Cockroaches, Crawlspaces And Cobwebs

Hey Everyone,

We had Zone Conference this week where we heard messages on the Book of Mormon, proper authority and baptism. I came away with some good impressions and things to think about. 

This week we had a 2 day service project at the Higginsville Train Depot. The train station is now a historical site and museum. The lady we did service for in her yard last week, who isn't a member, works there and asked if we would help out at the Train Station. They wanted help to cover all of the train doors with plastic to keep the draft out so when they worked and gave tours it would be warmer. We agreed to help and on the first day I was on an exchange with Elder Bucheit and we worked for many hours covering doors by stapling on thick plastic. One of the doors continued to have a cold raft after we covered it. The door connected to a crawl space below and they asked me if I could crawl in there and see if there was a hole. I looked in the small crawl space and it was filled with cobwebs. I found a broom and cleared out as many cobwebs as possible so that I could actually crawl back to where I could see light coming through. It was getting late and dark so we told them we'd be back the next day. Elder Paul and I showed up and I went back into the crawl space and determined that just covering it with plastic wouldn't stop the draft so we found some wood boards and cut them down to size to cover the hole. I then took the boards, screws and an electric drill back into the crawlspace and screwed the boards in. It reminded me of an Indiana Jones type adventure and it actually turned out to be really fun to do something new and different. The crawl space was very small and it's a good thing I wasn't claustrophobic. I got the hole covered with wood and then stapled plastic over the wood and the draft stopped. They were very happy about that. This has been a long term problem for them every winter season and finally they will feel a bit warmer this year. I was super dirty and filthy both days, but was happy to help. 

Elder Paul and I have been working hard tracting and FB finding and we continue to teach the same people as last week. We gave several messages in person and on FB and planted some seeds. 

Today we visited the Senior Center and played pickleball with them. We visited with Marilyn and found out that she needs surgery and they have her in a soft cast right now. She said she's doing well and that it's fixable so she's happy. 

Our small LDS church house where we meet on Sunday had water leak from the steeple this week. The water dripped into the baptistry. They are trying to determine if the water is toxic and so we were asked to stay home Sunday and we had Zoom Church. We went to the home of a recent convert and his wife to watch Church. Afterwards they fixed lunch for us and all of the cockroaches. They were everywhere in the kitchen, on the floor, on the counters, in and by the food. They made chili and as I went to pick up the ladle a cockroach scurried off. I closely watched every spoonful of chili to make sure I wasn't eating a cockroach. This same family had fed us earlier in the week and the same problem was going on, but the husband took a can of bug spray and sprayed the countertops where about 20 cockroaches were and then left them there as we went to the counter to get our food. We checked ourselves really well both times to see if we had any cockroaches on us before we went into our apartment. 

For my Spring Creek friends...Remember I mentioned that Elder Thompson serves in my mission--cousin to the Thompson's in the 1st ward? Well, Sister Tesh serves in my mission who is a cousin to the Lore family in the 4th ward. 

Last Monday the Andrade family, from my first area, came clear out to the boonies to take me and three other elders out to dinner. They are the absolute best and I couldn't be more happy to have them as friends. 

We will have our Zone Thanksgiving meal and then visit two different families in the branch for BBQ and smoked meals later that day. 

I am serving the Lord with all of my "heart, might, mind and strength." I am giving every ounce of energy to this work. 

Elder Mortensen

Pictures/Videos this week:

In the car on exchanges with Elder Bucheit  

In the crawlspace at the train station

The lights at the train station and around the town of Higginsville