Well, this week went really fast.
I feel like I am doing better with applying the atonement daily in my life. I really feel like its helping me to enjoy the journey and to learn while I do it. Plan for the future, learn from the past, and live in the present... :)
Well, we found some really cool people tracing... but one we cannot contact and the family when we came back for our return appointment said the cliche line "Sorry.... were Catholic." I'm happy for them because at least they seem to be dedicated and united. I was especially sad though when they told us that. Normally it doesn't affect me as greatly as it did to me this time. I was really disappointed. I let them know a little bit as we left; I told them that there were many, many blessings I knew that they could have through the right authority; but, as long as we put the ball in their court we don't have to be accountable for their decisions. I'm just sad they didn't recognize the opportunity they had.
We were able to go to the temple this week! Woot! Because we can only go once a transfer with a recent convert. So, we went with Umur. He is so awesome. That guy rocks! The Manhattan temple is pretty cool! I loved what I saw. Its crazy, Julliard and the Lincoln center were right across the street! In the temple you cannot hear the outside noise at all! :)
There was a down side to the trip though... When we got there I really, really needed to pee; so I asked a member and he said to try the second floor. So I went up there and found a bathroom pretty quick! The lights were off, so I assumed that just meant no one had been in that bathroom yet that day because it was still only around 9. So I turned on the light, used the bathroom, washed my hands and then dried my hands. Ok, so you know how after you dry your hands you try to push the paper towel in the can without touching the can-lid-flap or can? Well I tried that.... but the can-lid-flap had a super strong spring in it and I couldn't pull my hands out fast enough before it caught my middle finger. IT HURT SO-O BAD! It took a big chunk out of my finger and started bleeding a big drop! So I went to the desk on that floor to ask for a band aid and the lady got mad at me for using the bathroom on that level!! She told me "usually if the lights are off in a place you know you’re not supposed to go in there!" and she also said that the bathroom was not public and that I was on a "restricted floor", or something like that. HA! There were no signs saying anything like that! No one was using the bathroom, I didn't make a mess. Anyway... that was ridiculous. She acted like I deserved to get hurt. I suppose it was a holy bathroom and so God punished me for using it. Well, if I didn't deserve it for that, I deserved it for something else... or I am sure I will deserve it. Any way, after I put on the band-aid it kept bleeding and you could see all the blood through the band-aid. :S there was a lot.
Well, it was a good time anyway and Khang and I did LOTS of confirmations like at least 50 each. :)
Also this week i got pulled over by a cop. A girl cop pulled along side of us and Khang and I had just happened to be talking about cops so I pointed at her and said "hey, a cop." and smiled right when she looked over at us. I made eye contact with her. She looked really mad. I drove off cause the light turned green and she cut in front of the car behind us instead of turning right like she was going to and "Woo!" the lights went on... :( "WOW" I said, "did she really pull us over for that!". I asked "may I ask what the problem is officer?"... She hesitated and looked at the front of our car and said "your head light is out." I was surprised and said "oh... OK..." wondering if she would really ticket me for something like that just because I pointed at her. Well she asked for my Id and registration she saw that the registration said "the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints" I think cause then she asked "Who do you guys work for" I said "we are missionaries actually". She looked a little disappointing and little embarrassed and she smiled and gave me my license and said "Ok, have a good night fellas. Drive safe." I didn't believe that our light was really out at first but it was. But she wasn't going to pull us over until she looked at us and shook her head. It’s pretty sad, all I was doing was what a cop told me to do in first grade "If you ever see a cop, stick out your thumb and say 'hey Mr. Cop dude!' and smile!". Do you remember that Nate?
Well, thanks for your prayers and love and letters.
