August 6, 2012
Dear Family,
Dear Family,
Wow what a great week! I can't believe
it's been a year! It's been a long time and I have done a lot
in that time but I still have so much more to learn. John,
who was an investigator entered into a rehab, which is his first step
in getting back to the straight and narrow path. Rebecca was
baptized August 4th and confirmed August 5th. I also had a run in
with a bat, which was quite exciting.
We went and visited with John
multiple times this week trying to offer some help. We even went with
Brother Cooper who is the addiction recovery teacher. It
was clear that John wanted help but his attitude hadn't changed and
he was still facing the same problem that he has had much of his life;
alcohol addiction. Friday night John called us over to his
house. We went over and he had an AA friend there who had been
off alcohol for eight years. We all talked to John trying to
give him support and telling him what he needs to do. I then decided that
it would be good to share the story of King Lamoni and King
Lamoni's father with him. I related it to him and told him that he needs
to give up everything like King Lamoni would have in order to receive
the great joy of eternal life. It went really well. Elder Blake and I acted out the whole scene
starting from King Lamoni and Ammon traveling to Madoni and ending with
King Lamoni's father being struck by the Spirit. We acted it out as
I read the scriptures. John understood and so did his friend who was
there. His friend said this is similar to the bible. I said
exactly! John knew what he needed to do.
The next day Sted, John’s friend drove him
to a Rehab center in Shippensburg which is very close to Chambersburg,
where he will remain for about seven to ten months. I am so happy for
John. Alcohol has ruined his whole life so far and now he is doing what
King Lamoni's father did by giving up everything to feel clean of his sin and
to have that eternal joy. I have been able to witness the effect of
alcohol and I can tell you that there is nothing good that comes from it.
It is a powerful tool that Satan uses and it should never be played with
because you never know the effect it will have on you and the people around
you.
Rebecca was baptized!!! It was a great
day, the baptism was at ten and about 20 people came to support not including
her family. After she had changed into her white clothes she called
everyone into the cultural hall to get a picture. After that we started
the program. I had the opportunity to baptize Rebecca and confirm her,
which were both very spiritual experiences for me. After the baptism,
Elder Blake, Nathan Johnson and I went to lunch at Hoss's (a restaurant here)
with Rebecca and her Family. It was very nice. We were able to talk a lot with her
daughter Sambo and her two sons. I really think her children will follow
her example in time.
The next day on Sunday, Rebecca was confirmed
and she also bore here testimony because it was testimony meeting. She
talked of her life in Cambodia and all the death she had faced in her
life. She shared her feelings about the gospel and her baptism which
really brought the Spirit. I think it was the highlight for
many people in the congregation. It was the highlight of my day.
Rebecca is a survivor of the Thailand camps in the 1970's where two of her
children were killed and also her father.
After lunch with Rebecca’s family on Saturday
we came home and I needed to wash my baptismal clothes. I walked into the laundry room and set my
clothes on the ironing board and went to go grab more dirty clothes that I
needed to wash. When I entered in the laundry room again I heard a small
screech and as I was walking out I looked down and saw a bat crawling on the
floor. I hurried and ran out shutting the door and yelling to my
companion "there is a bat in the laundry room"! He came running
and we both grabbed our cameras and slowly opened the door. The bat was
still lying on the floor. I had stepped on the bat when I walked in the
first time not realizing it and crushed its back. It was still alive but
couldn't move. We got some pictures with it and then it eventually died.
We buried it in the backyard and I think Elder Blake cried a little.
I love you family!!!
Elder Mouritsen
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