Modern Day Pioneer

Hey Everyone,

Conference weekend was awesome. There were many talks and messages that pierced my heart and I look forward to reading and applying what I've learned. Elder M. Russell Ballard (Apostle) reminded us as missionaries that we are Modern Day Pioneers because we help others find the covenant path. I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve and find those to share the gospel with.

Elder Ronald A. Rasband (Apostle) had to be one of my most favorite talks. Elder Rasband shared his thoughts about the Book of Mormon and how we need to pay attention to the counsel, promises, and teachings found on its pages. He asked us to renew our commitment to reading daily from the Book of Mormon and said "no other book is as important to my life and my testimony." 

To wrap up my last few days in the Woodland ward, our apartment was fumigated for bed bugs and I did see a dead one after they allowed us back in to the apartment. I shook all of my clothes and belongings before I packed and I didn't see any, and nothing yet as I've unpacked in my new apartment. We were able to take Hunter (the priest from the ward) on a golfing outing, ate dinner with his family, and shared a message with them. We had a great day with Hunter and we hope he takes what he felt and moves forward with it. We were invited to youth night with the ward and played outside games. It was a blast. 

The morning of transfers I was called just a few hours before my new assignment was to begin as a trainer, and told that there was a last minute change to the transfer board and I was no longer training but would be a senior companion to a younger greenie and that we needed to "white wash" an area. I can't describe how disappointed I was to be told I was not training after taking the training videos and preparing myself to train. 

I am now in Higginsville, MO and we serve in the Concordia Branch in the Warrensburg Stake. It is a bit bigger then Albany (an area I served for three transfers in), but it is still out in the boonies. It was a 1 hour drive from Independence to our new apartment. My new junior companion is Elder Waterlyn from Utah, this is his 4th transfer. The past few days we've been together have been good and we are teaching well together. I can remember being out only that long and I see in him the same areas of being a greenie that I needed work on so I will help him and lift him and do my best as we serve together. 

"White Washed" means both elders were pulled from this area and two new elders were brought in. It's unusual that both elders are transferred out, so it's important that we work very diligently to get the Area Book updated and correct and reach out to members to see how we can serve them. 

In just the few days we've been here we met DONNA, who is going through a rough patch. We shared a message with her and placed a Book of Mormon. We will see her again on Wednesday. We also met KIMBERLY, who are friends with members in the branch and we talked with her, shared a message and also placed a Book a Mormon with her. We will meet her on Tuesday for another appointment. 

We have met and ate dinner with the Parson's and also watch conference with them. The Scott's fed us, the Staples fed us too. Brother Staple is the Branch Mission Leader and we had great conversation with him. We also spoke to Branch President Young on the phone and look forward to meeting him. Brother Parson served his mission with Elder Gong in Taiwan. It was cool to hear some of their mission stories. 

And for random reminders of my mission days: Our last housing inspector, Elder Martin, was friends with and went to high school with one of the drummers from the band Journey. And, a missionary in our mission was at a ward members home this weekend for conference and the sister told the missionaries she was from Spring Creek, NV. The missionaries told her I was from Spring Creek, NV and so they called me. The sister's name is Sister Washburn and she knows the Moon family. We talked about Spring Creek and different stake members. It was pretty exciting and I can't believe all of the connections to Spring Creek that I have had while serving here. 

To end my letter today, I want to share another great conference talk from Elder Gary E. Stevenson (Apostle), who spoke about nourishing and bearing our testimonies. He said, "When a moment to bear testimony comes, grab it and embrace it. You will feel the warmth of the Comforter when you do." Then he invited us to reflect on 4 questions regarding a testimony. I invite all of you to read the talk and review the 4 questions. I know that if we can answer those those 4 questions about our testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ then we can stand and share what we know is true.

Elder Mortensen