I ran in to a fence

Big new3s of the week - I drove into a fence. I was on the intersection of Grant and Main in Inkom. And i was trying to stop at this stop sign, and instead of stopping, the car skidded, started sliding, went through the intersection, and into the fence. I saw it coming...and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Hahahaha. It was actually really funny. I broke part of the fender, cracked part of the front of the car, broke the axle, bent the wheel...yeah. So. There that was. I have since given up driving.

The transfer was this week and now I only have two more. What. But it's been fun and we've been working SO HARD. Like, really really hard. I'm almost sure we had more lessons this week than we did all of last transfer. Yeah. We actually found a new investigator this week, too! So I was stoked about that cuz we've had next to nothing going on the past few weeks. So. That's cool. 

I'm with Sister Brewer and Hoffman, Brewer goes home in 9 days, that's crazy. She's from Tennessee. Hoffman is from Pittsburgh and has been out like five months. They're both stellar missionaries and I'm enjoying being with them. We laugh a lot. 

Here's another funny story - we went up to this door to knock, and Brewer goes to open the screen door...and the handle breaks off. We were dying. No one answered...so we just left. Oops. But it was so funny.

I love my mission. I've been thinking about that a lot these past few weeks. It's completely changed how I think about things. I'm still the same person. I'm still Morgan, but the way I think about things and what I see as important in life has completely changed. That's exactly what I needed. My mission has been perfect for me. I haven't been in leadership my entire mission, I haven't had the most numerical success, but it's been perfect for me. 

Merry Christmas, can't wait to talk to you this week! 

Love, Morgan

Uhh-ohh...

New comps:  Sisters Brewer and Hoffman

Inkom, Round 2. And 12 weeks left. - December 14, 2015

WHAT. 12 weeks left. Crazy.

This week was pretty good. IT SNOWED FINALLY. 

Transfer calls came, and I'm staying in Inkom. Sister Leon is going to Pocatello, and I'm getting two sisters. One is going home at the end of the month, and the other has been out about 4 months. So, that will be fun. Hopefully...we'll be able to find more people to teach, cus...we're kind of empty right now. But. That's ok.

So here's a funny story from the week - we were driving around Inkom, and we see this deer. It ran across the road. Then. A whole heard of like, 20 deer ran across the road. You know you've been in Idaho too long when a herd of deer run across the street...and it's funny. 

Anyway, Christmas is coming up and I'm super stoked. I'll talk to you then!

I always send Morgan some fun decorations

She found some ice

Friends at Zone Conference 

More Zone Conference

Beautiful Inkom

I was ill - December 7, 2015

I was ill this week. It was horrible. I kept getting really, really hot and then really, really cold and i was nauseous and it was just gross. But. I am better!

We had zone conference this week and it was awesome! I got to see a ton of my friends and that was fun. Sister Wooten straight up gave me a quesadilla maker for Christmas, haha. So then we had our Christmas talent show. And...well, I'll sing you the song I did when I get home. It was hilarious and everyone was laughing. It was a fantastic conference. I learned a lot.

Yesterday was just a fantastic day. We were sitting in Sacrament meeting, and I just felt..amazing. Taking the sacrament is the best part of the week. The chapel doors are literally the start and finish lines to my week. I love it. You know, I really wasn't that great of a person before my mission. I wasn't. But because of the Savior and because the sacrament, I can be better. I can start over each week. And that's fantastic. 

Thanks for everything you guys do, I really appreciate it. I love Idaho so much and I'm stupid happy to be here. Have a great week!

Morgan

Post Thanksgiving Thanks - November 30, 2015

This week was awesome! Thanksgiving was THE BEST. It snowed so much the night before, so the roads were covered. It was so cold! I LOVE THE COLD. It's the best. And the snow. So, obviously..we went to a church parking lot and spun a few donuts and drifted a bit. Don't worry, we didn't get into any accidents!

