OK, OK, OK... bad joke.... but I had to. Both my Christmas' have been with Koreans! Ha-ha.
My new companion is Elder Soo Huyn Jeong. Basically he is the nicest guy you could ever meet (and not cause he has to be, but because he is sincerely nice and wise. He really knows what’s important in life and in the mission). You can tell English is his second language and we sometimes misunderstand each other but its funny how we have better communication that all most all of my white English speaking companions. Ha-ha. I believe I would be content with him the rest of my mission... but the story of my life... he is leaving me. I completely understand why however. I don't know if you recall or not but there was an elder who was going home last May when I got transferred from Plainview because his mom was dying. Elder Khang was going to have to go into the Korean program but then the elder he was replacing decided to stay. Well I am now companions with that elder who stayed. He has been in the English program 2 transfers now (both in Huntington my new area). Well, His sister called him and told him that she doesn't think their Mom (and only parent) will make it longer than a month. The doctors give her 1 to 2 months. Elder Jeong's Mom has Stomach cancer, it has spread all throughout her whole inside. I can tell its really hard for Elder Jeong even though he is not sad because he knows that is what happens on this earth life. He knows she will not have any pain if she passes. He said, "People would think I was weird if they heard me say this but I hope my mom will die on time." This is the case because he is from South Korea and if he goes back to Korea he only has 10 days otherwise his visa will expire and he will not be able to come back and finish his mission like he wants to. He would come home with me to Utah in July if he is able to return to the mission (because this is where his sister lives. Plus he wants to go to Utah for school). Please pray for my companion and his mom. It looks like what will happen is my companion will go to Korea Jan 18th, but he wants to come back and finish his commitment. He deserves only the best in this situation. He has such a good heart.
Huntington is pretty cool. I am in a Branch and there is only about 50 or 60 people. Its English and Spanish combined. The branch leadership is awesome! I'm short on time so I’ll have to talk more about it later.
It snowed yesterday enough for us not to be able to use the cars and for the libraries to close which is why I’m emailing today. All we did yesterday was shovel the snow at our home/landlords driveway. It was huge. I am sore. We have some cool investigators and we've already had multiple spiritual experiences. Also today at Dunkin’ Doughnuts in Plainview (we are here because we had president interviews today) we met a cool guy named Khan. He is Muslim but only practices because it was what his parents raised him to be. He seems very willing to talk to us. It was funny cause he came over to us and just sat there staring at us like he expected us to recognize him. I asked if he knew other missionaries but he had no idea... ha-ha! I guess he was just following promptings and then we had a nice conversation about how truth comes from God and spiritual experiences only come through the spirit and talking with god, not book smarts. We will meet him tomorrow at our second floor of a library church! Ha-ha, because he lives in our area! Miracles happen! Thank you Branch president’s wife for Dunkin’ Doughnuts gift certificates! :)
Love you!
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Suprisa de espanol
The week started with a really fun P-day of Buffalo Wild Wings and nerf wars in the church gym, but then Tuesday was a trunkie day. I took elder Ledbetter to the mission office so he could go home. Well It was a nice last time with him, and I’ll really miss him. It will be hard to see someone who lives in Arkansas after the mission, but hopefully I'll be able to keep in touch over email or Facebook or something when I get home. I learned a lot from elder Ledbetter - I think some of the things he might say he learned from me I would say I learned from him. Ha-ha. He was a great help to me. Anyway...
So because Elder Vogt (Riverhead elder) and Ledbetter (zone leader) went home we were two elders short. So my companion Elder Moyers went to Riverhead (by the Ap's orders) to be with Elder Aldridge and I became Elder Paulson's companion. So this week we worked two pools, the Spanish speaking and the English speaking. I ended up praying in Spanish a few times (I’ve never done that before) I was pretty surprised. It turns out entiendo mas que hablo. I understand better when its in a lesson setting when we are with only one person. At church and the ward activities I didn't understand much at all. Well, of course if i was going to be in the Spanish program I would have to suffer all that comes with that call, namely multiple dinner appointments in a row. I'll tell you I am happy I only threw-up once and it was mostly water and none of the meal.
We had a huge lunch at the senior couples place in Riverhead after CDM and then before I was hungry again we went to a Spanish lady's house named Silvia (Actually friends with Judy) and It was an entire plate full a few inches high plus thick drink and desert (which I couldn't eat cause I was stuffed and asked to take it home). Well, right after that we were on our way to the Dyber’s to meet with Judy and eat with all of them... and sister Dyber called us and told us that it was Lasagna and it was home made. And that she had stayed up until 2 in the morning the night before to make it! and that the other people she had invited couldn't come any more so there was lots extra for us. We pulled over and cried. Well we were able to stall them an hour before eating by teaching Judy first. Even with the extra time we couldn't do it. Between distracting them, and praising them about how good it was and asking to take some home and elder Paulson’s heroic act of a small second helping (a blessing from the lord)... we made it. i took Judy's plate to the kitchen for seconds and that's when it happened. I spewed all over the blinds and the sink! Luckily I had time to clean it up without her knowing because I had asked her to play the piano for us! :) It was a good thing I made some extra room though cause then they gave us Ice cream cake. Paulson and I were blessed with a time constraint and so she obliged to only give us half slices. Wouldn't it be nice if a missionary could choose what and when and how much of something he ate? Well, that will never happen, especially in the Spanish program.
We were able to teach Judy a good lesson. She said an amazing prayer. I was really happy about it because the nature of her prayers have completely transformed. Well she has agreed to be baptized, but a date has not been set yet. Too bad I couldn't witness it... But all will be well.
Elder Paulson and I had a lot of fun and got a long really well. I'm glad we were companions for a week. I could have been with him a lot longer than that.
Well the plan was (i thought and guessed) that once the new transfer started that we'd get the new elders and Moyers and I would be together again for another transfer in Terryville. I was wrong. I was surprised too. Saturday I learned that I am out. So it looks like my track record will stay consistent. I've never been in an area longer than 3 transfers. It sounds like I'll be heading back out to the city because they didn't tell me not to take my bags to Rego for the transfer meeting. Its possible that I still go somewhere in Nassau, but i don't feel it is as likely. Most people have guessed pretty consistently and almost as prophetically as when everyone was telling me I'd go out to the Island. I let you know what ends up happening. Here is the saddest part about leaving though: the timing. 4 days before Christmas I get transferred! So unless I go to an old area, I’ll be at a strangers house for Christmas. To make things more complicated and scary is the whole Linda Lang situation.
I went and visited Linda and Lenny and Mary last night..... All they could talk about was how excited they were for Christmas eve and how she had hired caterers and how it was going to be a big seafood dinner and there is going to be a ton of food. She is expecting so much food she wants me to try to persuade elders to come to her house and forsake whatever plans they may have. Well its not much of a sacrifice because Lind, Lenny, and Mary are 3 of the coolest people on the planet and the food is going to be delicious.... but I WONT BE HERE. I didn't have it in my heart to tell her. I couldn't do it. She really might have died on the spot if I did. I couldn't even get a picture cause when I asked for one she just said, "oh just take it Christmas Eve!" :S
Well, I've got plans in the making to somehow pull off a Christmas miracle and show up at her house at 5 Christmas eve with 6 elders. Hopefully President will allow the plans and hopefully whoever my new companion is will be cool enough to accept and do it instead of what will already be planned. :S major dilemma. If I am in Brooklyn or Staten there will really be no way. Queens will push it but not as far. Pray for me, and pray for Linda.
It’s odd, last week I felt as if my mission here was not complete and I owed the lord and president and myself and elder Moyers another 6 weeks here in Terryville... But things just never seem to work out the way we think they will. I wasn't really able to say goodbye to everyone either because we left early from church so we could attend the Spanish branch (for Paulson’s pool).
Besides the complication of the Linda Lang thing and my feelings of wanting to have taught more with Moyers, I feel ready for a change. I know wherever the lord has me go is where I am supposed to be. This Is the lords work, I am privileged to be apart of it although I am just little ol' Sammy.
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
So because Elder Vogt (Riverhead elder) and Ledbetter (zone leader) went home we were two elders short. So my companion Elder Moyers went to Riverhead (by the Ap's orders) to be with Elder Aldridge and I became Elder Paulson's companion. So this week we worked two pools, the Spanish speaking and the English speaking. I ended up praying in Spanish a few times (I’ve never done that before) I was pretty surprised. It turns out entiendo mas que hablo. I understand better when its in a lesson setting when we are with only one person. At church and the ward activities I didn't understand much at all. Well, of course if i was going to be in the Spanish program I would have to suffer all that comes with that call, namely multiple dinner appointments in a row. I'll tell you I am happy I only threw-up once and it was mostly water and none of the meal.
We had a huge lunch at the senior couples place in Riverhead after CDM and then before I was hungry again we went to a Spanish lady's house named Silvia (Actually friends with Judy) and It was an entire plate full a few inches high plus thick drink and desert (which I couldn't eat cause I was stuffed and asked to take it home). Well, right after that we were on our way to the Dyber’s to meet with Judy and eat with all of them... and sister Dyber called us and told us that it was Lasagna and it was home made. And that she had stayed up until 2 in the morning the night before to make it! and that the other people she had invited couldn't come any more so there was lots extra for us. We pulled over and cried. Well we were able to stall them an hour before eating by teaching Judy first. Even with the extra time we couldn't do it. Between distracting them, and praising them about how good it was and asking to take some home and elder Paulson’s heroic act of a small second helping (a blessing from the lord)... we made it. i took Judy's plate to the kitchen for seconds and that's when it happened. I spewed all over the blinds and the sink! Luckily I had time to clean it up without her knowing because I had asked her to play the piano for us! :) It was a good thing I made some extra room though cause then they gave us Ice cream cake. Paulson and I were blessed with a time constraint and so she obliged to only give us half slices. Wouldn't it be nice if a missionary could choose what and when and how much of something he ate? Well, that will never happen, especially in the Spanish program.
We were able to teach Judy a good lesson. She said an amazing prayer. I was really happy about it because the nature of her prayers have completely transformed. Well she has agreed to be baptized, but a date has not been set yet. Too bad I couldn't witness it... But all will be well.
Elder Paulson and I had a lot of fun and got a long really well. I'm glad we were companions for a week. I could have been with him a lot longer than that.
Well the plan was (i thought and guessed) that once the new transfer started that we'd get the new elders and Moyers and I would be together again for another transfer in Terryville. I was wrong. I was surprised too. Saturday I learned that I am out. So it looks like my track record will stay consistent. I've never been in an area longer than 3 transfers. It sounds like I'll be heading back out to the city because they didn't tell me not to take my bags to Rego for the transfer meeting. Its possible that I still go somewhere in Nassau, but i don't feel it is as likely. Most people have guessed pretty consistently and almost as prophetically as when everyone was telling me I'd go out to the Island. I let you know what ends up happening. Here is the saddest part about leaving though: the timing. 4 days before Christmas I get transferred! So unless I go to an old area, I’ll be at a strangers house for Christmas. To make things more complicated and scary is the whole Linda Lang situation.
I went and visited Linda and Lenny and Mary last night..... All they could talk about was how excited they were for Christmas eve and how she had hired caterers and how it was going to be a big seafood dinner and there is going to be a ton of food. She is expecting so much food she wants me to try to persuade elders to come to her house and forsake whatever plans they may have. Well its not much of a sacrifice because Lind, Lenny, and Mary are 3 of the coolest people on the planet and the food is going to be delicious.... but I WONT BE HERE. I didn't have it in my heart to tell her. I couldn't do it. She really might have died on the spot if I did. I couldn't even get a picture cause when I asked for one she just said, "oh just take it Christmas Eve!" :S
Well, I've got plans in the making to somehow pull off a Christmas miracle and show up at her house at 5 Christmas eve with 6 elders. Hopefully President will allow the plans and hopefully whoever my new companion is will be cool enough to accept and do it instead of what will already be planned. :S major dilemma. If I am in Brooklyn or Staten there will really be no way. Queens will push it but not as far. Pray for me, and pray for Linda.
It’s odd, last week I felt as if my mission here was not complete and I owed the lord and president and myself and elder Moyers another 6 weeks here in Terryville... But things just never seem to work out the way we think they will. I wasn't really able to say goodbye to everyone either because we left early from church so we could attend the Spanish branch (for Paulson’s pool).
Besides the complication of the Linda Lang thing and my feelings of wanting to have taught more with Moyers, I feel ready for a change. I know wherever the lord has me go is where I am supposed to be. This Is the lords work, I am privileged to be apart of it although I am just little ol' Sammy.
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Monday, December 13, 2010
Our Bi-polar Shower has Infiltrated Nature
Here I am in Long Island. It’s December. Why has the sky chosen rain instead of snow? Its like 40 to 55 degrees the last few days. Odd, since the beginning of the week was like in the 20's... I guess its ok however cause from what I hear them Lon Gi-lundas don't really know how to deal with snow let alone drive in it.
We got a new investigator this week. She’s pretty cool. She told us that next week she will have a bunch of friends and people to send us to, "to share the word" with as well. :D
We did more service this week. Raked more leafs (can you believe it!?). Also there was a great fireside last night (musical fireside about Christmas) and a Christmas party on Saturday. :) So we Have been with the members a lot this week.
Elder Kiser came to visit us cause they used a whole day on moving the Riverhead elders. They didn't have enough time to get back home and actually work so they went to dinner with us. They also witnessed an accident and visited Wayne. We just don't understand what has happened with Wayne. He is obviously having a hard time and struggling with something but we can't seem to get in to help him and he's not attending church for the ward to help him. :( He apparently opened the door to Kiser and Reyes with the same warm greeting he did with us, "I thought I told you to call before you come over!" to which Kiser responded, "Woah! I'm Elder Kiser Wayne! What are you talking about" (or something like that). He calmed down a little after that... How can someone expect another to call before hand when if they call ahead no one answers? This is to take away the fact we all felt like we had a good enough relationship that we could just stop by. It was never a problem in the past. We were always welcomed with open arms and encouraged to stop by when we were in the neighborhood.
Many people told us they would do things this week and did not. :( I'll leave it at that. I am sad for people. I just wish we could help them see what they are missing. I understand they are busy or forget or things come up (I’m human too), it’s just that these things we offer are worth more than anything else there is.
Linda Lang expects us for Christmas Eve. If i get transferred It'll break her heart. :( Hopefully not her testimony. I have the feeling I'll stay another and my companion Elder Moyers will be transferred. That is not what I want but that's what we are starting to think. It’s gonna be hard for me to train another person to take over the area. I don't feel like i was successful enough this time around and i feel a little too pooped to try again. I'd rather either leave or stay with Moyers another. But whatever the will of the lord is, that is the right way and I know it will be for the best.
We had a deep clean this week. a real interesting day. We ended up cutting a hole in the wall. Guess what we retrieved? a crystal ball! Jk, it was an Urn! jk... i wish. it was just a light fixture that was accidentally built into the wall... well, at least the bathroom doesn't have a naked bulb hanging from the ceiling any more.
I have a little cold this week. Today it’s kind of a wheeze too. I don't really feel sick though. I am tired of sore throats in the morning though.
Monday was awesome cause we went to the MacDonald’s for FHE and dinner. We helped them set up their Christmas tree. It was just a really nice time. We all felt at home. The funny part was that in the closing prayer sis Macdonald said that she was thankful we were there cause it helped her feel like she was more at home. We are all blessed when we share our time and love. That’s how the church works when we give and accept service and when we willingly teach and learn everyone is edified. It’s like the law of consecration! I love it! Let’s live it!
Ledbetter is going home. I'm sad. I have lived with Elder Ledbetter longer (in total) than any other missionary. I really love him. I'm really going to miss him. I have learned a lot from him. He was the reason I survived mentally my 3rd transfer. He is one of my favorite people. I hope that this is not the last time I see him. I hope to keep in contact with him. He said something at district meeting in his "words of wisdom" that Elder Judd made him impart on us being that is was his last district meeting, he said, "Just be yourself while you do missionary work. Don't try to be something you are not. The lord called you here for a reason. He needed you specifically just the way you are to make a difference here in this mission." then he said something that really surprised me and he said it very sincerely, "Elder Morris has always really been a good example of that for me. I think he does that well; sorry to put you on the spot like that.". Anyway that really meant a lot to me because of 1. who it came from and 2. because that is something I have felt like I have struggled with all along. :) It felt good.
Well I don't know what else to say. I can't really think of anything else.
Know this however; every man is free to choose according to his own will. This Is our God given right. We all make choices. We all make mistakes. Try real hard not to hold peoples mistakes against them. Try to forgive people. Cause we have enough to worry about with ourselves. How can we expect the lord to forgive us if we do not forgive others? What we can do is strive to do our part. Strive to be a contributing factor for good in the world for ourselves. We cannot change others, but we can change our selves. All of our choices effect those around us, so let’s make sure we are conscious of that. When we hear a lesson or a story or instruction let’s say to ourselves, "How can I apply that into my own life" instead of "wow I really with [so-in-so] was here to hear this. This is just what they need." I'm trying to do better with this. :) I think this is a big factor in achieving the "Grown-Up Christmas Wish (list)" of world peace and whatnot. Well... I love you all.
Peace!
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
We got a new investigator this week. She’s pretty cool. She told us that next week she will have a bunch of friends and people to send us to, "to share the word" with as well. :D
We did more service this week. Raked more leafs (can you believe it!?). Also there was a great fireside last night (musical fireside about Christmas) and a Christmas party on Saturday. :) So we Have been with the members a lot this week.
Elder Kiser came to visit us cause they used a whole day on moving the Riverhead elders. They didn't have enough time to get back home and actually work so they went to dinner with us. They also witnessed an accident and visited Wayne. We just don't understand what has happened with Wayne. He is obviously having a hard time and struggling with something but we can't seem to get in to help him and he's not attending church for the ward to help him. :( He apparently opened the door to Kiser and Reyes with the same warm greeting he did with us, "I thought I told you to call before you come over!" to which Kiser responded, "Woah! I'm Elder Kiser Wayne! What are you talking about" (or something like that). He calmed down a little after that... How can someone expect another to call before hand when if they call ahead no one answers? This is to take away the fact we all felt like we had a good enough relationship that we could just stop by. It was never a problem in the past. We were always welcomed with open arms and encouraged to stop by when we were in the neighborhood.
Many people told us they would do things this week and did not. :( I'll leave it at that. I am sad for people. I just wish we could help them see what they are missing. I understand they are busy or forget or things come up (I’m human too), it’s just that these things we offer are worth more than anything else there is.
