Elder Baldwin, The Wallys and Merry Christmas from Bryce

This morning I received a very special letter from my friend in Mozambique.  She is serving a Welfare mission with her husband.  They went to Johannesburg South Africa for some testing because John has been sick off and on.  Our friends have met several returned missionaries from South Africa while serving and one that knew Bryce.  He has helped the Wallys a lot and we have been able to correspond with him.   He and his wife are expecting their first baby.  It has been wonderful to see these African RM's faithful and serving post mission.  Bryce's second companion was from South Africa.  We have not heard from  him since Bryce's death so this letter was a special and amazing thing for us.
We went to church with the Curtis's and the ward we went to was the Pretoria East ward. It was very enjoyable and we loved sacrament meeting and all the Sunday school and Relief Society was nice. IT was all in English. A Spiritual Feast for me.
When I found John after Priesthood he grabbed me and said Sister Wollenzien you need to come with me. There is someone who you want to meet. I said 'I DO?' . and he just grabbed my arm and drug me through the church to this very tall, very nice looking young man. He Grabbed the young man and turned him around and said this is sister Wollenzien. I was wondering what was going on.
The young man shook my hand with a big smile, said its nice to meet you and then he said 'I served with Bryce.' It was Elder Baldwin (Wade Baldwin) I just started to cry. John met him in priesthood when he asked John where he was from . When he found out he was from Spanish Fork he asked about President Christensen being the stake President there. When he knew we knew you he said   Bryce was his FAVORITE companion.John told him that Bryce was our sons very best friend. The rest of the men still in the priesthood room asked what happened. John told the story. Elder Baldwin told how Bryce was his very favorite companion. He told them Bryce was one of the most dedicated missionaries out in the field. (And we know he is still out there don't we).
Well we went out side and stood with him because we wanted to take his picture. (We were in a little hurry because we were with the Curtis's) We talked a little. He is in the Bishopric and when I asked him if he was married he said,'Oh Yea! Let me go get my wife.' He came back with his darling wife and the cutest little baby boy. He said this is my wife Karen and this is Bryce. I named my son after Bryce.' His wife cried and I cried.
His wife told us she has heard so much about Bryce.
Wade told us that Bryce told him the story of shaking hands with ELder Uchdorft when Kim was set apart. He said Bryce told him it was when Elder Uchdorft shook his hand and said to him 'This is a good looking Elder.' that's when he really decided he was going on a mission for sure.  I never knew that story.
He just said  many good things about Bryce and about his  mission experience serving around Bryce. He kept saying Bryce was the greatest missionary.
I said well that boy is still working hard at missionary work . He is still around here. His wife said, 'Yep he is.'

I let him know I was going to be telling you about this experience and how much it means to you and Kim to see how the missionaries are doing now.

 When I hugged him to say good bye I couldn't help but cry.
He said, ' Will you please tell his parents that for me he is here always.' He was patting his heart with tears in his eyes.
It was one of those hard to have to say good bye moments.
well. We all had tears in our eyes. It really made this Sunday a special day.
Little by little puzzle pieces come together that tell us a story about Bryce.  Over and over again I am reminded of God's love for me.  Merry Christmas from Bryce.
Oh...and last week one of Bryce's friends told me that his son to soon be here will be Grayson Bryce.  It doesn't get better than this. 

Angels on bikes

Sept. 17, 2007

We were tracking in this complex then this white kid (11) on a bike came up to us and started asking us questions.  He asked me how much I knew about God and I said enough which isn't true actually but then he asked me if I could forgive him of his sins, so I taught him about repentance.  He said there were some things he couldn't stop doing.  I asked what and he said beat up his brothers.  He kept talking to us and followed us out of the complex.  He asked us where we were going.  I said to find someone to teach the Gospel to.  He pointed to a complex and said we should go there so we did.  The first house we knocked on was this coulored family.  The mom said they were Catholic, but I said our message is something you've never heard before and we share it with everyone.  So she let us in and was very respective.  She talked about how she was confused with some of the things going on in her church.  So the crazy boy on the bike, an angel maybe?

