One of the highlights this week was teaching Rebecca the Plan of Salvation.

September 17, 2012

Hello family,

This week has been good.  We did a lot of work and we found new investigators, some that are Spanish speaking and some that are English speaking.  One of the highlights for me this week was teaching Rebecca the Plan of Salvation again.  While we were at her house, her daughter Sambo came in and listened and started asking inspired questions.  I could feel the Spirit working on her but she still denies it and won’t commit to be baptized.  She made teaching the plan of salvation fun.  Rebecca also made us some great Cambodian food which may be the reason my stomach has been upset for the last couple days.  Rebecca is amazing. She gives up everything she has for others and she has so little.  The love that she has for others makes me think of the love that Christ has for us and how unconditional it is.  Rebecca will definitely go to the Celestial Kingdom.   

I am adjusting to being the District Leader.  I am still trying to figure out what I need to do to strengthen our district and get them excited to go out and work.   

The zone meeting this week went really well.  We learned about the atonement and talked about sacrifices that we could make in our lives to become better missionaries.  It was a really good subject and I came away from the meeting wanting to be better and wanting to sacrifice some things that I believe would make me a better missionary and ultimately a better person.  After the meeting I talked to Sister and President Topham and then asked president if he would give me a blessing to help me focus on the mission and also to be able to learn Spanish.  It was a great blessing and a spiritual experience.  It was a very special blessing for me because it was just President, Sister Topham and me.  It was a time that I needed comfort and they gave it to me.  I love them and am glad they are here the same time I am here.   

Elder Lozano is doing really well.  He is straight out of high school so he thinks he knows everything still and so I told him he needs to work on his pride and patience with others.  He doesn't like speaking Spanish which frustrates me because I want to learn so badly but he doesn't want to help me as bad as I want to learn I guess.  It was the same way with Elder Rivas.  They don't like to speak Spanish and there is no need to here because even the people that speak Spanish also speak English and they prefer to be taught in English.  It is a never ending battle.   

I was watching a talk the other day by Elder Holland that he gave at the MTC.  He spoke about the making of the “Preach My Gospel” manual.  He said he remembered when Pres. Hinckley came out and said that there was a big problem with the missionary program because missionaries would come home and then go less active.  Missionaries didn't need to have a deep understanding of the gospel and they didn't even have to have a strong testimony they just needed to memorize the discussions.  In the past, it was possible for missionaries to lose their testimony because teaching the same lessons over and over again, no matter the situation, made them question if it was true.  I am glad that I am here on my mission and, for me to be a successful missionary I need to obtain a deep understanding of the gospel before I can declare it to others.   

The weather here is very nice!  Not too hot and not too cold, just perfect. The leaves are starting to change so I will try and take lots of pictures. So far, it hasn't rained too much lately. 

I love you! 

Elder Mouritsen