You read that subject line absolutely correctly. They said Arizona, people laughed in my face and said "you're going to DIE it's so hot there!" "You'll come home like a lobster!
"Well guess what?? I tan in Arizona! Also, this week it was so ridiculously cold in the mornings I almost died.
Ok, so it's an exaggeration, but the point is, in the mornings when we get up to work out...it's like 40 degrees. And here I was fooled into thinking it was 100 year round. See? it's not so bad here :). Anyways, the "Jacket" rule is now in effect.
Any day with the temperature above 75 degrados, we have to wear our suit coats, a rule I'm not too fond of, but it's all good.
New Games:
Pullover!: Objective: Talk to people, Rules: When driving and you see someone on the side of the road and you feel we should talk to them, you say "Pullover!" and the person who didn't say "pullover" has to talk to them. It's INTENSE and it gets us all psyched to talk to everyone about the awesomeness which is the Gospel. :)
Ok, what happened this week? Well, I think everyone should know I got H1N1 aka Swine Flu......................................now before my mom dies of freaking out, everyone should know it was the Vaccine for it, but it's true, I've had it...more or less. Haha I didn't get sick, I'm healthy and very very well here in Arizona.
This week I went on splits with the English Elders...that was interesting. Let's just say it was WAY nice to be able to effectively communicate, but let's also say that English people are WAY more rude and harsh than spanish. I'm ok with the trade-off I've decided. communication, for treatment...Props to you English goers. :) This morning I had a neat little revelation. We woke up at 3:15 to get ready and get to the temple by 6 a.m. session, and I get kinda cranky in the morning sometimes, but I realized that just cause I'm up early, doesn't mean I should get mad for any reason...I'm the same Elder Morgan I was 5ish hours ago when I went to bed...changed my attitude. :)
Another cool realization: We went to breakfast at a $3.99 breakfast buffet for missionaries, and it was weird to realize that whenever the elders wanted to talk about something amongst themselves, they just said it in spanish...and here's the realization. I can speak spanish. ok ok so before God strikes me for being prideful, I'm DEFINATELY not good at spanish...but now that I'm beginning to understand more, I'm beginning to speak better, and it's just all coming together. It was a neat thing for me to realize.
Also. Halloween. Ward trunk or Treat. We definitely (definately?) had the best trunk. The kids had to reach through a hole into the trunk full of little blown up trashbags, only to realize on the other side of the hole was an elder in the trunk to grab their hand, shake them around a little, then give them some candy. it was cool. The niños love us.
I'd like to close with just a quick little experience. Tracting = knocking doors = ineffective. We decided this week to test the Lord. If we set an appointment with someone, and they aren't there when we go, we decided we must be there for some reason so we tract that street. So the DAY we started doing this, 2 doors past our appointment we found this ladi named Marí. She's WAY AWESOME. At first was like "I don't need church, cause they're all led by men" Then we testified that God is guiding His true church through a prophet and how SHE can know for HERSELF. She invited us in to come teach her. it was a neat experience. Way neat. She was way into it, and asked us to come back and share more with her whole family. So we'll see how that flies this week. :) I'm done. My fingers are a punto de morir. (about to die) I love you all. thanks so much for your support! As Elder Nicholas would say (from Georgia) "Ya'll're so tight". My prayers are with you all!
-Elder Morgan
Saturday, November 7, 2009
10/27/2009: A nice week in Phoenix
Greetings, hola, bonjour, awakietashika, and all those hellos to you: (p.s. I'm pretty sure awakietashika doesn't mean anything)
Well I'm really sad to hear about Sister Hemming. She was so so so awesome, and I'm sure that right now she's organizing a choir of youth to sing the song of love to the hearts of the people still here. I don't doubt her desire to spread a happy song, and her testimony with anyone. She'll be greatly missed I'm sure. Tell Keri things'll be ok and to think about the happy day we'll all be together again.
I didn't know I was eating intestine...until I put the first piece in my mouth and everyone went "oooooooh!!!!! Elder that's INTESTINE!!!" then they all laughed. joy. :) Also, I've decided to spend some of my time on Sundays learning to play more hymns, evidently there are a lot of wards and branches with no one to play for them, so I should be getting some good piano experience here!
Rules for Halloween? Just another normal day. We're going to a ward trunk n treat thing, but after, we're knocking doors, and teaching lessons. yeah I have permiso to drive now, so we all three alternate driving days, and I think I'm good on my license, but I have the option of renewing to an AZ one which I think I will cause it doesn't expire until I'm 65...that's cool.
Mom, about the members, it's really sad. They aren't super friendly or outgoing to the people we bring. Often they are left to sit alone, in the which case, we elders split up to sit with them all. One family we're teaching has next-door-neighbors who are members so they chat and sit together. Other than that, they unfortunately aren't too helpful...we have a hard time getting anyone to come teach with us. It's a struggle, but we're trying to win their trust by doing awesome Noches de Hogar (FHE) with them. We'll see how that goes.
Thought: Elder Moffitt, in his old age and wisdom said that people said a lot that we are the "chosen generation" and maybe that is so because we're chosen to realize that the members can help the missionaries in more ways, so when we're all done with our missions, this generation will be the AWESOME ward member support for the next wave of missionaries. Matt: you better be doing something missionary like still. if not, get going you bum! just because you don't have a tag, doesn't mean you can't share the light of the Gospel with others :) .
Schedule:
5:45 wake up
6:00 meet at church where we play soccer with other missionaries in the gym (or at their apartment to lift weights)
6:45-8:00 shower/breakfast (Elder Nicholas takes forever.)