South African Suit

Nov. 7, 2012
I saw Steve Hadley at Kathy Egan’s funeral and visited with him.  The first time I met him was at the Egans home when Kathy arranged a dinner and meeting with him and his mother.  He told us about the mission ( since he had recently returned), about the changes the Probost had made and stories about Bryce like putting Elder Ronny on a chair and getting under the chair and lifting them both when he couldn’t get out for exercise.  
I asked him at the funeral if he had gotten an “African” suit on his mission.  He told me he didn’t have the money to buy one.  I thought about the suit hanging in Bryce’s closet and felt prompted to ask him if he would like it even though he is quite a bit taller than Bryce.   He said he would like it and so for Bryce’s 25th birthday, I sadly folded up the suit and sent it to Steve’s home address.  It still smelled like Bryce.  I knew that Bryce wanted Steve to have it, so I did it!  I didn’t hear from Steve until today and had wondered if he ever got it.  I kept reminding myself that he was a “guy” and to not worry but I was happy when on Facebook I got this message:
I am so grateful for Bryce's suit. I have worn it several times to church and the temple. I feel like he is tagging along with me. I want to come visit you in person down in Utah County next week. I feel it would be great to catch up, and it would be great to thank you in person.

Steve is the tall one in back standing next to Bryce

I talked to Teresa last night.  Her son served 3 days in South Africa before being in a fatal car accident.  She sent her son's clothes to SA for the missionaries there and said that her favorite coat of Brian's was hard to part with but she could feel her son telling her to just send it!  She got a letter back from one missionary thanking her for the coat...the first birthday present he had ever gotten. 

4-23-2005
We had a fun time watching Bryce today.  He got in his tux way early and sat quietly..  we took a picture of him pretending to be a butler.  we had a fun time going down to the high school with all the other parents.  we haven't done anything like that for a long time...kira at box elder for Prom would be the last time.   he was pretty excited to go and we all have agreed along with his teacher that he actually likes a girl and his teacher thinks she likes him.  she is really cute and very nice.  ( her father is a BYU professor in Advertising) his teacher was there to supervise the filming of promenade and he was so excited about the two of them. he gave a big whistle when they came out.  he sat and told us the story of how it all came about which is a twist on what we got from Bryce.  I guess he had been thinking all week about asking her to Prom but couldn't think of how to do it and so his teacher (they are both in his TV Prod. class) kept coming up with ideas.  It was Thurs. before his teacher finally said...let's just ask her when she reads the news on the teleprompter and while Bryce was trying to figure out how to do that his teacher just went ahead and did it.  She was reading along and then just stopped and her eyes got big and she laughed and said "Of course I'll go with you".  His teacher is so funny because he says...we got it all on tape and we'll make you a copy.  I was amazed that Bryce made all the arrangements, ordered the wristlet, got his tux (last one available and it fit good!), made dinner arrangements and car, etc.  He went with Matt Beatty (in his father's new jeep...a nice one) and Megan Hendrix and a big group of kids.  He was naming the kids and McKay said...are those all the "popular" kids and Bryce just said --there is no such thing.  We all just hang out together.  So all today we were reminding him of how to escort her, to get the door, etc. and he would ask about different things.  It has been alot of fun.  He looked very nice and acted calm.

...which man had brought upon himself because of his own disobedience

6-18-08

So we were going to see this less active member named Sihle and were going to share about obedience, because we felt like he really needed to be praying and reading his scriptures more, so we got there and asked him if he had read his scriptures and to our surprise he said he had.. and we asked him what he had read. and he said Alma 42:12 ... and then he had to leave the room for a bit and I was talking with my comp. We were discussing how it was kind of funny how he just read one verse and we looked up Alma 42:12 and it talks about disobedience. It was really funny.  Sihle came back and we talked to him some more and it turns out that he did not actually read that verse. He read some other random verse in Alma... you know when people will just open up the scriptures and read a verse on the page that falls open.... but we thought it was funny that he just randomly said Alma 42:12..

The Kind of EMails Moms Don't Like to Get

6-2-08
hello this week was really good and I want to tell you all about it but I was not able to use a computer this week, all the computers were being used so I just let everyone else email in the district because I am the only one who really gets mail. but I love you all anyway and hope you have a great week. Love Elder Christensen

Bob Marley

5-12-08

I am glad are family traditions are good too. one I hope you will remember is when we go to lake alice and we get to the dirt road. that is the time we start listening to Bob Marley.  Also ginger bread houses I think we have been slacking on that one but it is a good one we need to do better at.

