Double Whammy - February 2 & 9, 2015

Anyone who feels inclined to write, her address is listed to the right on this blog!!

Hi!

A lot of things happened this week. Which is good.

Yvonne got baptized this weekend! It was such a good service and experience. There were like, over 40 people there. Some were her family, and a lot were from her ward. Which is awesome. Convert baptisms should have a ton of people there. But, after she got out of the font after being baptized, her mom told us that all she could say was "Wow, mom. Wow. Just...wow." So cool. I love Yvonne. She was so prepared and ready.

Teaching Yvonne

Did I ever tell you about Aaron? So, we have another investigator getting baptized this weekend. His name is Aaron, and he's 9 years old.  The bishop called us up, asked if we could teach Aaron (because he's technically a convert - a convert baptism is a baptism of someone over the age of 8) and help him get ready for that. So we did just that. And now he's getting baptized this Saturday. We literally did nothing to find him, and God gave this to us. It's amazing what can happen when we're working hard, being obedient, and trying to find people. We're definitely blessed.

Here's a funny story from this week. So on Thursday, we had interviews with mission president. I also woke up and I was super nauseous. My companion made me eat oatmeal, even though I didn't want to. So, we were sitting in the training the APs were giving, and all the sudden, I look at my companion, and I said I needed to leave. So I walk quickly out to the foyer of the church building we're in, grab a trash can, and go outside so everyone inside doesn't hear/see me. Well. At the same time, the other district in my zone drives up, just in time to see me empty the contents of my stomach into the trash can. It's actually pretty funny now. During the moment, not so much. I stayed in bed for like, a day and a half because I still felt horrible. It's over now, so that's good.

So, I love my companion. SWarren and I are pretty much best friends. She is literally one of my favorite people on planet earth. When I was sick, she got me saltines. When I'm running late in the mornings, she'll make me an egg or make my bed. Seriously, I've learned so much about charity and loving people from her, and I am so grateful to have SWarren as my companion. We tell stories all the time. Like when we're driving, one of us will give the other a story topic and we tell stories. We have fun.

We have another busy week coming up. It's good to be busy. I love my mission, it's changing me every day. It's hard, but I wouldn't have learned the things I'm learning without being here. Preach My Gospel says that our attitude towards our mission experience is a direct reflection of our feelings towards Christ and Heavenly Father. The mission isn't always going to be super easy and easy to love doing, but when I remind myself of this (how our attitude reflects our love for God), things just work and I'm happier.

Anyway.Have a good week! Love you!
morgan

Things that matter - Morgan has tiny hands

February 9, 2015

Hey! We had another successful week here. It was busy, it went fast, and we did a lot of good. 

Our investigator Aaron was baptized this past Saturday.  After his grandpa was baptized, I don't think there was a dry eye in the room. It was so amazing. But, Aaron was so so so so excited. He kept jumping up and down before he got into the font. We were able to teach him everything in a two week span, which is pretty difficult, but we did it. He was so much fun to teach and to see get baptized. 

Here's a story from last week I forgot to tell. So, last Sunday, we went with our recent converts Johanna and Kaiden to church. They went alone (without anyone but us) so they were kind of nervous. Someone usually always goes with them. So, we decided to go. Oh man. That was the most fun I've ever had at church. SWarren and I felt like an actual family with trying to get them to whisper, to sit still, to not tickle each other, etc. But, it was so much fun. Kaiden brought a notebook and he started drawing a picture of Jesus as soon as he sat down. After sacrament meeting, all these people came up to them and invited them to primary and to take them to their classes and everything. They were both super excited, and they said that they weren't nervous anymore. But really, it was so much fun. 

We were teaching them this week as well, and halfway through our lesson, they decided they wanted to be the missionaries. So, they took our tags, our scriptures, and, most importantly, our planners and started teaching us. For some reason, kids love our planners. But, it was the cutest thing ever. That was definitely the best lesson I've ever taught on my mission. I absolutely loved it.

Another funny story from this week - we were teaching a family about prayer. And we usued this analogy (I can't remember how it had to do with prayer), and we said, "Imagine that you know that everyone in America is going to be kidnapped by Canadians." And then the 12 year old that was there asked us, "What are those?" I laughed really hard at that.

So, I've been learning a lot about joy. And real happiness. And what causes that. And I've realized, that real joy, actual lasting happiness, comes from living and experiencing the gospel. In 2 Nephi 2:25 it states that "Adam fell that men might be; and men are that they might have joy." In all honestly, I've really only ever experienced real happiness while I've been on my mission, and that's because I'm trying to live and experience the gospel. Happiness doesn't come from just doing whatever you want, despite the consequences. Happiness comes from being free to choose to follow God. It's cool to see.

Anyway, have a good week!

Morgan

Rozz told me she would be gone nest January-April. Which makes me sad because she won't be there when I get home! :( Oh well, Ukraine sounds like fun!

The pictures of Licky look sooooo so so so cute! He is a cute kitty. I miss him. How is patz?

I got the package, thanks! Also, if you ever feel so inclined, you may send me floss. Floss is apparently quite the hot commodity in Idaho because it's super expensive. $4!!!!! 

I spoke twice in church yesterday. Once in the Milo Ward and again in Yellowstone ward. So much speaking. It is not my favorite. Teaching is more fun because you can actually interact with your audience. With speaking you have to be worried about so many different things. Like, if the people fall asleep or not. Or if they pay attention or not. Or if your skirt got caught in your tights. That happened a few weeks ago. At least it wasn't on the side where the bishopric could see. Only SWarren saw. 

I like serving people. I'm a lot happier when I'm serving my companion. I've noticed that a lot over the past few weeks. I get grumpy when I'm selfish and turning inward, but I'm happy when I'm trying to not be selfish and turning outward. There's a reason Christ was the happiest person that ever lived, he never once did something only for himself. 

Anyway, have a good week!