11/2/2015: Jeez am peas.... Dis a go be di las wan...............Nosah....

Good morning my sweet family :) I guess it's still morning there for you. ha.

I still just feel a little bit like this is any other week haha. I'll be on back next Monday to email about the week! (Don't be surprised if that's true...) haha. Like I've said before, I don't know what to feel.... I have mixed emotions. Very mixed emotions. I've never been so torn between two feelings in my entire life! But.... Good thing the Atonement applies to everything. haha. If I've learned anything while being out here, besides the fact that I say haha too much, it's that I love my Savior and there would be no point to life without him, for 'He is Risen'. :) And he knows exactly what i'm feeling right now better than anybody else....

But on to the week!

Last Monday evening we had the opportunity to drive to Porus, which is about a 35 minute drive away, in our area towards May Pen. We went to see a referral for a lady named Kereen. She's very sweet. It took us a second to find her though. We drove through the town and were told to make a turn by a shop and another turn by a big tree and then to cross the yellow and black bridge and then to drive, drive, drive, up, up, up, past another shop that's closed. and so on... haha. Good thing I'm good with Jamaican directions for the most part haha! We finally found it though. We went way up into the hills and red dirt. And then parked the car so that we could hike to her house. Mind you it's dark. I never thought in my life that i'd hike so much in such nice clothes and shoes. But we got there and there were just a few lights on in the house. It was a small board house with rooms separated by a few flat boards that you could see through. There wasn't much room to sit but we found a place on the bed and began with a prayer. We talked to her about our purpose as missionaries and it went really well. She is so sweet. She had been taught before and lost her Book of Mormon and Restoration tract and was SO happy to get more! The Spirit was definitely strong and I was excited to see her again but.. It looks like that won't happen. I'll definitely keep praying for her and her family though. She's married and has such sweet kids. :) It's just hard with not much fare to come to church so far, but it's possible!

Wednesday we had the opportunity to have Zone Meeting! It was fantastic of course except for the fact that I had to bear my testimony AKA: I'm leaving, last testimony.........

Thursday we got to go on Trade-offs with Sister Frey and Sister Vincent, her trainee. I got the opportunity to go with Sister Vincent in May Pen and MAN was it a fantastic experience. That girl is amazing. I really learned a lot and we had the opportunity to have extra studies because she is training and we learned a lot together about the Atonement. It was awesome. :) We got to talk to a lot of people as we walked and man is that May Pen sun hot! :) I love it! It was a great last trade-off though. 

Saturday, yes Halloween, and no, they don't celebrate Halloween. Some parts of the island randomly do. haha. But Mandeville. It's scary enough as it is. But we received transfer calls. No I don't want to talk about it. But Sister Garrett is going to be replacing me here in Mandeville! I'm so happy about that! And excited for her! She is a GREAT missionary! 

Yesterday we got the chance to have Sister Loveland be with us until Transfers because she was in a tripanionship and one of her companions was going off-island this morning and the other had a self-reliance class all day today in Kingston! It's been fun to spend more time with her. She's just great and I've already learned so much from her. :) 

Tomorrow we will be in Spanish Town for most of the day because we have to take some trainers to trainers meeting. Yay! I get one more! Then Tuesday evening is my last time proselyting...... Wednesday is transfers where i'll be with President Brown for the day I think.. And then Thursday I fly home... Jeez am peas...... I don't know what to say about that...... I've been wondering if I'll have nothing to say when I'll land haha! I'll probably be in shock! I guess we'll see. Here we go.....

Well, I love you all! I'll see you in a few days! Take care and take luck. Be safe and be good. Keep on keepin' on. :) The church is true and the Atonement is real! I know it is!

Love,

Sister Mouritsen

10/26/2015: Gone too fast...

Hello, good morning my family :)

I don't have much time... I've been having to send in a whole bunch of pictures to the office today...

But I can't believe it's almost the last week of the transfer! It just freaks me out so bad. I remember being in Cayman and saying that I was only in single digit months haha.... I think I blinked. I must have because I've passed 18 months! Nosah..... Sister Lewis and I were talking about it and it seriously is just the most bitter-sweet feeling I have ever felt in my life. I still trying to figure out whether that's a good thing or a bad thing haha....

Not too much happened this week though. We had some great lessons and experiences for sure though!

We saw Demarce and he had some questions about why bad things have to happen. Why can't life just be all good and great haha. Personally I'm glad it's not. Because then we really wouldn't even know what joy is or happiness. 2 Nephi 2:25.  We are meant to have joy in this life. So we shared with him and read in Doctrine and Covenants 121 &122. It was a great and powerful lesson. It really helped me out as well. So much has been going on this week........

We had a lesson with a less-active who is coming back :) Brother Pinto. We talked about consecration and read in Mosiah 3:19. Awesome verse. I'm sure you all know it off the top of your heads. But we had a really good discussion. As I had been studying for that lesson I was reading a lot about obedience. We have to give up our disobedience so that God can consecrate us. I had also read a story about a mission president and a missionary. He wanted to go home because the mission was hard and the mission president sat with him and they talked about things that he could do better to help him. Of course a lot concerning obedience things. And near the end of the interview, the missionary said to his mission president, 'you are not asking me to change my behavior... but you are asking me to change my nature.' And that's exactly how it should be. When we change our nature, we are changing our heart. We change because we love the Lord, we love Christ. Not just to show other people our obedience and that we are good. It's not enough merely just to change our behavior. And this definitely isn't just for missionaries haha! It just comes down to the fact of whether we love God or not. But Brother Pinto really took it to heart I think. He came to church on Sunday which was awesome! 

We were able to have a fantastic lesson with Kelly, and Sister Morrison was able to come with us. We talked all about the Sabbath Day. We read in Ezekiel 20:12,20. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that verse before but it is definitely my favorite one to use for the Sabbath Day. How we keep the Sabbath Day is literally a sign we are showing to God of how much we love him. Haha. Back to obedience and consecration and all that good stuff. 'So Sister Mouritsen, you are saying that if I love God then I'll keep the commandments and everything God says?' 'Yes. That's exactly what i'm saying.' 'So why should I do that?' 'So that God can dang well bless you. Duh.' haha..... After all... He is our HEAVENLY Father. He just WANTS to bless us and is bound to bless us. D&C 82:10. Com nuh man. 