Linda Lang expects us for Christmas Eve. If i get transferred It'll break her heart. :( Hopefully not her testimony. I have the feeling I'll stay another and my companion Elder Moyers will be transferred. That is not what I want but that's what we are starting to think. It’s gonna be hard for me to train another person to take over the area. I don't feel like i was successful enough this time around and i feel a little too pooped to try again. I'd rather either leave or stay with Moyers another. But whatever the will of the lord is, that is the right way and I know it will be for the best.
We had a deep clean this week. a real interesting day. We ended up cutting a hole in the wall. Guess what we retrieved? a crystal ball! Jk, it was an Urn! jk... i wish. it was just a light fixture that was accidentally built into the wall... well, at least the bathroom doesn't have a naked bulb hanging from the ceiling any more.
I have a little cold this week. Today it’s kind of a wheeze too. I don't really feel sick though. I am tired of sore throats in the morning though.
Monday was awesome cause we went to the MacDonald’s for FHE and dinner. We helped them set up their Christmas tree. It was just a really nice time. We all felt at home. The funny part was that in the closing prayer sis Macdonald said that she was thankful we were there cause it helped her feel like she was more at home. We are all blessed when we share our time and love. That’s how the church works when we give and accept service and when we willingly teach and learn everyone is edified. It’s like the law of consecration! I love it! Let’s live it!
Ledbetter is going home. I'm sad. I have lived with Elder Ledbetter longer (in total) than any other missionary. I really love him. I'm really going to miss him. I have learned a lot from him. He was the reason I survived mentally my 3rd transfer. He is one of my favorite people. I hope that this is not the last time I see him. I hope to keep in contact with him. He said something at district meeting in his "words of wisdom" that Elder Judd made him impart on us being that is was his last district meeting, he said, "Just be yourself while you do missionary work. Don't try to be something you are not. The lord called you here for a reason. He needed you specifically just the way you are to make a difference here in this mission." then he said something that really surprised me and he said it very sincerely, "Elder Morris has always really been a good example of that for me. I think he does that well; sorry to put you on the spot like that.". Anyway that really meant a lot to me because of 1. who it came from and 2. because that is something I have felt like I have struggled with all along. :) It felt good.
Well I don't know what else to say. I can't really think of anything else.
Know this however; every man is free to choose according to his own will. This Is our God given right. We all make choices. We all make mistakes. Try real hard not to hold peoples mistakes against them. Try to forgive people. Cause we have enough to worry about with ourselves. How can we expect the lord to forgive us if we do not forgive others? What we can do is strive to do our part. Strive to be a contributing factor for good in the world for ourselves. We cannot change others, but we can change our selves. All of our choices effect those around us, so let’s make sure we are conscious of that. When we hear a lesson or a story or instruction let’s say to ourselves, "How can I apply that into my own life" instead of "wow I really with [so-in-so] was here to hear this. This is just what they need." I'm trying to do better with this. :) I think this is a big factor in achieving the "Grown-Up Christmas Wish (list)" of world peace and whatnot. Well... I love you all.
Peace!
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Sunday, December 5, 2010
50 Gallons of Nature
We raked a lot of leaves. I really packed my garbage bags. The bags were very heavy. I am the King of leaf stomping. You should pay me tribute. If you don't I'll pay you leafs. You’ll have to rake. You will not be happy. I will be so vindicated. Let’s talk about other things now.
Last night a miracle happened. My companion said, "Goodnight". I was so happy. I felt like a girl who's had a seven year crush on a guy who hates her and one day she’s at school and the guy walks up and takes her in his arms all gentle and says, "I love you". I basically was completely shocked. I informed him that that was the first time he had ever told me goodnight. He admitted that was pretty sad. We actually said a few words to each other after that too. Well, basically I felt like this big relief I didn't expect to ever feel from a mere "goodnight". Any way today it has been easier for me to get along with him and I have felt a lot less tension. So basically the moral to the story is never take a drink on the house.
Also yesterday we did some trackting on a street that had a former on it. Well, we found the cousin to the former and the neighbor across the street that seemed like good potentials. So that was cool (in both denotations).
This week was a low number week, but we were able to help out and see a lot of members. We had Thanksgiving and McDonald's. Ha-ha Jk. We had Thanksgiving at The MacDonald's and whenever we told someone where we were going for Thanksgiving they got confused and thought we were actually telling them that we were going to McDonalds! Ha-ha. I think we actually almost offended someone when we told them we couldn't go to their house for Thanksgiving cause we were going to the MacDonald's. lol. Well, it was basically an amazingly wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, I couldn't have asked for a better one. It was as if I was at home almost. The McDonalds are so awesome and nice and such good cooks. I love them. They are one of my favorite families I have met on my mission. We also ate at Dennys for breakfast with Judy cause she didn't have anything going on for Thanksgiving. It was awkward saying goodbye but the actual meal and talking was pretty good. Denny's is only like $2-6 did you know that? Pretty good.
Last week was the most amazing primary program I’ve ever seen. No exaggeration. It was the best. Well, guess what, it was so good that the father of a part member family came this week as well! The wife called us and told us that she thinks we will be able to come over soon. I call it a Thanksgiving/primary program miracle.
That’s the gist of the week. Some good news however; Grace called to get an appointment with the bishop and is looking like she is going to try harder to get to church. Harold came to church; he told me he's been very busy. But he told me that he plans on encouraging his mom to get baptized while he is in Colombia (starting next week until January) and that he will be attending church while in Colombia! Cool right! :) That helped me see better that he truly is a solid as I thought he was, he just has a lot going on.
I love truth. It makes more since than the alternative. I'm glad I can be a messenger of truth although I'm a little weakling. Ha-ha. I can be strong as I put my trust where it should be put.
Love,
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Last night a miracle happened. My companion said, "Goodnight". I was so happy. I felt like a girl who's had a seven year crush on a guy who hates her and one day she’s at school and the guy walks up and takes her in his arms all gentle and says, "I love you". I basically was completely shocked. I informed him that that was the first time he had ever told me goodnight. He admitted that was pretty sad. We actually said a few words to each other after that too. Well, basically I felt like this big relief I didn't expect to ever feel from a mere "goodnight". Any way today it has been easier for me to get along with him and I have felt a lot less tension. So basically the moral to the story is never take a drink on the house.
Also yesterday we did some trackting on a street that had a former on it. Well, we found the cousin to the former and the neighbor across the street that seemed like good potentials. So that was cool (in both denotations).
This week was a low number week, but we were able to help out and see a lot of members. We had Thanksgiving and McDonald's. Ha-ha Jk. We had Thanksgiving at The MacDonald's and whenever we told someone where we were going for Thanksgiving they got confused and thought we were actually telling them that we were going to McDonalds! Ha-ha. I think we actually almost offended someone when we told them we couldn't go to their house for Thanksgiving cause we were going to the MacDonald's. lol. Well, it was basically an amazingly wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, I couldn't have asked for a better one. It was as if I was at home almost. The McDonalds are so awesome and nice and such good cooks. I love them. They are one of my favorite families I have met on my mission. We also ate at Dennys for breakfast with Judy cause she didn't have anything going on for Thanksgiving. It was awkward saying goodbye but the actual meal and talking was pretty good. Denny's is only like $2-6 did you know that? Pretty good.
Last week was the most amazing primary program I’ve ever seen. No exaggeration. It was the best. Well, guess what, it was so good that the father of a part member family came this week as well! The wife called us and told us that she thinks we will be able to come over soon. I call it a Thanksgiving/primary program miracle.
That’s the gist of the week. Some good news however; Grace called to get an appointment with the bishop and is looking like she is going to try harder to get to church. Harold came to church; he told me he's been very busy. But he told me that he plans on encouraging his mom to get baptized while he is in Colombia (starting next week until January) and that he will be attending church while in Colombia! Cool right! :) That helped me see better that he truly is a solid as I thought he was, he just has a lot going on.
I love truth. It makes more since than the alternative. I'm glad I can be a messenger of truth although I'm a little weakling. Ha-ha. I can be strong as I put my trust where it should be put.
Love,
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Monday, November 22, 2010
Life goes on with or without us
Hey friends and family. Just so you know this week I didn't struggle so badly. Elder Moyers and I are beginning to become more united and get to know each other better. We talk more now than we did before. We teach pretty well together I would say, which surprises me because of our situation but I know it is because we are following the spirit. I have thought of something I needed to say to someone and then he said it. Often while I am teaching Moyers will nod his head like, "yeah! That’s what I was thinking!"
I have learned a lot from Elder Moyers already and I hope he can say the same thing. Hopefully I have more impact on him in a positive way then in a negative way. I could imagine why he would think I am crazy or not the perfect example of a missionary.
Well its funny to me that this week we taught the average amount of lessons I taught a week with Elder Kiser... I feel like with Moyers we struggle to know how to schedule our day. With Elder Kiser it was difficult some days to plan our next day, but not as bad. I've been disappointed lately because we have gotten home late and then had extremely long planning sessions! Basically I get no wind down time cause once we are finished planning I've got 5 min to get to bed, ugh. We have made it a goal to do better about keeping our planning concise. I think it will be a lot easier when we finish the project we are working on of making a book of maps with all our members and contacts on it for each area. That way all we have to do is say "Where do we want to work tomorrow?" and then one of us will say, "Nesconset!" and the other will say "OK, sounds good. Here is a list of people... lets schedule them in for before lunch!" etc. :)
Well we started a new thing. We are going to be attending the ward members Family Home Evenings. We will either participate in the lesson or share a lesson with the family and maybe a game or something. This way we are getting more time with the members so we can build trust with them. We will also help them to take the next step in their family’s missionary work. This doesn't mean asking for referrals, that's like opening up the goose to try to get the golden eggs inside only to find there are none and you have killed the goose! If the members trust us then they will introduce their friends and family to us. What we will help them do is teach them ways they can be good neighbors (by helping them rake their neighbor’s leaves with them) or helping them think of ways they could invite their friends to activities or family bbq's, or how to share a testimony with a colleague. Or how to help the kids prepare for missions etc. Its not about numbers, its about love. Our examples as members and our friendships (not dependent on whether or not our friends join the church) can mean more than anything. When our friends and family know we love them and just want to help and will still love them even if they don't accept our message they will probably be more willing to listen the next time they get some missionaries knocking on the door. Ha-ha.
We had an amazing miracle night last Monday with Judy. We ate dinner at the Dyber’s and Sister McGibney was there as well and Judy came too. Well the spirit was super strong and everyone was testifying and Judy ended up getting a blessing and we sang a hymn and the words "I feel terrific" came from her mouth. Wow. I've never heard her say anything of that manner. The best think I've ever heard is "I'm OK" and usually It’s "Terrible, just terrible". Well I was convenced she was going to accept a baptismal date with the way she skipped to the car afterward. She has an amazing support system at church that extends beyond church friend status. She comes to church every week anyway... so it just seemed like this week she would tell us she wants to be baptized. Well she didn't. But Its still a miracle that she is happier and lighter. Baby steps are good when they are made in the right direction. Also, last Monday Grace called me. It was so nice to hear her voice. We talked and I was relieved to find out she still has a testimony and knows what she needs to do to be happy. She knows she needs to keep reading the scriptures and find a way to church. So this week I tried to get many members involved to try to contact her. She has been hard to contact especially cause she works in Riverhead and doesn't want people to stop by the house cause her sister-in-law that she lives with doesn't know she is a member and doesn't think she would respond to well to the fact.
Most of the work has been look ups of less active members and tracting, but we were able to contact a media referral this week! Woot! She is an amazing Jamaican lady who was referred to us by the LA temple visitor’s center. Her name is Parlin Johns and she is an international new born Nanny! Ha-ha. She goes all over the world for months at a time to take care of new borns. She gets literally piles of requests sent to her. She was awesome and so accepting of the message. Unfortunately she didn't make it to church but she was very sincere about reading the book of Mormon and knew what she had to do to find out if it was true. She told us she would keep us updated and wants to really know because she really wants to go to the temple. :) She couldn't make any appointments with us because she never knows when she has to leave the state, but told us to come by anytime she was home. So that was pretty cool. :D
The fall colors are starting to be scarce. Many of the trees are bare now. There were so many pretty colors, there are still a few trees that are vivid, but mostly brown now or fallen. We helped rake Sister Mcgibney’s lawn and it took a few hours with 6 of us plus her. We bagged over 100 bags and put them on the street! Ha-ha. There are still more leaves to fall, but thankfully for her not much more. We made a huge pile and jumped in it. Ha-ha. I filmed it so you all can see it later. Also pictures by the bags piled; I've never seen so many. And we packed them tight too, especially me! I sat on mine and/or got inside and stomped around while more went in. Ha-ha. It was fun. :)
Well, Imma hop now.
Love,
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
I have learned a lot from Elder Moyers already and I hope he can say the same thing. Hopefully I have more impact on him in a positive way then in a negative way. I could imagine why he would think I am crazy or not the perfect example of a missionary.
Well its funny to me that this week we taught the average amount of lessons I taught a week with Elder Kiser... I feel like with Moyers we struggle to know how to schedule our day. With Elder Kiser it was difficult some days to plan our next day, but not as bad. I've been disappointed lately because we have gotten home late and then had extremely long planning sessions! Basically I get no wind down time cause once we are finished planning I've got 5 min to get to bed, ugh. We have made it a goal to do better about keeping our planning concise. I think it will be a lot easier when we finish the project we are working on of making a book of maps with all our members and contacts on it for each area. That way all we have to do is say "Where do we want to work tomorrow?" and then one of us will say, "Nesconset!" and the other will say "OK, sounds good. Here is a list of people... lets schedule them in for before lunch!" etc. :)
Well we started a new thing. We are going to be attending the ward members Family Home Evenings. We will either participate in the lesson or share a lesson with the family and maybe a game or something. This way we are getting more time with the members so we can build trust with them. We will also help them to take the next step in their family’s missionary work. This doesn't mean asking for referrals, that's like opening up the goose to try to get the golden eggs inside only to find there are none and you have killed the goose! If the members trust us then they will introduce their friends and family to us. What we will help them do is teach them ways they can be good neighbors (by helping them rake their neighbor’s leaves with them) or helping them think of ways they could invite their friends to activities or family bbq's, or how to share a testimony with a colleague. Or how to help the kids prepare for missions etc. Its not about numbers, its about love. Our examples as members and our friendships (not dependent on whether or not our friends join the church) can mean more than anything. When our friends and family know we love them and just want to help and will still love them even if they don't accept our message they will probably be more willing to listen the next time they get some missionaries knocking on the door. Ha-ha.
We had an amazing miracle night last Monday with Judy. We ate dinner at the Dyber’s and Sister McGibney was there as well and Judy came too. Well the spirit was super strong and everyone was testifying and Judy ended up getting a blessing and we sang a hymn and the words "I feel terrific" came from her mouth. Wow. I've never heard her say anything of that manner. The best think I've ever heard is "I'm OK" and usually It’s "Terrible, just terrible". Well I was convenced she was going to accept a baptismal date with the way she skipped to the car afterward. She has an amazing support system at church that extends beyond church friend status. She comes to church every week anyway... so it just seemed like this week she would tell us she wants to be baptized. Well she didn't. But Its still a miracle that she is happier and lighter. Baby steps are good when they are made in the right direction. Also, last Monday Grace called me. It was so nice to hear her voice. We talked and I was relieved to find out she still has a testimony and knows what she needs to do to be happy. She knows she needs to keep reading the scriptures and find a way to church. So this week I tried to get many members involved to try to contact her. She has been hard to contact especially cause she works in Riverhead and doesn't want people to stop by the house cause her sister-in-law that she lives with doesn't know she is a member and doesn't think she would respond to well to the fact.
Most of the work has been look ups of less active members and tracting, but we were able to contact a media referral this week! Woot! She is an amazing Jamaican lady who was referred to us by the LA temple visitor’s center. Her name is Parlin Johns and she is an international new born Nanny! Ha-ha. She goes all over the world for months at a time to take care of new borns. She gets literally piles of requests sent to her. She was awesome and so accepting of the message. Unfortunately she didn't make it to church but she was very sincere about reading the book of Mormon and knew what she had to do to find out if it was true. She told us she would keep us updated and wants to really know because she really wants to go to the temple. :) She couldn't make any appointments with us because she never knows when she has to leave the state, but told us to come by anytime she was home. So that was pretty cool. :D
The fall colors are starting to be scarce. Many of the trees are bare now. There were so many pretty colors, there are still a few trees that are vivid, but mostly brown now or fallen. We helped rake Sister Mcgibney’s lawn and it took a few hours with 6 of us plus her. We bagged over 100 bags and put them on the street! Ha-ha. There are still more leaves to fall, but thankfully for her not much more. We made a huge pile and jumped in it. Ha-ha. I filmed it so you all can see it later. Also pictures by the bags piled; I've never seen so many. And we packed them tight too, especially me! I sat on mine and/or got inside and stomped around while more went in. Ha-ha. It was fun. :)
Well, Imma hop now.
Love,
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
I Miss the “Mis-mis”
Well, it was a rough week. The first two days i missed Elder Kiser a lot. I felt like my best friend had just died or something. I really struggled to keep us busy. It was tough. I realized that for the first time on my mission I was completely in charge, and not for just one day siked but the next 6 weeks minimum. I was really worried that Elder Moyers would think I was just a big slacker missionary. Then to top everything off not only do we have very little to do but I was going off of memory for directions and since I was in the hot seat and my old comp with a map for a brain was gone I myself out and sent us on some big unnecessary detours a few times. We were late a few times too and on splits only one member showed up and he didn't have anyone he wanted to look up or any home teaching to do so I had to improvise. It all turned out ok... and I am comfortable now as far as not being so stressed or feeling so pressured. Our numbers were the lowest I've had in a long while. :S
I thought it was interesting that Todd in his mission just had the same thing happen to him as what happened to me. That is our companion left to go to the office and we both got a greenie in his place. Man... I never understood what the old missionaries were talking about when I was younger in the mission. I felt like I wasn't any different than anyone else, and I really defended greenies when old missionaries would talk about their frustrations. I understand now. Not only is Moyers super green but he spent the last part of his mission in the Korean program. In the Korean program they are kind of Isolated from the rest of the mission. They kind of have their own culture and everything. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with elder Moyers. He is really easy to get along with and he and I seem to teach pretty well together. He has a really funny innocent grin he puts on ha-ha. It’s really funny. Also I'll get lost in thoughts sometimes and he thinks I’m ignoring him or am angry or something and tries breaking the science but doesn't know how. Ha-ha. Sometimes it’s really funny to just watch him when its obvious that there is something he wants to tell me or ask me but instead he just walks around or attempts to talk multiple times but then doesn't say anything. :) Ha-ha. I kind of feel bad for him. Ha-ha. He asks me the silliest questions sometimes like about how to do something or if he can do something that no one cares about (probably because he doesn't want to offend anyone by his actions... but he forgets he is in a pad with Mitchell, Ledbetter, Judd, me, and Paulson. There are probably few other pads that are so laid back). He often won’t do something until I do it or give him permission to do it with the exception of the car heater.... ha-ha. He’ll adjust the temperature really fast and make some little noise that sounds like a mix of awkward and uncomfortable then check up with me to see if I'll say anything.
