From: Corrine Christison
Subject: mass email
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2009, 11:49 AM
HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!!!!
so as missionaries, we aren't allowed, well, its just not as fun to celebrate the regular holidays like the fourth of july and labor day, etc.... its just a normal day for us, expect more people are home to talk to. SOOOOOO which holidays do we get excited about? CHURCH HOLIDAYS!
YAY! im sure you can see the excitement about that :) so monday and tuesday of this week was a very special holiday- it was 186 YEARS AGO, on SEPT 21 and 22, that joseph smith first learned about the book of mormon! please, hold the applause.... we had a big missionary meeting that day, some of you may know it as zone conferece, but it was soooo neat to celebrate this AMAZING MIRACLE right there on the HILL CUMORAH - where the gold plates were hidden! our mission president gave us time to walk up the hill, with our copies of the book of mormon and just ponder, think, contemplate about this amazing incident that happened, like i said, just 186 years ago!
needless to say, my thoughts were turned to the book of mormon- another testament of jesus christ. i onced asked a lady on the street, "if there was another book, besides the bible, about jesus christ- would you want to read it? learn more about him?" she said: "sure, do you have one?" ... so i gave her a book of mormon. that is truly what it is- another book for us to read, get the "good word of god" as some people put it, and feel closer than ever to god and our savior jesus christ.
okay, now you can applaud and maybe take a moment this week and ponder on how the book of mormon has impacted your life- if it has. if not, want a copy of it? you just gotta talk to the boys and ladies in black name tags. :)
sister christison
ps. it is offically autumn... happy fall! :)
Monday, September 28, 2009
9/17/09
From: Corrine Christison
Subject: mass email
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2009, 10:53 AM
HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!
can you believe it? fall is here already!!! i would say, probably about 46.5 % of the trees here are already red, orange, yellow... you name it! crazy! it also doesnt get really above 75 degrees anymore! CRAZY!
anyhoo, i hit my 8 month mark on monday, which means i've been out for 8 whole months and i only have 10 more to go! HOW SAD! as i was thinking back on the last 8 months, i started to freak out a little bit...im not learning all i wanted to learn! im not changing fast enough! i still dont have all the scriptures memorized! (just a minor freak out, mind you) but i read a scripture this morning, in my spanish book of mormon of all places, that really helped me put it all back in perpective. the scripture is found in 1 Nephi, when the prophet Nephi is having a vision about Jesus and him coming to earth. The angel in his vision asks Nephi if he knows the meaning of Christ coming to earth.
Nephi responds:
"Se que ama a sus hijos; sin embargo, no se el significado de todas las cosas" (for those of you who don't speak spanish
:) ... nephi said: "I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, i do not know the meaning of all things")
so now, i want you to think about the times in your life when you've have freakouts.... perhaps its right now! or perhaps it wont come for another couple of weeks! but i can promise you, we all have them at some time or another... and when we do- we must remember the principle in this scripture: that God and Jesus Christ love us! and everything else can come later! i am so grateful to have that knowledge, and to actually, literally FEEL his love in my life..... it certainly calms me when im having my freakouts, which is nice- im sure not only for me, but for my companions as well! ;)
have a great week y'all!!
sister christison
ps. im getting my hair chopped off... do you think god's love can calm me down this time too? :)
Subject: mass email
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2009, 10:53 AM
HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!
can you believe it? fall is here already!!! i would say, probably about 46.5 % of the trees here are already red, orange, yellow... you name it! crazy! it also doesnt get really above 75 degrees anymore! CRAZY!
anyhoo, i hit my 8 month mark on monday, which means i've been out for 8 whole months and i only have 10 more to go! HOW SAD! as i was thinking back on the last 8 months, i started to freak out a little bit...im not learning all i wanted to learn! im not changing fast enough! i still dont have all the scriptures memorized! (just a minor freak out, mind you) but i read a scripture this morning, in my spanish book of mormon of all places, that really helped me put it all back in perpective. the scripture is found in 1 Nephi, when the prophet Nephi is having a vision about Jesus and him coming to earth. The angel in his vision asks Nephi if he knows the meaning of Christ coming to earth.
Nephi responds:
"Se que ama a sus hijos; sin embargo, no se el significado de todas las cosas" (for those of you who don't speak spanish
:) ... nephi said: "I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, i do not know the meaning of all things")
so now, i want you to think about the times in your life when you've have freakouts.... perhaps its right now! or perhaps it wont come for another couple of weeks! but i can promise you, we all have them at some time or another... and when we do- we must remember the principle in this scripture: that God and Jesus Christ love us! and everything else can come later! i am so grateful to have that knowledge, and to actually, literally FEEL his love in my life..... it certainly calms me when im having my freakouts, which is nice- im sure not only for me, but for my companions as well! ;)
have a great week y'all!!
sister christison
ps. im getting my hair chopped off... do you think god's love can calm me down this time too? :)
9/10/09
From: Corrine Christison
Subject: mass email
Date: Thursday, September 10, 2009, 11:00 AM
HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!
sister christison got transfered again! a big shocker i know.... its not like it hasnt happened 5 other times already! :) anyhoo, i am now in the beautiful town of fairport new york, where the biggest deal is the erie canal!
:)
it seems like just yesterday, i was commenting on how the trees were finally getting green... well, they arent green anymore! they are changing to beautiful reds, yellows, and oranges... some of them are already falling off! CRAZY HUH?!?!
well, i want to tell y'all a story. its about a woman i have met already here in fairport. her name is beth ann. she is going through a very nasty divorce, she has an eleven year old son who LOVES football, she has to sell her house, she doesn't have a job... doesn't sound too good huh? well, we went over to her home yesterday and you know what she said? "i've had a hard past couple of years, with the divorce and everything, but you know what? these past couple of months i've felt okay." why do you think she has felt okay? well, a couple of months ago is when my companion sister jensen and her old companion sister smoot started teaching her. "i have faith now," she said, "and that has made all the difference".
WOW! my knowledge that god is there, he is aware of all of our needs and he fulfills them has grown so much in being able to meet with beth ann. She may have thought she needed something else, but heavenly father knew she needed faith. she needed to know that he was there and that he loved her!
i am truly grateful for the chance i have to share these experiences with the people of new york (and then share them with y'all!).
"for with god, nothing shall be impossible" luke 1:37.
if beth ann can have faith inspite of her
trials, can we?
sister christison
Subject: mass email
Date: Thursday, September 10, 2009, 11:00 AM
HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!
sister christison got transfered again! a big shocker i know.... its not like it hasnt happened 5 other times already! :) anyhoo, i am now in the beautiful town of fairport new york, where the biggest deal is the erie canal!
:)
it seems like just yesterday, i was commenting on how the trees were finally getting green... well, they arent green anymore! they are changing to beautiful reds, yellows, and oranges... some of them are already falling off! CRAZY HUH?!?!
well, i want to tell y'all a story. its about a woman i have met already here in fairport. her name is beth ann. she is going through a very nasty divorce, she has an eleven year old son who LOVES football, she has to sell her house, she doesn't have a job... doesn't sound too good huh? well, we went over to her home yesterday and you know what she said? "i've had a hard past couple of years, with the divorce and everything, but you know what? these past couple of months i've felt okay." why do you think she has felt okay? well, a couple of months ago is when my companion sister jensen and her old companion sister smoot started teaching her. "i have faith now," she said, "and that has made all the difference".
WOW! my knowledge that god is there, he is aware of all of our needs and he fulfills them has grown so much in being able to meet with beth ann. She may have thought she needed something else, but heavenly father knew she needed faith. she needed to know that he was there and that he loved her!
i am truly grateful for the chance i have to share these experiences with the people of new york (and then share them with y'all!).
