What A Week!

Hello,

I sang at the Ray's game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! About 34 of us missionaries sang the National Anthem and it was so cool! (See pictures). We were able to watch most of the game too which was a neat experience and rare. You might be able to find it on youtube or online somewhere. So I guess I am famous now ;)

The first thing I am spending money on when I get home is a massage....I have so many knots! :)

This week has been super crazy with thunder and lightning...if you know me you know I kind of have a fear of thunder and it has been scary! One day we were sitting inside during a storm and lightning hit right by us, there was literally a spark that came out of the electronic outlet like half a foot into our apartment. It was terrifying. But exciting!

Some miracles: 

Dennis came to church yesterday! We told him that we couldn't teach him anymore if he wasn't keeping all of his commitment and he actually came for Sacrament! So happy!

We were tracting and prayed to have 2 new investigators and a lesson and we met a family that let us in to pray with them!!!! We even knelt for the prayer and we are seeing them tomorrow. They also invited us for dinner! So blessed. 

Aaron and Erica still need to be married before they can be baptized so we are working on that!

Its definitely been hard but I am trying to make the most of it. I know God is just preparing me for the future, because sadly life doesn't get easier! I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I know that families are eternal and that we can be sealed together for time and all eternity. This is what keeps me going! Blessings will come in the future as long as we keep being obedient and doing what we know to be true!!!

Love you all, 

Sister Morgan

I am sending photos first this time! Starting off with pics from the Rays game!

Sister Packer and I in our Rays shirts!

                              

 My view of the field. I sang right in the middle!!!!! Home plate!

 Sister Judkins and I (Sister Sutton's old companion)

    Sister Packer and I at the game (This one is cute too!)

 The other sister is Sister Huber, our old sister training leader. 

              Books of Mormon!

 Sharing the gospel with every creature....

 Me and Sister Mudge (Sister Sutton's old companion)

Sister Packer, me, Sister Mudge and Sister Loveridge

                         
                                    

No time!

Hello everyone,

Sorry I forgot to write a big email this week and I have no time! Some highlights:

Tomorrow is my 6 month mark!!!!!!!!

Transfers is this week, I am staying here with Sister Packer

Guess what?!?!?! I am singing at the Tampa Bay Ray's game this Friday!!!!!!! Its Mormon night and about 35 missionaries are singing the national anthem and I am one of them!!! So cool. Brad or Trevor- if you can find the game online or something then you can see me maybe!!!!

Our investigators Aaron and Erica are doing well, I love them. They just need to get married and then they can be baptized!!!! They are keeping their commitments and are growing closer to their Savior!!!! Its so wonderful to watch the changes in their lives. 

Sorry, not much else! Thank you everyone who emailed me this week, I really appreciate it. I love emails and letters! :) Have a great week! Want something to read in the Book of Mormon? Read Alma 22 or 36, both good chapters!

Love,

Sister Morgan

Looks like rain!

Sister Packer and I

Hhhmmmmm........

Beautiful Sister Missionaries with Florida raindrops leaving their mark! :)

Week 473894789590580....

Dear family,

I wonder what week I am on? This week was fast and slow at the same time...all of them are that way now. I can't send any photos this week because we aren't at our usual spot for emailing. Not that there were many anyways...

I can't remember what happened this week except for my investigators, Aaron and Erica. They are so cute. On Thursday we had the Gospel of Jesus Christ lesson and it went great. We talked about faith and how it leads us to action- to change, repent. Then about baptism and the gift of the holy ghost. They are on track to be baptized which is fantastic. But they aren't married yet. Yesterday we had the eternal marriage and law of chastity lesson and it went great. It was at the Nunez's house which is a family in our ward that are really good friends to them and can relate to them. They want to get married as soon as they can. I am so excited for them. I am also nervous though because I know the adversary is going to work on them and try to make everything go wrong so they can't be baptized. Satan is the worst. Whenever you try to do something right, he gets mad and temps you even more. But don't fall for it!