Anyway, ha-ha-- hopefully he'll learn to relax, I think he is in this pad to learn that he can really do a lot of good and still be obedient and he doesn't have to focus on each rule but on the objective and his purpose as a missionary.
He is sitting right next to me and he keeps looking at my screen to see what I am doing as if he is nervous that i am going to go on to a porn sight or something. Well, moving on.
We had an amazing Zone Conference on Friday. I really felt the spirit. And Thursday we came up with some really good plans for this week. I hope we can be more successful this week.
I'm really sad about our recent converts. Particularly Wayne cause he is being a punk lately about coming to church. Grace really wants to come to church and told me in a text last night that she is "proud to be Mormon" but her boss won’t let her have the schedule she was having last month with work. I wish I could give her a bunch of money or find her a new job so she could get to church on Sunday. Harold was coming but he didn't come yesterday. I was thinking maybe he was going to start becoming less frail in terms of his activity since he had a long interview with bishop and was sustained to receive the priesthood. Last time I called him he was all weird on the phone and I think he misunderstood what I was trying to say. i just wanted to check up on him and see if he was going to come to the new member classes but I think he thought I was harping him. I felt bad cause I really, really like Harold and I want to be his friend and keep in contact with him after the mission... but i think he liked elder Kiser better cause Kiser knew more about movies and stuff, anyway....
Fortunately Eugene is strong as ever. He always makes it to church even with his busy schedule. I love I; he is so cool.
Well besides having a nice meeting with President Croft, this week was mostly introducing Moyers to the English program and this area, Zone conference and a disappointing day at church. No one came. Judy came... but no one else, none of our potentials and none of our other investigators. I was really looking forward to seeing Cornell again and hopefully setting up an appointment with him but..... he didn't come and when I called him he told me basically he wanted to do the whole reading the book of Mormon thing and learning about the Gospel on his own. I was so surprised. I've never met someone who was so interested and loved a testimony meeting and believed the Joseph Smith story but didn't want to meet with us to learn more and faster. I guess he's just a really independent person. :S Well I’ve got to go now.
Love,
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
I thought it was interesting that Todd in his mission just had the same thing happen to him as what happened to me. That is our companion left to go to the office and we both got a greenie in his place. Man... I never understood what the old missionaries were talking about when I was younger in the mission. I felt like I wasn't any different than anyone else, and I really defended greenies when old missionaries would talk about their frustrations. I understand now. Not only is Moyers super green but he spent the last part of his mission in the Korean program. In the Korean program they are kind of Isolated from the rest of the mission. They kind of have their own culture and everything. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with elder Moyers. He is really easy to get along with and he and I seem to teach pretty well together. He has a really funny innocent grin he puts on ha-ha. It’s really funny. Also I'll get lost in thoughts sometimes and he thinks I’m ignoring him or am angry or something and tries breaking the science but doesn't know how. Ha-ha. Sometimes it’s really funny to just watch him when its obvious that there is something he wants to tell me or ask me but instead he just walks around or attempts to talk multiple times but then doesn't say anything. :) Ha-ha. I kind of feel bad for him. Ha-ha. He asks me the silliest questions sometimes like about how to do something or if he can do something that no one cares about (probably because he doesn't want to offend anyone by his actions... but he forgets he is in a pad with Mitchell, Ledbetter, Judd, me, and Paulson. There are probably few other pads that are so laid back). He often won’t do something until I do it or give him permission to do it with the exception of the car heater.... ha-ha. He’ll adjust the temperature really fast and make some little noise that sounds like a mix of awkward and uncomfortable then check up with me to see if I'll say anything.
Anyway, ha-ha-- hopefully he'll learn to relax, I think he is in this pad to learn that he can really do a lot of good and still be obedient and he doesn't have to focus on each rule but on the objective and his purpose as a missionary.
He is sitting right next to me and he keeps looking at my screen to see what I am doing as if he is nervous that i am going to go on to a porn sight or something. Well, moving on.
We had an amazing Zone Conference on Friday. I really felt the spirit. And Thursday we came up with some really good plans for this week. I hope we can be more successful this week.
I'm really sad about our recent converts. Particularly Wayne cause he is being a punk lately about coming to church. Grace really wants to come to church and told me in a text last night that she is "proud to be Mormon" but her boss won’t let her have the schedule she was having last month with work. I wish I could give her a bunch of money or find her a new job so she could get to church on Sunday. Harold was coming but he didn't come yesterday. I was thinking maybe he was going to start becoming less frail in terms of his activity since he had a long interview with bishop and was sustained to receive the priesthood. Last time I called him he was all weird on the phone and I think he misunderstood what I was trying to say. i just wanted to check up on him and see if he was going to come to the new member classes but I think he thought I was harping him. I felt bad cause I really, really like Harold and I want to be his friend and keep in contact with him after the mission... but i think he liked elder Kiser better cause Kiser knew more about movies and stuff, anyway....
Fortunately Eugene is strong as ever. He always makes it to church even with his busy schedule. I love I; he is so cool.
Well besides having a nice meeting with President Croft, this week was mostly introducing Moyers to the English program and this area, Zone conference and a disappointing day at church. No one came. Judy came... but no one else, none of our potentials and none of our other investigators. I was really looking forward to seeing Cornell again and hopefully setting up an appointment with him but..... he didn't come and when I called him he told me basically he wanted to do the whole reading the book of Mormon thing and learning about the Gospel on his own. I was so surprised. I've never met someone who was so interested and loved a testimony meeting and believed the Joseph Smith story but didn't want to meet with us to learn more and faster. I guess he's just a really independent person. :S Well I’ve got to go now.
Love,
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Shalom
It turns out we taught the exact same number of lessons this transfer as last transfer. This surprised me. It surprised me because I didn't feel as successful as I felt last transfer. The only real difference in numbers was the 4 baptisms compared to the 0 this transfer. I know what you have already said to yourself, "but Sam, don't you know that baptisms are not the measure of your success as a missionary?" Yes of course I know that. I'm just pointing out that the effort we put in or the amount of lessons we teach is directly proportional to the amount of baptisms. I think they tried to tell me something like that in the MTC... but anyway. I was surprised, like I said, that Elder Kiser and I ended up with the exact same number of lessons as last transfer. I think the focus of this last transfer was strengthening the recent converts. Finding came next. The funny thing about finding is that (at least in my mission) those that are found aren't really found they are given. We do finding activities all day long and don't find anyone but then we get a media referral or someone approaches us and that person is the one that progresses. So it was this transfer; a lot of work with no new investigators to show for it. That being said, I see a lot of potential for next transfer. Our pool is actually being built up. There is work to be done; now it’s up to me and my new companion to be diligent.
That's right, new companion. It’s hard to think of being in Terryville without elder Kiser... but that’s what is going to be happening starting transfer meeting tomorrow. Thursday night we got a text from the Zone leaders telling us Elder Kiser had an interview with president on Friday. A Friday interview before transfers in this mission means you are becoming a District leader, Zone leader, or training. Well I knew it wasn't DL or ZL, because Kiser has only had one area and is still young in the mission (transfer wise). Well that only left training. I was surprised because I was having the feeling that I would be training this transfer. However I was not asked to be interviewed. Well Friday during the interview, the door opens and president comes out and invites me to come into the room where the interview was happening... I walk in and it is made known to me that "the touch of Morris has been made known again" (or something like that). "Elder Kiser will be serving in the office for the next two transfers". Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. Wow, so I’ve had 5 companions now who have served in the office. Well, Kiser left the room and president interviewed me. Not expected by me. He told me that I would be with Elder Moyers (an elder I picked up from the airport when I was an office elder). Elder Moyers has been in the mission for 12 weeks now and for the last 12 weeks he has been serving in the Korean program. Ha-ha. So in a way you could say this is my 3rd Korean companion. Well, he's actually a white kid (I know--disappointing. Ha-ha) but from what I remember when I picked him up, he is really nice, so hopefully we get along well. So there you have it, I am a trainer in a way because I'm training him to be an English elder now. President wants him to be in the English program now because we have one too many English elders and I suppose he wanted to keep the native Koreans in the program because Koreans are a little racist (at least the ones I've met! Ha=ha Jk, but seriously). I don't think Elder Moyers knows yet that I will be his new comp but I know. President told me essentially that he wants me to work hard and have a lot of fun with him and teach a lot of lessons (Moyers hasn't taught a lot on his mission so far). I guess president sees me as a guy who can work hard and have a lot of fun if that is my assignment. So that's a major complement I feel.
So that's the biggest news. Here are some interesting facts though:
I will be in Terryville for 3 transfers now. The only other place I have done that is Richmond Hill. I've never stayed in an area longer than that. Usually I am 2 then leave. I potentially could be here a long time. I would say the absolute longest would be until march and the shortest would be after this next 6 weeks (which would mean I would be in a new area for Christmas... that's no fun cause then you are at a strangers for Christmas. I think I'd rather be here two more transfers then leave).
I've never had a companion longer than 12 weeks.
As of next transfer I will have lived with Elder Ledbetter longer than any Elder. He dies this next transfer. I will really, really miss him. Kiser is lucky he gets to take him to the airport... But on second thought, that would be really hard for me, so I’m glad I’m not doing it. I will miss Ledbetter.
Cool story. We got a bunch of media referrals. We called one up, Cornel-- Long story short, he’s 6'3'' blond haired and blue eyed and looking for truth. He came to church before we even met him and LOVED fast and testimony meeting. He told me he believes in the "Joseph Smith Story"! So I’m way pumped to teach him, he seems way chill! I'll keep ye all posted.
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
That's right, new companion. It’s hard to think of being in Terryville without elder Kiser... but that’s what is going to be happening starting transfer meeting tomorrow. Thursday night we got a text from the Zone leaders telling us Elder Kiser had an interview with president on Friday. A Friday interview before transfers in this mission means you are becoming a District leader, Zone leader, or training. Well I knew it wasn't DL or ZL, because Kiser has only had one area and is still young in the mission (transfer wise). Well that only left training. I was surprised because I was having the feeling that I would be training this transfer. However I was not asked to be interviewed. Well Friday during the interview, the door opens and president comes out and invites me to come into the room where the interview was happening... I walk in and it is made known to me that "the touch of Morris has been made known again" (or something like that). "Elder Kiser will be serving in the office for the next two transfers". Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. Wow, so I’ve had 5 companions now who have served in the office. Well, Kiser left the room and president interviewed me. Not expected by me. He told me that I would be with Elder Moyers (an elder I picked up from the airport when I was an office elder). Elder Moyers has been in the mission for 12 weeks now and for the last 12 weeks he has been serving in the Korean program. Ha-ha. So in a way you could say this is my 3rd Korean companion. Well, he's actually a white kid (I know--disappointing. Ha-ha) but from what I remember when I picked him up, he is really nice, so hopefully we get along well. So there you have it, I am a trainer in a way because I'm training him to be an English elder now. President wants him to be in the English program now because we have one too many English elders and I suppose he wanted to keep the native Koreans in the program because Koreans are a little racist (at least the ones I've met! Ha=ha Jk, but seriously). I don't think Elder Moyers knows yet that I will be his new comp but I know. President told me essentially that he wants me to work hard and have a lot of fun with him and teach a lot of lessons (Moyers hasn't taught a lot on his mission so far). I guess president sees me as a guy who can work hard and have a lot of fun if that is my assignment. So that's a major complement I feel.
So that's the biggest news. Here are some interesting facts though:
I will be in Terryville for 3 transfers now. The only other place I have done that is Richmond Hill. I've never stayed in an area longer than that. Usually I am 2 then leave. I potentially could be here a long time. I would say the absolute longest would be until march and the shortest would be after this next 6 weeks (which would mean I would be in a new area for Christmas... that's no fun cause then you are at a strangers for Christmas. I think I'd rather be here two more transfers then leave).
I've never had a companion longer than 12 weeks.
As of next transfer I will have lived with Elder Ledbetter longer than any Elder. He dies this next transfer. I will really, really miss him. Kiser is lucky he gets to take him to the airport... But on second thought, that would be really hard for me, so I’m glad I’m not doing it. I will miss Ledbetter.
Cool story. We got a bunch of media referrals. We called one up, Cornel-- Long story short, he’s 6'3'' blond haired and blue eyed and looking for truth. He came to church before we even met him and LOVED fast and testimony meeting. He told me he believes in the "Joseph Smith Story"! So I’m way pumped to teach him, he seems way chill! I'll keep ye all posted.
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Happy Halloween
All right, so, this past week we had a lot of opportunity to do service. It was nice because we were able to gain more trust from the members and ward auxiliary leaders. We had a few switch ups that were different but not all bad. The one bad one was that our ward mission leader is out of town because of a family emergency concerning a grandchild. We pray for him. The rest however were good because we were able to work more closely with the leaders. We met with the Elder’s quorum president and he fed us amazing steaks and broccoli with cheese and apple cider. Then he showed us pictures and videos from his trip to Jerusalem and Israel and Egypt, way cool! ha-ha. Looked like lots of fun. He told us Petra is way cooler than the pyramids, (but both are cool). Then we talked about people in the ward and investigators and service projects and less actives. Basically we have a list of things to do that will be great things to do. Plus we are working better with the elders. Also we will be meeting with him every Saturday from now on and he will be feeding us! Score, his food was delicious and I was totally satisfecho. I hate feeling totally stuffed and uncomfortable and embarrassed that I can't finish the food, and offending people that I didn't eat enough. I'm a small guy! I'm done with that game!
We also tracted this week and were able to find some good service opportunities as well as potential investigators. We talked to one man (the last house we knocked on) for a half an hour. His name was rick and he is a long time practicing Catholic. We gave him a book of Mormon at the climax of our surprisingly intellectual and spiritual discussion, at which point he expressed a sincerity to actually read and pray about it. He told us that history is written by the victors and there are billions of Catholics so he wouldn't be surprised if there are other things out there.
I had a burger Saturday at Frank n' Burger! ha-ha. It's a Halloween themed burger place open all year round! What a gamble right!? Well he has been open a whole year now and has amazing customer service for New York, not to mention his burger was really good! It was Huge, i couldn't finish it. The bun was amazing! Big all encompassing bun! Hardly any drip-age or slippage of the innards of my burger. It all looked good (all the choices) but there was one (that I'm sure was tasty) that I just couldn't go for-- A zombie dog--it was a deep fried wiener with honey and whipped cream on it. All I could imagine when I saw it was eating some part of a zombie...... well you don't want to hear about that do you.
Halloween was an odd Sunday. We helped a man named Bob Lugo out. He is taking care of his dad while his mom is in the hospital and he himself really should be taken care of. His wife is out of town and he has an amputated foot from diabetes. He is a wonderful guy with a strong testimony. Well it’s tough for him to stand up and sit down repeatedly and walk around. Since its Halloween and not Utah there were trick-or-teat-ers. So we handed out candy, answered the phone, and attended to Grandpa Lugo while Bob took a break and did some things he needed to do. I was quite surprised how many kids didn't even dress up! Most did, but a surprising amount did not. The More surprising thing was that the kids had to be coaxed to say "trick or treat!" Can you believe that! We had to ask "What’s the magic words?" or something to that effect nearly every time! Ha-ha. Well we went home and spent the rest of the afternoon and night inside (mission rule not be out after 5 on Halloween). I felt bad we could stay and help bob out longer and so did he. But he was thankful for the time we were able to give him.
Love you peeps, chow.
We also tracted this week and were able to find some good service opportunities as well as potential investigators. We talked to one man (the last house we knocked on) for a half an hour. His name was rick and he is a long time practicing Catholic. We gave him a book of Mormon at the climax of our surprisingly intellectual and spiritual discussion, at which point he expressed a sincerity to actually read and pray about it. He told us that history is written by the victors and there are billions of Catholics so he wouldn't be surprised if there are other things out there.
I had a burger Saturday at Frank n' Burger! ha-ha. It's a Halloween themed burger place open all year round! What a gamble right!? Well he has been open a whole year now and has amazing customer service for New York, not to mention his burger was really good! It was Huge, i couldn't finish it. The bun was amazing! Big all encompassing bun! Hardly any drip-age or slippage of the innards of my burger. It all looked good (all the choices) but there was one (that I'm sure was tasty) that I just couldn't go for-- A zombie dog--it was a deep fried wiener with honey and whipped cream on it. All I could imagine when I saw it was eating some part of a zombie...... well you don't want to hear about that do you.
Halloween was an odd Sunday. We helped a man named Bob Lugo out. He is taking care of his dad while his mom is in the hospital and he himself really should be taken care of. His wife is out of town and he has an amputated foot from diabetes. He is a wonderful guy with a strong testimony. Well it’s tough for him to stand up and sit down repeatedly and walk around. Since its Halloween and not Utah there were trick-or-teat-ers. So we handed out candy, answered the phone, and attended to Grandpa Lugo while Bob took a break and did some things he needed to do. I was quite surprised how many kids didn't even dress up! Most did, but a surprising amount did not. The More surprising thing was that the kids had to be coaxed to say "trick or treat!" Can you believe that! We had to ask "What’s the magic words?" or something to that effect nearly every time! Ha-ha. Well we went home and spent the rest of the afternoon and night inside (mission rule not be out after 5 on Halloween). I felt bad we could stay and help bob out longer and so did he. But he was thankful for the time we were able to give him.
Love you peeps, chow.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Time
Time is odd... There's often not enough of it, but occasionally there is too much of it. In my case today I don't have enough of it.
Basically what happened this week was we worked with recent converts and less actives. We talked to part-member families and we looked up former investigators.
I had a lady lecture us (mostly my companion) and yell at her son and compare him to nasty things like serial killers for 15 min straight all because we sympathized with the 16 year old who in the closing prayer had the devil prayed out of him. Well needless to say he did what I would do and called his little brother who was praying a "homo". The 16 year old has no motivation because he doesn't find the support he needs from his parents.
Umm... no time.
PS
OK... ha-ha. Well I was kicked off the other computer because someone reserved it... so now I am on a new computer and I will now finish my email.
