Wairoa. . . the last and farthest

July 17, 2016

Kia ora! How's it going family! SO I'm in my first area here in Wairoa.  It is the last and farthest area in the Hamilton Mission and I'm here with my new soa Elder Corry.  He came from Utah and is F.O.T.I  as in "flippin on to it" as my trainer.  The area is a very humble place and the members are going to play a big role in the conversion of the people here but it's all good.  We are in the Gisborne Stake and this place is way cool.  It's fields of live stock of cow, sheep, deer, goat, horse, and even llamas.  There's also lots of orchards as well.  It's orange season so we get lots of oranges. The people are well on with life but stay humble in living.  We are shooting for two baptisms by the next transfer which is August 28 but we are looking for more as well.  Time is going by way fast and there's lots to be done here in Wairoa. I hope all is going well and I hope to hear from you again.  Ka kite (love you).

PHOTO'S, yay!

July 17, 2016
Letter to Dad. . .

Sounds like fun! (Response to our explanation of our recent adventures with the Stake Young Women to Volcano for a High Adventure Overnight campout and hike as well as another hike into Kilauea Iki crater with the YW again.)
Hey, I often think about the business and hope all is going well with that and all.  I sometimes miss the work at home but it's all good.  Here are some photos I've taken so far.

This is my first companion Elder Levao in front of the MTC.  My first soa (companion).

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This is Elder Yamagata from Laie 5th Ward, my first District Leader.

This is the Mormon District.  I love them all and miss them so much.  Chur bro (right on man)

This is our plan group that all met up at the San Francisco Airport and
flew over on Air New Zealand

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One of our temple trips.

My soa Elder Levao and some of our lollies in our room.

And then me and this egg, Elder Corry, my trainer.

All in all it's been fun but spiritual as well.  There's so much work to be done and so many people to find, meet, and baptize.  There's a saying I heard here.  I don't know if it's accurate but here it is, "Tell me and I will forget.  Teach me and I will learn.  Lead me and I will follow."  I love it and I will do that!  I hope to hear from you again.

Ka Kite Ano

Letter to the Tacubans

July 17, 2016

Wat's up Tacubans!
Missing you guys.  I'm all goods.  I left the MTC on the 13th and got to my first area on the 14th here in Wairoa in the Gisborne Stake.  My new soa, Elder Corry, he's and egg.  The Ward is awesome and so is the area.  It's super cold at times.  It used to snow here but not anymore.  We're always getting big feeds from the members and meeting and getting lots of referrals from members.  It's all good.  Send me photos of the family and of the boys.  I wanna see them!  I hope to hear from you again.

Ka Kite Ano (I love you!)

Over-Preparation and Simplicity

Dear Mortensen 'Ohana,
     So I'm over my half-way point here at the MTC and still learning a lot.  One of my highlights was going to the temple.  I couldn't wait for the date to come.  We went on a Thursday, 11 'o clock session.  My thoughts of the temple:  It is a really big one!  It's so tall that they're not allowed to have an angel Moroni on it because it's too tall.  We met the Mission President there and also the Temple President which was Sidney Going, the All Blacks rugby player!  We've seen him on the mission videos, that was cool!  The temple can fit a lot of people in it, and it was full!  As I sat and reflected in the temple, it was nice, but I was kind of missing the Kona Temple.
     So far, being Zone Leaders, it's okay.  My companion and I, Elder Levao, we step up some times be we have fun and do what we have to and show exact obedience.  We hang out with a bunch of Samoans and Tongans and our best friend that likes us very much, the Spirit / Holy Ghost.  But, something that really helped me with teaching my investigators is over preparation and teaching with simplicity;  Feeding the baby milk before feeding it steak.  I'm doing great and I'm counting down the days til when I go to the mission area that I'm going to be serving in.  I miss you guys and hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,
Elder Mortensen

P.S. We have a lot of Kiribati Elders here and out of generosity I gave away three of my ties so . . . . I might need some.



Note to Readers:
Here is the link to the mission video that Elder Mortensen was referring to.  It's called Mormon Messages:  Your Day for a Mission.

Hamilton, New Zealand Temple

The Hamilton New Zealand Temple was the first temple built in the Southern Hemisphere and second built in Polynesia, following the Laie Hawaii Temple (1919).

Good ol' "SNAIL MAIL" Sent on 06/27/16 from NZ and received in Hilo 7/7/16

Dear 'Ohana Mortensen,
     I just want to say thank you first of all for raising me in the church and never letting me go astray in my 18 years of life.  I love you so much!  First off, I am having a blast and ever since I stepped into the MTC I have felt the spirit in all kinds of ways.  The spirit is real and I can testify of it.  My companion Elder Levao and I are having a blast.  I love him so much and we get along just like we were serving a mission for years.  We call each other "soa" which is Elder in Samoan.  As district leaders we are always being the best example to the the Elders and Sisters.  I don't have a lot of time left.  I will try and write more.  I love you and just want to say, "Exact obedience is the key."  Hope to hear from you soon.  I'll try to write.
     My purpose as a missionary is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. (Preach My Gospel, Pg.1)

Elder Mortensen

Hey Dad! July 7, 2016

Hey Dad!
     I'm missing the physical work that I do at home but the work out here is good and most importantly it's fun. I had some bumps in the road but my companion is always there for me backing me up.  Reading my patriarchal blessing really helps me to be grateful for the things that I have and for what the Lord has in store for me. We had another trip to the temple and I really do miss going to the temple with you folks as well. I hope all is well with you guys. I have a scripture that I wanted to share with you guys that gets me going.  It's in Luke and it says,

"Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it." I love it!  It's all about building and lifting up others.  I hope to hear from you soon!  See yah later, CHEERS BRO!!