But..then...i got stuck in a ditch/tree thing. Driving up in Pocatello. Oops. It was so funny though. So it was worth it.

Dinner was great. I spent it with one family i met in Tyhee that I absolutely love, so that was good. We had so much fun. That evening, our zone met at the mission office building and we played Murder in the Dark. That was so funny. There were about 30ish people there. So, thanksgiving was thanksgave and it was the best.

We had a really cool lesson this week with a family we've been teaching. The parents aren't members, but the kids were baptized last year some time. We read 2 Nephi 2 with them, and it was absolutely amazing. There was such a warm, peaceful feeling while reading that. It's stuff like that that makes missions worth it. I felt like I was on fire. I absolutely love the Book of Mormon and i love the peace that it brings. 

We have a busy week this week with zone conference, zone meetings, etc. Should be fun. 

Anyway, have a good week! Love you,

Morgan

Giving thanks while thanking gives and give thanksgive and...thanksgave - November 23, 2015

It's thanksgiving this week. If you didn't know that. Hahahaha. 

Ok i worked really hard on that subject line...thanks for putting up with me.

Anyway. This week was pretty good! A lot of good things are happening in Inkom. Tonight, we have a  lesson with a new investigator. She's 11 years old, has been to church a ton of times, and wants to be baptized and her parents finally gave her permission! So that's pretty exciting. 

Last night, we had dinner with a family that had six boys and one girl. We were giving a spiritual thought and talked about how we can obey the commandments. The one year old girl got up and started talking, and her brother interrupted. She turned around, pointed at him, and said, "Go to your bed now!!" It was hilarious. 

I got my trunky email this week. WHAT. That's dang crazy. It has gone by so stupid fast. Last year at this time, I was pretty sure I would be a missionary forever. And now the end is in sight and that's really, really weird. 

I love this time of year. I love how happy everyone is. Thanksgiving is the best. This week, remember all the blessings you have that you can be grateful for. Gratitude makes a huge difference. 

Also, I was looking over emails I sent like, a year ago...I'm sorry my emails have gotten progressively shorter. Much shorter. The days all feel the same. 

LOVE YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Stinkom - November 16, 2015

Hi!

This week in Inkom was good. We're kicking butt, teaching all sorts of lessons, and trying to find new people. There aren't that many new people in Inkom, because it's so small. But that's the hard/fun part. Inkom is a really, really hard area. It's tiny. But that's the fun part. I really, really kind of like Inkom a lot, because it's so difficult. It's so pretty here, too. 

We've had some bomb lessons this week. We taught this lady from Bulgaria and she had a TON of questions. It was so cool to be able to answer all her questions from the scriptures. She had some really hard questions too. But that was cool.

My companion is Sister Leon. She's so sweet and adorable and little. She's been out 11 months so that's cool. She's even served in Inkom before, for six months. So she knows everyone. Everyone. That's super helpful.

So I lost my camera charger, that's why I haven't sent any pictures for a while...my bad.

Anyway, i love you guys! It's starting to snow here and I LOVE IT. I LOVE THE SNOW AND THE COLD. I can finally wear my winter hats. And good socks. I love the cold so much.

love you!

Morgan

I've decided. I never want to relive transfer 10 again. - November 2, 2015

So, big news of the week. I got Emergency Transferred...yet again. Right back to my old area in Marsh Valley. Well, technically right now I'm in Inkom with the sisters there. But some people went home and stuff...so I got sent right back to where I was. So. Yeah. 

At this point, I'm just mentally exhausted from changing every two weeks. It starts to take a toll on you. Good gracious. 

Halloween was pretty fun though. I was still in Grace at that point, so we went to Soda Springs and hung out with missionaries there. We watched "The Cokeville Miracle" and that was fun. We just messed around for a few hours. At one point, one elder climbed up to the top of the basketball hoop in the gym and was swinging from that. So there that was. Haha.

