Transfer Week

I didn't get transferred!!!!! Yay! And neither did Sister Vanderhoff, we were both so scared. She only has two more transfers I think and she's done with her mission. Crazy. I love it in Tampa 4 and don't want to leave.

Plus, Mary and Silvio are still progressing towards baptism on May 17th!!!!! This week we had the most powerful lesson with them, three members present too. The spirit was so strong, I didn't want to leave! They committed to living the word of wisdom before we even officially taught it! Mary went from 5 or 6 cups of coffee a day to only taking a little sip. It was awesome. Silvio is from Dominican Republic, if you can't remember, and he made the best beef empanadas and guava empanadas. Yum!

It has been so hot and humid here lately and its going to get worse. I have found that the heat makes you extra tired too! Oh well, at least I don't have to ever wear a jacket. But it is a strange feeling to walk into your apartment and have it feel like a freezer compared to being outside. 

Highlights:

Last Monday I thought I was going to (okay, not really) but we had tornado warnings! There aren't tornadoes in Florida so it was weird. Super windy and just poured. Luckily, it was p-day so we didn't have to be anywhere until night time. It passed, Florida just likes to pour hard for a little bit then clear up.

I got to go blueberry picking with some people in my ward. We got a whole bag of fresh blueberries and they are so good! I eat them plain, smoothies, pancakes, anything. So good, made me miss picking berries in Oregon.

The mission has helped me so much in preparing me for the future. I have learned so much about raising kids in the gospel. My desire to be a great wife and mother has grown. I know now how I need to gain a stronger testimony and be that example for my family. I have also learned many things not to do as a parent as well, but hey, there is always good with the bad. 

I think I want a small Toyota pickup when I come back. I miss the red truck. :(  Plus I have decided to become a bikeaholic and I want a truck that I can just stick a bike in the back and be good. I miss the 4-runner too, but it eats too much gas. :) 

Bugs are gross. Its bad when you don't know if its raining or if bugs are just hitting you. Riding bikes and walking more means more bugs. That's the biggest downfall Florida has. 

Can't think of much else. Its hard being a missionary but I am learning what God wants me to. I have been reading Moroni 10 this week again and I challenge everyone to read it, paying special attention to what Moroni is "exhorting" you to do. Apply it to your lives. I am grateful for the gospel and the person I am because of it. I know that prayer and studying the scriptures everyday makes a huge difference in our happiness and our attitudes each day. Peace comes when we open the scriptures, even if it is only a few minutes. Rewrite the priorities in your life- God should come first. He needs to come first to find true happiness, true joy in this life. I love you all, stay safe.

Love,

Sister Morgan

Pictures:

 Sister Chadwick and I, so sad she left today

 Pretty sunset

 Sister Vanderhoff and I

 Foggy window...that's how humid it is in Florida!

 Made Mexican enchiladas with a lady in our ward. She grew up in New Mexico and Texas. You stack the tortillas instead of rolling them. Was yummy! 

Another Week in the Mission

Tomorrow marks 3 months of being on a mission. Not sure how I feel about this. 1/6 of my mission is done. While I feel like I've been out forever, its still gone pretty fast. One of my favorite sisters is going home next week, Sister Chadwick from Idaho Falls. She reminds me of Ellen a little. Its just crazy how life goes on!

I made stroganoff on Monday and it was yummy. This week I have some actual meals planned too for the slow cooker mostly. I miss cooking!!!! I am still considering culinary arts when I get back. But I have also found that I am my father's daughter and I love the outdoors more than I thought! Every minute we are inside I just want to be outside. I love biking, I am so much happier than when we were in the car. I have made some goals for continuing exercise and outdoor adventures when I get back. :) 

Mom and dad-thank you for your letters, I will try to write back today! 

Not too many lessons this week, most of them were cancelled. We were only able to see Mary and Silvio once but they are still doing well. We have been told that we are not on "full-bike" but we are on "full-foot". We are suppose to walk as much as we can and use bike when we have to. Our apartment is way far south from everyone in our ward so we still bike mostly. We tried walking home from church and it took us 5 hours!!! Haven't walked that much since trek! ;) 

Frozen hot chocolate is really good. Sister Vanderhoff knows how to make a mean one. We ate at Firehouse subs on Thursday! I think that's where Trevor liked going. It is so good. Chicken bacon ranch-yum! Hey, I can afford to eat out every once in a while when I exercise hardcore for 45 mins every morning and then bike or walk all day everyday!

Anyone have suggestions on sleeping? I can fall asleep but then I wake up every hour basically during the night. Not fun when you are only allowed 7 1/2 hours of sleep every night. 

Ran into some surfer dude who told us about how "he found Jesus", was quite entertaining but hey, at least he has faith! 

