Man, what a good letter! I'll be sending the SD card home soon I bet. It's been holding a lot more photos than I expected though so I've been trying to fill it up. That's good you taught the deacons about Limewire! That is definitely a tough one for young people. You always have the best analogies! Running ones are superb. I love how you can apply anything to gospel principles and to people that you are communicating with. I really need that skill to rub off more on me.
I love that scripture in D&C 123. Verse 17 says: "Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." It's our choice to do things cheerfully. We choose to be happy. Chris Baird (recent convert) said that he used to be the most negative, angry man around. Now, when people come to him with negative or angry feelings he just tells them, "You know, it's your choice to be that way. Why not choose to be happy and benefit other's lives? It's your choice." Words of wisdom. He's a phenomenal guy. But it's so true! We also choose to entertain unworthy thoughts. Sure, they may pop into our minds but it's our choice to entertain them. One of the toughest ones for me is accepting constructive criticism from someone who is around my own age. Ughhh, it's so hard for me to do! But I've learned that I can either choose to allow it to help me, or choose to make it ruin the rest of my day! haha
This week has been pretty good. We've been at a loll lately when it comes to baptisms and baptismal dates but there are quite a few people that are right there! On Wednesday we had dinner at the Mock's home. Brother and Sister Mock are members of the church (converts for over 30 years) and Sister Mock's uncle Howard lives with them. Howard came to church last week. I told you his whole story last week. We met with him and taught him the restoration lesson. He has a tough time though because he's severely dislexic and almost 100% illiterate. As we talked to him we told him about how important baptism is for us and also what it does for us in this life and also the life to come. "So is baptism important for us Howard?" "Well I'll say so!!" he said. We then committed him to September 30th. Brother and Sister Mock started asking him if he really knew what he was comitting to though. They didn't want him to feel pressured. He responded by saying it's something he really wants to do! Well, two days later we get a call from Sister Mock and she tells us that she just thinks that he was rushed and should go through all the lessons and make the decision for himself and not be committed. SISTER MOCK! If we waited for everybody to commit themselves nobody would be baptized. So we're going back over there sometime this week to teach him and hopefully they didn't scare him away too bad. He told us he really wanted to be baptized! Oh, and he's 82 years old so I dunno how much time we have to work with! haha just kidding.
Saturday was a pretty special day. We had a mission-wide conference where we were told that Elder Robert D. Hales, Elder Richard G. Hinckley, and Elder Michael Pickard (area seventy) would be attending. Our meeting was at two o'clock and then all the stake presidents and bishops in the mission had a meeting with them from nine to one. Of course, we got there around one o'clock so we could see Elder Hales, just in case he didn't come to our meeting. As we were sitting in the foyer, he was in the chapel greeting all the Bishops and Stake presidents and we of course were standing on our tippy toes trying to spy him. Sister Beck walked passed us holding her purse and her scripture bag and we asked her if she needed a hand with them. She said, "why yes I do!" And we snuck into the chapel right behind her! As we walked up onto the stand, Elder Hales was in the aisle and we brushed shoulders up with him. Of course, my heart was beating like crazy. We put her bags up on the stand where she would be sitting and then started back down. As we walked passed him again, he was talking to President Beck and Sister Beck and Sister Beck grabbed our shoulders and said, "Elder Hales! I'd like you to meet two of our missionaries!" We got to shake his hand and he looked us in the eyes and just said, "hello elders." And went back to what he was doing. Of course, my heart was nearly burning up from how fast it was beating. He had the softest hands I've ever felt! haha But seriously, the spirit in that chapel was thick and you could feel it as soon as you walked into the building. Apostles are amazing. It's too bad that he was too worn out from speaking to the Stake Presidents and bishops that he couldn't come to our meeting, but being two of the only missionaries in the entire mission that got to shake his hand was pretty remarkable. Two apostles down! 13 to go! Richard G. Hinckley was awesome in our meeting though. He told stories about his DAD just as if he was an ordinary man, haha but then we made the correlation and OH, he was just the prophet. No big deal. Give Richard G. a few years and some glasses and he'll look just like him! We got to shake his hand as well.
There are several families we are meeting with who are pretty awesome. Jacque, Reanna, and their son Gabe. They are native american (lamanite) and when we first met with them we thought they were baptized because of how often they come to church but it turns out that they aren't. They aren't even married for that matter! But it shouldn't take much time. They have two younger boys ages 3 and 4 who are hilarious. One of them modeled for the Eclipse movie. Down here they get a lot of people who are native american to play the werewolf parts or something like that. That's the word on the street at least. I told you that I'm serving in the ward that Stephanie Meyer used to live right? I think I did. Anyway, Jacque is like a 6'2" 300 pound guy so it's gonna take someone other than myself to get him under the water! The other family who is close to being baptized is the Martins. Rick, the Grandpa/dad is a member but has a smoking problem. His wife Jeanine is really interested in the church and wants all of her children to come to the lessons and church as well. They live in a small apartment with Jeanine's son and daughter-in-law and then their two sons and then four dogs. It's pretty hectic in there and it's hard to have a quiet, spiritual lesson but I think they will come around soon.
Spiritual experiences happen so frequently out here it's awesome. Friday we got a referral from Elder King and Elder McBride (yes that Elder McBride). A man named Alan works with a guy who is a member and has been showing a lot of interest in the church and especially the Priesthood. This is because his wife Tracy, who has battled breast cancer before, has now been diagnosed with a worse case than she went through in the past. We went over and visited with them. Taught them about the power of the priesthood as well as where it came from. They have faith and don't doubt that the power of God is on the earth today. So we gave her a blessing. The spirit was so strong. Tracy has to go to Michigan for her procedures for two weeks while her husband stays in Phoenix to work. They are awesome and there is a lot of potential there as well.
