"Can you believe that transfer calls come this Saturday! My goodness! I highly anticipate Elder McMurrin and I to have the next transfer together! It will be great if that happens. We're trying to do a lot with this area! As has been said a little bit before, we have a struggling French stake right now. And we really want to remedy that problem and help them out. Our plans are not formally finalized and so I will spare you the details right now, but I am very very excited about what we will do and hopefully success will follow. One thing I can say is that we are going to be doing Fireside type deals every week starting the 8th of November. The purpose of these firesides will be to bring less active people who don't come to church because it takes too long and introduce them with our members - and even to bring investigators to them. They will be used to build unity with the area and for sure to spiritually strengthen our members here.
"We really want to work with the members and get their support and trust. That is for sure the most effective way to do missionary work.
"So President Cannon just got back from a mission conference and he wrote the mission saying that it is basically confirmed! We are going to get a lot more missionaries - especially sisters! Ha It will be a great help to have more missionaries for sure!
"This week was splits again - so I went over to our district leader's area and worked with him! It was so great to see how he does the work and I definitely came away from that experience with a lot of ideas for how to help our area grow. It was really exciting to me to feel like I am doing something positive for the area and that I can receive revelation for this work. I'm excited to see what impact the ideas have.
"This week has been filled with crazy people, lessons, progress, friendship and so much more! Elder McMurrin and I definitely became better friends this week as we worked and tried to get on the same page! There really isn't a lot of time to tell you all of the things that happened. I might be able to send more later on, but that is a maybe - and I wanted to tell you the most important things - That I am doing well and that this area of Hochelaga is great! I love the letters and support I get from all of you! It seriously helps me continue on and be better!"
*********
There is a young man in our ward here in Vegas that reminds me so much of Travis (they look so much a like!) As I sat behind the organ (I'm the chorister...) waiting to take the sacrament, I looked over at "Travis" and felt that sting of missing my brother. I felt great joy though as I watched this young man administer the sacrament and remembered that my brother is administering in another way.
It is impressive to hear of Travis problem-solving. One unique aspect of a mission is that it deprives you of the immediate counsel you would seek from people like your parents, siblings, or friends and forces you to take that counsel to the Lord and even problem solve with a companion you don't know as closely. I am sure this is part of the Lord's design to help our young people of the church learn where to turn for direction in all circumstances of their lives.
I'm thankful for the blessing of having a brother on a mission.
Love,
Jessi
Monday, October 22, 2012
Week 4 in the Field
"Can you believe it! It has been a month. Ha General Conference was for sure amazing, as always! I loved being able to watch it and hear what they had to say. It was for sure crazy to hear that the age has changed to 18 and 19! I think it will be really good though. Obviously there will be more situations that arrive, but I think it is also showing just how much more we are being trusted and that we ourselves need to take the next step to do better and be better. A lot of friends at BYU told me how jealous they were that I could go on a mission at 19 and that they had to wait until 21. Ha I guess we'll see how this plays out in the next few months! It reminds me of the mormon messages given by Elder Bednar about light and how he says that receiving light isn't always easy and how that is probably because "He trusts us." I feel like the same thing applies here. "He trusts us" to act our part and be missionaries.
"I really like the area I'm in right now. Hochelaga and Montreal East are great wards/branches to be in and the people here are always nice!
"It's been really neat to get to know more and more of the people in our wards. Because of conference, we've been able to eat with the members at the church for the last two days and I can definitely tell that there is a change in our relationship with them and I totally feel like it is for the better! Yesterday we ate lunch with the French bishop and his family and it was funny because we were just talking and they were asking about our talents. So I said that I really liked to play sports and especially soccer. Ha they were so excited with that because they like playing it too! Elder McMurrin said that he likes to play it... but that he isn't very good at playing it. To which the bishop responded "C'est en vous. It's in you. It's a gift from heaven to play soccer!" Oh goodness I loved it.
"This past week we've been trying to focus on getting ourselves organized and prepared if we do have people smurf us - so we've been color coordinating our ward lists, making appointments to see them and also coordinating who lives close to which investigators so that we can go see them if our appointments fall through. It's been good to go see these families who are less active and see how we can help. Each time we have gone they have been way friendly to us and have offered us food.. so obviously as missionaries we love that! It feels good to share a spiritual thought with them and then just feel the spirit there testifying of the truthfulness.