Goodness. Rain a fall this week man! Friday we just got DRENCHED! It totally reminded me of the Ochi days when all it did was rain this time last year. haha. Everyone we called didn't want to see us because it was raining. They all said they were sleeping or going to go sleep. haha. Literally everyone. We tried Demar, a guy we met a little while ago and he said we could come! It was awesome. So we hiked up this mountain with a waterfall pouring down it just to find out that we couldn't have a lesson with him because there wasn't a female there or around and we weren't able to bring a member with us. Haha. It was a good experience though. :) Lots and lots a wata!

Yes. Friday was my 18 months and also Elder Davidsen our District leader who came out with me. Yes. We got floured....

Saturday was great! We had contacted a guy named Jonathan last week and told him that he could invite whoever he wanted to join us in the lesson. So we get there Saturday and there is a WHOLE bunch of potential priesthood holders. Yes. Potential Priesthood holders. It was so awesome! We had a great lesson about the Godhead and our purpose as missionaries and they were really interested! We are going to see them again tomorrow so it'll be awesome! I'm really excited. :)

Well, I love you all! Thanks for all the emails! Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Mouritsen  

10/20/2015: Missionary Work is the Greatest Work!

Good morning family :)

No I did not email yesterday, as I'm sure you all have figured out by now... haha. yesterday was Hero's Day.

And last week I told you about how our District Leader, Elder Davidson, wanted me to write a poem about the life of a Sister Missionary in the Jamaica Kingston mission, so here it is.... Bear with me..........I'm not very good at rhyming.... 

The JKM Sister Missionary

Well... Where to start?

I guess from my heart,

I hope you'll like these few words,

They may just be absurd...

In the Jamaica Kingston Mission,

You'll find sisters full of ambition,

The life of these missionaries,

Is definitely not that of sparkly fairies...

Our hair is most times frizzy,

Because we're just too busy,

It may be up in a dumpling,

Because of that hot something,

Our clothes not always zeen,

maybe they were when we were green,

Our shoes may have holes,

on the bottom near the soles,

But despite what the mission will bring,

Underneath they're Daughters of a King,

Where the Lord knows them best,

And has granted some this quest,

To testify of truth,

(while they're still in their youth),

To Christ they'll bring many,

Not even for a penny,

Though they be 'Whitey!' and 'Brownin'',

They'll never be frownin',

And for heaven sakes,

Not those long handshakes...

But even through it all,

They'll grow Spiritually tall,

To Celestial they're bound,

Where there they'll be crowned,

In Glory above,

With all those that they love.

Sister Mouritsen

Oh man........That's kind of embarrassing. I hope you understand it...

Then this past Wednesday Elder Davidson asked me to find a scripture for the District to ponderize together. I chose one of my FAVORITES from Doctrine and Covenants section 15, verse 6. Just go ahead and read it and you'll see why. It was either that one or D&C 16:6. or both. ;) hahahahaha...

D&C 15:6 And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father. Amen.

I guess you have to read it to get my joke...... Wow...... That was a really bad joke. But I was also debating on whether to use D&C 88:67 or D&C 6:13. I just love Doctrine and Covenants. Period.

So last Tuesday we had the opportunity to go to DLT, District Leader Training. It only happens twice a year and I went to it earlier this year when I was a District Leader in Nassau but I just Skyped in. Anyway, it was really cool to have all the District Leaders together. Sister Lewis and I and the Boulevard STL's taught about Ministering to the one and seizing teaching opportunities. We talked about all the places that we can minister and how we need to be ready for those opportunities when they come because they may be unexpected sometimes. And of course we linked in the Atonement. It went really well I would say and I learned a lot from all the Zone Leaders teachings. I just will never cease to love how much the Book of Mormon can be applied SO well to our day today. No matter what we are doing. :)

President Brown spoke during the meeting as well and it was so great! As always. He talked about how in these days we can't just take a 'leap of faith' into the wilderness as Lehi and his Family did, but we also are required to take the 'voyage of faith' as they did when they crossed the waters. It's really not enough just to leap anymore. And when we leap and voyage into the dark, it's not a timid step, making sure there is ground but it's jumping with both feet into the dark with confidence. After all, that's the faith. Faith is not faith without action. We all know that. It was just really cool though. :) I love that man.

Thursday we were asked by President Brown if we would do a split with the sisters in May Pen. So Sister Lewis went with Sister Frey and Vincent and I went with Sister Dasha and Clyde and it was a great day! I had an awesome time getting to spend the day with them! We woke up at about 5 to get to their apartments before studies. haha. It was an early morning and a great day. We did service, washing all morning for an investigator named Stacy. Yes, I prefer to hand wash clothes now. It just works so much better than the washers we have. If you use Blue Power cake soap. BUT anyway... We were happy to help her out. 

We also had a POWERFUL lesson with a lady named Olive who is elect! We shared the Restoration with her and she just soaked it all in. Holy cow I just can't tell you how strong the Spirit was! I had just said the First Vision to her and the Holy Ghost was testifying and someone from outside called to her saying they wanted to buy some corn flakes from her and she left.... :/ :P I don't think I can properly create the face that I was making and still make for it.... haha. But the good part was that when she came back it was the SAME feeling still there! Boom. It was just awesome. And then we committed her to be baptized. It was a great lesson! 

Friday we had a good day too! We also had the Friday Night activity once again and Brother Denton came and watched and he was just in awe over it! He loved it! I was really glad that he came. 

Saturday we had an awesome day as well! We were FINALLY able to find a recent convert who has gone missing. It was great! I have been trying to locate this lovely member for almost 6 months. haha. He is very sweet too. It's just reminding him of his testimony and bringing him closer with the Spirit back in his life. Markus is so awesome though.

We were also able to have a lesson with a man named Renee (Rennie, he's very particular about how it's said. haha:) ) It was great. He had a lot of questions about the Book of Mormon. This was our first actual lesson with him. Before he had joined in on Kelly's lesson when we taught her about tithing. We had given him a Book of Mormon and he was confused I guess because he started in First Nephi. So we read through the introduction with him and he was able to understand it much better! He's a cool guy. :)

We saw Nevell on Sunday and also talked about the Book of Mormon with him. It was a powerful lesson and he said he would begin reading it and accepted a baptismal date for December 6th! YES!