"for with god, nothing shall be impossible" luke 1:37.
if beth ann can have faith inspite of her
trials, can we?
sister christison
August 31, 2009
From: Corrine Christison
Subject: mass email
Date: Monday, August 31, 2009, 11:02 AM
HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!!
isnt life good? i mean, really, if you sat down and counted all your blessings.... life is good! everyday that we wake up is a good day (as one gentleman at church told my companion and i as we asked him how he was doing)!!
so, im not sure if you remember, but my mission president has asked all the missionaries to read the book of mormon in 6 weeks... we are getting down to the last 2 weeks and thankfully, im on track! i started in the middle of the book of mormon, so last week i finished it and am starting from the beginning. man! do i love this book! if there is anyone who is reading this that has not picked up a book of mormon in a long while-- i strongly suggest you do!! my good mood i'm apparently in, guessing by the tone of this letter,... is due to the book of mormon! NO JOKE!
i read a scripture today that surely brightened it! 1 nephi 18:21.... lehi and his family are on the boat, headed for the americas, when laman and lemuel decided to bind nephi up. of course the lord wasnt very happy about that so he caused a mighty (and im talking mighty) storm to come upon them. finally, the brothers let nephi go and what did he do... just as verse 21 says: "and it came to pass that i prayed unto the lord; and after i had prayed the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm". i have felt like that recently... that as ive poured my soul out to the lord in prayer, he has calmed the sea and the mighty winds..... the winds are still there- but just not as big.
gosh i do love the lord and all that he does for me! and i KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that he'll do the same thing for YOU, if you'll just pour your heart out to him in prayer.... however, just remember: "sometimes the lord calms the sea, and sometimes he calms the sailor"
i hope all y'all have a wonderful week and have some warmer weather than what we are having here.... high 60s with a low of 40. what the mess is that about?!?! :)
sister christison
Subject: mass email
Date: Monday, August 31, 2009, 11:02 AM
HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!!
isnt life good? i mean, really, if you sat down and counted all your blessings.... life is good! everyday that we wake up is a good day (as one gentleman at church told my companion and i as we asked him how he was doing)!!
so, im not sure if you remember, but my mission president has asked all the missionaries to read the book of mormon in 6 weeks... we are getting down to the last 2 weeks and thankfully, im on track! i started in the middle of the book of mormon, so last week i finished it and am starting from the beginning. man! do i love this book! if there is anyone who is reading this that has not picked up a book of mormon in a long while-- i strongly suggest you do!! my good mood i'm apparently in, guessing by the tone of this letter,... is due to the book of mormon! NO JOKE!
i read a scripture today that surely brightened it! 1 nephi 18:21.... lehi and his family are on the boat, headed for the americas, when laman and lemuel decided to bind nephi up. of course the lord wasnt very happy about that so he caused a mighty (and im talking mighty) storm to come upon them. finally, the brothers let nephi go and what did he do... just as verse 21 says: "and it came to pass that i prayed unto the lord; and after i had prayed the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm". i have felt like that recently... that as ive poured my soul out to the lord in prayer, he has calmed the sea and the mighty winds..... the winds are still there- but just not as big.
gosh i do love the lord and all that he does for me! and i KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that he'll do the same thing for YOU, if you'll just pour your heart out to him in prayer.... however, just remember: "sometimes the lord calms the sea, and sometimes he calms the sailor"
i hope all y'all have a wonderful week and have some warmer weather than what we are having here.... high 60s with a low of 40. what the mess is that about?!?! :)
sister christison
Monday, August 24, 2009
August 17, 2009
From: Corrine Christison
Subject: mass email
Date: Monday, August 17, 2009, 11:25 AM
HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!
Let me tell you, i am standing before you today to tell you that there truly is light at the end of the tunnel...it has FINALLY gotten above 80 here in new york!!!!! FINALLY summer has arrived!!! (only to be over in a couple of weeks, i know!) just an update on my week: my companion and i biked over 20 miles this week! (keep in mind that probably about 16 of those miles were UPHILL!!!) needless to say, my leg muscles are looking pretty good right about now.
:) "how did we survive?" you might be asking yourself. well, i cant speak for my companion but i
was singing "press forward saints" in my head over and over again everytime we got to a big hill... what?!?! it worked! i really felt the drive when i sang " press on ENDURING!"
:)
other than that, life is truly a wonderful gift that we are given to try to make the most of our lifes and help others along the way. here's just a quote by mother theresa that i'm going to try to impliment in my life more because i truly have seen the effects of a kind word! "KIND WORDS CAN BE SHORT AND EASY TO SPEAK BUT THEIR ECHOES ARE TRULY ENDLESS"
sincerely,
sister christison
Subject: mass email
Date: Monday, August 17, 2009, 11:25 AM
HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!
Let me tell you, i am standing before you today to tell you that there truly is light at the end of the tunnel...it has FINALLY gotten above 80 here in new york!!!!! FINALLY summer has arrived!!! (only to be over in a couple of weeks, i know!) just an update on my week: my companion and i biked over 20 miles this week! (keep in mind that probably about 16 of those miles were UPHILL!!!) needless to say, my leg muscles are looking pretty good right about now.
:) "how did we survive?" you might be asking yourself. well, i cant speak for my companion but i
was singing "press forward saints" in my head over and over again everytime we got to a big hill... what?!?! it worked! i really felt the drive when i sang " press on ENDURING!"
:)
other than that, life is truly a wonderful gift that we are given to try to make the most of our lifes and help others along the way. here's just a quote by mother theresa that i'm going to try to impliment in my life more because i truly have seen the effects of a kind word! "KIND WORDS CAN BE SHORT AND EASY TO SPEAK BUT THEIR ECHOES ARE TRULY ENDLESS"
sincerely,
sister christison
August 10, 2009
From: Corrine Christison
Subject: mass email
Date: Monday, August 10, 2009, 10:43 AM
HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!
my limited spanish skills came into use this week when i had to give a tour at the joseph smith farm in espanol... thank goodness one of them could interpret as well or else it wouldve been painful! oh well, maybe i really should brush up on my past-tense verbs.... well, i hope that everyone's first week of august was delightful! i know mine sure was...it finally got above 80
for more than one day in a row... and it didnt rain! CRAZY! just in time for fall to begin :)
our mission president, the man in charge of all the missionaries here in western new york, gave us a challenge to read the whole book of mormon in 6 weeks! that is 13 pages a day!!!!!! as you can imagine, we are all frantically trying to read out of that book every chance we get and you know what? its been an incredible experience! i truly know what nephi was urging us all to do when he says "FEAST upon the words of christ". i mean think about it, at thanksgiving or christmas, during our feasts, arent we all just stuffing out faces? i know i am! :) that is how our scripture reading should be-- whether it be out of the bible or the book of mormon. anyways, just a small lesson learned this week!
