Pocatello Mortuary, would like to deliver a body today or tomorrow? - August 24, 2015

Quote attributed to my daughter, Sister Bell. Love that kid.

This week has been pretty good! We've been super busy. We've been walking around, talking to everyone, doing fun stuff, proselyting at garage/yard sales, stuff like that.

We saw Juan this week! He and his daughter were outside. She kept asking for stickers, but we didn't have any. But. We had pictures of Jesus! So we gave her one and she proceeded to ask for seven more to give to all her family members. Haha. It was so cute. 

We're also seriously teaching this guy in one of our wards named Bob. He's 76, he's been meeting with missionaries for the past few years, and I don't know what's different this time, but something's starting to click with him! He's progressing towards baptism and it's so cool to see. So dang cool.

I hit my year mark this week...I'm not sure how I feel about that. It's weird. I only have six months left, and then I have to go back to the real world... I don't really know how to be a normal person anymore. I don't. And it kindof freaks me out knowing that this whole thing will be over in six months. It's gone wayyyyy too fast. But, it's been the best experience of my life and I'm happy to be here.

Love you!

have a good week

Confession. I slept for 20 minutes in the closet when I went upstairs. - August 16, 2015

Quote attributed to my new companion, Sister Wooten. She's from Georgia and she's about the funniest thing that's ever walked the planet. I've never laughed so much as I have in the past few weeks. She's been out 10.5 months and we're co-training Sister Bell (who's also the funniest person to walk the planet and from Kansas City, Missouri) and at the moment, we're covering both the Pocatello North stake and Tyhee. Boy howdy. We've basically had a party the past few days. We've worked hard, seen some cool stuff, and had SO MUCH FUN. Dang. 

So it was kind of hard to say bye to Sister Samanez. I absolutely love that kid. She's an amazing missionary, an amazing person, and she has the strongest testimony ever. She's one of the greatest people I've ever met on my mission and I really enjoyed serving with her. I learned so much from her.

Covering two stakes has been fun. The other day we were just walking around this trailer park, laughing and talking to everyone we saw. Not too many crazy things happened, but it was cool. We met a girl who had been going to mutual for nearly 8 years and wanted to go to church and maybe be baptized. We met a guy who's wife just died and wanted us to come back later. We got a referral for a 9 year old that wants to be baptized. A lot of amazing miracles have happened this week, and it was so cool to be a part of. We've had a lot of deep conversations (in my companionship) and we've learned a lot from each other. It's been such a fun week, I can't even right now. 

I love you all! you're the best

Morgan's new trio - Sister Wooten and Sister (Hermana) Bell - not sure why Morgan is training and Hermana.

They will teach ANYONE!!  This mannequin is pretty gross looking - his hand???

Not sure why there were so many packing peanuts, but they enjoyed them

With Journey - saying goodbye to Sister Samanez.  Journey is Morgan's cousin!!

.

I'm the Queen of Pocatello. And I'm a Mom - August 10, 2015

Thats right, i'm staying in Poky! And i'm training (well, second half training) a new missionary! That is..until another sister comes back to the mission. But i'm training nonetheless!! I'm so happy i'm staying in Pocatello. I'll miss the junk out of sister Samanez, but i'm happy i'm staying here. I love Pocatello. Out of all the missionaries that got here in February, I've been here the longest. Well, I have to stay at least one more transfer after next. And then I'll be the queen of pocatello. YEEEEEEAHHHH!!!!

In other news, Sister Warren is going home today..I don't want to talk about it. I was doing pretty well until this morning. When your best friend goes home, it's like...the saddest thing in the world. So. There's that. 

I just keep getting reminded how little time I actually have left. I've got five transfers, and they go by soooo fast. This transfer has gone by so fast. I absolutely love my mission and I never want to go home. My mission is the best thing that's happened to my life and I don't want it to end at all. Its been such a great experience. I love it. 

This week was kind of a downer, work-wise..a few people dropped us, our investigator couldn't get baptized because her anti-mormon family got super mad at her, among other things. But. It's been good. I still love being here. 

Anyway. I love you all!!

TWO WEEKS OF POSTS FROM MORGAN - July 27, 2015 and August 2, 2015

Greetings from Jenni (Morgan's Mom).  We were on vacation the past 2 Monday's so today's post is her last 2 communications with us.  Also, remember that she is not emailing much due to her cast.  However, she is handwriting us and that letter is included here also - so really you are getting 3 different communications from here in this post!   YAY!!  Also, Rozzie was traveling to Salt Lake City to meet up with us and she spent a night in Pocatello at Aunt Karen's house.  She was able to see Morgan and go with her to meet and teach people.  Rozzie enjoyed her time with Morgan so much.  Karen reported to us how much she loves having Morgan in her area and that Morgan visits with them each Monday and teaches lessons to Karen's granddaughter, Journey.  Karen says that Morgan is a great teacher for Journey.  What a great blessing for all of us!!  While we were at our family reunion, we took some time to write to our family missionaries:  Morgan and Tyler Smith (Guatemala).  Morgan got 26 letters in the mail and it MADE HER DAY!!!