Well.. my time is up as always... Today we are having a Zone P-Day talent show and I'm excited! I love you all! Have a fantastic week! Listen to the Spirit! Every decision counts. :)

Love

Sister Mouritsen

10/12/2015: Another awesome week :)

Good morning my sweet family. :)

Yes I don't have much longer out here and it completely breaks my heart to think about.... I have never felt so torn in my life. I love these Caribbean people with all of my heart. I truly have come to know since being out here that this is where I was supposed to be over these past (almost) 18 months. That has definitely been confirmed.The mission is something I will never ever regret in my entire life. Like I've said before, I don't think I could have learned all of the things that I've learned out here anywhere else. This has changed my life forever for the better. 

Tuesday was a great day! It was actually Sister Robinson, Bogle, and Smith's 5 months!! Oh my goodness... I remember talking with them about how when they turn 6 months, I will have been home the night before... Nosah!

We saw the Denton family again on Tuesday as well and were able to follow up on how he liked Conference. He said that he LOVED it! And that nothing was wrong with anything they were saying. haha. Of course not. You can count on them to speak truth. ;) We also talked more about he Book of Mormon and Restoration and we also saw them yesterday and were able to share the Restoration video. We were finally able to extend a baptismal date for November 28 for them both and they accepted! It was interesting because his mother was there who seemed to just love to talk.... Gotta love distraction but we were able to testify with power and it definitely seemed to penetrate their hearts. Sister Denton should hopefully be getting her cast off of her leg today and then she should be able to come to church soon! As long as she gets the cast off today though. She says that whether they say yes or no, it's coming off! Hmm... That just reminds me of one of my siblings who kind of said the same thing. ;) Ha. Colt.... love ya. 

We also had some appointments fall through and so we went finding up in the Spaulding area, specifically a place called Spit Virgin. We got to this area and drove past some men working on an old truck. We looked at each other and said, 'we should go talk to them.' haha. So we did. We parked the car, said a prayer and walked over to them. At first they were just like,'what the whiteys?' and were saying things like, 'you know it's dangerous for you to be out here and stuff you know.' Mind you it's like 3 in the afternoon... hahaha the sun is shining and hotter than hot. Eventually another man seemed to come out of nowhere through some tall grass that was way above his head and we began a conversation with him. His name is Reggy and was telling us that he has already met with the Jehovah's Witnesses. We quickly corrected him and told him that's not us and he began to be more interested. So we gave him a Restoration tract and invited him to be taught. We haven't been able to meet with him yet though because of the rain. He wouldn't let us come. Which happens too often. But it was a cool experience. :)

For district meeting on Wednesday Elder Davidsen told me to write a poem and what it's like to be a sister Missionary. It wasn't a bad poem actually! haha. The tragedy is that I left it at the apartment... Sorry. I'll have to read it to you next time if I remember. 

Thursday we had MLC, which I just always love! Yes it was my last one and I had the opportunity to bear my testimony. Which is the first of several more to come. It's as though I was very emotional before my mission and at the beginning of it and then I got tough and NOW I've become emotional again. No man. Wat a gwan wid dis!?

On Thursday Sister Garrett also hit her year mark which absolutely freaks me out because last year around this time we were together... Wow....We had to opportunity to do a trade off with her and Sister Bogle in Montego Bay. Sister Garrett came with me to Mandeville. It was so awesome to catch up and it was REALLY cool to be able to teach again together. Man that girl is amazing and so strong! We had some great times. We've definitely both grown since being together, which was cool to see. 

Sister Lewis and I and a member had a great experience last night. We went and visited with a man we had contacted the other day whose name is Nevell. He let us into his home and was so friendly which was funny because when we contacted him he was just trying to get away.. haha! But we went in and were able to meet with his son as well, Oshane. And they seemed really interested! They told us that they have 2 Books of Mormon already and that they just saw them the other day in their house haha! Wow. We talked about the Book of Mormon and how it is important. We read the Scripture in John 10:16 when Christ talks about His other sheep and then we corresponded it with when Christ comes to the Americas and tells them that they are His other sheep that he was talking about. (3 Nephi 15:21) It was really cool and we are excited to get to see them again soon! 

All in all, things are going well! I love this work with all of my heart.This church is true!

I love you all. Thanks for the emails.

Love,

Sister Mouritsen

10/5/2015: One month from today...No Man!

Good afternoon! 

Man... I just have so much to say and so little time... And a really slow delayed computer... hahaha. Bear with me....

Last Tuesday we were able to have a really great lesson with the Denton family about the Book of Mormon! They started reading it!! We also discussed the priesthood again. They seem to understand it better. Brother Denton even came to the Book of Mormon night on Wednesday and loved it! He said he really likes the Book of Mormon. And what's even better, he came to conference yesterday!! He got there around 1 when the first session ended but stayed for the second session at 3! Oh my goodness it was so great! He said it was awesome and noticed how we definitely read the Bible. haha! We have an appointment with him and his wife on Tuesday and we can't wait to follow up more on conference! Man I love them!

We also got to meet with a man and his family who are referrals from Montego Bay. His name is Damian and he is so humble and willing to listen. We had our second lesson with him yesterday after conference and we talked all about the restoration. It was a GREAT spirit-filled lesson. He was able to understand the real importance of the Book of Mormon from it and said he would pray about it and also come to church on Sunday! He lives far in Christiana.... BUT he has a car! Which is so awesome!

Wednesday we had Zone Meeting and Sister Lewis and I talked about asking inspired questions. It was a great Zone Meeting. Very inspirational!

We had a trade off with May Pen this week. Sister Dasha from South Africa came with me and we had a great lesson with Demarce! We talked about the importance of a modern day prophet and read with him in D&C 68:2-4 and then D&C 21:4-6. We then committed him to prayerfully think of some questions that he could bring to conference. It was a powerful lesson. I can't wait to see how conference went for him when we see him Tuesday. 

