A New Month And A New Companion

Hey Everyone,

Happy November! Time is flying by here in the mission field! This week I said goodbye to Elder Montoya and hello to Elder Allen! Wow! I'm feeling blessed by the good missionaries I am surrounded by! Elder Allen has actually served in the Overland Park 1st ward about a year ago. It is great to have someone who knows the ward members and his way around. We've had a great first few days working together.

This past week Elder Montoya and I did a Facebook Live event where we were asked questions about being a fulltime missionary. We had several questions sent in and it was a great opportunity to share with everyone the daily life of a missionary.

Unfortunately, I was pretty sick this week. On Wednesday I noticed a few cold symptoms and had already battled an upset stomach earlier in the week. After a full day Wednesday I came home and went straight to bed. I didn't get out the next morning to take Elder Montoya to transfers. I couldn't get out of bed. High fever and congestion. The AP's drove my new companion and Elder Montoya's new companion to our apartment. Picked up Elder Montoya and left Elder Allen. So, that was a pretty awful way to say goodbye to one companion and hello to another. I am feeling better and never lost taste or smell. I'm so happy to be back at it!

On Tuesday, Elder Montoya and I served at the Catholic Charities again. This time we loaded peoples trunks with bags of potato chips.

#PRAY FOR EIGHT UPDATE:

We had to drop all of our Facebook contacts. Unfortunately, none wanted to continue to be taught.

BOOMATAY'S: Yay! They all attended Church this week. The bishop pulled me aside yesterday and said he'd like the Boomatay's to attend a few more times before being baptized. I wholeheartedly agreed. So, we will move their baptism date to later in November.

With a companion change I am now the designated driver. This is a new adventure to drive in a large city with lots of freeways and opportunities to parallel park. I love it and am enjoying the big city life.

I'm grateful for the good ward families that continue to feed us. They are amazing! Even had kimchi the other night! Felt like I was my dad serving in Korea!

Halloween Sunday my companion and I were asked to help out in Singing Time again. We love serving and helping out in the Primary. The kiddos love it when we are there. Yesterday Sister Tobler had several decorated pumpkins and a kiddo would select a pumpkin and underneath it would say a word like "Pirate" "Dinosaur" "Athlete" "Robot" and we had to "act out" the word. We were to act slow and if the kiddos knew the song and sang stronger we had to "act out" fast and be quick. We had such a show going on. Such good times!

Yesterday my companion and I both spoke in Sacrament Meeting. I spoke on having the faith needed to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Here are a few scriptures I used. Please look them up and apply them in your own life as you share the gospel with others.

Doctrine & Covenants 58:26

Mosiah 5:7-9

Jeremiah 1:6-9

Moses 6:31-34

Alma 14:28-29

Doctrine & Covenants 8:9-10

The gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I know it is. I live and love it daily. I know my Heavenly Father is aware of me and knows me by name.

Have a great week!

Elder Mortensen

PIctures this week:

A few minutes at a guitar store on Pday

District hanging out and eating some great BBQ