Magnify Your Calling And Blessings Will Come

Hello Everyone,

This week was busy and packed with all good things. We had Zone Conference and President Ames taught inspired messages to help us as missionaries grow and gain personal revelation to guide us as we serve. 

Elder Chavez and I went on exchanges with the Elders serving in the Fleming Park ward. I stayed at Elder Jackson's apartment and we spent 24 amazing hours serving and sharing messages with those in his area. We even stopped at a local yard sale and left a Book of Mormon. One funny thing happened while we were stopping and visiting several members. I was sitting in the passenger seat and rolled down the window to let the wind blow in my face and enjoy the fresh air. Once we arrived I failed to roll up my window. A flash rainstorm hit and my window was down and the seat was drenched. LOL. So...I sat in the backseat the rest of the day. 

The Fleming Park elders joined us for a quick lunch at UpDog and it was actually pretty dang good. 

The sister missionaries borrowed our car a few times this week because their car is in the shop. We sacrifice for the betterment of the sister missionaries. LOL. 

The ward families continue to feed us and we appreciate their efforts so much. I do have to share this experience because, hey, it's all about the good and the nasty right? A few nights ago we were at this family's home eating when I moved my fork around in my food and there was a cockroach. Yep, a good old cockroach. I could not take one more bite of food. I set my fork down and that was it. The kids then spotted a few cockroaches running around the table and counters and started smashing them with their hands and all you could hear was "crunch" "crunch" "crunch". My companion saw the cockroach on my plate and he looked at me and I looked at him and he understood. So...life goes on, but I need to remember these special occasions. 

I have to also say that we ate at a family's home where they have an outdoor pizza oven and we made our own personal pizzas and cooked them in their outdoor oven. They were amazing! 

We continue to teach Jontae and Kiki along with their kids. On our last visit we shared the blessings of the temple and asked that they think about and read the information we left with them. We invited a member who has not been to church for years to attend on Sunday and he came, it was amazing. We will continue to visit Bill at this home and help him. We are also teaching Sirus and Sabine and things are continuing to go well. 

Friday night volleyball was a big hit this week and we had a great turnout. This is a great way to gather those investigating the gospel and get some exercise at the same time. 

I am FB friends with an Elder Taylor Mortensen from Idaho who is serving a mission. He is also related to Peder Mortensen. I need to learn more, but wanted my family to know that link. 

I continue to share my testimony every Fast and Testimony meeting. I'll close with a few thoughts I shared. President Ames shared with us this week that a few weeks ago he attended a Mission Presidents Conference where Elder Holland came to speak. Elder Holland was supposed to talk for 15 minutes but spoke for 45 minutes and shared about Joseph Smith and the First Vision and the importance of the Sacred Grove. He said Joseph Smith knew that he needed to keep the commandments, utilize his priesthood and by doing that he could change the world. There are a lot of great men and women who do amazing things that impact the world. We, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ do things that impact eternities. We have the talents to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I know that when we magnify our callings that blessing will come. I know the importance of ward families working together and helping build zion. I know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that we can be Resurrected. The marks on Jesus' Resurrected body remind us to utilize the Atonement in our lives, keep our covenants and the Commandments.

Elder Mortensen

Pictures this week:

Exchanges with Elder Jackson 

Volleyball pictures 

Zone Conference parking duty 

UpDog lunch

Dogs at a members home 

With Ramone