Anyway, endurance. That's the name of the game at this point...haha. But that's when you really grow. Pushing forward even when mentally, you have nothing left, is dang difficult. But that's when you really grow. I came on my mission to grow, so..I guess I'm getting what I asked for. And that's ok.

Anyway. Love  you guys! have a good week

I'm So Tired - October 26, 2015

As I approach 14 months of being a missionary....i'm so tired. I kind of feel like I've hit a wall of some sorts. I honestly don't know how I'll have the energy to do four more months. But. Somehow, I'll be able to do it. I don't know how, but I'm just going to do it.

Anyway, Grace is awesome. It's such a cute little town. I'm turning into a hick out here. The truck we have is my favorite thing to drive. I have camo shorts. Farming sounds like fun. Mom, I know this may disappoint you, but I LOVE IT HERE. Haha. 

I really wanted to talk more about what I've learned this week. I mean, it was a good week workwise, but I just want to tell more about what I've been learning. 

So, i'm on this kick where I'm reading all of the epistles in the New Testament...backwards. So I started with Jude, and then John, and then Peter, etc. So this week I finished Colossians. I highly recommend it, it's a fantastic book. Paul's writing this epistle to those in Colosse to show that sanctification really only comes through unification with Christ. So he just goes to town telling us how to do that. I absolutely love what he says in chapter 3:9-10, "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." I've been working all my mission to put off the "old man" that I was before my mission. I just..i never want to be that person again. Because of this whole experience, I've been made into something completely different. A new man, as it says in verse 10. I can't return to who I was. And that's really ok. I love my mission and everything I've been able to gain from it. It's fantastic. 

This week we were able to see a couple who, by the looks of it, had a rough past. At first glance, the husband looks pretty scary. But. We started talking about stuff they need to do to be sealed in the temple, and they just glowed. They've still got some stuff to overcome, but they're on the right track. They read scriptures when things get hard. They text each other quotes and scriptures and stuff throughout the day. I have so much respect for them. They get it. They understand the gospel. It can change lives. It's changing their lives right now. It was such a cool experience.

Anyway, hope yall have a great week. I love Grace, I love my companions, and I love being a missionary. See ya!

The District

She's liking it in Grace

Still likes Halloween!!

Something about Quesadillas... October 19, 2015

Quote attributed to one of my new companions, Sister Dominguez.

Well, big news of the week. I was ETed to Grace! I'm now in a trio with Sister Dominguez and Sister Hunkin. Basically, it's been a party since Friday. I spent most of the week in Soda Springs on a five day long exchange, and then got sent to Grace on Friday morning. I'm about 100% happier here, I love my life, and WE HAVE A TRUCK. I love driving that thing. 

So Janice Hall got baptized this week! She's the 92 year old I've been talking about. She actually turned 92 on her baptism day. It was such a cool thing to be a part of. She looked so adorable. She was terrified of water, but she did it. Dang. That was one of the coolest baptisms I've seen.

The other day, after I went to Grace, my comps and I were in a lesson and were going to share a scripture. All three of us happen to open to the same scripture, Mormon 9:21, which states, "Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth." I love that scripture. It's fantastic. And, it was perfect to share with them. It's true, though, when we completely rely on Christ, miracles can happen. So that was legit.

Last night, I was asked to play violin at a music fireside in Pocatello. That was so much fun. I love playing violin at stuff. I played "Savior, Redeemer of my Soul." I got the music Saturday, and then played it Sunday. So. There that was. Sometimes, I think they (meaning the other missionaries who set up the fireside) have too much confidence in my abilities..but it went really well anyway. It was a lot of fun.

Anyway, love you all!

Janice's baptism

She likes the truck...

They have fun...

Morgan didn't have much to say - October 12, 2015

We did a ton of service this week. Like helping pour concrete and brain tanning a deer hide. So that was legit. 

This is the pile of cats that live at our house. How many cats are there? Exactly one pile. 

