Hi family!
Sisters, it's so good to hear from each of you. I'm sorry I've been such a slacker on writing letters. I wrote a couple to you this week. Mom, I am a sinner for how much I haven't conversed with you as well. I want you to know how much I love and appreciate you. I've taken for granted how fantastic my childhood was with you and I want you to know that I am so thankful for you, your love, your support, and your testimony. You are such an example to me. Thanks. Madison I never had Brother Burton for seminary but I did know who he was because I was friends with his sons. He's a great guy. I'm excited for everyone and the events coming up this school year!
Update on the shoulder: Surgery on Tuesday went well. I'll be honest dad I remember talking to you but I have no idea what either of us said. In all reality I don't have the greatest recollection of anything that transpired that day. The nerve block was the weirdest feeling in the world! For 20 hours after surgery there was no feeling from halfway down my neck to the tips of my fingers. I woke up the first night frantic because I thought my bandages were too tight and there was no circulation in any of my arm. Sleeping in the recliner was made easy because of a good friend named Oxycodone (Percocet). That stuff KNOCKS ME OUT! I kept on it every four hours during the day but to be honest the pain was nothing like when I got my wisdom teeth out. The nerve block helped a lot with that and I guess it would have been hard for them to do one of those for my jaw... I might have lost feeling of my entire head. hmm... Anyway, I was anticipating severe pain for the next one to two months like they told me but I haven't had a single pain pill in 36 hours. It's truly a miracle! I'm so grateful for the prayers from everyone. They are answered! I know that to be true once again from another modern day miracle in my life. Mike and Paula James, and Paula's parents, Billy and June Brown, have been the best! Billy is almost 90 years old and still gets out 3-4 days a week building houses. I won't lie as great as they are to be around, I really don't want to be there. I've read like 1/4 of Jesus the Christ, watched most the church produced videos including the Preach My Gospel, District 1 and 2 dvds, taken some good naps, worked on a puzzle that is a picture of Christ painted by Greg Olson, and played a couple games of yahtzee and scrabble. President Taylor and Sister Taylor actually came over and hung out for a bit a few days ago and played a couple games of scrabble with us. Funny story, when he walked in and we were playing I thought I was going to get chastised but he just sat down, asked how I was doing, and played along. It was so encouraging and soothing for me! I seriously love them so much! I hope to talk to them later today and get permission to go to Zone Leader Council tomorrow. They also didn't think that I would be able to make it through three hours of church on Sunday but I went anyway and felt so good that I stayed the whole three hours! It was fun to see all the people from the Country Gables and Campobello wards. It's been such a blessing to stay in the same place for my entire mission!
I watched a talk by John Bytheway where he talked about the heroes from the Book of Mormon. The Nephi's, Jacobs, Almas, Ammons, Aarons, Moroni's, Mormons, and Helamans are much better role models than those that are generally looked up to in this age. I also recently read a talk by President Monson about his personal hall of fame. He started off talking about the Yankees. This isn't the reason I like the talk. He talked about the prestigious baseball "Hall of Fame" and the types of players that make it there. He likened it to us by asking “who are the people in our own personal halls of fame?” Who are the heroes of our lives that have made it there? I think of my family, friends, scout leaders, coaches, and other role models that have influenced me for the better. I've started to make a list of those people in my life that are in my hall of fame. Dad I know you do something similar but I would encourage everyone else to do the same! It's fun to realize as we look back upon life those people that have had powerful impacts on us.
Well the church is true. Miracles occur. I think that I will be back in my area within the next couple days. That's the plan at least!
I love you and I'm grateful for all you do. Please send my love and appreciation to all the family and friends that have been praying for my recovery.
Love,
Elder Mouritsen
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
August 22, 2011: Shoulder Surgery Tomorrow
Surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, August 23 at 11:00 a.m. I was reading through the little pamphlets they gave me regarding the pre-op and post-op stuff. The doctor recommended that I get a nerve block so that the pain can be eliminated for 18-20 hours after the surgery. She also told me that since I'm young that there is a chance that I will only be cooped up in a member's home for 3 days! She says it all depends on the person. I'm gonna do what the doctor orders on this one unlike what I did with the wisdom teeth. Eating an enchilada and jumping on the trampoline probably weren't what I shoulda done... haha. I think it was because all my wisdom was taken out with the teeth... :/ Anyway, things are well! I have faith! She told me that the anesthetic is going to be pretty strong and there is a possibility that they will have to do an incision. There is a very good chance that I will pass out in the pre-op discussion. My feet were going numb just while reading the pamphlet!
August 16-22, 2011: "After"
Wassup "dawg" family? (remember when Hallie would say that over and over again while we stayed the night in the motor home at Montpelier Reservoir while interweaving her "seal" noise? Good times, good times.)
Well it is so good to hear from you once again. I can't believe another school year has started. This year has flown by! It's weird to think that before this one is over, I will be home... You are right though, "we must do as much as we can in the time that we have because suddenly, we're not there anymooo." Elder Baldree eh?? No way! He was trained by Elder Kennington when Kennington left from being my companion! Yes I know him! How does Madi know him? That's super cool. I can't tell you how encouraging it is to hear that prayers are being sent my way regarding the surgery. The feeling is enough! That's all I'll say. I laughed so hard when you said that Dave "bore testimony" to those bikers about Zip Fizz. That is so him! He's hilarious. You are nuts with your runs! By runs, I mean, well you know what I'm talking about. I hope to one day be able to run like that! Teach me your ways.
This week has been a good one. We met with a solid new investigator named Sean Hernandez. He's a baseball player too which makes him even more solid. Two Sundays ago he just showed up at church in one of the family wards. The missionaries found out that he's YSA age and passed him over to us. He told us that he had a friend on the baseball team back in high school that was LDS and he always wondered about the church. During our lesson, we talked about the Priesthood and the importance of having a prophet on the earth. He agreed with everything we taught him and told us that he has always wondered ever since he started going to his non-denominational Christian churches if there was a prophet and apostles somewhere on the earth. He went on to say that he doesn't think that he even needs to pray about the Book of Mormon because he already agrees with everything that we've taught him. We assured him that it is always good to continue to pray even when we do believe, because a confirmation from the Spirit is always going to be more powerful that word of mouth. Kind of like your light travels faster than sound analogy. We invited him to be baptized. Keep in mind that this is only the first time we've ever met him face to face. We set the date for September 3rd, the last Saturday before Elder Birch goes home. I thought Sean was about to break down and cry as we told him that we think he could be prepared for that day. It was so cool and such a strong spirit to feel, see, hear, and know.