When talking sex with Bryce ...Hands Over Ears--I Can't Hear You, He Would Say

5-26-2008

Oh yeah Sunday... there was 24 people in gospel principals more people than there has probably been in the history of king. and it was on the law of chastity and I was teaching like usual.. I was worried a bit that it might turn out awkward  but I somehow got around the questions like... "what is necking and petting" ohh just use you imagination.. no I cant remember what I said but it worked.

The Burning of the Tie

April 2007
I got an answering machine and left the first lesson as a message.  Then we went to the Fouries to burn my tie.  We put it in lots of petrol so it burned nicely. ( 1/4 of mission over). 

April 19, 2007  Well, this morning was one of those mornings where I wake up and go, crud I have a really long time left.

I Will See What the Lord Wants

4-21-08
Holy smokes I just called you for Christmas and now you are reminding me of my mothers day call. I am probably going to wake up in my room tomorrow next to bob marley and wonder what happened to Africa.
 We talked a lot about my comp. Pres says that he is always one of the last missionaries that they have to decide what to do with. I guess he has some kind of disorder. it makes things almost impossible for him to remember. I still have to work with him just to pray in the name of Jesus Christ. and its so frustrating trying to teach, president told me that yeah I would have to do pretty much all of the teaching, because he is not really capable. I have found a way that we can both teach and he can feel good about the work he is doing,and we don't confuse the investigators too bad. it just takes soo much effort. but I realize that this is a blessing if I like it or not. Transfer news is this week so we will see what happens. I think I could stay with him another transfer. but it would drain me to empty I think.... I guess I will see what the Lord wants for me this week.

 I have recently discovered a love I have for raisins... are they good for you mom... I'm sure they are but .... how good. they are really good with peanuts too.

Setting Goals...something he learned on Miss

2007 March 26    Today I have decided I need to set goals.  So first goal is...do not buy sugar or candy until page 65.  Second goal: don not eat after 6 p.m. until page 70.  Third goal: by page 100 be able to do 15 pull ups ( any way) and 50 push ups.  By  page 80 have D&C 4 memorized. 

Quick To Judge

3-31-08

I have learned a very good lesson this week about giving praise to others. Here in King Williams town the missionaries have never found too much success, it is a difficult area. this week we have tryed are hardest and pushed the limits and saw great progess. Stats dont often mean very much but we were able to have some of the highest stats that King Williams Town has had. when the zone leaders called me sunday night to get a report on things, the one zone leader commented about how things wernt too bad(suggesting that they should be better),. I thought ha Too bad this guy doesnt even know what we have been doing out here. I know he wasnt trying to put me down but his comments sure were not uplifting. I do not hold any grudges against him, he is a very good missionary. but I learned a very important lesson about not being quick to judge, and how important it is to uplift each other. especially when times are hard. well.

When Bryce was Little...Happy Birthday Would Have Been 25 Year Old!

From Bryce's brother Tyler:  Today I was packing up boxes for our upcoming move and stumbled across some “personal history sheets”—which were written several years ago when I was on a family history kick.  Here is what Bryce’s said (can we say run on sentence J). 

When I was around 4ish might be some of my first memorys, I remember putting on my coat by laying it on the ground and shimmying into it, and I liked the ninja turtles a lot and rode my 3 wheeler down the hill a lot and I had a glow in the dark he man sword my best friend at the time was Jacob Stewart, mostly because of Geographical convenience I would go to his house and his mom would fix us top ramen then I would go stand by the doorway of his mean brothers room Randy and watch them play Nintendo, I never got to go in the room let alone play.  I told Randy he was getting a lump of coal for Christmas there was another friend when I lived at the yellow house called Elijah me and Jacob didn’t really like him and make him say he was going home a lot, but he would just walk around the house and come back, I liked to jump on the tramp, go sleding and eat snow.

