My last zone conference

July 1, 2013

Dear Mom and Dad,

It sounds like you had a fabulous week and what a coincidence that you and Matt where on the same flight to New Orleans.  I am so happy to hear that the Kramers loved their vacation to Utah and that the sealing session was spiritual and uplifting for everyone.  I received an email from the Kramers not to long after I read the email from you guys.  They told me that they loved it and they are already planning to come back next year with their kids.  Thank you family for making their experience in Utah special and memorable. 

Well, just like your week I had a good week as well.  On Tuesday we went to the visit one of our investigators named Tony.  He is the guy that we helped move when I first got here to York.  When we got to his house we had a good lesson where we talked about the history of the Bible and the Book of Mormon and when and where they took place.  He really enjoyed it and said that he always learns more from us than he has ever learned in all the years he has gone to church.  After our lesson he asked us to help him clean up his house so it would look good for his daughter when she flew in from Florida.  I cleaned up his attic bedroom and tried to make it look like it was my own.  I got it looking pretty good but I wasn't sure what to do with the chair that looked like a high heel shoe.  With the help of Elder Stevens we got it all figured out and Tony loved it.  We were able to get everything cleaned up just in time for his daughter to show up.  She was very nice.  She was baptized in 2012 and is now the Laurel President and is planning to serve a mission.  She and Tony came to church this Sunday and it seemed that Tony is getting more comfortable with the people at church and is started to take church more seriously. 

On Wednesday we planned to teach one of the active families our new "member missionary lesson".   We have been creating this lesson and preparing to present it for a few weeks now.   Brother Smith, who is a Radiologist, came and picked us up in his S class Mercedes.  I have never been in such a luxurious car.  I now know why Mercedes’ cost so much money.  He let me sit up in the front and he turned on the massagers that were in the chair.  This car had everything you could think of.  It had heating and cooling in the seats.  When we took a turn, the seat would push me back.  It felt like you were floating when you drove because the suspension is so nice.  I definitely recommend one! 

We ended up eating lunch with the family and then shared our "member missionary lesson".  We had some good participation from all the members of the family and they seemed excited to do some of the new ideas that we presented for them.  After the lesson we helped them put a new pump in their fountain outside. 

That night we were downtown trying to visit Elva.  While we were talking with her outside her house a Mexican guy who was across the street called me over and started telling me that someone had stolen his phone.  He told me that he would like for me to call his phone and talk to the guy that had stolen it and try and get some information out of him and then call the cops so they could retrieve the phone.  He couldn't call the cops because he was illegal and they would've sent him back to Mexico so he wanted me to do it.  I told him that I couldn't get involved with his worldly problems but I could help him spiritually.  He then invited us to his apartment to talk more with him and he wanted to show us his bible.  It was perfect timing because it had just started raining.  We went to his apartment but it was a shared apartment.  He only rented one room but got to use all the facilities.  He opened his bedroom door to show us his bible and as soon as he opened the door I was hit with a pungent odor.  His room was stinky, but he had almost nothing.  He and his brother had been sleeping on the floor with a couple of blankets as their padding.  After seeing his bible we went to the front living room and sat down.  He told us more about his problems then I explained the Book of Mormon and tried to give him a copy.  He said he didn’t have any money to buy it but I told him that it was a free gift from us.  He got very excited, I proceeded to explain more about the Book of Mormon and then I ended with a prayer.  He started crying and gave us a hug.  I don't think anyone has ever prayed for him before and no one has given him a gift like the Book of Mormon before.  I felt good that I was able to brighten his day.  We will be going back tonight to try and see him. 

Elva is enjoying learning but still didn't come to church.  We will be working hard to get her there this Sunday. 

Saturday night we were picked up by Jose Calix a member of the ward who speaks Spanish and English fluently.  He picked us up for dinner and when he got in the car he told us we were going to pick up Salvador as well.  I was so excited!!!  Salvador was all dressed up and ready to go when we got to his house.   He and Bro. Calix were able to get to know each other better.  The dinner was delicious and it seemed that Salvador really enjoyed it.  After conversing together we went into the family room and with the help of brother and sister Calix we taught the plan of salvation to Salvador.  He told us that everything just makes sense to him and it’s all very logical for him.  It sounds like he knows Joseph Smith was a prophet and he is going to start taking things more serious now.  We bore our testimonies to him and invited him to read Alma 32.  On our way home he and Bro. Calix talked and Salvador said he was going to come to church after work.  He did just that!  As I was sitting in Sunday school Elder Stevens called out to me and said Salvador is here.  I was explaining to Tony the organization of the priesthood but quickly went and brought Salvador into where we were.  I then began talking to Salvador about the organization of the priesthood.  It was a great experience for me and it sounded like Salvador enjoyed it as well because he said he would be back but, he did say that he didn't expect that there would be so much English.  Hopefully that doesn't scare him away like it does a lot of Spanish speaking investigators. 

It was a good week and I hope I can have an impact on these people before I get shipped out!

I love you family!

Elder Mouritsen

P.S. We had zone conference this week.  It was my last zone conference so I gave my departing testimony.  It was weird that it was my last zone conference.