My parents sent me a new car for my birthday

July 8, 2013

Hello Family,

Thanks for the birthday package.  I got the package Wednesday exactly on my birthday and I really enjoyed everything that was in it.  The new garments are sooo white it's incredible!  It brought a big smile to my face to see all the pictures of you and the Kramers at the temple and at lunch.  Also, thanks for the birthday cards that you sent me and Syd, thanks for your letter.  Anyway, besides the package and a family that had us over for a pizza party, my birthday was a pretty normal missionary day.  They also bought me two packs of strawberry Twizzlers, so now I have Twizzlers for dayz!! 

That same day we were able to teach Elva about the plan of salvation.  She especially enjoyed our discussion about the Spirit World.  She said that since we have been teaching her she has been sleeping better and her relationship with her daughter is getting better.  She said that she was going to come to church this week but, unfortunately, she didn’t show up.  That day we also taught our investigator named Tony.  He wasn't feeling too well, so we didn't get to stay for very long.  We did, however, teach him about repentance and he said he was going to start writing down his sins and start repenting for them but he wasn't going to tell us because some of the things he's done could send him to prison...  It was nice to see him, and it seems that he has a big desire to be better.  It’s just sad that his health is so bad but he probably wouldn't be talking to us if his health was good.  God knows what he's doing. 

The 4th was a very normal day.  We didn't do anything different except we had to be in our house at 7:00pm.  Sadly we couldn't see any fireworks from our house because the trees are so dense. 

On Friday we had an appointment with Elva, so we rode our bikes downtown to her house only to find that she had to leave.  We were pretty frustrated because she made the appointment.  We also had a member meet us there and we were sweating profusely.  It has been so hot and humid here the last few days.  We might as well have jumped in a pool and then entered into someone’s house for a lesson because that's what we look like when we get to people’s houses.  Luckily, that night as we were getting ready for bed the zone leaders knocked on our door telling us that they had some supplies and a gift for us.  They had been at zone leader council in Pittsburgh.  They pulled out a set of keys and told us that we got a brand new car to drive!  I was so happy!!!  Since then I've been telling people that my parents sent me a new car for my birthday.  I guess the church keeps sending cars to this mission, so now we have about 95 cars in the mission.  There won’t be any more walking areas opening up for a while.  Lucky for Mitch, haha. 

This week was really slow.  Sorry my letter is so boring.

Love you family!

Elder Mouritsen

P.S. Happy birthday Sydnee