We also had a lesson this week with an extremely less active girl that we tracted into. She and her brother were baptized in Utah while they were visiting family when she was in the 6th grade. She hasn't been real active since then and you can tell by just about everything she does haha. She told us that she would like to start coming back though. She also has 3 non member roommates, and 3 more non member friends that live in the same apartment complex. During our lesson, there were 3 boys (Andres, C.J., and Juan) 1 non-member girl (Mandy), and then Valarie who is the member. We watched Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration movie with them. It was so awesome to have a lesson with more than just one non-member. Haha it was the closest thing I've ever come to teaching a family! Valarie and one of the boys came to church on Sunday as well which was awesome. It's so cool to see people rekindle the desire to come closer to Christ!
I read Lehi's dream this week and studied the talk given by President Packer called "Finding Yourself in Lehi's Dream." He made some good points. I thought it was interesting how the chapter talks about how we feel our way along the rod of iron and straight and narrow path through the mist of darkness. It also says that we feel our way away from the tree of life. How do we feel though? I picture a person blindly walking with no direction on "strange roads" thinking that they are going toward good places that make them feel good. In reality, they find themselves engulfed in sin and sadness and there is nothing except the atonement that can help. There is another key word, that word is "after." “After” some people felt the joy of the fruit, they were ashamed and turned back. “After” people entered the great and spacious building, they did point the finger of scorn. I think often times we become complacent with where we are in our spirituality. I've noticed that right AFTER someone meets with the missionaries, a whole storm of temptations and false doctrines flows toward them. Once they make it through that storm, and are baptized, they are then tested continually with the standards of the church and other people trying to lead them away with false interpretations. I think this is why Nephi was so bold as to say that "now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay..." I hope that AFTER we make it through a trial, or AFTER we are done with a certain calling, or mission, or school year, or baseball game, assignment, run, etc, etc, that we will continue forward "feasting upon the words of Christ and endure to the end." We are never standing still in this battle of endurance and God isn't going to give up on us and Satan isn't either. It's our will that neither of them have and it's our will that we can give them. Who we gonna choose?
Well I love and appreciate all that you do.
I love you!
Elder Mouritsen
Well it is so good to hear from you once again. I can't believe another school year has started. This year has flown by! It's weird to think that before this one is over, I will be home... You are right though, "we must do as much as we can in the time that we have because suddenly, we're not there anymooo." Elder Baldree eh?? No way! He was trained by Elder Kennington when Kennington left from being my companion! Yes I know him! How does Madi know him? That's super cool. I can't tell you how encouraging it is to hear that prayers are being sent my way regarding the surgery. The feeling is enough! That's all I'll say. I laughed so hard when you said that Dave "bore testimony" to those bikers about Zip Fizz. That is so him! He's hilarious. You are nuts with your runs! By runs, I mean, well you know what I'm talking about. I hope to one day be able to run like that! Teach me your ways.
This week has been a good one. We met with a solid new investigator named Sean Hernandez. He's a baseball player too which makes him even more solid. Two Sundays ago he just showed up at church in one of the family wards. The missionaries found out that he's YSA age and passed him over to us. He told us that he had a friend on the baseball team back in high school that was LDS and he always wondered about the church. During our lesson, we talked about the Priesthood and the importance of having a prophet on the earth. He agreed with everything we taught him and told us that he has always wondered ever since he started going to his non-denominational Christian churches if there was a prophet and apostles somewhere on the earth. He went on to say that he doesn't think that he even needs to pray about the Book of Mormon because he already agrees with everything that we've taught him. We assured him that it is always good to continue to pray even when we do believe, because a confirmation from the Spirit is always going to be more powerful that word of mouth. Kind of like your light travels faster than sound analogy. We invited him to be baptized. Keep in mind that this is only the first time we've ever met him face to face. We set the date for September 3rd, the last Saturday before Elder Birch goes home. I thought Sean was about to break down and cry as we told him that we think he could be prepared for that day. It was so cool and such a strong spirit to feel, see, hear, and know.
We also had a lesson this week with an extremely less active girl that we tracted into. She and her brother were baptized in Utah while they were visiting family when she was in the 6th grade. She hasn't been real active since then and you can tell by just about everything she does haha. She told us that she would like to start coming back though. She also has 3 non member roommates, and 3 more non member friends that live in the same apartment complex. During our lesson, there were 3 boys (Andres, C.J., and Juan) 1 non-member girl (Mandy), and then Valarie who is the member. We watched Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration movie with them. It was so awesome to have a lesson with more than just one non-member. Haha it was the closest thing I've ever come to teaching a family! Valarie and one of the boys came to church on Sunday as well which was awesome. It's so cool to see people rekindle the desire to come closer to Christ!
I read Lehi's dream this week and studied the talk given by President Packer called "Finding Yourself in Lehi's Dream." He made some good points. I thought it was interesting how the chapter talks about how we feel our way along the rod of iron and straight and narrow path through the mist of darkness. It also says that we feel our way away from the tree of life. How do we feel though? I picture a person blindly walking with no direction on "strange roads" thinking that they are going toward good places that make them feel good. In reality, they find themselves engulfed in sin and sadness and there is nothing except the atonement that can help. There is another key word, that word is "after." “After” some people felt the joy of the fruit, they were ashamed and turned back. “After” people entered the great and spacious building, they did point the finger of scorn. I think often times we become complacent with where we are in our spirituality. I've noticed that right AFTER someone meets with the missionaries, a whole storm of temptations and false doctrines flows toward them. Once they make it through that storm, and are baptized, they are then tested continually with the standards of the church and other people trying to lead them away with false interpretations. I think this is why Nephi was so bold as to say that "now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay..." I hope that AFTER we make it through a trial, or AFTER we are done with a certain calling, or mission, or school year, or baseball game, assignment, run, etc, etc, that we will continue forward "feasting upon the words of Christ and endure to the end." We are never standing still in this battle of endurance and God isn't going to give up on us and Satan isn't either. It's our will that neither of them have and it's our will that we can give them. Who we gonna choose?