Conference was just FANTASTIC! I wish I had more time to talk about it but I definitely recieved a lot of answers to questions I have been having.  I LOVED President Nelson's talk though. It definitely bigged me up. :) 

Well. Sorry this is short again. Know that I love you and I hope I can get a quicker computer next time. Gotta love when the power goes out..... Have a great week! Be safe. Be good. Don't forget to apply what you learned at conference or it was all for nothing. haha. Seriously though. That goes for me most of all.

take care!

Love,

Sister Mouritsen

Long prayers and "holy" chairs 

Out Denton's front door. Literally I'm on the front step. 

By Damians house. 

National bird. I've been trying to get a picture of it for 17 months..... Score! 
The doctor bird or swallow tail humming bird (Trochilus Polytmus), is one of the most outstanding of the 320 species of hummingbirds. It lives only in Jamaica. These birds' beautiful feathers have no counterpart in the entire bird population and they produce iridescent colours characterstic only of that family (http://jis.gov.jm/symbols/jamaican-national-bird-the-doctor-bird/).

9/28/2015: One more transfer left.....Nosah

Good morning :)

This week was very different. But good of course. :) 

So it was just Sister Schwendiman and I on Monday, Tuesday and partially Wednesday before they came and picked her up to take her to Kingston for her flight on Thursday and all the exit stuff..... poor kid..... Haha.

Monday was a lot of packing and cleaning and such. Much needed.

Tuesday we helped a member with her visiting teaching which was great that she had asked us to help! That's something that we have definitely been working on with members, and her visiting teaching partner is less-active at the moment and moved all the way to Maidstone.... So we were ecstatic when she asked for our help! I've really learned how important visiting and home teaching are and how BIG of a help they are to the Branch President. 

We went to see Kelly up in Sunset as well but...She wasn't there and so we ended up seeing Christopher who works in the shop right next door. I can't remember exactly if I have talked about Christopher before but his is an interesting story. I guess when the sisters first met him he was trying to convert Kelly to a Jehovah's Witness... So it was hard for her but.... She actually came through it with an even stronger testimony that the Book of Mormon is true as well as Joseph Smith and Thomas S. Monson. haha! So it worked out I guess you could say. But every so often he will join in on our lessons. The last lesson we had with Kelly he was in there, then left and then eventually he was standing at the open window looking and listening in through the grill. I handed him a Book of Mormon and he wouldn't take it but I insisted, and he took it. And then eventually he found himself inside near the corner and eventually in our circle asking questions. haha! He can see the truths that we are sharing but it's hard for him to leave what he already knows and has grown up knowing. We talked a lot about the Plan of Salvation. Which I just ABSOLUTELY love. But anyway, the lesson we had without Kelly on Tuesday was great. We talked more about the Pre-Earth life and how we lived with God before we came here and that this really is not our home. But we are just here to prepare to meet God. He's always bringing up Jehovah's Witness Doctrine which is helping me with my patience..... ha....He soon come round though. I've already seen the little changes. :)

That night as well Sister Schwendiman had her exit interview with President Brown, which she said after when we were driving home that it was finally starting to feel real to her... Man that's such a bitter-sweet thing. I just remember starting her last transfer together and now it's over. It went by so fast! And now I'm in the same shoes... No man! I don't know what to think. Besides Go hard, work hard, all day, every day. haha. :)

On Wednesday, yes, my 17th month mark. Jeez am peas..... We had the opportunity to take Sister Spencer out with us to see Jmoy and Nikki. Jmoy's lesson was fantastic! That boy is great! It's just so cool to get to see the light come on in him. He didn't read the Book of Mormon again though but he said that he prayed to know if it was true and that he was looking for a voice to tell him that it was... So we talked about how the Spirit works with us and how we receive our answers to prayers. It also led more into the Restoration which was great. We committed him to be baptized and he said yes. He understands  partially now that Christ's church needed to be restored and that the priesthood authority is back on the earth. It's just getting him to see that it was done through another prophet, the prophet Joseph Smith. But the sad part is that he is in the Elder's care now. I no longer have that area. He is in good hands though. It's not the servant/missionary that matters but the message. It's the same from every servant in the vineyard. :)

After meeting with them we drove to the Hopeton sisters house which was our meeting place where the Elder's would take Sister Schwendiman and I would stay with the Hopeton sisters until Thursday. It was very sad..... They took sister Wint and Schwendiman. Some of my GREAT friends! It was great to spend some time with Sister Slater and Brown though.

So transfers were moved to Thursday because the trainees weren't coming in until late. It was a good transfer meeting. And I'm so excited and have loved so far getting to serve with Sister Lewis! ha! We just work so well together! 

Saturday I didn't get to watch the Women's Conference no...... It was sad.... We tried. They had said that we were all to meet at the church at 7 to watch the broadcast but... no one showed up to set it up... and no one came later... so Sister Lewis and I luckily had the church keys and tried to watch it on the computers but... We probably got a few sentences... It didn't work. So we'll read it later, or watch it today if we have time. :) Thank goodness for technology though. That's all I have to say. Even if it doesn't work sometimes. It really is a blessing from the Lord and should be used righteously!! :)

Yesterday was awesome!! We had received a referral awhile ago and finally got in contact with him! He let us know where he lived and man is it way up in the bush! He literally lives on the side of a mountain and down at the bottom of the ravine they somehow built a road. haha! So we hiked up the mountain to his home and were able to visit with him and his wife. They are the Denton family. It was SUCH a great lesson too! They had been given a Book of Mormon and a Restoration tract from the Santa Cruz Zone Leaders who contacted him in their area. The lesson jumped right into the restoration and everything and the spirit was SO strong and testifying and they said that they want to come to church and to the Book of Mormon night as well and they also committed to be baptized! But his wife Marva has a broken leg. So that's the other thing.... But man they are just so prepared! I can't wait to see them again! :) I love them already.

Well... I've gone on long enough I guess. Thank you for your emails. I hope you all have a great week! Know that I love you and pray for you daily. This work is the best work in the world and I have the privilege of wearing Christ's name and teaching others this His church is back on the earth. What could be better than that? Mi nuh no. :) I love you all. Be safe. Be good. Keep on Keepin' on. :)

Love,

Sister Mouritsen

9/21/2015: Beginning of a new transfer.... Soon. Thursday. haha.‏

Good morning! :)

This was kind of a rough week this week. We had a lot of appointments falling through but it was still awesome! :) Haha! Good things happened as well! 'Good' and 'bad' things happen every day. I guess it just depends on what ones you CHOOSE to see. 

