October 17, 2016 (Week 96)

October 17, 2016

ok...

Elder Mortensen at the Lantern Festival

Monday we went to Dong Day Moon for Elder Roe. I looked at all the ties, still nothing special anymore.  After that we came back and ate and played Settlers of Catan. Fun day.  After that we did some flyering at the lantern festival that was going on this week. There was a good stream of people, and we met some really nice families.
Tuesday we went and visited a member.  He usually isn't there at that time, but his schedule changed so he was there! We had a good talk with him and hopefully we can keep him working with some people.  He's been trying to get to church.  After that we did some halloween party planning, and singing practice, since our stake is doing a music night. After was dinner and street boarding.  That was alright, nothing super great.
Wednesday we had district meeting, then went and practiced some more for a little bit, then went on exchanges with Elder Judd. We pretty much just ate dinner and had English class... yippee...
Thursday Elder Judd and I went to a leadership conference Pres. Sonksen had set up. It was pretty much all the ZL's, DL's, STL's, and trainers come in and get a long training on becoming the new leaders, the new face of the mission. It was a really good meeting though. We talked about simplifying the work, getting all on the same page.  So now the mission feels a lot more on the same page, the same thoughts, instead of just relying on zone leaders interpretation of his words. We came back, closed exchanges, then went and walked around, and went to the festival.
Friday we had planning, streetboarding, then got cancelled on by a couple of people, so we tried to visit some members, but they were busy, and ended up with not much to do.
Saturday was more walking around, English class, then a long member meal...  It's difficult to tell them we shouldn't stay too long.  It's a struggle of keeping time effective/ keeping a good relationship with members.. but yeah, we ate a lot of meat, and didn't feel happy afterwards, haha.
Sunday we had church, and more proselyting...

Tigger and Piglet in Korea

This week not much happened. Nobody seems willing to meet, and not a lot of stuff happening in Do Bong ward. Bay Gyoung Whan has mid-terms this week, which means that he will be studying all day everyday for the next 2 weeks, dang it.  

Well, take care,
-Elder Mortensen

October 10, 2016 (Week 95)

October 10, 2016

Ok, this week...

Ward Activity

Monday we went bowling with a couple members, so thats why I hopped on late last week, sorry folks. But, it was pretty fun. I bowled a 167 one time. I'm pretty proud of that. After that we emailed, shopped, wandered around, nothing too special.  That night we met Heo Say Moo (that's the best way to say his name) We met him in July, and finally got around to meeting him again. We had a good lesson, and he seemed pretty interested in the the resurrected Christ somehow visiting America.  That sparked some interest, hopefully we can build on that.

Tuesday we went and just talked on the streets with people, got lost at one point, but managed to make it out ok. Nothing really exciting to report about today.

Wednesday we had zone meeting, talked a lot about the basics of missionary work; planning, faith, teaching simply, etc., all because our mission is really young.  By the time I leave almost all companionships will be training or greenie-breaking (3rd transfer).  It's pretty crazy, so they are reviewing basics right now. It was an alright meeting, came back, went around the block talking with people, before English class and dinner.

Thursday we went and did service, came back and as soon as we left our apartment, our appointment cancelled on us.  Freak, he's done that 2 times now.  It's so frustrating when everybody in the world just cancels on you.  So, we just did a lot more street contacting, went to some festival they have going on, and talked with some cool people there.

Friday we had a couple appointments fall through.  And it started raining, so life just wasn't the best, but later we met Sheen Sung Hee. It's been a while, so it was good to meet him.  He is doing alright, not much desire on his part to come back though.

Saturday was General Conference.  That's about it.  Pretty sweet time though.

Night Shot.  (Red Dots are Crosses on Churches)

Sunday we had Bay Gyoung Whan and Sheen Sung Hee come to the morning session with us, so that was sweet! We watched it in Korean with them, and that was cool to listen to conference in Korean and actually get something from it. We had lunch after the morning session with the ward, then watched some more.  Good conference.  Then we had the dinner with the Digma family again, and family night.  Pretty good weekend.