OK, well, the 16 year old from what I gathered is like any other 16 year old around here. He is a sensitive type though unlike his half brothers that are very outgoing. Well the entire lesson we had with them the mom compared the children and talked bad about the 16 year old and praised the others right in front of him. She even told us that if he ran away he would be doing the family a favor right in front of him to us (we only knew her for about a half an hour by this point). We felt so bad for the kid, yes its true he is probably up to things he shouldn't be but there is a difference between stern structured parenting and ruthless nagging and overbearing criticism (and not even constructive.) The only tactic she used was the "guilt trip" one. She told us he wasted all his talents!. Well In the hour I was at this home I learned so much about parenting and I remembered how amazing my parents are and have been. I have always had support from my parents. I have always felt loved by them.
Well, the mom suggested that if we knew anyone to take him and "deal with him" she would consider it. Well, we have considered taking her up on that. However we would like to try to heal the wounds of our relationship with the mom and then let our message do the healing in the family. We'd rather not separate a family, but if she keeps this up and won't let us meet with her then I'd like to see this 16 year old in a home where he can find support, in the home of one of the ward members.
I love you mom and dad. And thank you grandmas and grandpas for raising my parents so well. Thank you Jesus Christ for the gospel which can really truly apply to every aspect of our lives. Thank you Dad for always using scripture in our conversations and taking every opportunity to teach me. Thank you for teaching truth and correct principals and letting me then exercise my agency. I can't really express fully and accurately how I feel. I'm not as prolific as I think I used to be and my feelings are almost indescribable. The gospel really has all the answers.
We had exchanges on Tuesday. I went to the South Shore / Patchogue pad and went on exchanges with our district leader Elder Kirby. They have a guitar in their pad from a past missionary that is pretty dang nice. I was so relieved as I played it. Wow! It was so nice to play a real guitar again; even though it hurt my fingers like crazy since I have lost all my muscle memory.
I don't know what else to really say except for the fall colors are really starting to be diverse now and I am pretty excited. I'll be taking pictures this week for all of you to see.
PSS
Oh yeah, I forgot. This weekend was stake conference. It was amazing. I LOVED it! I felt the spirit so strong in the adult session. It felt so good. It was so peaceful and I felt so much love. It was crazy to see people from Plainview. I love that place. I feel bad though because I forgot a few people’s names. :S Its hard for me to remember everyone’s names cause I cram them when I am at an area and then when I go to the new area I never see the old names anymore and I have to cram new ones so I end up Recognizing everyone and remember none of their names. I wish I could be as good at names as all my companions have been especially Elder Kiser and Khang.
But yeah, Conference was amazing. I love President Hardman and I love President Nelson. Also an area 70 came Elder Lancing. He and his wife were just so classy and brought the spirit so well. They really made it easy to listen and they made you really want to support and sustain all our leadership.
Thank you Adolphsons for the package to say "I hope you feel better and we love you.” and thanks mom for the package as well! Kiser loved his light up pen and Halloween card. Thanks for the Carmel-pop-corn and the treats. We were pretty happy. We were really impressed with the Halloween cards. I still can't believe we still have computer paper from when I was 3 and 4. HA-HA!
Anyway, this is the real end.
love
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Basically what happened this week was we worked with recent converts and less actives. We talked to part-member families and we looked up former investigators.
I had a lady lecture us (mostly my companion) and yell at her son and compare him to nasty things like serial killers for 15 min straight all because we sympathized with the 16 year old who in the closing prayer had the devil prayed out of him. Well needless to say he did what I would do and called his little brother who was praying a "homo". The 16 year old has no motivation because he doesn't find the support he needs from his parents.
Umm... no time.
PS
OK... ha-ha. Well I was kicked off the other computer because someone reserved it... so now I am on a new computer and I will now finish my email.
OK, well, the 16 year old from what I gathered is like any other 16 year old around here. He is a sensitive type though unlike his half brothers that are very outgoing. Well the entire lesson we had with them the mom compared the children and talked bad about the 16 year old and praised the others right in front of him. She even told us that if he ran away he would be doing the family a favor right in front of him to us (we only knew her for about a half an hour by this point). We felt so bad for the kid, yes its true he is probably up to things he shouldn't be but there is a difference between stern structured parenting and ruthless nagging and overbearing criticism (and not even constructive.) The only tactic she used was the "guilt trip" one. She told us he wasted all his talents!. Well In the hour I was at this home I learned so much about parenting and I remembered how amazing my parents are and have been. I have always had support from my parents. I have always felt loved by them.
Well, the mom suggested that if we knew anyone to take him and "deal with him" she would consider it. Well, we have considered taking her up on that. However we would like to try to heal the wounds of our relationship with the mom and then let our message do the healing in the family. We'd rather not separate a family, but if she keeps this up and won't let us meet with her then I'd like to see this 16 year old in a home where he can find support, in the home of one of the ward members.
I love you mom and dad. And thank you grandmas and grandpas for raising my parents so well. Thank you Jesus Christ for the gospel which can really truly apply to every aspect of our lives. Thank you Dad for always using scripture in our conversations and taking every opportunity to teach me. Thank you for teaching truth and correct principals and letting me then exercise my agency. I can't really express fully and accurately how I feel. I'm not as prolific as I think I used to be and my feelings are almost indescribable. The gospel really has all the answers.
We had exchanges on Tuesday. I went to the South Shore / Patchogue pad and went on exchanges with our district leader Elder Kirby. They have a guitar in their pad from a past missionary that is pretty dang nice. I was so relieved as I played it. Wow! It was so nice to play a real guitar again; even though it hurt my fingers like crazy since I have lost all my muscle memory.
I don't know what else to really say except for the fall colors are really starting to be diverse now and I am pretty excited. I'll be taking pictures this week for all of you to see.
PSS
Oh yeah, I forgot. This weekend was stake conference. It was amazing. I LOVED it! I felt the spirit so strong in the adult session. It felt so good. It was so peaceful and I felt so much love. It was crazy to see people from Plainview. I love that place. I feel bad though because I forgot a few people’s names. :S Its hard for me to remember everyone’s names cause I cram them when I am at an area and then when I go to the new area I never see the old names anymore and I have to cram new ones so I end up Recognizing everyone and remember none of their names. I wish I could be as good at names as all my companions have been especially Elder Kiser and Khang.
But yeah, Conference was amazing. I love President Hardman and I love President Nelson. Also an area 70 came Elder Lancing. He and his wife were just so classy and brought the spirit so well. They really made it easy to listen and they made you really want to support and sustain all our leadership.
Thank you Adolphsons for the package to say "I hope you feel better and we love you.” and thanks mom for the package as well! Kiser loved his light up pen and Halloween card. Thanks for the Carmel-pop-corn and the treats. We were pretty happy. We were really impressed with the Halloween cards. I still can't believe we still have computer paper from when I was 3 and 4. HA-HA!
Anyway, this is the real end.
love
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Monday, October 18, 2010
Racing Stripes
Last night Elder Ledbetter buzzed a line right up my right shin removing the hair. Now I have a cool and sleek looking racing stripe on my normally very harry leg. the contrast is stark. I look fast.
Good news: I got a letter from Nate and Kenzi this week. That made me happy. I also got to do a lot of service this week. This also made me happy. It’s in the 50's here now (finally) and the leaves are starting to change colors (finally). I love fall colors, so, this makes me happy.
Bad News: Elder Kiser and I kept our jack-o-lanterns inside so that we could enjoy them for ourselves for longer... well, they got moldy. Everyone else who put there pumpkins out side, there pumpkins are still firm and mold free. So we put our pumpkins out side, but they are shriveling up and getting pretty furry. LOL. This could be some kind of story base for an apostles talk at conference don't you think? It could be an analogy for talents or something, if you keep it to yourself and don't share it you lose it. If you put it out for everyone else to see and not for your own benefit it won't get moldy. LOL.
Better news: My toe is practically Normal now! It’s so weird. I lived with a wound so long I still favor that toe I guess you could say. It’s odd how when I touch something with my toe or bump my toe it doesn't hurt; it’s weird to look down and see a normal looking toe. As I type this to you I am stepping on my toe with my other shoe and it’s not sending shooting pain up my leg. It’s not used to pressure... weird, but not painful. Let this be a lesson to me and to all the rest of you. Take care of your problems. Living with your problems is a disease and a plague; whether it is physical or spiritual or mental or social. It’s like living with sin. I wonder if someone were to live with a bad habit or sin, like I did with my toe, if they would have behavioral problems; problems extending beyond the time the issue was resolved. You know what I am saying? Like, you are so used to living with guilt that even after you have changed your ways you still hold on to the guilt. When we touch a stove we recoil naturally because it’s hot and hurts, if we don't we cause serious problems; eventually you will damage that had to the point you will have terrible scars even after treatment. So, Again! Don't live in guilt or pain. Something I realized yesterday in the lesson on repentance in elders quorum was that the principles of Pain and of guilt are the same. its a warning system. if you ignore the warning system you can't expect things to end well.
Best News: Harold Ariza was finally confirmed a member of the Church and received the Holy Ghost yesterday! :D he seemed touched by the photo album we gave him with our pictures and all the notes people wrote for him at his baptism. We were so happy he came to church. We hope he realizes the effect it can have in his life. I pray he recognizes the difference in his life now that he has the Gift of The Holy Ghost. I love Harold. I hope That he will remember the great blessing that came with his confirmation and the wonderful blessings and protections promised to him if he is faithful.
Kiser and I are suffering the self inflicted neglect of not spending enough time finding last transfer. We have either Dropped or Baptized everyone in our pool and left our selves little to work with. This transfer we have been spending most of our time finding. Fortunately we have a few leads. There is a Former investigator we looked up and he has a whole family. So we will hopefully get something going with them tonight. :) Also, we will soon be able to start raking the leaves of random people’s houses soon! That will be good to show people we just want to help. Maybe they will be more willing to have religious conversation if they see how we have served them.
Also, something cool! Kiser and I made a cool contact a few weeks ago named Lon at pep boys when we were waiting for our state inspection. he is a very talkative and intelligent man who is retired. Well even though he was out of our area we paid him a visit and taught he and his wife. We left them a Book of Mormon. This week we gave them a call to see how things were going and they told us that Lon's brother had read the first half of the B.O.M. and is very impressed! So we will be going over there again with the elders who are in that area to introduce them so that some miracles can happen! :)
I've only got 6 min left of my email session cause the library was full today. I don't remember all what I wanted to say... but I hope you get something out of what I wrote. if nothing else a chuckle or a smile.
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Good news: I got a letter from Nate and Kenzi this week. That made me happy. I also got to do a lot of service this week. This also made me happy. It’s in the 50's here now (finally) and the leaves are starting to change colors (finally). I love fall colors, so, this makes me happy.
Bad News: Elder Kiser and I kept our jack-o-lanterns inside so that we could enjoy them for ourselves for longer... well, they got moldy. Everyone else who put there pumpkins out side, there pumpkins are still firm and mold free. So we put our pumpkins out side, but they are shriveling up and getting pretty furry. LOL. This could be some kind of story base for an apostles talk at conference don't you think? It could be an analogy for talents or something, if you keep it to yourself and don't share it you lose it. If you put it out for everyone else to see and not for your own benefit it won't get moldy. LOL.
Better news: My toe is practically Normal now! It’s so weird. I lived with a wound so long I still favor that toe I guess you could say. It’s odd how when I touch something with my toe or bump my toe it doesn't hurt; it’s weird to look down and see a normal looking toe. As I type this to you I am stepping on my toe with my other shoe and it’s not sending shooting pain up my leg. It’s not used to pressure... weird, but not painful. Let this be a lesson to me and to all the rest of you. Take care of your problems. Living with your problems is a disease and a plague; whether it is physical or spiritual or mental or social. It’s like living with sin. I wonder if someone were to live with a bad habit or sin, like I did with my toe, if they would have behavioral problems; problems extending beyond the time the issue was resolved. You know what I am saying? Like, you are so used to living with guilt that even after you have changed your ways you still hold on to the guilt. When we touch a stove we recoil naturally because it’s hot and hurts, if we don't we cause serious problems; eventually you will damage that had to the point you will have terrible scars even after treatment. So, Again! Don't live in guilt or pain. Something I realized yesterday in the lesson on repentance in elders quorum was that the principles of Pain and of guilt are the same. its a warning system. if you ignore the warning system you can't expect things to end well.
Best News: Harold Ariza was finally confirmed a member of the Church and received the Holy Ghost yesterday! :D he seemed touched by the photo album we gave him with our pictures and all the notes people wrote for him at his baptism. We were so happy he came to church. We hope he realizes the effect it can have in his life. I pray he recognizes the difference in his life now that he has the Gift of The Holy Ghost. I love Harold. I hope That he will remember the great blessing that came with his confirmation and the wonderful blessings and protections promised to him if he is faithful.
Kiser and I are suffering the self inflicted neglect of not spending enough time finding last transfer. We have either Dropped or Baptized everyone in our pool and left our selves little to work with. This transfer we have been spending most of our time finding. Fortunately we have a few leads. There is a Former investigator we looked up and he has a whole family. So we will hopefully get something going with them tonight. :) Also, we will soon be able to start raking the leaves of random people’s houses soon! That will be good to show people we just want to help. Maybe they will be more willing to have religious conversation if they see how we have served them.
Also, something cool! Kiser and I made a cool contact a few weeks ago named Lon at pep boys when we were waiting for our state inspection. he is a very talkative and intelligent man who is retired. Well even though he was out of our area we paid him a visit and taught he and his wife. We left them a Book of Mormon. This week we gave them a call to see how things were going and they told us that Lon's brother had read the first half of the B.O.M. and is very impressed! So we will be going over there again with the elders who are in that area to introduce them so that some miracles can happen! :)
I've only got 6 min left of my email session cause the library was full today. I don't remember all what I wanted to say... but I hope you get something out of what I wrote. if nothing else a chuckle or a smile.
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Monday, October 11, 2010
Flat Stanley
Noah sent me Flat Stanley in the mail this week. He is going around with us everywhere so we can take pictures so I can send him back to Noah's school. Well I was dumb... On Saturday we went to Manhattan for a temple trip! Yeah, woot! ‘Cause Grace got a recommend and we took her with other ward members for her first time! It was wonderful! but silly me.... I left Stanley.... :( I could have had Manhattan shots with Stanley for Noah! That would have been so-o-o-o-o-o coo-o-ol! Oh well.... maybe I'll photoshop one! Ha-ha. I at least got some good shots with him at a lighthouse! So that will be good.
Well, I caught a cold this week. But I'll tell you I love miracles. Saturday when I woke up to go to the temple I felt terrible!!!!! I had a horrible headache and didn't sleep at all the night before and snot was everywhere..... I prayed, took a shower, took two Excedrin, and by the time we got to the church to meet The Bryants (our correlator and his wife) and Grace for carpooling purposes, I was totally clear! Ha-ha! The lord will sustain you when you do his work and when your intentions are pure and righteous. Well... I felt super weird like I had a caffeine rush and my blood sugar was way low cause I didn't eat breakfast... but I felt good. I felt the spirit and we had a good time and we knew what we did helped the lord and many, many people waiting for their work on the other side. I love the temple. I was able to get baptized and it felt great! I haven't been submersed in water for a long time.
Let’s see here..... We killed a lot of cockroaches. Is a mirror a normal place for roaches to be? also we did a lot of driving this week. This week was Kiser and my lowest numbers. We blame our lack of motivation on our colds... but realized that's not a great excuse and look forward to higher numbers this week.
I don't know what else to say.
I'm super excited right now ‘cause i get to go carve pumpkins for Zone activity right now! Ha-ha! Woot! I love pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns more than Elder Black! And Black is a funny guy!
Thanks for all your support. If you desire more faith then exercise it! Remember that faith is focusing on Christ and His atonement and our Heavenly Father and not on our trials or anything else. If we do what they ask of us despite what the outcome will be our faith will be strengthened. When you do righteous acts you will be blessed. Just like how my cold was temporarily taken away so that I could have a good temple trip. God may not remove our trials, but he will make a way for us to bear them. I love how simple the gospel is and how we can truly use our gospel knowledge to solve anything. Everything can point to Christ. We don't need complex solutions to all our complex problems. We need more simplicity... we need to slow down, Just like Elder Uchtdorf said.
Love,
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Well, I caught a cold this week. But I'll tell you I love miracles. Saturday when I woke up to go to the temple I felt terrible!!!!! I had a horrible headache and didn't sleep at all the night before and snot was everywhere..... I prayed, took a shower, took two Excedrin, and by the time we got to the church to meet The Bryants (our correlator and his wife) and Grace for carpooling purposes, I was totally clear! Ha-ha! The lord will sustain you when you do his work and when your intentions are pure and righteous. Well... I felt super weird like I had a caffeine rush and my blood sugar was way low cause I didn't eat breakfast... but I felt good. I felt the spirit and we had a good time and we knew what we did helped the lord and many, many people waiting for their work on the other side. I love the temple. I was able to get baptized and it felt great! I haven't been submersed in water for a long time.
Let’s see here..... We killed a lot of cockroaches. Is a mirror a normal place for roaches to be? also we did a lot of driving this week. This week was Kiser and my lowest numbers. We blame our lack of motivation on our colds... but realized that's not a great excuse and look forward to higher numbers this week.
I don't know what else to say.
I'm super excited right now ‘cause i get to go carve pumpkins for Zone activity right now! Ha-ha! Woot! I love pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns more than Elder Black! And Black is a funny guy!
Thanks for all your support. If you desire more faith then exercise it! Remember that faith is focusing on Christ and His atonement and our Heavenly Father and not on our trials or anything else. If we do what they ask of us despite what the outcome will be our faith will be strengthened. When you do righteous acts you will be blessed. Just like how my cold was temporarily taken away so that I could have a good temple trip. God may not remove our trials, but he will make a way for us to bear them. I love how simple the gospel is and how we can truly use our gospel knowledge to solve anything. Everything can point to Christ. We don't need complex solutions to all our complex problems. We need more simplicity... we need to slow down, Just like Elder Uchtdorf said.
