HO HO HO...HOpe you remember the Reason for the Season!

Hello everyone,

Sorry there are many pictures being sent this week but maybe that means I can write less. :)

I am grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ's birth, and that we are able to celebrate it every year in remembrance of Him. I hope your words were kinder, and that your thoughts were outward. It was a great experience to be His missionary during this time of year. People are more open and receptive to hearing a message about him or watching A Savior is Born at christmas.mormon.org. 

Honestly, it didn't feel like Christmas with it being in the 80s and no family around. But it was a great week to spread the Gospel nonetheless. We had many lessons with investigators. One named Missy we tracted into and she invited us over on Christmas Eve to help her wrap gifts! We did and watched Meet the Mormons (which is on netflix and youtube if you haven't seen it, super good). 

On Tuesday Sister Judkins went to the temple so I went on exchanges with the Hermanas, Spanish sisters in Tampa 5. I went to 2 Spanish lessons with them and it was a lot of fun! I am super glad that I got called English speaking though. Heavenly Father knew that I needed to learn the gospel before a language...

Then we had a Christmas Devotional with the whole mission. President and Sister Cusick spoke, encouraging us to find those who are prepared this time of year and to spread the Christmas spirit! They also told some funny experiences from past Christmases. The missionaries leaving the first week of Jan had the opportunity to bear their testimonies as well which was nice. Then they catered chick-fil-a! Yum! I hope those come back to Oregon or I am not sure if I can live there. :) 

We spent Christmas Eve with Peggy, my recent convert, I love her! We basically just searched the scriptures with her to find answers to questions she has. She seriously knows the gospel better than me now but makes me feel so good when she says I taught her everything she knows. I didn't, the spirit did. And her own personal studying. I know I came on a mission to find her. And the Gerovacs of course, I love them so much. 

Christmas was pretty good. We had breakfast at Taylor's and she gave us each stockings! She is a true friend and so caring. Then we drove to South Pasadena to video chat with the family at the Smiths. I loved being able to see my parents and talk with them for a little bit, and then my siblings and nieces and nephews. They are so big now, I hope they will remember me! I love my family. I have been blessed with a good family who supports me in the Gospel and encourages me to be my best. I am glad that I was able to see them then get to work, lucky for me I don't get homesick so it was just a nice experience and I am glad that I get to talk to them three times on my mission. I can't imagine not seeing them at all, thank goodness for google plus video chats :) 

After that we had an appointment with Donna but she ended up finding some anti-Mormon stuff online that shook her and made her rely more on her head and opinions of others, than on her heart and how she felt when talking with us. It makes me so sad when people are so close to finding the Gospel of Jesus Christ and God's plan for them and then turn it away without even giving it an honest chance. I know that this Gospel is true and that Jesus Christ is at the head of this church. People have so many questions and I can promise that they can be answered by praying, reading the Bible and the Book of Mormon, going to church, and following the prophet. I just wish people would hear us out, but everyone has their own agency. 

Well, that is it for me! l love you all and wish you a Happy New Year! 

Love,

Sister Morgan

Pics!

 Hermanas Gibson and Baugh

 Me!

Elder Raloux and Sister Day at Christmas party

 Christmas Eve!

 Christmas at our apartment!

Nice tree topper, all natural!

I got more Christmas cards than I probably will my whole life! 

I got a lot of love!

 

Our bow tree on the wall :)

 Christmas Day!

Christmas Morning at Taylors!

"Taylor Made" stockings!

I got way too much candy, this whole box is full!

 

 Christmas morning

 Tropicana Field stadium

Christmas at the Smiths

View from the Smith's apartment

My Testimony by Sister Morgan

I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon and that it can change lives. It has changed mine. I know that whenever I have a question I can pray to Heavenly Father and ask him. But the way He answers me is by me reading the Book of Mormon. This book boldly states that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. I know He loves us. I can promise anyone that if they pray and read this book with an open heart and mind, the Holy Spirit will testify of its truth and divinity. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior, and that because of Him I can change. My weaknesses can become strengths. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that we have a living prophet today. I know that I am happiest when I am in harmony with the teachings of Jesus Christ. This is my testimony. --Sister Kimberly Morgan

It's beginning to feel a lot like.... Summer!

Hello everyone!

It is not cold enough here to be Christmas!!!!! But it did cool down to 55 this week and I was FREEZING!!!! I don't know how I will last next winter at home...