Last Monday was cool! We drove to Junction, St. Elizabeth, to see Lover's Leap about an hour away. I'll send you pictures of what it's all about. It was beautiful and SO great to get to see my ocean! I wanna see it again!  I miss it. 

Tuesday was an interesting day. One reason why I love Tuesdays, Thursdays,and Saturdays is because they are full proselyting days. And Tuesday all of our appointments fell through for the day.....haha. So we left the apartment excited to see where the Lord was going to lead us that day. We felt like we should drive to a member's house, Sister Ranger, and we did. All was well with her and she was really glad that we had stopped by. We then hiked back down to the car wondering where to go next and so we said a prayer and asked Heavenly Father to help us know where he wanted us to be. We decided to write down the answers that we received and then show each other. It turned out that all three of our answers were different, but in the same area. Lancaster. Whoa. Haha. At first we were like, 'oh no, they're all different... ' But then realized that was the area to be in. So we drove on out there and then felt inspired to go and see Sister Mclean. A less-active sister. And man she is so sweet. She always gives us the best juice. But anyway... We had decided that we wanted to talk about faith with her. The first principle of the gospel. We started the lesson with a prayer and she just seemed really scattered and off. It wasn't the same Sister Mclean we all know and love. So we said, 'Is everything okay Sister Mclean?' She said she was fine, we paused and then asked again and she began to cry. God really does love all of his children. haha. It's funny the realizations you get. No matter how small they are, they are testimony builders. 'Knowledge is contained in truths which are eternal. So where is truth to be found? Truth is knowledge.' I can't remember who exactly said that.......that's bad of me...... 

We had trade-offs this week with Sav, which was cool! Sister Thompson came with me to Mandeville and Sister Schwendiman went to Sav with Sister Loveland. Who by the way said that she is from Tremonton and totally knows the Jensens. :) It was a great trade-off though. Those sisters are fantastic! Long drive though.. It's took us about 2 1/2 hours to get there as well. But it's beautiful! Got to see the ocean once again. :)

Friday. We had another cool experience with a member this week named Sister Bodley. We had prayed after our appointments fell through and felt that we should go look for her.We have been trying to call her but she never seems to answer. So we called someone else to get directions to where she lives exactly. We found it easily and were able to sit and talk with her and answer some questions she was having and we were also able to talk about Patriarchal Blessings, and that she was inviting people to learn about the church and we didn't even know! So she's going to set up an appointment with them for next week. It was awesome, and then we left haha.

Then at church yesterday, she came up to me and told me that she was so glad that we had just come and stopped by. She said that she felt like if she had answered the phone then she probably would have said that she didn't want us to come because she was gardening and would be tired. But we did come and she found out that after we left that she really needed us to be there. She said she was needing something uplifting. It was just a sweet experience with following the Spirit once again. Blessings really do come from being obedient. :)

Saturday we had the opportunity to give out transfer calls to the sisters. Yes, Sister Schwendiman and Bogle are leaving. Sister Bogle actually had to go yesterday. She got transferred to Montego Bay to be with Sister Garrett because Sister Garrett's companion Sister Dill had to go to the self-reliance seminar in Kingston today because she goes home as well. But Sister Schwendiman will be leaving to Washington back on Thursday. And I will be receiving Sister Lewis! Yes, the one I served around in Nassau! It'll be great! It am super excited for that! 

Yesterday, we had a cool experience. We went and saw a new investigator, Collin, who we hadn't seen in a while because he has been in Mo Bay.We got there and he said the people he lives with were home. So we asked him if they'd like to join us. So timidly said he'd go ask and then came out saying that she said she was cooking. Cha. So we began the lesson and as I was saying the opening prayer, she came out loudly wondering what we were doing. So... Awkwardly we stopped, told her about us and our message and then asked if we could say a prayer and share a message with them haha. She said yes and then we were able to have a GREAT lesson on the godhead. It was so awesome. We also talked about the Book of Mormon and she was very interested in that. She said that her mother has told her about it before but she was never a member. This lady's name is Paisley and she goes to the Moravian church but she said she'd love to come to our Book of Mormon night on Wednesday. Too bad though that for the next transfer she'll be in the new elder's area. Here in Mandeville there is going to now be 4 elders and 2 sisters. Its' cool. :) But that was an awesome experience to have. Now we just need her husband to join. A family!

Well... I love you all and thank you for your emails! Have a great week! Don't forget to read and pray daily. ;) This truly is Christ's church and we all have the responsibility to be missionaries and share the gospel with our brothers and sisters around us. Whether we have a nametag or not.

I love you again!

Love,

Sister Mouritsen

 

9/14/2015: Another great week! :)

Good afternoon my family :)

I don't have much time today because we are going to Lover's Leap near Junction in St. Elizabeth. I'm excited to see the ocean again! I'm going through withdrawals still... I'll hopefully send pictures next week... If I make time... sorry... I'm so bad at that... Anyway!

These past couple weeks we have been really trying our best to work with the branch members even more than we have been and it has been going well! Seems like a little spark is happening with them. :) Their conversion is deepening. When we have good, righteous desires, set achievable stretching goals and put in the full-hearted work AND faith needed, the Lord works miracles. (1 Nephi 7:12, Alma 26:12 etc... haha...) 

On Tuesday we had a lesson with a lady named Leena that we met last week and her family joined in as well out in Lancaster. It was great! We talked a lot about Christ and how our purpose is to help them to gain better relationships with Him individually and as a family. They were really into the lesson and it was just great all together. :) Most importantly the Spirit was strong in testifying. I never get tired of that feeling!

Also on Tuesday out in Lancaster we got to see a less-active named Claudine and her son Tremaine, who is also a member. A few of her other kids are members as well but they didn't choose to join in... :( But we first talked about if they were able to read the Book of Mormon and they told us they didn't along with some excuses.... and we discussed the importance of reading and then watched the Restoration with them and MAN! was the Spirit strong in their home as well. Claudine who hasn't been interested in really coming back told us that they would definitely be coming to church on Sunday and that she could just feel that the Restoration is true and the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Sad part is though that they weren't able to make it yesterday..... I'm praying for next week though. 