Well I love and appreciate all that you do.
I love you!
Elder Mouritsen
Monday, August 15, 2011
August 9-15, 2011: Mike James: From Baptism to the Temple
Family!
Great letter and pictures! Sounds like you had a fantastic time at Disneyland! Those were also some cool stories about the people in the YSA ward. That kid who was paralyzed while wake boarding must have been a tough one as well. I can't imagine having such a trial. I am so blessed!
This week has been one of the craziest on my entire mission! Some things can't really be mentioned but others I'm excited to tell you. :) Remember the crazy girl we used to be teaching named Christina Harrison? Well there's one heck of a story for you about why we are NOT teaching her anymore. Here goes:
So we had a lesson with her Thursday around one o'clock at the El Pollo Loco fast food restaurant (fitting?) on 3rd street and Dunlap. During the lesson she kept on asking us over and over again if she can be baptized this upcoming Saturday. We of course responded “no.” She is not ready and we wouldn't want her to make covenants with the Lord when she would just break them right after. We went into the lesson hoping that we would be able to drop her and give her off to the other missionaries that have been teaching her. Apparently she went to a student ward at ASU in Tempe and Elder Rappleye just happened to be one of the missionaries there. He's one of my friends from back home! Crazy eh? She got a whole bunch of information about me from him and now she is literally stalking me. Anyway, the lesson never really got going because the entire time we were just talking about which ward she is going to be attending because she has been to four different wards for church on Sunday the past four weeks and has set baptism dates in 3 of them. It's getting quite ridiculous. She tells us that she wants to be baptized into our ward but then she goes and has a lesson with some other missionaries and sets a baptism date with them. It got pretty heated in the lesson and she was yelling and screaming saying vulgarities and calling other missionaries (Elder Brown) to tell them that we are terrible missionaries. She continued to ask us if she can get baptized this upcoming weekend and when we would tell her no she would get very angry. She started calling us out on a whole bunch of stuff that she thinks has been really rude that we have done, which all weren't true. All of a sudden, a gentleman who was eating his meal behind us came up to our table, looked Christina in the eyes and said, "miss, I came to this restaurant to have a meal in peace. I don't want to hear your entire life's story while I eat. Please keep it down. I don't think these gentlemen are the ones who need to get help. You need help. You know what you need? You need to get your ears checked. That's what you need. Then maybe you wouldn't speak so loud and disrupt other people while they are eating." And he went and sat down. That was pretty bold! I thought it was funny. He was wearing a City of Phoenix Security shirt so she couldn't back talk him much. When he sat down she was pretty mad and kept it quiet but muttered under her breath that "he has no place to talk to me like that." That just set her over the top. Now we realized that it was probably not good for us to be there so we told her we were leaving. As we did so she started yelling again. As I stood up she grabbed her triple combination and threw it right at my chest. It fell to the floor so I picked it up, brushed it off, and asked her if she wanted it back. I thought she was going to punch me in the face. She said no and so we kept walking to the truck. While we were walking away she screamed a bunch of horrible things at us. We just ignored her. She is crazy! As we drove away she called us several times and said the same exact things. Horrible things! Words I hate to hear. It was bad. Apparently she called other missionaries, the mission office, her army recruiter, and who knows who else. She called us again telling us that she wanted her scriptures back so we agreed to meet her back in the parking lot and we would give them to her. As we met up with her, we noticed that she was on the phone with somebody. It just happened to be Elder Rappleye from the Tempe mission! No way! What are the odds!? She had been telling him what terrible missionaries we are and he had no idea what was going on. He is also an assistant in that mission! She handed me the phone and all I could tell him was to just not worry and take whatever she was telling him with a grain of salt because it was going to be okay. We gave her scriptures to her and tried to talk more. She got angry again and yelled and screamed. She said the "__" word a whole bunch of times. Elder Birch said, "Christina, say that word one more time and we are leaving." She looked him in the eyes and said it again. So he rolled up the window, and she reared back and punched the window as hard as she could! It looked like it hurt! I sped off. We then decided to go and street contact before going to go on splits with Elders Smith and Griessmann to see an investigator that they were going to give over to us. While street contacting, she called again telling us "goodbye." Goodbye? What do you mean goodbye? She proceeded to tell us that she is going to be hanging herself at five o'clock that evening. This scared me. We set up another lesson with her to try to talk her out of it at four o'clock at the same location. We went to meet Smith and Griessmann and on the way Birch called 911 to get the suicide hotline number. We called the number so that they could send a crisis team to the location of the lesson. Birch and Griessmann went to the lesson and I went with Smith to meet the other new investigator. When they got there, she looked down at her watch and said, "Well elders you have 42 minutes until I'm going to do it so you better say something right." After conversing awhile, it got brought up that we had called up the crisis team to come and she got nervous. She called the crisis team and told them that they didn't need to come anymore because she was under control Upon putting down the phone, she again said that in a few minutes she was going to be hanging herself. Birch picked up the phone again and called them back telling them what just happened. They proceeded to tell him that they never stopped coming in the first place and that now the police were going to be there as well to help restrain her before the crisis team would arrive. She didn't know about the police though. As they were sitting there, she saw a police car drive past on the road and that made her scared. They drove by so she thought they weren't coming to their location but didn't realize that they just looped around the building, got out of the car, and walked right over to Christina. They were super mean to her. As she tried to get away they would grab her quite intensely and sit her back down in her seat so that the crisis team could get there. To try to calm her down, Birch and Griessmann went through the baptismal interview questions with her. The first question was, "do you believe that God is your loving Heavenly Father?" She smartly responded, "no. Why would God let this happen to me? I don't feel comfortable with this PIG listening to me!" They addressed that concern until she agreed but she continued to make sneering comments towards the "PIG" who heard the whole thing. He slowly walked up to her with his hands on his bullet proof vest, put his face a few inches from hers and said, "Christina, I am a child of God. No greater, and no lesser than you are. I deserve respect just as you do." As he leaned back from her face he quoted Matthew 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. That put her in her place for a few minutes and finally the crisis team arrived. The cops and the crisis team couldn't find her anywhere in the system and there was no ID on her at all. They said that she is actually not named Christina Harrison, and anything that she has told us is probably not true. She admitted to saying that she wanted to hang herself and so the crisis team took her away and she was re-admitted to the Psychiatric center. They hauled her off and the situation was handled. Later we found out that she called the mission office and chewed out the receptionist up and down telling her how horrible the missionaries are and that they need to be transferred. Apparently President Taylor got involved as well. We had been in touch with the assistants to help us through the situation as well and the next morning we had received a text message from them saying that if anyone received a call from Christina Harrison or from anyone from her number, that they should not answer the call. The text was sent to the entire mission and also the missions surrounding the area. And that is the story of Christina Harrison. Hopefully we don't hear anything more. I hope she loses all the info she had on me and doesn't have any way to contact me again. When our assistants called the Mesa and Tempe assistants it was really funny because each of them were like, "What?! Are you serious?! We are teaching her!" hahaha!
