Fun in the Sun!

Howdy Folks!

We had a busy week and it was wonderful. I love busy weeks!

On Monday we had the mission beach party!! It was held at Bradenton beach this year. It was cool because we passed some places that I remember going to when visiting my Aunt Margaret in Anna Maria island growing up. Mostly restaurants :) It was beautiful! I'll send some pictures. 

Tuesday night we had a RS activity where we brought a pair of shoes and told everyone an experience in them. Well, I've become a crier in the past month of the mission- probably because its getting closer to the end so I pore out my soul more) and told them about my missionary shoes. How much walking and biking I've done in them, how much sweat and tears and hard work I've done with them. I bore my testimony on how important this work is, and how many lives I've seen changed through the gospel. There wasn't a single dry eye in the room. ;)

We've been teaching Sammy this week and she is great. We are behind schedule with lessons but we are still pushing for July 2nd. We also have two dates- one with a referral, and the other with an 8 year old. So excited! 

President told me at the beach party that I would have a departing interview with him since I was sad that he leaves right before me. So we drove up Friday morning to Tampa and I met with him. I don't feel like it's the end of my mission but I guess its getting there. Tomorrow is my 17 month mark. Crazy. I will miss him!

Saturday was awesome. We had Juneteenth all day: African American slave freedom celebration. Us missionaries were the only white people there. We set up a booth with pamphlets and Books of Mormon and Bibles and the family history people came and set theirs up with ours. It was fun. Loud music though, and a few crazy preachers but besides that, it was a great way to put the face of the church out there. Its funny to think that some people don't know that our church has a ton of African Americans in it. It's the church of Jesus Christ, not the church of white people- everyone is very welcome! 

Anyways, this next week is transfers. It's a week early because President Cusick is leaving and they want it sorted out before President Cooper comes in. I think we are both staying but only God knows. 

Spiritual thought: What is true greatness? Is it being beautiful, skinny, rich, have lots of toys? No. Its having a good attitude, showing your faith, and serving others. In God's eyes, we are truly great when we care for those around us and do the small things. Look outside yourself. Go open the door for someone elderly, let someone go in front of you in the grocery line, don't have road rage. It's small things that add up to something great. (Read 1 Nephi 16:29) 

Love you all, we'll see if I'm still in Lakeland next week. 

Love,

Sister Morgan

Get ready for pictures! 

Papaya tree and pineapple plant!

 An orange tree 

 Our booth at Juneteenth

A "black people fish fry!" 

 Bradenton Beach...beautiful Carribean waves!

 White sand of Bradenton Beach (Near Anna Maria Island and Aunt Margaret's)

 Reunion with Sister Judkins!

 Sister Stefanie Cusick, me, President Mark Cusick 

 Sister Morgan selfie at the beach!

Random group!

 Look familiar? 

Juneeeeeeeee

Sorry, I have no time today! 

Going to the beach for a mission gathering, Bradenton beach! Will be fun! 

Sammy has her date set, her husband is a member and they called us saying she wants to take the lessons! This past week we've taught a few times and yesterday she came to church! I love her, she is progressing well and looking forward to her baptism!!!! 

I survived last week's storm, it wasn't that bad actually where I was at. Some flooding and wind and extra rain but not bad. Overall we weren't affected as much as the coastal areas. We stayed in on Monday and didn't go out until Tues afternoon when the flooding was done. So we are fine!  This summer should be full of storms though! I hope my video works because I almost got hit by lightning! (Not really). 

My spiritual thought for the week: Do it because you love God.

Yesterday our lesson was on tithing in particular. In our church no one gets paid, not the bishop or prophet or teachers. All volunteer. But we live the commandment of tithing because we give back to the Lord a piece of what He has already given us. The money goes to maintaining churches and building temples and missionary work and family history research. In Malachi 3:5-12 it talks about tithing. God says to prove him- if we pay tithes faithfully, he WILL bless us, but we have to have faith. He may not bless us financially, but he will with protection and strength. But the main reason we need to pay tithing is because we love Him. Not because He loves us, or because we know we should, but because we know He is the one who gave us everything in the first place and we want to show Him that we put Him above everything else. Its the same way with other commandments- prayer, reading scriptures, word of wisdom- we do it because we love Him and know that He will always be there for us when we are there for Him. 