8:00 personal study
9:00 companionship study
10:00 Spanish study
11:00 Lunch
12:00 begin proselyting
5:00 dinner at a member's house/message there
6:00 continue preaching
9:00 home (unless teaching a lesson then it's allowed to be 9:30)
9:30 plan for the next day/write in journal/discuss spanish problems
10:30 in bed, lights out, sleep
Ugh I hate how long my letters get, but there's so much to say!!!! For a cool thing I've started dreaming in spanish. Funny thing is, it's slow spanish JUST like how I speak. it makes sense, but I remember waking up after my first spanish dream and just being like "WHOA!" "my dream was in spanish!" it was cool.
Here's a quick spill out of the SWEET things that happened this week:
Today: Climbed a mountain here, Iron Mountain, or Squaw peak. it was intense
Yesterday: Taught an AWESOME Lesson. We went to a less active member's house to teach them, they happened to have a friend over, who happened to want to learn more, who happened to understand everything we said. At the end of the lesson, she looked at us, and said "that makes perfect sense. do you have a book of mormon I can read so I can be sure before I get baptized?" first lesson. that was WAY sweet. We invited her to pray...and after the prayer she just filled with emotion and through the tears told us she'd never felt like that before. it was an amazing experience. All because some members had befriended someone, and talked about the church. Last
Friday: we taught a guy named Sergio. This little mexican is like a sponge!!! He soaked it all up, and just asked for more. He's going to read the whole book of mormon these next two weeks he told us and he said he'll see how he feels after that. Basically that means he knows this is the truth, and he's going to get baptized and start his road to Heaven.
Last Thursday: We taught AGAIN a friend of a member named Olga, who loved church and wants to keep coming cause she "feels something different". That's all the cool stuff. Aside from that, just the normal people who are drunk and on crack all the time, there are Gay people everywhere here and they hate us and yell at us and spit on us as they drive by. Met a guy who challenged our knowledge of the bible by asking us who the most notorious killer in the bible and the United States was...he told us they were the same person:Moses. I think he was high. A lady who told us that her pastor told her that she isn't allowed to change religions...and she believes him. we met our new neighbors...get this, she's a black lady named Shae. Loved that. alrighty! that's all for this one!
Love you all thanks for your support and prayers...we definitely need them here. OH!!! one more thing! Elder Nicholas has been feeling a little lack of mail this past transfer...if you were planning on writing me this week, will you write him instead? Just a hello, thanks, add a thought/poem/encouragement, send it to the same address just put Elder Adam Nicholas instead of Elder Shae Morgan :) this is something I've wanted to do to help serve one of my companions. Thanks!
-Elder Morgan
Well I'm really sad to hear about Sister Hemming. She was so so so awesome, and I'm sure that right now she's organizing a choir of youth to sing the song of love to the hearts of the people still here. I don't doubt her desire to spread a happy song, and her testimony with anyone. She'll be greatly missed I'm sure. Tell Keri things'll be ok and to think about the happy day we'll all be together again.
I didn't know I was eating intestine...until I put the first piece in my mouth and everyone went "oooooooh!!!!! Elder that's INTESTINE!!!" then they all laughed. joy. :) Also, I've decided to spend some of my time on Sundays learning to play more hymns, evidently there are a lot of wards and branches with no one to play for them, so I should be getting some good piano experience here!
Rules for Halloween? Just another normal day. We're going to a ward trunk n treat thing, but after, we're knocking doors, and teaching lessons. yeah I have permiso to drive now, so we all three alternate driving days, and I think I'm good on my license, but I have the option of renewing to an AZ one which I think I will cause it doesn't expire until I'm 65...that's cool.
Mom, about the members, it's really sad. They aren't super friendly or outgoing to the people we bring. Often they are left to sit alone, in the which case, we elders split up to sit with them all. One family we're teaching has next-door-neighbors who are members so they chat and sit together. Other than that, they unfortunately aren't too helpful...we have a hard time getting anyone to come teach with us. It's a struggle, but we're trying to win their trust by doing awesome Noches de Hogar (FHE) with them. We'll see how that goes.
Thought: Elder Moffitt, in his old age and wisdom said that people said a lot that we are the "chosen generation" and maybe that is so because we're chosen to realize that the members can help the missionaries in more ways, so when we're all done with our missions, this generation will be the AWESOME ward member support for the next wave of missionaries. Matt: you better be doing something missionary like still. if not, get going you bum! just because you don't have a tag, doesn't mean you can't share the light of the Gospel with others :) .
Schedule:
5:45 wake up
6:00 meet at church where we play soccer with other missionaries in the gym (or at their apartment to lift weights)
6:45-8:00 shower/breakfast (Elder Nicholas takes forever.)
8:00 personal study
9:00 companionship study
10:00 Spanish study
11:00 Lunch
12:00 begin proselyting
5:00 dinner at a member's house/message there
6:00 continue preaching
9:00 home (unless teaching a lesson then it's allowed to be 9:30)
9:30 plan for the next day/write in journal/discuss spanish problems
10:30 in bed, lights out, sleep
Ugh I hate how long my letters get, but there's so much to say!!!! For a cool thing I've started dreaming in spanish. Funny thing is, it's slow spanish JUST like how I speak. it makes sense, but I remember waking up after my first spanish dream and just being like "WHOA!" "my dream was in spanish!" it was cool.
