Mortensen, Camden

Hello Everyone, We were given a brand new car to drive and the smell is really bad and has made me pretty sick. I've been in new cars before, but this is over the top with the strong stinky smells. No one wants a headache every time you get inside a car to drive anywhere. I'm able to roll the windows down, but hopefully the smell goes away soon. First world problems, I know.  We had a productive week and found some new people to teach. Several lessons were taught and many visits were made. Two of our investigators that are interested we will have to pass off to the YSA missionaries because they fall into that age range.  We spent time this week visiting and extending invitations to watch General Conference and attend our Easter Sunday services.  We performed service hours at the thrift store again this week and also had a ward member reach out to help move and haul some furniture.  We are being fed by the members and last night we ate a giant pizza made fro...

Hey Everyone, Last Thursday were transfers and Elder Shaw and I had a heartfelt goodbye. He is my trainee so I will always be cheering for him. I will keep up with him throughout his mission and hope he continues to take each day one at a time.   I was transferred to Parkville, MO, right on the border of Kansas City, MO. Over 99 percent of our area is in Parkville with one percent in Kansas City. Our ward is the Parkville Ward. My new companion is Elder Gilman. He is from Hyde Park, UT and has been out one transfer less than me. I remain senior companion. This area has several green dots and I've scheduled several lessons already. Tonight we are meeting an investigator for a lesson and bowling, and tomorrow night we have another lesson at an investigators home. It's nice to be busy and have work to do. I am making sure to get the ball rolling right at the beginning of the transfer and have a good plan in place and goals have been set.  This week at district council I foun...

Hey Everyone, I received word I will be transferred this week. It's really good news but I will sure miss the branch members here in Concordia. This is the longest I have spent in one area. I have really enjoyed living and serving here and it's my most favorite area so far.  I've been here since September and I am looking forward to a new companion and a new place to serve.  As I look back on the past 6 months I have seen miracles in my life. I can say that miracles are, in fact, still happening on earth. I've shared many of the miracles I've experienced in the emails I've written home.  Yesterday was an amazing Sunday. The spirit was strong during our Sacrament meeting and I just sat and soaked it all in. I looked at every family and felt blessed to know them. So many said their goodbyes and that was hard. I can't believe I've been here so long and in the matter of days I'll be gone--it's happening so fast.  We were able to spend a few minutes w...

Hey Everyone, It was a challenging week and I am looking forward to a fresh start a new week brings. This week as I was reading in Luke I really resonated with chapter 9 verse 62 which says: "And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Jesus explained to those who considered being his disciples to take time to consider their decisions because there was no going back once one stepped onto his path, that it would be better to not take the path then to start the journey and then quit. When we "put our hand to the plow" we must be ready for a lifetime relationship with and following Jesus Christ. My takeaway is to keep looking forward and not back. Dwelling on the past only brings doubts, questions and possible heartache of the "what if's". Being steady and looking forward, making course corrections when needed, and strengthening our testimonies is a great way to move forward.  Yeste...