Weeks are flying by on this mission

The front of the Abraham Lincoln museum in Harrogate TN just a few miles from the Kentucky border

We had a chance to go to LMU campus where there is a Lincoln Museum
the campus which is 7 campuses but the main one in the Cumberland Gap area of our mission houses
tributes to Abraham Lincoln and Civil ward artifacts. This is a confederate flag from the civil war
the state of Tennessee was mostly pro union but some areas were for the South

Lots of Abraham Lincoln things to look at 

Dear Family and maybe some friends

We love hearing from you and hope you enjoy hearing from us in this blog.  If people seem to wonder how we are doing just suggest they get on our blog.  I am not sure how hard it is to view it but we can tell that not many have tried.
I feel bad that many have asked how we are doing but I can't write to everyone so we chose to just blog to everyone.  We also like the fact that we can send pictures in this way.
So this week has gone by with several events we want to remember.  First is our very own investigator came to our house to have the first discussion.  Elder Thomas and Elder Drubey taught her the restoration.  We felt they did a great job and we were able to testify and participate.  We feel it is a great blessing for the missionaries to have the chance to teach for they study all the time and want to teach but have very little times to teach because people don't take the time or they are to set in their ways to add something different even if it is the truth.
From last weeks letter you know that we have been praying for Ellen Long since we met her the second week we were here.  It is amazing to see how the Lord works with people like us to help us say and do things that would help her see the need to know more than she knows.  We found out that she has had very little religion.  She says she believes in God but as far as reading anything in the Bible or going to church enough to know she does not have much background.  The missionaries gave her a Book of Mormon and asked her to commit to reading the first 3 chapters  this week.  I love the spirit that comes when we share the story of the prophet Joseph Smith.
One thing I want to remember from this experience and to share with my family comes from asking the Lord to help us find someone that the missionaries could teach.
We have been asking the Lord to help us with this and so because we asked for it to happen before my birthday we knew that we would have to  act on every opportunity to share something of the gospel with everyone we see.  So we have tried to speak to everyone about our church and to offer passalong cards.   You never know who it is until you offer it and then act on the promptings to follow up.  So what did we learn from this experience?
1) ask the Lord to help with missionary work
2) be willing to work and open your mouth
3) act on the promptings you receive

Now this does not mean that Ellen will join the church but it did teach us that the Lord cares about this work and his missionaries.  There is great power in missionary work.  The Lord is behind it.  I have a testimony that the Lord answers prayers for he answered ours just five days before my birthday the missionaries were teaching someone we had prayed for.

I have a testimony that the Lord cares about all of his work here on the earth.  Families are another thing he cares deeply for and wants to have them be blessed.  So I know that some of our family has been experiencing trials.  This is not easy for us as parents to watch but we have been praying for you and we know that the Lord answers prayers.  So don't be fearful but have faith that His work with your family will be for your benefit as these prayers are answered.  Families are of God.  We sent a talk we both read of the church website.  It is called How to Pray in a Way God Can Answer.  We suggest you find it and read it.  It is from a sister Celeste Davis.  Loved the perspective she gave in this talk.

Dad doing the driving most of the time so that is a familiar profile of our travels.

this is the apartment complex parking lot I took the picture for the clouds coming in with another rain storm

We have been wondering whether we should buy another car that would help us get to the places where there are no charging stations.  There are a few in the mission and we do travel at least once a month with the president to these place.  Some places we can do on one charge but some we can't.  So the mission retires cars after 50,000 miles.   We found a subaru that the mission was selling.  We knew Elder Thurgood has taken good care of the cars so we decided to buy it and then when we go home sell it back to someone here.  (or anyone that wants to come get it) One thing is nice to know is that the cars are driven safely with a tiwi in it that monitors speed and reckless driving.  All the mission cars have this computer in it that tells the driver and records the history of the driver if he or she is not observing the rules.  So we have a gas car now.  It is a gutless wonder.  But we can put gas in it and get to where we want to go.    We have a few pictures to show as we did a few things on P-day this week.  I will try to caption the pictures so you know what they are and where we were.  Love you all and keep being faithful the Lord will answer your prayers.  Love Mom Grandma and Sister Christensen