Robert vs. No Snow

 (Robert's camera is still broken, so here are some oldies from this summer)

Loloma!!! 

Well, I am staying here in Hopi for another 6 weeks!!!  Woohoo!!!  I was pretty positive I was staying so that was my favorite birthday present.   Elder Pebbles is going to Crownpoint, New Mexico.  Its about 30 miles northeast of Gallup.  It's not on the reservation so he is pretty disappointed.  There are plenty of natives though.  I have to be honest besides being able to talk to y'all Christmas was the most uneventful in my life!  I think what really ticked me off was I had 0 snow at all.  Other then Christmas in Sacramento that one year I have always known snow on Christmas.  But thats okay, I got over it already.  On Christmas day we had a big dinner at the Talaswaima families house.  There son is serving  a mission at the SLC Family History headquarters...pretty cool.  Speaking of Natives serving missions....my new companion is Elder Yazzie.  Yep he is a full blooded Navajo!!! His family is from Dennehotso which is a couple hours north of me.  He is actually from Malta, Idaho.  Dinky little town.  Its good to be back with an Idahoan and plus he is a lot like me so we will have the thermostat at about 30 degrees at night its gonna be great.  Also I talked to him earlier a few days ago and asked him a question that would determine the strength of our companionship..." Elder Yazzie.....do you like monopoly??"  " I love monopoly!!!"  ya we are gonna get along just fine.  If we get angry at each other then we will just have to settle it over a manly throwdown of monopoly.  Now because he is Navajo and Hopi's and Navajo's do NOT like each other at all....in fact they are mortal enemies...we will see how it goes down.

Church was awesome yesterday!  We had probably the easiest/best lesson on tithing on this earth during our gospel principles class with the sister that will be baptized on the 18th.  She was the only one in the class so we were able to focus on her questions.  She said that she was wondering about how we "pay money to the church"  and before we even talked about why or where it goes or the blessings she said " Go get me a slip so I can  give some money!"  She explained that she loved to give and "good mormons give cause thats what Jesus would do."  She nailed it on the spot, we dint even have to teach her really.  Oh ya then she said that she didn't have any money on her to give...we told her that it wasn't necessary to pay until she was baptized but she could if she wanted to.  She looked at us like we were crazy then said " I will just save up all my money until the day i get baptized."  She said that she is perfectly fine with giving everything down to her last penny because she knows that the Lord will take care of her and wont let her starve or be cold if she supports the church.  Now keep in mind that this sister has NEVER heard of tithing in her life and has never come to church in whole life and has been very deep into the Hopi tradition until about 10 years ago then she started seeing that it was all messed up.  Pretty good example of faith.  Also she as a gift to us for teaching her she gave us each drawings.  Elder Pebbles got a sweet black and white pencil sketch of a bear.  It doesn't look like what you would think, its the Hopi symbol of a bear so its a bit different but it still looks awesome.  In Hopi way the bear is the medicine spirit and will keep you safe from evil and keep you strong, so that was really a meaningful gift.  I got a colored sketch of  a Hopi village and a bunch of symbols, its really cool.  When she gave it to me she said that " its to represent that you have lived among us and wherever you go you will know that you lived with the Hopi and are part of our family."  I was very deeply honored by this gift.  You can't go and find a picture like that anywhere in the world except on Hopi that was given "life" as the people say when they make art here they talk to it and put their own spirit into the art and give it "life."  Most of the time when they make Kachina dolls or anything they treat it like their child they are giving up for adoption and want the gift to go to a good home.  So if they give it to you for free as a gift then that means they really trust you.  Pretty special.   