Snail Mail

3-25-2008
It's funny you don't quite realize how much you love your family until you sit at a internet cafe half way around the world a year and a half apart looking at pictures of all your smiling faces and it hit me just how important families really are.  They are basically the core of everything when you peel or break down all the different layers in life and whats left is your family.  Mom...you wrote in one of your letters about how you were sorry for not writing all the time because you get busy with lots of "good things".  I'm not rebuking you but it just reminded me how in a Zone Conf. we learned about not doing "good things" but that we should do the "better things" ( like sending more letters to your poor son in Africa) ha.  Just kidding but I think for us to really grow in the short period of time that we are tested, to see how much we can grow we need to not do "good things" or even "better things" but we need to do the "best things" eh, it's difficult though that's why we have to encourage each other like we are all each others personal trainer or something.  I don't write home on paper enough like I should but I am really trying to do the "best things" and I am so grateful for your love and support.  Mission has been such an amazing experience, I have been out here long enough that I can look back and reflect on all of the miracles and growth that I have seen in myself and others.  I don't say these things to boast, but like Ammon says, "yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things (the best things) yea, behold, many miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise His name forever. ( Alma 26:12)   I am glad that I still have time left here and forever to preach the gospel.  I hope I can never lose sight of this light and clear perspective that I feel at this time. 

Dallin!  Listen to your long haired grizzly brother.  Now! is the time for you to prepare for your mission.  You may think that you are already preparing but the bar is high and it is getting higher.  How high can you jump?  Can you teach the first discussion?  Have you gone out with the full time missionaries?  Do you know your purpose? I know I didn't do as well as I should have in preparing for my mission.  In fact I think I just cleared the bar.  I've struggled intensely at times to make up for it.  You don't have to.  Prepare now, jump a little higher.

Family:  I know that the Church is true.  That's the easy way to say that I know that God has given us all the things we need to gain eternal life.  We just need to use all those things that he has given us.  I know that it is because of the Savior that we have access to these thing.  It is past my bedtime but I just wanted to let you kn9ow that i love you and that all is well.  I can't really tell you things often enough.  You know how I struggle with the emails.  I hope you enjoy your day and I encourage you to do the "best things".  Sincerely and yes forever, Elder C.

Please Don't Post What I Write...Not!

3-08

Well I was reading the Ward news letter you sent mom. you should just not put any of my emails in them... Everyone writes these big old emails with lots of information and stuff and then you get elder Christensen' s two sentences that have weird grammer and is like " well I am on mission. things are good." so Please dont put them in the news letters or forward them to random people and things. If you would like to give a summary of whats happen with me that is fine. 

 He was so bugged with the things I put in the ward newsletter.  It made me laugh but I didn't stop.  What could he do?  It was the real Bryce and it made everyone smile that read his entries.  I always got comments about what he wrote.  He was not exaggerating about his emails being two sentences either. 

Birthday Month

No one plans a baby in August.  It is too hot.  Really--I know.  We had a six year space before Bryce came.  That is because Heavenly Father knew I would give Bryce away if he had come any sooner.  I needed help!  He was totally a hand full.  He required much attention, much patience, and a wiser person than me for a mom. 
June 9, 2007
Yesterday they cancelled going to lunch after District meeting …forever…my heart broke a little that day.

Gatorade Please

 speaking of seasoning... I will never again need taco seasoning I have so much and I never use it... I just cant find time. But if ye have desires to send powdered things in the post. then ye are called to send.... those little gatorade propel packets (preffferably black cherry and none citrus or fruit punch flavours) For behold my belly is ready for gatorade. Its funny how when you read the scriptures all the time the way you think of things will sometimes come out like a scripture. But anyways... other news.... my comp is trying to get aproved to drive and I have never been more scared in my life. 

Can You Say...Vusumizi, Siyanda, Likhona....

Thanks for remembering me in your prayers... that is always nice... but can you pray for some of our investigators as well... here are some of there names.... have fun : Vusumizi, likhona, noma, Frank, nocawe. (make sure you do the click) the zihhalirwa family... Justin ,Phiwo, Dulon, Darrel, Lungile, Zane, Prince and Gabriel. Siyanda, sakkie... well that should be enough to keep you busy... all the prayer are very much apreciated. Thankyou have a Good week.

