Labor In The Vineyard

Happy Labor Day Everyone!

This week we taught AUGUST and it was great to get to know him and hear about his life and learn what his interests are. We taught him the Plan of Salvation and Restoration lessons. He received the messages and loved what was taught. One big hurdle we have with him is that his dad is very strict that August spends Sunday mornings with him at his church. We are trying to figure out how we can get him to a meeting. Both churches start at the same time. 

We also met FRANK and he is quite an amazing man. He's super big into sports and he watches all sports everyday on TV. He is currently on date for baptism but won't make the selected date and we will see how it goes and make a new baptism date for him. 

We finally got mission funds put on our church debit cards so I was able to buy groceries this week. That's always a good thing since no groceries were bought last week. 

The Woodland Ward is a fairly wealthy ward and it has been difficult for us to get the members to help us out--I'm not saying wealth and service don't mix, but I've served in more humble areas and things are just different there. We do have a few families who are helping us out. One is the Sharp family. These guys carry around Books of Mormon and hand them out quite frequently. The Miller family fed us today and they gave us a list of names of less active members we can visit. The work is slow and we are praying for more people to teach. 

We had Zone Conference this week and it was pretty great. President Ames focused on member work and retention, statistics and numbers. We also had a good lesson using a chapter in Preach My Gospel. 

It's still hot and very humid here. Nothing has changed yet but I look forward to the temperatures cooling down and enjoying being outside more than we are now. 

To my Nevada friends...Josh Lore's cousin is in my mission--Sister Abigail Tesch is from Utah and has been out a little under a year. And, Elder Josh Billat is in the same MTC district as Elder Hancock--whose brother is serving here in the MIM with me and we were companions for three transfers. What a small world!

TIWI news...(you all know how much all missionaries hate TIWI)...new systems will be installed in all mission cars. The new system will have front facing outside cameras, and inside cameras facing us. If you are in the passenger seat and look away from the road you will get an infraction. If you are driving and look away you will get an infraction. The cameras will pick up all movement and where we look as we drive, but will not record our conversations. There are a lot more new features and infractions that can happen but that's enough for today. 

Elder Collins, the professional surfer who is serving here is completing his mission and going home at the end of the transfer. If you remember I talked about his story right when I got out on my mission. He LOVES surfing, has been a professional for years and is very well known. For years so many people asked him about serving a mission and he always said NO! But, here he is serving. He is such a great guy and I know we will hear more about him and his surfing in the coming months and years. 

Shout out to my parents, who I love and respect. They are the best. 

1st Nephi chapter 4 verse 6 says: "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do." Being inspired to move forward and share the gospel with those we meet every day has been a great blessing in my life. We can always be led by the Spirit throughout our lives. We need to show faith when we might not know everything about the promptings we receive. Learning to not second guess the Spirit will bring blessings. 

Elder Mortensen

Pictures this week: 

The Webster family 

Baby chicks 

Sister Yano, our former mission nurse who is back home after completing her mission