"The people here are a mix. There have been times when we have had someone come up to us and say "I respect you and your religion. But leave it as soon as you can!" and then ride his bicycle off. Ha There are some really unfriendly people who you say hi to and then they don't really notice you, but there are also others who are also nice and are really excited to talk to people "Who bring the good word." For the most part, African descent people are the nicest. But there was a really nice man who is Qua, he is from here and whatnot but he was way nice! He gave us a ride the other day all the way back to our house. We went back this week and had an appointment with him, showed him some mormon messages and where he can watch general conference. It turns out he is one of the most friendly people ever and a great benefactor to the people here. He has a farm for the mentally ill where they can be around animals and have space. Another business that helps kids who don't have money. And another which funds those two."
*********
"The missionary opportunity of a lifetime is yours. The blessings of eternity await you. Yours is the privilege to be not spectators but participants on the stage of priesthood service" (Thomas S. Monson).
How wonderful that so many more young people have the opportunity to serve a mission, and the added emphasis to prepare for it early!
Love,
Jess
"I really like the area I'm in right now. Hochelaga and Montreal East are great wards/branches to be in and the people here are always nice!
"It's been really neat to get to know more and more of the people in our wards. Because of conference, we've been able to eat with the members at the church for the last two days and I can definitely tell that there is a change in our relationship with them and I totally feel like it is for the better! Yesterday we ate lunch with the French bishop and his family and it was funny because we were just talking and they were asking about our talents. So I said that I really liked to play sports and especially soccer. Ha they were so excited with that because they like playing it too! Elder McMurrin said that he likes to play it... but that he isn't very good at playing it. To which the bishop responded "C'est en vous. It's in you. It's a gift from heaven to play soccer!" Oh goodness I loved it.
"This past week we've been trying to focus on getting ourselves organized and prepared if we do have people smurf us - so we've been color coordinating our ward lists, making appointments to see them and also coordinating who lives close to which investigators so that we can go see them if our appointments fall through. It's been good to go see these families who are less active and see how we can help. Each time we have gone they have been way friendly to us and have offered us food.. so obviously as missionaries we love that! It feels good to share a spiritual thought with them and then just feel the spirit there testifying of the truthfulness.
"The people here are a mix. There have been times when we have had someone come up to us and say "I respect you and your religion. But leave it as soon as you can!" and then ride his bicycle off. Ha There are some really unfriendly people who you say hi to and then they don't really notice you, but there are also others who are also nice and are really excited to talk to people "Who bring the good word." For the most part, African descent people are the nicest. But there was a really nice man who is Qua, he is from here and whatnot but he was way nice! He gave us a ride the other day all the way back to our house. We went back this week and had an appointment with him, showed him some mormon messages and where he can watch general conference. It turns out he is one of the most friendly people ever and a great benefactor to the people here. He has a farm for the mentally ill where they can be around animals and have space. Another business that helps kids who don't have money. And another which funds those two."
*********
"The missionary opportunity of a lifetime is yours. The blessings of eternity await you. Yours is the privilege to be not spectators but participants on the stage of priesthood service" (Thomas S. Monson).
How wonderful that so many more young people have the opportunity to serve a mission, and the added emphasis to prepare for it early!
Love,
Jess
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Week 3 in the Field
"So some cool things that happened this week - we had an 80 year old investigator who we were kind of ready to drop because we just didn't think he was too interested or accepting of our message - we got smurfed on our return appointment - but we decided to pass by the other day. It turns out that he has read all of the book of mormon up until Mormon 2 (at the point we visited with him)! Can you believe it? It was only a week in between appointments! We committed him to baptism and even wrote it on his wall calendar. Nov. 10th is the date. We still have almost all the lessons and commandments to teach him but it was way cool to see the change in just a week!
"So it's funny to hear my trainer call me out on "still being a greenie"! Like we'll be crossing the street and a car will be coming and so I will run to the other side of the road to get of the way (like we do in small towns) and then he'll casually stroll across the street. Ha he tells me that I haven't learned the way of montreal yet. Or we'll be in a crowded bus and he tells me my face looks so funny and just like I'm sending out a beacon that I'm not from there. It's funny - especially because it just reminds him of when he was a greenie and doing the same things - like making most all contacts awkward! But hey - at least I'm trying!
