Mortensen, Camden

Hello Everyone, I hope each of you had a Merry Christmas and enjoyed time with your friends and family. Christmas here in the mission field was good and I am grateful for the birth and life of our Savior Jesus Christ.  The weather this past week has turned very cold and snowy. We had snow enter under the front door of our apartment. Great times.  I was able to call and video chat with my parents and sister yesterday on Christmas. I opened my gifts from them and other extended family as we talked. Thank you to everyone who sent me something, I really appreciate it. I also opened a box from my parents home ward filled with handwritten note cards from the Relief Society sisters, Young Men, Young Women, and Primary children. I was very touched by their effort to write to me and send treats and a gift along with the cards. I read every card and they made me smile.  I continue to train Elder Shaw. Things are going well and we are getting along great. We are making sure to have ...

Hello Everyone, Another week has passed and the holiday festivities continue all around us. What a marvelous time of the year to reflect on our Savior's birth, life, and mission. Jesus Christ is the reason for the season and He should be our ultimate focus as we celebrate Christmas. I hope many of you have taken time to brighten someone else's day by Lighting the World in your special way. There are so many simple, basic ways to spread God's love. I challenge you to take time this week to give your time, talents, money, or love to someone else. Pray for inspiration on how you can make someone else have a very Merry Christmas. Transfers were last Thursday. Elder Paul and I finished our last week together and he packed up and we arrived in Independence to wait and see where Elder Paul would land and who I would be training. After catching up with many friends and former companions, President Ames asked all trainers to enter the chapel and wait at the back. All of the trainees...

Hey Everyone, Sorry I wasn't able to get an email sent out last week, we were super busy and the day flew by. This letter will include the last two weeks and update you on how things are going.  We were able to watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional with members and that made it fun. The members continue to feed us and we are enjoying getting to know more families.  Last week we spent time throwing hay bales again. It is hard labor but we are happy to help others out. This week we had a pretty horrible service project where we went to a less active member's home and worked in a stinky, smelly, chicken coop for hours installing insulation in the largest chicken coop I've ever seen. We stood in poop the entire time. So many ducks/geese and chickens in the yard. But, we did it and are finally getting that smell out of our noses.  We continue to work finding investigators on FB and last week I sent a FB referral to missionaries in Africa. That was pretty cool and the...