This is an email we sent to some friends of ours that we met in the MTC. They are serving a mission at the Church History sites in and near Palmyra. 

Well, hello from Jamaica. It was great to hear from you. It sounds like you are happy and that you will soon be very busy. We remember your sweet smiles from the MTC days, and we know you are doing a great work.

We are busy as well, but in a different way. The church is fairly young here, but there are a lot of inactives. Many of them are financially challenged and also lack the faith to get to church or to pay tithing so that The Lord can prosper them. When they are faithful and begin to prosper, quite a few emigrate to Canada, U.S. or England. So, it is a challenge to get the Branches active enough to become Wards and eventually have a Stake of Zion here in Jamaica. But we will have a stake. And then 2. And then more. And then a temple. Sister Mortensen and I are firm in the faith and we pray every day for the spirit to protect us on these roads and enlighten our minds so that we will know what we should say to these beautiful brothers and sisters as we visit them in their homes. Sometimes we just visit in their yard because there isn't room or chairs enough in their home, but we have a great love for all of them, and we know they love us too.

Anyway, we are enjoying the work as we are able to see testimonies grow. We are getting more Jamaican missionaries all the time. Our new mission pres. Is Jamaican. He is only 36 but served a mission here and is a great man. He starts July 1st. Our year ends in August, so we only have less than 6 months left. We have made many friends here and we always wave and smile as we travel around in our little truck. More people are getting to know about the church all the time.

Well, ya'll hang in there.

Love, Brother and Sister Mortensen