Oh going back to bear stuff for a minute.  We were looking up some former investigators and we met up with this man that the Elders have been working with for 3 years or so now.  He believes the Book of Mormon is true and he can recite back the lessons to us in pretty good detail but he doesn't want to give up the tradition.  (which is usually a cover up for saying that they don't want to give up smoking in the Kiva or just other hallucinogenic stuff) But he has read the Book of Mormon and come to church a bunch but he stopped cause earlier this year the Elders told that because he wouldn't be baptized they wouldn't come over anymore.  PATIENCE CHILDREN!!!  It may take years for some people to finally accept the truth and especially out here with the tradition its hard for people to break from it.  Give it some time!!! But we will be meeting with him on wednesday so we will start up his conversion process again.  Anyways, what I was gonna say about bears...there is this herb called "bear root" or "ha-hoysee" in Hopi that they use for spiritual protection.  They will take a nibble and chew it up then spit it on their hands and then rub it all over their bodies as protection from evil spirits and stuff.  They kinda hide it underneath their shirts in little leather pouch necklaces.  He let us see his and gave us some Ha-hoysee to try.  It looks like a really gnarly little ball of wood but I bit some and it tastes like Maple syrup/celery combined.  Not bad!  I didn't rub it on my self though so don't worry.  Anyways that was pretty cool. 

We also had an experience that I wont talk about because I don't want mom to get worried but I want to mention just for suspense purposes.:)  It involves "galaaniis" or "drunks" and maybe some other things but no need to get into detail.  I am emailing now so hence I am safe.  Thats the end of my experience. Hope you enjoyed it.

To finish off the night Chris really wanted to meet with us.  There was a situation that happened in his life that I don't need to talk about but he is not living with his mother anymore and he is not allowed to see his son for who knows how long which is killing him.  He lives up in Old Oraibi with his aunt so we drove over there to visit him with Elder Pebbles for the last time.  We talked a lot and gave him some support and then as a surprise gift to us he gave us each a Kachina Doll called the Qoqole Kachina.  Or the "storyteller."  Pretty sweet!!!  He said he had made them last February and didn't know why because he didn't want to sell them but he didn't know who to give them to.  He believes they were meant for us.  Good stuff.  I am feeling very blessed and grateful for the Hopi people and just being here.  Thanks for everything!!! GO Broncos!!!

Love Elder Christensen 

Robert vs. Christmas

Howdy howdy!!! 

 Here is a long quote for ya.  " When I was a boy, the Sioux owned the world.  The sun rose and set on their land; they send ten thousand men to battle.  Where are the warriors today?  Who slew them?  Where are our lands?  Who owns them?  What white man can say I ever stole his land or a penny of his money?  Yet they say I am a thief.  What white woman, however lonely, was ever captive or insulted by me?  Yet they say I am a bad Indian.  What white man has ever seen me drunk?  Who has ever come to me hungry, and left unfed?  Who has ever seen me beat my wives or abuse my children?  What law have I broken?  Is it wrong for me to love my own?  Is it wicked for me because my skin is red?  Because I am a Sioux?  Because I was born where my father lived?  Because I would die for my people and my country?  - Sitting Bull ( Teton Sioux)

   Its been a looooong day. I haven't sat in the same seat for that long of a time since the plane trip to Africa.  You can only watch "Night at the Museum" so many times...after the 6th time in a row I was done. But we dont have that convenience out here of just zoning out til you arrive somewhere on a mission but thats ok, gives a person a lot of time to think. I forgot to mention that we had to go to Farmington today and we wouldnt be emailing til later.  We left at 730 this morning and go tthere at 1130.  All for a little oil change!  Our vehicle coordinator was a motor pool sergeant forever so he is very picky about car care places and the only place he trusts for Oil changes out of our entire mission of over 50,000 square miles is Big O tire in Farmington.  Which is over 4 hours from us.  Long day.  I got to see a lot of the southern part of the Navajo Rez and its pretty alright....pretty boring.  But hey President Batt told us our 1st day that our favorite color at the end of our mission would be brown, and I think its becoming true.  The only trees are the Juniper and Pinon trees that are just overgrown bushes so that makes me miss Idaho and Cortez a lot but I guess I was born to be a Desert Rat which I am happy with.  This week we actually got back up to 10 lessons for the week so that was good and we are involving the members a ton with the investigators.  Nearly all of our lessons this week we had a member with us, it was great.  I will share with y'all another experience I had about gratitude and how important it is to be humble. 