Here's a quick spill out of the SWEET things that happened this week:
Today: Climbed a mountain here, Iron Mountain, or Squaw peak. it was intense
Yesterday: Taught an AWESOME Lesson. We went to a less active member's house to teach them, they happened to have a friend over, who happened to want to learn more, who happened to understand everything we said. At the end of the lesson, she looked at us, and said "that makes perfect sense. do you have a book of mormon I can read so I can be sure before I get baptized?" first lesson. that was WAY sweet. We invited her to pray...and after the prayer she just filled with emotion and through the tears told us she'd never felt like that before. it was an amazing experience. All because some members had befriended someone, and talked about the church. Last
Friday: we taught a guy named Sergio. This little mexican is like a sponge!!! He soaked it all up, and just asked for more. He's going to read the whole book of mormon these next two weeks he told us and he said he'll see how he feels after that. Basically that means he knows this is the truth, and he's going to get baptized and start his road to Heaven.
Last Thursday: We taught AGAIN a friend of a member named Olga, who loved church and wants to keep coming cause she "feels something different". That's all the cool stuff. Aside from that, just the normal people who are drunk and on crack all the time, there are Gay people everywhere here and they hate us and yell at us and spit on us as they drive by. Met a guy who challenged our knowledge of the bible by asking us who the most notorious killer in the bible and the United States was...he told us they were the same person:Moses. I think he was high. A lady who told us that her pastor told her that she isn't allowed to change religions...and she believes him. we met our new neighbors...get this, she's a black lady named Shae. Loved that. alrighty! that's all for this one!
Love you all thanks for your support and prayers...we definitely need them here. OH!!! one more thing! Elder Nicholas has been feeling a little lack of mail this past transfer...if you were planning on writing me this week, will you write him instead? Just a hello, thanks, add a thought/poem/encouragement, send it to the same address just put Elder Adam Nicholas instead of Elder Shae Morgan :) this is something I've wanted to do to help serve one of my companions. Thanks!
-Elder Morgan
10/20/2009: I ate something gross this week
Family, Another week here and gone again in Phoenix, yeah we did get a nice little warm spell...wasn't too bad though only broke 100 twice. But this morning it's fresh and cool with a little breeze so hopefully it stays this way for a while. :) Wow I don't know where to begin! this week was pretty intense. I guess I'll start off with something uber cool.Remember the last letter when I described pedro being a 5' something short dude who weighs 300 pounds? Well God I guess in his sense of humor remembered that and when we asked Pedro who he wanted to baptize him, he asked me. Yeah. intense right? So the baptizm was last Saturday and it was really neat. The Service was interesting. We decided that no one knows how to play piano in our area...so I, always talking about music, was assigned to learn 2 hymns in an hour during language study so I could play at the baptism. Guess what? I don't really play piano. But the Lord helps us in our weeknesses and I can proudly say that I can pump out a pretty mean version of "I like to look for rainbows"(aka when I am baptized) and "Come Follow Me". :) that was neat. ALSO, whilst practicing, Elder Nicholas left the font going on full blast and the font overflowed ALMOST into the room, but we got it to turn off just befor it rose to the threshold of the door. Whew thank goodness. But the service was wonderful, the spirit was there, and Pedro was confirmed the day after as a member of the church of Jesus Christ. Something new I ate this week. Pig intestine. Yeah. Don't think you have to go foreign to eat UBER WEIRD stuff. And just so you know, it's nasty (in my opinion). Well the work is bustling here in Phoenix. We're super busy, teaching a TON, and we set some mor baptismal dates for November. I'm excited to be part of these people's experiences as they go and do to experience the change that Jesus offers to everyone. He puts us in the right place at the right time to find people. One guy was playing the accordian outside, and I went up and chit chatted about music for a bit. He then insisted that we teach him about our message. He ate. it. up. And why? maybe cause it's true. Maybe because Christ organized a church founded on a prophet and apostles, and no other church on the earth has that organization. Maybe because we believe God is the same yesterday when he called people to guide his people, and today, because there is someone now to guide his people, and forever. I can't find any way this can be false, and truth rings familiar in the ears of people who are willing to listen. That's why people listen, that's why it's actually effective to send 19 year old guys who don't know much out into the world to teach people in every language. We have lots of moments where we say in the car "only on a mission can you find 19 year olds who...." then finish it off with something like "talk about the scriptures while lifting weights" "turn up their "favorite song"" which happens to be classical motab. It's a cool thing. an apostle once said that the Gospel challenges us to not just BE something or someone, but to BECOME. I LOVE this thought, because we aren't here just to be, and live, and be tossed around. We're here to become something,learn, gain experience, grow. If we are true disciples and followers of Christ we will have the desire, the URGE, to DO not just sit around. To ACT, not just be acted upon. To become someone, not just be. I hope this ramble made sense. I love you all. Thanks for all your support. I pray for you every day. -Elder Morgan
10/13/09: Okee Dokie Arti....choke-ee?
