"Come On In Elders"

Dear Family and friends,
 

We had another great week this week. I know that is how every letter seems to start off, but every week really is great! Missionary work is still rolling forward in Lumberton. Sway did get baptized this week! He has changed a lot this last week because he knew that he was going to be promising to God that he would keep the commandments for the rest of his life. He has gone to help us teach a few lessons this past week. The service went well! We helped Ma Meh prepare the talk on baptism and the Holy Ghost. Elder Knight and I thought that she would just read the talk but she memorized the whole thing! She did such a good job. It is great to see some of the Burmese members really progress in the gospel. For Sway's confirmation, Brother Ko Lay Maung who is a recently ordained elder participated. They are such wonderful people. Sway seemed to have a good experience and really felt the spirit.

The rest of the work is going well. We are still teaching a good amount to the same investigators. Michael and Snow still come every week and are progressing pretty well. Recently we have started to read a lot more from the Book of Mormon for our lessons. We are trying to help them form that habit of reading every day. It has been great, they really enjoy it.
 

We had a lot of great things happen this week, but one in particular that I'd like to tell you about. Me and Elder Knight and another set of missionaries went up to a small town Parkton to see if we could get the missionary work started up there. It is quite a way's from Lumberton so missionaries hadn't been there very often. It is a really country area with a lot of fields and spaces between houses. We were trying to find a potential investigator but could not find the right address. There were 3 trailers right around where the address should be so we decided to knock on the door. The first two trailers nobody was home. When we knocked on the third door we heard someone from inside say "Come on in Elders". We were really surprised. It turns out that it was a member of the church who had not been to church for years. His records were not in Lumberton so the branch didn't even know he lived in their area. We are working to get his records here and to help him come to church again. It was a miracle finding him in the middle of nowhere North Carolina.
 

Transfers are in 2 weeks. Im not sure if I am going to be transferred or not. At the end of next week, Elder Knight's training will be done. It is about a 50% chance I will either stay or go. Ill keep you updated.

Thanks on the news from home. Tell Gma and Gpa I am very excited for them (Note from Lauri: my parents got their mission call to the Poland, Warsaw Mission). That is very exciting. Have a great week!
 

Love Elder Mortensen

 

Sway's Baptism
 

 

 Back: Elder Knight, Brayden, Sway, Tewa Lay, Ku Reh. Bottom: Bu Reh, Mary Lin, Tinsa Lin, Htaw Reh