February 12, 2017 Happy Valentines Day!

February 12, 2017

Aloha 'Ohana Mortensen,

Transfers has past and over the past few days I have been asking in my mind, "President, what do you want me to do or what is my purpose in this area?" because I was moved out of Grandview!!!  Why?!  We have three baptisms that is coming up this transfer, the 2 Bird family girls are going to be baptized this Saturday and then Lyn is going to be on March 18 and we have been finding some families that I just got to know.  It was hard leaving the area.  So many families and work to do.  

My new area is about two hours away and it is somewhat like Wairoa but i reckon much nicer.  It is along the coast and it is in a gulf.  I am in the Paeroa Branch but covering the Coromandel Branch as well.  Our area is massive.  The towns we have to get to for visits are 1 hour apart and some are even further so we have unlimited k's and the work isn't amazing so our members try to help us as much as possible to get us people to teach.  The drives are nice but you lose lots of time driving.  I will send you some photos later.  My camera died.  My new comp is Elder Osborn from Utah, the factory.  He is the district leader of me and a missionary couple the O'Neals.  He is so funny.  We are really trying to pick this area up because there are so many less actives in the area. 

The members are mainly Maori and Tongan so we get fed a lot.  One of the Tongan members gave us some raw fish and some oysters.  I was glad to eat it but my comp would not eat any of it and from then on they remember me as the first elder the had in their home who would eat raw fish.  I just have to tell you Mom and Dad, thanks for teaching me how to eat sea food however it was prepared.

Our flat is mean as.  It is a house and it has everything and it is clean.  I have some photos I took.  I would move to this place if I could.  The town is big but not too big and has all the things that you would need; markets, shops. . . so I am pretty good out here in my area.  Just far away from other missionaries that's all and too far from the temple to go again this transfer.

Lots of things to do and it will be awesome.  I hope I find my purpose in this area soon.  Yeah, that's me.  I love you guys.  Hope all is going good over there.  Talk to yous soon.