Alright, So I'm experiencing some insane madness called I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SPELL IN ENGLISH. the more and more I speak spanish, the more and more C's I put where K's should go and Z's where S's should be and...basically I'm not sure my kids and their kids will be able to read my journal. it's bad. First of all and the most exciting is PEDRO! Pedro, I think I've talked a bit about him, but he's this short mexican guy, like 5'3 or something...but he's gotta be 300 pounds. he's pretty huge. So we found him because he was dating a member who was in the english ward, but they broke up, but he still called us to come teach him. Well, we've taught all he needs to know. and you guessed it...he's been interviewed and set to be baptised this saturday!!! woot woot!!! He's been a testimony to me about how much people can change. He was kinda closed off and dark in a way at first, but the more and more he kept his promises to the Lord, read the scriptures, and prayed, the more he lightened up and now he's just a big smiling ball of happyness! We're really excited for that. Also, the work is going INSANE here. They HAVE to split us this transfer. I don't know how it goes number wise for other missions, but this week passed we taght 22 lessons, contacted 210 people on the street, and have 13 new investigators, for a few numbers. it shows improvement, but at the same time, I know we can do better so we're working hard! In the movie Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration, there's a part that shows a man who is sick, and he said his pride has brought him very low. Joseph then tells him the Lord will raise him high. They bless him and he is healed. I'd like to write about this. We all have our fallings and shortcomings. There is so much to work on and to better. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed, like the world is falling down. I feel like that sometimes. Our pride brings us low so we can be humble and ask to help see things how God sees them. Look at people how God looks at people. Serve as He would if He were here. The hard times are easy to see as a curse. A misfortune, the whole world against you...maybe that's so we can turn around and see how blessed we are. That we have a loving father in heaven who humbles us so we can be lifted higher than we ever could have before we started to trust in him. Then after all we can do to turn our will over to His, and do what He would have us do, we are healed. I LOVE the scripture Isaiah 53 which says Surely he has born our sorrows carried our greifs etc, then later says that through his stripes, we are healed. Healed. Not temporarily satisfied, but HEALED completely from the pain and hurt of the hard times. ok good shpeel. Thanks goes out to the Tuttle family for the goodies and letter, my companions were thrilled by the peanut butter cheerio bars. :) Also, thanks Momma Slezak for the note about Garrett, he is in every single one of my prayers. God will provide. Some people are ready other's aren't. But when you find the ones that are, it's magic. We were refferred to a guy named Christopher. He told us he's looking for a REAL way to change and get free of his past. He said he was baptised in another church, but that he still didn't feel it...maybe we'd be different. at the end of the lesson one, he just flat out Told us, he feels the spirit telling him the things we taught were the truth. (cool? I think....yes.) So we'll see where that goes! If you're reading this and you aren't too sure about this whole "LDS church" thing, I challenge you to find out for yourself. We aren't here to convince you, but rather ask you to ask God. He'll tell you the truth if you ask him. (James 1:5) I promise you that there is no other church that makes so much sense, is so perfect, has the same teachings and doctrines as did the church Jesus organized. Read the book of mormon and ask yourself, in 63 days, could anyone NOT inspired by God create such a text? I submit it to be impossible without the gift and power of God given to a Prophet. Well this is getting muy long. Wrap up just saying spanish is improving. slowly yet surely. I'm praying for you all always. -Elder Morgan
Thursday, October 8, 2009
General Conference and such
Greetings from Elder Morgan in...... (wouldn't you like to know)
Transfers were this week, so guess what?
I'm still in Phoenix.
I'm with the same companions.
Nothing changed. So For another 6 weeks I'll be here in the Catalina Branch in Phoenix. Our area hasn't split or anything, so it'll be the same thing for at least 6 more weeks.
Nice good fun happy stuff: Hector, or Hermano Contreras, the ward mission leader, came up with a new nickname for me...and actually it's spreading through the ward, not sure if that's a good thing or not, but here it is Capitan (in spanish how hector says it Kah-Pee-Tahn) Yeah. they even suggested getting a pirate costume and an empty bottle so I can pose at the ward halloween party for all the ex-drinkers as their favorite mascot. I'm not sure how that would fly with my conscience though.
One of the first letters I got from a friend in the MTC mentioned the Lord's tender mercies. I like to link this trail of thought with "little miracles". When we do our best, and try our best, God shows us his tender mercies, by putting people in our lives, giving us a happy thought, and other numerous ways. This week we saw a few of those.
We were doing a D and P in a neighborhood (drive and pray) where we drive around praying for someone, then when we see people, we park, jump out and talk to them. We did that to one such fellow. John Emery, he spoke english, but told us it was a miracle we showed up. He was trying to contact a mormon church for a few months but didn't know how.
He'd noticed something different about our church and wanted it in his life. In our short 5 minute conversation he told us how he wanted to be a member and asked to listen to the missionaries. 3 days later, the english elders taught him, and he has a baptismal date set for the near future.
Tender Mercy #2: my second week here I took down someone's name and address, but we never got to visiting him, a few days ago we were in the area and tried to stop by his house. Problem being, the address he had told us was his house, was an apartment complex. We decided to just go knock a door. The apartments were filled with people from Congo Africa who said barely anyone spoke Spanish. On our way out, we talked to a 15 year old girl (who had RIDICULOUSLY poofy hair) and she told us her and her family were members! They had moved and the missionaries lost track of them. She took us to her apartment, and we met the happy family and we got them in touch with the branch again. They went to general conference the next day.
Cool beans.
The church is true!
Spanish Update: I'm doing alright speaking still. I'm learning all sorts of vocab and grammar rules every day, and I'm getting better by trying. Understanding: Still a struggle, good news is now I'm mostly in the ballgame. Before where it was a few key words, now I'm catching whole complete thoughts, and it's helped me a lot to be able to answer questions and make appropriate comments. A big help to this is just talking with the little kids at church. They use basic, easy, spanish and like to laugh and correct these old white guys when they mess up. Also, I listend to about 1/4 of conference in spanish. That helped, I think.
