Memorial Day

Hey family,

This week will be short because its a holiday and there isn't a place to write really- we are at the church and sharing a computer.

Quick overview:

We had a zone conference on Wednesday that was fantastic. President and his wife spoke, along with the other people in the mission presidency. I am trying to get better at opening my mouth and not letting anyone pass by on the street. Everyone needs the gospel of Jesus Christ and I may be their only chance to hear about it while on this Earth. So many people have something missing in their life- they can feel it- and I know that this is the missing piece- the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the Earth today, the fullness of the gospel is found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We have a living prophet who receives modern revelation from God to help us follow the right path that leads back to Him. 

I have officially been here 4 months. Not very long, but still feels pretty long. Crazy. 

I got hit by a car but don't worry, they only got my back tire, I didn't even fall off. So that's exciting. 

It is super hot- 90s now and not cooling off. But oh does it pour. We were biking home Saturday night and it just starting hailing and pouring down rain and by the time we got to the nearest shelter- gas station store- we were completely soaked. Never been so wet in my life. Okay, that's not true but it was still very wet. 

I am grateful for the packages you sent me and Aunt Sandra sent me for my birthday. I am going to be 20. Holy cow. Where does the time go?

I have been reminded this week that the Lord's church is perfect, his gospel is perfect. But the people in the church are not perfect. Remember this. Why do you go to church? Or why do you not go to church? If its because someone has offended you then you need to remember why you are there. You are there because you want to take the sacrament, because you care more of what God thinks of you, than what the world thinks of you. I challenge everyone to keep the Sabbath day holy this next Sunday. 

Love you all,

Sister Morgan

Sorry, no pics this week, can't upload them. 

May 18th 2015

Dear family,

It is getting harder and harder for me to write a letter each week. I'm not sure why, I just never want to write anything! But I have some pictures and I'll give you a run-down of the week.

Monday- We went and got makeovers. Yes, makeovers. We had a specialized training for sisters last week and they told us to go get makeovers. We learned how to be more presentable, makeup and clothes and hair. Apparently we looked too frumpy or something...

A family in our ward invited us to do an Family Home Evening with them where we ended up going to one of their kid's band concerts at the high school. It was great, you know how much I love music so I just felt right at home. Reminded me of high school :)

Tuesday- We had a super bad thunder/lightning storm at night. We couldn't leave the apartment for a while. I still am terrified of thunder, but think lightning is fascinating. We have had a few storms this week. Hurricane season officially starts on June 1st.

Wednesday- Had a great lesson with one of our investigators. Its a part-member family and we are teaching the dad- Schribners is their last name. He is progressing slowly because he has medical problems but is still progressing none the less!!!

Thursday- We ended up doing some service for an old couple in our complex. The woman sounds like Adeline from Guys and Dolls, she is so cute. Their house was a mess so we basically just put garbage into bags. 

Had a great lesson with Wilfred, a recent convert. I felt the spirit and was able to open my mouth a lot and let the spirit tell him what he needed to hear. 

Friday- Not much happened. We had a scripture study class that night. The Barberenas came whom I just love. They are an awesome family. The picture of me in the Crossfire is Brother Barberenas car. :)

Don't remember Saturday.

Sunday- We almost got eaten by an alligator! Just kidding. But we were coming home at night riding the bike trail and we went under a bridge where the pathway is fenced in away from the river and we got halfway under it and there was an alligator trapped in on our path! It was super big maybe 3 feet but I slammed on my brakes and Sister Vanderhoff slammed into me! We were so scared and so was the alligator. It was ramming itself into the fence trying to get out and we were trying to untangle our bikes. We were way too close to it for comfort. It started moving towards us to defend itself and we got out of there fast! Crazy! Only in Florida...

Anyways that's all I have time for! Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Morgan

Bro. Barberena's car

 My sister missionary scripture :)

Comp selfie

Last week pics

Rain?

Picture Week!

Dear family,

It was so great to talk to everyone yesterday! I am sorry the skype thing wasn't working and I am sad that I couldn't see dad, Trevor, and Kristin but I know they love me so its okay. :)

I am mostly going to send home pictures since we talked yesterday and I don't have much else to say. 