ENJOY AUGUST WHILE ITS HERE (its the best month of the year!)
sister christison
ps. just a promise from one of the seventy, elder yoshihiko kikuchi on "feasting upon the words of christ" daily, he says: "i know from personal expereince the spiritual power that can flow into yourl ife... you will feel the love of god and a cleansing, purifying regeneration of your spirit. you will experience moments of revelation, when the spirit whispers to your spirit what you need to do to be a better father, a better mother, a better son or daughter, a better disciple of jesus christ"
Subject: mass email
Date: Monday, August 10, 2009, 10:43 AM
HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!
my limited spanish skills came into use this week when i had to give a tour at the joseph smith farm in espanol... thank goodness one of them could interpret as well or else it wouldve been painful! oh well, maybe i really should brush up on my past-tense verbs.... well, i hope that everyone's first week of august was delightful! i know mine sure was...it finally got above 80
for more than one day in a row... and it didnt rain! CRAZY! just in time for fall to begin :)
our mission president, the man in charge of all the missionaries here in western new york, gave us a challenge to read the whole book of mormon in 6 weeks! that is 13 pages a day!!!!!! as you can imagine, we are all frantically trying to read out of that book every chance we get and you know what? its been an incredible experience! i truly know what nephi was urging us all to do when he says "FEAST upon the words of christ". i mean think about it, at thanksgiving or christmas, during our feasts, arent we all just stuffing out faces? i know i am! :) that is how our scripture reading should be-- whether it be out of the bible or the book of mormon. anyways, just a small lesson learned this week!
ENJOY AUGUST WHILE ITS HERE (its the best month of the year!)
sister christison
ps. just a promise from one of the seventy, elder yoshihiko kikuchi on "feasting upon the words of christ" daily, he says: "i know from personal expereince the spiritual power that can flow into yourl ife... you will feel the love of god and a cleansing, purifying regeneration of your spirit. you will experience moments of revelation, when the spirit whispers to your spirit what you need to do to be a better father, a better mother, a better son or daughter, a better disciple of jesus christ"
July 20, 2009
From: Corrine Christison
Subject: mass email
Date: Monday, July 20, 2009, 10:31 AM
HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!!!
I SURVIVED PAGAENT! wanna guess how many people we had come through the joseph smith farm during those ten days we consider pagaent? any guesses? okay... i'll just tell you---- (cue the drumroll) 20, 830!!! and that is just at one of the sites! crazy huh?!?! i dont think we get that much throughout the rest of the year... palmyra definitely explodes during pagaent. some of
the businesses around even have signs that said "welcome l-d-s!" :) gotta love new york. anyways, despite the swarms of people, i got a lot of time to study- a tender mercy from the lord i am positive. i was able to read one of the books suggested for missionaries called "our search for happiness" by elder m. russell ballard, one of the authorites of the church. i would like to share a quote with you from that book. i was able to be at the hill cumorah visitors center for the
first 5 days of pagaent and testify of our savior in front of a statue called the christus. needless to say, my thoughts were turned to christ and all that he has done for me, and for each of us. truly, he should be not only our savior but our best friend.... back to elder ballard. he says :"the best thing about living a christ-centered life is how it makes you feel. it's hard to have a negative attitude about things if and when your life is focused on the prince of peace. there will still be problems. everyone has them. BUT faith in the lord jesus christ is a power to be reckoned with in the universe and in individual lives." WOW! A POWER TO BE RECKONED WITH!!! jeepers... thats a bold statement and yet, how true it is! i think it was helen keller who said something along the lines of "when you turn to the sun, the shadows fall behind you"... i love thinking of the sun, as the son- the son of god, our savior and redeemer jesus christ. ive seen it in my life, ive
seen it in the lives of people i get to teach out here in new york. i leave you these things with my love!
sister christison
ps. how the heck is it already july 20th? anyone got
a answer to that?!?!
Subject: mass email
Date: Monday, July 20, 2009, 10:31 AM
HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!!!
I SURVIVED PAGAENT! wanna guess how many people we had come through the joseph smith farm during those ten days we consider pagaent? any guesses? okay... i'll just tell you---- (cue the drumroll) 20, 830!!! and that is just at one of the sites! crazy huh?!?! i dont think we get that much throughout the rest of the year... palmyra definitely explodes during pagaent. some of
the businesses around even have signs that said "welcome l-d-s!" :) gotta love new york. anyways, despite the swarms of people, i got a lot of time to study- a tender mercy from the lord i am positive. i was able to read one of the books suggested for missionaries called "our search for happiness" by elder m. russell ballard, one of the authorites of the church. i would like to share a quote with you from that book. i was able to be at the hill cumorah visitors center for the
first 5 days of pagaent and testify of our savior in front of a statue called the christus. needless to say, my thoughts were turned to christ and all that he has done for me, and for each of us. truly, he should be not only our savior but our best friend.... back to elder ballard. he says :"the best thing about living a christ-centered life is how it makes you feel. it's hard to have a negative attitude about things if and when your life is focused on the prince of peace. there will still be problems. everyone has them. BUT faith in the lord jesus christ is a power to be reckoned with in the universe and in individual lives." WOW! A POWER TO BE RECKONED WITH!!! jeepers... thats a bold statement and yet, how true it is! i think it was helen keller who said something along the lines of "when you turn to the sun, the shadows fall behind you"... i love thinking of the sun, as the son- the son of god, our savior and redeemer jesus christ. ive seen it in my life, ive
seen it in the lives of people i get to teach out here in new york. i leave you these things with my love!
sister christison
ps. how the heck is it already july 20th? anyone got
a answer to that?!?!
July 6, 2009
From: Corrine Christison
Subject: mass email
Date: Monday, July 6, 2009, 5:20 PM
HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!!!
i hope everyone had a wonderful fourth of july. i was a little bummed i couldnt go watch the fireworks but my companion and i saw a couple on our drive home that night. this email will have to last two weeks because with the HILL CUMORAH PAGEANT coming up, we dont get any time to email... which i know is so sad but it is okay, try not to be too sad ;) and i'll just have you know, for anyone who was wondering, i hit my 6- month mark on the 14th of july. i cannot tell you how fast the time is passing and my feelings of being 1/3 of the way done with my time
here in new york. but i do wish to tell you a story...... if that is alright. my companion, sister autrey, and i are currently teaching a woman named joann. she has had some wonderful
experiences in her life and then some not so good experiences. unfortunately, i think the bad outweigh the good but to get on with it- we were teaching her about prayer, and how it can help us build a stronger relationship with god and how it can truly bring peace in her life. i share my experiences and testimony- sister autrey shares a powerful, wonderful testimony and then joann said something that made me think. she said "i wish i could say what you just said and believe it". sister autrey turns to her and says "you can. you just have to try it for yourself" this experience reminded me of something elder ballard said in this past general conference. he is talking about how we strengthen our own testimonies and faith; he said: " you cannot do a google search to gain a testimony. you can't text message faith. you gain a vibrant, life-changing testimony today the same way it has always been done... it comes through desire, study, prayer, obedience, and service" so basically, the moral of the story and of elder ballards talk is: JUST DO IT! (wait, its that nike's theme too?) :)
enjoy the next couple of weeks! y'all are in my prayers!
sister christison
June 22, 2009
From: Corrine Christison
Subject: mass email!
Date: Monday, June 22, 2009, 12:41 PM
HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!
greetings from irondequoit! im almost 6 months into my mission and i cant tell you how FAST it is all flying by!! i think ive also discovered the key to happiness in this life... now, im talking about that deep happiness and peace that is very hard to comeby. i know i never got it from watching tv, or movies, or even just hanging out with friends. i have however- found it on my mission. its not there all the time, but ive noticed that when im doing what my heavenly father has asked
of me (which is to open my mouth and share his message that the gospel of jesus christ, which he set up while on the earth, has been restored through the prophet joseph smith), than im happy. i have that true sense of joy! this all kind of reminded me of this quote by elder hales, from this past general conference, in which he said "as children of god, our deepest hunger and what we should be seeking is what the lord alone can provide- his love, his sense fo worth, his security, his confidence, his hope in the future, and assurance of his love, which brings us eternal joy"..... the lord alone can give us that peace which comes from doing what he's asked of us-- love one
another, love god, read our scriptures, pray daily, etc etc....... these tiny little things...... try it! i KNOW it will brings the lord's love, confidence, and sense of worth that elder hales
promises. i know it.
adios!
sister christison
Greetings from Dana Point
Date: Sun, Jun 21, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Subject: Greetings from Dana Point!