On a more spiritual note, I can't remember if I told you in one of my previous emails or not but on Wednesday of this week I went through the temple with one of my recent converts. The same man who attempted to be baptized head first while his little bald head was poking out of the water and the baptizer was slamming the back of his head to get him under. His name is Mike James. It was awesome to be reunited with Elder Cichy, because we were the two missionaries who were present when Mike was baptized. His wife's name is Paula and her parents went through the temple as well. Her dad, "Wild" Bill Brown, is almost 90 years old and hasn't been through the temple in 50 years, since the day he and his wife were sealed. So Bill, June (Bill's wife), Mike, Paula, Cichy, me, and a bunch of members from that ward all got to witness Mike’s endowment and his sealing to Paula. It was an amazing experience. There is no better feeling that I have felt yet in my life. By the way, this family has said that they would be very happy to have me stay in their home for the surgery. President Taylor was asking for suggestions as to what I would do during the recovery process. I think I told you last time, but there is a possibility of just making me an office elder and be with the office couples for a few weeks (not my first choice at ALLLL...haha) or be put in a zone leader threesome with an older experienced zone leader and a new one called up. We will see what happens though. Sister Taylor called a few hours ago and told me that I would need to call the surgeon today. Hopefully the surgery will be next week or sometime soon at least. I know that things are going to be ok and will work out for the better!
I finished the Book of Mormon again this week and man I love how true it is. I can't believe how your email relates to what I study or think about throughout my week! This past week I have been reading the Book of Mormon side by side with the Bible and in the first couple chapters of the BoM there is a whole lot of correlation with scriptures in the Bible regarding the destruction of Jerusalem! It was so cool to see almost the same words used in the verses! Like when the Lord tells Lehi that Jerusalem will be destroyed and many people will be carried away. It almost says the same thing in 2 Kings ch. 25 and 2 Chronicles 36! Cool stuff! While reading this time I also was focused a lot on the Father - Son relationships in the Book of Mormon: Lehi - Nephi. Alma - Alma the Younger. Alma - Helaman. Alma - Shiblon. Mormon - Moroni. Helaman - Nephi/Lehi. Mosiah - Sons of Mosiah. King Benjamin - King Mosiah. King Lamoni - King Lamoni's father. I'm thankful for the great father - son relationship that we have. I'm grateful for the many awesome experiences we have had and continue to have. I'm thankful for a family that is so supportive and encouraging. I love you all! Thanks for everything!
Love,
Elder Colt Mouritsen
P.S. The picture is of the lady that takes us out to lunch a bunch of times because we don't get fed in the YSA ward. Her name is Martha Santos.
Great letter and pictures! Sounds like you had a fantastic time at Disneyland! Those were also some cool stories about the people in the YSA ward. That kid who was paralyzed while wake boarding must have been a tough one as well. I can't imagine having such a trial. I am so blessed!
This week has been one of the craziest on my entire mission! Some things can't really be mentioned but others I'm excited to tell you. :) Remember the crazy girl we used to be teaching named Christina Harrison? Well there's one heck of a story for you about why we are NOT teaching her anymore. Here goes:
So we had a lesson with her Thursday around one o'clock at the El Pollo Loco fast food restaurant (fitting?) on 3rd street and Dunlap. During the lesson she kept on asking us over and over again if she can be baptized this upcoming Saturday. We of course responded “no.” She is not ready and we wouldn't want her to make covenants with the Lord when she would just break them right after. We went into the lesson hoping that we would be able to drop her and give her off to the other missionaries that have been teaching her. Apparently she went to a student ward at ASU in Tempe and Elder Rappleye just happened to be one of the missionaries there. He's one of my friends from back home! Crazy eh? She got a whole bunch of information about me from him and now she is literally stalking me. Anyway, the lesson never really got going because the entire time we were just talking about which ward she is going to be attending because she has been to four different wards for church on Sunday the past four weeks and has set baptism dates in 3 of them. It's getting quite ridiculous. She tells us that she wants to be baptized into our ward but then she goes and has a lesson with some other missionaries and sets a baptism date with them. It got pretty heated in the lesson and she was yelling and screaming saying vulgarities and calling other missionaries (Elder Brown) to tell them that we are terrible missionaries. She continued to ask us if she can get baptized this upcoming weekend and when we would tell her no she would get very angry. She started calling us out on a whole bunch of stuff that she thinks has been really rude that we have done, which all weren't true. All of a sudden, a gentleman who was eating his meal behind us came up to our table, looked Christina in the eyes and said, "miss, I came to this restaurant to have a meal in peace. I don't want to hear your entire life's story while I eat. Please keep it down. I don't think these gentlemen are the ones who need to get help. You need help. You know what you need? You need to get your ears checked. That's what you need. Then maybe you wouldn't speak so loud and disrupt other people while they are eating." And he went and sat down. That was pretty bold! I thought it was funny. He was wearing a City of Phoenix Security shirt so she couldn't back talk him much. When he sat down she was pretty mad and kept it quiet but muttered under her breath that "he has no place to talk to me like that." That just set her over the top. Now we realized that it was probably not good for us to be there so we told her we were leaving. As we did so she started yelling again. As I stood up she grabbed her triple combination and threw it right at my chest. It fell to the floor so I picked it up, brushed it off, and asked her if she wanted it back. I thought she was going to punch me in the face. She said no and so we kept walking to the truck. While we were walking away she screamed a bunch of horrible things at us. We just ignored her. She is crazy! As we drove away she called us several times and said the same exact things. Horrible things! Words I hate to hear. It was bad. Apparently she called other missionaries, the mission office, her army recruiter, and who knows who