My Mission Is By Far The Hardest Thing I've Done, But It Is Also What Has Changed Me The Most In My Life

Hello Family,

Transfer day is tomorrow... and I will be staying, and sister geraldez transferring :(. we were expecting it, but i'm still gonna miss her!  transfer day is tomorrow, so i'm not sure who my new companion will be yet :).  

this week i got to go on transfers with sister Lunar!  This is my second time exchanging with her, and it was so fun :).  It is pretty amazing to see the changes in her over just a transfer even.  we worked in her area and were able to visit a couple recent converts and investigators of theirs.  

oh last week i asked President Maurer in my letter to him about you guys picking me up or coming back to visit...but then i apparently forgot to send it. haha. whoops. so i'll let you know about that next week.  But the temple trip is planned for may 25!

I wanted to tell you today about Brother O-- and his family.  I think i've told you about them before.  Brother O-- is an investigator, and the rest of the family was less active that returned (came 4 sundays in a row) but now have gone less active again :(.  They have had many trials come into their life since they've started coming back to church.  It's during the hard times like these that we really do grow the most though. Like with my mission. It is by far the hardest thing i've done, but is also what has changed me the most in my life. God allows us these hard times to make us stronger, if we let them. It reminds us of a scripture at the end of the book of Alma after years and years of wars.  (Alma 62:41). 

 But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility.

It's our choice if the hard times will soften or harden us, turn us towards God or away from Him.  Brother O-- and his family seem to be starting to soften again :).  Brother has a hard time stopping his word of wisdom. And ever since he's been really trying to stop, lots of people have started bringing alcohol to his house to drink with him.. He said he wants to move to out in the ocean so nobody can tempt him :).  But he's almost there :).  He has a HUGE desire to stop.  and that's the first step.  So we know he'll make it some day :).  

Love you lots!  Talk to you next week!

Sister Mortensen

Sister Mortensen and Sister Geraldez