Week 2 in the middle of nowhere - October 5, 2015

So, biggest news of the week. Bob got baptized on Tuesday! I got to go up to his baptism, and oh sweet mercy it was the coolest thing I've ever seen on my mission. Seriously. That man is amazing. It was one of the coolest experiences to be able to see where he was 4 months ago and see him when he went into the water. I'll never forget that. Never. It was fantastic. 

I got sick on Saturday night and upchucked everywhere! It was gross. So I stayed home Sunday and listened to conference then. I feel better now. 

We've still got a ton of work to do. We have a ton of lists that have part member families, unbaptized youth, etc that we're just going through. Especially for the Arimo/Downey side of the area. So that's been fun.

We're teaching this 92 year old lady named Janice and she's getting baptized on the 15th. So that's exciting. 

Anyway, have a great week!

Bob and his wife Tammy at his baptism

Bob - Morgan was sure excited about this baptism!!

Chief Pocatello

Transferred out of Pokey!

The Sisters and Hermanas make a road trip

Yellowstone 

Road tripping with the Sisters and Hermanas!

My guess is that this is on the return trip.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming - It is a rule that you stop and take pictures at the arch.

And all the way into Montana!!

Welcome to McCammon, population...no one.

I thought Ucon was small? Yeah. No. Not even close. Ucon was a thriving metropolis compared to Marsh Valley. 

So, in my new area, we cover every small town from McCammon on down to Swan Lake. We have Lava Hot Springs (pronounced Laava, if you say it normal, the locals get mad..), McCammon (only cowboys live here), Arimo (population 300), Virginia (no one actually lives here), Downey (it has 2 gas stations!!!), and Swan Lake (I think 10 houses are there). So. Yeah. It's a beautiful area though! It's so cool. There's just nothing there...hahaha. But that's ok. We cover a stake and a half (Arimo stake and the McCammon part of McCammon stake) and there's so much to do. There's basically no work going on in Arimo stake right now, and there's not much to go off of. There aren't many records and stuff, so we're basically whitewashing into that part of the stake. So. There's SO MUCH to do. It's going to be fun :)

Anyway, I'm super stoked for tomorrow. Bob's getting baptized!!! I'm soooo so so excited. 

Pocatello was dang hard to leave. I miss it already. It was hard to say bye to some of the people here. Friends, other missionaries, my compa...yeah. It sucked. But. I'm supposed to be here for a reason, so I'll stay in McCammon.

Hmm. What else? We set a baptism date with a 92 year old lady in one of our wards this week. She's so....grumpy. But. She wants to be baptized, so that's cool! It's for October 15th, her birthday. So. Yeah. There's that.

anyway, that's what's going on this week. Love you!

Then I emailed her really quick and reminded her that she gave me no information about her new companion!!  She responded:

Her name is sister Hansen, she's been out six weeks longer than me and She's from Georgia! Another georgia comp haha

oh goodness we have sooooooooooooooo much work to do. there's absolutely nothing going on in arimo stake right now. But we have a good plan and we're going to baptize people there!

Bob Hensley's baptism is tomorrow. I am SO EXCITED!!!!!!!! I get to go back for it. Bob has the coolest story. Thank you so much for praying for him.

It smells like pumpkin and burnt chicken - September 21, 2015

Quote attributed to one of my favorite companions and one of the best people I've met on my mission, Hannah Wooten.

So. Transfers. They're whitewashing our area and I'm going to McCammon. Wooten is going to Ammon. I do not want to leave Tyhee. I don't want to leave my companion. I absolutely do not want to leave Pocatello. This town, this dinky, dirty, old town, is my favorite place in the entire world. We got calls on Thursday around 4 and I sobbed on the couch for an hour. I don't want to leave at all. This has been the most fun, most enjoyable, greatest six weeks of my life. I love Pocatello with everything I have and it literally feels like my heart is being ripped out and smashed to pieces. Well, not really. But. Yeah. That's what transfers this go around feel like. And I only have four left. They go by so fast. I'm going to miss the everliving heck out of Pocatello, Sister Wooten, all my friends here, the people in my area, Bob (who's doing great, by the way!!!), all that stuff. Yeah. That's kind of how I feel right now. 