else. She called us again telling us that she wanted her scriptures back so we agreed to meet her back in the parking lot and we would give them to her. As we met up with her, we noticed that she was on the phone with somebody. It just happened to be Elder Rappleye from the Tempe mission! No way! What are the odds!? She had been telling him what terrible missionaries we are and he had no idea what was going on. He is also an assistant in that mission! She handed me the phone and all I could tell him was to just not worry and take whatever she was telling him with a grain of salt because it was going to be okay. We gave her scriptures to her and tried to talk more. She got angry again and yelled and screamed. She said the "__" word a whole bunch of times. Elder Birch said, "Christina, say that word one more time and we are leaving." She looked him in the eyes and said it again. So he rolled up the window, and she reared back and punched the window as hard as she could! It looked like it hurt! I sped off. We then decided to go and street contact before going to go on splits with Elders Smith and Griessmann to see an investigator that they were going to give over to us. While street contacting, she called again telling us "goodbye." Goodbye? What do you mean goodbye? She proceeded to tell us that she is going to be hanging herself at five o'clock that evening. This scared me. We set up another lesson with her to try to talk her out of it at four o'clock at the same location. We went to meet Smith and Griessmann and on the way Birch called 911 to get the suicide hotline number. We called the number so that they could send a crisis team to the location of the lesson. Birch and Griessmann went to the lesson and I went with Smith to meet the other new investigator. When they got there, she looked down at her watch and said, "Well elders you have 42 minutes until I'm going to do it so you better say something right." After conversing awhile, it got brought up that we had called up the crisis team to come and she got nervous. She called the crisis team and told them that they didn't need to come anymore because she was under control Upon putting down the phone, she again said that in a few minutes she was going to be hanging herself. Birch picked up the phone again and called them back telling them what just happened. They proceeded to tell him that they never stopped coming in the first place and that now the police were going to be there as well to help restrain her before the crisis team would arrive. She didn't know about the police though. As they were sitting there, she saw a police car drive past on the road and that made her scared. They drove by so she thought they weren't coming to their location but didn't realize that they just looped around the building, got out of the car, and walked right over to Christina. They were super mean to her. As she tried to get away they would grab her quite intensely and sit her back down in her seat so that the crisis team could get there. To try to calm her down, Birch and Griessmann went through the baptismal interview questions with her. The first question was, "do you believe that God is your loving Heavenly Father?" She smartly responded, "no. Why would God let this happen to me? I don't feel comfortable with this PIG listening to me!" They addressed that concern until she agreed but she continued to make sneering comments towards the "PIG" who heard the whole thing. He slowly walked up to her with his hands on his bullet proof vest, put his face a few inches from hers and said, "Christina, I am a child of God. No greater, and no lesser than you are. I deserve respect just as you do." As he leaned back from her face he quoted Matthew 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. That put her in her place for a few minutes and finally the crisis team arrived. The cops and the crisis team couldn't find her anywhere in the system and there was no ID on her at all. They said that she is actually not named Christina Harrison, and anything that she has told us is probably not true. She admitted to saying that she wanted to hang herself and so the crisis team took her away and she was re-admitted to the Psychiatric center. They hauled her off and the situation was handled. Later we found out that she called the mission office and chewed out the receptionist up and down telling her how horrible the missionaries are and that they need to be transferred. Apparently President Taylor got involved as well. We had been in touch with the assistants to help us through the situation as well and the next morning we had received a text message from them saying that if anyone received a call from Christina Harrison or from anyone from her number, that they should not answer the call. The text was sent to the entire mission and also the missions surrounding the area. And that is the story of Christina Harrison. Hopefully we don't hear anything more. I hope she loses all the info she had on me and doesn't have any way to contact me again. When our assistants called the Mesa and Tempe assistants it was really funny because each of them were like, "What?! Are you serious?! We are teaching her!" hahaha!
On a more spiritual note, I can't remember if I told you in one of my previous emails or not but on Wednesday of this week I went through the temple with one of my recent converts. The same man who attempted to be baptized head first while his little bald head was poking out of the water and the baptizer was slamming the back of his head to get him under. His name is Mike James. It was awesome to be reunited with Elder Cichy, because we were the two missionaries who were present when Mike was baptized. His wife's name is Paula and her parents went through the temple as well. Her dad, "Wild" Bill Brown, is almost 90 years old and hasn't been through the temple in 50 years, since the day he and his wife were sealed. So Bill, June (Bill's wife), Mike, Paula, Cichy, me, and a bunch of members from that ward all got to witness Mike’s endowment and his sealing to Paula. It was an amazing experience. There is no better feeling that I have felt yet in my life. By the way, this family has said that they would be very happy to have me stay in their home for the surgery. President Taylor was asking for suggestions as to what I would do during the recovery process. I think I told you last time, but there is a possibility of just making me an office elder and be with the office couples for a few weeks (not my first choice at ALLLL...haha) or be put in a zone leader threesome with an older experienced zone leader and a new one called up. We will see what happens though. Sister Taylor called a few hours ago and told me that I would need to call the surgeon today. Hopefully the surgery will be next week or sometime soon at least. I know that things are going to be ok and will work out for the better!
