Transfer News

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 with a branch family yesterday afternoon at their home,  and then dinner with one of my favorite families, the Marr's. But, I have a lot of favorites, so I should just say, a great family. Tomorrow we will also have another dinner with a great family. 

I am grateful I was able to train Elder Shaw and have the experiences I had. I have grown a lot and have learned a lot. We've been together for 13 weeks and I wish him the best and hope that he is successful. 

Yesterday I hit my 20 month mark and have three transfers left on my mission. We really don't talk about "how much time you have left" as missionaries, but it's good to note how long I've served and how much I've learned throughout my mission. I look forward to continuing to work hard these next 18 weeks and finish strong. 

We had exchanges this week with the DL and Elder Templin came here and stayed with me so Elder Shaw could experience for the first time packing up and spending an exchange away from the apartment. All training has been taken very slowly with him but he was able to handle it.

Missionary work moved forward this week. Lots of disappointments and some great conversations with many people. Seeds were planted and a lot of good work was done.

Unfortunately, we've now have cockroaches in our apartment. We've notified mission maintenance and I have only seen two so far and they are now dead. I will search and pack carefully. 

We spent a few days doing service for several families this week. It was good to be outside and one day it was raining and we could only work for about an hour and will have to return to complete the jobs. 

This morning we traveled to our church building and met another set of missionaries so we could give a set of sister missionaries blessings. Elder Templin gave a blessing and the other sister missionary asked if I would give her a blessing. More good experiences to note before I leave the area. 

We had two rounds of Hapkido this week. The Levin's fed us afterwards and we spent time doing service for them also. I hope to get one more lesson before transfer day. 

Change is necessary. If you don't like change, the gospel of Jesus Christ is the wrong church for you. The gospel is about change. Sometimes it's hard but it's always worth it. I have thought a lot about the truth of this in the past 24 hours but know all will be well. Change is good. 

Elder Mortensen

Pictures this week:

Elder Templin and me on exchanges

Beautiful sunset in Higginsville, MO

One of my meals