Love,
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Slow Week 1
Well, basically all of our investigators have been dropped or baptized... we have like 1 that we are still meeting with occasionally that does not have a baptismal date. We tried to find more this week. It was slow because we didn't really have any sit down appointments. We were still able to get 10 other lessons and 6 less active lessons though. It’s really funny how some people respond to you when you knock on their door as opposed to some other way. There doesn't really seem to be one way that works for everyone (I mean that doesn't bug or frustrate them). Some people love it when you knock on their door, others feel awkward, others don't understand why you are knocking and others just want you to go jump off a bridge. You get the same response though from people who actually ask you to come to their homes... It’s odd to me when someone says, "Hey, I want a free media item. Here is my number and address." and then when you knock on the door and tell them you have the media item they wanted they say something like, "That person doesn't live here", or "I didn't order that! I don't know how you have my information", or "Are you Jehovah's Witnesses?", or "Get off my property". It doesn't matter. Even offering to help people rake their lawn or do their chores can get you the same responses. Ha-ha. It’s funny though, Talking to someone from a car is really interesting. Not usually fruitful but I've never had someone shoot me down when my comp and I approached them by rolling down the window and saying hey. The people behind you never like it, but the person you talk to usually is pretty happy or at least amused with what you said or asked.
I had my follow-up appointment with the doctor and my toe is healing nicely. Today it looks fairly normal. I haven't had any problems with my stomach so... It was just totally random. I guess it was the meds. I'll have to remember that med don't work none on me. Ha-ha. The new one is annoying though cause it’s a 4 times a day one. I'll tell you, its hard to be consistent with a 4 times a day medication! Maybe it’s just me...
Grace and Eugene are both fantastic still. Eugene amazes me. He did something with the church or church members every night this past week and he went to or watched every session of conference. He even went on splits with us. He kept asking us about marriage and dating! LOL! He has already been married he is 28 and has way more experience than us and we are two guys who are completely out of the social loop and are totally awkward! LOL I guess that just means that he trusts us and cause we know Mormon culture. We told him though we date the same way everyone else does after high school (within the bounds of the law of chastity of course). The singles ward is all over Eugene. Henry they guy who baptized Eugene is trying to set him up with a RM girl Named jenny. Ha-ha. I think Eugene is up for it! LOL Pretty funny, but cool too I guess.
Conference was awesome. Every conference I get more excited. Every conference I enjoy it more and appreciate it more. I only have one more conference left on my mission! Weird, I want to really stress to all of you how important conference is. I don't care if you are a member or not. If you watch conference (especially if you are looking for answers and doing it prayerfully) You will feel peace. You will feel comfort and joy. You will learn things that will help your family become more united and strong. Watching it will give you a strength and a light you can only get from conference; so please watch every session! i used to think it was good enough to just watch Sunday and if you fell asleep it was no big deal. But Saturday usually ends up being my favorite session! Ha-ha and every message has something for me to learn.
I don't know what else to say really. Its getting colder now. Its rainy today and should be for the next few days. There still really aren't any trees that have changed color. Only a few trees have started. But pumpkin patches and are selling pumpkins now! Ha-ha! I love pumpkins! I LOVE THEM! PUMPKINS ROCK!
I looked for razor heads in the store. Guess what? The ones that go to my razor are $23! can you believe that! Holy cow! That’s expensive. So I am just gonna reuse the old blades until I figure something out. Ha-ha.
Thanks Mom for the package and dad for the letter! I loved them. Dad you just have a way with words. I love your word choice and the messages you have for me. I love your letters so much. Thanks sister A for your letter! I enjoy hearing about all my fellow scouts and the new changes in alpine! I'm glad my letter and pics worked out well for you. :)
love
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
I had my follow-up appointment with the doctor and my toe is healing nicely. Today it looks fairly normal. I haven't had any problems with my stomach so... It was just totally random. I guess it was the meds. I'll have to remember that med don't work none on me. Ha-ha. The new one is annoying though cause it’s a 4 times a day one. I'll tell you, its hard to be consistent with a 4 times a day medication! Maybe it’s just me...
Grace and Eugene are both fantastic still. Eugene amazes me. He did something with the church or church members every night this past week and he went to or watched every session of conference. He even went on splits with us. He kept asking us about marriage and dating! LOL! He has already been married he is 28 and has way more experience than us and we are two guys who are completely out of the social loop and are totally awkward! LOL I guess that just means that he trusts us and cause we know Mormon culture. We told him though we date the same way everyone else does after high school (within the bounds of the law of chastity of course). The singles ward is all over Eugene. Henry they guy who baptized Eugene is trying to set him up with a RM girl Named jenny. Ha-ha. I think Eugene is up for it! LOL Pretty funny, but cool too I guess.
Conference was awesome. Every conference I get more excited. Every conference I enjoy it more and appreciate it more. I only have one more conference left on my mission! Weird, I want to really stress to all of you how important conference is. I don't care if you are a member or not. If you watch conference (especially if you are looking for answers and doing it prayerfully) You will feel peace. You will feel comfort and joy. You will learn things that will help your family become more united and strong. Watching it will give you a strength and a light you can only get from conference; so please watch every session! i used to think it was good enough to just watch Sunday and if you fell asleep it was no big deal. But Saturday usually ends up being my favorite session! Ha-ha and every message has something for me to learn.
I don't know what else to say really. Its getting colder now. Its rainy today and should be for the next few days. There still really aren't any trees that have changed color. Only a few trees have started. But pumpkin patches and are selling pumpkins now! Ha-ha! I love pumpkins! I LOVE THEM! PUMPKINS ROCK!
I looked for razor heads in the store. Guess what? The ones that go to my razor are $23! can you believe that! Holy cow! That’s expensive. So I am just gonna reuse the old blades until I figure something out. Ha-ha.
Thanks Mom for the package and dad for the letter! I loved them. Dad you just have a way with words. I love your word choice and the messages you have for me. I love your letters so much. Thanks sister A for your letter! I enjoy hearing about all my fellow scouts and the new changes in alpine! I'm glad my letter and pics worked out well for you. :)
love
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Monday, September 27, 2010
No Morris, No Cry
What a weird week.
Don't be scared. I'm writing you all this email right now aren't I?
Well let's do this methodically not chronologically.
The Ocean.
I've at times considered myself not a fan.
But as of late I have to reconsider.
Although I do not acquire a tan,
I feel an intense energy, yea, a real power.
When I stand on the surf and the waves are big,
The foam comes skimming and with much surprise,
It moves me like a coal cart by a mine-pig.
What looks like foam is water that passes my thighs.
Whats great is every misty sweep, noisily but tranquilly-
circulates the sand and uncovers a new treasure each time.
I cant go in it which makes sense and isn't silly;
The rip tide could kill me in my prime.
This week was sandwiched by ocean Fun.
Last P-day Fire Island this morning Montauk without the sun.
The ocean is made of water. This week I was told that when Christ bled for us in the garden his blood ran down into a stream and eventually went through all the stages of the water cycle. Basically the point was that if you touch water you are touching His blood since His blood touched the water. I hadn't heard that before. I never knew anything like that before. But I do know we are baptized in water.
There once was a lady named Grace.
She learned the lessons at a quick pace.
So she was baptized on a Saturday,
And received the spirit the next day,
And now in heaven she's reserved a special place!
YUP! Grace was Baptized! Eugene was baptized too! It was a really smooth baptism and the spirit was great. A very interesting (in a good way) peaceful spirit. It was very clean and there was a beautiful program and I really wouldn't do it justice describing it.
Well the best part was Sunday. Grace asked me to be the one to perform the ordinance to give her the gift of the Holy Ghost. When she asked me I felt very humbled but also it felt right. After sacrament she told us how she felt during the confirmation. she said that she felt peace and that she vibrated. She described exactly how I feel the Spirit when I have very sincere prayers. Vibration! so that was really cool! She knows that she has the spirit and it filled the void (which I told her was the extra baggage that was swept away in the font) she described having after baptism. Wonderful! :)
Eugene's experience was different but just as wonderful and testimony building. The night after his baptism he discovered that there was more disapproval from his family about baptism than he expected. This stressed him out and he felt a very heavy load or burden. when Henry gave him the Holy Ghost and gave him a blessing he felt the burden lifted. Amazing! The atonement in action! The baptism of fire!
Well All is well with them. Eugene told us his schedule this week and literally every night was either a ward event or a YSA event! Only one night was free and that night he said was reserved to feed us and go out to teach with us. :)
Grace is just excited to go to the temple to do baptisms and confirmations (well... probably just confirmations. Ha-ha).
Well, here's what everyone has been wanting to hear me say for a long time, I went to a podiatrist and let him poke me with needles and sticks and cut me with scissors. Now I have a big hole in my toe that is healing nicely into what will be a normal toe. Woot! Here is the dumb part... or at least the only connection I can make to the following random event of terror I am about to describe.
The day I started my anti-biotic the podiatrist prescribed I had some freaky stuff happen. I took the meds at breakfast and then also at about 2 pm. The whole day I had the same food as my companion and basically the same food as the Terryville East companionship. At 7:30 pm in the middle of waiting for Eugen's interview to conclude I became intensely nauseous. The stomach pain was different than I have ever experienced, It was like a tight pressure that was made worse simply by deep breathing. It came in waves-one moment I would feel relatively normal and the next I would feel terrible. I began vomiting. It was so random My companion didn't know how to react. He just starting taking pictures and laughing at the situation (not my pain, my companion is awesome). Well it was getting worse and worse. By this time the interview was over and we had acquired a bag and napkins and I had received a blessing (I only could sit through the important part so no blessing words were given at my request). I waddled hunched over to the car where we began to drive home. I started to twitch and have muscle spasms. Then my arms and chest starting to tingle like they were falling asleep. My companion knew what to do when I told him what was going on - he took me to Stony Brook Hospitals ER. They told me I was gonna pass out if I didn't start breathing right; so I did it. They hooked me up and gave me meds to take away the nausea. It was gone. I felt practically normal.
Then they came in and pushed on my abdomen and I said "Ouch!" in just the right (or wrong how ever you look at it) place. They thought I might have the early warning signs of appendicitis. Well after drinking almost 2 pitchers full of Gatorade full of die they ran me through a big doughnut and concluded I was normal so they sent me home. They were just as confused as I was because it seemed to have no reason or cause. It wasn't food poisoning and it wasn't until 5 hours after my second does of antibiotic. Well to be safe they gave me a new antibiotic and some nausea meds just in case. I still have a weird sensitive stomach and don't feel all the way normal... but I'm fine. Its so weird. They said to go back in if I started experiencing more symptoms; so far I have not. I guess I was just allergic to the antibiotic and it took a while for it to get into my system. The mission is keeping close watch on me. President didn't call home cause nothing ended up being wrong and he didn't want to worry you, mom and dad. but I just wanted to explain all the CVS Pharmacy purchases.
This week was full of completely random events back to back. So many I can't even describe. Ha-ha. but in the end Kiser and I are together for another transfer it looks like, 4 people were baptized, and I fixed my toe.
Love,
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Don't be scared. I'm writing you all this email right now aren't I?
Well let's do this methodically not chronologically.
The Ocean.
I've at times considered myself not a fan.
But as of late I have to reconsider.
Although I do not acquire a tan,
I feel an intense energy, yea, a real power.
When I stand on the surf and the waves are big,
The foam comes skimming and with much surprise,
It moves me like a coal cart by a mine-pig.
What looks like foam is water that passes my thighs.
Whats great is every misty sweep, noisily but tranquilly-
circulates the sand and uncovers a new treasure each time.
I cant go in it which makes sense and isn't silly;
The rip tide could kill me in my prime.
This week was sandwiched by ocean Fun.
Last P-day Fire Island this morning Montauk without the sun.
The ocean is made of water. This week I was told that when Christ bled for us in the garden his blood ran down into a stream and eventually went through all the stages of the water cycle. Basically the point was that if you touch water you are touching His blood since His blood touched the water. I hadn't heard that before. I never knew anything like that before. But I do know we are baptized in water.
There once was a lady named Grace.
She learned the lessons at a quick pace.
So she was baptized on a Saturday,
And received the spirit the next day,
And now in heaven she's reserved a special place!
YUP! Grace was Baptized! Eugene was baptized too! It was a really smooth baptism and the spirit was great. A very interesting (in a good way) peaceful spirit. It was very clean and there was a beautiful program and I really wouldn't do it justice describing it.
Well the best part was Sunday. Grace asked me to be the one to perform the ordinance to give her the gift of the Holy Ghost. When she asked me I felt very humbled but also it felt right. After sacrament she told us how she felt during the confirmation. she said that she felt peace and that she vibrated. She described exactly how I feel the Spirit when I have very sincere prayers. Vibration! so that was really cool! She knows that she has the spirit and it filled the void (which I told her was the extra baggage that was swept away in the font) she described having after baptism. Wonderful! :)
Eugene's experience was different but just as wonderful and testimony building. The night after his baptism he discovered that there was more disapproval from his family about baptism than he expected. This stressed him out and he felt a very heavy load or burden. when Henry gave him the Holy Ghost and gave him a blessing he felt the burden lifted. Amazing! The atonement in action! The baptism of fire!
Well All is well with them. Eugene told us his schedule this week and literally every night was either a ward event or a YSA event! Only one night was free and that night he said was reserved to feed us and go out to teach with us. :)
Grace is just excited to go to the temple to do baptisms and confirmations (well... probably just confirmations. Ha-ha).
Well, here's what everyone has been wanting to hear me say for a long time, I went to a podiatrist and let him poke me with needles and sticks and cut me with scissors. Now I have a big hole in my toe that is healing nicely into what will be a normal toe. Woot! Here is the dumb part... or at least the only connection I can make to the following random event of terror I am about to describe.
The day I started my anti-biotic the podiatrist prescribed I had some freaky stuff happen. I took the meds at breakfast and then also at about 2 pm. The whole day I had the same food as my companion and basically the same food as the Terryville East companionship. At 7:30 pm in the middle of waiting for Eugen's interview to conclude I became intensely nauseous. The stomach pain was different than I have ever experienced, It was like a tight pressure that was made worse simply by deep breathing. It came in waves-one moment I would feel relatively normal and the next I would feel terrible. I began vomiting. It was so random My companion didn't know how to react. He just starting taking pictures and laughing at the situation (not my pain, my companion is awesome). Well it was getting worse and worse. By this time the interview was over and we had acquired a bag and napkins and I had received a blessing (I only could sit through the important part so no blessing words were given at my request). I waddled hunched over to the car where we began to drive home. I started to twitch and have muscle spasms. Then my arms and chest starting to tingle like they were falling asleep. My companion knew what to do when I told him what was going on - he took me to Stony Brook Hospitals ER. They told me I was gonna pass out if I didn't start breathing right; so I did it. They hooked me up and gave me meds to take away the nausea. It was gone. I felt practically normal.
Then they came in and pushed on my abdomen and I said "Ouch!" in just the right (or wrong how ever you look at it) place. They thought I might have the early warning signs of appendicitis. Well after drinking almost 2 pitchers full of Gatorade full of die they ran me through a big doughnut and concluded I was normal so they sent me home. They were just as confused as I was because it seemed to have no reason or cause. It wasn't food poisoning and it wasn't until 5 hours after my second does of antibiotic. Well to be safe they gave me a new antibiotic and some nausea meds just in case. I still have a weird sensitive stomach and don't feel all the way normal... but I'm fine. Its so weird. They said to go back in if I started experiencing more symptoms; so far I have not. I guess I was just allergic to the antibiotic and it took a while for it to get into my system. The mission is keeping close watch on me. President didn't call home cause nothing ended up being wrong and he didn't want to worry you, mom and dad. but I just wanted to explain all the CVS Pharmacy purchases.
This week was full of completely random events back to back. So many I can't even describe. Ha-ha. but in the end Kiser and I are together for another transfer it looks like, 4 people were baptized, and I fixed my toe.
Love,
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Monday, September 20, 2010
It Usually Woks Out Fine in the End
I am having a tough time remembering everything that happened this week. There may be holes in my stories. Ha-ha. I'm sure none of you will be upset. If you are then you need to get a life. LOL
OK, so I guess an easy way to do this would be to just go though our investigators.
Eugene McGrath. Solid as ever. I have truly never seen someone so ready. Baptism is a formality now. He is reading and coming to church on his own. When we met with him after church we showed him the baptismal questions and he said he understood everything and had no problems with any of it. He will be getting baptized on Saturday the 25th with Grace Di Dominica. He has asked a member to baptize him (which we are very happy about, because originally he wanted a past missionary to do it and we aren't supposed to do that). I have no concerns for him. I am not worried at all, I know he will be baptized and stay active all on his own. To top it off the ward is doing a great job fellow-shipping him.
Grace Di Dominica. Wow. This week she came to meet us at the church for a lesson and guess what she had with her? A brand new quad! Yup, she got herself a quad online. So I gave her my extra scripture markers. Guess what she did with those scripture markers? You guessed it, she used them. She had them with her at church and she was using them to mark the scriptures people read in church. During sacrament she was going through the intro to the Book of Mormon and marking that. Then later she was reading The Doctrine and Covenants and marking that up! LOL! She makes me so happy! She is so willing to just accept and believe and then do what it takes to develop her own testimony. This week we covered the law of chastity and the second half of the plan of salvation. She told us about how her son somehow had memories of his twin that died before it was born. We told her that in the millennium she would be able to raise that child. The spirit was very strong and all she said was "Good". Then we told her about baptism for the dead and she wanted to know If she should baptize her children who died. We told her she didn't have to because the atonement covered that. Then she expressed a desire to be baptized for her parents. It was awesome. She was nervous again about having to get dunked in the water though. Ha-ha. Its cause she doesn't like to be seen without make up. Which is one reason why we are so excited for her to be baptized on Saturday. That way she won't have to go though all of church makeup-less feeling uncomfortable. So when she asked for Sunday off for her baptism last week her boss gave her Saturday and Sunday. She was confused and told her boss "I don't need both days." But, her boss gave it to her anyway. So when we suggested Saturday she realized why. It was a cool little miracle! :D Woot. Don't you love how things work out sometimes! We still have a lot to cover with her... But I think she will be able to learn it all and accept it all (at least the things that you need to accept to be baptized) before Saturday.
Harold Ariza (Cortes). Well, after a lot of schedule changes and telephone calls and wishes that we could read peoples minds and not wanting to mess anything up... Harold was baptized on Yesterday! 8D It was great and went really smoothly and wasn't super long. Brother Stephen Bues and his wife came home early from vacation in Nw Hampshire to baptize Harold! It was really great. It was Bro Bues first baptism because in his mission in Finland they were not allowed to be the baptizers. Harold seemed pretty happy. I really hope that his filming doesn't distract him too much that he doesn't make it to church and conference. Its really great how everyone in the ward is with him. It seems like every one's children love him. He is so great with kids. I found out this week that he likes the White Stripes and plays guitar! Ha-ha. So that was cool. Also he made us "sugarcane water," he didn't know how to call it in English. But it was really good. Its basically sugar cane you can buy from the store boiled in water. It is really high in calories. He says that all the military people drink it and they give it to kids who are growing.
Well there is the top stuff.