Will Always Be Number Five...Forever Mine

We were at Philmont this past week in New Mexico.  Scouter Paradise.  We met lots of new people. 
We would talk about our families.  They would ask me about my 6 kids.  I didn't know whether to just skip Bryce and hope they didn't count ( which no one really does) or to include him in the head count.  Yeah,  the next one is Bryce.   He died in a car accident after his mission.  Then we have Dallin....  Boy, it was hard.  I felt him close a lot.  I hope he doesn't mind that I told everyone that he died.  He is still part of our family.  Always will be no matter how old we get. 
Jan. 2007
Jan. 17, 2007
Today we cleaned our boarding real good.  then Veeway (rich dude) took me, shipp, Parsons and Tau to lunch at Green Acres.  We ate at the Davinci.  I got a T-bone steak with chips for $48 rand.  It was bad...I make steak way better.  Today I have been away from home for 100 days with 632ish left...it's a long time.  I wonder when it won't seem like the end is forever away.  I am getting excited for transfers but I am a little scared too.  I hope I have a dream with snow tonight.

Package in the Mail!

I love this pictures.  It is exactly how he would look at me when he didn't want to do something or didn't like what I was asking him.  Exactly.  
12/3/07    the f on this key board is having problems so if there are missing fs you know why. ... Speaking of christmas I got the package... and it came in Nov. ... now mom how on earth do you think I wou8ld be able to wait a ull month to open the package... especailly when you wrote on the outside everything that was in it.. I waited as long as possible before I opened it however .... which was 3 days.... but I have a very good ew reasons for opening it. I will not list all though. but #1. We got rebuked @ church for not having our oil on us... so I needed the oil container... Which is very nice by the way. #2. sat. I just had Veg Soup for lunch and then we started fasting.. sunday after church our Dinner appointmet forgot. and we had no food. #3.I cant remember the third reason... but it was a good reason.. hey thanks though it was the best early christmas present every ...
 Well today I had a new experience... using the church news as toilet paper... It  actually wasnt too bad... I found a article about pornography and I went for it... (you might not want to orward that last little bit to everyone else)
 lots o other crazy stuf happened but... I am all tyuped out... sorry... sorry about the cruddy grammer and that darn f bumming out all the time. Have A good week....well only if you want to ... I dont want to order anyone around or anything... so bye then. Elder C

"Mary Jane" Plants and Bryce's Crazy Way of Writing

its funny we have marijauna plants growing right outside of our place... the people who work there smoke and the seeds must fall out and grow ... or something... but... things are good down here... I am just bummed that there will be no thanksgiving.... well here are some pictures part our backyard at our new place...(it doesnt do the place justice though) our mary jane plants.... the Somhlahlo's bapt. me about to kiss a frog... but then realizing that I would have no use for a prince charming... unless... he wanted to hear the lessons.. and be baptized... or cook me lunch or something..so there it is have a good day... Elder Christensen well pictures are taking too long so you wont get all of them sorry...........arrrggh! I hate computers... no pictures this week sorry... you will just have to use your imagination bye

Bryce and His Spelling...say what?

10-23-07
Hello... wwell last week was pretty crazy and this week has been crazy as well... we did not email yesterday because the power went out... the power goes out alot... when we were shopping even the backups went out .. so I pulled the cell phone out and we had to use that for light for a few min. The springboks won the rugby world cup so things have been crazy ... lots of people celebraiting... yeah I dont even care that I cant spell celebraiting....but when pre. egan came teaching with us it was really cool... we set 13 baptism dates that day... it was pretty intense... we are baptizing Avlea this week... you probably dont know who Avela is because I dont ever really tell you about my...investigators. we had 27 investigators at church this week from our district and 13 were our investigators... we. also had 2 baptisms today ...bummer I only have 2 mins left... things are crazy... I will write a letter... brooke your car is way cool... ok bye Elder Christesen

Awesome First Experience

Elder Maremela, Elder C. and Trainee Elder Nielsen--old companion and new companion

10-08-2007
I have been really busy this last little while... I have had to go to a ton of meetings.. I guess I am now getting a little taste of what dad gets. Elder Nielson is a cool guy.. we get along great. he likes alot of similar things that I like. I wanted his first trackting experince to be one he would remember... so I took him to this cool place right along the ocean... and as we were trackting we could see this big whale playing in the ocean, we also ran into this crazy german guy who smokes 60 cigs a day.. he has read the book of mormon twice... he was just nuts. so I think I acomplished my goal.

