Monday, March 28, 2011

Miracles

Dear Family,

We had a huge miracle last night! Jim's son David just moved in to our area.The Sisters in the Lakeview area had taught him about the restoration but last night was our first time meeting him. One of the laurels from our ward, Carol Ann, came with us and it was a great lesson. We prayed beforehand that he would accept the invitation to be baptized, and he did! We reviewed the principles of eternal families, priesthood authority, and praying to know the truth and then asked if he would be baptized. He said yes! In me head I thought "No way ... he said yes!" but quickly recovered from my shock and invited him to prepare to be baptized on April 16th. Again he said yes with no hesitation! I was so happy! I told him how great it would be to receive that remission of sins and fresh start in life and he smiled and nodded right along with me. He is a good man who recognizes when God is prompting him to do something. He is a trucker so he shared that sometimes he'd be driving down the road and something would tell him to pull over and a little while later he'd hear about an accident on the radio. He knew that was God's way of protecting him. We were able to explain that that is one way the spirit speaks to us. We read Galatians 5:22 and Carol Ann did a great job sharing how the spirit felt when she prayed to know the truth. I am so excited for him to continue studying the Book of Mormon, to come to General Conference and church and to be baptized! It is so great to see people hear, recognize and follow the spirit! I love it!

On Saturday night we also witnessed the miracle of a 9 month old baby taking her first steps! I don't think I've ever seen that before! It was so exciting! Little Hazel was kind of standing next to the wall as we shared a spiritual thought after dinner, when she took a step all on her own. She caught her balance without even using the wall. Her mom, Kristi, said "Did she just take a step?" And we all said "Yes" and started clapping for her. Hazel smiled really big and started clapping too. Needless to say, that was the end of our spiritual thought because mom and dad pulled out the camera and started having Hazel walk back and forth to eachother. I felt privileged to be there to witness such a special event.

I hope you are all as excited, or even more so, for general conference as I am. We have been inviting everyone to watch it. Who will you watch it with? I definitely like going to the church because it's a lot less distracting, but we are trying to get some of the people we teach to watch it in members homes so they can develop that friendship. I love making conference a big event, because it is! We get to hear from living prophets and apostles! I can't wait! Be sure to share your insights with me afterward.

I love you each so very much! Keep being the amazing family that you are!
Love,
Sister Bailey Mortensen

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Travel Plans

This is Andrea. I received Bailey's travel plans today. She will be returning April 15 around 1:30 p.m. We can hardly wait to see her!

Spring is here!

Dear Family,

Spring has pretty much arrived here in Omaha. I'm wearing my green jacket again and it is just perfect for shielding me from the wind without making me too warm from walking in the surprisingly warm weather. Sister Monson and I go without a car some days and we had to laugh on Saturday because it started out so sunny that she didn't bring a jacket. Well then it got really windy and finally it started to rain. Thankfully, one of the members let us borrow an umbrella, but it was one of those little rainbow ones. We must have looked ridiculous walking around these neighborhoods with both of us squished underneath a tiny, colorful little umbrella and me in my bright green jacket. We even came up with a little song "Let it blow, let it blow, let it blow." It wasn't nearly as creative or funny as the raps that Sister Itri and Sister Kusnerik compose (a member taught them how to beat-box) but we were pretty proud of ourselves.

On Sunday, Holly came to church for the first time! She wore a cute dress and brought her 6 month old boy, Jaxin. She fit right in with all the other young moms. Thankfully, Maria and Efrain came too. They are Holly's neighbors and missionaries have been teaching Maria for over a year. They just need to get married so that Maria can be baptized. I think having Maria there made Holly more comfortable. I think she was also glad to see how family oriented everything at church is. Sadly, Holly left before sacrament meeting because she didn't feel ready to take it. I told her she could stay and not take it, but she decided not to. When we ran into her later that night she said she really enjoyed everything else. We were also able to schedule a time to meet with her and her fiance, Scott, tonight. We're praying that he will also jump on board.

Jim is now in a nursing home outside our area but we told the elders there to go visit him. Incredibly, Jim's son, David, just moved into our area and we have an appointment to see him tonight as well. I guess he was really impressed that people from church would go visit his dad in the hospital.

We're still teaching Heidi and Greg. In fact, we're having dinner with them at a members house tonight. We're planning to teach the Word of Wisdom. She is a heavy smoker so we'll see how she takes it. We've been doing everything we can to build her faith in the Savior and His Atonement, but really it is up to her. Hopefully she has the faith to live this commandment. If she does, I know she'll receive her answer that Joseph Smith is a prophet. Living the word of wisdom makes recognizing the spirit so much easier.

I hope you are all doing well.
Love,
Sister Mortensen

Friday, March 18, 2011

Happy Pi Day (3/14)


Dear Family,

How are you? I got an email from Clark but not from anyone else. I hope you are all doing well. I love you and I pray for you.