Well, take care,
-Elder Mortensen

October 3, 2016 (Week 94)

October 3, 2016

Alrighty, this week is in the books...

Bowling with a Member

Monday we went and ate lunch with a member, before the other missionaries transferred. Then went up to the suit place, and got a suit made for me.  So much stress...you see a cool pattern, but not quite sure how it would look on a full suit. I ended up getting a gray one. I'm pretty excited. I've got a couple black suits and a nice blue one, so I decided to go a little bit bolder with this one. I get it this Wednesday, so we will see how it turns out!  After that, we shopped and called it a day.  Just kidding... We went and just streetboarded with the district.
Tuesday we had another meal.  A buffet with the bishop and other elders. It was originally just meant for the other elders, but at the last minute, the bishop called and said all to come.  Dang it, I'm fat... There are so many buffets here, and a lot of nice members =fatness.  Oh well, fat and happy I guess hahaha.  After that we just went to find some less-actives, and it was downpouring most of the day, so nothing too exciting happened.
Wednesday we did studies while Elder Du Plessis and Elder Judd went to the office.  Elder Judd is training Elder Roe.  Yes, we now have an Elder Lowe and an Elder Roe. (It's the same spelling in Korean. Shoot, you would not believe the members' reaction on Sunday.  So confused/amazed/cracked so many jokes about it.)  So we met up with them and the sisters (our district is now five from Utah, one from Korea...) for singing practice for the baptism on Saturday. We did that for a little bit, then ate, then got stood up by a super sick guy, then had English class.
Thursday we went to the service, came back, then tried to visit a couple members, then we went and had dinner. After we went and did some more street proselyting, then went to bed.
Friday we had 4 appointments set up. One cancelled because of being sick, one didn't have time anymore, one wasn't in Seoul and didn't tell us, and one we met: Bay Gyoung Whan. We met him with our ward mission leader, who are the same age. It went pretty well.  We talked about the Book of Mormon.  He noticed that the book starts in 600 BC, but the reign of the king in 1 Nephi 1:2/4? didn't start till 597  BC.  So we talked through that, and the fact it was written in Egyptian. We tried to answer those, but man that's hard.  After that, we just went and wandered around the streets.

Elders Lowe, Du Plessis and Mortensen

Saturday we met a guy, who didn't want to keep meeting. That was sad.  Then we had a baptism, but the kids were terrified of it all, so they didn't go through.  Try again later I guess... English class and work, and that's about all that happened.
Sunday we went to church and studied and watched it rain.

 Love ya,
-Elder Mortensen

September 26, 2016 (Week 93)

September 26, 2016

Ok, well, this week was pretty fun.

Elders Du Plessis, Judd, Lowe and Mortensen

Monday I went on exchanges with Elder Du Plessis. Due to an awkward transfer last transfer (we both openly admit that now), I was more than apprehensive about going on an exchange, but it was great. For some reason we get along great as housemates, just took a little warming up I guess haha. We went and looked for less actives, streetboarded, had a good time.
Tuesday we went to the temple, then went to Seoul Tower. Pretty cool view, but not much to do. We walked up a massive 20 minute long hill, sweating the whole way, then rode an elevator up for a minute, then you just had a little lookout view.  You can't go outside at all, you can only look through windows.  It was cool to see all around Seoul. We could see clear into Seoul South, then almost to the top of Seoul.  Pretty fun day.
Wednesday we had district meeting, then we had less active finding, then English class. I'm not sure why I'm still teaching because 1, my English sucks nowadays, and 2, it's pretty much talking about America the whole time in Korean, haha.
Thursday we went to the 12-week follow up, which is where all trainers/trainees meet up again, and just get a long pep talk that they can make it through two years of this.  Not the most exciting meeting, but hey, I got free subway, I'll take that anyday!  We came back and did pass-off with Elder Judd, then met Sheen Een Sheek.  He is a new investigator. He really likes his church already, but has some interest, and he wants us to teach his son English, so we will try to work through that route to teach him.  After that we met Sheen Sung Hee.  He is a struggle.  Apparently he can't remember things very well, so the people we talked about last time, he doesn't remember, so we have to start from scratch again.  Plus, he doesn't want to keep commitments at all, which is a struggle.
Friday we went and did weekly planning, then we went and had singing practice, then we went and streetboarded and found some less actives, nothing too special.
Saturday we went to MCM, then had a meal with his whole family (bishop, ward mission leader, and 2nd counselor... plus the wives.) We went to a reeallly expensive buffet that was suuuper nice. Then we practiced some more, then had English class.  After that we went finding people, then a guy said he could meet, so we met at 8:55. We quickly went to a cafe, he appeared to have no interest, plus it was transfer call night, so not the best timing, so we kinda rushed a lesson, and he gave us a lecture on how to set up an appointment with him. Good night, long story with him...