I finished the Book of Mormon again this week and man I love how true it is. I can't believe how your email relates to what I study or think about throughout my week! This past week I have been reading the Book of Mormon side by side with the Bible and in the first couple chapters of the BoM there is a whole lot of correlation with scriptures in the Bible regarding the destruction of Jerusalem! It was so cool to see almost the same words used in the verses! Like when the Lord tells Lehi that Jerusalem will be destroyed and many people will be carried away. It almost says the same thing in 2 Kings ch. 25 and 2 Chronicles 36! Cool stuff! While reading this time I also was focused a lot on the Father - Son relationships in the Book of Mormon: Lehi - Nephi. Alma - Alma the Younger. Alma - Helaman. Alma - Shiblon. Mormon - Moroni. Helaman - Nephi/Lehi. Mosiah - Sons of Mosiah. King Benjamin - King Mosiah. King Lamoni - King Lamoni's father. I'm thankful for the great father - son relationship that we have. I'm grateful for the many awesome experiences we have had and continue to have. I'm thankful for a family that is so supportive and encouraging. I love you all! Thanks for everything!
Love,
Elder Colt Mouritsen
P.S. The picture is of the lady that takes us out to lunch a bunch of times because we don't get fed in the YSA ward. Her name is Martha Santos.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
August 9, 2011: Decision to have surgery in Phoenix
I talked to President and Sister Taylor last night... I just wanted to update you and let you know that you should be hearing from me by phone within the next week and a half. President Taylor is going to make some calls to finalize the opportunity to have the surgery done here. I have faith!!
Love you.
Elder Colt Mouritsen
Love you.
Elder Colt Mouritsen
Monday, August 8, 2011
August 2-8, 2011: Decisions, Decisions...
Hello beloved family!
So good to hear from you. I'm glad you have access to Sister Taylor's blog. She is so awesome! She and President Taylor are down right missionary magnets. Everyone likes to be around them anytime they can! The first thing President Taylor said to me when he called was this, "Well Elder Mouritsen I just wanted to call you and let you know that the surgery that is going to have to happen on your shoulder is a little more serious than we had anticipated. It's going to be a very rare form of shoulder amputation." Yes, that was very encouraging. Haha he's a funny man and extremely personable. He then laughed and told me that he was going to call back in a few minutes on the house phone so that he and Sister Taylor could each be on the line at the same time. I was quite nervous upon hearing that. You know what happened next because I assume that they told you the same story. As they told me the options, I knew without a doubt in my mind that I did not want to go home immediately because I felt that would impede the work the most. The other two options however are what I'm having trouble deciding on. There are several pros and cons to each.
Having the surgery here: One week in a member's home while sleeping in a recliner (possibly for an entire month) and then severe pain for the month following along with four months of physical therapy. Not how I would like to spend the time I have dedicated to the Lord but yes like you said sometimes forms of service can come in many different ways. Yes, complications of follow up visits after I return home could be bad...but I'm sure we could get some help through great sources like Dr. Bean and others. Also, summer fun, work, vacations, etc wouldn't be impeded because of a surgery next summer.
Surgery after the mission: Accepting the pain and hoping that no more complications occur while out in the field. President Taylor has already promised me that I will be in a car area for the rest of mission. P-Day activities might be limited (and you know how I like to have fun...). After mission activities, work, and even school in the fall could be hindered. I would be able to continue my mission the way I am and look forward to a surgery at the end. Fun!
There is one thing that has been plaguing my mind though. I don't know if you remember much from my setting apart blessing from President Thredgold. There is one thing that I remember specifically from the blessing. It was when he said something to the effect of, "...you will never have to stay in a single day from doing missionary work because of illness..." I think that this applies. Of course this blessing is only promised through my obedience but I want you to know that over the past 15 months I have never stayed in a single day. Not even for my companion! When I feel myself starting to get sick, first I take some airborne, haha but then I start to look back over my week and see what I need to change to become more obedient and strive to fix it. It's been a huge blessing. There are so many missionaries that call Sister Taylor on almost a weekly basis telling her that they need to stay in for things as menial as a headache or a stomach ache. I consider myself extremely blessed because of the days I've not had to stay in. With this thought, I have faith that if I stayed in the field and had the surgery done that the recovery process would be as minimal (if any) as it could possibly be, depending on what the Lord needs me to do. This is the decision that I have been leaning towards but I am still considering. I've seen miracles in other people's lives and I know that the Lord has the power to perform them in mine.
Anyway, enough with that. I love how you talked about taking the hard route instead of the easy route in life! That is amazing because I have been thinking about that a whole lot this week! I actually talked about that in one of the letters I wrote today. I think the Lord has us do those hard things so that we can be prepared for harder things in the future. If we don't do the hard things now, then He won't trust us to do the harder things in the future. I think that that would be a very humiliating experience to think that because I took an easy route that the Lord now doesn't trust me for what He had originally wanted me to do. This is also an extremely hard concept to teach other missionaries who do not enjoy doing hard things. It relates really well to the famous quote from Sister Beck, "There is no growing in a comfort zone, but there is no comfort in a growing zone." I have seen this become very real for me in my mission. At the beginning, I was terrified when I would see a person a head of me while riding my bike down the street. I hated talking to people and it scared me to death! Slowly but surely that nervousness turned to excitement and other "harder" things became the source for a terrifying adrenaline rush. Things like correcting misbehavior, speaking in front of others, having meetings with the stake president, mission president, and other stellar missionaries. Life is great and I think it is such a confidence boost when we accomplish those hard things! Sometimes it can be even emotional but it is so worth it.
I'll give a quick rundown on the week: Tuesday, Zone Leader Council. President Taylor is entrusting the missionaries with a lot. He has removed the music guidelines and put all the trust on the missionaries. The rule is: If you and your companion can each agree that you can feel the spirit while listening to the music then it is ok. That is a whole lot of trust but I think it is going to be great. The missionaries also know that if they abuse it and lose his trust that they will lose privileges. Wednesday was district meeting galore. Thursday we had some great lessons with a couple of investigators. Saturday was a long story and I will have to explain later. Long story short, we went to the temple, some things went down between a recent convert and an investigator while we were in the visitors center and the investigator yelled an extremely explicit word and stormed out of the theatre where we were watching the Joseph Smith movie. It's in my journal so I will definitely fill in the details later.
