31 October 2011

Happy Halloween!

I got your package this week.  The shirt is very nice, I like it.  I finally got Whitney’s package which was good because I have been going on an M&M dry spell for a while and was debating on whether to buy some but, luckily you and Whitney sent me some. I can’t believe Astra Waller is gone.  That was sad for me to read, she was so young. I am glad I have the knowledge of the plan of salvation though and I hope that her parents do too because, without that knowledge, death can be very difficult more than it already is and I have seen that already on my mission.

Yes it snowed a lot on Saturday and it was sort of miserable because the snow is so wet and slushy and all the people were really grumpy and didn't want to talk to us. It made me want to be home with you guys and watch a movie while sitting next to the fire and drink hot chocolate or something. I am glad I had my nice Gortex boots.  They worked nicely.  It was the first time that I have worn them so they still need to be worn in but they are nice. My gortex jacket is very warm and keeps the water away from my body but I'm not sure how I feel about the style of it haha.  Everyone seems to look at me funny when I wear it so it’s a little awkward but, it’s not missionary work if it’s not awkward. It snowed so much and the roads got so icy that they cancelled church yesterday, something that never would have happened in Utah.

I am really glad to hear that grandpa has been doing a little better I have been praying for him a lot and I fasted on Monday for him which was a great experience for me. I hope he continues to improve and have him know that he has been a warrior in the face of his cancer!

I can't believe the Cardinals won the World Series, who would have guessed that but it sounds like it was a good game to watch. Too bad for the Rangers.  They keep making it to the World Series and lose but they must be doing something right to make it there two years in a row.

The university of Utah sounds like they are struggling being in the pac12 conference but I'm glad they beat Oregon and didn't they beat Pittsburgh too? The win against Oregon I bet was huge, they are way good! Did you get to watch it or go to it?

Sydnee, I got your letter it was nice to hear from you again. Sorry I haven't written you back yet it is hard to find time to write letters out in the mission because I am either out proselyting or studying trying to learn Spanish and trying to finish the Book of Mormon. I will write you back today though. My plan is to be finished with the Book of Mormon by November 19th because we challenged a girl in the ward who is 19 to read it.  She has never read the BOM and she said she will read it I do. So I've been working really hard on reading it. If I finish on the 19th I will have read the BOM in less than two months. I am reading in Alma right now when Alma is giving guidance to his sons in chapter 38, it’s awesome and I know why dad loves Alma so much now. I challenge you to try and read the BOM in 2 months. You only have to read 9 pages a day. You can do it!!

Mom, I knew about Kortney transferring to the U.  She told me a while ago. It will be way cool to go the same school as Kortney again, just like old times. Tell her to write me back.  I sent her some pictures in an email but she never responded so tell her to write me back.

I haven't heard from Debera in a while either, I hope everything is going well with her and her family. I hope Danylle is still progressing in the Church. Happy Birthday Barrett! Before Barrett knows it he'll be 19 and serving a mission.

This week has been busy and hard.  We have had so many investigators that we have taught the first lesson to and have made return appointments with but when we go back to visit them for the second time they are never there. So we are having a hard time getting in contact with people which is so frustrating.

One funny story, on Saturday when it snowed we asked this man if we could help him with anything as he was shoveling. He said there is a lot we could help him with and then he said “Mormons right?” We said yes and then he said “The thing that would help me the most is if you guys just kept walking.” Then he said, "get thee Satan behind me" really loud.  It was so funny. I wish you could've seen this guy. I don't understand people sometimes. They say they know everything about the Mormon Church and they don't want to be involved with it and then we say have you read the BOM and they say no. So you don't know anything about our church then? Haha.

Well family, things are going well here.  I wish I was home with you on this Halloween Night having some chili or setting up a haunted house or something. Tonight we have to be in our apartment by six and make 72 hour kits. We might buy some candy though and pass it out.

I love you all!!!

Love Elder Tanner Mouritsen