Love, Elder Morris
Monday, March 29, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Where Ever You Are, Be There
Well, A lot happened this week. It all started with me feeling crappy about myself and that I am so frustrated with how I keep making the same mistakes over and over and never learn. We received a homework assignment from the mission president with the three scriptures D&C 50: 40-44 and D&C 64:33-34 and 2 Nephi 28:30 on Wednesday. We were supposed to read and study these scriptures specifically but also others we might find about the atonement. It seems like (and I know really is) the Lord has an active hand in my life and other peoples lives. Every thing this week was timed right and was just what I needed. It started with letters from all you in email form and in letters. So I read these scriptures and studied and learned a little bit but not much. Then I forgot about them. Thursday we had leaders meeting and so I was able to have some time to myself while Khang was in the meeting to do what I wanted. So I decided to write Nate and Sister Anderson. I wrote a lot of things that I didn't know where inside me, so basically writing down my feelings was the key. That Night we visited with Umur, possibly one of the coolest people I’ve met on my mission. He read the whole book of Mormon before he was baptized just a few months ago. He is really smart. We talked with him about how there are many problems in our society right now and they all come back to our moral standards. Even secular studies done by Ivy League schools and others have mentioned this in their thesis. He told us how the physiology of the human mind is literally changing. We are becoming more efficient. We can process data faster and better. However, we are losing our ability to communicate and we are losing our emotion. The study done by Stanford I think it was said that if we keep going in this direction eventually we will not be able to tell the difference between AI and human intelligence! THAT IS SCARY! I do not want my children to walk around in their own comfortable world where all they do is read email and text and listen to cookie cutter music and then when they grow up they get married to a computer, have no children and never learn to love. NO WAY! If any of you have ever talked to Im AIs (= instant messenger Artificial intelligences) you'll know how stupid they are. That’s what we are becoming! If you don't know, try talking to one, or read my conversations I saved talking to "magic 8 ball". Wow. So then we read D&C verses and then he took us out to Olive Garden where we talked about many things but among them was career choices and again communicating with others (He is in charge of managing web sites like Block Buster and Target, it takes a ton of work. he gets 300 emails a day!).
Ok, so I’ve got that floating in my head now at this point, then the next day is Zone Conference. It was focused on the atonement, we did it in the relief society room so it was.... very intimate (70 of us). I took a lot of notes and listened to a lot of testimonies. Elder Khang and I did a duet musical number (I on the recorder he on the ocarina). I'll tell you when you learn by the spirit you really learn it and you learn it way faster than you can learn things on your own. Remember, the spirit can bring all things to our remembrance. Well basically I learned what I've been told all a long. That I just need to give up, and hand my life over to Jesus Christ. I've gotta stop trying to do things myself and just let the Lord carry me. We can't trust in the arm of flesh, because it will fail us every time! We really truly are powerless without the Lord. Here is a good example. You are trying to run a marathon but you have muscular dystrophy and a prosthetic leg and scoliosis. There is a huge strong muscular, fit, fast guy right next to you and he says to you "Let me pick you up and I will run to the finish line with you!". That’s the Lord. Basically, that would really hurt your pride if you honestly feel like you can cross the finish line on your own (even if you can't), and someone picks you up and runs to the end with you in his arms. But let me tell you something.... actually let Paul tell you something "when I am weak, then am I strong". The Lord already paid for ALL of YOUR cares. Just forget your pride and let him pick you up! That’s what I've told myself and so my prayers have changed. i used to pray something like "Please give me the strength so that I can do [this or that]" but now all I want is to say "Heavenly Father help my pride as I allow the Savior to take me up and run. Help me give my cares to Thy Son." If we are willing to just give in and do what He asks us to do, we will be strong in him. We with him will be able to accomplish anything; if only I could have realized that when Kitty said to me at my setting apart "trust in the Lord", 4 simple words that say "Believe that Christ really is strong enough to even relieve me of my sin and personal failing and sickness etc." I know that we will be happier here on earth as we do that. I know that our joy will be full in the life to come as we do that.
So, as if that wasn't enough. I learned more. I thought of how I will and do affect others. If I want my family and my future family to operate by love and to do what’s right I've got to love everyone else unconditionally. We had stake conference, Saturday night and Sunday. I took notes like a stenographer! WOW, let me write a few things I learned. Keep in mind I’ve been wanting answers about how to prepare for raising children. (BTW, I also relearned that we must plan for the future, but not live in it, we need to enjoy the journey. So I’ve been reminding myself everyday to live in the moment, be a part of where I am, but not forget to plan for "tomorrow")
Anyway I've only got 15 min, I’ve been writing a long time and haven't even read all your emails yet. But here is the main point of the conference. DON'T WEAR EACH OTHER DOWN! When you use anger or disappointment or frustration as a constant tool to instruct your children and those around you, you ware them away! You are like a wave taking the sand away from the beach, eventually there will be NO SAND! Disappointment is powerful, but should only be used briefly! Remember unconditional love is a choice! After you have taken your opportunity to teach go right back to loving and supporting. Also, Teenagers might seem like they are rebelling, but they aren't! (Unless you are being too hard then they might be), anyway, its totally natural, because we are here on this planet to learn. We teach correct principals and let others dictate themselves. We have to learn for ourselves how to live and be self sufficient. We need to know how to make decisions on our own! If we continue to do what the Lord has asked us, and pray for and love our children and siblings and those around us, the Lord has promised to send them tender mercies and eventually they will make the right choices and they will have strong testimonies! Any way.... I know these things are true because it’s what the Lord teaches us and there are examples all over the scriptures. Just look at Lehi! He is an excellent example of a parent. OK. Ha-ha.
