Mortensen, Camden

Hello Everyone, P-day was moved to today because our district has a temple appointment this evening, so Monday was a regular work day. Today is President & Sister Sommerfelt's first official day in the mission. The next three weeks I will report to a new President before returning home. President and Sister Ames have completed their 3 year service in the MIM. I had the unusual opportunity to meet with President Ames one-on-one earlier this week because I needed an updated Temple Recommend. He was slammed with meetings but found a small opening one evening and we met at the Stake Center and I was able to sit with him one last time. To be transparent, it was good for me to sit with him and talk with him and listen as he shared his love and appreciation for me as a person and as a missionary these last two years. I won't share everything he told me but it was very sincere and heartfelt.   Since I last sent out an email we had Zone Conference and President Ames gave ...

Hey Everyone, Happy Father's Day to my amazing dad who has been there for me every day of my life, and I know will always continue to be there for me. I love him very much.  And to all of the men who have been supportive of me as I've served the Lord these (almost) two years. I appreciate all of you for your love and prayers.  Today for P-day we played mini golf as a district and then had Sonic for lunch (Sorry Dad, I know you love Sonic Slushes). We also accomplished the usual preparation day errands and chores, which is a good thing since I ran out of food yesterday.  The temperatures have been climbing here in Missouri and the humidity is showing its ugly face. We have felt the heat as we've tracted and walked the streets of our area.   Unfortunately, we had to drop Mike. When we met with him this week he became rude and disrespectful because he doesn't believe that in order to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he needs to be...

Hey Everyone, This week we taught Mike another lesson. It was very powerful and it is amazing how the Spirit directed our lesson. Before the lesson Elder Fleming and I talked at length about Mike and how we should proceed teaching him because of his history and background that he's shared with us. I won't share his personal details but know that he has had many struggles with family members and those he loves. He also is very worried about making promises with God because he feels he will just disappoint Him. Elder Fleming  and I took all of this information we had learned and we prayed for Mike and how to teach him.  Once we were at his home teaching we first addressed his concerns about letting God down because of mistakes or sin. We assured Mike that God loves all of His children, even when we sin and fall short, but He still needs us to make promises and covenants with Him. We taught about repentance and the Atonement. We used scriptures and stories to teach...

Hey Everyone, Many of the missionaries in the Missouri Independence Mission had a surprise this week...transfers a week early for several companionships. I was notified that I was one of several companionships that would be transferring because the mission needed to make some changes one week early due to an AP needing to be reassigned, a missionary re-entering the mission field one week early (went home, came back), and the need for several Spanish speaking missionaries in different areas. So, Elder Thompson and I said our goodbyes Wednesday night in the pouring rain in the parking lot of the Liberty Jail along with several other carloads of missionaries. I am now serving in Tiffany Springs, MO with Elder Fleming. Tiffany Springs is in the same zone as the Parkville ward where I served recently with Elder Gillman.  Elder Fleming entered the mission field in January and has been in Tiffany Springs since he arrived. We were just notified with the official 6 week trans...