During our devotional last thursday at our zone Christmas party President and Sister Batt both spoke and they both had some good things to say.  First off, it has always been kind of difficult for me to understand the atonement and the phrase " Jesus paid for our sins" especially.  I just get confused every time I hear that.  Well Sister Batt sure helped with that in her talk.  She spoke about how she was at the Walmart in Idaho Falls and she noticed a man that was obviously in the "RV tourist attire,"  with a short sleeve Hawaiian shirt, khaki shorts and Croc sandals.  Sister Batt said in her head that he looked ridiculous and said she would never be caught wearing something like that.  Anyways she ended up standing behind this man in the cashier line and in front of that man was a lady that obviously was less fortunate.  She had dirty unkempt hair a raspy voice and seemed that she hadnt taken a shower in weeks.  This lady had some groceries that obviously were for children and babies that she was purchasing but when the cashier rang up the price the lady put her head down and started crying because she didnt have enough money.  She pulled out what money she did have and paid for whatever she could afford from her grocery pile and left.  Which wasn't much at all.  After she was distanced from the cashier the Funny looking tourist guy told the cashier to rebag all of her items and he would pay for them.  He did and the bag boy hurried to find the lady out in the parking lot and gave her the rest of the groceries.  A few minutes later the lady came running back in and wrapped her arms around the man and was sobbing "Thank you" over and over again.  Now this makes sense to me compared to Christ's atonement.  After all we can do, which may not be much for some people to pay for our own sins...thats when Christ steps in and pays the rest no matter how large the debt.  That is "grace" defined perfectly and simply.  No matter how bad or good we are in this life...everyone wil receive a resurrected body because Christ paid for it.  Thats one story.  President Batt then spoke about how when he was on his mission in the Dakota's with the Sioux that all he got for Christmas from his family was 2 pairs of socks and a chocolate bar.  Im sure it made some of the missionaries in the room feel a bit spoiled (including myself) because there was some Elders that received multiple packages over 30 pounds each.  Kinda crazy... But anyways President Batt went to say that after they opened up their packages on Christmas day they went to visit some of their investigators and just to go wish people a merry Christmas.  They knocked on this one tiny little house and a very old Grandma ( or shi'ma as we call them) opened the door and in very broken English told them that she was very happy to see them and invited them in.  Elder Batt and his companion noticed that there was very little firewood and there was 2 small children living there.  They left a short gospel message and left the home.  They decided that "nobody should be cold on Christmas" and they went back to their home and chopped a bunch of wood and went back to the home and dropped the wood off.  Elder Batt then went inside and gave EVERYTHING he had gotten from his family to the little children.  2 pairs of socks...and he broke the chocolate bar in half and gave each child a piece. He said that Christmas was his favorite Christmas of his life. Pretty amazing.  Hearing that made me feel sick to my stomach of how selfish I've been.  I was determined to do something good for someone this Christmas season.   