Well, I’ll get back on for another session to reply to all your emails! Ok. Peace out! I love you all!
Elder Sam
Ok, so I’ve got that floating in my head now at this point, then the next day is Zone Conference. It was focused on the atonement, we did it in the relief society room so it was.... very intimate (70 of us). I took a lot of notes and listened to a lot of testimonies. Elder Khang and I did a duet musical number (I on the recorder he on the ocarina). I'll tell you when you learn by the spirit you really learn it and you learn it way faster than you can learn things on your own. Remember, the spirit can bring all things to our remembrance. Well basically I learned what I've been told all a long. That I just need to give up, and hand my life over to Jesus Christ. I've gotta stop trying to do things myself and just let the Lord carry me. We can't trust in the arm of flesh, because it will fail us every time! We really truly are powerless without the Lord. Here is a good example. You are trying to run a marathon but you have muscular dystrophy and a prosthetic leg and scoliosis. There is a huge strong muscular, fit, fast guy right next to you and he says to you "Let me pick you up and I will run to the finish line with you!". That’s the Lord. Basically, that would really hurt your pride if you honestly feel like you can cross the finish line on your own (even if you can't), and someone picks you up and runs to the end with you in his arms. But let me tell you something.... actually let Paul tell you something "when I am weak, then am I strong". The Lord already paid for ALL of YOUR cares. Just forget your pride and let him pick you up! That’s what I've told myself and so my prayers have changed. i used to pray something like "Please give me the strength so that I can do [this or that]" but now all I want is to say "Heavenly Father help my pride as I allow the Savior to take me up and run. Help me give my cares to Thy Son." If we are willing to just give in and do what He asks us to do, we will be strong in him. We with him will be able to accomplish anything; if only I could have realized that when Kitty said to me at my setting apart "trust in the Lord", 4 simple words that say "Believe that Christ really is strong enough to even relieve me of my sin and personal failing and sickness etc." I know that we will be happier here on earth as we do that. I know that our joy will be full in the life to come as we do that.
So, as if that wasn't enough. I learned more. I thought of how I will and do affect others. If I want my family and my future family to operate by love and to do what’s right I've got to love everyone else unconditionally. We had stake conference, Saturday night and Sunday. I took notes like a stenographer! WOW, let me write a few things I learned. Keep in mind I’ve been wanting answers about how to prepare for raising children. (BTW, I also relearned that we must plan for the future, but not live in it, we need to enjoy the journey. So I’ve been reminding myself everyday to live in the moment, be a part of where I am, but not forget to plan for "tomorrow")
Anyway I've only got 15 min, I’ve been writing a long time and haven't even read all your emails yet. But here is the main point of the conference. DON'T WEAR EACH OTHER DOWN! When you use anger or disappointment or frustration as a constant tool to instruct your children and those around you, you ware them away! You are like a wave taking the sand away from the beach, eventually there will be NO SAND! Disappointment is powerful, but should only be used briefly! Remember unconditional love is a choice! After you have taken your opportunity to teach go right back to loving and supporting. Also, Teenagers might seem like they are rebelling, but they aren't! (Unless you are being too hard then they might be), anyway, its totally natural, because we are here on this planet to learn. We teach correct principals and let others dictate themselves. We have to learn for ourselves how to live and be self sufficient. We need to know how to make decisions on our own! If we continue to do what the Lord has asked us, and pray for and love our children and siblings and those around us, the Lord has promised to send them tender mercies and eventually they will make the right choices and they will have strong testimonies! Any way.... I know these things are true because it’s what the Lord teaches us and there are examples all over the scriptures. Just look at Lehi! He is an excellent example of a parent. OK. Ha-ha.
Well, I’ll get back on for another session to reply to all your emails! Ok. Peace out! I love you all!
Elder Sam
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Be Ye as a Little Child
And the rain came down and the floods came up and the wind blew hard and the trees and telephone poles came down! But the missionaries in the Mazda stood still.... sort of... I guess we were going about 40 mph.