Greetings from Dana Point!
Brother and Sister Christison,
I just wanted to drop you a quick note to tell you that I had the pleasure of being guided on a tour of the Joseph Smith farm and frame home by your daughter last week. I took a special trip with my mother-in-law and nephews and nieces back to the church history sites, and your daughter did a wonderful job of describing the sites and helping these young men and women feel the Spirit there.
You should know that she is doing well and is working hard!
Thank you,
Noall Silvester Director of Rooms and Guest Services
Thursday, June 18, 2009
From: Corrine Christison
Subject: mass email
Date: Thursday, June 18, 2009, 11:47 AM
HERMANS Y HERMANOS!
no time to write because our time at the library is always cut short by appointments or service but i thought of some other reasons why i love new york:
1. im now in a city called irondequiot...... who comes up with these names?!?
2. everytime it rains, it smells like worms... not the most pleasant but we deal with it!
so, i just want all of you to know that i know that the church is true. that i know that we were literally created in the image of our heavenly father and mother and that they love each and every one of us sooooooo much. it is mind-boggling to me to try and think about the amount of love they have- and the amount of love our savior has for us. there is a quote that says "when we think of our savior and that he did all that he did not because he HAD to but because he LOVES us, is a sobering thought indeed"..... think about that. our savior loves all of us! and im sooooo grateful to know that..... okay, my companion is giving me that look! im off!
have a great week!
sister christison
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Oh how i love new york!
From: Corrine Christison
Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2009, 6:11 PM
HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!
oh how i love new york! let me count the ways for you:
1. i love how when we're tracting down the country roads, we have to step over the three-day old roadkill... i think ive passed possum, beaver, and deer. yes it is sad, but it is new york!
2. it rains 5 out of the 7 days of the week and the natives say we're behind on our rain this year! i dont want to see how much it has to rain for us to be on target!
3. there's a hamburger joint in town called "chill n grill" where we went all the visitors for the best ice cream around. they have a map so visitors can put a star where they are from... 50 % of the stars are on utah! :) palmyra truly becomes a mormon town in the summer
time!
4. the palmyra temple is laid out exactly like the raleigh (that is really in apex) temple so everytime i go, i get a taste of good ole north carolina.
okay! thats enough! truly though, new york is growing on me more and more and i know that it is because when you truly serve people, you grow to love them. i wanted to share a testimony building experience i had this week. one of our investigators named ian told us
"since you ladies have been coming, i feel like ive moved from that kid in the back of the classroom to the front of the room"..... tender i know! but truly, when our relationship grows, when we better realize that we are not just one in the 6 trillion billion people that have come
to the earth but that we are a daughter or son of god-- we feel more special. we are more able to feel HIS LOVE in our life and thus, we will strive to do his will. the best way i have found to feel closer to my father in heaven, to feel my relationship with God growing is through
prayer. let us strive to say more meaningful prayers... just as if we were talking on the telephone to
our father who we havent seen in a long time! i
promise that if you can strive to do this, your relationship
with your father in heaven will strengthen and his love will
be more abundant in your life! prayer- it works!
sister christison
Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2009, 6:11 PM
HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!
oh how i love new york! let me count the ways for you:
1. i love how when we're tracting down the country roads, we have to step over the three-day old roadkill... i think ive passed possum, beaver, and deer. yes it is sad, but it is new york!
2. it rains 5 out of the 7 days of the week and the natives say we're behind on our rain this year! i dont want to see how much it has to rain for us to be on target!
3. there's a hamburger joint in town called "chill n grill" where we went all the visitors for the best ice cream around. they have a map so visitors can put a star where they are from... 50 % of the stars are on utah! :) palmyra truly becomes a mormon town in the summer
time!
4. the palmyra temple is laid out exactly like the raleigh (that is really in apex) temple so everytime i go, i get a taste of good ole north carolina.
okay! thats enough! truly though, new york is growing on me more and more and i know that it is because when you truly serve people, you grow to love them. i wanted to share a testimony building experience i had this week. one of our investigators named ian told us
"since you ladies have been coming, i feel like ive moved from that kid in the back of the classroom to the front of the room"..... tender i know! but truly, when our relationship grows, when we better realize that we are not just one in the 6 trillion billion people that have come
to the earth but that we are a daughter or son of god-- we feel more special. we are more able to feel HIS LOVE in our life and thus, we will strive to do his will. the best way i have found to feel closer to my father in heaven, to feel my relationship with God growing is through
prayer. let us strive to say more meaningful prayers... just as if we were talking on the telephone to
our father who we havent seen in a long time! i
promise that if you can strive to do this, your relationship
with your father in heaven will strengthen and his love will
be more abundant in your life! prayer- it works!
sister christison
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Daddy Email - 5/31/09
hey daddy,
i wanted to share with you the letter our assistants to the presidents just sent us. so bear with me!
"we have moments of great joy but also times of great sorrow and disappointment. this is an essential part of our mortal existence. we can exprect our faith to be tried and disappointments to come. those times, however, "need not lead to discouragement," because we can also expect miracles and great joy. by definition, to discourage is to deprive of confidence and the ability to conquer fear or despair. discouragement causes us to lose focus, motivation, and the desire to obey. it weakens our fatih and brings with it greater difficulty in feeling and following the spirit. the reasons it comes are varied.. it comes from missed expectations, from comparing ourselves to others and feeling that we dont meausre up. often, it comes from doubt, thoughts like "i dont know if i can do this"... sometimes discouragement seems to come uninvited and withou reason, even when all is going well. nevertheless, it comes. how is it overcome? ... discouragement is overcome by choosing faith "even when the mist of darkness confromnting us is exceedingly great". when these time of disappointment come, to "maintain a vision of who we are and what we are doing," and to "continue to diligently move forward". we must also plead for the strenth, desire, and guidance we need. it is our testimony that we cannot comprehend the joy that awaits us for "as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which god hath prepared for them that love him".
so dad, when disappointment comes, we must choose FAITH, remember who we are- that we are SONS and DAUGHTERS of a LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER and then PRAY for the STRENGTH to continue on
i love you sooooooooo much!
sister kiddo
"we have moments of great joy but also times of great sorrow and disappointment. this is an essential part of our mortal existence. we can exprect our faith to be tried and disappointments to come. those times, however, "need not lead to discouragement," because we can also expect miracles and great joy. by definition, to discourage is to deprive of confidence and the ability to conquer fear or despair. discouragement causes us to lose focus, motivation, and the desire to obey. it weakens our fatih and brings with it greater difficulty in feeling and following the spirit. the reasons it comes are varied.. it comes from missed expectations, from comparing ourselves to others and feeling that we dont meausre up. often, it comes from doubt, thoughts like "i dont know if i can do this"... sometimes discouragement seems to come uninvited and withou reason, even when all is going well. nevertheless, it comes. how is it overcome? ... discouragement is overcome by choosing faith "even when the mist of darkness confromnting us is exceedingly great". when these time of disappointment come, to "maintain a vision of who we are and what we are doing," and to "continue to diligently move forward". we must also plead for the strenth, desire, and guidance we need. it is our testimony that we cannot comprehend the joy that awaits us for "as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which god hath prepared for them that love him".
so dad, when disappointment comes, we must choose FAITH, remember who we are- that we are SONS and DAUGHTERS of a LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER and then PRAY for the STRENGTH to continue on
i love you sooooooooo much!
sister kiddo
Corrine Mass Email - 5/20/09
> Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2009, 12:03 PM
> HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!>
> so im not a spanish speaking missionary but i got the
> chance to invite someone, well, kind of invite him, to read
> the book of mormon in spanish! it was a rush thats for
> sure!! anyways, i'm telling y'all right now that im
> falling in love with the country (and i thought i was a city
> girl!) but spring has just come into full bloom and
> the rolling fields here in palmyra are just
> GORGEOUS!!! i'll take a picture and send it
> sometime... just so you can see the beauty!