Well we were coming back and we had a bunch of fruit and and other foods they gave us.  I also got my Garrets popcorn which I was anxiously waiting for!   Well we came into our trailer and looked at what appointments we had left for the day and we headed out with all of the stuff that was given to us and I loaded up a few things from my Christmas package just in case I saw someone who would need something.  Our appointments fell through of course and we didn't have anything to do anymore but we decided to stop by this house where a man lived named "Stevie B" as the town knows him.  We talked to Stevie B a couple of days before and he said to come back...during our short little conversation though we learned a lot about him.  He lived in a very small rundown house...no electricity, no water, lives alone.  Never been married.  Hes 61, and he served in Vietnam for a few years.  He said he has nightmares sometimes from what he had to do over there and when he would talk instead of saying "Uhm" or something as a catch phrase he would make gun sounds...pretty intense.  He said he has never received any help or payment from the government since he got back and he lives day by day just to get a sandwich or anything from the work he might do for someone that day.  He told us that there was one point where he didn't even have enough money for a postage stamp. He then went on to say about how often he has wanted to commit suicide because he receives no help or kindness from anyone.  I was hit pretty deep just listening to him.  We set up another time to come back and said a prayer.  We then had the same idea without saying anything and grabbed EVERYTHING we had from our truck...wood, candy, my entire huge popcorn barrel you guys sent me, and gave it to him.  He was very grateful and I am happy that we were able to help someone feel a little happier themselves.  We plan on bringing some more wood to him on Christmas cause just like President Batt....we decided "nobody should be cold on Christmas."  Gosh 1 year ago from now, or even a few months ago I don't think I would be so sensitive to other peoples needs, now I feel terrible when I think about myself, I can't stand it.  Spending a few months on the Hopi reservation will open your eyes a bit and if you wont humble yourself...the Lord will teach you.  I love it here.  Even if I am basically cut off from "civilization."  One small little grocery store and a bunch of Hopi's is all I need. ( and some wood to chop in case I get bored).  Thank you all to who this email goes to and everything you have done for me.  If you get this email then whether or not you meant to be an example to me...you have and I have noticed and am grateful.

Love 

Gamaalii Christensen

Robert vs. Blue Marbles

Loloma!!!

I have decided to start every email now with a Native American quote...some open the eyes a bit to how badly we bahana (white man) have treated them over the past couple centuries or so...but hey part of the prophecies in the Book of Mormon say that they will be "scattered by the Gentiles" but not quite to the point of destruction.  They also say "The Gentiles shall carry the House of Joseph upon their shoulders" so basically we have to take care of them.  Anyways here it goes.  

"Do not grieve.  Misfortunes will happen to the wisest and best of men.  Death will come, always out of season.  It is the command of the Great Spirit, and all nations and people must obey.  What is past and what cannot be prevented should not be grieved for...Misfortunes do not flourish particularly in OUR lives- they grow everywhere."  - Big Elk  (Omaha Chief)       

Its funny, I remember sometimes in Shiprock and sometimes here you will run into a really old person that has a super thick accent and doesn't speak english very well and they talk like that.  All mysterious and full of wisdom like..  Kinda cool!  Things are going good here in Hopi!  Despite the lack of lessons we have we are seeing a bunch of people come out of the woodwork that we will be able to teach this week hopefully.  I actually got a bunch of stuff to talk about today.   

First off Sunday was awesome!!!  Sunday is my favorite day as a missionary.  I don't think it will be when I get back purely because I won't be able to have that awesome feeling when someone that you've been working all week with to come to church walk through the door...best feeling ever.  But we had 5 people we are teaching come to church yesterday it was legit!  We would have officially had 9 but those other 4 were completely unexpected to come and they surprised everyone. Tell you what, being in the only Hopi congregation in the entire world is really a privilege.  I would put this group of 60 members give or take a few a week up against a Utah ward of 300 and the Hopi branch would win when it comes to showing gratitude, humility, kindness, and friendship to every single person that walks through that door.  Its amazing and I have ALMOST teared up a couple times experiencing it.  Last week the lady we are teaching that has committed to be baptized on the 18th of January came to church for her first time, and of course she is related to half of the people in the branch anyways, but literally EVERY single person got up and made a line and welcomed her and gave her a hug and of course all the sisters were crying cause they were so happy to see one of their family members come to church that never has before.  Our branch president was standing up at the pulpit waiting for people to sit down so we could start the meeting.  Yesterday with all of those new people that came to church the person who was conducting individually called out the names of those that came and welcomed them.  It took almost 10 minutes but hey, its worth it.  Only if every congregation in this church would have a welcoming party like that!!!  Nobody would want to leave!!!  Good stuff... you will have to come experience it for yourself someday.  But during the meeting I was sitting in the very back row smack dab in the middle...surrounded by investigators on both sides it was awesome.  Happy day.