Hand written letter dated July 20, 2015

Hey Mom!

So really though.  This week was been SO CRAZY.  I have never laughed, cried, felt so happy, and laughed so much in my entire life.  

Wednesday was one of the best days of my mission.  The Spanish sisters didn't have a car, so we drove them to their lessons.  On was in Spanish.  OK.  I had no idea what was going on.  Literally, no idea.  We were reading from the Book of Mormon (in Spanish) and I really wanted to contribute.  So, I prayed real quick, and when it was my turn to read, I could read perfectly!  It was amazing!  I still had no idea what was going on, but it was cool :)  We then went to this Filipino lady's house was it was so low (the ceiling) that I could tough it without reaching.  Score.  Earlier in the day, we had a church tour with one of our investigators.  We talked a lot about our own experiences with baptism, the Church, etc. and it was one of the most spiritual experiences of my life.  It was so cool.

So, here's a story.  On Saturday (again with the Hermanas), we went to help this one lady they were teaching who was moving into her newly remodeled garage/house thing.  There was so. much. junk.  Oh goodness gracious.  (I interject here to say that this is an example of the pot calling the kettle black.)  We cleaned so hardcore.  We threw away about 5-7 rusted cheese graters.  And several moonshine bottles.  But we made the place look good.  The lady we were helping was...pretty fried.  She was on a ton of meds and you could tell she had a hard life.  As we served her though, I came to love her.  She was kinda crazy, but she was awesome.  I mean at one point, we even went out and found her a lighter to use because she was freaking out becuase her lighter wasn't working (by freaking out, I mean freaking out).  She was awesome.  We left around 3 so we could get some things done before dinner.  The Hermanas went back that evening to check on her (she had been having some crazy health problems earlier), and she had passed away a short while after we left.  Like, we had just seen her.  That was quite the shock.  There were a lot of tears, mostly because it was a crazy shock to all of us.  

I realized something that night, and it was the hardest realization I've had on my mission.  I cannot change people, no matter how hard I try.  The lady we served - we tried so hard to serve and love her.  But...we couldn't change her.  We couldn't have prevented anything.  With everyone I've ever taught, will teach, and am teaching, I cannot change them unless they choose to do so.  I don't know why I felt/realized that when I did, but I do know that even though I can't change people, and people's choices will always have consequences (both positive and negative depending on the choice), I still serve people because, 1) I love them, and 2) I'm happy because of it.  I couldn't change the outcome of this lady's life, but I could serve her and come to love her.  I could, for a few hours, help her have a fantastic few last hours on this earth.  And that is what true happiness is.  I absolutely love my mission.  I love figuring things like this out.  Even though it's been hard, heart-wrenching, and emotionally draining, I love my life.  I love my mission.  I've never been happier in my entire life.  This experience is changing me.  I'm consistantly out of my comfort zone, but it's how I'm growing.  I love you guys and I'm so thankful to be sharing some of the experiences with you.  

Love, Morgan

PS - The Talberg Family Reunion shirt you sent is AWESOME!  THank you!  I have it on P-Day and SIster Vargas asked me where I got it.  I said you (mom) sent it, and she replied, "Dang, your mom is swag!"  Haha

Yo No Habla Espanol - July 27, 2015

Yet, everyone thinks i do. Somehow, i got roped into singing at a SPANISH baptism in SPANISH. somehow, it worked out. somehow, people think i'm fluent in spanish and..i'm just going along with it. 

this week has been awesome!! it was cool seeing roz. it was really fun being able to go out with her. she did a good job talking to people. and i'm glad she could meet my friends...even though they're kinda crazy. haha. i love them. 

i'll send you a real letter this week! just know that i'm super happy and i love my life and i love being a missionary and my hand doesn't really hurt anymore!

love you!

I LOVE MY LIFE - August 2, 2015

hi smith family this is sister samanez, your beautiful daughter companion's and i just want to tell you how much i love her and how greatful i am to have her her im IPM

That was from my awesome companion. she is AWESOME.

So! This week has been pretty dang good. We did a ton of service, which is my favorite. I also have two more weeks left on my cast...so that's good! 

But we've cleaned out someone's shop, volunteered at a basketball tournament, cleaned someone's house, cleaned someone's backyard, etc. So much service. but it's been a lot of fun. So that's good :)

We should have a baptism this saturday! im so excited, and she's so ready! her name is elsa. She is super spiritual and she loves coming to church. So, hopefully (and with a ton of prayers) everything will work out this saturday!

anyway, have a good week! love you! I LOVE MY LIFE

Celebrating a birthday with the Hermanas at Buffalo Wild Wings

Rozzie visits the Sisters and Hermanas

Sisters (literally)

WHY DO WE NEED TO TOUCH THE TARANTULA????