Yesterday was awesome. We had three investigators at church! Aaron, Erica, and Dorita Wyman (the old Spanish lady who promised her husband before he died that she would get baptized). It was great! Hopefully they will come next week too. We had a day full of talks about taking the Sacrament and how important it is that we do so every week. It is like being baptized again every week. I love Sundays, even if it isn't a day of rest for missionaries. I made a list a few months ago of all the things we can so to keep the Sabbath Day Holy. I encourage all of you to do the same. And then follow it. 

I am grateful to be out here in Florida. I know that what I am experiencing now is preparing me for the future. I know that there is a plan for each of us with blessings waiting at the end if we are faithful and do our part. A good talk from this last conference was The Gift of Grace by Elder Uchtdorf. I encourage you all to read it or watch it. Very good. Anyways, hope y'all have a great week.

Sister Morgan

P.S. I ate alligator the other week, forgot to mention it. It actually was good, tasted like chicken :)

Happy Fourth of July!

Dear family and friends,

I hope you all had a happy Independence Day! Isn't it weird we say "Happy Fourth of July"? We don't say happy Twenty-fifth of December...weird.

This week was hard.

You want to know why? Well, there comes a point on your mission (usually, actually definitely, more than once) that you get tested. This last week was difficult companion-wise. It came to a point that we just had to sit down and talk and make a list of things we both were going to do to improve our relationship. Companion unity is important as missionaries. To share the gospel, you have to have the Spirit and you cannot have the Spirit if there is contention. We know there are things we are to learn from each other, that is why the Lord wanted us to be companions. Does it make it easier? No. But is it possible for us to learn from each other? Yes. So I am going to get through this and try my best to make my weaknesses become strengths. 

Yesterday was fast and testimony meeting at church. I actually went up and bore my testimony. I know this shouldn't sound shocking, I'm a missionary - don't I bear my testimony everyday? Yes, but I don't bear it in front of large amounts of people ,ever. I decided this time to clear my mind and not even have a back-up testimony in my mind as I went up there. I just said what I felt, gratitude for my family, testified that God loves us and knows us individually, things like that. It felt good. 

I am itching my legs like crazy these days...so many mosquito bites....something you don't think about because you have never had to wear skirts all day everyday! 

We had a zone training on Tuesday, an official one where President talked to us. And guess what? I was asked to play the piano at it! I was nervous because there were so many missionaries there and it was so formal but, guess what? I prayed and I did fine! It was truly a miracle. And guess what else? We are now suppose to be in by 9pm for safety reasons and because all of us are obedient to getting up at 6am, so the idea is that we will be in bed by 10pm so we can get a full 8 hours of sleep. Its been nice. 

I've been trying a new diet this week of sandwiches and cereal, super boring but hey, it was the last week of the month. :)

President Cusick surprised us by inviting us to lunch on Thursday. We ate at a place called Ballyhoo with them and the other Sisters. It was really good, a nice Florida seafood place (I had fish tacos). It was funny because we were expecting President and Sister Cusick to have like a specific reason of meeting with us but it turns out that they just wanted to eat with us and get to know us. Needless to say, it was weird. I love them both so much though, they truly care about us. 

Well, in closing of this email letter thingymajig I want to bear my testimony of my love for this country. I am grateful to live in a country where I can practice freedom of speech and freedom of religion. I know this country was prepared by God and that it was prepared for the gospel of Jesus Christ to be restored on it by the prophet Joseph Smith. It could not have been restored in any other country at that time. I know that everything is done in the Lord's timing. He will bless us as we trust in Him and have patience. Patience. Something that does not run in my family (sorry family) and is something I am trying to be better at. I have come to find how much the Lord knows us - our strengths and our weaknesses. Trials will come, it is inevitable, but through our faith and diligence in living the standards of the gospel, praying, reading our scriptures, coming to church, we can make it through our trials and even still be happy and have peace - wouldn't that be nice? :) 

I love you all, thanks for supporting me, write me letters please!!!

Sister Morgan

P.S. I am grateful for Elder Packer and everything he has done for us as members and the church as a whole. He will be missed. :( Go read his last talk if you haven't yet, I know it was hard to understand him when he was talking at General Conference, but it is a great talk. Remember a kiss and a cookie for your marriages. :)

Sorry, this week is lame with pictures but here are a few anyways!