Does anyone know, or can tell me if President Clark is still the president of BYU-Idaho? 

Miracles happen everyday, you just have to look for them. I am so grateful for the knowledge that I can be with my family forever, even after death. I know that once we are baptized that isn't the end, we still have to keep our covenants and promises with God. If we truly love our families we will want to keep our covenants because if we don't, we can't be with them. I have seen how families have been torn apart when kids and such have gone astray. It is so heart-breaking. I know that we are happiest when as families we love each other and serve each other, but also are centered around Jesus Christ and his teachings. Go to church. Pray. Read the scriptures. This is spiritual CPR. I know that families are the most important thing in this life and the next. I can't wait until I can have a family of my own to apply what I have learned here on my mission about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us all strive to be a little bit better everyday. Remember those times you have felt the spirit and have let your testimonies grow. Don't forget. It is easy to forget. 

When I think of being separated from family, I think of Alma 17:13. Read this please. I know I am doing the work of the Lord. I am a representative of Jesus Christ. I am here because I know my family can be together forever-even after death. I want to share how I know this is true with those around me here in Tampa, Florida because I know that they too can be reunited with their family after death. I love you all,

Sister Morgan

P.S. I only took one picture this week, sorry! Package from my Aunt Kayalauna. 

April Showers Bring....HEAT!

Dear Family and Friends,

What a week.

I have two pictures attached to this email from my bishop's wife. We did a Parkinson's disease awareness walk on the USF campus on Saturday. It was a blast! A member from our ward has it and put it together. Good turnout. 

Guess what?!?!?!? I have TWO baptism dates set! Mary and Silvio Polanco. Mary is the daughter of Grace Storie, the woman who had cancer and passed away. We have been visiting them a lot and they are so ready to learn more about the gospel of Jesus Christ and be baptized! God has been preparing them for a long time. May 17th, so I have my fingers crossed that I am not transferred at the end of the month! They are awesome, keep them in your prayers!

We had a ton of crazy changes this week. We are doing daily planning in the morning, instead of at night which is so much better. We are also allowed to tract now! Doors, here I come (yikes!). And we are not doing member drop-bys anymore. On Tuesday I had my first experience of biking in Florida rain-downpours. They come fast and last like 10 mins but a lot of water comes down. Its fun.

I had interviews with the president on Wed. I was so nervous but it wasn't bad. He just has a dry sense of humor that I am trying to figure out. He said I need to have better posture (tell me something I don't know) and that I am too hard on myself (also tell me something I don't know). But I know I have a lot of potential, and that I am here to bring many people back to God. He also said to smile more which I thought funny. When I had interviews with my bishop and stake pres before going they said I needed to go on a mission because I can't stop smiling! Needless to say, the mission president made me nervous. ha ha. 

Had quite a few lessons this week so that was good. One  was with this guy who asked about Mitt Romney and accused us of wearing special white pajamas..... people need to get their facts straight!  mormon.org , people! 

Found out there is no place in our area we can't bike to, Friday was killer. We biked all day and I am surprised I was able to get up the next day. We had to drop Susana :( She isn't progressing and won't quit coffee. So sad. 

I've come pretty close to being hit my a car on my bike like 10 times now. Tampa is #1 in U.S. for bike accidents...just something to make you sleep better at night mom. :) 

My companion probably thinks I'm crazy. I sing home every night on my bike. Just hymns that come to my head. Music is the best, always makes me feel better. It you are stressed, listen to a hymn. :) Nearer My God to Thee is one of my favorites. 

I challenge everyone who is a member to read their patriarchal blessing this week. If you are not a member, read Matthew 25:14-30 on the parable of the talents. We all have unique gifts and talents given to us from God, find out what those are and work on them.

Love you all,

Sister Morgan

Pictures from the walk!

And a few more random pictures! :)

 Super good food truck. Best pulled-pork sandwich I have ever had!

  There are so many Morgan things here, its crazy! But I finally got a picture by one.

Pic with Mirka, Susana's mom who is leaving now for work then the Dominican Republic. Couldn't understand a word she said but loved her all the same. Good Dominican food too. :)

  My package finally came from mom for Easter. Had to have physical evidence. 

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 I found Samoan girl scout cookie ice cream. SO GOOD!!!!!

 A beautiful Florida flower a girl in my ward gave me. I was trying to be artsy with my PMG. 

There you have it! :) 

HAPPY EASTER!

Dear family and friends,

HAPPY EASTER!!!!!!