"So with that said... it is way funny because we had true greenie splits the other day! Elder Foster and I (both only 2 weeks out) took control of Hochelaga and Montreal East! Ha We got lost a few times - walked a lot farther than we had to in search of a bathroom - spilled soup at the dinner appointment on ourselves (me) and the table. Chased after busses! Taught a lesson on the bus... which made us miss our stop by a long ways and made us lost - tried teaching lessons... couldn't understand the questions - and had a lot of fun!!! Ha it was seriously the classic greenie split. But we did get home on time. And slept very well that night.
I definitely think my legs will be in great shape by the end of my mission. We have walked and walked and walked... a lot like the pioneer children! We have tried singing and walking... usually doesn't happen for too long though.
"Another funny story is that when we're on the bus sometimes I will bump in to people on accident and I will say sorry in french to them. So they say "C'est correct" which is to say - no big deal - it's correct. Ha but at first I was taking it literally and was thinking "Wait, it's correct that I'm sorry? Ha that's not cool!! Lame!" But then I realized they were actually being nice and not mean! Ha
"It's been good this past week. I've really felt like my comprehension of the language has improved. I've been really happy with that and felt blessed. I still have a long ways to go, but I think it would be cool to compare my level now with my level at the MTC. Some things - mostly the easier things to say in French - are becoming a lot more automatic."
****************
I am grateful to hear that Travis is continuing to progress in his mission. I laugh because as he is asking for sweaters and warm hats, we are sitting in 95 degree heat!
While he is not meeting instant success, he will have much to be grateful for when he does come in contact with those who are ready to receive truth.
The gospel is true and such a joy.
Love,
Jessi
"So it's funny to hear my trainer call me out on "still being a greenie"! Like we'll be crossing the street and a car will be coming and so I will run to the other side of the road to get of the way (like we do in small towns) and then he'll casually stroll across the street. Ha he tells me that I haven't learned the way of montreal yet. Or we'll be in a crowded bus and he tells me my face looks so funny and just like I'm sending out a beacon that I'm not from there. It's funny - especially because it just reminds him of when he was a greenie and doing the same things - like making most all contacts awkward! But hey - at least I'm trying!
"So with that said... it is way funny because we had true greenie splits the other day! Elder Foster and I (both only 2 weeks out) took control of Hochelaga and Montreal East! Ha We got lost a few times - walked a lot farther than we had to in search of a bathroom - spilled soup at the dinner appointment on ourselves (me) and the table. Chased after busses! Taught a lesson on the bus... which made us miss our stop by a long ways and made us lost - tried teaching lessons... couldn't understand the questions - and had a lot of fun!!! Ha it was seriously the classic greenie split. But we did get home on time. And slept very well that night.
I definitely think my legs will be in great shape by the end of my mission. We have walked and walked and walked... a lot like the pioneer children! We have tried singing and walking... usually doesn't happen for too long though.
"Another funny story is that when we're on the bus sometimes I will bump in to people on accident and I will say sorry in french to them. So they say "C'est correct" which is to say - no big deal - it's correct. Ha but at first I was taking it literally and was thinking "Wait, it's correct that I'm sorry? Ha that's not cool!! Lame!" But then I realized they were actually being nice and not mean! Ha
"It's been good this past week. I've really felt like my comprehension of the language has improved. I've been really happy with that and felt blessed. I still have a long ways to go, but I think it would be cool to compare my level now with my level at the MTC. Some things - mostly the easier things to say in French - are becoming a lot more automatic."
****************
I am grateful to hear that Travis is continuing to progress in his mission. I laugh because as he is asking for sweaters and warm hats, we are sitting in 95 degree heat!
While he is not meeting instant success, he will have much to be grateful for when he does come in contact with those who are ready to receive truth.
The gospel is true and such a joy.
Love,
Jessi
Monday, October 1, 2012
Travis' Address in Canada
Hey y'all!