Thanks so much for all you do. I love and appreciate all you do.
Love,
Elder Colton Mouritsen
P.S. Dad the shirt is awesome! So legit! Apparently there was like an anti-Mormon guy at the post office and he didn't forward a bunch of elders’ letters to where they were in the field because they were coming from a "business." Sister Cherry, who is the letter lady in the office, went and chewed the crap out of them and it won't be happening again. haha
So good to hear from you. I'm glad you have access to Sister Taylor's blog. She is so awesome! She and President Taylor are down right missionary magnets. Everyone likes to be around them anytime they can! The first thing President Taylor said to me when he called was this, "Well Elder Mouritsen I just wanted to call you and let you know that the surgery that is going to have to happen on your shoulder is a little more serious than we had anticipated. It's going to be a very rare form of shoulder amputation." Yes, that was very encouraging. Haha he's a funny man and extremely personable. He then laughed and told me that he was going to call back in a few minutes on the house phone so that he and Sister Taylor could each be on the line at the same time. I was quite nervous upon hearing that. You know what happened next because I assume that they told you the same story. As they told me the options, I knew without a doubt in my mind that I did not want to go home immediately because I felt that would impede the work the most. The other two options however are what I'm having trouble deciding on. There are several pros and cons to each.
Having the surgery here: One week in a member's home while sleeping in a recliner (possibly for an entire month) and then severe pain for the month following along with four months of physical therapy. Not how I would like to spend the time I have dedicated to the Lord but yes like you said sometimes forms of service can come in many different ways. Yes, complications of follow up visits after I return home could be bad...but I'm sure we could get some help through great sources like Dr. Bean and others. Also, summer fun, work, vacations, etc wouldn't be impeded because of a surgery next summer.
Surgery after the mission: Accepting the pain and hoping that no more complications occur while out in the field. President Taylor has already promised me that I will be in a car area for the rest of mission. P-Day activities might be limited (and you know how I like to have fun...). After mission activities, work, and even school in the fall could be hindered. I would be able to continue my mission the way I am and look forward to a surgery at the end. Fun!
There is one thing that has been plaguing my mind though. I don't know if you remember much from my setting apart blessing from President Thredgold. There is one thing that I remember specifically from the blessing. It was when he said something to the effect of, "...you will never have to stay in a single day from doing missionary work because of illness..." I think that this applies. Of course this blessing is only promised through my obedience but I want you to know that over the past 15 months I have never stayed in a single day. Not even for my companion! When I feel myself starting to get sick, first I take some airborne, haha but then I start to look back over my week and see what I need to change to become more obedient and strive to fix it. It's been a huge blessing. There are so many missionaries that call Sister Taylor on almost a weekly basis telling her that they need to stay in for things as menial as a headache or a stomach ache. I consider myself extremely blessed because of the days I've not had to stay in. With this thought, I have faith that if I stayed in the field and had the surgery done that the recovery process would be as minimal (if any) as it could possibly be, depending on what the Lord needs me to do. This is the decision that I have been leaning towards but I am still considering. I've seen miracles in other people's lives and I know that the Lord has the power to perform them in mine.
Anyway, enough with that. I love how you talked about taking the hard route instead of the easy route in life! That is amazing because I have been thinking about that a whole lot this week! I actually talked about that in one of the letters I wrote today. I think the Lord has us do those hard things so that we can be prepared for harder things in the future. If we don't do the hard things now, then He won't trust us to do the harder things in the future. I think that that would be a very humiliating experience to think that because I took an easy route that the Lord now doesn't trust me for what He had originally wanted me to do. This is also an extremely hard concept to teach other missionaries who do not enjoy doing hard things. It relates really well to the famous quote from Sister Beck, "There is no growing in a comfort zone, but there is no comfort in a growing zone." I have seen this become very real for me in my mission. At the beginning, I was terrified when I would see a person a head of me while riding my bike down the street. I hated talking to people and it scared me to death! Slowly but surely that nervousness turned to excitement and other "harder" things became the source for a terrifying adrenaline rush. Things like correcting misbehavior, speaking in front of others, having meetings with the stake president, mission president, and other stellar missionaries. Life is great and I think it is such a confidence boost when we accomplish those hard things! Sometimes it can be even emotional but it is so worth it.
I'll give a quick rundown on the week: Tuesday, Zone Leader Council. President Taylor is entrusting the missionaries with a lot. He has removed the music guidelines and put all the trust on the missionaries. The rule is: If you and your companion can each agree that you can feel the spirit while listening to the music then it is ok. That is a whole lot of trust but I think it is going to be great. The missionaries also know that if they abuse it and lose his trust that they will lose privileges. Wednesday was district meeting galore. Thursday we had some great lessons with a couple of investigators. Saturday was a long story and I will have to explain later. Long story short, we went to the temple, some things went down between a recent convert and an investigator while we were in the visitors center and the investigator yelled an extremely explicit word and stormed out of the theatre where we were watching the Joseph Smith movie. It's in my journal so I will definitely fill in the details later.
Thanks so much for all you do. I love and appreciate all you do.
Love,
Elder Colton Mouritsen
P.S. Dad the shirt is awesome! So legit! Apparently there was like an anti-Mormon guy at the post office and he didn't forward a bunch of elders’ letters to where they were in the field because they were coming from a "business." Sister Cherry, who is the letter lady in the office, went and chewed the crap out of them and it won't be happening again. haha
The Sandstorm (Haboob)
Monday, August 1, 2011
July 27 - August 1, 2011: "I Climbed That"
Hello family!
This week was pretty good. Transfers were crazy though! President Taylor shook things up a lot! Instead of having four assistants (2 English and 2 Spanish) there is now one set, with one English speaking companion and one Spanish speaking companion. There are also 2 brand new zones that have been created. The Phoenix stake has two zones now. That's the first time ever! We also have three districts in our zone instead of just two, which makes for a lot more one-on-one communication between the leadership and the missionaries. I think it will pay off a lot.