But you know, I'm grateful for the time I had here. I didn't exactly enjoy Poky west. So I feel like Tyhee was my second chance at loving Pocatello and I did it this time around. I learned how to love something that I didn't want to. So I'm incredibly grateful for that. I'm grateful for everyone I've met here. I'm grateful for all the companions I've had here. I'm grateful for my other missionary friends I have here. I love the Hermanas, the north sisters, everyone. I love this place, and Tyhee has definitely made my mission. It's been my favorite area. 

On a different, not so depressing note...

Bob is doing so well! I'll be able to go to his baptism!! He asked me to play violin at it. So. I have to go now :) Haha. We finished lesson four with him yesterday and went over the baptism interview questions. He passed with flying colors :) At least, with us. So all he has to do is be taught the last lesson, actually have his real interview, and he's set. Guys, he's made so much progress and it's been one of the coolest miracles to see on my mission. I've loved being a small part of that. We didn't really do anything, but it was cool to be a part of. 

Anyway. Wish me luck this week. It's going to be hard to leave. 

Love you!

"Every Country Song sounds the same...

It consists of about 6 things - a girl, beer, tractors, fishing, momma, and something about a railroad."

- Sister Wooten

September 7, 2015  "Did I tell you about the time I shut down a 6 lane freeway?"

Quote attributed to Sister Brown. She's funny. She's one of the spanish sisters in Pocatello.

Anyway, this week has been a pretty good one! So, the past few weeks, we've been teaching a 76 year old man named Bob. Bob's wife is a member, but less active. Last year on Easter, she wanted to go to church, so he went with her. And he's been going with her ever since! Missionaries have taught him for a while, but he just started progressing a few weeks ago. Yesterday, we were teaching him about the Gospel of Jesus Christ (faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the holy ghost, and enduring to the end). And....HE SET HIS OWN BAPTISM DATE!!! He just brought it up himself and asked if he could do that! Uhhh...ABSOLUTELY. So he's getting baptized on the 29th at 5:00!!! If you could, and I would seriously appreciate it, pray your guts out for him. He needs it. He's an awesome, awesome man. I'm so excited for him.

This week we also visited another part member family. The wife is a member, and they have 4 children all under the age of four. They all used me as a human jungle gym. Good gracious. At one point, I had one kid on my arm, pointing a toy gun into my eye, another was on my other arm, sawing it off with a plastic toy saw, and another one was hanging onto my ankles. It was so funny. They were adorable. I asked the four year old how old he was, and he responded, "Nine o'clock." HAHAHAHA. I laughed so hard. He was also really intrigued by my watch. I wish I could have as much energy as they had...good gracious. 

OH OH OH I burned stuff for my year mark this week! I had a holey shirt (seriously, those holes were huuuuuge) and my cast because that thing STANK to high heaven. Good gracious. It was disgusting. So I burned them in celebration of spending one year as a missionary. BEST YEAR EVER!

We're going to Yellowstone next week! We're leaving at like, 5 in the morning and we'll get back around 6. I'm so excited. I'll probably email at some point during that day, but I don't exactly know. Anyway. Love you guys! I love my life, I love the work, and I love the gospel. It's the best and I'm excited for these last six months I have. 

September 14

Quote attributed to mylovely compa, Sister Wooten. (the quote is the title of this entry)

This is an early email! We're on our way to Yellowstone at the moment. I am SO EXCITED. We woke up at four and left by five. We're on our way to Jackson right now. So that's going to be fine!

Also this week a sister who I trained for a week cut and dyed my hair. She was a cosmetologist before the missionary she did a DANG good job! I'm blonde now and I look fabulous. 