>
> we had stake conference last sunday. elder robert d.
> hales spoke a little bit about the sacrament. he said
> that in the sacrament prayer it says: "to always remember
> him..." elder hales pointed out that in order to remember
> something, we first must experience it or know it. so,
> in order to remember christ and his atonement during the
> sacrament, we must first know him and experience the effects
> of the atonement in our lives! so next week, as you
> all are sitting church, strive to REMEMBER the savior--
> recall how you felt his love this past week, reflect on what
> you learned about him, etc. not only will your sundays
> become more spirit-filled but your life will be richly
> blessed, i can promise you that!! blessed how you may
> ask? well, elder porter (also at stake conference) said "the
> fruits of the spirit are JOY BEYOND EXPRESSION and DEEP
> INNER PEACE THAT IS BEYOND UNDERSTANDING"... sound good to
> anyone? it does to me!
>
> i hope all of you are having a great week!
> sister christison
>
> ps. every week we have a site meeting where all the
> senior couples and young sisters who are working at the
> historical sites get together. a couple of weeks ago,
> one senior sister told of an experience she had at the book
> of mormon publication site where a boy asked: "why didn't
> jesus christ waitl till the computer age to print the book
> of mormon?" (prompted of course by just learning about the
> old fashioned printing presses) . so she is relating this
> story when another senior elder raised his hand. he says: "
> the lord wanted the gospel to be restored by a prophet, not
> a computer nerd"
> ** an apology goes out to all the computer nerds reading
> this... i think you're right up there with a prophet in
> terms of importance!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Corrine Mass Email.. 5/27/09.
> From: Corrine Christison
> Subject: mass email part 2
> Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2009, 1:47 PM
> sorry for another email but i forgot
> a story that i thought might bring a smile to someone's
> face...it sure did to mine!
>
> my companion and i were tracting a trailer park on memorial
> day. we havent been having any success and we
> get to this door. we knock... no answer. so we knock
> again.... no answer. we were about to leave when
> finally an man in his 50-60s opened the door. the
> funny/shocking/awkward part of his opening the door was that
> he was in nothing but his grey underwear! AH! he
> looked at us and said "im in my underwear so i dont think
> i'll talk to you" and shut the door!
>
> just a little taste of new york and how sometimes, i feel
> like i really am in a foreign country!
>
> :)
>
> sister christison
> Subject: mass email part 2
> Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2009, 1:47 PM
> sorry for another email but i forgot
> a story that i thought might bring a smile to someone's
> face...it sure did to mine!
>
> my companion and i were tracting a trailer park on memorial
> day. we havent been having any success and we
> get to this door. we knock... no answer. so we knock
> again.... no answer. we were about to leave when
> finally an man in his 50-60s opened the door. the
> funny/shocking/awkward part of his opening the door was that
> he was in nothing but his grey underwear! AH! he
> looked at us and said "im in my underwear so i dont think
> i'll talk to you" and shut the door!
>
> just a little taste of new york and how sometimes, i feel
> like i really am in a foreign country!
>
> :)
>
> sister christison
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Corrine. Mass Email - 5/14/09
--- On Thu, 5/14/09, Corrine Christison wrote:
> From: Corrine Christison
> Subject: mass email
> Date: Thursday, May 14, 2009, 12:41 PM
> HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!
>
> i hope all you mothers out there had a happy mothers day!
> life as a missionary just seems to role on but exciting news
> is that one of our investigators named sambo read all of the
> book of alma in about two weeks! i love it, even if it
> makes me look bad cause i just barely finished jacob. :)
>
> i made it a goal to read the whole doctrine and covenants
> so ive been trying to find a little time each day to read a
> section or two and oh, it is such an amazing book of
> scripture! how grateful i am for modern
> revelation! anyways, there is a scripture that my
> companion and i used in a lesson this week --D&C
> 78:17-19. naturally, since then, its been on my
> mind. i would like to quote it for you:
> "verily, verily, i say unto you, ye are little children,
> and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the
> father hath in his own hands and prepared for you;
>
> and ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good
> cheer, for i will lead you laong. the kingdom is yours and
> the blessings thereof are yours, andt he riches of eternity
> are yours.
>
> and he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be
> made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added
> unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more."
>
> WOW! lots of good stuff huh?!?! instead of picking
> something specific out for y'all to think about- i want you
> to read it over again and find something that sticks out to
> you, and then find some way to apply it to your life.
> for example, we shared with scripture with our investigator
> to show the importance of being grateful- the lord promises
> us to give us blessings, even 100 fold what we wouldve
> received! i also love the line "ye arel ittle
> children"...and how are little children supposed to act?
> might want to look at mosiah 3:19 and pick something to work
> on. and if something else besides those two examples
> stick out to you- its okay! work on it!
> ive seen such blessings here on the mission as i strive to
> become more like my savior, i got a long way to go but we
> make leaps instead of steps when we involve the atonement in
> working on our weaknesses.
>
> this is my testimony! i love you all and hope ya know,
> you're in my prayers every night... yes, i mean all of you!
>
> sister christison
Corrine. Mass Email 4/29/09
--- On Wed, 4/29/09, Corrine Christison wrote:
> From: Corrine Christison
> Subject: mass email
> To: tc8lunch@yahoo.com
> Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 6:48 PM
> HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!
>
> spring has sprung in new york!!! the sacred grove has never
> looked more beautiful than when the trees are starting to
> bud and the flowers are opening their petals! i think
> spring has become my favorite season. what a marvelous
> example our mother earth sets for each of us in that each
> year, she takes the time to renew herself and make herself
> beautiful again (i think heavenly father did that on
> purpose!). yes, i know we already have the spring cleaning
> where we throw out old clothes, do a massive cleaning of the
> house, etc but do we do a spiritual spring cleaning? crazy?
> i think not! i read a quote by president eyring this week
> that said: "never think you have been taught enough,
> that you have listened long enough, that now it's your turn and
> time to rest" what if mother earth decided she had
> renewed long enough and she just wanted to take a rest this
> time. i know i wouldnt be happy with a year long winter
> (especially if it is a new york winter!) so, what are we
> going to renew this year? what are we going to weed out?
> what petals are we going to open up to the world to make it
> just that more beautiful? think about it. then do it!
>
> love y'all!
> sister christison
Daddy.. 4/29/09
from Corrine Christison m
date Wed, Apr 29, 2009 at 6:41 PM
subject daddy!