It's All About Families

This was his one year mark.  He was in George training a new missionary from American Fork.

 I'm doing good; most days are hard on mission but that's what I expected.  I really really miss music.  I always have a song stuck in my head.   I have seen a lot, a lot of families on mission that don't have what we do.  I'm glad my family knows what's happenin.  I love you very much and can't wait to see everyone in a year's time, but until then I'm going to work hard because there are a lot of families who need what we have.

This Really is all he Wrote!

9-9-07   Hello.... did you get my pictures? well.... this week has felt like 5 weeks put into one... things have been pretty difficult with my comp. ummmmm I really dont have much to say... I'm sorry this week has just been a struggle .... I love you... hope you have a good week.  Elder Christensen

The following week he explained a little more:  9-17-07  Hello... thanks for all the prayers... prayer is funny...I know how to use it... like I can use a cell phone... but I don't fully understand how it functions... I could feel a difference during the week and I knew that people were praying for me....maybe someday I will be able to understand prayer completely.  Yeah so this week was a bit better. Part of the reason why it has been a struggle with my comp is because it is difficult for us to communicate.... his English is really broken... and he cant explain things to me sometimes.. we both really like each other it just gets really frustrating sometimes.... but things sound good back home... this week someone was supposed to feed us on Sunday but they forgot and none of the missionaries had food.. so they came over to our boarding and I tried to cook up some stuff to keep us going until Sunday... Chicken.. veg.. with this sauce stuff... It was ok... plus it was healthy.  Well I cut my hair today...I have administered over 30 haircuts on mission... to people from 5 different countries... that's pretty cool eh?

Do You Smell Something Burning?

7/30/07  I burnt the bathtub... the bathroom has always been smelling funny so we put a candle in there... we always blow it out but we forgot the one time... we came back and opened the door of our boarding and it was full of dark dark smoke... you could not see a thing... so I ran inside and the plastic tub was on fire... I put it out... and I inhaled alot oh nasty air...I will probably die 5 years early... it was bad... all the walls are stained with smoke and we have to replace the tub... we will probably have to move... everyone has been real nice and positive about the whole thing though.... it was quite the intresting day... I will give you more info when I get home... it was a pretty crazy day....

Reminders of Testimony

2007 ok well this week was pretty good. we prayed about where to tract and we went to this area where we felt prompted and it was just a bunch of old age homes and weird stores and things... and the one normal house there... this lady with a hyperactive child answered the door... and she was like what can this 19 year old kid tell me and she talked about how all churches are just to make money... so I just bore testimony to her and gave her a family proclamation. she called us a day later and told us she wanted to here our message.. and to make this short... we have 2 really good new investigators..

Letters from Mission

I have been cleaning out my gmail account and found a letter from Bryce that was pretty nice.

May 26, 2007 It’s interesting that the Sunday I spoke just before leaving to my mission here in South Africa, I was assigned to speak on prayer. Something that would seem so simple. Now 8 months later as I look back at all of the investigators I have had or that other missionaries have had I can link back almost all of their progression or not progressing to prayer. Just the other day we met an investigator who we have been seeing for a few months. We committed him long ago to read, study, ponder and pray to know if the Book of Mormon and the Church were true…as we do with almost every  appointment. I asked him –Ryan, did you pray about the Book of Mormon? Ryan said yes but he didn’t get an answer. Well Ryan, when was the last time you read the Book of Mormon? About a week or two ago. Than I think to myself, no duh! You didn’t get an answer. It has occurred to me that sincere prayer is something that takes up most of your day or even most of your week or month. Every time someone is not progressing it’s because they are not sincerely praying. That means they are not studying and learning about the church or thinking about our message.