I thought we should give everyone Travis' address in case you want to write to him in Canada. You can send a letter to the following address:
Elder Travis Lee Mortenson
Canada Montreal Mission
470 Rue Gilford, Suite 300
Montreal, QC H2J 1N3
Canada
I'm sure he will appreciate hearing from you. Thanks for taking an interest in him.
hugs,
Anne (Travis' mom)
I thought we should give everyone Travis' address in case you want to write to him in Canada. You can send a letter to the following address:
Elder Travis Lee Mortenson
Canada Montreal Mission
470 Rue Gilford, Suite 300
Montreal, QC H2J 1N3
Canada
I'm sure he will appreciate hearing from you. Thanks for taking an interest in him.
hugs,
Anne (Travis' mom)
Monday, September 24, 2012
Week 2 In The Field
"It's been good to get that extra week under my belt, I felt like I've come closer with the ward and our investigators and it has been good. I've really tried to contact a lot of people... usually getting rejected but there are times that I talk with them and get their info so that we can pass it off to the Spanish missionaries or YSA or French Sister missionaries that work the same area as us... and ever so occasionally US! Ha I feel pretty confident in my ability to speak french well and clearly with the people (well, usually I do) but then when it comes time for them to respond to me... that's when it all goes down hill. Usually I look at Elder McMurrin to have him help me when I try to make the calls or when we're talking to somebody on the street. We were actually talking to a member at church this past sunday and I was having a hard time understanding him and I looked at Elder McMurrin for help but for whatever reason he didn't help me and I was glad because it forced me to really really apply myself and figure out what was being said.
"It's really funny to hear mom say that in argentina nobody had a cell phone, let alone a land line. In Montreal, most everyone has a cell phone and that's really crucial for us in our work. We ask every person for their number so that we can give them a reminder call before our appointment. If we don't get their number, the appointment never works out and we get smurfed (we show up, they aren't there). And that is very very frustrating!
"The thing about Canada is that most members here are 1st generation members. It's beginning to be 2nd generation members, but they're not quite that far in their progression. It's really up to the missionaries to keep them going and help them out.
"So Molly made mention of this - the work is definitely hard in the mission field! I've actually thought about this since being here. The MTC is great and I love the teachers that I've had (Soeurs Pace and Cutler and Freres Magre and Wilcox) they truly taught us how to be good teachers and missionaries, but there is nothing that can be said for on the job experience.
"So a lot of times we start stating our purpose as to why we knocked on their door and a lot of people say no. So we ask if there is any service we can do for them. The way we say that is «Est-ce qu'il y a quelque choses nous pouvons faire pour vous aider?» But what I said on this particular instance is est-ce qu'il y a quelqu'un nous pouvons faire pour vous? So is there anyone we can do for you? Then I hurriedly changed it to Quelque choses!!! My comp was trying hard not to laugh!
"Then a few days later we were at a D.A. with a less active, Daniel Bolduc, and the less active's best friend who is not a member. I asked what bezu bezu bezu meant. I had heard my comp say it on the phone. They said kiss. So that brought up another question. «Then what does baiser mean? I thought that was to kiss. They laughed so hard and then explained.... that it was a vulgar way of how you make a child. And it all made sense as to why Soeur Pace was like «you don't need to worry about that !!!!» when I asked her. Ha definitely was embarrassed.
"We were tracting the other day and knocked on the door and a man answered. He was muslim and was not the nicest to us. I asked if he had friends that might be interested in our message and he was like «Well, we are in Quebec, nobody is interested!» And went on and I couldn't really understand him. So we left his house and then were knocking the floor below him when we heard him come out and say something. We couldn't understand him and so he had to come to our level. It was really nice of him because he had just washed two apples and was giving them to us. There are a lot of muslims here in Montreal that we knock into and while they do not want to hear our message, they are nice to us."
***********
Again, it has been refreshing to get an email from Travis. Rich and I were talking yesterday about how differently you feel when it's your own sibling serving a mission. In my mind I still picture Travis as the cute 8 year old who would wear his "Future Missionary" tag to church each Sunday. It is thrilling to see him grow and get more life experience. I can only imagine how frustrating it must be to have appointments fall through and people not caring to listen to their message; but this will teach Trav valuable lessons- ones that will help him for the rest of his life.
It is such a blessing to know of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Much of life presents trials and obstacles to over come, and the gospel makes taking those challenges in stride possible.
I am so thankful Travis has made the personal choice to serve a mission.
We love you, Trav!
-Jessi
"It's really funny to hear mom say that in argentina nobody had a cell phone, let alone a land line. In Montreal, most everyone has a cell phone and that's really crucial for us in our work. We ask every person for their number so that we can give them a reminder call before our appointment. If we don't get their number, the appointment never works out and we get smurfed (we show up, they aren't there). And that is very very frustrating!
