Week 11

Welp another one down:) I will be honest. I don't know what to say really in this email… this week was a lot like last week.

To start out…. yes every lesson has canceled on us once again. Elder Dille hasn’t had a lesson here in Texas with an investigator in over a week. We finally broke the streak when we met up with Jason and Louvina (known as the chainsmoker friends). We love them! Background story…Elder Benson who got E.T. a little bit ago, Elder Layton, Elder Mortensen, Elder Harrison, and President Chapman have always had Jason and Louvina as the first lessons here in Denton. And because everyone’s first lesson needs to be with jason and louvina, we can’t progress in the work until we first meet with them so that’s what we did. We meet with Jason and Louvina on exchanges and then low and behold, the rest of our lessons that week did NOT cancel. They are our good luck charms!

On exchanges this week, Elder Dille, Elder Harrison, and I actually ended up putting them on baptism date. Hahaha So crazy! I know your probably thinking, “don’t they need to quit smoking”? Yes they do and that’s exactly what we’re trying to do. We set it for Nov 27th to give them some additional time to overcome this addiction. We have to have a goal that they can shoot for if they want this enough! I know that through the Lords mighty help Jason and Louvina will find power and strength over this addiction, if they continue to pray with steadfastness having faith in Christ that they will receive the strength… ether 12:27, *bishop soloman scripture* that we can overcome anything through God!

Any time we aren't getting lessons cancelled on us, we are tracting! haha And yes, I have continued to make new walk up songs and i love it haha, THE GOSPEL IS FUN! We have met some amazing people along the way and had some kind of scary encounters with others ahha. Mom don’t freak out. Yes, it sounded like a gun was being loaded on the other side of the door hahahaha, but we got out of there quick. It was so stinking scary. Heart racing that is for sure but got out of there alive and thankfully never saw the person… phew.

Met a man named charley, so funny, we knocked and he opened and had a playstation controller in his hands and his foot in the door while he was looking back at the T.V. still playing his game, “wassup boys?” We started with the “hey, how’s it going”, no answer haha, he was so focused on the game… the door closed randomly and he started screaming from inside. He yelled, “let me shut the door and finish this and i will open it again”. I couldn’t help but laugh quite a bit at this but then a few mins later he opened the door and we had a little discussion with him while he continues to play his game. Not sure if he was just nodding and saying yuh yes to his game or not, but we taught him a little got his name number and a return appt for tomorrow so that’s exciting and hopefully he won’t be gaming this time haha.

Quote for the week “You are already in pain, why not get a reward from it.” I love this quote cause yes it can be used in every aspect of life. For me… yes a mission is hard, you are leaving family, friends, close ones, sports, jobs, LIFE, for 2 years… and yes it is painful/uncomfortable, no one said it was easy. But my feeling is, I’m already here, why not make the most of what I can right? I love this quote, as i struggle, and as we all do, do NOT QUIT, you are already there, so close to success, don’t quit. I am repeating myself but i love this quote and wanted to share:) Love you all so much! Email me if you’d like,

johnathan.mortensen@missionary.org! Or message on facebook messenger. Have a blessed week!

Till next week, Elder Mortensen outta here!

1. Little froggy

2. exchange will elder Harrison

3. Some weird sunset beacon

4. Scared to hold their chicken

5. Mcfall family who are moving

6. The amazing fun crazy kids haha

7. They were all so happy I grew up and held the chicken

8. So scary haha