Temple Training

What a remarkable week!  As a mission, we met in groups on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to attend the Houston Texas Temple. We attended an endowment session and then received training from President and Sister Crane. We are thankful to temple workers who came and arranged early morning sessions for us. 

June Transfers

Transfers were held this week. Sadly, we said farewell to Elders Bradshaw, Mitchell, Gardner, Valdez, Anderson, Hill, McKnight, Frandsen, Barney, Torres and Sisters Auten, Thurber, Morris, Glauser and Philips. They have each served well and will be missed. On Wednesday, we received a great new group of missionaries from the MTC in Provo and Mexico. In addition, mission transfers took place on Tuesday morning with big changes for all. Please see some pictures of both new and departing missionaries below.

Departing Missionaries

Elder Gardner greets his mother

Off to the Temple

Hermana Auten with parents

Elder Torres with family

Elder Gardner with family

 New Misssionaries

New Missionaries with Trainers

President and Sister Mortensen

Dear Sisters and Elders –

Please find below a short biography from the Church News of President and Sister Mortensen who will be presiding over the Texas Houston Mission beginning July 1, 2014. They are spiritual, bright, capable people. Most importantly, I know that the Lord has called them to serve in this capacity and that the Lord will be able to advance the work through them during their service. If you are not already doing so, please include President and Sister Mortensen, and their children, in your prayers as they prepare for this new assignment. They will love serving with you, and I'm sure you will love serving with them.

With much love and respect,

President Pingree

Mark Alan Mortensen, 45, and Kristina Marie Borgquist Mortensen, six children, Northwood Ward, Irvine California Stake: Texas Houston Mission, succeeding President John C. Pingree and Sister Anne P. Pingree. Brother Mortensen serves as a counselor in a stake presidency and is a former counselor in a bishopric, elders quorum president, ward mission leader, seminary teacher and missionary in the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission. CEO, Salus Homecare. Born in Bountiful, Utah, to H. Boyd Mortensen and Lucille Farthing Mortensen.

Sister Mortensen serves as a gospel doctrine teacher and is a former counselor in a ward Primary presidency, ward Young Women adviser and ward Primary teacher. Born in Huntington Beach, California, to D. Thomas Borgquist and Leslie Bleak Borgquist.