"The thing about Canada is that most members here are 1st generation members. It's beginning to be 2nd generation members, but they're not quite that far in their progression. It's really up to the missionaries to keep them going and help them out.
"So Molly made mention of this - the work is definitely hard in the mission field! I've actually thought about this since being here. The MTC is great and I love the teachers that I've had (Soeurs Pace and Cutler and Freres Magre and Wilcox) they truly taught us how to be good teachers and missionaries, but there is nothing that can be said for on the job experience.
"So a lot of times we start stating our purpose as to why we knocked on their door and a lot of people say no. So we ask if there is any service we can do for them. The way we say that is «Est-ce qu'il y a quelque choses nous pouvons faire pour vous aider?» But what I said on this particular instance is est-ce qu'il y a quelqu'un nous pouvons faire pour vous? So is there anyone we can do for you? Then I hurriedly changed it to Quelque choses!!! My comp was trying hard not to laugh!
"Then a few days later we were at a D.A. with a less active, Daniel Bolduc, and the less active's best friend who is not a member. I asked what bezu bezu bezu meant. I had heard my comp say it on the phone. They said kiss. So that brought up another question. «Then what does baiser mean? I thought that was to kiss. They laughed so hard and then explained.... that it was a vulgar way of how you make a child. And it all made sense as to why Soeur Pace was like «you don't need to worry about that !!!!» when I asked her. Ha definitely was embarrassed.
"We were tracting the other day and knocked on the door and a man answered. He was muslim and was not the nicest to us. I asked if he had friends that might be interested in our message and he was like «Well, we are in Quebec, nobody is interested!» And went on and I couldn't really understand him. So we left his house and then were knocking the floor below him when we heard him come out and say something. We couldn't understand him and so he had to come to our level. It was really nice of him because he had just washed two apples and was giving them to us. There are a lot of muslims here in Montreal that we knock into and while they do not want to hear our message, they are nice to us."
***********
Again, it has been refreshing to get an email from Travis. Rich and I were talking yesterday about how differently you feel when it's your own sibling serving a mission. In my mind I still picture Travis as the cute 8 year old who would wear his "Future Missionary" tag to church each Sunday. It is thrilling to see him grow and get more life experience. I can only imagine how frustrating it must be to have appointments fall through and people not caring to listen to their message; but this will teach Trav valuable lessons- ones that will help him for the rest of his life.
It is such a blessing to know of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Much of life presents trials and obstacles to over come, and the gospel makes taking those challenges in stride possible.
I am so thankful Travis has made the personal choice to serve a mission.
We love you, Trav!
-Jessi
Monday, September 17, 2012
Week 1 in the Field: First Area
Elder Mortenson's new P-Day is Monday, so we can all look forward to emails and updates then :)
"You all are probably wondering where I am and who my trainer is... as was I until last Wednesday. My trainer is Elder McMurrin, he's a cool guy from Arkansas and we are in the Hochelaga/Montreal East area (HO/ME). So Hochelaga is French speaking and Montreal East is English speaking. Which means that on sunday, we have 5 hours of church to go to since we cover both branches. It's kinda crazy. It's been bad cause I've just super tired with all the walking and things that we've been doing that I was definitely nodding off once in at least 4 out of the 5 meetings. But it is good here. Our area literally covers the East half of the island. So that is way crazy and the missionary who was here before me was REALLY trunky (he went home and I'm taking his spot) and so we've been having to just try and build up our base again and find places to tract and teach. And because of how things are here, only the Africans and the Hispanics will really talk to us. We have some pretty solid investigators here and so I'm hoping that we'll end up baptizing a couple in this transfer. We've looked through the area book and have found a couple families that may have fallen through the woodwork and so we're going to try and contact them today (oh and by the way, Monday is my new P-day)
"So things are looking promising but there is for sure a lot of rejection that goes down day in and day out and I've only been here for 6 days. Ha it was funny because I thought that I would be starting my mission out in either Ottawa or a really far north area like Chicoutimi or Alma... but it turns out that I took the metro for 10 minutes to my first area. We share an apartment with the Zarahemla elders (spanish) and so that is nice. It's fun to go home and have others to talk to. We ride the metros here like crazy and so it is just kind of interesting and definitely not what I am used to. Running for busses and riding the metros in a big city... can you say paradigm shift? ha Klamath Falls is no where even close to this but it's been good thus far. I've taken some pretty good pictures here. I forgot my chord today but hopefully next Monday I will remember to bring the chord and I can send them to you. Today I got a really cool picture of me and Elder McMurrin in the Botanical Gardens and so I'll have to send that to you soon. I guess we're going to go to Vieux Port today as a district which is like the old part of the city and hopefully I can also get my first putin.