So, the guy next to me at the library just got on the computer and said the F word a couple times in frustration about the speed of the computer and then left. Poor guy, slow computers are not fun. But honestly I think he was over reacting, because the computers are pretty fast. Also, the new guy next to me is having no problem. It just goes to show that your attitude makes a big difference in your happiness. If you look for the bad in other and in the world, you are guaranteed to find it. In fact it’s really easy. But as you try your hardest to evaluate and adjust your attitude everyday to try to become more inline with the way the savior would have you be, life will be better. You will always have trials, but if you see them in the right light they will start looking more like opportunities. In my horribly socially awkward state that I now find myself in, I take a step back and laugh at myself. I know that "this too shall pass", and if I "endure it well" I will have countless blessings. I really hope that some of the blessings I have received are spilling over to all of you. I hope that maybe in some ways I've helped each of you some how from a distance. If not, know that I am trying to do what I can so that will happen. I realize just a little bit more everyday that seeing others happy and seeing others make righteous decisions and have success is very pleasing and fulfilling for me. I love to hear about all that's going on with all of you, I really like feeling like I'm still all your friends and apart of the family.
So, we had 7 investigators at church this week; sweet huh!? Two of them are under 18 and want to get baptized but their parents won’t let them... yet they like us coming over and teaching them. I don't get it. This is only their second time coming to church because their parents always make it extremely difficult to get to church. We had a member pick them up this time, but that can't continue for ever. :( The other investigator is an 11 year old girl... she came to church but it seemed more like her dad just wanted a baby sitter and that's why she was able to come to church. :( At least she was in the right place at the right time. Our other Investigator was Larry; he is in his late 60s. I don't know if I told you last time or not, but he came to church last week and this week. Before I came he got to a point where he said he never wanted to come to our church ever again and that he would never get baptized and that he didn't want to be taught by the missionaries any more. But that has seemed to flip almost 180 since I've been here (not that it has anything to do with me). He knows that the things we say are true, but he doesn't quite understand yet the urgency there is. "Do not procrastinate the day of your repentance!". We tried to get him to set a date for baptism and he got a little flustered as to why it needed to be soon. We explained, and he calmed down... but then he said "ok, if I need to set a date, here it is: a year from now." LOL. So, he's gonna get baptized, just not soon. Anyway, he has come to church and even stayed for class, he asks really great complicated questions that get people defensive, which makes for an interesting gospel principals class, :D, but he means no harm. I think he is realizing things now; he just still wants to hold on to his ways (which are not bad, just not best).
The other investigators were 2 permigators and a really cool 20 year old guy who brought his less active friend back to church so he could learn about the truth! He isn't being taught by us, but I don't want there to be too many cooks in the kitchen. Don't fix something that’s not broken, I guess. But we helped him during church and explained things and fellowshipped him. When he is baptized he will attend the singles branch we cover.
Elder Khang and I are getting along pretty well. I feel kinda like a peace maker though cause he didn't like my last companion. I think he is getting over that. We have made a bunch of meals together, which is what I expected the mission to be like, so I like that. We have a duet going with me playing the recorder and him playing the ocarina. We made an arrangement of come thou fount of every blessing and all creatures of our God and King. It sounds pretty cool. I still am not super with the recorder but I'm learning quickly! :)
We had CDM and former Aps teach us workshops and also I've had good personal studies lately as well as good talks at church so I have lots of really good notes! I don't have time to share them with you though, sorry :) maybe another time or maybe in some of your personal letters. Ha-ha.
Ok. Peace out! Love, Elder Sam Morris
So, the guy next to me at the library just got on the computer and said the F word a couple times in frustration about the speed of the computer and then left. Poor guy, slow computers are not fun. But honestly I think he was over reacting, because the computers are pretty fast. Also, the new guy next to me is having no problem. It just goes to show that your attitude makes a big difference in your happiness. If you look for the bad in other and in the world, you are guaranteed to find it. In fact it’s really easy. But as you try your hardest to evaluate and adjust your attitude everyday to try to become more inline with the way the savior would have you be, life will be better. You will always have trials, but if you see them in the right light they will start looking more like opportunities. In my horribly socially awkward state that I now find myself in, I take a step back and laugh at myself. I know that "this too shall pass", and if I "endure it well" I will have countless blessings. I really hope that some of the blessings I have received are spilling over to all of you. I hope that maybe in some ways I've helped each of you some how from a distance. If not, know that I am trying to do what I can so that will happen. I realize just a little bit more everyday that seeing others happy and seeing others make righteous decisions and have success is very pleasing and fulfilling for me. I love to hear about all that's going on with all of you, I really like feeling like I'm still all your friends and apart of the family.