DADDY!!!
i wont have time to hand write too many letters this week so i thought i would just send you a quick email!
i love you and hope that you are having a wonderful time down there in north carolina! its finally warming up here and its becoming springtime!! we go running every morning down to the sacred grove and walk through it. everyday it gets greener and greener. it is amazing to me how our father in heaven, through his son, created an earth which renews itself every year. we can take such an example from mother earth in that this spring season, we can take the opportunity to renew ourselves and our covenants. i spend my time teaching non members about the covenants made at baptism, and in the temples and i get the opportunity to strengthen members testimonies of those covenants theyve already made. so father of mine, i would encourage you to think about those covenants you made at baptism those many years ago, you covenanted to (as told to us in d&c 20) take up on you the name of christ, repent of all your sins, have a determination to serve him to the end, and to manifest by your works that you have recieved that witness by the holy ghost. i know that you turly were willing to do all those things when you decided to be baptized. and im so glad that you have such a strong testimony because i will never forget the first christmas we spent with you after you moved out and you said " i never want you kids to doubt that i dont know this church is true" i know you know that it is true and that has been such an anchor to me to hold on to. but, life gets hard doesnt it? it isnt always perfect and we are promised in helaman 5:12 that "WHEN (notice it doesnt say if) the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, WHEN all his hail and his might storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall". that rock is our savior and the best way to continually build that foundation on him is to remember those covenants we made to him and strive to keep them!
love you and cant wait to talk to you in less than two weeks! YAY!
sis c
Corrine. Mass Email - 4/22/09
> From: Corrine Christison
> Subject: mass email
> Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 1:19 PM
> HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!
>
> i hope all of you are having a wonderful week! this is
> going to be a real short email this week cause sadly, i dont
> have a lot of time.... preparation days certainly arent very
> "preparatory" :) oh well! i signed up to serve
> the lord so thats what im doing!
>
> we've been having a lot of rain lately, as have north
> carolina and utah (or so ive heard) so i thought this quote
> would be fitting. i have the wonderful chance to work with
> some of the best senior couples ever! (they work at the
> historic sites with us) and this was from an elder tolman
> from bancroft idaho. he told me, on one of the
> aforementioned gloomy days, "dont wait for the storms
> to pass, learn to dance in the rain!"
>
> so, since i love to dance in the rain, literally, i thought
> i would take his advice figuratively as well so thats my
> challenge to you- LEARN TO DANCE IN THE RAIN figuratively of
> course. i read a scripture in 1 nephi today which explains
> one way we can do this. nephi says: "wherefore, it was
> wisdom in the lord that we should carry them [the brass
> plates] with us, as we journeyed in the wilderness towards
> the lands of promise".
>
> so as we are journeying through the 'wildernesses'
> and 'storms' of life, carry the scriptures and READ
> THEM! and it will help us learn to dance our way through
> towards the 'land of promise'...
>
> sincerely,
> sister christison
>
> ps. if you are going to take elder tolman's advice
> literally, make sure its not lightening outside or anything like
> that! i would hate to be responsible for any injuries ;)
Corrine. Mass Email - 4/8/09
--- On Wed, 4/8/09, Corrine Christison wrote:
> From: Corrine Christison
> Subject: mass email
> Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2009, 2:23 PM
> HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!
>
> was general conference not AMAZING?!?! i hope all of you
> had the chance to atleast watch a session of it. im not
> quite sure if its just good because im on a mission or what
> but the spirit was SO strong! there are so many talks i
> would love to tell you about but there is one in particular
> that i just LOVED! it was elder gary e stevenson's talk
> from sunday afternoon. he opened by saying "look, you
> are never lost if you can see the temple" and for all
> of you who heard my final talk- you know how much i love the
> temple! it is such such such a sacred place and i would
> encourage all of you to strive to be worthy to enter its
> sacred walls but what i want to talk about is what elder
> stevenson said later in his talk. he talke about the home-
> and how it can be as sacred as the temple is. so here are
> some questions we can ask ourselves "do you feel love
> in your home? is you sleeping area a place where you can
> kneel and pray? are your scriptures found in a place where
> they can be studied? is the conversation without contention
> and is uplifting?" this talk, as well as some of the
> homes ive been in in new york, have really helped me gain an
> appreciation for a home that is conducive to having the
> spirit. anyways, i dont want to make this email too long but
> just a commitment for you this week: think of the words to
> the song "i love to see the temple"... then
> substitute the word 'home' for 'temple'....
> now that you've sung it in your head like this.... do
> you feel that way when you think about home? do your
> children? grandchildren? whatever the case may be? if not,
> fix it! if so, fix it to be better!
>
> love,
> sister christison
>
> ps. its snowing today! new york weather is CRAZY!
>
>
Corrine. Funny Story - 4/15/09
Corrine Christison.
Apr 15
okay so are you ready for THE story of my mission? i figured i would send this to all of you via email so the story wouldnt be ruined for anyone... and, i didnt want to have to write or type it a million times!
okay, so last thursday was maundy thursday which is some lutheran part of the whole 'passover, good friday, easter' thing... not quite sure what its supposed to celebrate BUT the point is, sister clayton and i decided to go to the service with our investigator jane because we knew it would mean SO much to her (and it did). it was a lovely service, the choir sounded great and then it was time for communion. now in the catholic church, you can only take communion if you're catholic but the lutherans arent like that so jane asked if we wanted to join. we both exchange glances, not quite sure if there's a mission rule about this :) and we decide to go for it. we head up to the front where you kneel in front of this railing thing. the pastor came around breaking the bread (wonderful, whole wheat, very nice) next this lady comes around with cups full of this red juice. i take a glass and begin to put it up to my mouth...it smells a little funky but of course, being still 'corrine', i dont think anything of it.
meanwhile, my companion sister clayton is getting her glass, she's a little smarter than me so she pauses and while she pauses, our investigator jane nudges her and says "i forgot to tell you its wine!"... sister clayton hurries and puts her cup back and looks over to me... and alas, I HAD DRUNK THE WINE!!!!!!!!!!!!
I KNOW! I KNOW!!! the second it hit my mouth, my eyes got wide and i look over at sister clayton... what had i done!! i pondered for about thirty seconds trying to think of what to do: i mean, i cant spit it back out- that would be disrespectful so i just swallowed it. (ps. it tastes real nasty).
so alas, your daughter/sister broke the word of wisdom while taking communion at a lutheran church on her mormon mission. dont worry- i didnt drive home under the influence and no hangover the next morning! :) and yes, i prayed very very VERY hard that night for forgiveness!
see, i told it was the story of the mission!
sister christison
Corrine Mass Email - 4/01/09
--- On Wed, 4/1/09, Corrine Christison wrote:
> From: Corrine Christison
> Subject: mass email
> To: tc8lunch@yahoo.com
> Date: Wednesday, April 1, 2009, 12:01 PM
> HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!
>
> i got moved (once again)!! I"m now in Macedon New
> York- which is a tiny town just outside of Palmyra. I just
> wanted to take this opportunity to bear my testimony about
> what happening this weekend! We've spent this whole week
> inviting people to come listen to the prophet speak! HOW
> WONDERFUL it is to know that we have an inspired man of God
> leading us through these times of hardships! I talk with so
> many people who don't even know what a prophet is or why
> it would be important to have one but i am here to tell you
> that a prophet is a man who speaks on the behalf of God.
> and that it is SO important that we have a prophet on the
> earth today- that means that the windows of heaven are NOT
> CLOSED! it means that we have a father in heaven who loves
> us so dearly that he wanted to help us in this life. (and i
> could go on forever, but i know that y'all are busy so
> i'll just stop right there) :) so my challenge this
> week is to watch as many sessions of conference as possible.
> to listen for what these men and women 1. ask us to do
> 2. how we should
> do it
> 3. what the
> blessings are
> for doing it
>
> as we pay attention to these simple details... you'll
> be guided on how to better life our life like the Saviors!
>
> love,
> sister christison
Corrine Mass Email 3/19/09
From: Corrine Christison
> Subject: mass email
> To: tc8lunch@yahoo.com
> Date: Monday, March 23, 2009, 11:53 AM
> HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!
