“Your Brain Goes To 30%, So You Just Shut It Off???”

Hey Everyone,

LIfe is good and the mission is great! Another busy and hard working week came and went. 

We had to drop several investigators but we are continuing to teach PAT who is still in rehab from being hit by a car and she is in a lot of pain. It is taking her a long time to recover and she just isn't bouncing back as quickly as she would like. She has asked that her baptism be moved to her birthday in August! So...no one knows who will be here to baptize her? I could still be around or be transferred. We are still teaching ELI and he is moving forward. SABRINE attended our Friday night volleyball night which was great and she continues to learn more as we teach her. TINA is super elect and she is on date for July 30th to be baptized. She needs time for us to continue to teach her and for her testimony to develop. 

We spent time this week serving at a local food bank where those in need come and "shop" the store shelves. We "shop" along with the person/family and help them fill their cart. It is a great opportunity to give back to the community and help those who need groceries. 

My exchange with Elder Hancock went well and we worked hard finding those to teach after several lesson appointments fell through. It was such a great day spending it with a former companion who I call a great friend. 

The weather here is HOT and HUMID and MISERABLE. Welcome to the sticky, uncomfortable midwest. We continue to be trained and reminded about tornados and how to keep as safe as possible when one touches down. 

Funny Story...This week we had dinner at a ward member's home and they have a daughter who is about the same age as missionaries. The family had grilled hamburgers and as we stood at the counter filling our plates the mom realized that there wasn't any ketchup on the table and asked her daughter to get the ketchup from the fridge. The daughter goes to the fridge, grabs the ketchup bottle and tosses it onto the counter right in the lettuce bowl and most of the lettuce goes flying out of the bowl and onto the floor. We all start laughing and the daughter starts laughing so hard that her filled food plate starts teetering off the counter ready to fall...I holler at the daughter to grab her plate just as it starts tumbling down and she catches it. We are all busting up laughing even more when the mom stops and says to her daughter, "Your brain goes to 30%, so you just shut it off????" It was so random and that really got us laughing. What a fun night to be around a good family laughing around the dinner table. 

Our Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders challenged our zone to a Facebook Finding Challenge. If we met their goals they set for us, we got to make a smoothie for them to drink of whatever ingredients each missionary brought on Pday. Well...today the challenge was met and the ZL's and STL's had to drink up! Let's just say each companionship brought some pretty random things...like bacon grease, tunafish, sriracha hot sauce...just to name a few. The sister missionaries brought mangos and that made it taste a little edible. LOL. So, attached is a video of them drinking our concoction smoothie! 

One of the Christlike Attributes I've studied this week is KINDNESS. Heavenly Father blesses us with a constant flow of kindness. He gives and gives and gives to us. Because we are so blessed we should give back and show kindness to others each and every day. In 3 Nephi 22:10 it says, "For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee." This is a great promise from the Lord that allows us to sit with the knowledge that He offers us comfort but also reminds us the importance of the attribute of kindness. We can show kindness through service, patience, compassion, love, friendship, words, and giving of our time. I know that if we continue to strive and develop the Christlike attribute of kindness our lives will be blessed. 

Elder Mortensen 

Pictures this week: 

Pontiac GTO

Hugs to Elder Hanson 

Service Day with the Elders and Sisters