"We do this thing called Metro contacting here where if the car isn't too packed or too empty we'll each start on an end of the car and just talk with everyone. The first contact is always the hardest but then it gets easier and it can be fun at times. I've had an Asian tell me that is name was Jesus before... I think he was just making fun of me as I was getting his number. But oh well. One time we were on the platform and I saw this black guy standing there and I wanted to contact him but I didn't know how to start the contact (he was fairly young and was looking down.. kinda appeared not too happy) so I asked Elder McMurrin how we should start the contact (in english) and we were talking and saying that we'd wait till we were on the metro to contact and so forth... then he just walks away from us and we're like "did he hear us?" and so I looked at him right as he looked directly at me... "so yup... he heard us." Elder McMurrin then said "dang bilingual people!" ha the guy made here he walked at least a car and a half length away from us and we were left standing there just feeling super awkward. Got to love it. My French is actually fairly good when I'm the one asking questions or talking... it's a whole other story when I'm the one listening. I can pick up phrases here and there but it is difficult to understand people especially since people have a Quebecua accent or are from Haiti and so they mix in Creole with their french. But I've been able to get around thus far and it has been good. I'm glad that Elder McMurrin can understand what they say... normally I just have to read body language and can get the general feel of how the conversation went. I'm trying to learn it all though. All the signs are in french and the metro is in french and whatnot. There is a fair amount of english here and when I can't understand people on the metro, those who can speak english take pity on me and are like "Parlez-vous anglais?" "Oui oui!" "oh, ok. Just speak that to me" and of course I feel like a dwebe but it works out.
" It was neat yesterday because as we were trying to find a place to teach, we walked by this one apartment complex and could see a guy with grocery bags and a crutch type thing and so we knocked on the door to ask if we could help him. At first he said no and then we started talking to him. We ended up teaching a first, placing a bofm, and actually helped him with taking the groceries to his apartment and set up a return appointment for this friday. He's from Haiti. Pretty much everyone we teach is from Haiti. I really hope it pans out with him because he is really cool. He got in an accident of some sort and so now he has half of a prosthetic leg. We'll see how it all goes down.
"Don't forget to pray for me.
Thanks, Love you all
Elder Mortenson"
************
It was a pleasant surprise to get this lovely email today :) I wasn't sure when his new p-day would be, but it's nice that it's on Monday now!
Rich has shared quite a bit with me about his mission over the years, and it is interesting to see Trav have similar experiences. It is evident that he is growing and learning; especially assimilating to a new culture and climate. I love hearing the real stories of what it is like for him to contact people. I can only imagine the courage it must take to strike up a conversation (about the coolest, most important thing in life: the gospel of Jesus Christ!) in a foreign language.
The gospel of Christ is truly incredible. We are so blessed to know of our Savior and are blessed by the power and protection of covenants with God.
I came across this beautiful article by Elder Holland about the importance of uniting with other Christians and strengthening our faiths through our common ground. If you have a minute, I definitely suggest incorporating this into your daily gospel study :)
http://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/08/standing-together-for-the-cause-of-christ?lang=eng&query=compassion
With much love,
Jessi
"You all are probably wondering where I am and who my trainer is... as was I until last Wednesday. My trainer is Elder McMurrin, he's a cool guy from Arkansas and we are in the Hochelaga/Montreal East area (HO/ME). So Hochelaga is French speaking and Montreal East is English speaking. Which means that on sunday, we have 5 hours of church to go to since we cover both branches. It's kinda crazy. It's been bad cause I've just super tired with all the walking and things that we've been doing that I was definitely nodding off once in at least 4 out of the 5 meetings. But it is good here. Our area literally covers the East half of the island. So that is way crazy and the missionary who was here before me was REALLY trunky (he went home and I'm taking his spot) and so we've been having to just try and build up our base again and find places to tract and teach. And because of how things are here, only the Africans and the Hispanics will really talk to us. We have some pretty solid investigators here and so I'm hoping that we'll end up baptizing a couple in this transfer. We've looked through the area book and have found a couple families that may have fallen through the woodwork and so we're going to try and contact them today (oh and by the way, Monday is my new P-day)
"So things are looking promising but there is for sure a lot of rejection that goes down day in and day out and I've only been here for 6 days. Ha it was funny because I thought that I would be starting my mission out in either Ottawa or a really far north area like Chicoutimi or Alma... but it turns out that I took the metro for 10 minutes to my first area. We share an apartment with the Zarahemla elders (spanish) and so that is nice. It's fun to go home and have others to talk to. We ride the metros here like crazy and so it is just kind of interesting and definitely not what I am used to. Running for busses and riding the metros in a big city... can you say paradigm shift? ha Klamath Falls is no where even close to this but it's been good thus far. I've taken some pretty good pictures here. I forgot my chord today but hopefully next Monday I will remember to bring the chord and I can send them to you. Today I got a really cool picture of me and Elder McMurrin in the Botanical Gardens and so I'll have to send that to you soon. I guess we're going to go to Vieux Port today as a district which is like the old part of the city and hopefully I can also get my first putin.