 I remember Neeba, my first baptism, when we taught, how he was excited and asked questions. When we would come back he would bring friends and type up reports about what he learned from his study of the scriptures. He received answers to his prayers because he was sincere and put forth
effort. It’s difficult to get everyone to do that. It’s great to see the progress of the people I worked with in my first area. Neeba was baptized in Jan. just before his 18th birthday. Shortly after that he received the Aaronic Priesthood. Then he baptized a good friend of his and taught his two younger brothers and brought them to church each week as well as his mom. He gave us referrals like crazy and asked us for Book of Mormons to give to people he was sharing the gospel with. He brought friends and family to his house for us to teach. He went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead even though he could not afford the 8 hour trip. He has now receive the Melchizedek priesthood and is preparing each day to serve a mission; When he turns 19…this is someone who 6 months ago had
not heard of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Archie, whose wife and daughter had been members for 1 year was baptized just the last week or two before I left Dwesi. He now has the Melchizedek Priesthood as well and is the Young Men’s President. There are so many good things happening. Those good things happen because of sincere prayer and action on answers and promptings to those prayers. The better we can master communication between us and our Father in Heaven, the better we can fulfill our purpose here on this earth and the better we can help others fulfill their purpose.

Oooh, mom and dad…mission is crazy. I’m still the same Bryce, but I’m different. The gospel is so simple..but it’s so complicated. Things are so easy, but they’re so difficult….it is great thought. I meet so many crazy peopleall the time and see the strangest things. It just happens so much that it doesn’t even faze me.
 It’s crazy to think about the relationship we all had in the spirit world and what we were all like, and what we all did to be blessed with knowing and accepting truth. I love you.

The Transfer Vol. 3

Last Christmas I found a book under the tree, wrapped but with no card.  I opened it to find The Transfer.  It is a book about missionaries that die while serving on their mission.  My first thought was ...how morbid.  Why would you want to read that?  It sucked me in however and I had a hard time putting it down and began a correspondence with the editor of the book and creator.   They encouraged me to write about Bryce and so I am posting my copy that I sent in.  It should be out this fall. 

 

Bryce Kim Christensen 

Born:  26 August 1987  Parents:  Kim and Wynette Christensen

Siblings:  Brooke, Kira, Tyler, McKay, and  Dallin

Mission:  South Africa Cape Town  Time of service:  October 2006 to October 2008

Cause of death: Killed in a car accident   Date & place of death: 7 January 2009, Utah County near Spanish Fork, Utah   Place of burial:  Spanish Fork, Utah     Story related by:  Wynette Christensen, Mother  

Bryce had a really hard time sitting in church and school from the time he was young.   Sometimes when he was a teenager and I dropped him off for Young Men activities he would go in one door and walk out the other to go to the home of a friend.  He refused to sing in church, struggled with tithing, and did not want to participate in family activities and gatherings.  His friends, music and snowboarding were his interests and where he wanted to spend his time.

 During Bryce’s senior year in high school, his father was called to be a stake president.  When Elder Dieter Uchtdorf  laid his hands on Kim’s head to set him apart to that office, he paused, put his hands down  and said he was going to tell us  how missionaries are called to their particular fields of service.  Three young men, including Bryce, who would be of missionary age within the next five years, were in the room.  Elder Uchtdorf’s comments must have made an impact on Bryce because from that time forward as I found documented in my journal, Bryce cut his hair, started singing in church, began to pay a full tithe, showed more interest in seminary and reading his scriptures, and even attended a missionary preparation class. I think he wanted to see just where the Lord would send him.  

I was never really sure if Bryce would serve a mission but he surprised me by making sure that he filled out and completed his missionary application to be ready on the first possible date he could turn it in.   The day he opened his call, all his friends were gathered at our house.  Bryce wore a Bob Marley T-shirt (he really liked his music), and was so excited when he read he was called to South Africa.  Later when he was in South Africa tracting in the Townships and heard Bob Marley music, it would help him to keep going. 

A few companions taught him to speak a little Afrikaans or Xhosa as they walked from house to house.  From the letters he sent home, we knew he was working hard, he was happy, and he missed snow.  His mission president later told us he gave Bryce several African missionaries as companions, because he was patient with them.      

 Bryce arrived home in October 2008 after a successful mission.   We enjoyed spending Thanksgiving and Christmas with him.  Bryce’s mission had refined him and brought out all the good in him.  We were grateful to see his continued commitment to the Gospel and to the Lord.  We saw his concern and love for friends who chose not to serve missions, and saw his desire to reach out to less active family and friends.  He had post-it’s in his room and bathroom reminding him of his goals to finish the New Testament,  to exercise, to do something awesome that wasn’t planned each day and to get up before 7 a.m. He was more patient and made a conscious effort to think before he said anything.  He was also determined to date and get a girlfriend.  He did not date in high school and it wasn’t easy for him. 