General Conference: Main thing I think about is the Book of Mormon. I add my thoughts to Elder Holland's. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY A FARM BOY WITH A 3RD GRADE EDUCATION COULD HAVE FABRICATED AND CREATED SUCH AN INTRICATE, INVOLVED, AND INSPIRED TEXT. There is no way in the short period he had, that a highly educated man in the 1800's could have done it. There is no way, save by the help of God, that anyone, could have translated a record, by nothing more than dim candlelight, and have that book be the means of bringing 13,000,000+ people to Christ and His restored gospel. How we don't emphasize this enough!
Also, I loved the talk on temperance. I don't think I'm temperate enough. I've had some really frustrating times this week, and sometimes I feel like busting into shards rather than enduring strong.
More thoughts: Prayer is a hard thing for me, because I have a hard time understanding answers that come. Don't worry, I always pray, and I feel strengthened from doing so, but sometimes I wish I could say "what's 1352624 x 264823" and hear the answer just as clear as a person talking to me. So maybe not a math problem, but say "Heavenly father, should I go here?" and hear "yes" or "no" Maybe it's cause I'm not turning my whole self over, maybe it's because we have to act to receive our answers. Whatever it is, I'm gonna figure it out, and pray harder and harder.
Well, I'm gonna run.
Thanks so much familiy. You mean so much to me. Thank you so much friends, you're awesome and I'm praying for you every day.
Elder Morgan
Transfers were this week, so guess what?
I'm still in Phoenix.
I'm with the same companions.
Nothing changed. So For another 6 weeks I'll be here in the Catalina Branch in Phoenix. Our area hasn't split or anything, so it'll be the same thing for at least 6 more weeks.
Nice good fun happy stuff: Hector, or Hermano Contreras, the ward mission leader, came up with a new nickname for me...and actually it's spreading through the ward, not sure if that's a good thing or not, but here it is Capitan (in spanish how hector says it Kah-Pee-Tahn) Yeah. they even suggested getting a pirate costume and an empty bottle so I can pose at the ward halloween party for all the ex-drinkers as their favorite mascot. I'm not sure how that would fly with my conscience though.
One of the first letters I got from a friend in the MTC mentioned the Lord's tender mercies. I like to link this trail of thought with "little miracles". When we do our best, and try our best, God shows us his tender mercies, by putting people in our lives, giving us a happy thought, and other numerous ways. This week we saw a few of those.
We were doing a D and P in a neighborhood (drive and pray) where we drive around praying for someone, then when we see people, we park, jump out and talk to them. We did that to one such fellow. John Emery, he spoke english, but told us it was a miracle we showed up. He was trying to contact a mormon church for a few months but didn't know how.
He'd noticed something different about our church and wanted it in his life. In our short 5 minute conversation he told us how he wanted to be a member and asked to listen to the missionaries. 3 days later, the english elders taught him, and he has a baptismal date set for the near future.
Tender Mercy #2: my second week here I took down someone's name and address, but we never got to visiting him, a few days ago we were in the area and tried to stop by his house. Problem being, the address he had told us was his house, was an apartment complex. We decided to just go knock a door. The apartments were filled with people from Congo Africa who said barely anyone spoke Spanish. On our way out, we talked to a 15 year old girl (who had RIDICULOUSLY poofy hair) and she told us her and her family were members! They had moved and the missionaries lost track of them. She took us to her apartment, and we met the happy family and we got them in touch with the branch again. They went to general conference the next day.
Cool beans.
The church is true!
Spanish Update: I'm doing alright speaking still. I'm learning all sorts of vocab and grammar rules every day, and I'm getting better by trying. Understanding: Still a struggle, good news is now I'm mostly in the ballgame. Before where it was a few key words, now I'm catching whole complete thoughts, and it's helped me a lot to be able to answer questions and make appropriate comments. A big help to this is just talking with the little kids at church. They use basic, easy, spanish and like to laugh and correct these old white guys when they mess up. Also, I listend to about 1/4 of conference in spanish. That helped, I think.
General Conference: Main thing I think about is the Book of Mormon. I add my thoughts to Elder Holland's. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY A FARM BOY WITH A 3RD GRADE EDUCATION COULD HAVE FABRICATED AND CREATED SUCH AN INTRICATE, INVOLVED, AND INSPIRED TEXT. There is no way in the short period he had, that a highly educated man in the 1800's could have done it. There is no way, save by the help of God, that anyone, could have translated a record, by nothing more than dim candlelight, and have that book be the means of bringing 13,000,000+ people to Christ and His restored gospel. How we don't emphasize this enough!
Also, I loved the talk on temperance. I don't think I'm temperate enough. I've had some really frustrating times this week, and sometimes I feel like busting into shards rather than enduring strong.
More thoughts: Prayer is a hard thing for me, because I have a hard time understanding answers that come. Don't worry, I always pray, and I feel strengthened from doing so, but sometimes I wish I could say "what's 1352624 x 264823" and hear the answer just as clear as a person talking to me. So maybe not a math problem, but say "Heavenly father, should I go here?" and hear "yes" or "no" Maybe it's cause I'm not turning my whole self over, maybe it's because we have to act to receive our answers. Whatever it is, I'm gonna figure it out, and pray harder and harder.
Well, I'm gonna run.
Thanks so much familiy. You mean so much to me. Thank you so much friends, you're awesome and I'm praying for you every day.
Elder Morgan
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
What do you get when September begins to end in Arizona?
Paradise. in Spanish: Paraíso.
Ok, so it's not exactly THAT awesome yet. But it is cooling down a TON. Only the high nineties today. What awesomeness. This morning we woke up at 4:00 so we could make it to an early morning temple trip. The Mesa temple is GORGEOUS inside and out. I have some pictures with Elder Moffitt too so I'll be sure to send those on the memory card soon.