So, we had 7 investigators at church this week; sweet huh!? Two of them are under 18 and want to get baptized but their parents won’t let them... yet they like us coming over and teaching them. I don't get it. This is only their second time coming to church because their parents always make it extremely difficult to get to church. We had a member pick them up this time, but that can't continue for ever. :( The other investigator is an 11 year old girl... she came to church but it seemed more like her dad just wanted a baby sitter and that's why she was able to come to church. :( At least she was in the right place at the right time. Our other Investigator was Larry; he is in his late 60s. I don't know if I told you last time or not, but he came to church last week and this week. Before I came he got to a point where he said he never wanted to come to our church ever again and that he would never get baptized and that he didn't want to be taught by the missionaries any more. But that has seemed to flip almost 180 since I've been here (not that it has anything to do with me). He knows that the things we say are true, but he doesn't quite understand yet the urgency there is. "Do not procrastinate the day of your repentance!". We tried to get him to set a date for baptism and he got a little flustered as to why it needed to be soon. We explained, and he calmed down... but then he said "ok, if I need to set a date, here it is: a year from now." LOL. So, he's gonna get baptized, just not soon. Anyway, he has come to church and even stayed for class, he asks really great complicated questions that get people defensive, which makes for an interesting gospel principals class, :D, but he means no harm. I think he is realizing things now; he just still wants to hold on to his ways (which are not bad, just not best).
The other investigators were 2 permigators and a really cool 20 year old guy who brought his less active friend back to church so he could learn about the truth! He isn't being taught by us, but I don't want there to be too many cooks in the kitchen. Don't fix something that’s not broken, I guess. But we helped him during church and explained things and fellowshipped him. When he is baptized he will attend the singles branch we cover.
Elder Khang and I are getting along pretty well. I feel kinda like a peace maker though cause he didn't like my last companion. I think he is getting over that. We have made a bunch of meals together, which is what I expected the mission to be like, so I like that. We have a duet going with me playing the recorder and him playing the ocarina. We made an arrangement of come thou fount of every blessing and all creatures of our God and King. It sounds pretty cool. I still am not super with the recorder but I'm learning quickly! :)
We had CDM and former Aps teach us workshops and also I've had good personal studies lately as well as good talks at church so I have lots of really good notes! I don't have time to share them with you though, sorry :) maybe another time or maybe in some of your personal letters. Ha-ha.
Ok. Peace out! Love, Elder Sam Morris
Monday, March 8, 2010
ZOOM, ZOOM
Well, ha-ha. So here is what you have all been waiting for, it’s what you expected but with a curve ball twist!
The story begins one year ago, with two elders from Richmond Hill, Elders Lim and Khang. They found Keaun. Lim comes back to Richmond Hill one year later to be with Elder Morris, they baptize Keaun. Then Elder Morris gets transferred. Elder Morris goes to the island, a place called Plainview, and who is his companion.......... Elder Khang!
LOL. So there you have it, I am in Plainview with Elder Khang. It’s just him and I in our pad. Which is really weird for me because the last pad I was in had two other elders and the pad I was born into had four other elders and when I was in the MTC I was with 2 other Elders... so I'm really not used to being with just my companion. But here is the cool part, we have a washer and dryer and a dishwasher! WOOT! Ha-ha, no more laundry mat and no more washing dishes by hand! There is also a bunch of food in the pad so I never have to shop really, and to top it off Elder Khang has cooked me like 3 meals. So that’s pretty cool.
The down side, where I am is like 5 times the size of my last area. I thought I covered a big area before... ha-ha well now its huge for sure. At least we have a car; yup, a 2008 Mazda 3. :) My companion is not aloud to drive so I had to drive all the way out to the far corner of Nassau County from Elmhurst Queens! I was so scared! I haven’t driven since early July! It was weird. I did well though. That car is really fun to drive; I’m considering getting a Mazda when I come home now. So the area I’m in now when I am driving around in it, it feels like I am in Pleasant Grove sometimes and other times I feel like I’m in Orem/Provo and other times I feel like I’m in Cotton Wood.... I really don't like it. I feel like if I’m gonna be in the fray I should be in the middle of the fray; being in a place like home just makes me think about home more often. To make it worse the work in the area is really slow, and because we are in a car we can’t really do street contacts like I’m used to. We don't get any media referrals, so all our work is member work, knocking doors, and looking up less actives. More than half our lessons were less active/recent convert lessons.
