Week 35 What is Salvation?

Dobar Dan (: 

Fun Facts:

- I'm still alive(: I love sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and I love studying in the Book of Mormon. 

- I contacted a guy on the street who had a beard. Really cool guy, plays basketball (He even knew who Donovan Mitchell was😝). I was thinking he was 22 or so. So after giving him a Book of Mormon and having a really cool discussion on the Restoration he asked me how old I thought he was. I was like 22??? He was 15!! Fifteen!! Whattttt. He had a beard?! You can never tell... But we quickly found out the next day that he is 15 when his mother called us very angrily for talking with her 15 year old son about Jesus... I'm sorry woman... He has a beard..

-There is a concert violinist who is pretty well known in Beograd. A member in our Branch presidency wants me and her to perform together and have a mini concert. So I've been in contact with this violinist and she sent me some of the music she wants us to play together... Bach, Adagio's, and some other really hard stuff.... Hahah! We are going to meet up this week and see how far missionary meal time practicing the piano and a professional violinist get along. Hahah I'm scared!! 

This week we taught a woman from Texas! She is very religious and a super sweet woman. But WOAHHHHH. She throws fire.We tracted into her and had a quick let in lesson before, and then set up a return appointment. I have never prepared for a lesson so intensely in my life. Her overarching question was- What is Salvation?! After searching and hunting the scriptures I came to a few conclusions. But simply stated- We are all saved from physical death. Hallelujah! And spiritual death IF we choose. But what do we have to choose? The Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement. This woman kept asking what is salvation and who is saved. It really made me look into the grace of God & His Son's Atoning Sacrafice. I love that our Savior was the perfect example. He established His Church on the Earth as a means of how we can access that Sacrafice . I love this quote- "The gospel of Jesus Christ is how we access the powers of Christ's atonement in our lives." Or this quote simply restating this truth, "The Doctrine of Christ is the only means by which we can obtain all of the blessings made available to us through Jesus's Atonement". Simply stated we need to ACT. Christ established His church on the Earth to teach His doctrine. His path is a path of action. Of making and keeping covenants with God. It is a continual journey back to our Father and Jesus shows us how. Church structure shows us how(: The BOOK OF MORMON shows us how. 

Okay- sorry sorry for that little vent.. As you can tell this women really didn't want to act.. which made us sad...  

I hope you all know how loved and precious you are! God created everything around us so that we can be here and experience life. He sent His Son to pay the price for our mistakes. We are never alone. He hears us. Act and ask for help(: 

Thanks for all the prayers! I need them all(: 

Hurrah for Israel

Lots of Love

Sister Gittins

Mom Mandy here sharing a letter I received from the Christensen's. A senior couple that has blessed Tacy in countless ways. 

Hi Sister Gittins,

I thought I would just send you a note--we adore your daughter Sister Gittins.  She has served so energetically and lovingly.  We loved having her in Rijeka with us and we miss her enormously, but know she is exactly where she needs to be.  

We love her letters which show the joy and challenges of missionary work.  But for her, it is not "work" as much as it is a "labor of love."  We loved this last letter about teaching the "boy with a beard."  Ha.  Too funny.  And the woman from Texas (our home State) was so typical of the folks we have.  We are excited about her playing the piano with Borjana Pavlović (the name of the violinist).  I know that will be a challenge.

She has a gift for languages--not sure I ever mentioned that to you.  She translated for me once on the stand (during her "second transfer" so she was still very new).  She was amazing in that she translated just about every word right when it was said.  I told her that no one, not even a "seasoned Elder" has translated for me so thoroughly.  She has a quick mind and will do amazingly well at whatever she sets her mind to do.  

The main reason I am writing is that I was touched by her mention of her favorite scripture in a letter to us.  She particularly mentioned you and I thought I would send the exact statement she sent us:

Favorite Scripture:

"Alma 56:44-48

I love all the lessons in this! But I love that they were full of courage. I love the line "behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth." They had so much faith and trust in the Lord they did not doubt. And I love that they credited it back to God & their mothers! This verse makes me so grateful for my mother and I feel the same way as they did! I'm only here today because of my wonderful mother and leaders. This scripture also motivates me to be a strong mother in the future! Sorry I'm rambling about lots of stuff- but I love so much about these verses! Love you both!"

You must be so proud of her and her service.  She is and will continue to be a wonderful missionary, friend and companion, leader, and someday an amazing mother.   

We end our 21 months in December and hope to get down one more time to Serbia before we go.  

Elder and Sister Christensen

Sisters in the same dress Michigan and Serbia!