Jesus Christ Is The Reason For The Season

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 were sitting up at the front. Sister Ames had made a rhyme for each new trainer and trainee. While I can't recall exactly what she said, it was pretty amazing to rhyme MORTENSEN. My new companion is Elder Shaw from Lehi, UT. He is about one month older than me and spent some time in college before coming out to the mission. Once his name was called we both jumped up and gave each other a big hug. We gathered all of his stuff and loaded the car to head back to Higginsville. It was a great drive home giving us time to learn about each other. 

The past few days have been great as I have been training Elder Shaw. I've been able to use some of the same techniques and information that I was given as a greenie from Elder Montoya. Elder Shaw is working to learn mission rules, etc. It will take time for all of these things to be taught and learned. This is our focus and we have plenty of time as the holidays make finding and teaching a bit more challenging. 

I have to share three pranks I have already played on Elder Shaw. The first is I hid all of the dinnerware and silverware in a box in the closet. I left out only 1 plate, 1 bowl, 1 knife, 1 fork and 1 spoon. On the first day Elder Shaw arrived I just waited to see how long it would take him to be hungry and want food. I finally sat down to eat and eventually he arrived and looked through the cupboards for dinnerware. He kept opening everything up and couldn't find anything. He turned and asked me where he could find dinnerware, I told him, "I'm sure it's in your suitcase Elder. We all had to bring our own." Elder Shaw's eyes got huge and he spurts out, "That wasn't on my packing list." I just stared at him and shrugged my shoulders. He then asked if he could wash my dishes and use my dinnerware to eat. I told him no, but that he could follow me to the closet where I showed him a box filled with dinnerware and silverware. He was shocked to see the box and then realized he had been pranked. LOL. 

The second prank was with Brother Morgan (we had previously set it up). We arrive at Brother Morgan's home and he answers the door very rudely and asks what we wanted. I had told Elder Shaw that it was his turn to introduce us and ask if we could share a message. I was actually pretty surprised that Elder Shaw hung in there as long as he did. Brother Morgan denied any friendly request to learn about the gospel or to have a message shared. He even went as far as to say if we didn't leave he would go get his two pit bulls. We stayed put. Brother Morgan turns to leave to get the dogs when Elder Shaw says, "We only want to share a message with you about Jesus Christ." Brother Morgan stops and turns back to us. He puts his hand on Elder Shaw's shoulder and says, "Welcome to the Branch Elder Shaw, I'm Brother Morgan." Haha! Elder Shaw was shocked! He couldn't believe we did that to him. All in fun. He's a good sport. 

The final prank is ongoing. I'll let this one go for a while. I purchased a yellow safety vest and gave it to Elder Shaw and told him that we need to practice exact obedience in all that we do. And one of the things asked of us is to wear this yellow vest and he needs to stand behind the car and make sure I am backing up appropriately and not going to hit anyone or anything. So, every single time we go anywhere he says, "Elder I will wait behind the car so we are being obedient." He wears his bright yellow vest and I sit in the car and chuckle as he waves me on. Now, this is the same prank pulled on me as a greenie and I didn't know any better. I wore that stupid vest and backed up Elder Montoya for a long time before I caught on that NO ONE ELSE was having a back up Elder. 

Lori was not baptized on Saturday. It's a long story and I don't want to delve into it. But she's anxious to be baptized and it's now set for this Saturday--Christmas Eve. Tonight we are meeting with Lori's daughter, Heather, and we will have a good talk with her about getting her mom to the stake center this Saturday. We are hopeful that once Heather meets with us that she will accept her mom's wishes and we can move forward. 

Thursday is our Zone Conference Christmas party. We also have Zone Christmas Eve and Christmas Day plans. 

We were fed lunch by our good friends the Andrades and Hector Acosta this week. We appreciate these good members for feeding us even though we don't live anywhere near them.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is true. It is our Heavenly Father's plan for the happiness and salvation of His children. As we live the gospel we exercise faith in Jesus Christ. We repent daily. We make covenants with God and receive the ordinances of salvation and exaltation. We endure to the end by keeping those covenants. 

I wish all of my family and friends a very Merry Christmas. I hope each of you feel the love of our Savior in your lives. I hope we can each reflect and act upon the blessings and opportunities we have because of the birth of Jesus Christ. 

Elder Mortensen

Pictures this week:

Elder Shaw and I out doing missionary work

Elder Shaw and I in the car at our first meeting

The Christmas tree we decorated, sent my parents

Our apartment Christmas tree

Ramone and I

Lunch with Hector Acosta

Lunch with the Andrades and Elder Paul