught him 2 more times since. Our district's teacher is Brother McLoughlin and he is a pretty bomb guy. He just got back from his mission in March so he gives a lot of insight to the culture and little language tidbits. For the first few days he spoke only in Portuguese which was kinda discouraging because I felt like my mind was melting just trying to comprehend it all. The best thing thats helped me to become more comfortable in the language so far is praying. Its kinda funny how much you pray here in the MTC and at first when I got here is was really weird because you would be walking around the Cafeteria and just see people scattered around trying to prey which is probably not that out of place during Lunch. But then you will be walking in the halls and just during district study where you just see people all the time going into Pray mode. No joke you will be fully in conversation with and Elder one moment and then when you look up to say something to him, bomb awkward prayer interruption.

ok so I don't really know what else to say about the MTC right now so I guess I will just move into your guys lives now! Talk around town is that the Broncos are in the Super Bowl! Congrats guys.. Sorry Briton.. Pictures are awesome! Little old Rusters is great. haha cant compare to all of the weird positions I've seen Bow in though. CONWAY and ELLE! How are you guys? Conway your messages are so profound! I love your letters bud! keep them coming. Dear Elder is pretty great. Mom, Dad, sounds like you guys had an adventure after you dropped me off! Hope the Yukon will last for you guys! Sorry the bill was pretty wack. Lambsons your the best! Jen just make sure you finish the set when Jillian tells you and then doing sit ups with Conway on your stomach will be easy peesy! haha Nano and Anton! keep at it! Baby will come when shes ready and you will do amazing I'm sure of it. Anton you the man! It was great to see you one last time at Denny's no matter how awkward I may have been! West, Stasia, keep at it my homies within a stones throw! I finally get what you were saying West. Inside here feels like the most isolated place on earth. I keep looking outside the window of our classroom and I'm like, "I remember when I could be alone and walk to class in the early morning.. good times.. haha but seriously I know I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now!

Well I'm coming to an end in my letter. Today I get to go to the Provo Temple (so much cooler than it looks like in pictures) in the afternoon and then we have a devotional to attend tonight in the Gym which will most likely be BOMB! I guess I just missed Elder Bednar's talk on the Tuesday night before I got in. Side note!.. I've seen Dalton like 3 times now and on Sunday night he represented Los Alamos like a champ by accompanying a duet with his Chelo! Super cool. I was like, "I KNOW THAT GUY! WE DRANK THE SAME WATER AND EVERYTHING!"

So yeah Tuesdays are my P-days. Email me this after noon maybe and I might have time to see it tonight? idk but yeah mom if you want to forward this email to the basic folks that would be great! 

Alright well I have some college friends to right now so I will talk to you guys again next week!

Much Love!

Tudo Bem! (Everything well)

Tchau! (Bye)

Yours truly, Elder Christensen

God be with You until we meet again.......Elder Cooper Christensen

Mom and Dad dropped Elder Christensen off at the Albuquerque Airport at 5:00 am this morning.

 Ready to go. Let's do this.

 Made it to Salt Lake City his Utah siblings picked him up for breakfast.

Here is the play by play from Danielle, Westley and Stasia. Thanks guys! love having the memory, makes me feel like we were all there. Love!

Ahhh What a bitter sweet day!! So sad to say good-bye, but so excited for him. We had the wonderful privilege of waking up super duper early to drive to the airport to greet the new missionary. On the way there, there were about 10 million car accidents which made us all really concerned about what was wrong with all the drivers and also anxious about getting to the airport before cooper got to his bags. We ended up making it just in time to see him come down the escalator which is when Danielle had to make sure it was ok for her to hug him.  He was so nervous, he looked like a deer in head lights. he couldn't stop yawning. We decided where we were going to breakfast and were on our way, which Anton was able to meet us for. We spent most of the drive hearing exciting stories from Westley's mission to get cooper pumped for the next 2 years. Cooper said he was not going to eat much cause he was so anxious...but ended up eating most of the plate...his hunger overtook his nerves I guess. During the drive he talked about how awkward goodbyes are so we decided to do all the picture taking while we were at Denny's so that we didn't drag out the goodbyes at the mtc. Cooper was his usual charming self about pictures but was a good sport for everyone that stood there with him. He said good bye to Anton and we were on our way to Provo! After a quick stop at the Christensen house to pick up some last books we started the longest drive across Provo to the mtc. At 10 am we dropped him off...I think he just wanted to be there...no need to hang out and wait around for 12:30. We were let through the gate and pulled up in front of the mtc office. It was kind of an odd scene since no one else was there but I don't think cooper even noticed. I (westley) did have to laugh though cause when we went to get his bags out of the back we both reached for the handle and touched hands. Instantly I wanted to make a romance movie comment or a lady and the tramp reference but it didn't seem very appropriate given the situation. We weren't sure how to go about the next step until an older brother came through the door and said hi. The awkward part was when he just grabbed one of the bags started walking into the building but he didn't say anything nor did he look behind him to make sure that cooper was behind him. This awkward situation quickly let to three very fast hugs and a pat on the back. He seemed shaky as we hugged...Coop might have cried but he was all smiles, he turned and walked in...We creeply waited around looking at him through the window. It looked like he was probably the first one to be dropped off. Didn't hit me how much I miss him until I drove to work....sure do love that kid. He will do a great job and we are very proud to call him our brother
Love,Westley, Stasia, Danielle, & Anton

This is the spot

Elder Cooper Christensen Called to the Brazil Jao Passo Mission. Leaves Januray 15, 2014

Reports to the Provo Mission Traigning Center for 6 weeks.

Still waiting on Visa to be able to travel to Brazil.

Cooper leaves for his mission in just a a couple days. This is the spot where friends and family can check to read Coop's mission letters and see the photos he sends.

We will keep you posted on the best way to keep in touch with him as well.

Getting so excited for him. What an amazing adventure is ahead, through the rough and the fun we all know he is going to rock it.