Sorry its short! Hope you have a good week, pictures to come next week!

Love,

Sister Morgan

 Flooding from tropical storm Colin, June 6th 2016

  Catfish Country is where we ate on my birthday with the Nelsons. 

  From my birthday luncheon! Eating green onion appetizers......

....and fried gator! 

 Sister Nasman and I ... ready for cheesecake anyone?

Sister Nelson with us outside Catfish Country

 Peacock

Mangos!

Krispy Kreme!

How old am I?

Hello everyone!

I am officially old enough to drink. So I drank some.....water all day!

The beginning of this week was super tough, not going to lie. We were out tracting and biking and in the hot sun, having hardly any success. I tried keeping a positive attitude about it and kept praying for Heavenly Father to lead us to the person who wants to be taught by us and be baptized. It was a struggle. But, on Wed or Thurs we changed things around! We decided no more tracting unless it is around a member's home! This has pushed us to see more members and ask for referrals. This is, after all, their work, we are just helping! We told God that we were going to really plan everyday out- so well that He will know exactly where we are and place people in our path. I have felt my faith grow as this has happened. I look forward to next week because we have great plans! 

Miracle of the week: Last week we got a call from someone who is a member, saying that his wife wants to be baptized! We couldn't go over right away because they live in Bartow and we had no miles. We went over on Saturday and had the most amazing lesson! Her name is Samantha and she has lots of questions. She had been asking David, her hubby, for a while now about the church and he finally said she should call the missionaries. When we got there we talked for a while, answering questions, and she told us she was thinking of converting. We shared the message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. She cried at the end, saying that she felt tingling all over during the first vision and that she knew from that feeling that this church is true. She has a date to be baptized in July and we are so excited! She is amazing! 

My birthday was an okay day. It was rough in the morning but the best part was going to dinner with the Nelsons at Catfish Country! Its this southern place that has all sorts of food - hush puppies, gator, coleslaw, fish, frog legs, you name it! We got an appetizer of fried gator tail, which I have had before, and it was pretty good! Tastes like chicken. :) Then I had a crab-stuffed flounder and other stuff. Pretty good. But the best part was that the Nelsons were able to come, I love them!!!!!!!! Sister Nelson has been such a strength to me. She even got me a gift which was so sweet. I'll try to send pictures. 

Yesterday we had a lesson in Relief Society based on Elder Hollands talk from the past General Conference. I can testify that the leaders of our church love us so much! They can see how much God loves us and they feel the same. We are not perfect. Imperfect people are all God has ever had to deal with! But we get credit for trying. So don't give up, its all part of the plan to grow and change while we are here. 

Anyways, I love you all! Have a good week! Tropical Storm Colin is suppose to hit us today, should be fun!

Love,

Sister Morgan

 A nice one and a funny one of Sister Nasman and I 

"You're all up in the koolaid and don't know the flavor"

Dear family and friends,

Happy Memorial Day! Quote from a recent convert who is 10. :)

Guess what this week is? My birthday!!!! And I am going to be so old. I can't believe I've been in Florida since I was 19 and I'm turning 21. Crazy. 

Not sure what happened this week. Oh yes, we are out of miles this whole week so we biked like crazy and did a lot of tracting. I think multiple days we biked like 15 miles. I am glad that I exercise everyday. 

Someone we are teaching, Angel, went to the Gladys Knight concert. We finally got his gift bag and biked it over to him. We taught the restoration outside to him and he felt the spirit. He said he felt something different at the fireside and that God was telling him to join her choir. One problem-you have a to be member! So we are going to keep teaching him!!!! 