So, now that it's cooling down, and sweat isn't coming off in buckets, tracting seems a bit more appealing. :) Rumor has it, the weather just gets better from here out. I remember President Lewis saying once you hit october, you're good until april
I picked up my bike today. It's a beast. and I mean that in the "suave cool sophisticated" way, not the "brute heavy ugly" way. It's a nice bike, and I got a good deal.
So, let me tell you about the week. It started at a thing called ZDM. In this, president reviewed our district numbers, talked, and some companionships did talks and trainings etc. I even got to do a discussion on why members are so important in lessons. So that was fun. President Bassett is SO awesome. He just knows EVERYTHING. I'm pretty sure he's high on the line-up to be an apostle/prophet some day. He's been a huge help and blessing.
How to kill a scorpion 101:
1) recognize there is a scorpion
2) recognize the scorpion is near
3) recognize there is a large stirring spoon even closer
4) take a firm hold of the large spoon
5) Hit scorpion with spoon
6) Repeat step 5 until dead, or you feel satisfied
there ya go mom! Love ya! By the way, at the temple this morning I ran into the missionaries that serve in Aunt Mel's ward. they were like "are you new?" "uh huh" "you know the Hodges?" "yup. aunt and uncle" "cool...they say hi" small mission huh? Also, the missionary who fell is all good. He has some INTENSE bandages, but he's alive, kicking, and already back into the work.
THE GONTH IS GOING TO BOISE!!!!! TREVOR you are totally going to OWN that place :) a bajizillion people are just waiting to be spiritually hit with what you have for them. 2 thumbs way way up.
At first, I thought about asking for a picture of Seralyn in her homecoming dress, then I realized that it'd be a HUGE distraction for my companions...however if you would like to send some family pictures (one with her included in dress), that's all I really need.
The work. Is good. We worked HARD this week. We had a ton of success, a ton of dissappointments. Even through dissappointment, the lord helps us and gives us strength. We had some investigators that fell through and don't want us to come over anymore, we extended some invitations to follow the example of Christ and be baptized and we were rejected, but I'm excited. Because 4 of those invitations were accepted. We have a family. Gustavo y fam. They all accepted to prepare to be baptized the 24th of october. We're really excited for them! Also, we had been teaching a guy named Pedro, and he was ready to get baptized but he was moving! so he "moved" then randomly showed up at church 2 weeks later and said the moving didn't work out. so he's all set to be baptized and receive the full pardon of his sins. That's why we're baptized. True it's for membership in the church, but really it's to apply the sacrifice that christ made for every one of us. I hope everyone remembers that.
This is already killer long, but I love you all, thanks for all your support. Thanks so much...so so much.
-Elder Morgan
Ok, so it's not exactly THAT awesome yet. But it is cooling down a TON. Only the high nineties today. What awesomeness. This morning we woke up at 4:00 so we could make it to an early morning temple trip. The Mesa temple is GORGEOUS inside and out. I have some pictures with Elder Moffitt too so I'll be sure to send those on the memory card soon.
So, now that it's cooling down, and sweat isn't coming off in buckets, tracting seems a bit more appealing. :) Rumor has it, the weather just gets better from here out. I remember President Lewis saying once you hit october, you're good until april
I picked up my bike today. It's a beast. and I mean that in the "suave cool sophisticated" way, not the "brute heavy ugly" way. It's a nice bike, and I got a good deal.
So, let me tell you about the week. It started at a thing called ZDM. In this, president reviewed our district numbers, talked, and some companionships did talks and trainings etc. I even got to do a discussion on why members are so important in lessons. So that was fun. President Bassett is SO awesome. He just knows EVERYTHING. I'm pretty sure he's high on the line-up to be an apostle/prophet some day. He's been a huge help and blessing.
How to kill a scorpion 101:
1) recognize there is a scorpion
2) recognize the scorpion is near
3) recognize there is a large stirring spoon even closer
4) take a firm hold of the large spoon
5) Hit scorpion with spoon
6) Repeat step 5 until dead, or you feel satisfied
there ya go mom! Love ya! By the way, at the temple this morning I ran into the missionaries that serve in Aunt Mel's ward. they were like "are you new?" "uh huh" "you know the Hodges?" "yup. aunt and uncle" "cool...they say hi" small mission huh? Also, the missionary who fell is all good. He has some INTENSE bandages, but he's alive, kicking, and already back into the work.
THE GONTH IS GOING TO BOISE!!!!! TREVOR you are totally going to OWN that place :) a bajizillion people are just waiting to be spiritually hit with what you have for them. 2 thumbs way way up.
At first, I thought about asking for a picture of Seralyn in her homecoming dress, then I realized that it'd be a HUGE distraction for my companions...however if you would like to send some family pictures (one with her included in dress), that's all I really need.
The work. Is good. We worked HARD this week. We had a ton of success, a ton of dissappointments. Even through dissappointment, the lord helps us and gives us strength. We had some investigators that fell through and don't want us to come over anymore, we extended some invitations to follow the example of Christ and be baptized and we were rejected, but I'm excited. Because 4 of those invitations were accepted. We have a family. Gustavo y fam. They all accepted to prepare to be baptized the 24th of october. We're really excited for them! Also, we had been teaching a guy named Pedro, and he was ready to get baptized but he was moving! so he "moved" then randomly showed up at church 2 weeks later and said the moving didn't work out. so he's all set to be baptized and receive the full pardon of his sins. That's why we're baptized. True it's for membership in the church, but really it's to apply the sacrifice that christ made for every one of us. I hope everyone remembers that.
