At Times In The MTC I Can Feel The Spirit Like I Can At The Temple

Hey everyone!! 

How's the family party going? I bet you're having tons of fun!! I know it was last year.  Let me know how it was! 

I love it here at the MTC! It really is amazing. The spirit is always so strong and everyone is so excited to be here and learn how to be a missionary.  Especially me!! My companions are Sister Piutau and Sister Chu.  Sister Piutau is Tongan and is from australia.  She is going to the cebu mission.  Sister Chu is from Taiwan but studied in the philippines for a while. She is going to the tacloban mission too.  So they thought it was pretty funny when they found out I lived just up the road! But they are amazing, I love them.  They help me out a ton.  For some reason I can't remember how to say goodbye, and i've asked them probably 5 times today. oops. Cebuano is so hard, and I love it!  We are teaching our first lesson tonight.  Mostly in cebuano (hopefully) but probably a little english.  So thats fun.  But right now I can pray (very simply) and a couple greetings and introduction stuff.  I think by next week I'll know more cebuano than the three years of spanish! I definitely can feel the help of the spirit.

Today is p-day, of course, so we got to go to the temple!! It was beautiful, and the spirit there is amazing.  At times in the mtc, I can feel the spirit like I can at the temple.  I've already learned so much about the gospel, in addition to the language.  We have talked a lot about our purpose as a missionary.  One thing that stood out to me was how everyone in the world has problems or trials, and that the gospel can help every one of them.  And that's why I'm serving a mission! I have been blessed so much.  I know God loves each and every one of us, and that the gospel blesses lives.  And I want as many of His children to know that as I can tell!  I know that this mission is what I'm supposed to be doing right now, and I am SO excited to be doing it. 

I've seen Hagen once but didn't really get the chance to talk to him, and I've seen a couple people I know from byu!  There is an elder in my zone from lehi that just graduated (there are SO many 18 year olds that just graduated here!) and I recognize him but don't really know him.  Haha I also saw my math teacher from jr high, Brother Thayne! That was kinda funny. He is in a branch presidency here and I talked to him for a minute.  Haven't seen Bekah yet though.  Do you know if she's working here still? Well I was going to load some pictures, but I dont have my flash card converter thing... So sorry mom :)  Next week, I promise!! Hope you guys have a great week! I'm praying for you :)

Love, Sister Mortensen 

Saying Goodby

Wednesday, July 23rd finally arrived.  Today was the day Brianne enters the MTC.  We had to be to the MTC at 1:15 p.m.  We spent the morning finishing packing and hanging out as a family.

 Around 11:00 a.m. we packed up Bri's luggage into the suburban, took more pictures and headed to lunch.  Her last request was to eat at the Wild Zucchini.

Soon it was time to leave.  We first drove to the Mt. Timpanogos Temple to take a few pictures.

We then headed over to Provo.  We planned to arrive a little early so we could take some pictures in front of the Provo Temple and say our last good by's.  It was really nice to be able to sit in the shade of the trees and talk one last time.

Around 1:05 p.m. we started to walk back to the suburban.  We all hugged Brianne and said our goodbyes.  There were many tears shed, but they were tears of joy.  We loaded back into the suburban and drove across the street to the MTC.  There was a steady stream of cars and lots of smiling missionaries to great all the new missionaries.  As the sister missionary helped us unload all of Brianne's luggage, we each hugged Bri one last time.

Then she was on her way.  I will never forget her smile as she turned to wave and leave.

Good luck Sister Mortensen.  You will be a great missionary.  See you in 18 months.

Brianne Is Set Apart

It's Official!

Sister Brianne Mortensen

Brianne got set apart on Tuesday, July 22 2014 at 7:45 p.m.  We met with President Lyman at the Stake Center.  Grandma Sue and Grandpa Jim joined our family for this occasion as well as Grandma Pam and Grandpa Larry via Skype from Poland.  We were so happy that both sets of grandparents--who both are currently serving missions--could join us.  When Brianne was set apart as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she was promised many great blessings.  It was a wonderful experience.  Afterwards, we gathered back at our house for desert.  We also sat down and wrote down the blessings and promises we could remember that were given to Brianne.  I know that the list we came up with will be something Brianne can read back over many times and feel of our Heavenly Father's love for her.

Sisters by Chance--Friends By Choice

On Our Way To The Stake Center

Bri with her Family and Both Sets of Grandparents

Feeling the Love

Mission Farewell

Today was Brianne's mission farewell.  It was a great day!  It was so neat to see so many family members and friends come and support Brianne.  Brianne spoke about charity and love.  She did an outstanding job.  The young men and the young women then sang "The EFY Meledy."  It sounded amazing!  Brianne will make a great missionary.

Afterwards we served a light lunch at our house.  Several family and friends stopped by to wish Brianne well.

Here are a few pictures...

Taylor, Bri, Ari