So this week was pretty awesome! A lot of cool things happened. We got to do a big service project at a farm and I picked sweet corn! Oh man. That was SO much fun. We were riding over to the corn field in a little trailer thing, and I was sitting next to Sister Vargas (coolest person ever) and we were eating raw corn, laughing our heads off, getting mean mugged by then kid sitting in front of us. And then we picked a ton of corn and we got to take some home. I love corn. 

Bob is doing AWESOME. we taught him yesterday and he lesson went really well. He is getting really excited. It's cool to see this happen, but we literally did nothing. Nothing. It wasn't us that helped Bob get to this point. A bunch of people from the ward have talked about it to us, but we haven't done anything except teach him. It's not me, it's the Lord. And that's the best part :) 

It's been a great week. I love my life, I have the best friends, I know the church is true. I love yall!

Morgan

Ps. Sorry about the yall....when you spend 24/7 with someone with a strong southern accent, it happens.

Morgan's new, blond makeover

One the way to Yellowstone

On the way to Yellowstone with Sister Wooten

Someone texted me this picture this week.  I have no other explanation!!

"I could spend eternity with him! He's not my first cousin..." - September 1, 2015

Quote attributed to my companion, Sister Wooten. She's my favorite. I love that kid. 

I didn't email yesterday because we had a zone conference/mission tour thing in which a member from the quorum of the seventy came and talked to us.

This past week was kinda momentous. I'm sending this email to several people because I have a ton of thoughts about that..so yeah. 

I've spent the last year of my life as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. And I'll be honest with you, it's been the hardest year of my life. I've never cried so much (ha! see? i'm not a robot!!!), felt so low, been through so much heartache, yet I've never felt so much happiness, I've never felt so loved, and I've never felt like I've been doing something so incredibly worthwhile in my entire life. This has literally been the best year of my life. Not only that, it's been the best year for my life. I'm glad I've got six more to be able to give everything I have and work as hard as I can. I honestly can't believe it's gone this fast. 

I'll be honest again, I really didn't like being a missionary until about 5 or so months ago. About that time, a wise friend counseled me to just forget about myself. I did just that, and I've never been happier. I made the decision to just work, and I completely forgot about myself and I forgot about the whole decision until like 4 weeks after that. I still make mistakes, I still make a lot of mistakes. I make mistakes like, about 1000 times a day. But I'm getting there. I'm working on it. And I have the time to work on my weakness by forgetting about myself. And that's a miracle. 

I absolutely love being a missionary. I love the gospel. I love my life. I feel so sorry for everyone who doesn't have my life, because my life is AWESOME. My mission has completely changed my life. This year has been the absolute best year ever. I'm so tired, all the time. I'm so flipping tired. But I'm so happy! It's so weird. I'm so stupid happy all the time.

Anyway. Those are my thoughts on being out a year.

So here's the stuff from the week. 

So......we picked up a cat on Saturday night. Hahahaha. After dinner on Saturday, we saw a kitten by a fence and I called to it..and she came to me. Wooten told me to pick it up, so I did..and we took it with us. We drove off. We fled the scene of the crime. We kept her with us for a few hours and then took her back. See, it's against the rules to keep pets, but we didn't keep her...so..yeah. That works. She was so adorable though. I miss that kitty.

To celebrate my year mark, my comp and I decided to do something incredibly stupid. We went to Pizza Hut (mistake #1) and ordered this pizza with basically pigs in a blanket as a crust (mistake #2). And then we ate a slice (mistake #3-7). I highly recommend NEVER doing that. EVER. EVER. Don't ever do that. We had fun though....so that's what counts. 

I can't remember too much..it's been a long week and I'm still pretty tired. But we had fun. 

Love you! ALSO HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!

ONE YEAR CELEBRATION!!

This steak is as big as my head!

Zone Conference

We found a kitty!!

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????