This is already killer long, but I love you all, thanks for all your support. Thanks so much...so so much.
-Elder Morgan
Once Upon a Time....
Ok.
Famili
Friends
other aquaintances
random people on the street who I don't know but somehow managed to get their hands on this:
hey, you never know right?
Important stuff: PLEASE make sure everyone knows to write written mail addressed to ELDER SHAE D MORGAN (there are 3 elder morgans here) and I just found out that a couple pieces of mail were sent to a wrong elder morgan, and I don't know when I'll be able to get them cause he's up by flagstaff or something. Soooo, thanks!
Questions:Answered:
no it wasn't REALLY J-lo. She was this really nice hispanic lady we tracted into and taught a lesson. She wasn't super interested, but hey, I tracted into J-lo.
Our apartment is slowly healing from the infestation. we're getting them gone.
ok. now about the work, then cool stories. Whew so much to do!!!
So this week was interesting and hard. Mostly because we had a lot of people fall through. We had 2 baptismal dates, then we found out that Miguel started drinking again, and said that he wouldn't give it up, but he'd call us when he's ready. :( We also had to drop the other person we had with a date for baptism, because he won't come to church, and told us he realized he's perfect and doesn't need to repent or be baptized. He won't listen or accept the scriptures that say we all must be baptized, so, he's just not ready. one day...one day...
On the flip side! we found some great people. We ran into an older guy named Gustavo. gustavo said he wasn't really interested, but his son (Gustavo Jr) only plays video games all day and might be interested. Gustavo the yonger now is reading and studying the book of mormon, and even the dad and mom are asking questions about prophets and why the book of mormon is so important. So we have great hope for them.
Francisca update: she said she'll prepare herself to be baptized, but doesn't want a date yet. We went over to her hosue with a member. Hermana Fonseca. GOLD! Hermana F is really in the same boat as Francisca and could easily relate to everything that's going on in her life, we left and Hermana F stayed to "chat"! Members are the best tools. To those at home who are members: Just talk with your neighbors. Go with the missionaries, maybe you'll make a new friend.
Tell Garrett I love him. I bet it's been a heck of a week for him at the MTC. He'll love it.
I've been thinking alot about English Elders. The more I think, the more I think of how lucky they are. They can use language and express feelings and emotions and experiences. From day 1. I'm pretty jealous of the extra time they get to share the gospel. It also makes me want to learn spanish better so I can just DO IT, but it doesn't come in a week of study. Takes time, and I don't think I'll ever get as proficint in spanish as I am in english. (even though I can't spell words like proficint...or whatever) Lots of people rag on those speakin english. I'd like to rag on those raggers. The English missionaries get a LOT more done than the spanish elders. At least here. from day one they can communicate more and be less focused on words and more in touch with the spirit. My wish is that everyone who reads this part of this letter realizes that a call to Omaha Nebraska english speaking is JUST as important as one to Hong Kong. Anyone reading this with a call already who's thinking "I'm going english stateside, or just stateside" when people ask you where you're going and you say "Mesa Arizona" and they go "been there, seen that" you say "Darn right, and there are just as many souls there needing to be led to the Gospel as any other place in the world." I guess I'm making a big deal about this because I got it a lot before I left to come here, and I just wanted people to see my mission how I saw it. And now I see REALLY that it doesn't matter. So maybe next call announced to Idaho, or New Jersey, go up to that elder and be excited! because we should be! The gospel is going to all the world. The US is part of that world. :) ok I'm done with that. now...about the language...
Spanish update: I'm speaking pretty well, for a new guy. At least that's what they tell me. I'm still skeptical. "Why?" you may ask. MAYBE it's the funky looks I get from people still when I say something I THINK is spanish, but DEFINITELY doesn't work, or make sense. The other day I tried to tell someone that I thought their pet bird was WAY cool, and evidently I insulted it. yeah, I don't know how that works. Also, I don't understand mexican humor. Mainly because I don't think it exists, but they sure think it does.
Ok. SWEET story time/info about Phoenix.
All the water here tastes like dirt unless it's purchased. Even at the church buildings.
I'm actually getting a little tan.
I saw my first scorpian today.
I killed my first scorpian today. (it was in our house)
There are these VILE little candy things that are sugary, and then mixed with the sweet are ground up chiles (peppers) so it's a spicy sugar...it's nasty, but they swear I'll get used to it.
there are lots of pigeons here. they are as stupid as the movies make them seem
there are something like 10 drive-thru liquor stores here. yeah, DRIVE-THRU + LIQUOR shouldn't work out. America makes no sense.
Story time:THIS MORNING THE CRAZIEST THING HAPPENED! We woke up at 4:30 (ugh) to go climb Camelback Mountain (yes we had permiso) so we went and on the way down, we were waiting for the rest of the elders when suddenly! BAM four fire trucks, ambulance, rescue vehicles, and a lifeflight helicopter. I KNOW RIGHT?! intense...so an elder got a little anxious on the way down the mountain and was jogging a little too fast down a steep incline...tripped, head injury, cut up everywhere and a gash in his side. He was conscious through it all and in fact his first question was "is my camera alright?" Some of the missionaries with him are EMT's so they took care of him best they could until they could get him out, but that was SO intense! I have pictures and video of the helicopter and everything.
Moral: Don't run faster than you have the strength for. :)
Moral 2: Just cause your a missionary, doesn't make you invincible.