Here is some other stuff that happened.
We helped the Velenas and the Psilos' work on there house. Kiser and I mixed cement and poured it and hauled bricks back an forth in wheel barrows to throw in between the old stoop and a new wall. Then we would pile dirt on top. Then more bricks then more dirt until we made it even with the top of the steps. We did this so that they could have really solid ground to build a new and improved stoop over the top of the old one. Basically my back is sore. Ha-ha. don't worry I used my legs, its muscle soreness not a thrown out back or nothin. Ha-ha.
This week I said Aks instead of Ask as well as "What time it is?" Funny, right? I'm really becoming a New Yorker.
A recent convert told us her upstairs neighbors want to meet us! So that will be a whole family to teach soon. Also the Velengas landlords want to meet with us, so they are trying to schedule a time. :) Neat, right?
I think that's all I have to write about at this time.. Thank you for reading. Love,
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
OK, so I guess an easy way to do this would be to just go though our investigators.
Eugene McGrath. Solid as ever. I have truly never seen someone so ready. Baptism is a formality now. He is reading and coming to church on his own. When we met with him after church we showed him the baptismal questions and he said he understood everything and had no problems with any of it. He will be getting baptized on Saturday the 25th with Grace Di Dominica. He has asked a member to baptize him (which we are very happy about, because originally he wanted a past missionary to do it and we aren't supposed to do that). I have no concerns for him. I am not worried at all, I know he will be baptized and stay active all on his own. To top it off the ward is doing a great job fellow-shipping him.
Grace Di Dominica. Wow. This week she came to meet us at the church for a lesson and guess what she had with her? A brand new quad! Yup, she got herself a quad online. So I gave her my extra scripture markers. Guess what she did with those scripture markers? You guessed it, she used them. She had them with her at church and she was using them to mark the scriptures people read in church. During sacrament she was going through the intro to the Book of Mormon and marking that. Then later she was reading The Doctrine and Covenants and marking that up! LOL! She makes me so happy! She is so willing to just accept and believe and then do what it takes to develop her own testimony. This week we covered the law of chastity and the second half of the plan of salvation. She told us about how her son somehow had memories of his twin that died before it was born. We told her that in the millennium she would be able to raise that child. The spirit was very strong and all she said was "Good". Then we told her about baptism for the dead and she wanted to know If she should baptize her children who died. We told her she didn't have to because the atonement covered that. Then she expressed a desire to be baptized for her parents. It was awesome. She was nervous again about having to get dunked in the water though. Ha-ha. Its cause she doesn't like to be seen without make up. Which is one reason why we are so excited for her to be baptized on Saturday. That way she won't have to go though all of church makeup-less feeling uncomfortable. So when she asked for Sunday off for her baptism last week her boss gave her Saturday and Sunday. She was confused and told her boss "I don't need both days." But, her boss gave it to her anyway. So when we suggested Saturday she realized why. It was a cool little miracle! :D Woot. Don't you love how things work out sometimes! We still have a lot to cover with her... But I think she will be able to learn it all and accept it all (at least the things that you need to accept to be baptized) before Saturday.
Harold Ariza (Cortes). Well, after a lot of schedule changes and telephone calls and wishes that we could read peoples minds and not wanting to mess anything up... Harold was baptized on Yesterday! 8D It was great and went really smoothly and wasn't super long. Brother Stephen Bues and his wife came home early from vacation in Nw Hampshire to baptize Harold! It was really great. It was Bro Bues first baptism because in his mission in Finland they were not allowed to be the baptizers. Harold seemed pretty happy. I really hope that his filming doesn't distract him too much that he doesn't make it to church and conference. Its really great how everyone in the ward is with him. It seems like every one's children love him. He is so great with kids. I found out this week that he likes the White Stripes and plays guitar! Ha-ha. So that was cool. Also he made us "sugarcane water," he didn't know how to call it in English. But it was really good. Its basically sugar cane you can buy from the store boiled in water. It is really high in calories. He says that all the military people drink it and they give it to kids who are growing.
Well there is the top stuff.
Here is some other stuff that happened.
We helped the Velenas and the Psilos' work on there house. Kiser and I mixed cement and poured it and hauled bricks back an forth in wheel barrows to throw in between the old stoop and a new wall. Then we would pile dirt on top. Then more bricks then more dirt until we made it even with the top of the steps. We did this so that they could have really solid ground to build a new and improved stoop over the top of the old one. Basically my back is sore. Ha-ha. don't worry I used my legs, its muscle soreness not a thrown out back or nothin. Ha-ha.
This week I said Aks instead of Ask as well as "What time it is?" Funny, right? I'm really becoming a New Yorker.
A recent convert told us her upstairs neighbors want to meet us! So that will be a whole family to teach soon. Also the Velengas landlords want to meet with us, so they are trying to schedule a time. :) Neat, right?
I think that's all I have to write about at this time.. Thank you for reading. Love,
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Cloudy With a Chance of Submersion
Well Elder Morris is quite blessed. I have a great companion, fall is coming, spiders aren't crawling all over me anymore, the spirit is giving me all the words I should say, and baptisms are happening all over the place.
Yesterday I got some very good news! I got a call from Elder Gourdin who took my place in Plainview three transfers ago and he told me, "guess what!? Nikita Smith is getting baptized today! So if you can make it you are invited. Sorry I should have told you sooner.". he was right, he should have told me sooner because I wasn't able to see the baptism, but I was able to call her on the phone and congratulate her. I was so happy. It really made my day. I was not expecting that call at all. Nikita said she misses me and that I was her and Darnell's favorite missionary. That was kinda a bittersweet thing to hear cause I don't really like being put above other people. I was just happy she decided to be baptized. I am still confused why Darnell didn't baptize her instead of Gourdin though. Anyway that was really good news for me. :D I am so happy I was able to teach the Smiths for 12 weeks, I'm so glad they are making the right decisions.
So we don't have as many spiders because I decided to investigate under the deck that is over where our windows to our bedrooms are. With a can of raid and a whole lot of courage I killed and killed and killed. It may be named the Middle Island Massacre. I killed hundreds and hundreds of spiders (no exaggeration). I killed spiders the size of Ritz Crackers, I killed spiders with really thick long legs! I killed spiders with funnel webs! Not just the men, but the women and the children too! I sprayed some nests that were hatching and about a thousdand spiders turned into clumps of raid soaked death! I sprayed windows I sprayed the underside of the deck, bushes, corners, ac units, the ground, the walls! It was worse than Arachnophobia! When I would spray the big spiders they would spool out about 5 feet of web! as if they had lost control of all bodily function and let loose. Then I would spray them again and their legs would straiten and then fold in. THE HORROR, THE HORROR! I thought that was good enough, so I went in and told the others in the pad. Elder Mitchell decided to see for himself. He came back a few minutes later and got a second can of raid and told me later he killed at least 60! Well, the spiders are gone. But now we have cock roaches. Ha-ha. We kill about 30 everyday.
So, here is what excites me right now. We have 5 baptismal commits! Three of which are guaranteed. The other two are Stephanie and Carlos the Claros kids. They may not be baptized because the family is not coming to church and are playing a lot of games and being very difficult to work with. It made me said cause they were the ones who originally were progressing the best! The other three commits (it was 4 but Judy told us last night that she can't be baptized right now) are Grace, Harold, and Eugene.
Grace is amazing. I have such love for her. We have only had two lessons but from the first time I saw here I felt like I knew her (Kiser said the same thing). She is so familiar. She is so willing to follow the lord! She has gone through fire but has come out humble and not crispy. She does her homework we give her and came to church for all three hours. She tells us how helpful we are (which feels really good) and is already making friends in the ward! :) We plan on meeting with her on Tuesday at sister Beus home (pmg style baby!). Yesterday Grace found out that when you get baptized you go all the way under the water in front of everyone. She seemed shocked and scared but responded, "I am gonna need to get ear plugs then"! It’s so amazing to me when people trust the promises of Christ and do as he asks even when it scares them. This could have been reason for others to just say, "Oh... um, never mind I don't want to be baptized", but not Grace! She just knew it was necessary and said to herself, "OK, what can I do to make the most of it?" The answer was take that day off work and buy some earplugs! :D
Harold! Harold is the man! What 23 year old Colombian-New Yorker in the middle of film Graduate school decides he wants to come to church and be baptized? Harold does! And not for some weird secret agenda! But because he wants to join his family in the celestial kingdom and he knows truth when he hears it; he has been prepared. He has lived a clean life. He instantly accepted the Word of wisdom and the law of chastity and even tithing! During Sacrament he read the pamphlets we gave him on the word of wisdom and the law of chastity. He is so cool and nice and fun! He played with the little girls in the row ahead of him by making funny faces and things. Ha-ha. It was great.
Eugene is more of a Mormon than me! He listens to conference talks in his spare time and studies his scriptures regularly, his favorite movie is the RM and he brought his non member cousin to church yesterday! He is so ready to be baptized. He is super nice and has had so many trials but is so willing to just press forward with faith and let the Lord guide him from now on. I am excited for him.
Wayne Duncan got the priesthood! And he seems to be a long time member by the way he answers questions and interacts with members. He is almost done reading the Book of Mormon already!
Thanks for your prayers. I know I am in the right place at the right time and I am so glad that it is a time where I am being allowed to see the fruits of labor, to see what good can be had. I am thankful that the Lord has seen me a worthy tool to accomplish his work despite my short comings and weaknesses.
Is everyone getting pumped for conference?
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Yesterday I got some very good news! I got a call from Elder Gourdin who took my place in Plainview three transfers ago and he told me, "guess what!? Nikita Smith is getting baptized today! So if you can make it you are invited. Sorry I should have told you sooner.". he was right, he should have told me sooner because I wasn't able to see the baptism, but I was able to call her on the phone and congratulate her. I was so happy. It really made my day. I was not expecting that call at all. Nikita said she misses me and that I was her and Darnell's favorite missionary. That was kinda a bittersweet thing to hear cause I don't really like being put above other people. I was just happy she decided to be baptized. I am still confused why Darnell didn't baptize her instead of Gourdin though. Anyway that was really good news for me. :D I am so happy I was able to teach the Smiths for 12 weeks, I'm so glad they are making the right decisions.
So we don't have as many spiders because I decided to investigate under the deck that is over where our windows to our bedrooms are. With a can of raid and a whole lot of courage I killed and killed and killed. It may be named the Middle Island Massacre. I killed hundreds and hundreds of spiders (no exaggeration). I killed spiders the size of Ritz Crackers, I killed spiders with really thick long legs! I killed spiders with funnel webs! Not just the men, but the women and the children too! I sprayed some nests that were hatching and about a thousdand spiders turned into clumps of raid soaked death! I sprayed windows I sprayed the underside of the deck, bushes, corners, ac units, the ground, the walls! It was worse than Arachnophobia! When I would spray the big spiders they would spool out about 5 feet of web! as if they had lost control of all bodily function and let loose. Then I would spray them again and their legs would straiten and then fold in. THE HORROR, THE HORROR! I thought that was good enough, so I went in and told the others in the pad. Elder Mitchell decided to see for himself. He came back a few minutes later and got a second can of raid and told me later he killed at least 60! Well, the spiders are gone. But now we have cock roaches. Ha-ha. We kill about 30 everyday.
So, here is what excites me right now. We have 5 baptismal commits! Three of which are guaranteed. The other two are Stephanie and Carlos the Claros kids. They may not be baptized because the family is not coming to church and are playing a lot of games and being very difficult to work with. It made me said cause they were the ones who originally were progressing the best! The other three commits (it was 4 but Judy told us last night that she can't be baptized right now) are Grace, Harold, and Eugene.
Grace is amazing. I have such love for her. We have only had two lessons but from the first time I saw here I felt like I knew her (Kiser said the same thing). She is so familiar. She is so willing to follow the lord! She has gone through fire but has come out humble and not crispy. She does her homework we give her and came to church for all three hours. She tells us how helpful we are (which feels really good) and is already making friends in the ward! :) We plan on meeting with her on Tuesday at sister Beus home (pmg style baby!). Yesterday Grace found out that when you get baptized you go all the way under the water in front of everyone. She seemed shocked and scared but responded, "I am gonna need to get ear plugs then"! It’s so amazing to me when people trust the promises of Christ and do as he asks even when it scares them. This could have been reason for others to just say, "Oh... um, never mind I don't want to be baptized", but not Grace! She just knew it was necessary and said to herself, "OK, what can I do to make the most of it?" The answer was take that day off work and buy some earplugs! :D
Harold! Harold is the man! What 23 year old Colombian-New Yorker in the middle of film Graduate school decides he wants to come to church and be baptized? Harold does! And not for some weird secret agenda! But because he wants to join his family in the celestial kingdom and he knows truth when he hears it; he has been prepared. He has lived a clean life. He instantly accepted the Word of wisdom and the law of chastity and even tithing! During Sacrament he read the pamphlets we gave him on the word of wisdom and the law of chastity. He is so cool and nice and fun! He played with the little girls in the row ahead of him by making funny faces and things. Ha-ha. It was great.
Eugene is more of a Mormon than me! He listens to conference talks in his spare time and studies his scriptures regularly, his favorite movie is the RM and he brought his non member cousin to church yesterday! He is so ready to be baptized. He is super nice and has had so many trials but is so willing to just press forward with faith and let the Lord guide him from now on. I am excited for him.
Wayne Duncan got the priesthood! And he seems to be a long time member by the way he answers questions and interacts with members. He is almost done reading the Book of Mormon already!
Thanks for your prayers. I know I am in the right place at the right time and I am so glad that it is a time where I am being allowed to see the fruits of labor, to see what good can be had. I am thankful that the Lord has seen me a worthy tool to accomplish his work despite my short comings and weaknesses.
Is everyone getting pumped for conference?
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Monday, September 6, 2010
Hurrican't
Well, I have to say I am very disappointed with all this hurricane business. Our mission president quarantined all the missionaries who were in Suffolk county while the hurricane was supposed to be pounding us category 4 style. We were in our apartment for 40 hours while it drizzled occasionally and subtly swayed a leaf on a tree with the breeze that was more non-existent than existent. It was all hype! Like some media scandal to get people to buy sandbags and bottled water to give the economy a slight boost. HA-HA. Literally the wind was stronger after the hurricane past than while it was close to us. I was sad cause I wanted to say I had survived a hurricane and say things like "we missionaries rescued people from the tops of their houses with our raft made out of a desk laundry bags and recyclables". But I suppose it was a blessing, not only did no one get hurt or nothing get damaged, but we were able to do some serious cleaning in our apartment and I was able to get some letter writing time.
So something funny; I sleep on the top bunk of our bunk bed. I noticed the other night that the railing that was at my head was way jammed into one bed post and that the other side was almost completely out and because it was not put together correctly the whole bunk bed frame was beginning to bow. I knew that this was not good; I wanted to save the bed and also a future missionaries life. so I called Elder Kiser. I knew that that piece could be pulled out because the bed support would be holding the bed all together (I guess I didn't take into consideration that the bed was a snap together bed and that it was not bolted together). Well I said, "Kiser, the head rail is jammed into this making it so that the other side is not snapped into the other side. On the count of three I need you to pull hard your direction on the poll while I pull hard my direction on the other piece." I was on top of my bed leaning over the edge gripped onto the frame when I counted "one, two, three!!!!!" I pulled, Kiser pulled, everyone else watched. It worked! We pulled the piece out, but the weight of my laundry bag I hung off that piece plus my own wait on a now unsupported end of the bed caused the whole thing to separate and pull me head first in between the bed and the wall onto where we Keep our luggage and a whiteboard. I was lucky that we had stuff there cause otherwise I would have fallen on my head probably! LOL instead I landed on the whiteboard with my hip and bent it over the luggage. Everyone was surprised and scared but then we all laughed and yelled things like "oh snap!", or "oh my gosh!" They say my face was priceless as I fell.
Well, the other elders found a clarinet left behind by a previous elder who I suppose didn't care about it (since he left it). Well, magically I can play it. I can play hymns with it and everything way easy. Ha-ha! All that recorder playing paid off. So I guess I can play the clarinet. Ha-ha.
Guess what is ridiculous and crazy to me!? Last night I discovered that this time TWO YEARS AGO I was starting my first year of college and in a few weeks from now it has been two years since I was apart of Nosferatu! That is crazy to me! I realized that I actually really miss college and being apart of theater productions. I didn't think I missed that. I wish I would have taken more advantage of my time there at UVU. No worries though because a year from now I'll be back at school.... this also is a weird thought but I am excited as well.
OK, let's get serious now. Elder Kiser and I are rocking the forest like Amazon loggers! We have amazing unity and we feel very trusted and blessed by the Lord. Miracles are happening. Things are working out how they are supposed to, like PMG (preach my gospel) style, yo! Members are being cooperative and trusting us, investigators are being set in our laps, lessons are full of the spirit, and our numbers are good. We taught 17 lessons this past week (this area has not taught that many lessons in a while). Every week we are together things get better and better.
Yesterday was very busy. We went to the church early to teach Harold (the 22 year old film making Colombian) He is awesome. Well the lesson was going well when the elder's quorum president came in and interrupted. He said someone had called on the phone and said that they wanted to know when church started and they wanted to know what they had to do to join the church. So elder Kiser went and talked to her on the phone and set up an appointment for 2:30 while I finished the lesson with the elders quorum pres. Then church started and basically all of our investigators showed up. Judy, Eugene, Harold, Stephanie and Carlos, and Wayne. Then we gave Wayne the gift of the Holy Ghost. There is too much that happened that would take too much time to explain because of back stories and everything but lets just say that fast and testimony meeting was perfect because it was like everything our investigators needed to hear. Especially for Judy, who Saturday night knelt down with us and prayed to know if the date we had chosen for baptism was what she should do (the spirit was so strong and revealed to us that she had gotten an answer; she had felt peace and she was smiling and she told us things like "I know" when we told her she was feeling the spirit and needed to be baptized.). Then the rest of the church we participated in a blessing, a baptism, another confirmation and an ordination to the priesthood! As if that wasn't enough success for one day one of the new couples in the ward, the Beus, invited us to dinner and Harold too! It was awesome! That's what diner appointments are really for and that's what we did! It was an amazing appointment we never had any awkward pauses in our conversation the food was awesome. We all had fun including Harold (plus the baby liked him). Then Harold ended up staying for an hour after we left! Brother and Sister Beus are both music majors and helped Harold select music for his thesis he is shooting from Film Graduate School. Bro Beus attended Julliard and is now at Stony Brook University.
Well we have 5 investigators with a baptismal date right now! There are just too many stories to tell. but no time. so I must go.