From the top of Seoul Tower

Sunday we had church, then ward council (3 weeks straight of missionary work, member work, doing it... great topics.)  Then we met Bay Gyoung Whan with a member, and the member kinda went hard on doing the basics, reading, praying, church. Really good lesson, helped a lot with him.  After that was family night.  We had a bunch of "minute to win it" games. It went pretty well, that's where all the pics came from.
Transfers: Elder Judd and Sister Kim are both training so all three teams are training. So exciting.

Love you all,
-Elder Mortensen

September 19, 2016 (Week 92)

September 19, 2016

Well, this week was interesting...

"Attending" Conner and Korinne's
Wedding (far right)

 Monday was just a regular day, so we went and emailed then headed out for work.  Nothing too special happened, just a lot of people busy getting ready for Thanksgiving.  Although it started to downpour, so we had singing practice for our song on Sunday, and man, I could of filled up a gallon jug with how much water was in my socks and shoes.  The waterproof effect no longer works for my shoes, yippee!
Tuesday we went and did our lovely service project, pretty fun this time, there weren't a lot of people helping so we actually got to do stuff this time! I love it when that happens. We did that, then met 신승희 (Sheen Sung Hee).  Things went well, he says that he has a couple friends that he could refer us to, but we will have to wait to see if Elder Lowe and I stay together [transfer week next week], because he doesn't want to bring a friend, then have us leave.  But it was a good meeting with him.
Wednesday we had P-Day, so we went and got haircuts, played around a little bit, went looking for badminton rackets, and whatnot. Nothing too exciting.  Tomorrow is temple day though, so that'll be fun.
Thursday we cleaned... and cleaned... and cleaned... That's about it.  You'd be surprised at how much stuff can get everywhere.  That's about all we did for Thanksgiving, day 2.
Friday we went to the mission office. We had a meeting outdoors in the "sacred grove" of our mission (just some outdoor pavilion type thing).  Then went to a little outlook over Seoul. Pretty cool view.  after that was announcements, which meant half the mission sang to me for my birthday... Awkward... I hate those types of things.  Then we ate Subway, played some Korean games, jumprope, and watched the Restoration movie. It was a pretty good conference.  After that, we came back, and had weekly planning,  Thanksgiving, day 3

Seoul Overlook

Saturday we went and tried to find some less-actives, then had English class... oh goody. Then we went, had dinner, visited a less-active who renovated his house. It's a really nice place, but he lives alone so kind of an empty feel to it.  After that we ran to the church, since Sister Digma got me and cake for my birthday.  Shoot, she's the best. It was a really nice cake too.  That was a fun day.
Sunday we went to church, had MCM, then went out and talked with people. Yeah, nothing too new. Some people came in from the stake and started to teach about missionary work. They got pretty into it as well.  Kind of exciting.  Let's see if that goes anywhere now.

Well, take care world,
-Elder Mortensen

September 12, 2016 (Week 91)

September 12, 2016

Alrighty...

