LEAVE IT ALL ON THE MISSION

Hey Everyone,

It has been a great week of wonderful experiences and Heavenly Father never stops loving and helping us missionaries and our Savior Jesus Christ never stops providing the things we stand in need of. 

Jordyn is an investigator that has been to church 3 times. She is a good friend of a young woman in the ward, Sydney Bond. When Jordyn read the bible and specifically Galations 5 and learned about the "fruits of the Spirit" she looked at all of her friends and realized that only Sydney had those qualities. Jordyn and her family are strict Baptists and her parents are not thrilled with her decision to learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ from the missionaries. Jordyn is 18 and will be graduating high school in a few weeks. We've taught several lessons to her and she is excited about the gospel and wants to learn more. Jordyn studies the scriptures, has questions ready to ask us and she is golden. She is one of the most prepared and ready investigators I've ever taught my entire mission. I have hope for Jordyn. We've encouraged her to have a straightforward discussion with her parents about her desire to be baptized. They've touched the surface of the conversation in the past and it didn't go very well. Please pray for Jordyn that she will have the strength to tackle the challenges in front of her. 

Kara is another amazing investigator that is the girlfriend of a young man named Logan Hastings in the ward. Kara's family is not happy they are dating and certainly aren't happy that she is interested in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We taught her the Restoration and then Logan's sister challenged Kara to memorize the First Vision (after we challenged her) and Kara did it. No questions asked, memorized it and loves it. 

Jordyn and Kara are progressing in the gospel. They are being held back by their families. Both are committed to taking the lessons and they are reading the Book of Mormon and they are asking great questions. They are prepared every time we meet with them. Please keep them both in your prayers. 

I went on an exchange with Elder Shaw (my former trainee) in North Kansas City this week. He's struggling with his current companion and they are both struggling to find people to teach. He asked me to help him and so I did. During our personal study I prayed for ways to help their situation. I was led to Preach My Gospel and ended up having a very profound and powerful personal study. I was impressed to study the Restoration lesson and then read the Baptismal Interview questions. Then I went to lesson 2 in PMG and, again, the Baptismal Interview questions were highlighted so I studied them. I stopped and prayed again and then went to lesson 3 in PMG and again, there were the Baptismal Interview questions. I knew what I was led to was pure, true doctrine. I continued to study and read the Baptismal Interview questions and was impressed to find the best scripture to match each interview question. I looked at the clock and had less than 15 minutes to find, through inspiration, scriptures that would help me and also Elder Shaw. Question #1: John 3:16-17, Questions #2: 3 Nephi 27:14 & 16, Question #3: 2 Nephi 3:11-12, and Questions #4: Dueteronomy 18:18. I also added Mosiah 18:8-10 as the cherry on top of the sundae. The clock beeped just as I finished inputting into my phone what I was inspired to study and the scriptures I found with my personal notes about each question and scripture. 

Elder Shaw has not driven a car for over two years but he finally got his TIWI card and I was the first one to sit in the passenger seat as he sat behind the wheel. He was very nervous and rusty but he finally felt confident and ended up doing well. After two earlier appointments fell through we arrived at Nikki's house and knocked on the door. No answer. Knocked again, no answer. Knocked our third and final time and there was no answer. As we arrived back home and ready to end the exchange I shared with Elder Shaw my personal study and how it could be a help to him to keep those interview questions on his mind as he finds those to teach. Elder Shaw appreciated the help. 

I can attest that Satan works very hard on missionaries. He wants us to be discouraged and unhappy and to think we aren't doing enough. I know that we need to push forward through those thoughts and feelings and as we read in Moses, "GET THEE HENCE SATAN". 

There is a missionary story in our mission about a young man who joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and when he did his parents kicked him out of the house. He was the oldest of 12 children and was told they now only had 11 children. The young man moved in with friends, got a job and saved for a mission and eventually got his call. He served when Elders were only serving 18 months with a slight opportunity to extend to 2 years. Six months out on his mission he received a letter from his younger sister who had secretly written to him since he had been kicked out of the house. But, her parents found out and she was writing him a final letter saying goodbye because she had been caught. The missionary was devastated and now had no one who loved and supported him as he served. At 17 months out he got a call from his mission president and was asked to extend for 6 months and serve 2 years. The missionary agreed since he had no one to go home to. At 23 months he got an urgent phone call from his mission president asking him to come to his office ASAP. Once there he was handed the other end of the telephone to which he heard his dad's voice which spoke of the disappointment he felt in his son's disobedience to his parents wishes. But then, his dad revealed the real reason for his call. He was seriously ill and lying in a hospital bed. The night before the dad had dreamed that the Savior visited him and told him that he was hindering his work and he was pushing away God's children. In the dream he was told that if he didn't contact his son and take him back he would die. He expressed his will to live and to have his son in his life and that he needed to follow the dream and he did that. The missionary finished his mission and went home to his family and both of his parents. 

I share that because it gives me hope for Jordyn and Kara and their situations with their parents. Please pray that their parents won't hinder Heavenly Father's work on the earth and that their hearts will soften and they will allow their adult children to join the gospel of Jesus Christ where they will have the opportunity to live with their families forever. 

Elder Mortensen 

Pictures this week:

Getting cookies 

Our early morning Pday boxing workout

Lunch with Elder Thompson

Dinner with a ward family

The car... 

Me and Elder Shaw

The beautiful Kansas City Temple

Video of a little fun with Elder Thompson