Peace Out!
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
So something funny; I sleep on the top bunk of our bunk bed. I noticed the other night that the railing that was at my head was way jammed into one bed post and that the other side was almost completely out and because it was not put together correctly the whole bunk bed frame was beginning to bow. I knew that this was not good; I wanted to save the bed and also a future missionaries life. so I called Elder Kiser. I knew that that piece could be pulled out because the bed support would be holding the bed all together (I guess I didn't take into consideration that the bed was a snap together bed and that it was not bolted together). Well I said, "Kiser, the head rail is jammed into this making it so that the other side is not snapped into the other side. On the count of three I need you to pull hard your direction on the poll while I pull hard my direction on the other piece." I was on top of my bed leaning over the edge gripped onto the frame when I counted "one, two, three!!!!!" I pulled, Kiser pulled, everyone else watched. It worked! We pulled the piece out, but the weight of my laundry bag I hung off that piece plus my own wait on a now unsupported end of the bed caused the whole thing to separate and pull me head first in between the bed and the wall onto where we Keep our luggage and a whiteboard. I was lucky that we had stuff there cause otherwise I would have fallen on my head probably! LOL instead I landed on the whiteboard with my hip and bent it over the luggage. Everyone was surprised and scared but then we all laughed and yelled things like "oh snap!", or "oh my gosh!" They say my face was priceless as I fell.
Well, the other elders found a clarinet left behind by a previous elder who I suppose didn't care about it (since he left it). Well, magically I can play it. I can play hymns with it and everything way easy. Ha-ha! All that recorder playing paid off. So I guess I can play the clarinet. Ha-ha.
Guess what is ridiculous and crazy to me!? Last night I discovered that this time TWO YEARS AGO I was starting my first year of college and in a few weeks from now it has been two years since I was apart of Nosferatu! That is crazy to me! I realized that I actually really miss college and being apart of theater productions. I didn't think I missed that. I wish I would have taken more advantage of my time there at UVU. No worries though because a year from now I'll be back at school.... this also is a weird thought but I am excited as well.
OK, let's get serious now. Elder Kiser and I are rocking the forest like Amazon loggers! We have amazing unity and we feel very trusted and blessed by the Lord. Miracles are happening. Things are working out how they are supposed to, like PMG (preach my gospel) style, yo! Members are being cooperative and trusting us, investigators are being set in our laps, lessons are full of the spirit, and our numbers are good. We taught 17 lessons this past week (this area has not taught that many lessons in a while). Every week we are together things get better and better.
Yesterday was very busy. We went to the church early to teach Harold (the 22 year old film making Colombian) He is awesome. Well the lesson was going well when the elder's quorum president came in and interrupted. He said someone had called on the phone and said that they wanted to know when church started and they wanted to know what they had to do to join the church. So elder Kiser went and talked to her on the phone and set up an appointment for 2:30 while I finished the lesson with the elders quorum pres. Then church started and basically all of our investigators showed up. Judy, Eugene, Harold, Stephanie and Carlos, and Wayne. Then we gave Wayne the gift of the Holy Ghost. There is too much that happened that would take too much time to explain because of back stories and everything but lets just say that fast and testimony meeting was perfect because it was like everything our investigators needed to hear. Especially for Judy, who Saturday night knelt down with us and prayed to know if the date we had chosen for baptism was what she should do (the spirit was so strong and revealed to us that she had gotten an answer; she had felt peace and she was smiling and she told us things like "I know" when we told her she was feeling the spirit and needed to be baptized.). Then the rest of the church we participated in a blessing, a baptism, another confirmation and an ordination to the priesthood! As if that wasn't enough success for one day one of the new couples in the ward, the Beus, invited us to dinner and Harold too! It was awesome! That's what diner appointments are really for and that's what we did! It was an amazing appointment we never had any awkward pauses in our conversation the food was awesome. We all had fun including Harold (plus the baby liked him). Then Harold ended up staying for an hour after we left! Brother and Sister Beus are both music majors and helped Harold select music for his thesis he is shooting from Film Graduate School. Bro Beus attended Julliard and is now at Stony Brook University.
Well we have 5 investigators with a baptismal date right now! There are just too many stories to tell. but no time. so I must go.
Peace Out!
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Thursday, September 2, 2010
SPIDERS!
I live in the forest. It’s starting to be fall. Bugs don't like to be cold I guess, so we gats them in our pad! Imagine Harry Potter 2 where the spiders are all leaving the castle and going to the forest in rewind. Ha-ha. I have killed a spider every night this week and sometimes two. They like to crawl on my bed. i woke up one morning with spider webs all over me. One night I felt a tickle and looked and saw nothing. Then again it happened so I brushed my arm. Then again so I got up and looked down at my blanket and rrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeee!!!!! a quarter sized red scary spider looking for a place to lay its babies! So I killed it with a stop and shop receipt! I'm glad i didn't ignore it the third time otherwise I would have baby spiders in my brain spinning webs and feeding off my blood and controlling my actions like some sort of symbiotic relationship! NO WAY HOSE A! Elder Mitchell woke up with spider bites on his arm and head.
I forgot to tell you last week but we went to a Greek festival! It was way fun! My companion talked to people in Greek and we toured the Greek Orthodox church. They were nicer to us then I was expecting (probably cause my comp could talk to them and because we are so attractive and pleasant. :D) We saw fireworks, oh man.... I was so over due for fireworks! Man! And we ate lamb gyros! YUM! My companion is like Kyle Erik BJ, Todd and Mclean all combined. Not a lot of Nate though. But it was way fun. It’s like how Kyle and I used to run around all crazy! We work hard too though don't worry about that! We are way united and we defend each other well. He has a great testimony and an open and accepting mind. He tends to fight a lot with another elder we live with but for the most part its all fine (cause they like each other they just annoy each other sometimes.)
Also last week I saw the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen. No exaggeration. I'm so sad cause I didn't have my camera. It was at a place called Old Field Point. Its right on the north shore of our area in a place called Old Field. It has a really rocky shore and across the sound you can see Connecticut. We watched the sun set and then at the end when the sun was down the water looked purple and the sky was still amazing. Then as it darkened up a boat caught a fish and they screamed and yelled triumphantly. It was such a great moment.
For P-day last week after I emailed all you peeps we went on a road trip! Woot! We drove all the way out to the North Fork of Long Island (the furthest out you can drive) it’s called Orient Point! It has a way cool light house that looks all oriental but with a main twist. Ha-ha. its out in the middle of the water where the long Island sound meets the ocean! so the waves crash into each other and have created a big sand bar, so you can walk out into the water and It looks like you are walking on the water! There was a fisherman out in the middle when we were there and it was super windy and overcast! It was way cool and way fun! I collected rocks and shells. We also saw a few other light houses along the way. Plus we found the first submarine base! Totally by accident! It was way cool. I got pictures. Light houses are great!
Suffolk county looks like a mix between pictures I’ve seen of towns in Main by the shore and Idaho, but then add a bunch of vineyards like you would see in Bakersfield. Ha-ha. It’s full of quaint little towns that remind me of crested butte in a way. I love it, I have a desire to live here... but I imagine it would be hard as a saint because the church would be so far away and there are no mountains.
Well, Harold came to church yesterday! it was way awesome. We had to cancel his baptismal date because he didn't make it to church last week and we were not able to get in contact with him because he is shooting his thesis for his film graduate degree. he is way cool and really truly has the desire to come to church and be baptized. he is great! our plan is to meet with him in his spare time (he said he would call us if he got any) and before church every Sunday! Cause he is good about coming to church. He went consistently in queens and only missed last week since I've been here. He enjoyed church it seemed to me and the ward was very good about fellowship-ing him. Every one talked to him and he looked happy. No one understood him though when he would say his name! Ha-ha. He says it with a think Colombian accent and with his slight lisp and he kinda looks away when he says it! Ha-ha. So he ends up telling people like 3 or 4 times and then we have to say "his name is Harold!" ha-ha.
Judy Dollard is doing much better! When we ask her how she is doing she says "ok" instead of "terrible, just terrible" now! Her prayers are much, much more optimistic. Instead of praying about all her problems and trials and asking to have her trials removed she prays for the outcome and strength and comfort. Her countenance is brighter and she is taking the time to put on her makeup and things like that now. She seems more youthful and is really enjoying the fellowship of the sisters. We got her to go to enrichment night instead of worrying sick and not getting anything done on her deposition like she usually does. We are helping her to understand her beliefs are not catholic doctrines and that she really did live before this life as a spirit with heavenly Father.
One of our investigators Fransisco got wasted last Saturday and so the parents had to pick him up from his friends instead of going to church so the whole family missed. Carlos (11), Chris (7), Stephanie (9), Fransisco (20) and the parents Patricio (40's) and Marisol (less active member). They missed yesterday to our great disappointment and wouldn't let Fransisco drive himself and the kids to church. Next week they are going on vacation! so they aren't getting to church! :( but we have had awesome lessons with the family. Lessons where we told Patricio he could hold the Priesthood of God to bless his family and lead them and Marisol really bore her desires of having the priesthood in her home. Patricio was excited when we told him he could be the one to baptize his children but he said some mumble of an excuse when we invited him to be baptized. But the kids Stephanie and Carlos are still on schedule for September 19th. hopefully they will start to get to church soon!!!
The other elders got t-boned yesterday before church! They are totally fine but we watched it from our review mirror! it was nuts just a few seconds sooner and i would have been our car! So there goes a brand new Subaru. It was whack, the guy claimed he couldn't stop and that the breaks were recently fixed but we heard screeching tires; plus the guy was out of it! he looked super tired and said he had just worked a night shift.
I can’t think of what else to type. So, Peace! Read your scriptures and do your best to Love!
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
I forgot to tell you last week but we went to a Greek festival! It was way fun! My companion talked to people in Greek and we toured the Greek Orthodox church. They were nicer to us then I was expecting (probably cause my comp could talk to them and because we are so attractive and pleasant. :D) We saw fireworks, oh man.... I was so over due for fireworks! Man! And we ate lamb gyros! YUM! My companion is like Kyle Erik BJ, Todd and Mclean all combined. Not a lot of Nate though. But it was way fun. It’s like how Kyle and I used to run around all crazy! We work hard too though don't worry about that! We are way united and we defend each other well. He has a great testimony and an open and accepting mind. He tends to fight a lot with another elder we live with but for the most part its all fine (cause they like each other they just annoy each other sometimes.)
Also last week I saw the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen. No exaggeration. I'm so sad cause I didn't have my camera. It was at a place called Old Field Point. Its right on the north shore of our area in a place called Old Field. It has a really rocky shore and across the sound you can see Connecticut. We watched the sun set and then at the end when the sun was down the water looked purple and the sky was still amazing. Then as it darkened up a boat caught a fish and they screamed and yelled triumphantly. It was such a great moment.
For P-day last week after I emailed all you peeps we went on a road trip! Woot! We drove all the way out to the North Fork of Long Island (the furthest out you can drive) it’s called Orient Point! It has a way cool light house that looks all oriental but with a main twist. Ha-ha. its out in the middle of the water where the long Island sound meets the ocean! so the waves crash into each other and have created a big sand bar, so you can walk out into the water and It looks like you are walking on the water! There was a fisherman out in the middle when we were there and it was super windy and overcast! It was way cool and way fun! I collected rocks and shells. We also saw a few other light houses along the way. Plus we found the first submarine base! Totally by accident! It was way cool. I got pictures. Light houses are great!
Suffolk county looks like a mix between pictures I’ve seen of towns in Main by the shore and Idaho, but then add a bunch of vineyards like you would see in Bakersfield. Ha-ha. It’s full of quaint little towns that remind me of crested butte in a way. I love it, I have a desire to live here... but I imagine it would be hard as a saint because the church would be so far away and there are no mountains.
Well, Harold came to church yesterday! it was way awesome. We had to cancel his baptismal date because he didn't make it to church last week and we were not able to get in contact with him because he is shooting his thesis for his film graduate degree. he is way cool and really truly has the desire to come to church and be baptized. he is great! our plan is to meet with him in his spare time (he said he would call us if he got any) and before church every Sunday! Cause he is good about coming to church. He went consistently in queens and only missed last week since I've been here. He enjoyed church it seemed to me and the ward was very good about fellowship-ing him. Every one talked to him and he looked happy. No one understood him though when he would say his name! Ha-ha. He says it with a think Colombian accent and with his slight lisp and he kinda looks away when he says it! Ha-ha. So he ends up telling people like 3 or 4 times and then we have to say "his name is Harold!" ha-ha.
Judy Dollard is doing much better! When we ask her how she is doing she says "ok" instead of "terrible, just terrible" now! Her prayers are much, much more optimistic. Instead of praying about all her problems and trials and asking to have her trials removed she prays for the outcome and strength and comfort. Her countenance is brighter and she is taking the time to put on her makeup and things like that now. She seems more youthful and is really enjoying the fellowship of the sisters. We got her to go to enrichment night instead of worrying sick and not getting anything done on her deposition like she usually does. We are helping her to understand her beliefs are not catholic doctrines and that she really did live before this life as a spirit with heavenly Father.
One of our investigators Fransisco got wasted last Saturday and so the parents had to pick him up from his friends instead of going to church so the whole family missed. Carlos (11), Chris (7), Stephanie (9), Fransisco (20) and the parents Patricio (40's) and Marisol (less active member). They missed yesterday to our great disappointment and wouldn't let Fransisco drive himself and the kids to church. Next week they are going on vacation! so they aren't getting to church! :( but we have had awesome lessons with the family. Lessons where we told Patricio he could hold the Priesthood of God to bless his family and lead them and Marisol really bore her desires of having the priesthood in her home. Patricio was excited when we told him he could be the one to baptize his children but he said some mumble of an excuse when we invited him to be baptized. But the kids Stephanie and Carlos are still on schedule for September 19th. hopefully they will start to get to church soon!!!
The other elders got t-boned yesterday before church! They are totally fine but we watched it from our review mirror! it was nuts just a few seconds sooner and i would have been our car! So there goes a brand new Subaru. It was whack, the guy claimed he couldn't stop and that the breaks were recently fixed but we heard screeching tires; plus the guy was out of it! he looked super tired and said he had just worked a night shift.
I can’t think of what else to type. So, Peace! Read your scriptures and do your best to Love!
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Monday, August 23, 2010
Longwood
LOL. So the Library I am at right now is the Longwood public library. Ha-ha.
Ok, well here I am back out on Lon Guylan (long Island). I am in a place called Terryville. its in Suffolk county, so I am way out now. The place we live is in the middle of the forest! Ha-ha. It’s crazy how many trees there are. There are a lot of bugs and there are actually things like dirt and rocks... it’s weird. I still act like I’m in the city but I’m definitely not! One example, stopping when the light changes and being able to turn right on a red is a weird adjustment. Ha-ha.
My new companion is named Elder Benjamin B. Kiser. He is from Toole, Ut. (I forgot how to spell 2-ill-uh) He was supposed to go to Greece on his mission but his visa was denied so now he is here for good. he was in the MTC for 3 months! Ha-ha. So even though He hits his 6 month mark soon he is only on his 3rd transfer. :D ha-ha. It’s cool cause he can speak Greek! Neat right! he has taught me a bit of it too. In a way I’m his step pops but... he was with Elder Edwards for the last 2 weeks because Elder Teixiera his last comp when home a little early (cause his visa had expired, and his parents picked him up). If you remember Elder Edwards was the Elder I midnighted from ENY last transfer. All those trips to Terryville and all along I had no Idea that I would be living there. Ha-ha. I came here like 5 or 6 times. Ha-ha. Elder Kiser is of German heritage and looks it. He has quite the George Washington Profile but his eyes look like all the pictures you see of Germans and. He is a lot like me. We immediately got along and are already friends. He quotes Salad fingers and rejected cartoons and talks in different voices and says crazy random things and bottles up all his anger just like me! He loves movies and film (and knows more than I do) he is super funny and fun but obedient and hard working. He is exactly what I was hoping for. He has one down side though, kind of like elder Lim, he won’t let me buy stuff for him, and he insists on paying me back if I do. Oh well. I’ll have to find a different way to serve him.
Ok, a little about the area. We have an amazing pool right now, but we have some struggles finding. So things are great now but once these people are baptized or dropped we won't have a great pool. But right now it's fantastic. We had a baptism yesterday. His name is Wayne Duncan. He is solid. I look forward to teach him the lessons again now that he is a member. He had some struggles with smoking and coffee so we are praying hard he can resist temptation until he gets the gift of the Holy Ghost next week; and after too. :)
We also teach a family called the Claros'. They are fantastic. We taught them as a family for the first time my first or second night. The dad and the oldest son (who in the past have not been as open) were more open. The oldest son Fransisco said the closing prayer and it was obvious that the lesson had gotten to him. He said one of the most sincere and heartfelt prayers i have ever heard and it made elder Kiser cry. The spirit was really strong. When he finished the prayer he said "I really felt something just then. I haven’t felt that before." and we told him that was the spirit and then he told us that he wanted to be baptized. So Kiser said ok but you have to come to church. so he said he would. The two younger kids have dates for September and he will be baptized with them. The Goal now is to help the dad join the rest of the family (the mom is already a member).
If you remember last transfer how Elder Vargas and Saeyang were going to hand over their investigator Harold to us but then he moved out to long Island? Well you guessed it I am now the missionary who covers where he moved into. So I guess its fate. We taught him the other day and he had not heard about all the things we were telling him about the plan of salvation. So I was inspired to have us kneel down and have him pray. he did. He prayed about how he was nervous and how he wanted to know if this was true and if the church was true. Then he paused for a long while and his tone changed. After that he basically bore his testimony to God that what we told him was true and that the church was true. After that Kiser invited him to be baptized in September. His reply was "can't I be baptized in August!?" so we said yes. Ha-ha. Unfortunately he jewked us this morning and didn't make it to church earlier because he had to pick up a friend from the airport unexpectedly. So we will have to push his baptism. He is way cool though. He is a film student and he was excited to hear about our interest in film as well. He was excited Mom and Rach and Hilly were all movie makers too (or have been).
I don't have much time but I'll say a few more words. I'm back to Library computers and Laundromats... I’s weird but fine; also I am driving a small car now... that’s odd after being in a van in the city. Um, I live with 2 other companionships, so there are 6 of us total. I live with Elder Ledbetter again! I’m so excited I love him. He is our Zone leader along with an Elder Eaton. The other companionship is elder Edwards and elder Mitchell.