Some funny things from this week:

We don't have couches in our apartments or much of anything honestly. We were told at our training on Friday that President said we could spice up our apartments a little and give it a little color. So what did we get? Camp chairs. Yup. I got a blue one, Sister Vanderhoff a black one. Weeeee. They are also to take with us when we have mission parties which is like once a year. He is funny.

This year is the first year that I received flowers on Mother's Day. That was weird. Still not a mom but okay...I guess when you are a sister missionary you are officially old in the young men's eyes (they were the ones passing the flowers out). 

Personal miracle: I thought I lost my Young Woman medallion forever and that necklace is very precious to me. We came back to our apartment for dinner and I was only wearing the chain, the medallion wasn't there. I went to the bathroom, I shook out all of my clothes, nothing. I prayed and asked Heavenly Father to help me find it because it is very special to me. We ate dinner and then started on the longest bike ride of my life to a members home really far north. It took like an hour and a half on bike in the hot Florida sun. Then we biked back before curfew. As I changed into my pj's that night it miraculously fell out! Miracle! It definitely should not have been able to stay in my clothes through all that biking. The Lord was looking out for me and knew that I was devastated. He answers prayers. 

Romans 3:15-16 was a scripture we talked about in district meeting last week. We talked about how we need to be hot- dedicated, diligent, and bold. I am trying to work on this. We can't be lukewarm to the gospel. We need to live it and constantly show God that we love him and are doing his work. 

I have been working on the attribute of humility this week- reading, studying, and praying for it. This is complete trust in God and his work. Knowing that everything we have comes from Him. It is a huge characteristic of Jesus Christ- he was very humble. The opposite of humility is pride. Pride tears us down-and our families. It is selfish-you focus on yourself and believe that you don't need God because you can handle everything yourself. This is not the way to be happy. I know that as we try to humble ourselves by relying on God more and trusting our lives in his hands we will be stronger and happier.

I love you all,

Sister Morgan

Pictures:

 Sister Vanderhoff and I

 A huge bug that we caught in our apartment...

We saw an alligator!!!

Picnic from last pday

There is a street called Afton! :)

 My MTC sisters!!! I love them! Sister Sutton and Sister Faalaulau!

Jessica taught us how to make our own laundry detergent! So cool!

The "colorful" camp chair!

 D&C 18:28- sharing the gospel with every creature...

I had to send a "Bradley" picture of me eating a giant grasshopper

That's all she wrote, folks! :)

SO EXCITED!!!

Guess what?!?!?!? Sunday is Mothers Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am excited!

A bunch of things before I forget:

Mom- I have been cooking squash! yellow squash and spaghetti squash, and it is so good. Now you can say that you taught me a thing or two that sunk in! :)

Can you send me Sister South's address? I would like to write her.

Dad- I don't know why, but I have wanted to go camping super bad since I've been out here. I am grateful for the trips we did together growing up, they mean a lot. And we will go when I get back! :)

Mary and Silvio are progressing towards baptism. Sadly, they didn't come to church yesterday so if they don't come next Sunday they can't be baptized. :( And its mothers day and she just lost her mom so odds aren't in our favor. I love them so much and know Satan is trying to work on them hard because they are so ready to be baptized and make that commitment to God. Gah. 

I've been working on my tan this week... we have been walking a bunch in the 89 degree heat with humidity. My farmer's tan is fantastic. 

This week wasn't easy. Not many appointments, just finding. 

Some things have happened this past week that has made me really reflect on how much I am trusting in the Lord. I realized that while I am mostly trying to do his will and not my own, I was still holding onto what I wanted more than what he wanted. I have to say that my faith isn't as strong as I would like it to be but I realize that so I am going to try to improve it everyday. I want to make God proud of me and the working that is going on here in Florida. I know that when we have the desire to increase our faith, God will help us. We will be happier because we will have more hope in our lives. Alma 32:27

I love my family and I miss them so much. Being out here without them has made me so much more grateful for them and all that they do for me. Thank you for the support I am getting, I love letters and emails. 

Love,

Sister Morgan

Pictures:

Sister Vanderhoff with some treats she made

Us

 "Rich people" palm trees

Us again...

Huge speedboat

Us again, it was selfie week!

Pretty Florida night sky

Biking selfie

Pretty pond 

Enjoy! :)