We had a pretty cool experience yesterday. We went to check up on some potential investigators at the San Valiente apartments. It ended up being quite rewarding! Not only did we score an "L" shaped couch from a member who is moving out but we found some great members who want to come to the YSA who also have a lot of non-member roommates! This experience taught me that the Lord has a purpose in everything that we do as long as it is a righteous thing we are doing. We had a bunch of random addresses of people that we have taught before. We knocked on a door for two girls named Eileen and Olivia who we taught several months before. They stopped contacting us and so we dropped them for a bit. When we knocked on their door, two other girls opened it and told us that Eileen and Olivia moved out a while ago. We started talking to them, and from back in the room, another girl came to the door and said, "Hello elders!" We started talking and found out she is from California and has been wanting to come to the YSA up here while she goes to school. She also has 6 or so friends that she would bring with her to the activities who are not members. Her name is Lailai. It was really cool! We then went to go check up on another less active member that we found tracting a few weeks ago. Her name is Valerie and she has 3 non member room mates that she has been trying to invite to church and other activities. Tonight there should be a lot of non member attendance to our FHE activity. We are playing, "Battle of the 'Genders'" so hopefully that will be good. :/ haha I'm grateful for members who will share their testimonies and stand up for what they believe. They do more work than we could ever do!
Sunday we had a great lesson by our bishop, Bishop Grizzle. On a slideshow he put up a couple of quotes that I jotted down. Here they are:
"Indeed the precise challenge you regard now as 'impossible' may be the very refinement you need, in His eye." -Elder Russell M. Nelson.
"Work on the projects ahead and when you have taken one step in the acquiring of faith, it will give you the assurance in your soul that you can go forward and take the next step, and by degrees your power or influence will increase until eventually, in this world or the next, you will say to the Mount Zerins in your life, 'Be thou removed.' You will say to whatever encumbers your course of eternal progress, 'depart,' and it will be so." - Elder Bruce R. McConkie.
While he was speaking, I was reminded of the phrase often used in our family after we climbed a peak. "I climbed that!" I remember saying it whenever we would see a picture of Diamond Head in Hawaii and other mountains. I thought about the other "climbs" we go through in our life whether it be spiritually, emotionally, physically, or mentally. How good does it feel after we climb a mountain of trials and overcome them? Or a mountainous temptation that has beaten us before? I'd have to say that it feels pretty good! I would hope that we would be able to say, "I climbed that" on a more consistent basis in our daily lives. Whether it be a stressful assignment at school, an assignment given from the third base coach, a temptation regarding the word of wisdom or the law of chastity, a literal mountain, or any other sort of thing. I love the scripture in 2 Timothy 4:6-7; "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"
Well our investigators seem to be doing well. We received a referral for a guy named Derek Chapo who is a Native American from New Mexico. He has a baptism date for August 20th. He came to the church for the first time yesterday and he loved it!
Well sorry this email is so short. I hope all is well.
Love,
Elder Colton Mouritsen
This week was pretty good. Transfers were crazy though! President Taylor shook things up a lot! Instead of having four assistants (2 English and 2 Spanish) there is now one set, with one English speaking companion and one Spanish speaking companion. There are also 2 brand new zones that have been created. The Phoenix stake has two zones now. That's the first time ever! We also have three districts in our zone instead of just two, which makes for a lot more one-on-one communication between the leadership and the missionaries. I think it will pay off a lot.
We had a pretty cool experience yesterday. We went to check up on some potential investigators at the San Valiente apartments. It ended up being quite rewarding! Not only did we score an "L" shaped couch from a member who is moving out but we found some great members who want to come to the YSA who also have a lot of non-member roommates! This experience taught me that the Lord has a purpose in everything that we do as long as it is a righteous thing we are doing. We had a bunch of random addresses of people that we have taught before. We knocked on a door for two girls named Eileen and Olivia who we taught several months before. They stopped contacting us and so we dropped them for a bit. When we knocked on their door, two other girls opened it and told us that Eileen and Olivia moved out a while ago. We started talking to them, and from back in the room, another girl came to the door and said, "Hello elders!" We started talking and found out she is from California and has been wanting to come to the YSA up here while she goes to school. She also has 6 or so friends that she would bring with her to the activities who are not members. Her name is Lailai. It was really cool! We then went to go check up on another less active member that we found tracting a few weeks ago. Her name is Valerie and she has 3 non member room mates that she has been trying to invite to church and other activities. Tonight there should be a lot of non member attendance to our FHE activity. We are playing, "Battle of the 'Genders'" so hopefully that will be good. :/ haha I'm grateful for members who will share their testimonies and stand up for what they believe. They do more work than we could ever do!
Sunday we had a great lesson by our bishop, Bishop Grizzle. On a slideshow he put up a couple of quotes that I jotted down. Here they are:
"Indeed the precise challenge you regard now as 'impossible' may be the very refinement you need, in His eye." -Elder Russell M. Nelson.
"Work on the projects ahead and when you have taken one step in the acquiring of faith, it will give you the assurance in your soul that you can go forward and take the next step, and by degrees your power or influence will increase until eventually, in this world or the next, you will say to the Mount Zerins in your life, 'Be thou removed.' You will say to whatever encumbers your course of eternal progress, 'depart,' and it will be so." - Elder Bruce R. McConkie.
While he was speaking, I was reminded of the phrase often used in our family after we climbed a peak. "I climbed that!" I remember saying it whenever we would see a picture of Diamond Head in Hawaii and other mountains. I thought about the other "climbs" we go through in our life whether it be spiritually, emotionally, physically, or mentally. How good does it feel after we climb a mountain of trials and overcome them? Or a mountainous temptation that has beaten us before? I'd have to say that it feels pretty good! I would hope that we would be able to say, "I climbed that" on a more consistent basis in our daily lives. Whether it be a stressful assignment at school, an assignment given from the third base coach, a temptation regarding the word of wisdom or the law of chastity, a literal mountain, or any other sort of thing. I love the scripture in 2 Timothy 4:6-7; "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"
Well our investigators seem to be doing well. We received a referral for a guy named Derek Chapo who is a Native American from New Mexico. He has a baptism date for August 20th. He came to the church for the first time yesterday and he loved it!
Well sorry this email is so short. I hope all is well.
Love,
Elder Colton Mouritsen
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