Be Anxiously Engaged

Hello Everyone,

The weather warmed up a bit this week which brought out some new weeds and pollen which meant my allergies have flared up. It will be interesting to see how miserable my allergies are here in the mission field. 

This week we had Zone Conference and it is always good to see and hear from President Ames and listen to the messages he has prepared for us. I took ample notes and have enjoyed reviewing the inspiring words he spoke. 

We also had exchanges with the DL's and I stayed in Yellow Creek with Elder Loper and it was the best! We worked hard, shared several messages with different people, moved a lady's belongings in the pouring rain into a very tiny home, and ate fajitas at a restaurant that cooked everything and then placed it in a hollowed out pineapple. 

We had a lot of appointments this week with some canceling and others showing some promise. As excited as we've been with MAGDELENA and CHEYENNE, they have never kept their commitments to read any of the Book of Mormon and take the next steps in between appointments so we may have to drop them from our weekly appointment list. We will see how this week goes. JEANNIE still struggles with her leg and we got a good look at it this week. I'll spare you the details but it's gross. She still hasn't physically attended Church and watches on Zoom. We really need to try and get her to attend in person and see the Church building and meet the bishop. We had a great lesson about Temples with her yesterday. The spirit is always present and strong when we teach her. JOYCE and ALEXUS are still difficult to find at home, we will continue trying. We tracted out a grey dot this week and found LEXIE. She talked to us for an hour and a half the first time we met her. We have taught her three lessons this week. I am super excited for her and she is asking questions and the Spirit is present when we are teaching. Brother Saban from the ward has joined us on the lessons and he is amazing to have with us. Elder Barney and I have been in sync as we've taught her and it's been powerful. 

Yesterday after Church we had a Linger Longer and there was so much food! We ate way too much! But, SHAUNTEA was there and she had attended Church and continues to read the Book of Mormon, and gets along well with the ward  members.

Bother Hamiliton from our ward dropped off several bags of groceries. We were so appreciative and we've been trying to find things to make with the groceries because they were random. We've got creative and made a few edible things. 

Our landlord dropped cookies off at our doorstep this week. We weren't disappointed with that act of service. 

We spent some time at a less active family's farm this week, the Hayes family, and they are awesome. They have this huge pond and invited us back to fish anytime on their private property. 

The Knaack family fed us this week and ate sweet and hot chicken and left a great message with them.

We ate at the diner this week inside the B&B and had pizza instead of tacos...we were happy either way. We really don't turn down good food. 

This week I studied D&C 58, which is one of my favorite sections in the Doctrine and Covenants. The verse that I spent the most time pondering was 27 and it says: "Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness." As a missionary this verse reminded me of the magnitude and responsibility I have to those I teach. This is great advice for missionary work. We have the ability to engage in good causes each day and bring to pass righteousness. I also believe that agency helps us determine what is the best course for us. Take some time to explore section 58 this week and I promise that you'll be happier and more content after reading and pondering it. 

Love, 

ELDER MORTENSEN

Pictures this week:

Me and Elder Bleak at zone conference

Pineapple meal

A rice and chicken meal I made out of the groceries dropped off

Yup, P-day is for guitar playing