D&C 133:29 "And in the barren deserts there shall come forth pools of living water; and the parched ground shall no longer be a thirsty land."
A few months ago a missionary in our district named Elder Kennington was approached by a woman who told them that she had a daughter serving a mission in Fresno California. She told him that even though she's not a member, she still supports her daughter in all she does and loves what the missionaries do. Elder Kennington asked the lady if he could have her daughter's email address haha. He didn't know why he asked that but he did. Last February he emailed the girl and never heard back from her until a few weeks ago when he got a letter. The letter said that the girl had been praying that her mom would be found by the missionaries and that she has been telling her mom to feed the missionaries. Well it so happens that this lady, her name is Sister Seers, moved into our area and we decided to stop by last night and get to know her. We knocked on the door and her 11 year old grandson answered the door. Sister Seers was in the background making dinner so she said, "you know guys it's not really a good time right now we're about to sit down for dinner." She came to the door to say hello and we just responded with, "Oh we just wanted to stop by and introduce ourselves!" She said alright well right now just isn't a good time and started to close the door. She then reopened the door and asked if we would like some water cause we look really tired. haha We never turn down water if it gets us in the door so we accepted. As we were sitting on the couch with our water, she then asked if we had eaten dinner yet. We played it off and said we hadn't but that we would be alright cause we have some people we needed to visit. She insisted. So we finally gave in and it just so happened that she cooked more food than she and her two grandsons could eat! It was great. She continued to say, "geez what are the odds of this. You guys show up right at dinner time during the week that I was going to call you to come over." This Thursday is her daughter's birthday and she was very hurt that she wasn't going to be able to talk to her but said that she'll give her daughter a birthday present by feeding the missionaries. We did the dishes for her, cleaned up around, and then had a very powerful spiritual thought. She told us she was currently attending Calvary Church, one that is very much against the Mormons and has even gone as far as creating a movie called, The Bible v.s. Joseph Smith. Calvary members are usually very against LDS members but since she has been around the LDS church all her life she has no problems. We talked about where the Book of Mormon came from, who Joseph Smith is and all about his story. Her grandson, who is an extremely intelligent sixth grader, burst into tears because of how much religion has split apart his family. He was interested in learning more though. I have a firm testimony that the "living water," which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, quenches a thirst that people didn't even know they had.
I love you guys so much. We're going to a zone volleyball tournament now so wish us luck.
Hope you have a great week!
Love,
Elder Mouritsen
Spiritual experiences happen so frequently out here it's awesome. Friday we got a referral from Elder King and Elder McBride (yes that Elder McBride). A man named Alan works with a guy who is a member and has been showing a lot of interest in the church and especially the Priesthood. This is because his wife Tracy, who has battled breast cancer before, has now been diagnosed with a worse case than she went through in the past. We went over and visited with them. Taught them about the power of the priesthood as well as where it came from. They have faith and don't doubt that the power of God is on the earth today. So we gave her a blessing. The spirit was so strong. Tracy has to go to Michigan for her procedures for two weeks while her husband stays in Phoenix to work. They are awesome and there is a lot of potential there as well.
D&C 133:29 "And in the barren deserts there shall come forth pools of living water; and the parched ground shall no longer be a thirsty land."
A few months ago a missionary in our district named Elder Kennington was approached by a woman who told them that she had a daughter serving a mission in Fresno California. She told him that even though she's not a member, she still supports her daughter in all she does and loves what the missionaries do. Elder Kennington asked the lady if he could have her daughter's email address haha. He didn't know why he asked that but he did. Last February he emailed the girl and never heard back from her until a few weeks ago when he got a letter. The letter said that the girl had been praying that her mom would be found by the missionaries and that she has been telling her mom to feed the missionaries. Well it so happens that this lady, her name is Sister Seers, moved into our area and we decided to stop by last night and get to know her. We knocked on the door and her 11 year old grandson answered the door. Sister Seers was in the background making dinner so she said, "you know guys it's not really a good time right now we're about to sit down for dinner." She came to the door to say hello and we just responded with, "Oh we just wanted to stop by and introduce ourselves!" She said alright well right now just isn't a good time and started to close the door. She then reopened the door and asked if we would like some water cause we look really tired. haha We never turn down water if it gets us in the door so we accepted. As we were sitting on the couch with our water, she then asked if we had eaten dinner yet. We played it off and said we hadn't but that we would be alright cause we have some people we needed to visit. She insisted. So we finally gave in and it just so happened that she cooked more food than she and her two grandsons could eat! It was great. She continued to say, "geez what are the odds of this. You guys show up right at dinner time during the week that I was going to call you to come over." This Thursday is her daughter's birthday and she was very hurt that she wasn't going to be able to talk to her but said that she'll give her daughter a birthday present by feeding the missionaries. We did the dishes for her, cleaned up around, and then had a very powerful spiritual thought. She told us she was currently attending Calvary Church, one that is very much against the Mormons and has even gone as far as creating a movie called, The Bible v.s. Joseph Smith. Calvary members are usually very against LDS members but since she has been around the LDS church all her life she has no problems. We talked about where the Book of Mormon came from, who Joseph Smith is and all about his story. Her grandson, who is an extremely intelligent sixth grader, burst into tears because of how much religion has split apart his family. He was interested in learning more though. I have a firm testimony that the "living water," which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, quenches a thirst that people didn't even know they had.
I love you guys so much. We're going to a zone volleyball tournament now so wish us luck.
Hope you have a great week!
Love,
Elder Mouritsen
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