Christmas Box

Opened on December 25, 2016

***Note:  We received a Christmas box from Elder Mortensen earlier in the week and waited to open it while we Skyped with him on Christmas afternoon.  This letter was included in the box with some goodies from him.

December 15, 2016
Kia ora mai katou katoa,

I am looking at the calendar now and it has been six months that I have been out on a mission in New Zealand, Hamilton.  That time has gone by too fast.  I don't know how many times I said this but being a missionary is really fun.  You get to meet heaps of people and members from all over the world, learn about different cultures, build skills, and learn how to love strangers more than ever even if they are rude to you.  My highlight is you get feeds all the time.  You just get shouted just walking down the street.  You gain heaps of kg's on a mission.  I checked the scale the other day and I got a lot of "guilt" on me.  Hope you are staying healthy and keeping the Word of Wisdom.

On Tuesday we had an appointment with an investigating family.  There are 3 daughters and the parents.  We have been teaching them since the beginning of this transfer and all of the lessons are finished so we invited them for baptism and they all said yes! I was so excited and they were very sincere about it asking heaps of questions how it will work and how to prepare.  We are planning to take them to the Visitor's Center this Friday and to another missionary's baptism next week Saturday to help them better understand.  They are set for the 7th of January.  It is going to be awesome!  We also have a total of 13 baptism sets in our zone!  Put your shoulder to the wheel push along!!!

So much has happened on my mission and I am glad that I am on a mission.  Thank you Mom and Dad for keeping me on board and getting on me  whenever I got close to the edge and pulling me back up and drying me off when I fell off.  Seminary is important, church and auxiliaries are important too.  I think all the parents are just waiting for their children to tell them "YOU WERE RIGHT!"  I am proud of the badge I wear; to be a missionary; to be an instrument of God!  I miss you all so much and this Christmas and New Years is going to be different without yous.  I love you all. Be safe.  Mele Kalikimaka.  Ofa atu and stay cool.

Elder Mortensen
New Zealand, Hamilton Mission