>
> i just wanted to say thank you for all the letters i've
> been getting! y'all truly are wonderful and they bring a
> HUGE smile to my face. it seems the longer you're on
> your mission- the shorter preparation day gets which means
> the less time you have to write letters but i have been
> getting them and a huge thanks for them!
>
> its kind of a long thought this week (sorry!) but ive had a
> lot on my mind since i'm coming to the end of my first
> six weeks on my mission so its a natural time for
> reflection. here are my thoughts:
>
> i love the mission. and i especially love knocking doors!
> who knew? but...the people in new york have such beautiful
> doors...and im not even kidding! it has been amazing for me
> to see how much your attitude can change something. a talk
> in church yesterday mentioned this. he talked about the
> jews in concentration camps in ww2 and how there were some
> who abandoned themselves to their circumstances while others
> chose to fight it! the freedom to choose our attitude is the
> last of the great human freedoms. we can choose how we
> feel... and the lord always wishes helps us with that. ive
> learned so much over these past six weeks how much help we
> truly do have. our heavenly father hasnt left us alone in
> this world but is like a parent who truly wants to help us
> in anyway that he can. but often, like a parent, you dont
> know how to help until your child says 'i need help.
> can you do this for me?' it is the same way with our
> father in heaven where, if we want his help in a certain
> way- ask him for that! my prayers every night consist of
> these pleadings with my father. i say 'father i need
> help with this. help me'.... more specifcally, at the
> beginning of my mission i would say 'heavenly father,
> please help me to like door knocking. i want to like it'
> and guess what? he answered that prayer by giving me this
> random sudden obsession with doors and how they look and
> what color they are! this may seem like a silly example and
> some might say it didnt come from my father but i know that
> it did. i testify to you that when we truly show him that we
> want to be better, and we ask for his help in being better,
> he will help us. often we just need to open our eyes to see
> that he already has.
>
> i hope you all are enjoying this spring season!! and dont
> forget that the prophet of the world is speaking to us
> soon!! this is momumental!
>
> love from new york,
> sister christison
Corrine.. mass Email 3/16/09
--- On Mon, 3/16/09, Corrine Christison wrote:
> From: Corrine Christison
> Subject: mass email
> To: tc8lunch@yahoo.com
> Date: Monday, March 16, 2009, 11:44 AM
> HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!
>
> okay... so no, im not on a spanish speaking mission.. i
> just read the spanish book of mormon on my pday because it
> helps me understand the book of mormon in different ways
> than just reading the english one. for example... today i
> was reading 1 nephi chapter 4. it is the story in the book
> of mormon about nephi going back to get the plates from
> laban. in verse 6 it says " i was led by the spirit,
> not knowing beforehand the things which i should do".
> how when i read that verse in english i understand it to
> mean that nephi didnt know the future (and i always far away
> future). and not knowing beforehand means to me that he just
> didnt know, but he went anyways. for some reason, as i was
> reading that in spanish the word for beforehand was
> "antemano" which literally means before (ante)
> hand (mano). and it hit me, nephi didnt know anything!! ZIP!
> ZERO! ZILCH! there was a dark future ahead of him and he
> didnt even have a lantern to light his way but what did he
> do? he took one step forward. he ALLOWED the spirit to lead
> him. that is what we must do. this week especially, ive
> gained a testimony of how aware our heavenly father is of
> all his children- he knows where you are going to be, what
> you are going to do at a certain time of the day... so he
> leads people, sometimes missionaries, to where we need to be
> to touch those people. so i would invite you all to take
> Alma's counsel in alma 37:36-37 to "counsel with
> the lord in all thy doings" because ofttimes our future
> is as dark as nephi's was but nephi allowed the spirit
> to lead his life.... allow it to lead yours!
>
> from penfield,
> sister christison
Note to Dad.. 3/9/2009
so i wrote you snail mail but i thought id send you an email too....
my thought comes from an experience this week. we were out knocking doors and we had the chance to talk to some woman going into her door but she seemed not interested and just walked in. we proceeded to go to her neighbors (and thus crossing by her door) and one of her co-inhabitants jumped out and started screaming "repent ye!" ... literally, jumped out of the door! so while she was screaming, you could hear a dog barking and she just says "get 'em daisy!" (my companion flew about twenty feet because she hates dogs!) and from around the parked car came this little white ball of fluff (smaller than buddy!) with its high pitched bark just yipping at us! i almost died laughing!!!! so we of course turn and walk away with the lady screaming "repent ye" and something about hell. oh, i'll never forget daisy!! :)
read elder whirthlin's talk in the november ensign "come what may and love it"..... apply it to our lives!!! it truly has made this last week in my mission easier (you'll find out why in the letter)
love you!!!!!
sister christison
Corrine. 03/05/2009
--- On Thu, 3/5/09, Corrine Christison wrote:
> From: Corrine Christison
> Subject: mass email
> Date: Thursday, March 5, 2009, 3:04 PM
> HERMANAS Y HERMANOS!!!
>
> ps. i've now got two chapters under my belt in my
> spanish book of mormon. i'm getting there!
>
> so something exciting happened this week- i got emergency
> transferred! (which basically means i got moved at the time
> it wasnt scheduled for me to move). so the thing i've
> learned this week is that the lord works in mysterious
> ways... but, he always knows what he's doing. sure, it
> will be sad to leave the tiny town of waterloo, new york but
> it was not in vain- at least i hope not. the lord sometimes
> asks us to do things that did not fit in our timeline- or
> our plans of what we wanted to do but we must always do what
> he asks of us. BECAUSE the promised blessings are so much
> more than we can imagine- trust me! the lord knows what
> he's doing and we must have faith in that. there's a
> scripture in the book of mormon that says: "but behold,
> all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth
> all things".... what comfort this sentence gives! that
> our father in heaven, who prepares a way for us to do the
> things which he commands us (remember 1 nephi 3:7?) and that
> that path or way was created by someone who knows all
> things- he knows the intent of our hearts, our thoughts and
> our desires- so do not question but believe and trust in
> him!
>
> i hope all is going well with your lives and remember that
> we have a loving father in heaven who is mindful of all of
> us!
>
> sister christison
Valentines Day. 2009
>
> hermanas y hermanos!!!
>
> so i'm almost done with the first chapter of the
> spanish book of mormon! (thought i would share that with
> you) but mostly, i want to share my love for each and
> everyone of you! we truly are children of a father in
> heaven who loves us so much more than we can ever, and i
> mean ever, imagine. since ive been on my mission, i've
> discovered a love for people that i dont even know- the
> random person walking down the street- because i realized
> that they are my brothers and sisters and my heavenly father
> is their father too! and he loves them just as much as he
> loves me!
>
> LOVE IS A VERB! now i know valentine's day was a week
> or so ago but that doesnt' mean i cant talk about love.
> so go out there and love your neighbor-- it is the second
> greatest commandment!! someone at church mentioned
> "love is more than a feeling. love is a covenant we
> make in our heart and our mind".... so i urge you to
> make that covenant to love and then let at it!! its amazing
> the blessings you will recieve from it!