We got a baptismal commit though! YEAH! Cool huh! But guess what.... it’s for a year from now. Yup, the guy knows everything is true... he just doesn't want to be pushed; he wants to do it on his own time. He is about dad’s age. He is cool though. His daughter is a less active member who told us that she wants to change and come back to church. She came to church Sunday and so that rocked! She is way solid I can tell.
Our other investigators are Kids, from 10 to 15. The 10 year old and 15 year old have only been to church once, a long time ago, but they LOVED it. The 15 year old knows everything! He should have been baptized and come to church long ago. But the parents are frustrating. Then we have an 11 year old who was going to get baptized last transfer. She passed the interview was excited, there were treats made and everyone was in the room waiting for her to get baptized and they had started filling the font and everything, but her dad freaked out last second and told her that she could get baptized if she wanted to but that he wouldn’t come in to watch. So of course she said she wouldn't get baptized. What 11 year old girl would get baptized if her only family member refused to be apart of it. :'(
Guess what’s cool!? I met a cool member here who went to UVU. In this area we cover a ward and a singles branch. A bunch of the members of the ward made fun of me on Sunday while I was introducing myself in priesthood and also right before I blessed the bread. Full grown men, acting like 14 year-olds.... I want to go back to the city. Anyway, it’s been tough for me to suddenly have to memorize like over a 100 people plus a new area; but I'll be alright. :)
I can't think of much else to say right now, but I will end with something cool I learned this week! :)
Ordinances sanctify principals! Ha-ha! Cool huh! So here is the example that we all understand. Marriage is for time but a sealing is for eternity. So, marriage between a man and a woman is the principal. Now it needs to be sanctified or recognized by God, so how do we do that? Through an ordinance performed by the priesthood of God, to bind things not only on earth but in heaven! Alright, so that principal applies to everything in the church—from baptism to marriage. I really wish that I could have understood this before now, but I’m really glad that I understand it now. It has really been a blessing for me to discover this. When I went to the temple I was really very confused, not because of the symbolism but because I didn't understand why I had to make a promise to God that I would do certain things that I was already doing; things I thought I had promised to do at baptism. But the reason why is because ordinances sanctify principals. Without the ordinance I would have just lived a really good life, but by going to the temple I sanctified that principal. Now, we are judged according to how much "light" we have been given. As members of the church we have been taught that we must sanctify our actions unto the lord by becoming a covenant people. That’s why those who never knew about our church and ordinances can still inherit the kingdom of God, and that is why we do work for the dead. Well, that’s what I learned. A lot of you are probably thinking wow he didn't know that?", but I hope it helps someone out there as much as it helped me. Because up until this point I was doing certain things because I knew I was supposed to, not because I understood the why factor or the importance of why factor.
Well, peace out y’all girl scouts!
Love Elder Morris
The story begins one year ago, with two elders from Richmond Hill, Elders Lim and Khang. They found Keaun. Lim comes back to Richmond Hill one year later to be with Elder Morris, they baptize Keaun. Then Elder Morris gets transferred. Elder Morris goes to the island, a place called Plainview, and who is his companion.......... Elder Khang!
LOL. So there you have it, I am in Plainview with Elder Khang. It’s just him and I in our pad. Which is really weird for me because the last pad I was in had two other elders and the pad I was born into had four other elders and when I was in the MTC I was with 2 other Elders... so I'm really not used to being with just my companion. But here is the cool part, we have a washer and dryer and a dishwasher! WOOT! Ha-ha, no more laundry mat and no more washing dishes by hand! There is also a bunch of food in the pad so I never have to shop really, and to top it off Elder Khang has cooked me like 3 meals. So that’s pretty cool.
The down side, where I am is like 5 times the size of my last area. I thought I covered a big area before... ha-ha well now its huge for sure. At least we have a car; yup, a 2008 Mazda 3. :) My companion is not aloud to drive so I had to drive all the way out to the far corner of Nassau County from Elmhurst Queens! I was so scared! I haven’t driven since early July! It was weird. I did well though. That car is really fun to drive; I’m considering getting a Mazda when I come home now. So the area I’m in now when I am driving around in it, it feels like I am in Pleasant Grove sometimes and other times I feel like I’m in Orem/Provo and other times I feel like I’m in Cotton Wood.... I really don't like it. I feel like if I’m gonna be in the fray I should be in the middle of the fray; being in a place like home just makes me think about home more often. To make it worse the work in the area is really slow, and because we are in a car we can’t really do street contacts like I’m used to. We don't get any media referrals, so all our work is member work, knocking doors, and looking up less actives. More than half our lessons were less active/recent convert lessons.
