Ahhh, The Sounds Of Happy Missourians

Hey Everyone,

It's definitely turning bitter cold as we now see temperatures in the single digits. Being in the Midwest with the humidity factor makes it even colder but nothing stops the work from moving forward.

In transfer news I will be staying in Higginsville for another transfer and will continue to train Elder Shaw. This will be my fourth straight transfer and the longest time I've served in any area since the start of my mission. I am actually really happy with staying because the branch members are the best. 

Elder Shaw and I both spoke in Sacrament Meeting yesterday. Our topic was missionary work and we helped to pump up the branch and get them thinking about who they can invite us to teach. I shared several stories and said that Preach My Gospel and the Book of Mormon can be used as our own personal Liahona. Then I shared 3 tools they can use to move the work along. 

We are teaching some great investigators right now. Billy is an awesome guy who is ready to be baptized. He has a testimony and has really progressed with learning and growing with the basic gospel principles. Billy needs to overcome a few addictions and is slowly cutting those out of his daily life. We are proud of him for working to overcome things he's done for so long. 

Marsha is also progressing and we finally got in to teach her again. It happened to be last night while the Kansas City Chiefs game was going on and I will fully admit that I didn't think her front door would open and we would be let in. 

Rose is Marsha's friend and we taught her for the first time last night. Her mother just passed away and the funeral was today. I shared Alma 40 with her and taught her about the resurrection of all men and women. She felt comforted with the message I shared. 

Rick is also a good candidate for baptism. When I told him I met Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs head football coach) he flipped and couldn't believe I had met him and had a picture taken with him. 

Kahlan's heart is becoming a little more soft and she is willing to hear and learn more about the gospel of Jesus Christ. We were over to the Marr's home Saturday and I shared a message with Kahlan about the Sacrament (see my FB post to know what I'm talking about). I read the article out loud to her and she became emotional and teared up. I asked her if she would go to church the next day and she said yes. I promised her that if she attended church she would feel a lot better and be happier. I shared my testimony with her and then Elder Shaw shared his testimony. Kahlan came to church. I asked her if she felt happy and she said yes. During church, Kahlan's mom talked to me and said that this is a huge deal to get her to attend church. She said for over a year missionaries have been trying to get her to attend (including sister missionaries) and that it was a miracle she was there. Her parents were so happy. We have a return appointment to teach her again on Tuesday. 

Last night (during the KS Chiefs game) we were doing FB work as a district. We decided to make calls to people as a group so we could each share thoughts that came into our minds. It worked well but it was very amusing to be talking about the gospel with someone and then you hear, "RUN, RUN, RUN!" "What are you doing?" "You want to go back to living on the streets?" "Yeah, Yeah" 

The walls are pretty thin in our apartment and we could hear an elderly lady screaming (we are assuming at her TV) all throughout the game. When the chiefs won it was a mass confusion of screaming and yelling, guns going off, fireworks in the sky, pots and pans banging together, everyone outside screaming in the streets, "We're going to the Super Bowl!" All I can say is that the Missourians love their Chiefs! 

This past week we had Mid-Trainer's meeting. It was almost a full day of training for those of us training and being trained. It was pretty intense and was held in Liberty and some elders in Blue Springs were low on miles and asked if we could pick them up and take them. We drove 40 minutes to Blue Springs then another 30 minutes to Liberty and then back again. It was a long day. 

I had exchanges with Elder Larsen this past week. We had a good 24 hours of hard work. 

I certainly worked tirelessly this week and have felt extremely tired as I crashed into bed at night which tells me that we are working super hard each and every day. 

There has been some improvement with Elder Shaw and I am pleased that he is taking some action to make himself a good missionary. I am helping him to see the good in everything each day. I am being upbeat and positive with him and he is turning a corner. I want to text him every Monday for the rest of his mission to make sure he's hanging in there. 

It was a good work week and I am happy we have people to teach. I think this is my favorite area on my mission so far. I look forward to working the next 6 weeks with the branch and those we are teaching. 

We finally got the less active roster updated with the Branch President and we will now start going out each day to track down the names and families. 

Our branch added 3 new deacons this month and we needed it. Elder Shaw and I prepare, bless and sometimes help to pass the sacrament every week. 

Our building is now available for us to use again. This was our second week back together and it was a good feeling to see everyone again. 

I hope as this month ends and February arrives that all of you are doing well. Thank you for the emails and prayers. Thank you for thinking about me and asking how I am doing, I appreciate it. Mission life is good and I am grateful that I am serving at this time. 

Elder Mortensen

Pictures and Video this week:

Video with Elder Shaw about Elder Holland's talk (look at my FB post to see what I wrote about)

Our all elder district - some of these guys are transferring and one is heading home completing his mission. Great missionaries right here.

Me with the pictures I used on my FB stories this week