Steven was confirmed yesterday! Again, his brother Dan was the one to perform the ordinance. For me that was probably the most exciting part because previous missionaries and members have thought that Dan would never come back to church. But now he's teaching primary, going to the temple for baptisms, and baptizing and confirming his brother. It is wonderful to see people come into but also return to the fold. Their family is well on their way to becoming an eternal family.

Jim was in the hospital again this week, but we sent some members to go visit him after church. Sister Minino (excellent team up), Brother Minino (RC who just got the Melchizedek Priesthood last week), Brother Call (amazing high priest), and Brother Jensen (our Ward Mission Leader) all went to give him a blessing. They said he was very emotional and very grateful. He appreciated the company as well as the blessing. Jim also said he loves when we visit. He figured we had been knocking on his door and worrying about him not answering and only wishes he could have left us a sticky note on his door to let us know where he was. Thankfully we ran into his friend that was helping clean his apartment and that's how we found out what happened to Jim. His comment about the sticky note made me laugh because we often leave them for him. He is just a great man, the kind I'd like to adopt for a grandpa.

We have an amazing exhibit at the Trail Center. It's the one we saw in the Nauvoo visitors center called "The Healing Power of Jesus Christ." It is powerful. I love showing these beautiful statues to people. It strengthens my faith. I'll tey to remember to send you a brochure in the mail. Please read it. I wish you could be here to actually see it, but the pictures are really good too.

Let me know what I can do for each of you. I love you!
Love,
Sister Mortensen

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Stephen got baptized!

Dear Family,

Stephen was baptized on Saturday! It was so great! I think my favorite was seeing the huge smile on his face, his brother's face, and just everyone's faces. The joy that comes from following Jesus Christ is contagious. Seeing his older brother come back to full activity in the church and even be able to baptize Stephen was so exciting! They are both on the path back to Heavenly Father and I am so happy for them. Stephen is a great kid! I can picture him becoming a powerful missionary.

Love,
Sister Bailey Mortensen

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Bro. Warner visits

Dear Family,

I can't believe you got that much snow. I'm sure it is long gone now, but I really do love snow. Mostly when it is fresh and sparkly. It reminds me of how clean I can be.

Turns out Sister Monson and I will both be staying in Millard. We expected that because it's my last transfer and she is still brand new. We actually found out this morning. President Kunz called to thank me for serving as Trail Center Trainer and said I should love having one more transfer as a normal missionary. I really am excited to be relieved of the stress that comes with being Trail Center Trainer. It will be much easier to focus on serving the people in Millard. I'll still serve the other sisters, but I won't be the one taking care of all the administrative stuff and that's a big relief. Part of me wishes I could finish my mission as a full-time proselyting sister, just so I could focus full-time on our area, but it will be good to serve in the Trail Center too. I just want to give my very, very best for these last six weeks.

Stephen is getting baptized on Saturday! He is such a smart 11 year old. And he is so excited! He won't be confirmed until next Sunday (because of Stake Conference) but that might be good because it will give his brother, Dan, time to practice and feel comfortable preforming a confirmation. I can't wait!

My favorite thing this week was taking Bro. Warner (the 70 year old man I taught in Grand Island) and his friend, Emma Jean (a cute little lady with a scarf tied around her head), on tour at the Trail Center. Bro. Warner has been writting me ever since his baptism saying that he wants to come visit me at the Trail Center. I wasn't sure how we'd be able to coordinate schedules so that I'd be there when he came, but the Lord provided. I was so happy to see him! Elder Watson teased me about how much I was glowing the rest of the day. Anyway, Emma Jean was sooooooooooooo prepared to hear the gospel. Bro. Warner had told her a little bit, but she was curious and even wondered how she could know what church taught what was true. She also was concerned about her husband and daughter that had passed away. Throughout the tour I was able to testify about Joseph Smith's call as a prophet, the restoration of the priesthood, eternal families, and the plan of salvation. After sharing the conversion/immigration story of my great-great-great-great-great grandfather, Peder Mortensen, and his family, I asked her how she thought she could know the truth. She replied that she would study the Book of Mormon and pray. When I asked if she'd like to have missionaries come visit with her she said she'd like that. So, we showed her where the church building/family history center were (she really wants to begin her family history) and sent the missionaries! I am so excited for her! And I am excited for Bro. Warner. What a blessing to see how Bro. Whitehead sharing the gospel with Bro. Warner is now extending to Bro. Warner sharing the gospel with Emma Jean and who know how many other people! Truly "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass." It is as simple as inviting someone to come to the Trail Center, to read the Book of Mormon, to meet with the missionaries, to learn more about family history, to come to church, and before you know it, many people will want to learn and live the gospel! I love missionary work!

I love each of so, so much!
Love,
Sister Bailey Mortensen