There was a book mentioned in Relief Society on Sunday titled "Not withstanding my weakness" by Neil A Maxwell. It said something along the lines of, "if you are proceeding, you are succeeding." I thought that was very profound. The Gospel isn't about perfection, its about trying. As long as you are progressing, you aren't failing. Its when we become complacent, and don't want to change that we are "spiritually damning" ourselves. We are here on Earth to experience life and its challenges. They shape us into who we are. When we do the right thing, we become more like Heavenly Father. I know there are times that I want to say "Heavenly Father, could you give me a break?" But he won't, because he doesn't give up on us. He loves us and can see our potential. So if it seems like he is pushing you a little over the edge, take a deep breath, pray, and ask him to help you through your trial. Thank him for the trial. Tell yourself "this is for my personal growth and development." I can promise that he doesn't give us anything too hard for us to handle. Look forward with faith, not backwards with doubt. 

Anyways, love you all. Thanks for the support and the prayers. Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Morgan

 Pink cactus

 Biking selfie

Sis Nasman

A weird tree fruit from Turkey....

Changessssssss

Hello!

Since I know my mom is dying to know.... I stayed in Mulberry! Sister Judkins got transferred which is sad, a hard change, we were together for 7 months! But we also both saw it coming, can't be companions forever! Everyone can write me now too, address is the same. 

My new companion is.... Sister Nasman!!!!! (pronounced nase-men) and she is from Nampa, Idaho- right outside of Boise. She has been out 3 months-just finished her training- but has been tossed around to 4 areas already and has only been in trios. So hopefully I am not going to bore her! ;)

This week has been so busy. We found out about transfers and cried, Wed was transfers, Friday was Gladys Knight, and Sat was Ryleigh's baptism! Yikes!

Gladys Knight and the choir she directs, Saints Unified Voices, came to the Tampa area on Friday. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for this area. We got to Brandon at 11am and did what is called a blitz. Basically, all the missionaries are assigned an area far from the stake center to go tract and invite everyone to come to the event. Not sure if anyone we talked to came, but that's okay! We tracted until 4pm and it was hot. But we were excited for what lay ahead! And it was exciting!!!!!! It was loud, and definitely a PRAISE THE LORD devotional. We were clapping, saying "amen!", and the like. It was so fun and everyone enjoyed it. The focus is missionary work- to get people in our building and see that we are Christians. Gladys shared her testimony and I just can't describe in words how amazing it was. Our investigator, Angel, was blown away. He is a huge fan of her. I was blown away too. I want to listen to their CD when I get back! 

Ryleigh and Miranda were baptized on Saturday. It was a beautiful day, everything worked out. When their grandpa asked her if she wanted anyone else to join in on the confirmation she said "Sister Morgan" haha but was quickly told no! I love them. They were sad Sister Judkins wasn't able to be there but she was there in spirit. I am so happy for this cute family and that we were able to teach them both. Ryleigh is 9, so she was a convert baptism, and Miranda is 8. 

Yesterday was Young Women in Excellence, they do it here at the end of the school year. We were asked to share how Personal Progress has helped us to become missionaries and add "sunshine" to our lives. I miss YW's. I love serving in this ward and being around so many youth. They are awesome. 

Spiritual thought of the week-  

Opposition is a part of mortality. We came here to be tested. Yesterday at church there were some talks given on this. What stood out to me was that no matter what trial we go through, no matter how bad it is, it is nothing compared to the suffering Jesus Christ did for us. He was faced with every sin. We have so much more help in our trials. Heavenly Father will never leave us. Our trials are personalized to us- what we need at that moment to stretch and grow and reach our potential. Sometimes we don't see the faith we have until after we are being tried for our faith. Don't give up- know that God won't give you anything you can't handle. Look forward with hope and try to see the eternal perspective. 

Love,

Sister Morgan

PS. I met Bro. Jorgensen's daughter at Gladys Knight- Mary Perello? 

Yes mom, I got my haircut and its super short now! But I like it.

Above - before / Below - after

(Love the tan line on the feet! :-)  --Mom)

Its above my shoulders!

Our last week as companions...

Sister Judkins and I and our street sign in Mulberry!

Smith family- Ryleigh, Caden, Miranda

Being silly!

Sis Judkins and I on the way to transfers...

Ryleigh and Miranda's baptism with Sister Nasmen and I

Miranda and Ryleigh after their baptism

Highland Ward Young Women in Excellence

"Not everyday is a good day, but there is good in every day!"

Hello everyone!

