Pickleball, Service And Rain

Hey Everyone,

Another week in Higginsville has come and gone. Rural areas are sometimes difficult to serve in but we are making the most of it. 

This week we played pickleball at a senior center with some of the residents. It was a good way to get out and meet members in the community and get some exercise. The senior citizens were kind and enjoyed seeing us and playing a few games with them. 

We had two separate good days of service for members this week. One family had cut down overgrown branches from all of the trees on their property and asked that we haul the branches and load them on a flatbed trailer. It was a long day of work but it was a good time.  We also helped a family move and stack logs for the winter. We are grateful some members took us up on our offer to help serve them in some way.  

Our trio has been amazing and I enjoy having a third companion. My vote would always be in a trio, but I'm grateful to help these two young elders learn more about being missionaries. 

Yesterday in our correlation meeting we were finally given names of less active families to visit this week and we hope for some success after meeting with them. We also are having a 24 hour fast with a member for two specific people. 

Our weather is changing and our temperatures are cooling down. We had one really cool day this week and today all we've had is pouring rain. 

We spent most of our week getting out and meeting the branch members and sharing messages with them. We've also visited all of the "grey dots" in our area book. We were fed well this week and I am still craving the pancakes and buttermilk syrup we ate a few nights ago. 

This week I studied President Nelson's October General Conference talk "Overcome the World and Find Rest ''. Please read and reread this talk. One of my favorite parts of the talks says:

"But, my dear brothers and sisters, so many wonderful things are ahead. In coming days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior's power that the world has ever seen. Between now and the time He returns 'with power and great glory,' He will bestow countless privileges, blessings and miracles upon the faithful." 

We all need to hang in there and be steadfast in our efforts to stay on the covenant path. I know as a missionary that we cannot do our work without the Spirit. I know that we can receive revelation specific to our calling and our personal situations. I have such a sincere, genuine desire for all the people in the area I am serving in to hear the messages of Jesus Christ. I pray for their well being and I am worried about them. As a trio I am praying we can be unified in spirit to be led to the people we need to teach at the right time they need to be taught. 

Elder Mortensen

Pictures and Videos this week:

Service pictures hauling branches

Our trio 

Chopping wood