 Me!

If you look a little closer you can see a raccoon hiding! :)

 So here is a pretty big house on the bay by where we live

 Storm coming- thunder and lightning...always. Getting over my fear!

Sister Missionary picture!

Interesting Week

Dear family,

This week has been good.

The highlight of this week was interviews with President. Honestly, I was a little nervous just because President Cusick is pretty intimidating and my last interview wasn't the best thing ever. Plus, my companion Sister Packer is a favorite of his (though she denies it) so she went then it was my turn. I just tried to be myself and ask a few questions (if you don't have questions he just ends the interview) and it was a good interview. He said that God is proud of me, that I am a beautiful daughter of God, and joked about the picture I sent in with my papers. We got talking about family and I got emotional ( I'm not homesick, don't worry, but I miss my family and that I can't be there to help out) and then I was also nervous. I know that man has the spirit and especially the spirit of discernment. But as I was sitting there he pulls out his phone and asks if my dads name is Bryan and I said yes and he starts calling dad! He didn't answer (President says he probably thinks he's a salesman) which is funny because dad is a salesman and gives it to me to leave a message. Then dad called back! President told me to go to the chapel and talk to him alone. I hope that was a great late Fathers Day for dad! I got to talk to him like 10 mins! I love you, Dad! Afterwards he pulled me back in and told me I was a good missionary. I guess he doesn't do that with many people.

Pretty good week- we set three baptism dates! That's more than my whole mission! Here they are:

Gabby- she is 13 and has a desire to come closer to God. She came to church on Sunday! 

Aaron and Erica- I love them, they are so funny. They are from Atlanta and the ward is getting involved with them so that's good. They aren't married and she is pregnant, but they just loved the Plan of Salvation! It makes so much sense. (If you don't know what that is, it is God's plan for the happiness of his children, see mormon.org). 

Dorita Wyman- She is an old lady who is from Spain, very Catholic, but promised her husband before he died that she would be baptized and sealed to him so we have been working on her.

I have a weird challenge for those who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: read Handbook 2, Chapter 5 - Hastening the Work of Salvation. It is important for us as members to help the missionaries in their work by finding people for them to teach, but also to help those in your area or family to come to church and receive all the blessings from being a faithful member of God's church. Invite everyone to church events. 

I am so grateful for the gospel. It is hard being a missionary. Not going to sugar-coat it. I have had a difficult week but its been full of tender mercies from the Lord. I am not the most eloquent speaker, not the best teacher, but I am good at being relate-able, a real person. I like writing, and I truly care about others and their happiness. So, no, talking to strangers isn't my strong point, it is my companion's. But that's okay. I am just trying to get a little bit better at it everyday. I love Florida, it is super hot, but it is beautiful. Hope everyone has a great week!

Love,
Sister Morgan

P.S. Sorry, still haven't taken any pictures....
P.P.S. Tampa is #1 Sweatiest City in the U.S.A. Fun fun! :)

Happy Father's Day and Happy 5 Months on Mission!

Hello,

Happy Father's Day, dad! I am glad to have you in my life.

Yes, I have been out 5 months! Not sure if its flown by fast or not, I'll check next month. :)

This week our area exploded! Sister Packer and I got to work, talked to everyone we saw, and were exactly obedient. The Lord definitely blessed us. We have been knocking 40 doors a day, and even 80 one day. The weather has been 91, but "feels like 100" all week. Its been hard, I've wanted to just die just about everyday but we kept working. We had 17 lessons!!!!!!!!!! That's like more than I've had in like half my mission combined, haha. And we got 8 new investigators. I am so excited, we are definitely getting to work. 

Sister Packer is so different than Sister Vanderhoff, almost opposites so its been hard to adjust. But its been a good change for Tampa 4, we just need to get the ward more missionary-minded again. Sister Mudge has Sister Loveridge now who is from Orem, Utah and is a fantastic missionary. She only has this transfer and next transfer before she goes home so she is on fire. We are excited for our area. 

