Greetings from Gottlieb Hospital!
What.a.week. I really mean it when I say it. This one was nuts.
Looking back, it all seems like a big blur.
We were in the urgent care for Hermana Pearson's double ear ache on
Wednesday, which took up most of the day...and then on Thursday till
now, she's had a slight case of the runs- and Sister Woodbury,
president's wife, put us on lockdown. Thursday we went out. We had too
many appointments to miss. Then on Friday, we stayed in until about 2-
and then I had the other Hermanas come save me and do switches. Why?
Because I had to do some last preparations for our....BAPTISM!!!! Yes,
Hermano Adrian Perez is the newest member of our ward! Real talk,
Saturday was a HUGE day for the Westchester 2 ward. According to our
ward mission leader, the ward hasn't had a convert baptism in a little
over a year. Not only was Adrian baptized, but the other Hermanas, Izu
and Mansfield, had 2 baptisms! Pearson and I had the opportunity to
teach these two kids when we were in a trio covering both of the
areas, with H. Izu. Love them! We had awesome support from the members,
and two rocking services. One of the best parts? All three of these
people have been taught for a LONG time, almost a year or so. We
rounded up the 4 Hermanas, and their companions, that taught Adrian
and the two kids. And as a little surprise for Adrian, I had all the
Hermanas, including the visa waiter that's now in Argentina and the
two that have gone home, write him a letter. But the whole day was
awesome, as anyone could imagine. One more thing. We happen to have 4
elders in the ward with awesome voices....so we, the 8 missionaries in
the ward, did a special musical number, Families can be Together
Forever. Tear jerker for sure. More than anything, I hope I'll be able
to come back to Adrian and Leilani's temple sealing.
Picture I included: This is Hno/Hna Ochoa. She, along with their 3
kids, are members....she's a convert of little over a year and a half,
while her kids all have a few more years. Anyway, LOVE THEM. Come to
find out from the son and daughter in law who live downstairs, Hno has
NEVER listened to the missionaries before. Which I find odd, seeing
that he always listens to us. We busted out the Plan of Salvation
board game, and he was all about it! There was actually a Papa
Mortensen moment, when he paused the game and went into the kitchen to
get a big bowl of candy for us. No, it wasn't freshly made popcorn-
but it was the same to me. Point is, he's getting baptized. Eventually:)
Lastly. After the baptisms/after parties, we had dinner with la
familia Kestler....the awesome part member family. Last time, Hermano
was asking about eternal families and temple sealings. Anyway, we had
planned to introduce the Book of Mormon and invite him to read....but
before we could even get started with anything, he asked us the
perfect questions! #inspiredman...ormissionaries. Questions such as,
where it came from, why we have it/need it, and why we 'worship'
Joseph Smith. Without even thinking, I start going on about how it
came to be- with a little more emphasis on the Joseph Smith part.
After telling him about Moroni finishing the plates, hiding them,
appearing to Joseph and giving them to him (all of this after Heavenly
Father and Jesus Christ had already appeared to him)...I sat there,
and really for the first time, realized how crazy we probably sound to
people. That's it though, we're not crazy! So many times I've
encountered people who won't believe or listen just because they can't
talk to Joseph Smith themselves and ask what happened. Luckily, we
don't have to. The Book of Mormon gives us all the answers and
complete assurance that indeed, those events happened. I've never
talked to the man, but I know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ
appeared to him, and that with the power of God, Joseph Smith was able
to translate the Book of Mormon. Prayer and reading is truly the way
that a person could come to know that.
Hope you all have a wonderful week....and enjoy some of the warmth for me!
Hermana Mortensen
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