WEEK 1 @ the MTC: July 1, 2016

I'm doing great and I love the classes, and the Elders and Sisters, and most important . . . the food!  I'm gonna get fat before I get out of the MTC.  I love the work!  I'm praying more than I ever had before and reading my scriptures more than ever before. I'ma become a scriptorian by the time I come back lol!  My companion and I are doing awesome.   We eat plenty and we talk and get along great.  Our President, President Gibson, told us that our soa (companion) is like our wife, so imagine that. 

We had three investigators so far.  We had Tyrone, Joy, and Veronica, and we are like friends with them.  As soon as we knock on the door we laugh and get to know them and we always have a doctrine and a principle to teach with an invitation to be baptized when they come to realize they are ready.  I am learning so much.  Here's some counsel from my President of what to keep in mind:

•  Always show exact obedience.  
• Know that you're on the Lord's time and  
• Be specific in your prayers over preparing yourself for things and you will be fine. 

I'm thankful for all my callings that got me ready for my calling I have here now as a Zone Leader.  Come away after a week and it's really all about the work. I really miss you guys.  I often think about you Mom and Dad and how the work is going at H&L Services LLC lol.  I think about Aukele and Kamaha'o. .. tell them if they're still fighting with each other to cut it out.  Kele, listen to Mom and Dad.  Kamaha'o, give me a real fishing tale with that boat.  Miha train hard in Volleyball.  Kahali and Alex, Alika, and Kahiwa I miss you but I hope to make you proud.

Elder Mortensen

Elder Mortensen with his District

Intake group on June 23, 2016

Arrived @ the MTC: June 23,2016 Auckland, NZ

Kia Ora! This is Elder Mortensen e-mailing from Auckland. The flying was good and I’m okay.  My companion is Elder Levao from Utah and we were assigned to be the zone leaders.  So far it is awesome and we have a lot of kuleana.  I am very grateful and hope to do my best and be obedient. I am going to be looking after 40 sisters and 34 elders.  It's exciting!  I love you all and will e-mail you again.

Elder Mortensen

'Ohana

This was taken the night before Elder Mortensen left for Honolulu, then San Francisco, then on to Auckland, New Zealand.  So grateful for the knowledge and opportunity to have forever families.

Got together to eat, talk, and enjoy each other's company and say good bye . . .for now.

Special Times With My Family!

During the months of March, April, and May Ku'i spent as much time as he could working, working, and working for H&L Services LLC (Dad and Mom's landscape maintenance company) and Pizza Hut (until the end of March).  In between all that work, he managed to find time for fun with loved ones and attending the temple as much as he could.  

Uncle Anson and Aunty Yuki and their family came to visit us during Spring Break.  We found time in between work to play and have fun with them.  This was after sacrament meeting and they were headed to Kona to fly back home.

Having lunch with Aukele and Joyden Madriaga after helping Jonah Kim with his Eagle Project at Kawamoto Pool.

Uncle Anson, Aunty Yuki, and family.

   

Having fun at the beach with the Kim's and the Awai's after attending the temple.  

Just the boys after Aukele and Sam's priesthood advancements.

Got to spend time with Aunty Pua, Nana, and Aunty Sophie.  They had warm gloves, scarves, and ear warmers for me.  I'm gonna need those for sure.

                                 

Ku'i and LaRae at the La'ie, Hawai'i Temple.

Never too much temple :)

Nice to attend with 'ohana.

Uncle Gaman and Uncle Anson, looking a little scruffy!  What do you think? Any resemblance to Keanu Reeves?

May was a special month for the Hans & LaRae Mortensen 'Ohana.  Families are Forever!

'Ohana Tacuban.  Families are Forever

Great to have our extended 'ohana with us doing service in the Lord's house.

Fun times @ Hapuna Beach.

Receiving the Mission Call

March 1, 2016

On March 1, 2016, the day of Ku'ilua's Eagle Scout Court of Honor, to add to the excitement and festivities, he received a large, white envelope which contained the anticipated mission call.  We had been checking the mailbox everyday, waiting anxiously for it to arrive.

Opening it up . . . .

        
Sweaty, nervous hands . . . .

You are hereby called to serve in the . . . .

NEW ZEALAND, HAMILTON MISSION!!!

What an awesome surprise to receive his mission call and celebrate receiving his Eagle Scout Award all on the same day!  We are so proud of him and his decision to follow the counsel of our prophet to serve a mission!