Thanks mom for the story, it's a good one. Thanks everyone for your support. I love and care about you all mucho.
-Elder Morgan
Famili
Friends
other aquaintances
random people on the street who I don't know but somehow managed to get their hands on this:
hey, you never know right?
Important stuff: PLEASE make sure everyone knows to write written mail addressed to ELDER SHAE D MORGAN (there are 3 elder morgans here) and I just found out that a couple pieces of mail were sent to a wrong elder morgan, and I don't know when I'll be able to get them cause he's up by flagstaff or something. Soooo, thanks!
Questions:Answered:
no it wasn't REALLY J-lo. She was this really nice hispanic lady we tracted into and taught a lesson. She wasn't super interested, but hey, I tracted into J-lo.
Our apartment is slowly healing from the infestation. we're getting them gone.
ok. now about the work, then cool stories. Whew so much to do!!!
So this week was interesting and hard. Mostly because we had a lot of people fall through. We had 2 baptismal dates, then we found out that Miguel started drinking again, and said that he wouldn't give it up, but he'd call us when he's ready. :( We also had to drop the other person we had with a date for baptism, because he won't come to church, and told us he realized he's perfect and doesn't need to repent or be baptized. He won't listen or accept the scriptures that say we all must be baptized, so, he's just not ready. one day...one day...
On the flip side! we found some great people. We ran into an older guy named Gustavo. gustavo said he wasn't really interested, but his son (Gustavo Jr) only plays video games all day and might be interested. Gustavo the yonger now is reading and studying the book of mormon, and even the dad and mom are asking questions about prophets and why the book of mormon is so important. So we have great hope for them.
Francisca update: she said she'll prepare herself to be baptized, but doesn't want a date yet. We went over to her hosue with a member. Hermana Fonseca. GOLD! Hermana F is really in the same boat as Francisca and could easily relate to everything that's going on in her life, we left and Hermana F stayed to "chat"! Members are the best tools. To those at home who are members: Just talk with your neighbors. Go with the missionaries, maybe you'll make a new friend.
Tell Garrett I love him. I bet it's been a heck of a week for him at the MTC. He'll love it.
I've been thinking alot about English Elders. The more I think, the more I think of how lucky they are. They can use language and express feelings and emotions and experiences. From day 1. I'm pretty jealous of the extra time they get to share the gospel. It also makes me want to learn spanish better so I can just DO IT, but it doesn't come in a week of study. Takes time, and I don't think I'll ever get as proficint in spanish as I am in english. (even though I can't spell words like proficint...or whatever) Lots of people rag on those speakin english. I'd like to rag on those raggers. The English missionaries get a LOT more done than the spanish elders. At least here. from day one they can communicate more and be less focused on words and more in touch with the spirit. My wish is that everyone who reads this part of this letter realizes that a call to Omaha Nebraska english speaking is JUST as important as one to Hong Kong. Anyone reading this with a call already who's thinking "I'm going english stateside, or just stateside" when people ask you where you're going and you say "Mesa Arizona" and they go "been there, seen that" you say "Darn right, and there are just as many souls there needing to be led to the Gospel as any other place in the world." I guess I'm making a big deal about this because I got it a lot before I left to come here, and I just wanted people to see my mission how I saw it. And now I see REALLY that it doesn't matter. So maybe next call announced to Idaho, or New Jersey, go up to that elder and be excited! because we should be! The gospel is going to all the world. The US is part of that world. :) ok I'm done with that. now...about the language...
Spanish update: I'm speaking pretty well, for a new guy. At least that's what they tell me. I'm still skeptical. "Why?" you may ask. MAYBE it's the funky looks I get from people still when I say something I THINK is spanish, but DEFINITELY doesn't work, or make sense. The other day I tried to tell someone that I thought their pet bird was WAY cool, and evidently I insulted it. yeah, I don't know how that works. Also, I don't understand mexican humor. Mainly because I don't think it exists, but they sure think it does.
Ok. SWEET story time/info about Phoenix.
All the water here tastes like dirt unless it's purchased. Even at the church buildings.
I'm actually getting a little tan.
I saw my first scorpian today.
I killed my first scorpian today. (it was in our house)
There are these VILE little candy things that are sugary, and then mixed with the sweet are ground up chiles (peppers) so it's a spicy sugar...it's nasty, but they swear I'll get used to it.
there are lots of pigeons here. they are as stupid as the movies make them seem
there are something like 10 drive-thru liquor stores here. yeah, DRIVE-THRU + LIQUOR shouldn't work out. America makes no sense.
Story time:THIS MORNING THE CRAZIEST THING HAPPENED! We woke up at 4:30 (ugh) to go climb Camelback Mountain (yes we had permiso) so we went and on the way down, we were waiting for the rest of the elders when suddenly! BAM four fire trucks, ambulance, rescue vehicles, and a lifeflight helicopter. I KNOW RIGHT?! intense...so an elder got a little anxious on the way down the mountain and was jogging a little too fast down a steep incline...tripped, head injury, cut up everywhere and a gash in his side. He was conscious through it all and in fact his first question was "is my camera alright?" Some of the missionaries with him are EMT's so they took care of him best they could until they could get him out, but that was SO intense! I have pictures and video of the helicopter and everything.
Moral: Don't run faster than you have the strength for. :)
Moral 2: Just cause your a missionary, doesn't make you invincible.
Thanks mom for the story, it's a good one. Thanks everyone for your support. I love and care about you all mucho.
-Elder Morgan
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