I am so grateful for my loving Savior who atoned for my sins, died for me, and was resurrected the third day. I know that just like Jesus Christ, we can be resurrected. Our bodies and spirit will reunited after death to never be separated again. We will have perfect bodies and our spirits will still be the same as they are now. We will be us, but better! :) 

General Conference was fantastic. Holy cow. I mean it always is, but when you are a missionary its even better. I loved Elder Eyring's talk on fasting and helping the poor. I am thinking about taking a mission trip when I come home and help those who have been through natural disasters. But I don't have to worry about that for a while. But fasting and giving to the needy are very important. Everything we have is from God anyways, so we are basically just giving his money back to those who need it. Never fail to serve others in need.

Guess what?!?!? My president at BYU-Idaho is now a seventy, that is so great! Kim B. Clark! I wasn't surprised since last April he got released from being an area authority but that's great. I wonder if he is still the president too?

It seemed like this conference the topic of choice was marriage. There was great advice given, I found many things that I can apply now to be a better wife and mother in the future. I don't have to worry about it now, (Yay!) but the mission kind of hammers you with "everything you are doing now will prepare you for marriage life" and honestly its a little annoying but I know that missions really do prepare you for this. Everyone should go on a mission honestly. 

Anyways, shout out to mom for being awesome and sending me a package :) Thank you to whoever sent me a Spanish PMG (I am guessing either Brad or Trevor, probably Brad) but there was no name on it, and thank you to the Miller's for sending me another card! 

Best part of this week: We got put on bike last Tuesday and are only on bike, no car, for 3 weeks! It has been fantastic, and I'm not being sarcastic for once. I don't like biking in skirts and flats, but I love biking in general! It feels great, the sun is shining, and it reminds me how grateful I am to be in Florida. We plan better, prioritize better, and find more miracles! It would take too long to write all the miracles I have seen so far and I have no time. But many have happened so we will see if they go anywhere. 

My bishop, Bishop Hodges, is amazing. I love him, he gave me a blessing yesterday. I felt the spirit so strong and afterwards he kind of just looked at me in amazement or something and said "you have A LOT of work to do". I guess Heavenly Father told him that I have a lot of work to do on this mission so I better get started. haha I am trying my best! 

I finished the Book of Mormon this week. I know it is true. People have died for us to know their stories so we could turn to God. I am grateful for this physical evidence of God's love for us. Read the Book of Mormon. If you haven't picked it up in years, pick it up. Regain your testimony. Stop making excuses and start exercising some faith. I know that peace and happiness comes when you read the Book of Mormon everyday. 

We met some people at Burger King and they claim to be having some case against the government, Atraqchi v. USA case. Could someone google that and tell me if its real? Something about our phones being bugged which is probably true. They were a nice couple, he has lived in Driggs, Idaho!!!!! It was crazy, I was like, I went to school in Rexburg, and he about died. He loves Mormons, said his son-in-law is Mormon and lives in Henderson, his name is Barry Coffin if Jessica's family might know them. 

Honestly this week has been busy and wonderful. Biking is great, I am getting the full effect of being a missionary now. Sometimes I just think, "whoa, you're a missionary" or "wow, only a missionary would do that." Its great. 

I love you all, don't forget those things that you are grateful for-which should be everything. Be kind to those who are closest to you. Love you spouses, children, parents, siblings, friends! 

Love,

Sister Sister Morgan

Pictures again!

 Good Bye Car ...Hello Bikes!!!

Easter Photos and More....

Here are a few more pictures taken around Easter time!

 Sorry its blurry, lunch between sessions with Barberenas and other sisters!



Us all fitting into a tiny Fiat

Its so hard to do weekly planning...

The Naked room at my bishops....still not sure what goes on there!

Dying eggs

 Sister V and I dying eggs.

 All the eggs!

Sister V and I wearing our new Easter outfits :)

My Sister Morgan eggs

Lots of pictures, you're welcome! :)

Note to MOM

Hey Mom,

I am jealous that you got to be with the girls! I miss them so much.

I think that Trevor and Kristin moving to Twin Falls is a great idea, they will love it there!!

YAYYYYYYY I was really hoping that you would send a package, I wish I could be home for Easter this is the first year I'm missing it. We finally got invited over for Easter so I hope the food is good but idk what we will be eating its kind of a crazy family. We will see. 

I miss Mia's good food!

I am excited for General Conference!!!!! Women's broadcast was great!

I have the same companion, I still have training until next transfer

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I am doing alright, there are days that I feel great and that I am making a difference and then there are days that I can't believe I have a year and a half left. But I'm still here cuz its where I should be. 

Could you send me some recipes please? That take 30 mins or less to cook? I am dying because I don't have any ideas of food to cook. Thanks!

Love, Sister Morgan

The only hill in Florida!

Me being art-sy...

New blog!

Welcome to Sister Kimberly Morgan's missionary blog! Each week, we will post letters and pictures from Sister Morgan about her experiences serving in Tampa, Florida.

Sister Morgan would LOVE to hear from you! Please refer to the margins for her email and mailing addresses.