Temple Trip And Transfers

Hey Everyone,

First of all, I apologize for not sending out a weekly email last week. We had the opportunity to attend the Kansas City Temple and our Mission President asked us to switch our P-Day's to our temple attendance day and we were pretty busy after that and I wasn't able to send anything out.

So much has happened and I'll briefly catch you up. We spent Thanksgiving Dinner with the Dubrielle's in our ward. It was a great meal and we appreciate them for having us over.

As I mentioned before Kansas City is one of the places where the GIVING MACHINES are located this year. It has been a great opportunity to invite people to give locally and also help those around the world. As missionaries we were given a LIGHT THE WORLD red shirt and hat that we can wear. We are not allowed to wear our missionary name tags if we are at the GIVING MACHINES. Kansas City Chiefs NFL football coach, Andy Reid and his family gave a great message and invited all Chief fans to go to the GIVING MACHINES and spread happiness this holiday season.

My companion and I spent some time at a bike park and drew inspiring messages with chalk on the pathways. One of the things I drew was THE PLAN OF HAPPINESS. We had contact with a guy who saw the chalk drawing and asked for more information. He is out of town until January for business but wants to learn more once he returns after the holidays.

#PRAY FOR EIGHT UPDATE:

BOOMATAY'S: Still not baptized...they continue to have the desire and we are still teaching them. But, another child in the family has requested to be baptized, so when they get baptized there will be a total of 4 children baptized. They are still shooting for a December baptism date.

MARY GRACE: We met Mary Grace from our tracking book. She is the sweetest older lady. She was raised Catholic and has the best heart. She constantly gives things to us like study supplies, shirts, sweaters, food, even a garbage can for the apartment. She attended Church yesterday and we were pretty thrilled about that.

CLAUDIA: FaceBook find. We will continue and see how she progresses.

ALLISON: We found her at the Mall while doing a survey. She is interested in learning more and has even given us a referral. We had to turn her over to the YSA ward since she is a young single adult.

After one of our Zone Council meetings we stood outside as a ZONE and sang SILENT NIGHT together. It was AMAZING! I will try and get a recording from one of the Zone Leaders.

I went on Exchanges with an elder from our District named Elder Martinson. LOL. He was at the Provo MTC the same time I was and we came to the mission field together. We had a great exchange.

This week Elder Allen and I attended the temple. It was a wonderful experience and I am glad we are able to take a break and enjoy the blessings and peace found in the temple.

A few days ago a sister in our ward asked if we would help rake leaves in her yard. Once we had raked huge piles, of course we had to jump in them and toss leaves around. After we were done the sister brought us hot cocoa to drink and while I was standing holding my cup I started to feel something crawling on my neck where my hood was. I swiped my hand across my neck and a huge orb-weaver spider (the size of a 50 cent piece) was on my hand! I jumped and dropped my hot chocolate and spilled it on my pants. LOL. Dang, that thing was HUGE!

We also did service at the Martin's home and moved two pinball machines from one level of their home to another.

We have been pranked a few more times in the past few weeks from the Hickory Hills Elders. I'll share some pictures below. We did get them back by tagging their car. They still win since our clean up was more time consuming.

I am being transferred this week. I have been in the same ward and area since I started my mission. Sunday it will be 5 months that I have been out on my mission and I am grateful for the call I got stating I was being transferred. I will truly miss so many of the families in the Overland Park 1st ward. They have been the best and have treated me so well. I will spend a little time stopping by homes to say goodbye in the next few days. Also, our mission president doesn't tell us where we are going and who our new companion is until the moment it's time to go to our new area. We all meet at the Stake Center in Independence on Thursday morning and after chatting and catching up with each other the mission president then extends the assignments.

Two videos that we showed families this week that really touched me were:

1. Two Apostles Lead a Virtual Tour of the Rome Italy Temple with Elder Rasband

2. When Jesus Christ Was Baptized

If you have time this week please watch one or both of these videos found online, they will lift you and make your heart happy!

I am enjoying this time of year when so many people are finding ways to serve others and do good deeds. I love listening to Christmas music and the spirit it brings and warms my heart. I'm grateful for the testimony I have of the living Savior, Jesus Christ. I am happy we are able to celebrate his birth at this time of year.

Elder Mortensen

Pictures this week:

Our Nativity set in the apartment

Be careful what you feed your dog...candy boxes that are actually dog treats

What we did to their car

Pictures of our ransacked apartment - at least they leave messages that they love us

Temple trip with Elder Allen

Me enjoying the holiday lights at a nearby park

Inspiring chalk messages

Raking leaves