Also we went to pick up a less active member before church started and Elder Pebbles was just waiting in the truck while I went and knocked and I heard this big "COME INNNN!!" from tons of people.  I went in and there was about 30 people having a family breakfast!  Completely unexpected!  There was only like 2 cars outside....ya.  Now it doesn't matter how poor or rich a Hopi is...if you walk into a house while they are having a meal you hear at least one person yell "  Sit down and eat!!!"  ahh music to my ears...so while my companion was sitting in the truck still unaware of my good fortune...and while the person we were picking up was getting dressed I had a hot bowl of whats called "blue marbles."  Its blue corn all ground down into a fine powder with more Blue corn rolled up into little balls and all boiled together.  Its really good actually!  I had never had it yet and it tasted like corn oatmeal.  It was kinda funny though with everyone watching the only white guy in the room eat, I said to myself if this doesn't taste good i better have the best acting job of all time...but luckily it was pretty good!  We were also in a hurry and the guy came out and I still had a lot left so they just yelled "DRINK IT!!!"  so I downed it.  I got back into the truck like...ah man that stuff was soooo good!!!....Elder Pebbles looks at me all funny...what are you talking about?....I just got breakfast! Your loss for not coming with me!!  Yes victory is mine.

Okay next...We had interviews with President Batt on Friday and that went really good.  We talked for about 20 minutes.  He told me that I am the only Elder in a very long time that actually likes Polacca.  I about threw up!  How can you not LOVE Hopi!!?!?  Its da best!!!  Then he told me a joke...He put his arms high in the air and was wiggling his fingers...he said "whats this?"  i was all...i have no idea...He said "its a hopi playing the piano."  That was pretty good...yes Hopi's are short...most of them at least.  But President made notice that I wanted to stay here forever so hopefully I won't be moving anytime soon.

I also had an experience that really hit me deep and made me think how thankful i am for what i grew up with and what i have.  We were having dinner at a members house and we got onto the subject of Christmas.  We asked  one of the young boys what he wanted for Christmas and he put his head down and he meant to say it jokingly cause he had a smile but by what he said there was kind of a heavy pause in the air and everyone sat there for a second in silence....the boy said "I already know what I'm getting...a lump of coal." Oh how growing up as kids in this country and a few more that " a lump of coal" means that you are a bad kid....  I haven't talked to Elder Pebbles about that but after the boy said that and I saw the faces of those around the table.....I knew that family would actually love a bunch of coal for Christmas just so they could stay warm for a few nights without having to worry about that.. I wanted to kneel down and pray for thankfulness right there.  I will never forget that....On the subject of that family one of the family members comes to church but is not a member.  He has been coming for a few years since he moved in but was never really interested.  Now just yesterday he said that he would like to take the lessons!!!! WHOOOO!!!  So we will be teaching him sometime soon.  

Next...Cant remember if I mentioned this earlier but a couple weeks ago we gave a blessing to a young less active lady that was involved in a very bad accident.  She rolled 4 times and her face got all messed up.  Her boyfriend was driving and he had to be life flighted to Flagstaff.  His back broke in 2 places and his right arm...he was really messed up.  The boyfriend is not a member and has never really had anything to do with any church.  But we got a call from her on Saturday night to see if  we could give her boyfriend a blessing.  We took Elder Kamka with us and and we sat down with the boyfriend and explained what a blessing is and how and why and everything so he felt comfortable.  He said he wanted one so we continued.  Elder Kamka said the blessing and afterwards the young guy started crying and said that Elder Kamka said a few things that were on his mind exactly and he also said that after a time in his life he stopped to believe in God...but after the accident he was wondering why he was alive because they both 100% should have died...he says he has renewed faith.  That family happened to be some of the unexpected people that came to church yesterday!  It blew our mind!  We didn't even invite them!  But then we set up time to meet with them this week.  Good stuff!!!  I am so happy to be here with the Hopi people.  Thanks for everything and GO BRONCOS!