We had trade-offs with a companionship in May Pen this week on Wednesday. Sister Schwendiman went with Sister Dasha in May Pen and Sister Lewis came to Mandeville with Sister Bogle and me. It was great and awesome to see Sister Lewis again. Last week on Sunday we were driving towards the church and there was a guy walking and I thought I recognized him but I didn't. So we got to the parking lot and  got out and we saw him and were hoping he would come through the gate but he walked past and Sister Bogle yelled out to him, "Hey! You're going the wrong way!" So he stopped and we ran over there to talk to him and invited him to church and he came with us and thought it was great! Well we were able to have a lesson with him on trade-offs and he has so many questions! Good questions too. We had given him a Book of Mormon after church last week. Then yesterday he came to church AGAIN! His name is Dwight by the way. But we have an appointment with him Wednesday and will be extending a baptismal date. I'm excited! This work is so cool. :)

Friday we did trade-offs with Montego Bay with Sister Garrett and Dill. We felt as though Sister Schwendiman should go there as well with Sister Garrett. It was good to see Sister Garrett again! Holy cow she's awesome and we got to catch up a little about Cayman. I love that girl! She is a fantastic missionary! Along with Sister Dill. It was good to get to know her as well. :) Those were some long driving days.... haha. It took about 2 1/2 hours to get to Montego Bay.

We had another great lesson with Jmoy as well! He hadn't read 3 Nephi 11 though and so we read it with him. He loves learning and said he loved the lesson. It was definitely spirit-filled and powerful! He said he likes meeting with us and we are going to see him again Wednesday.

Well, I have to go now. I love you all so much! Thanks for everything! Keep on Keepin' on!

Love,

Sister Mouritsen

9/7/2015: Life is Good!

Good afternoon my Family :)

We had a really cool experience this week! So one of our investigators, Mr. Wright, has been in the hospital. We went and visited him and read a story in the Liahona with him. It was about a man who had lost his wallet after visiting several branches, I think in Austria, and he had just come off the last train and was home when he realized that he didn't have his wallet. His wallet had all his cards, money and (most importantly) his temple recommend. etc. So he prayed and couldn't find it. The next morning he prayed and the impression came to read the Book of Mormon but he shrugged it off and said, 'No. The Book of Mormon doesn't have my wallet!' The impression came two more times until he decided to follow it and he opened it up and read the first scripture on the page that he saw and said it comforted him so well. So he let it be. The very next day, he got a call from the train station that they had his wallet and he found that there was nothing missing from it. 

Immediately Mr. Wright was excited about that and he grabbed his Book of Mormon and opened it to read a scripture. The scripture he turned to was kind of random talking about some blood shed and wars haha. The look on his face was priceless. So we were like, well it's probably good to pray first. And all of the sudden he was praying haha! After the prayer he opened the Book of Mormon once again and it opened to 3 Nephi 18. Man! It was awesome! So then we talked about Baptism and in the state he is in, he can't get baptized until like November... But he cannot wait until he can get baptized! It was cool to see his testimony strengthened and his faith build through the Book of Mormon and an interesting experience. He has a lot of faith. It was awesome though. He has the greatest attitude in his circumstances. The Atonement will never cease to amaze me. It really is the Infinite Atonement. :)

We have been meeting with a less-active named Fiona and we met her son a few weeks ago and were able to have a lesson with him. Wow he's so awesome! He is an avid church goer at the New Testament church. His name is Jmoy. And when we had met him, we asked him to find his Mother's Book of Mormon. When we came back he actually did it (not that my faith was small haha...) and he had SO many questions! Good questions too! We talked about the Book of Mormon specifically but we didn't have long to meet with him though so next time we see him we are going to share the restoration with him! Man I can't wait! :)

Thursday Sister Schwendiman and I had to opportunity to go to MLC again! Wow it was awesome once again! We dropped Sister Bogle off in May Pen with Sister Judd and Frey and picked her up after. It was an awesome meeting though. I've turned into one of the oldest ones there now..... Nosah....

We had the greatest lesson with Demarce on Friday! WOW! We felt inspired to talk about the priesthood with him. We read Moses 1:39 with him and linked it to the importance of the priesthood and then we watched the video 'Sanctify yourselves' and had him imagine the football team has his family. Man was the Spirit so strong! We extended September 26th as a baptismal date to him. He said he would pray about it. So we'll see. He's awesome though! Goodness. The Spirit was just so powerful in that room. We were able to have Sister Spencer there with us to testify to him of her experiences with the priesthood as well. Jeez I love this Gospel and I LOVE  being a missionary. :)

We had a really cool lesson with Kelly this week as well. On Saturday we went up to her little bar to see her and man was the lightening crazy and LOUD! It was just snapping in the air and then the rain was POUNDING. Oh my was it cold.... But we had an awesome lesson with her about the Book of Mormon and following the prophet. She told us that she knows the Book of Mormon is true. Sister Schwendiman extended her a baptismal date by saying, 'when you come to know that these things are true, will you....' And then Kelly says, ' Wait. But I already know that these things are true!' haha. It was so funny. :) We felt inspired to extend to her October 3rd and 10th and have her pray about them. She just loves the gospel. She said she loves that she can come to church and actually learn something. haha. I agree with her for sure. I've seen some crazy things on the mission.... hahaha! This church is true. :)

Things just seem to be going really well. I had some amazing experiences with the Spirit this week. I definitely have a testimony of fasting and prayer. I've been praying and fasting about several things and some big decisions and I never cease to love the feeling of the Spirit and receiving answers. I also received a priesthood blessing this week. Things were going pretty rough and I received a lot of help. I know Heavenly Father loves us all so much and is so mindful of every single person. 

For the most part those are the highlights of the week. The work is marvelous. The gospel is true. And He is Risen. ;) 

I love you all and hope that you have a great week! Always strive to be worthy of the Spirit. I love you all again! Have an awesome week.

Love,

Sister Mouritsen

        

8/31/2015: A week in the life of a missionary who doesn't wanna stop missionary work. Okay... Full-time missionary work. Cause we're all missionaries and this is the longest subject ever. :)‏

Hi Family! 