Sporting a bolo tie

Monday we went to a bookstore and picked up new English class books, since the one we use right now is terrible.  Hopefully this will make the students happy.. If not, oh well, I'm a missionary, not an English teacher.  After P-Day we went and met David again.  He is the one from Los Angeles, hardcore Christian, nice guy.  We tried to talk about the Book of Mormon, but he just kinda beat around that, and went right to his beliefs.  He asked us to pray about his beliefs, if he would pray about ours. I came to the realization as I took him up on the offer that that was kinda dumb.  Honestly if I can live at a higher level, and be happy, why bother going lower?  He says we don't need prophets, or we just have to believe that God is in us, and we are already saved, etc.  Just pretty much as if he said "just stop everything..."  Kinda dumb theories he has, especially about the trinity.  How anybody thought that is correct.  I can't understand them...

Tuesday was exchange with Elder Judd.  We just kinda talked about the mission, how we can try to get the ward doing stuff, how to work better.  Good time with him.  We met a guy that took us to a cafe, and pretty much gave us the same speech as David. I still don't understand...

Wednesday we had zone training.  I still don't know many people in my zone, they just aren't the people that I've actually known over my mission.  We came back, ate, then did English class. Not bad, kinda boring still...

Thursday we did our usual service, still a fun time there every week.  After that was walking around trying to find people to talk with.  Not a whole lot of luck... kinda sad.

Friday we had planning, then we street boarded.  While street boarding, Bay Gyung Whan said he could meet in an hour.  So we went and ate, then taught him.  He remembers his baptismal date, which is good, especially at the rate he is progressing.  He reads a lot one time, then the next he doesn't, the next he does.  Up and down.  So frustrating sometimes.  But he is good.  I enjoy meeting him.

Saturday we had music practice then English clas, then trying to talk with people.  Because of the Korean Thanksgiving coming up, people are really busy, and already have plans, so getting anything set up with them is super hard.  Kinda sad, Thanksgiving wipes out an entire week of missionary work almost.

Thanksgiving gift boxes (Spam!)

Sunday we went to church, came back, went with bishop to visit a less-active.  That was a good visit. It's kinda awkward when all parties involved know exactly why you came, haha.   After that we went and visited some other less-actives, and went walking in hiker village. It's a huge street with a ton of hikers and hiking shops.  It was nuts.  After that just singing practice and dinner. It was a good day.
Well, thats about it.   Love you all.  Happy Thanksgiving/wedding/birthday and everything else that is going on the week...  Man, so many things!

-Elder Mortensen

September 5, 2016 (Week 90)

September 5, 2016

Shoot... Time to type fast..

With Elder Lowe at the Palace

Monday we went to the palace, got Elder Lowe's foreigner card submitted, then played Settlers of Catan with the other elders. Also, I got a new suit. I decided to get a super sweet blue one for 90 bucks. Not a half bad deal.
That night we tried out some new Family History streetboard idea. Ended up really awkward and didn't really work out.

Tuesday we tried again the streetboard.  It was still kinda awkward. Asking people to write down their name, everybody is really suspicious of it... haha.  After that we did a lot of less-active finding and met Sheen Sung Hee. He talked about how he feels like God doesn't answer him. He doesn't have much hope in the world right now.  Super sad.

Wednesday we had district meeting, then we had English class that night. Nothing too special, same old at English class,  :D

Thursday we met Yoon Hyun Sup.  Another less-active.  He pretty much is just lazy and doesn't want to come to church.  He says he is studying, but he still plays games 1-2 hours each day, plus, he said he could meet in 3 weeks. Yeah, he's not going anywhere right now.

Friday we met Bay Gyung Whan!  He is doing good. He pretty much just doesn't feel like all members don't believe since they either sleep, or sit on their phone the whole time. It's really sad that a non-member sees that in our church. We talked about how much other Christians believe, and they go pretty hard. Dang.  But he is slowly progressing, just need him to see the gospel side of it, and not just by the members actions.

Dinner at the Digmas

Saturday was English class, then we met with Sheen Sung Hee.  Same story, just no hope right now. So sad, I just want to help him out so much.

Sunday was church and a meal with the Digmas. Such a sweet family .

Love you all,
-Elder Mortensen