“OPEN YOUR MOUTH”

Hey Everyone,

The phrase "OPEN YOUR MOUTH" was shared many times as we attended Zone Conference with a special guest, Elder Kyungu, of the Seventy this week. If you haven't re-read his latest conference talk please read "To Be A Follower of Christ" from the October 2021 General Conference. Elder Kyungu told us as missionaries that we must "open our mouths" in most situations as we invite those to hear messages of Jesus Christ. Elder Kyungu has a great personality and is very funny. He loved saying "open your mouth" at the beginning of most of his sentences. I would invite all members to "open your mouth" and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those you have contact with. 

PAT is still unable to attend Church, so her baptism is on hold until she is more healthy and mobile and walking again. We had to drop SHIRECE and family. We didn't make any progress with BETTY this week. We did have SABRINE attend our Friday night volleyball game and we continue to teach her. We've shared Mosiah 18:10 with her a few times and she tells us she doesn't have a solid reason not to be baptized. We will continue to work with her. FRANK attended church this week for the first time and we showed him President Nelson's talk to the World Wide Church which he loved. We are also teaching 11 year old ELI. 

This week we cranked up our service hours and spent many hours one day serving at the local Charity store helping people shop for their needed items. We also helped a family in the ward load up and move boxes and furniture out of their home. I always love a great workout when helping others move. 

This past week I hit my 11 month mark out on my mission. Our original MTC district all chatted online about how time has really moved quickly but we're still climbing that mountain.

The weather here has been hot, humid and lots of rain. We also had the Tornado sirens go off one night last week and a tornado touchdown in the town next to us. I'm happy to report that Elder Stevens and I slept soundly through the Tornado sirens and actual touchdown. 

My parents and I talked about so many things before I left on my mission. One of those things was the possibility of losing a loved one while I was out serving. Earlier today I was given the great opportunity to video chat with my mom, dad, and Uncle Alan who is sitting with my grandma Mortensen at the hospital as she is transitioning back home. My uncle turned the camera to my grandma and I was able to share my thoughts and tell her I loved her. The room was quiet and peaceful and I could feel the strong spirit present. When they say that missions are hard, this is one of those hard things. Me here, and everyone else there. That is really hard. My thoughts are with my grandpa Mortensen and all of my aunts and my uncle and especially my dad who is grieving the loss of his mom. 

How grateful I am for the beautiful Plan that Heavenly Father has given to all of us. A plan that allows each of us great comfort and knowledge to know where our loved ones are, and that we will see each other again someday. 

Elder Mortensen

 

Pictures this week:

With Grandma Mortensen

Dinner out with a ward member 

Garden snake

Elder Stevens and I 

With Ramon at volleyball