That's a quote I heard in church yesterday and I loved it. 

Another quote I read this week was one on obedience by President Benson.

          "When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that
            moment God will endow us with power." 

As I was pondering over this, it made me reflect on my life but more specifically my mission. I have truly come to live the principle of obedience to God. People think that everything is just full of rules in the church. That we aren't free to do what we want. Its completely opposite. We have the gift of agency and we have these "rules" or commandments set to keep us safe because God knows all the temptations out there, trying to get us because we are free. I have seen in own life times when I didn't do what was right and I have faced consequences because of it. I have also seen times on my mission that I have been obedient and diligent in my calling as a representative of Christ and because of this, I was blessed. I am happier when I am keeping the commandments and putting my faith and trust in the Lord. I'm definitely not perfect, but I have the understanding now that commandments are made so God has the excuse to bless us when we follow them. Its really simple, we just make it complicated. He has a plan for us and lays the map out, wide open, on the table. Obedience is a law of Heaven, we need to learn it now because it will continue on past the grave. 

This past week we had zone conference, our last one most likely with President Cusick. :(  He pulled a few of us going home after him (new mission President starts in July 2016) to a room and gave us some important advice on returning home from the mission. I look up to him with great respect for his calling and experience. He will be missed. 

Also, I found out that Sister Judkins is going home with my transfer now! So crazy but I am happy! That definitely means though that we won't be together until the end of our missions because this area won't be white-washed again. 

Ryleigh is doing well, she is set to be baptized on Saturday!!!! So excited. We also have Gladys Knight's devotional of Saints Unified Voices coming on Friday. Yes, I will be able to see her live and she will be bearing her testimony of Jesus Christ and why she joined the Mormon church. SOOO excited, I hope I don't get transferred! 

Anyways, love you all. I know I am where I am suppose to be! 

Love,

Sister Morgan

Sorry, not many photos this week...

 Cute old house

 We went to a young woman's powderpuff game this week, it was fun!

Jimmy Johns!!!!! This is for mom! :)

(She thinks this is funny....sending me a pic every time she goes to Jimmy Johns!!! 

However, I get a pic of my darling daughter and no calories! :-P)

"It'll all come out in the wash"

Hello Family!

This will be short. I was happy to talk to my parents and Allison and Richard last night! It was good hearing every one's voices, even with all the technology not working. I wish I could have bore my testimony more and remembered everything I wanted to, but that's okay. I can say it in a few months! I love my family and am so grateful to have all the love and support, it has helped me throughout my mission and definitely helped me to stay on a mission in the beginning. 

We taught a lot of lessons this week, had interviews with our mission president, and a bunch of other stuff! Busy busy! 

There is a great service website the church has put together called justserve.org and it is taking off! Its been in the making since I've been on a mission but it's great. If you want to do some service, go check it out! Maybe a food pantry is open or someone needs help cleaning up their yard. I am def using it after the mission!

Shout out to the St. Pete young women who sent us a card! It made our week, we were so touched! Thank you to everyone who wrote to me the past few weeks, you have no idea how much it means to me! I am behind in replying to your letters, will try to catch up today! Thank you!

The subject line quote is something Sister Judkin's mom would tell her all the time. I love it. It's saying don't worry, everything is in God's hands and it'll work out over time as we have faith in Him and rely on Him. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. Life isn't fair sometimes. Most of the time, really. But if you think about it, it's a good thing life isn't fair. If it was, then Jesus Christ would have never died for us. It wasn't fair for Him to die, but He did it anyway. Without His sacrifice, we wouldn't be able to overcome physical or spiritual death. We need life to be unfair so we could have a Savior pay the penalty for our sins. I am able to be clean every week by taking the sacrament, the bread and the water, that represent His body and blood. Without this unfair act that He had to go through, I wouldn't ever be relieved of guilt or have peace in the hard times. I love Him for doing what no other man could do. I know Jesus Christ is the Son of God, sent here by our Father, so we could someday return to live with Him as eternal families, free from sin. God's plan is perfect. 

Love, 

Sister Morgan

 A pretty magnolia tree, only in the South!

 Random Pic of me

Why did the rooster cross the road?