>
> sincerely,
> sister christison
Note to Dad.. 03/09/2009
Corrine Christison
to me
Mar 9
so i wrote you snail mail but i thought id send you an email too....
my thought comes from an experience this week. we were out knocking doors and we had the chance to talk to some woman going into her door but she seemed not interested and just walked in. we proceeded to go to her neighbors (and thus crossing by her door) and one of her co-inhabitants jumped out and started screaming "repent ye!" ... literally, jumped out of the door! so while she was screaming, you could hear a dog barking and she just says "get 'em daisy!" (my companion flew about twenty feet because she hates dogs!) and from around the parked car came this little white ball of fluff (smaller than buddy!) with its high pitched bark just yipping at us! i almost died laughing!!!! so we of course turn and walk away with the lady screaming "repent ye" and something about hell. oh, i'll never forget daisy!! :)
read elder whirthlin's talk in the november ensign "come what may and love it"..... apply it to our lives!!! it truly has made this last week in my mission easier (you'll find out why in the letter)
love you!!!!!
sister christison
Corrine. .. It finally SNOWED 2/29/2009
--- On Thu, 2/19/09, Corrine Christison wrote:
> From: Corrine Christison
> Subject: this is the mass email!
> Date: Thursday, February 19, 2009, 12:15 PM
> HERMANAS y HERMANOS!
>
> it finally snowed! my first snow fall in new york and
> though it didn't last very long, i was pleased :)
> i've seen so many miracles since i've been here but
> i want to share one with you- that might help us all get
> through those daily struggles called life (well, hopefully
> it will help).
>
> it was this past tuesday and we had three appointments fall
> through. the people either called to cancel or they werent
> home. i was so frustrated! but we were able to meet some
> people just walking down the street who wanted to hear about
> the gospel. because of this, we have at least three new
> people we are going to start teaching (hopefully!). the
> lesson i learned from this is that even though things
> don't go quite like you planned- our heavenly father
> always finds a way to help make our day a little bit better.
> there's a chorus to a song that i want to close with-
> and i want each of you to remember it and notice those
> little miracles everyday that, i assure you, happen.
> "so when i doubt
> and there's things
> i just cant figure out,
> i trust that god,
> is in control
> and i'll hold on
> to the things that i know"
>
> the gospel is true!
> sister christison
Corrine arrives NY 2/12/09
> HERMANAS y HERMANOS!!!!!!
>
> i'm here. in new york! i've never written an email
> like this before so this one will probably be pretty short.
>
> basically, im in the best mission in the whole world (no
> matter what anyone else says)! i got the chance to work at
> the smith farm yesterday. we have a replica (build on the
> real foundations) of the log home which the smith family
> first lived in when they arrived in palymra. my favorite
> part about that home is walking up the stairs to the top
> floor. in case some of you dont know, that is the room in
> which angel moroni appeared to joseph smith- probably right
> where i was standing! and i get to go there throughout my
> mission and bear my testimony of joseph smith. if you look
> out the window of my house, you can see the whitmer home-
> where the church was orgazined on april 6, 1830 (and also
> where the last pages of the book of mormon was translated)!
>
> okay, enough about my awesome mission! i wanted to share a
> thought i had this week. "do you have faith
> enough?" our mission president asked us this. i want
> each of you reading this email to ask yourself this. do we
> have faith enough to BELIEVE, not just in christ but in his
> words, in his promises, do we have faith enough to apply
> christ's atonement in our lives? do we have faith enough
> to do all that he asked us to do? i mean, "we are
> eternally indebted to our heavenly father, to render to him
> all that we have and are".... do we do that? do we have
> faith that if we follow this very prinicple that's found
> in mosiah 2:34, that heavenly father will still bless us,
> that we will provide for us? i challenge each of you to
> ponder this in your hearts and if the answer is "no, i
> dont have faith enough" (cause i know for me, sometimes
> i dont have that much faith) than to change it! do something
> to increase your faith in our savior and our father in
> heaven. i promise you your faith will increase!!
>
> the gospel is true, and i love all of you!
> sister c
>
> i'm here. in new york! i've never written an email
> like this before so this one will probably be pretty short.
>
> basically, im in the best mission in the whole world (no
> matter what anyone else says)! i got the chance to work at
> the smith farm yesterday. we have a replica (build on the
> real foundations) of the log home which the smith family
> first lived in when they arrived in palymra. my favorite
> part about that home is walking up the stairs to the top
> floor. in case some of you dont know, that is the room in
> which angel moroni appeared to joseph smith- probably right
> where i was standing! and i get to go there throughout my
> mission and bear my testimony of joseph smith. if you look
> out the window of my house, you can see the whitmer home-
> where the church was orgazined on april 6, 1830 (and also
> where the last pages of the book of mormon was translated)!
>
> okay, enough about my awesome mission! i wanted to share a
> thought i had this week. "do you have faith
> enough?" our mission president asked us this. i want
> each of you reading this email to ask yourself this. do we
> have faith enough to BELIEVE, not just in christ but in his
> words, in his promises, do we have faith enough to apply
> christ's atonement in our lives? do we have faith enough
> to do all that he asked us to do? i mean, "we are
> eternally indebted to our heavenly father, to render to him
> all that we have and are".... do we do that? do we have
> faith that if we follow this very prinicple that's found
> in mosiah 2:34, that heavenly father will still bless us,
> that we will provide for us? i challenge each of you to
> ponder this in your hearts and if the answer is "no, i
> dont have faith enough" (cause i know for me, sometimes
> i dont have that much faith) than to change it! do something
> to increase your faith in our savior and our father in
> heaven. i promise you your faith will increase!!
>
> the gospel is true, and i love all of you!
> sister c
Corrine. MTC 2/12/09
okay, here's the low-down: i arrived in new york on monday afternoon- we went straight to the sacred grove- amazing!!!! ive never been in a place more peaceful in my life.
anyways, tuesday morning i got my new companion/trainer. her name is sister silva. she's originally from brazil but she's lived in utah and italy (when her us citizenship goes through, she'll be a citizen of the us, brazil and italy! crazy!) anyways, she's been out for six months and is amazing! i have so much to learn from her- esp about how to love everyone unconditionally and she has sooo much charity towards everyone she meets!! its amazing! anyways, we taught two discussions my first night in waterloo, ny! crazy huh? we taught someone about the plan of salvation and its amazing- what a wonderful plan that is! dad, now i know you have a preach my gospel so my challenge for you this week is to start reading it- even if it has to be during your lunch break- or if its just a paragraph a day! there are so many treasures in it! will you do that for me? i promise you, the gospel will become so much real and that you will get the opportunity to study it indepth- yet simplicically! (i dont think thats a word but oh well!)
i wanted to tell you about the man i sat next to on the plane. his name was scott burns, he's a convert of about 23 years. he's also been sober and drug free for 23 years. he works for a construction company that helps build chapels for the church in north america so he flys all around, meeting members, etc. anyways, we had the chance to talk the whole flight about the gospel but more importantly, on how to overcome our trials. one of the things we talked about was the atonement of jesus christ. he bore such a humble testimony of the power of this precious gift that christ has given to us. it was a humble testimony because he knows that without it, his life wouldnt have been the same. the atonement is real, it has the power to cleanse our sins but more importantly, it has the power to allow christ to succor us. i want you to get out your scriptures tonight and read alma 7:11-13 because it is what the atonement is all about!
i wanted to share with you one more spiritual thought i've been pondering this week: "do we have faith enough?" enough for what you may ask. think about the disciples of christ- they saw and heard the son of god yet judas sold him for 30 pieces of silver, peter denied him, and thomas doubted the power of his word. we dont have the privilege of seeing christ, in this life, but hopefully, if we have faith enough, we can be like paul in 2 corinthians 5:6-7 and have confidence to stand and say "we walk by faith, not by sight". i know that is something i want, and its something im going to dedicate my whole mission to- building up my faith so that i do have faith enough- faith enough to believe christ and the promises he has given me, faith enough to study his words in the scriptures, and most importantly, faith enough to do the things he's asked me to do.
i love you, and love this gospel!
sister c
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