We got a baptismal commit though! YEAH! Cool huh! But guess what.... it’s for a year from now. Yup, the guy knows everything is true... he just doesn't want to be pushed; he wants to do it on his own time. He is about dad’s age. He is cool though. His daughter is a less active member who told us that she wants to change and come back to church. She came to church Sunday and so that rocked! She is way solid I can tell.
Our other investigators are Kids, from 10 to 15. The 10 year old and 15 year old have only been to church once, a long time ago, but they LOVED it. The 15 year old knows everything! He should have been baptized and come to church long ago. But the parents are frustrating. Then we have an 11 year old who was going to get baptized last transfer. She passed the interview was excited, there were treats made and everyone was in the room waiting for her to get baptized and they had started filling the font and everything, but her dad freaked out last second and told her that she could get baptized if she wanted to but that he wouldn’t come in to watch. So of course she said she wouldn't get baptized. What 11 year old girl would get baptized if her only family member refused to be apart of it. :'(
Guess what’s cool!? I met a cool member here who went to UVU. In this area we cover a ward and a singles branch. A bunch of the members of the ward made fun of me on Sunday while I was introducing myself in priesthood and also right before I blessed the bread. Full grown men, acting like 14 year-olds.... I want to go back to the city. Anyway, it’s been tough for me to suddenly have to memorize like over a 100 people plus a new area; but I'll be alright. :)
I can't think of much else to say right now, but I will end with something cool I learned this week! :)
Ordinances sanctify principals! Ha-ha! Cool huh! So here is the example that we all understand. Marriage is for time but a sealing is for eternity. So, marriage between a man and a woman is the principal. Now it needs to be sanctified or recognized by God, so how do we do that? Through an ordinance performed by the priesthood of God, to bind things not only on earth but in heaven! Alright, so that principal applies to everything in the church—from baptism to marriage. I really wish that I could have understood this before now, but I’m really glad that I understand it now. It has really been a blessing for me to discover this. When I went to the temple I was really very confused, not because of the symbolism but because I didn't understand why I had to make a promise to God that I would do certain things that I was already doing; things I thought I had promised to do at baptism. But the reason why is because ordinances sanctify principals. Without the ordinance I would have just lived a really good life, but by going to the temple I sanctified that principal. Now, we are judged according to how much "light" we have been given. As members of the church we have been taught that we must sanctify our actions unto the lord by becoming a covenant people. That’s why those who never knew about our church and ordinances can still inherit the kingdom of God, and that is why we do work for the dead. Well, that’s what I learned. A lot of you are probably thinking wow he didn't know that?", but I hope it helps someone out there as much as it helped me. Because up until this point I was doing certain things because I knew I was supposed to, not because I understood the why factor or the importance of why factor.
Well, peace out y’all girl scouts!
Love Elder Morris
Monday, March 1, 2010
The Shortest Longest Week Ever
So, basically the last two transfers felt like one transfer. This last week felt like three weeks packed into the space of 3 days... so weird. I had a roller-coaster of emotions and to top off the whole week was the following:
1. Saturday I found out that I am getting transferred, Yup. So, tomorrow (Tuesday), I will be going to transfer meeting and finding out who my new companion is and where my new area is. I have a hunch I will be going to the island (which is what they call everything that’s on Long Island that is not Brooklyn or Queens). I am nervous, scared, excited, and happy. I am sad to leave Lim, I have grown a lot because of him and I have had the most fun with Lim.
2. Keaun was confirmed Sunday! :) Woot. I did the confirmation (my first confirmation for the living). It felt good. But that wasn't the only priesthood that was put to use Sunday. I asked Lim to give me a blessing during companion study. It was amazing, I felt so much better and I new what was said was from God, I know the council given to me is what will help me to be the missionary and person God wants me to be. The coolest part was that Lim said things in the blessing that are in my patriarchal blessing. And, to boot, Lim said he felt like the words were just coming as if he wasn't the one speaking. This is the true authority of God. I am thankful that my companion has been living righteously enough to have real power. The church is true! Just ask Keaun, he said "I FEEL GREAT!" when I asked him about how he felt after his confirmation.