We had interviews with President Brown this week on Tuesday. Man it was weird...... Let's just say we didn't talk about mission life for most of it. But as he called it.... the 'after life'. haha. "It soon reach".... But it was a great interview. He helped me to know what I need to start doing now to prepare for it because seriously... "It soon come"...... I just love that man. :)

We had a cool experience while we were out finding this week on Tuesday. So we were walking to go and find a referral for a Rasta man named Concrete but he wasn't home. So as we were walking back out to the road we ran into a man and we started talking to him. He told us that he had seen us walking up to the street in the first place when he had headed towards the shop to buy something. But when he got to the shop, he had forgotten his wallet so he had to turn back and go get it and he was on his way back when he ran into us. We had a great conversation with him. He said that he used to go to the Adventist church and almost got baptized a couple times but ended up backing out of it because he was feeling forced. So we discussed how the message we share is to invite and to help people to come unto Christ. Man it was a great conversation. The Spirit was just flowing. :) We were able to have a lesson with him on Wednesday about our purpose and he really opened up more to us. He is so humble and willing to learn. Then yesterday we went on splits with one of the members so Sister Bogle and the member Sister Thompson, who actually came off her mission here in April, went and visited him and had an awesome lesson about the Godhead. I am excited to see him again soon!

We had the opportunity to visit a less-active named Keisha out in Lancaster and had a great lesson with her. We just met her and she is really sweet! The Spirit was strong which is what matters most and we talked all about Christ and his Atonement. Man I don't think I will ever fully come to understand the Atonement...... But I have definitely grown in that knowledge. It's so funny because I thought I at least kind of knew the Gospel before but.... No way... My eyes have been opened and my knowledge expanded. Once again, I will never regret coming out here and getting to grow closer to the Savior and my Heavenly Father by helping others do the same. But anyway! She said she wants us to teach her daughter and someone else this week! And hopefully that will spark her again and she'll come back! We'll see though. Man this work is awesome. Sharing the Gospel is something else. :)

Well.... Those are some things that happened this week. I never have much time sorry... But I love you all and am SO grateful for the emails. Keep on keepin' on. 
No regrets. 
Make sure every step and every decision you make is toward Eternal life. Just immortality is not good enough. ;) So don't shoot for anything less.

Love,

Sister Mouritsen

Sister Wint and I on Trade-off in the bush in Hopeton! :)

8/24/2015: Choose to be an instrument

Good afternoon my family! :)

It has just been a crazy, insane week! 

With the tripanionship we are combining all three of our areas. So we had to figure out which days we would go where and incorporate drive time because my area in some places is about an hour away and there has just been running, running, running. And it's great! I just love it! 

We just switched houses this morning with the Elders as well because their house was actually in Sister Bogle's area, which is now all of ours. So that took a few hours but it was good. It'll be better for us now and more productive because we will actually be living in our area. I thought I wasn't going to have to pack my suitcase until November haha! That changed. At least this time I didn't have to pack for weight to fly out somewhere else. 

On Tuesday we had Zone Conference and man it was awesome! Elder and Sister Martinez came for the mission tour. He's in the area presidency. I learned so much once again. President Brown talked to us a lot about our teaching skills and how we can improve. He talked about not teaching really from just mind to mind but from heart to heart. Which requires us to have our own spiritual experiences that we can then bear more powerful testimony and have it carried to their hearts by the Spirit. Elder Martinez talked about how we can help to improve the Branch with things like Branch council. He talked about the vital signs in a branch. Man it was just so helpful! I really left that Conference feeling uplifted and motivated even more! This work is just so exciting and I'm so blessed to get to be a part of it as a missionary. It really is the greatest thing I have ever done in my life so far. 

We had an awesome experience with Kelly this week on Thursday! She is one of the investigators that Sister Schwendiman was teaching. Still is but now it's us haha. She owns a little bar in Sunset and that is where we teach her. haha. The environment is actually pretty good because we go during the day and not many people are there at that time. There's just beer and stuff on the shelves haha.... She loves the Book of Mormon though and she came to church on Sunday. She said she loved church as well and felt really welcome. We shared with her about faith and repentance and we read in Alma 36 about Alma the Younger and his experience. As we talked about it the Spirit was just so strong! We talked about how Christ's hand is always outstretched and waiting for us to take hold, and about forgiveness and all that. She began to cry and we hugged her and she just said that she was so happy to know the true doctrine of repentance. We could see the hope in her and her faith building. Tears once again haha. But it was an awesome experience. The next time we went was on Saturday and there were several drunk men there........... Very drunk men. Just the stench of the breath from the liquor was making me sick haha..... Needless to say... I got a lot of proposals for marriage again. Haha. But we left quickly. It was just not an environment that we could teach in at all and they were not going to be leaving any time soon. 

We met with a man named Calvin who came to church the past two weeks, though he was late yesterday, on Thursday as well. He was asking SUCH good questions as well! Things like, 'What was the Book of Mormon written on in order to keep it pure?' etc. And other things pertaining to the Plan of Salvation. And then at the end of the lesson after we talked about the beginning of the plan of salvation from pre-earth the earthly life he told us about an experience he had. So he was out in the bush trying to shoot a bird and this bird seemed to be hiding behind a tree branch and he would peer around the branch and as soon as he saw that Calvin was going to shoot him he would hide back behind. And this happened several times until the bird suddenly stopped and wasn't there anymore.... And then all of the sudden there was a lady who was behind Calvin and walked to the front of him and she told him something, I don't remember, and then she walked back around him but disappeared..... interesting.... And then he went on to tell us that he believes that God is good and evil..... Oh man. It started off well. We have another appointment with him. He is a very intelligent man but has some interesting ideas for sure. I love the guy. :)

We had a great lesson with a less-active this week. Her name is Sister Foster. We taught her the Restoration and we had planned on watching the video but we forgot it at home.... So we taught it to her without the video and wanted to focus on the Priesthood and the importance of it. Jeez was that lesson powerful! The Spirit was just leading it so well. I don't know if it could have been as powerful if we showed the movie because of the questions she was asking. They were just inspired and she really came to understand the Priesthood and how it was restored back to the earth. Wow it was just amazing to see the Spirit working through her and us as well. 

