Week 56

First, I received an awesome package of fun table darts this past week and I don’t know who they are from. If they were from you, please send me a note so I can say thank you!

So lasts weeks p-day was SOOOO HECTIC WOWWWWWW SO CRAZY! My companion wanted to do all these things so we had NO TIME to write/call/write anyone including family. SO, last week doesn't count for not writing and I’m saying my streak continues haha! This week was a good but a tuff week.

My companion, Elder Hartman, has a pacemaker which makes his heart continue to beat and such. Anyways, it's been hard because we do have to hold back quite a bit on our work outside or just moving in general so it's been tough to teach find, etc. We have to go at his pace which is totally understandable but it's been hard for me just because I can get a little too cooped up a little too easily and wanna go out and breathe some good ol’ oxygen haha! But things have been alright.

We have been going around the hood, and wow the members aren't fans of us visiting there, but we found so many people. We had a dad of one of the families we meet last week come check out the church this Sunday and that was super fun and awesome!

If anyone remembers Jill the golden investigator… Yes? So we've all come to conclusion that she has an absolute being/demon inside of her and WOW it is really scary. It's been lots of fasting and prayer for this situation from the ward and missionaries. Recently she called brother Green (referring member) and told Brother Green I need to go to the hospital. Brother Green called us and we called Jill and wow was it just like ahhh scary! She goes, "I'm bleeding from both of my ears, down my face, it's in my head, my ears!!!" Stinking crazy scary. We told her we were on our way. We called Sister Beggs (fellowshipper/now good friend) and told her about it. Anyways, we all showed up at Jill’s like 3 minutes and knocked on the door. NO ANSWER. Knocked again. Rang doorbell. Banged on door. Rang again. NOTHING! Like 7 min go by and nothing happened. She FINALLY answered the door and like absolutely glazed over, fire in her eyes and said "I do not need you here, leave now, thanks but no thanks" and then slammed the door. Scary! Sister Beggs served her mission in Brazil and she delt with a lot of this demon stuff in the past couple weeks. Once she slammed the door I was like shocked/panicked/flustered, very unexpected... and I got the thought if she comes back out with that same demon in her eyes... I'm putting my arm to the square, like the feeling of darkness inside that home was like NONE OTHER! I've done this before at another home a month and a half prior, and it was that same exact darkness! 30 seconds after that she SWINGS open the door, except this time it wasn't a fiery demon woman. She rushed out, looked me straight in my eyes, a foot away from my face and said "I promise it has nothing to do with you. It's better if you don't get involved with this!!" what?? But she was genuine about it. Then she went to Sister Beggs and did the same thing except Sister Beggs grabbed Jill by the arms and said "Jill what is happening? What is going on?!" Jill said “you cannot get involved. You will be safer if you don’t.” Sister Beggs said “Jill whatever is going on we can get through it okay? Just talk to us!!" Jill goes "you can't get involved. I'm sorry. I have to get back on this call. He needs me"... WHO’S HE? RIGHT?!?!? We think it was demon/bipolar/or she was on drugs or something and is having crazy withdrawals. Overall stinking crazy. She then slammed the door and went inside and said don't come back. This was 3 weeks ago. Sister Beggs still reaches out to her. She doesn’t always respond but sometimes she does. She almost came to church, so we are just waiting for her to come to us!

Overall, it's been hard covering 2 wards once again. We just want to be able to give our attention fully and they both expect a lot from us. They can get frustrated that we can't get out as much as they’d like us to, and it's a lot of pressure on us. We do all with can with the health of Elder Hartman and we are trying our best!

Last thing, I LOVE when people yell at us, spit, cuss, whatever it is, throw things at us, like whatever it is, I love it. And yes it sounds weird but wow it really make me reflect on what Jesus Christ went through. It makes me reflect on how I am truly a disciple and representative of Jesus Christ. No matter how loud, how many times they cuss, or do whatever, it brings a smile to my face because I know in some near future, they will accept the gospel and feel the same joy I feel in my soul! This week we were in the hoody part of town and we were walking and this guy is flying towards us in his car. He rolls down his window and yells, “hey what you got there in your hand?” (Book of Mormon) NO ONE pulls up to us like that and asks a question like that. He had a super beat up car, smoking, scoffing at us. I don’t think he expected this of us. I think he thought we would just walk away hurt. But nah, we rolled right up to his window, big and bold and with the heavenly angels surrounding us we said, “ya this is the word of God and it will change your life.”He very quickly felt the spirit. We knew he knew it and he denied it. Haha He drove away fast right after that! Hahaha Those interactions are what makes me smile and realize every single child of God and has the agency to choose. I am confident he will choose soon, he will see it, because he felt the spirit, the boldness through us and "the gospel will have a familiar ring to them as they hear it again" -Gordan B. Hinckley

Oh and BIG news…Mike Babcock a guy in my other area of Stephensville is getting baptized!!! I’m so excited for him…he’s the guy we approached when we were having a dinner appt with a member at the Golden Corral buffet! I just felt so strongly to go talk with him…the spirit works us! We just have to listen and ACT! I’m so excited for him!!

Hope this email wasn't too long. Hope all goes well with everyone, school isn't too stressful haha. I know my Savior Jesus Christ can heal any heart, and wound, and he knows each and every one of our names by heart and is picking you up, and holding you walking you through each and every trial you go through! I know the Book of Mormon to be the truest book on this earth and I know Joseph Smith restored this gospel through his UNWEILDING FAITH!!! Love y’all have a great week!

Till next week, Elder Mortensen outta here!

Johnathan.mortensen@missionary.org

Elder Johnathan Mortensen

Texas Fort Worth Mission

1331 Airport Freeway Ste. 305

Euless, TX 76040

1. One of our investigators, he loves my glasses and loves to hang with me and take pictures haha

2.he took a picture of us

3. This is a shed we built... took 10 hours... (other elders in the zone got us stuck with it haha)

4.Light on the other side of darkness

5.Rainbow after MANY MANY FLOODS and rainstorms

6.Companion saying he's the Sermon on the Mount