The Lord has been trusting us more I believe because we've been working hard. I have seen many miracles happening daily. We are at the right place, at the right time. There's no such thing as coincidences. 

President Cusick and Sister Cusick came to my ward yesterday- that was a little nerve-racking but it was good to see them. President just has a funny personality, he is so sarcastic. We have interviews on Wednesday. 

I am grateful for my ward mission leader, Brother Dana. He is amazing. He actually reminds me of Brad just by his personality and the way he thinks. But anyways, he is good at finding members for us to take to lessons or going himself. Its awesome. 

I am grateful to being in Christ's original church and to have the power of the priesthood- the power to act in God's name- in my life. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and I without a doubt know that Thomas S. Monson is a living prophet today. The only way to know this is to ponder, read the Book of Mormon, and to pray and ask Heavenly Father. I have been relying on Him more this week than ever and I am grateful to be serving His children here on Earth. I challenge everyone to find ways to serve those around you this week, even if it is just a smile or giving a compliment. We should always be striving to show love and charity towards one another. 

Love,

Sister Morgan

P.S. Shout out to my bestie, Tesa Williams for receiving her mission call to New York, New York South Spanish speaking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So proud of you, Girl! Love you!

I survived transfers!

Hello everyone,

This week I got a new companion, Sister Packer! She is from Gilbert, Arizona and has been out 9 months. She was previously in St. Petersburg. She is super good at street contacting so I am learning a lot from her. Its been a change, but I know the Lord puts different people in our lives so we can learn and grow closer to him.

Because she is so good at talking to people, we have taught more lessons and have many potential investigators. She got here and we were literally teaching like one person because we had dropped everyone who wasn't progressing- stopped keeping commitments that would help them come unto Christ. We are trying to find those who have been prepared by the Lord to be baptized. We have had a district commitment of knocking at least 30 doors a day. Not super fun in the heat and humidity, for about 9 or 10 hours a day, but we are being obedient and know we will be blessed for it. 

We had a crazy experience with a man named Rudy. He has been in the gym with us when we exercise and he wanted to meet with us so we met him by the pool. Well, turns out he is 7th-day Adventist and just wanted to convert us. He kept quoting things, getting louder when we tried to talk, threw pamphlets at us and books and videos, you get the picture. It was not a fun first lesson for Sister Packer in Tampa 4. Needless to say, he hasn't been at the gym since we told him we weren't interested. We are here to teach, not be talked at.

I have struggled this week to be honest. I think of Ether 12:27 constantly. I have been faced head on with my weaknesses and pray to overcome them. It will get better over time, I know. We all wish that we could be prefect right now, change everything we don't like about ourselves. But if we did that, we wouldn't be able to learn. Trials are given for us to become stronger and choose the good over the bad, to grow closer to Christ or farther away. 

Something I have been able to reflect on the past few weeks is the Sabbath Day. We are to keep the Sabbath Day holy, as commanded by God. Being out here has made me realize that I need to be better at this. It is a day to spend with family, to enjoy each others' time and build relationships. Its also a good time to do family history or indexing, praying, studying the scriptures, and listening to church music. Its a day of reflection on where you are at in life and asking yourself if what you are doing is influencing others to do good or bad. Don't save all your shopping for Sunday, and don't just sleep Sunday away either. Think of Heavenly Father and your Savior, Jesus Christ. Give that day to them. 

Sounds like some exciting things have been happening at home. I am proud of my friend Crystal Hokanson for serving an honorable full-time mission in Tokyo South, who is home now. I also am proud of my friend Tesa Williams, for submitting her papers to go on a mission- she will be a fantastic missionary. I wish everyone a good week and enjoy your air conditioning. :)

Love,

Sister Morgan

Bye companion! Saying goodbye to Sister Vanderhoff, my 1st companion and my trainer! I will miss her!

Treats to share!

Arianna and us!

 My new companion from Gilbert, AZ, Sister Packer!

Sister Packer and I our 1st day together! She is my second companion.