Well, that's about how the week went. It was great! I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for us this week and who he has in mind for us to meet. This Gospel is true. Christ truly does lead it and is at the head. And he is mindful of each and every single one of us. I have never been so sure about my purpose and what and how I want to live my life and the kind of daughter of God I want to be. I love my Heavenly Father and my Brother Jesus Christ more than anything. Without Christ, I wouldn't be able to live with Him, my Heavenly Father or my family again. The Atonement is real. 

I love you all.

Love,

Sister Mouritsen

   

8/17/2015: 2 more transfers left.... cha....‏

Good afternoon family :)

Yes this week was transfers once again... It was hard too. I miss Sister Robinson so much! We really grew so close to each other. Like really!!

Tuesday was our last proselyting day together..... We had an awesome experience too! So we had planned to meet with a less-active, Audrey, who I'm pretty sure I have talked about already. Man I love her. We had planned to begin reading in the Book of Mormon with her because she wanted us to and to help her read because she isn't the greatest reader. But as we were planning during companionship study I felt like we should choose a more specific chapter than 1 Nephi 1. Sister Robinson said that she had read a chapter the other day, 3 Nephi 17, that she thought would be good. So we agreed and we got to Audrey's shop to read the chapter with her. After we read the chapter it was quiet. And then she spoke with tear-filled eyes and said, 'How did you know that I needed this chapter?' She's been going through hard times with one of her sons being in the hospital and other things going on in her family and this scripture really just spoke to her and the Spirit was just SO strong! Oh man! It really strengthened her testimony and Sister Robinson’s and my testimony as well! Even the member, Sister Ranger, who was there with us. It was just cool to see how the Spirit works. Audrey had said that she prayed this morning with all of her heart that the Lord would help her in her situation by some way. She really needed comfort and then we just showed up. ;) It was just a really sweet experience. 

On Wednesday we drove to Spanish Town for transfers. So bitter sweet.... So many missionaries that I have grown to love and get to be around went home. Like Sister Mashabela my trainer. Man. That was hard to let her go. But life must go on. I remember talking about when this would happen with her when she was training me over a year ago and now look... it's already here! Cha man....

Coming home it was Sister Schwendiman and I and Elder England and his Trainee in the car. They are white washing and they are awesome! It's cool to have Elder's around again.

Sorry for the short email this week. It was a crazy, insane week. You have no idea.... But I hope that all is well. Keep on keepin' on and be strong. I love you all so much! 

Love,

Sister Mouritsen

Sister Robinson going to Nassau in my former area!

Sister Smith going to Turks! 

Elder Ruesch who just went home.

8/10/2015: Three Months left exactly...

Well once again we had a great week! Man it was awesome. I never get tired of doing the work. :) No matter how much rejection we receive a day haha. It makes the sweet moments just that much sweeter. 

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to take Sister Smith to Kingston. She needed to get police records and passport photos done. It was great to spend time together and drive there. Man she's awesome. Did I tell you she went to Syracuse High? She knows some people from Davis and I did from Syracuse as well. But man is she an amazing missionary. You would never know that she was in training still. On our way back home from Kingston, Sister Robinson and Schwendiman were way up in Lancaster still so we went and saw a less active at her shop. Her name is Audrey. Oh my was it a good lesson too. We talked about the Book of Mormon and got to read in the introduction with her. Holy cow. The spirit was just so strong man! She began to cry as we were testifying about it and she would keep turning away to go check her non-burned or even close to burning fried chicken haha! And then at one point she says to us, '...You know you’re convincing me right?' No man. We are just here to teach and create an environment where the Spirit can be there to testify and convince you. He is the one to testify of truth to our hearts. This work is impossible without him! Literally impossible. She still loves her 7th day church though and they just started a month long crusade right next door to her shop... I'm praying so hard that she will come back to our church again. I love that lady. I know she will. It'll just take time.

I had the opportunity to go on trade-offs again this week. Except this week I didn't initiate it. Sister Williams the District Leader did. So she went with Sister Robinson in our area and I went with Sister Bogle in their area. We had a great day too! We had a lesson with a strong atheist which was interesting but still went well. And then we had a lesson with a guy named Keeno who is awesome! He was actually being taught by missionaries when he was 9! And he loved the church. He was so young though haha. But he had so many great questions. I can't wait to see where he goes. 

We had a fantastic lesson with a less-active named Ricardo this week. He is actually President Brown's brother. He is the sweetest guy! We read it the Book of Mormon in Alma 32 about faith. We read from versus 28-43. He just lit up too! We helped him to understand that faith is an action. We need to SHOW our faith. He was talking about how he wants to be better and come back and all and the Spirit was just so strong! I can't wait to see the action he'll take next. :) 

We had a really cool experience on Saturday. Before our meeting with President Haughton we had some time and so we were just driving from our last appointment and I felt like we should turn off onto a road. So I did. And we drove and drove and then Sister Robinson said, 'let's go find Andrea.' A less-active. We heard she lived in the area but didn't know where. We eventually stopped and asked a man if he knew Andrea and he said, 'Keep Drive!' haha. So we did and as we were passing a house, we saw an older man and woman sitting on the veranda. So we stopped and were like, that looks like Brother McLean! Who is a strong member but his wife has been sick and hasn't been able to come and we haven't been able to visit them. So we went up the yard and talked to them and eventually we found out that Andrea lives with them!! But she wasn't there at the moment. But it was a really cool experience working with the Spirit! Oh man! And to see it working with both of us! 

On Saturday I had the opportunity to give out transfer calls. Oh man. So Sister Scwendiman and I are going to be STL's together here in Mandeville. :) Sister Robinson is going to Nassau. And she's actually going to be in MY area! I'm so excited for her! Sister Smith is going to Turks and Caicos. So lots of changes happening but it is so exciting. I've been thinking a lot about change and how it can be so hard. I've never really been one to deal with change so well. But that is what helps to bring us out of our comfort zones. Because we all know that there is no growing in a comfort zone and no comfort in a growing zone. 

Well, I love you all. I hope you have a great week. Be safe. Be good. Be worthy of the Spirit and you'll never go astray. 

Love,

Sister Mouritsen