      He wrote down his favorite scripture on a Family Information sheet when he came home:  2 Cor. 4:17-18:  “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  This scripture has brought us insight and comfort.  

      Bryce was killed while getting on to the freeway.  It was his first day of college classes.  When he left for South Africa, the plan on his return was to work at Park City so he could spend his time snowboarding.  He had not enjoyed school much growing up, but after learning how to study on his mission and doing well on entrance exams; he came home and applied to UVU and BYU.    Bryce’s car was hit from behind by a car spinning on black ice, and he was pushed into the path of a semi-truck.  His father drove past the accident on his way to work; unaware it was Bryce who had been injured in the crash.  Responding to unsettled feeling he had, Kim returned to the scene of the accident, arriving as Bryce was being priced out of his car and put into the ambulance. He was allowed to accompany Bryce to the hospital. 

      Bryce never regained consciousness.  We did not realize that Bryce was going to die, and waited patiently in a room of the E.R. to hear from the doctors.  We could hardly believe it when they said we could see him one last time before he was taken off oxygen.  After he was pronounced dead, we were allowed to sit in the room with him.  His older brother came from BYU, his sister from work in Salt Lake and our bishop got his younger brother from the MTC where he was preparing to serve in Japan.  We were comforted by the sweet feelings in the room.  We savored that last opportunity to be with his body. We sat and talked quietly and were in no hurry to leave. Blessings were given, prayers were offered, pictures taken of our missionary and peace descended on us. 

      Bryce’s mission president later told us that the news of Bryce’s death deeply touched the missionaries in the Cape Town, South Africa Mission.  As they gathered in different parts of the mission for transfers, they all sang the hymn, “Each Life That Touches Ours for Good,” and offered a prayer for Bryce and our family. 

      So much love was shown to us.  Our house was full from morning till night with people coming to console us.  We received letters from all over the world as friends and Bryce’s fellow missionaries learned of his passing.  One friend credits Bryce for inspiring him to serve a mission later in his life. Our family was truly lifted up by all the prayers offered in our behalf.  I did not shed many tears at the funeral.  I couldn’t - I felt such peace and joy, and knew it was because of so many prayers.

      Elder Uchtdorf sent a letter that gave me great comfort.  He wrote: “I want to share with you my testimony that Bryce is in the best place he can possibly be at this time.  Your beloved son continues to be involved in the work of the Lord and is safely in His hands.”

Bryce wrote in a letter to his mission president upon completing his mission:  I have experienced the most difficult days and weeks of my life while serving a mission.  I have also never felt the Spirit in more abundance, and have never been more aware of what Heavenly Father wants for me.

 As we think of Bryce, we are continually reminded that we need to appreciate every day we have together.  Bryce was probably taken at a time when he was most ready and we all want to better so we can be where he is. 

      This has been an amazing journey, one I am grateful for. We had Bryce for 21 years, and we miss him so much.  The dynamics of our family have changed.  I try harder now to tell those I love how much they mean to me.  We are very aware and grateful for the tender love we have felt from our Heavenly Father.  It is so much more evident and real as He comes to our aid when we feel despair.  Our testimonies have been strengthened, and the Atonement is much more personal.  I look forward to the time when I can hold Bryce in my arms again.  I am grateful for family prayer.  The last thing we did with Bryce was kneel in family prayer, and sometimes I know he has joined us again and is kneeling in the circle. 

In a letter written to his mission president in the middle of his mission he wrote:  This week has been a real test of my faith.  I have learned a lot and grown though.  We did a lot of finding with little success.  To end off the week I burnt the bathtub down and made the whole boarding smell like toxic burning plastic.  Things like this happen every once in a while I suppose.  At least it’s over now and I can move forward and learn from these experiences.  I am grateful for the trials I have been given.  Heavenly Father knows what He’s doing.  We have the 100 % restored, only true gospel on the whole face of the earth and when you think about that…burning tubs don’t matter so much.