Love Elder Christensen 

Robert vs. Survival Skills

From Brittney:

If you would like to send something to Robert for the holidays or his birthday on December 28th, we have a direct address PO Box for him.  Don't send anything valuable to the PO Box, anything of value should go through the mission office address to ensure safe delivery.  Letters, treats, small gifts should all be fine though and will probably get to him a little faster when sent directly to him.  Thanks!

Elder Robert E. Christensen
PO Box 832
Polacca, AZ 86042




Heewahnohtahmo!!!!

Well this week certainly hasn't been my favorite on the mission so far.  We didn't get a lot done and plus on Tuesday night we got super sick and were up til 5am.  It was pathetic it was like that movie....oh what is it...oh "take a chance"  Where the 2 guys are acting as foreign exchange students and then that one night they are exploding out of all ends...that was us. We huddled in our little blankets next to each other on our couch and watch 17 miracles at 3am, it was a sad sight. Then...the next morning come to find out our water turned off!  so we didnt have water for showers or toilets for the next 2 days and plus the churchs water was cut off as well.  Luckily we are eagle scouts and have been trained in the ways of outdoor survival so we "managed."  I wont go into anymore detail than that.  

Elder pebbles is from Cali though so he is a pansy when it comes to snow and cold weather, I had to teach him a couple things.  All in all it was way fun though being sick, it was the most exciting thing that has happened in a few weeks.  Thats how bored we are sometimes.  We did have a few lessons though and we made the most out of them.  For the week, we had zone training and we talked about using the Book of Mormon in our lessons and how to teach the 1st lesson using 1 Nephi chapter 1 only.  It was really good and I got a lot out of this training.  So when we got back we had a lesson with a man and we only used 1 Nephi 1 to teach and it was AMAZING!!  There isn't a better teacher then the Book of Mormon in the world.  Its the new Preach My Gospel.  So I guess that would be a challenge I shall issue to all that want to try it...find a preach my gospel and then find the first lesson "the restoration" in chapter 3.  Look at all the sections and study them then go to 1 nephi 1 and try to incorporate the 1st lesson using that.  Good stuff!!

We had 4 investigators still come to church despite our poor teaching week.  We had the man that baptized, Chris, bring another one of his friends to church this week that is going through a rough time.  She came to Gospel Principles and with the help of Brother Dukepoo we related a lot of gospel topics back to the Hopi tradition especially concerning the plan of salvation and she loved it!!  Its so funny to see these Hopi's be all scared of us and then when they finally come to church they say they can't wait til next week!!  Dont make sense cause then they make an excuse and don't come!!!  Frustration.  Its ok though, I am patient...but I aint that patient!! lets see what else....I got to play around with a wolf!! for reals!!!  There is a member that owns a 100% Red wolf.  Its not that big but still kinda intimidating.  It was really nice to me though and was just like Hunter and didn't want you to stop touching it.  I don't know what else to talk about...its good stuff here and I am happy to be here on the Hopi Reservation.  I want to stay here through the winter. Thanks for everything.  Thats all she wrote folks! GO BRONCOS!

eyeamo singadee!!!

Love Gamaalii Christensen

Robert vs. The Holidays

This is a quick note from Brittney.  We heard from Robert briefly via email on Sunday night this week.  He was taking a road trip on Monday would not be able to write his usual letter to us.  He also let us know that his camera broke (again) and wasn't sure if he could send more pictures anytime soon.  I have a few in reserve, so we'll put those in this post for your enjoyment.  Hopefully, the camera will be repaired or replaced soon and Robert will have a nice, long letter next Monday for us.  

He is doing well, but a little frustrated with the lack of work they are able to do with the Hopi and Christmas holidays currently upon them.  People are busy and there are certain traditions that need to be upheld in the month of December according to the Hopi culture.  Send Robert and email, letter, or package this month.  I'm sure it will help speed this month along for him so he and his companion can get back to their busy schedule.  Address is on the right sidebar of this blog.  Until next week....

 The baptismal font has a retractable cover that isn't very attractive, so they cover it up with a nice white slipcover for the ordinance.

Chris' baptism