I am out of time sorry. But I am happy and well, even though a spider was in my bed last night. Ha-ha. Gross. :(
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Ok, well here I am back out on Lon Guylan (long Island). I am in a place called Terryville. its in Suffolk county, so I am way out now. The place we live is in the middle of the forest! Ha-ha. It’s crazy how many trees there are. There are a lot of bugs and there are actually things like dirt and rocks... it’s weird. I still act like I’m in the city but I’m definitely not! One example, stopping when the light changes and being able to turn right on a red is a weird adjustment. Ha-ha.
My new companion is named Elder Benjamin B. Kiser. He is from Toole, Ut. (I forgot how to spell 2-ill-uh) He was supposed to go to Greece on his mission but his visa was denied so now he is here for good. he was in the MTC for 3 months! Ha-ha. So even though He hits his 6 month mark soon he is only on his 3rd transfer. :D ha-ha. It’s cool cause he can speak Greek! Neat right! he has taught me a bit of it too. In a way I’m his step pops but... he was with Elder Edwards for the last 2 weeks because Elder Teixiera his last comp when home a little early (cause his visa had expired, and his parents picked him up). If you remember Elder Edwards was the Elder I midnighted from ENY last transfer. All those trips to Terryville and all along I had no Idea that I would be living there. Ha-ha. I came here like 5 or 6 times. Ha-ha. Elder Kiser is of German heritage and looks it. He has quite the George Washington Profile but his eyes look like all the pictures you see of Germans and. He is a lot like me. We immediately got along and are already friends. He quotes Salad fingers and rejected cartoons and talks in different voices and says crazy random things and bottles up all his anger just like me! He loves movies and film (and knows more than I do) he is super funny and fun but obedient and hard working. He is exactly what I was hoping for. He has one down side though, kind of like elder Lim, he won’t let me buy stuff for him, and he insists on paying me back if I do. Oh well. I’ll have to find a different way to serve him.
Ok, a little about the area. We have an amazing pool right now, but we have some struggles finding. So things are great now but once these people are baptized or dropped we won't have a great pool. But right now it's fantastic. We had a baptism yesterday. His name is Wayne Duncan. He is solid. I look forward to teach him the lessons again now that he is a member. He had some struggles with smoking and coffee so we are praying hard he can resist temptation until he gets the gift of the Holy Ghost next week; and after too. :)
We also teach a family called the Claros'. They are fantastic. We taught them as a family for the first time my first or second night. The dad and the oldest son (who in the past have not been as open) were more open. The oldest son Fransisco said the closing prayer and it was obvious that the lesson had gotten to him. He said one of the most sincere and heartfelt prayers i have ever heard and it made elder Kiser cry. The spirit was really strong. When he finished the prayer he said "I really felt something just then. I haven’t felt that before." and we told him that was the spirit and then he told us that he wanted to be baptized. So Kiser said ok but you have to come to church. so he said he would. The two younger kids have dates for September and he will be baptized with them. The Goal now is to help the dad join the rest of the family (the mom is already a member).
If you remember last transfer how Elder Vargas and Saeyang were going to hand over their investigator Harold to us but then he moved out to long Island? Well you guessed it I am now the missionary who covers where he moved into. So I guess its fate. We taught him the other day and he had not heard about all the things we were telling him about the plan of salvation. So I was inspired to have us kneel down and have him pray. he did. He prayed about how he was nervous and how he wanted to know if this was true and if the church was true. Then he paused for a long while and his tone changed. After that he basically bore his testimony to God that what we told him was true and that the church was true. After that Kiser invited him to be baptized in September. His reply was "can't I be baptized in August!?" so we said yes. Ha-ha. Unfortunately he jewked us this morning and didn't make it to church earlier because he had to pick up a friend from the airport unexpectedly. So we will have to push his baptism. He is way cool though. He is a film student and he was excited to hear about our interest in film as well. He was excited Mom and Rach and Hilly were all movie makers too (or have been).
I don't have much time but I'll say a few more words. I'm back to Library computers and Laundromats... I’s weird but fine; also I am driving a small car now... that’s odd after being in a van in the city. Um, I live with 2 other companionships, so there are 6 of us total. I live with Elder Ledbetter again! I’m so excited I love him. He is our Zone leader along with an Elder Eaton. The other companionship is elder Edwards and elder Mitchell.
I am out of time sorry. But I am happy and well, even though a spider was in my bed last night. Ha-ha. Gross. :(
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Nunnigan Lumpurton
Druid Nope Artsy Lefty cow burp in the left part noggin forensic lump sum. Burm ton flop sip kill force rope-burn. Def cat lips not for leaf man. Gift John still bar gun fresh pump bum. Murphy Texas french cleft click door rumple fern possy.
Liken felt ingrown jail seven refuge camper youth. Kleptomaniac? nine happy sellouts. pen for a yen tour vex zeal sad. You man may mope more money meanwhile.
I don't know what to type. Ha-ha. So I just wrote random words.
Good news. The reason we couldn't get a hold of Vishnu was because he was in the hospital. So the next office elder and McFarlane will go see him Friday (that's when I set the appointment) I will be in another place by then.
I'm gonna miss people in Rego, Like Brother Noel and Yoshi Sato and Mark Shelton. I'm sad I never got to jam with the bishop (he plays guitar and bass).
Dilshad jewked us this week and never answered our phone calls.... I hope she is OK. We were planning on telling her to not sneak around to do this conversion process but to talk to her husband about it and to tell him that she felt that to be closer to God she wants to become Christian. So hopefully the office elders will tell me what happens with that story.
I wish I knew where I was going. I really don't understand why it has to be so secretive; but, whateves.
I love New York. I love the work. I hate my weaknesses, but I love that it keeps me close to the lord striving to do better. I can't wait to be a regular missionary again, but I'm also very scared. I've got a lot of plans and goals for what to do this next transfer. Wish me luck. Thanks for all your prayers. Its always great to hear that you all pray for me and put my name in the temple.
Well, I'm really excited to pick up the greenies and sleep over with them at the mission home. I'm really glad that is the last thing you do as an office elder. Its the best part of being an office elder. It will definitely help motivate and excite me.
Umm, my hair looks really good right now, I'm surprised that I don't have people all over me about it
Remember, I'm the President of the United States... Always,
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Liken felt ingrown jail seven refuge camper youth. Kleptomaniac? nine happy sellouts. pen for a yen tour vex zeal sad. You man may mope more money meanwhile.
I don't know what to type. Ha-ha. So I just wrote random words.
Good news. The reason we couldn't get a hold of Vishnu was because he was in the hospital. So the next office elder and McFarlane will go see him Friday (that's when I set the appointment) I will be in another place by then.
I'm gonna miss people in Rego, Like Brother Noel and Yoshi Sato and Mark Shelton. I'm sad I never got to jam with the bishop (he plays guitar and bass).
Dilshad jewked us this week and never answered our phone calls.... I hope she is OK. We were planning on telling her to not sneak around to do this conversion process but to talk to her husband about it and to tell him that she felt that to be closer to God she wants to become Christian. So hopefully the office elders will tell me what happens with that story.
I wish I knew where I was going. I really don't understand why it has to be so secretive; but, whateves.
I love New York. I love the work. I hate my weaknesses, but I love that it keeps me close to the lord striving to do better. I can't wait to be a regular missionary again, but I'm also very scared. I've got a lot of plans and goals for what to do this next transfer. Wish me luck. Thanks for all your prayers. Its always great to hear that you all pray for me and put my name in the temple.
Well, I'm really excited to pick up the greenies and sleep over with them at the mission home. I'm really glad that is the last thing you do as an office elder. Its the best part of being an office elder. It will definitely help motivate and excite me.
Umm, my hair looks really good right now, I'm surprised that I don't have people all over me about it
Remember, I'm the President of the United States... Always,
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Monday, August 9, 2010
All Things Must Come to an End
Well, I finished week 5 of my second transfer as an office elder and we were able to end it with 2 new investigators and 6 lessons. That's really great for us. :) we even contacted 4 referrals.
Cool story:
We had worked all day in the office and because of the nature of the day didn't end up going out because we helped the APs with one of their projects giving us only 1/2 an hour before we had to be home. Well, I was thinking to myself, "lets just go home a half an hour early" (I know slothful right!?) well as I was thinking this McFarlane said, "lets go fearless some people before we go in" I made some noises that said "I don't really want to but OK". I put on my back pack and got a great feeling, Suddenly I was excited to do what is right and then let the consequence follow (hymn reference). Well we went out and I saw a lady on the other side of the street preparing to cross the street. The spirit filled me with a motivation beyond any natural motivation that I normally posses to chase her down and ask an inspired question! Well, I caught up to her half way through the cross walk got her attention and opened my mouth. The question that came out was "Do you ever wonder what God expects of you?". To my should-be-non-existent astonishment she blurted with raised eye brows "YES!". We then walked her home saying only what things we felt we were supposed to and most importantly listening. She asked us the question that basically said why do I have so many trials? you would think God would see that I am doing my best and doing many great and worthy things and give me a break and some blessings! I remembered Our Savior, "Well, Jesus Christ was perfect and lived all of Gods laws and he had more trials than anyone else plus all of our trials." She had a light bulb turn on and she responded in a way to good to be true, "So what your telling me is that God sent us here to Earth to experience trials so that we could learn from them and grow closer to him?", "... ummm... yes! Ha-ha" it went on in this manner and every time we would answer a question she would respond with a summary explanation and then we would teach a more in depth yet still concise version of the principal. Well eventually she asked us why there were so many religions and we explained it to her and then told her that we represented the true church led by Christ with his legitimate authority. She then told us she used to meet with missionaries and that she was so happy she listened to the spirit because God told her to walk a way home she usually doesn't, and McFarlane was inspired to go out and I was inspired to talk to her. This is the lords work. Well we came for our return appointment the following day and there she was, waiting outside for us! then for our next appointment where we met her at the church she was waiting for us at the church gate! here is the tough part. She is Muslim and is afraid if she converts her husband who is a devout and strict Muslim she will be kicked out of the house or worse. :S She has been to church enough times she could be baptized this Sunday. She was dropped before because the ward and missionaries didn't want her to be killed or homeless or without family for joining. She asked me what she thought I should do and I told her to do what she felt was right and what the spirit whispered for her to do and then trust in and have faith in God and Christ for things to work out in a way that is best for her. Her name is Dilshad. She is Indian.
Um this week I had an awesome exchange with Elder Swain (who came out with me) because it was on the one year mark of being in New York.
Well the Adolphsons left back to alpine this week. I was sad though cause they didn't say goodbye to me.
A man gave me a tract that said that God is actually a woman, Aris to be exact and that it is actually a good thing to have discord and disorder and confusion in the world. Also it said that every man woman and child on the planet is a Pope. So there is a little cut out card that says "The holder of this card is an official POPE and should be treated with all respect. Right and Good." or something like that. It was funny.
This morning we had breakfast with John Gadd. It was great as usual. He was sad that I would soon be leaving. Also a punk girl saw me as we were walking back toward the subway and said, "AW-W-W! Your suspenders are SO SEXY!".
Yes, my office elder-ship will soon come to a close. I am so thankful it will end with a greenie pick up to pick me up. Then I shall once again preach full time. I'm a little scared to readjust to the old calling/assignment. I have no Idea where I'll go, but I sure will miss Elder Swain and Aldridge the fun opportunities to sing and the ability to drive anywhere in the mission whenever I need to.
This week I also took an elder to the air port to pick up his parents and family. That was an odd thing to wittiness; seeing an Elder see his mom again for the first time in 2 years is a weird thing when you are still a missionary. Anyway, his dad is a member of the 70 so he came to pick up his son and then was invited to speak to the leadership of the mission. We were allowed to be in the meeting because we were apart of the musical number. It was really good (the fireside and our music. haha).
Today we went to a modern Art museum called PS1. it used to be a public school and is now a gallery. Ha-ha-ha-ha. it was really odd. We had lots of fun and i'm glad I went but we all concluded that much modern art is.... well just an excuse to not learn art conventions. There was some really great stuff there. There was some really weird stuff to that left you feeling yucky. ha. One cool one was video feed of places in NY during 2001 and 2010 side by side. Its really crazy the difference in not only the buildings but the patriotism! It seems many have forgotten 9/11. The title of the piece was great "lost tribes, and promised lands". There was another video piece that made me laugh hysterically and really creeped me out at the same time. It was paper cut out cars covering the torsos of guys' legs wearing women's high heals that were too small and therefore taped to stay on. They were walking around in a rocky waste land and going up lattes and stuff. The sound was amplified so every movement was heard. the funniest part was when the car crouched down and pulled out packaging tape and picked up plastic googly eyes on the grown and then wadded it up in a ball and put it in its purse. I haven't laughed so hard in a while! anyway.
Well to bring things to a close I will say that every part of our life is orchestrated. I love it. I am so glad I chose this life. I know I am learning the things I need to for my eternal progression. Satan is trying harder to destroy me then he ever has before but God is also sustaining me more than I have ever felt before. Often the thing I fear the most or what I would have least likely guessed happening to me is what I experience and it stretches me and helps me to grow. It hurts, But I like it. (that sounds creepy! Ha ha). I know that my Savior Lives and loves me and atoned for me. I know that this test is more fair than we suspect, so don't give in to Satan's trap of comparison. I often fall into that trap, but I'm learning to avoid it. I love the gospel. It rocks.
love,
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Cool story:
We had worked all day in the office and because of the nature of the day didn't end up going out because we helped the APs with one of their projects giving us only 1/2 an hour before we had to be home. Well, I was thinking to myself, "lets just go home a half an hour early" (I know slothful right!?) well as I was thinking this McFarlane said, "lets go fearless some people before we go in" I made some noises that said "I don't really want to but OK". I put on my back pack and got a great feeling, Suddenly I was excited to do what is right and then let the consequence follow (hymn reference). Well we went out and I saw a lady on the other side of the street preparing to cross the street. The spirit filled me with a motivation beyond any natural motivation that I normally posses to chase her down and ask an inspired question! Well, I caught up to her half way through the cross walk got her attention and opened my mouth. The question that came out was "Do you ever wonder what God expects of you?". To my should-be-non-existent astonishment she blurted with raised eye brows "YES!". We then walked her home saying only what things we felt we were supposed to and most importantly listening. She asked us the question that basically said why do I have so many trials? you would think God would see that I am doing my best and doing many great and worthy things and give me a break and some blessings! I remembered Our Savior, "Well, Jesus Christ was perfect and lived all of Gods laws and he had more trials than anyone else plus all of our trials." She had a light bulb turn on and she responded in a way to good to be true, "So what your telling me is that God sent us here to Earth to experience trials so that we could learn from them and grow closer to him?", "... ummm... yes! Ha-ha" it went on in this manner and every time we would answer a question she would respond with a summary explanation and then we would teach a more in depth yet still concise version of the principal. Well eventually she asked us why there were so many religions and we explained it to her and then told her that we represented the true church led by Christ with his legitimate authority. She then told us she used to meet with missionaries and that she was so happy she listened to the spirit because God told her to walk a way home she usually doesn't, and McFarlane was inspired to go out and I was inspired to talk to her. This is the lords work. Well we came for our return appointment the following day and there she was, waiting outside for us! then for our next appointment where we met her at the church she was waiting for us at the church gate! here is the tough part. She is Muslim and is afraid if she converts her husband who is a devout and strict Muslim she will be kicked out of the house or worse. :S She has been to church enough times she could be baptized this Sunday. She was dropped before because the ward and missionaries didn't want her to be killed or homeless or without family for joining. She asked me what she thought I should do and I told her to do what she felt was right and what the spirit whispered for her to do and then trust in and have faith in God and Christ for things to work out in a way that is best for her. Her name is Dilshad. She is Indian.
Um this week I had an awesome exchange with Elder Swain (who came out with me) because it was on the one year mark of being in New York.
Well the Adolphsons left back to alpine this week. I was sad though cause they didn't say goodbye to me.
A man gave me a tract that said that God is actually a woman, Aris to be exact and that it is actually a good thing to have discord and disorder and confusion in the world. Also it said that every man woman and child on the planet is a Pope. So there is a little cut out card that says "The holder of this card is an official POPE and should be treated with all respect. Right and Good." or something like that. It was funny.
This morning we had breakfast with John Gadd. It was great as usual. He was sad that I would soon be leaving. Also a punk girl saw me as we were walking back toward the subway and said, "AW-W-W! Your suspenders are SO SEXY!".
Yes, my office elder-ship will soon come to a close. I am so thankful it will end with a greenie pick up to pick me up. Then I shall once again preach full time. I'm a little scared to readjust to the old calling/assignment. I have no Idea where I'll go, but I sure will miss Elder Swain and Aldridge the fun opportunities to sing and the ability to drive anywhere in the mission whenever I need to.
This week I also took an elder to the air port to pick up his parents and family. That was an odd thing to wittiness; seeing an Elder see his mom again for the first time in 2 years is a weird thing when you are still a missionary. Anyway, his dad is a member of the 70 so he came to pick up his son and then was invited to speak to the leadership of the mission. We were allowed to be in the meeting because we were apart of the musical number. It was really good (the fireside and our music. haha).
Today we went to a modern Art museum called PS1. it used to be a public school and is now a gallery. Ha-ha-ha-ha. it was really odd. We had lots of fun and i'm glad I went but we all concluded that much modern art is.... well just an excuse to not learn art conventions. There was some really great stuff there. There was some really weird stuff to that left you feeling yucky. ha. One cool one was video feed of places in NY during 2001 and 2010 side by side. Its really crazy the difference in not only the buildings but the patriotism! It seems many have forgotten 9/11. The title of the piece was great "lost tribes, and promised lands". There was another video piece that made me laugh hysterically and really creeped me out at the same time. It was paper cut out cars covering the torsos of guys' legs wearing women's high heals that were too small and therefore taped to stay on. They were walking around in a rocky waste land and going up lattes and stuff. The sound was amplified so every movement was heard. the funniest part was when the car crouched down and pulled out packaging tape and picked up plastic googly eyes on the grown and then wadded it up in a ball and put it in its purse. I haven't laughed so hard in a while! anyway.
Well to bring things to a close I will say that every part of our life is orchestrated. I love it. I am so glad I chose this life. I know I am learning the things I need to for my eternal progression. Satan is trying harder to destroy me then he ever has before but God is also sustaining me more than I have ever felt before. Often the thing I fear the most or what I would have least likely guessed happening to me is what I experience and it stretches me and helps me to grow. It hurts, But I like it. (that sounds creepy! Ha ha). I know that my Savior Lives and loves me and atoned for me. I know that this test is more fair than we suspect, so don't give in to Satan's trap of comparison. I often fall into that trap, but I'm learning to avoid it. I love the gospel. It rocks.
love,
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
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