"We do this thing called Metro contacting here where if the car isn't too packed or too empty we'll each start on an end of the car and just talk with everyone. The first contact is always the hardest but then it gets easier and it can be fun at times. I've had an Asian tell me that is name was Jesus before... I think he was just making fun of me as I was getting his number. But oh well. One time we were on the platform and I saw this black guy standing there and I wanted to contact him but I didn't know how to start the contact (he was fairly young and was looking down.. kinda appeared not too happy) so I asked Elder McMurrin how we should start the contact (in english) and we were talking and saying that we'd wait till we were on the metro to contact and so forth... then he just walks away from us and we're like "did he hear us?" and so I looked at him right as he looked directly at me... "so yup... he heard us." Elder McMurrin then said "dang bilingual people!" ha the guy made here he walked at least a car and a half length away from us and we were left standing there just feeling super awkward. Got to love it. My French is actually fairly good when I'm the one asking questions or talking... it's a whole other story when I'm the one listening. I can pick up phrases here and there but it is difficult to understand people especially since people have a Quebecua accent or are from Haiti and so they mix in Creole with their french. But I've been able to get around thus far and it has been good. I'm glad that Elder McMurrin can understand what they say... normally I just have to read body language and can get the general feel of how the conversation went. I'm trying to learn it all though. All the signs are in french and the metro is in french and whatnot. There is a fair amount of english here and when I can't understand people on the metro, those who can speak english take pity on me and are like "Parlez-vous anglais?" "Oui oui!" "oh, ok. Just speak that to me" and of course I feel like a dwebe but it works out.
" It was neat yesterday because as we were trying to find a place to teach, we walked by this one apartment complex and could see a guy with grocery bags and a crutch type thing and so we knocked on the door to ask if we could help him. At first he said no and then we started talking to him. We ended up teaching a first, placing a bofm, and actually helped him with taking the groceries to his apartment and set up a return appointment for this friday. He's from Haiti. Pretty much everyone we teach is from Haiti. I really hope it pans out with him because he is really cool. He got in an accident of some sort and so now he has half of a prosthetic leg. We'll see how it all goes down.
"Don't forget to pray for me.
Thanks, Love you all
Elder Mortenson"
************
It was a pleasant surprise to get this lovely email today :) I wasn't sure when his new p-day would be, but it's nice that it's on Monday now!
Rich has shared quite a bit with me about his mission over the years, and it is interesting to see Trav have similar experiences. It is evident that he is growing and learning; especially assimilating to a new culture and climate. I love hearing the real stories of what it is like for him to contact people. I can only imagine the courage it must take to strike up a conversation (about the coolest, most important thing in life: the gospel of Jesus Christ!) in a foreign language.
The gospel of Christ is truly incredible. We are so blessed to know of our Savior and are blessed by the power and protection of covenants with God.
I came across this beautiful article by Elder Holland about the importance of uniting with other Christians and strengthening our faiths through our common ground. If you have a minute, I definitely suggest incorporating this into your daily gospel study :)
http://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/08/standing-together-for-the-cause-of-christ?lang=eng&query=compassion
With much love,
Jessi
Friday, September 14, 2012
More Pictures
This tie tac was Travis' Grandpa Roy's, so it has special meaning for him.
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