Last Week Before Transfers, Baby!!!

Hey Everyone, 

The mission is great! The gospel of Jesus Christ is true! The Book of Mormon is true! Praying to our Heavenly Father brings peace, guidance, comfort and truth!

This is the last week before transfers. I found out that I am staying in Overland Park 1st ward and my trainer/companion, Elder Montoya, is being transferred. Right now I don't know who my new companion is and we don't know where Elder Montoya will be serving. I am very grateful for a great trainer, companion and friend in Elder Montoya. We've worked so hard in our area and we've made good progress here. I am grateful for all I've learned from him. 

This past week we had another apartment inspection (they are once a transfer) and we cleaned everything up and got it sparkling! We passed again! 

#PRAY FOR EIGHT Update:

BOOMATAY'S: We continue to teach the family and share messages with them. Three of the children are still on book to be baptized November 7th. We will take the Sacrament into them if they are sick and unable to attend the meeting. 

JANE: Found her on Facebook and she requested to learn more about prayer. We made an appointment to visit her and teach her. Once at her apartment she opened the door and said she was sick and closed the door. We haven't followed up and perhaps she's changed her mind. 

STEPHEN: Found him on Facebook and right now we are communicating via FB and sharing thoughts and messages of Jesus Christ.

MADDIE, SPENCER, KAIDEN: We met Maddie and she asked that we teach her about Jesus Christ. We set up a time to teach her and she asked if her two friends could also attend the lesson. It was a beautiful lesson and the Spirit was present and strong. I shared scritupres and my testimony. These three want to continue to learn more about Jesus Christ but due to their age they will be moved to the YSA Branch and the YSA Sister Missionaries will take over teaching them. 

This week we taught several lessons to less active members. I always enjoy going to their homes and spending time with them. It's great to share messages of hope and peace with God's children. 

This upcoming Sunday I have been asked to speak in Sacrament meeting and look forward to sharing my testimony and a message on Missionary Work. I will also talk about the Ward Mission Plan that Elder Montoya and I have created.

Today we had ZONE P-Day and most of the Zone showed up to the Church to play spike ball. It was a great time. 

We moved a less active Brother from out of our ward to another ward. We've moved him twice now since I've been out on my mission. I will always remember his moves because he has the HEAVIEST furniture ever! He still calls us and asks us to have lunch with him. 

This week our district went out to lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings. I decided to try the hottest and spiciest sauce they offered. It initially tasted pretty great, it was later that I felt the burn. Haha! It's always good to try new things! At this same lunch a sister in our district ordered street tacos. We all razzed her that she ordered street tacos and the rest of us filled our faces with meat and all the sides. She laughed and agreed that it was odd...she handled it well. I changed her name on our group chat vine to "Sister Street Tacos" and that's how it's stayed. Good times with the district!

This past week we walked into our apartment one day to find a nice group of gnats flying around. We wondered what was up and started looking around the apartment to find out what they were attracted to. We went to the dining room table and picked up a few things we had on the table and one was a bag that smelled and left a wet mark on the table. We opened the bag to find a single chicken breast that my companion had bought and forgot about and it had been accidently left out and attracted the gnats. We tossed the chicken and just like that, the gnats went away. 

This week I challenge you to read the Book of Mormon. If you haven't read it for a while, pick it up and start anywhere and read. If you've never read the Book of Mormon, I encourage you to download the app and start reading. If you've read the Book of Mormon more times then you can count, I  encourage you to continue reading and enjoying the stories and messages that are applicable in our lives today. If you don't know if the Book of Mormon is true I ask that you turn to the end of the book and read Moroni chapter 10 verses 3-5 which says: 

Verse 3: Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. 

Verse 4: And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Verse 5: And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. 

Then after you've read the Book of Mormon cover to cover, I ask that you find a quiet place to pray and kneel asking Heavenly Father if the Book of Mormon is true. I promise you that you will be fulfilled when you read this book. I know it's true. I love the Book of Mormon. 

Have a great week everyone!

Elder Mortensen

Pictures this week: 

District Council meeting

Pictures of the beautiful Kansas sky

Two surf pictures from a great restaurant we ate called Hawaiian Bros.

More District pictures

Elder Montoya and a little guy in our ward

Me and these two goofs who love hanging off me!

Elder Montoya and I - it's been great!

Buffalo Wild Wings

Elder Mortensen pre haircut - lol!