So, we were supposed to have two baptisms Sunday as well. But there was crazy drama with our investigator, she has been going to the Jamaica ward instead of coming to Richmond Hill branch. When we told her she needs to come to our branch to be baptized she said basically, "If I can't go to Jamaica with my aunt then I won't go at all! YOU CAN"T FORCE ME TO GO TO YOUR CHURCH" then she hung up the phone. She called the MTC elders who have been talking with her and told them that she doesn't need the BoM any more, just bible study. :( Sad. I guess that means that she doesn't have a testimony that this is true; other wise this sort of thing would be insignificant. Any who, we told her to continue going with her aunt in Jamaica, but the plan is to ask her aunt to come to Richmond Hill with her to get her used to the branch. We shall see how that turns out. I won't be here to see it.
We followed the spirit the other night when EVERYTHING fell through, and found a lady on her porch by one of our Medias. Her name is Milla. She is Filipino (sp? Ph?). Anyway, we talked to her a half an hour and she confided in us about her husbands passing a year ago, and how she used to meet with the missionaries in the Philippines; so we gave her the BoM and gave her a card about the plan of salvation. We told her we would be coming Monday; so I will see her tonight probably. I hope she will see we bring truth and come to the fold because she is definitely prepared. Lim got along really well with her right from the beginning.
Well, I'll have to let you all know where I end up next week.
I hope everything is going well.
The weather here is silly. One day is hot, the next day we get a bunch of snow, the next day we drown in all the slush.... etc.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BJ AND BROTHER CHEVRIER! Sorry I forgot last week. :(
another thing I forgot last week was to say thank you to the Chevriers for the packages! You must have listened to the spirit cause I actually have 2 pairs of socks with holes. :) Thanks Amy for the letter! I haven't heard from you in a while. :)
Love Elder Morris
1. Saturday I found out that I am getting transferred, Yup. So, tomorrow (Tuesday), I will be going to transfer meeting and finding out who my new companion is and where my new area is. I have a hunch I will be going to the island (which is what they call everything that’s on Long Island that is not Brooklyn or Queens). I am nervous, scared, excited, and happy. I am sad to leave Lim, I have grown a lot because of him and I have had the most fun with Lim.
2. Keaun was confirmed Sunday! :) Woot. I did the confirmation (my first confirmation for the living). It felt good. But that wasn't the only priesthood that was put to use Sunday. I asked Lim to give me a blessing during companion study. It was amazing, I felt so much better and I new what was said was from God, I know the council given to me is what will help me to be the missionary and person God wants me to be. The coolest part was that Lim said things in the blessing that are in my patriarchal blessing. And, to boot, Lim said he felt like the words were just coming as if he wasn't the one speaking. This is the true authority of God. I am thankful that my companion has been living righteously enough to have real power. The church is true! Just ask Keaun, he said "I FEEL GREAT!" when I asked him about how he felt after his confirmation.
So, we were supposed to have two baptisms Sunday as well. But there was crazy drama with our investigator, she has been going to the Jamaica ward instead of coming to Richmond Hill branch. When we told her she needs to come to our branch to be baptized she said basically, "If I can't go to Jamaica with my aunt then I won't go at all! YOU CAN"T FORCE ME TO GO TO YOUR CHURCH" then she hung up the phone. She called the MTC elders who have been talking with her and told them that she doesn't need the BoM any more, just bible study. :( Sad. I guess that means that she doesn't have a testimony that this is true; other wise this sort of thing would be insignificant. Any who, we told her to continue going with her aunt in Jamaica, but the plan is to ask her aunt to come to Richmond Hill with her to get her used to the branch. We shall see how that turns out. I won't be here to see it.
We followed the spirit the other night when EVERYTHING fell through, and found a lady on her porch by one of our Medias. Her name is Milla. She is Filipino (sp? Ph?). Anyway, we talked to her a half an hour and she confided in us about her husbands passing a year ago, and how she used to meet with the missionaries in the Philippines; so we gave her the BoM and gave her a card about the plan of salvation. We told her we would be coming Monday; so I will see her tonight probably. I hope she will see we bring truth and come to the fold because she is definitely prepared. Lim got along really well with her right from the beginning.
Well, I'll have to let you all know where I end up next week.
I hope everything is going well.
The weather here is silly. One day is hot, the next day we get a bunch of snow, the next day we drown in all the slush.... etc.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BJ AND BROTHER CHEVRIER! Sorry I forgot last week. :(
another thing I forgot last week was to say thank you to the Chevriers for the packages! You must have listened to the spirit cause I actually have 2 pairs of socks with holes. :) Thanks Amy for the letter! I haven't heard from you in a while. :)
Love Elder Morris
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