Last Tuesday was our Mission Christmas Party! It was so much fun, we did a sand castle contest and my zone won!!!!! It was great to get down and dirty in the sand, I helped to mostly build the outer walls. We made Temple Square in Salt Lake City! I will attach a picture. Then that night we had a relief society activity where we made ornaments. It was pretty simple and fun.

On Wednesday we taught Young Women's which was great because I miss it! We taught about Individual Worth and Peggy helped us teach. I am so proud of her, she is so strong! 

We had quite a few lessons this week that were return appointments from the week before. I am happy because some of them truly have a desire to come closer to their Savior and find what has been missing in their life. I have seen many miracles this week. Here is one I wrote about in my weekly email to the mission president: 

Miracle: Last night we tried dropping by a referral for the fourth time, after calling at least three or four times. We prayed and felt we should go knock by her. Well, it turns out that she was home and let us in right away. She is the most prepared person I have met on my mission- she had already researched every aspect of our religion and we basically taught like 4 lessons in one. It was a miracle that we even tried her again. We are seeing her again tomorrow! 

So that was a cool experience. 

Alain is coming along, slowly but surely! We moved his baptism date to Jan 9th because we want him to understand the commitment he is making and understand everything. 

On Saturday, we had Night in Bethlehem up in Odessa, FL! It was so cool, we went with Taylor. There were shops that looked like Bethlehem and a live nativity. Pretty cool. If you want to see a pic of me from it go to anightinbethlehem.org, tap on pictures, then 2015. :)

Well, that's about it! I am going to send some pictures. Love you all and Merry Christmas! 

Love,

Sister Morgan

Before the Mission Christmas Party...no sand in the toes...yet!  

Dig the foot tan!

 Sister Judkins and Sister Morgan ready for the 

Mission Christmas Party!

Our sand castle!

 Love you mom and dad!

 The three amigos... my mtc sistas! Sisters Faalaulau and Sutton!

My name tag!

On the beach!

 Package!

 Our little Christmas tree and presents!

Me so happy to get Mom's chocolates!!!!! Sorry I couldn't help, I will next year!!!

 Us and Taylor on our way to Night in Bethlehem

Night in Bethlehem

What A Wonderful Life

Hello!

I sent so many pictures this week that I don't have time to write much. :)

On Tues and Wed this week we had Metro. That is where we go to Temple Terrace, are trained, and then go out on USF campus and teach students! This week was their finals and it was perfect. We would say that we are missionaries and we are praying with people for their tests and safe travels home for the holidays and we would pray with them and teach them the restoration or just about Jesus Christ. It was a lot of fun and I learned a ton!!!!!!!!!! Sister Briggs and Sister Torres were there with us and they are now serving in Tampa 4 so I was able to get a lowdown on everyone there :) I miss the Gerovacs, I love them so much! But they seem to be doing really well :)

Thurs was nothing too exciting. We had a lesson with Jasmine, and taught her the restoration. She had a lot of good questions that lead to the next point like why there are so many churches today. We can answer that. Had a few interesting encounters with homeless men but hey, they need the gospel too! Gave one of them a pamphlet :)

I love Peggy, she is doing great! Going to get her patriarchal blessing soon.

Friday we had a lesson with Alain. He isn't keeping all of his commitments so we might have to stop teaching him soon. Its sad because the members are really excited about him but I will not baptize someone who is not ready to make a lifetime commitment to follow Jesus Christ.

We went tracting and met some new people! A few even invited us into their homes to pray with them, that never happens! Must be the season :)

Us and the elders sang The First Noel at the ward Christmas party, kind of scary because I was the only one who could really sing soprano (which is weird because before the mission, I was alto, but I guess the Lord picks when I can sing hi or low...) 

Yesterday we got to help Taylor decorate her apartment and tree for Christmas! So excited! This is the best time of year! Remember the reason for the season, Jesus Christ! I am grateful for his birth and that because of Him we can live with our families and Heavenly Father for eternity! 

Love you all,

Sister Morgan

Putting up the Arick's tree!

 Charlie Brown Christmas

Pretty flowers

Selfie

don't feed them...

funny in Florida...

Me!

Nativity at the ward Christmas party

 Krispy Kreme with Kiana and Taylor!!! Yum!!!!

Sister J and I

Us 4

Us and Taylor :)

Pics from the Holocaust museum! Couldn't take any inside.

And a huge house we caroled at!