Well, basically the only thing that could have made this week harder would have been if Mom, Dad, or Ditto died.
I read in the white hand book that I am not supposed to share negative things about the people, or the place I am at or about the mission or its president. However... these things are just bad things, and for some reason things like this always like to happen ALL AT ONCE! But don't fret, I will survive.
1. The week started with a nightmare on Monday, that came true Tuesday. Kitty "wrote me off".
2. That night our progressing investigator family told us never to come back (in a nice way, but "watch for the danger behind the smiling eyes")
3. Thursday while I was on exchanges (which i have never been a fan of) Elder Khang and Elder Evens were in our Mazda when It died. It turns out there is a compression problem. We will be without a car for at least a week if not more, and the people in the town we live in are all Jews (so there goes tracting).
4. The week we have to walk, God sent us rain. HA-HA. It’s like the movies "How could it get any worse!?" and then it starts to pour! LOL
5. I feel like Khang is annoyed and frustrated with me.
Well, probably the hardest week of my mission, if not my life. I have experienced about 1000 different emotions most of which I couldn't explain because there are no words. But fret not family and friends, "all is well, happy day".
Let me tell you all the good things now.
1. I have had new strength and drive this week, with an extra dose of the spirit. President told me Tuesday before I received the Dear John that the guilt I was feeling in my life right now was not valid but was directly from Satan. President told me not to be discouraged.
2. Wednesday night we had a very spiritually uplifting and very exciting appointment with Darnell and his non member wife Nikita. We visited them when we are on spilts and this time we took a different member! Success! He related with them far, far better than our correlator. I know that it happened the way it was supposed to, just like everything this week has. I really feel Darnell will come back to church soon, he told us he wants to. I love him. His wife seems to be waiting for his lead. We will see them this Wednesday.
3. I actually enjoyed the exchanges! Ha-ha. I was with Elder Doxy, he went to Cottonwood High. I was able to be 100% myself with him and it was a wonderful distraction from how I was feeling. To make it even better I saw my investigator from Bushwick in Garden City! Let me tell you, this was no coincidence. I saw Dawn and her daughter walking out of a building with a blond lady; her two boys were not with her. She was smiling. This was the women living in protected housing who's husband died just as she was about to be successful in lifting a restraining order. I had Elder Doxy turn around so we could go meet her, but she was no where to be found, because it took us so long to get back because two trains and a bunch of "no left turn" signs got in the way. I think, God just wanted me to see she was alive and smiling, but not to interfere with her current path. I'll talk to Elder Lim, since he is in my old area of Bushwick now!
The exchanges ended with CDM (combined district meeting) where the new area seventy was present. He blessed us with his apostolic blessing that we would find Joy and that we would be able to have the spirit with us to swallow up our fear and discouragement. He blessed us that we would know what to say to the people in our areas to get them to serve. It is working. I can feel the spirit with me, and I know it’s the only reason I haven’t laid down in the middle of the street this week.
4. I know Khang likes me, I just get paranoid. I will discuss with him in companion inventory.
5. The members all are taking us around now and its working great. Infact I almost wish we don't get our car back for a long time so we can develop relationships with the members and get less actives to take us to church! :)
My time is up. I love you all. Guess what’s cool!? We got 20 lessons this week! Ha-ha! I hope you are all well. I know the church is true. I know we are not given trials we cannot bare. At first I thought these trials were punishment, but now I am starting to feel that they are just catalysts to my growth.
Love, Elder Morris
Monday, April 26, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
The Living Dead
Wow! This week flew by... yet... it was one of the longest weeks of my life. Crazy paradox I know. lol. So, a lot happened this week. Let’s talk about Tuesday first.
Tuesday: Well this was transfer day. So since elder Khan is a district leader we had to attend the transfer meeting. We didn't want to run into traffic so we decided we would leave for Rego Park by 8:00 am. Well, we headed to the car at 8 and as Khang sat down he looked at me and said "I need to change" I thought he had crapped his pants or something. He said "look" and showed me his suit pants had ripped right in half beyond repair! So he changed. Ok, well we should still miss traffic I guess... "BING" the tire pressure gauge went on. So we headed to the gas station to fill it up... by now we were leaving late, so we hit traffic. We were still basically the first companionship there though. So I just figure God saved us from some accident we would have been in if we would have left when we had planned. Transfer meeting was crazy as usual. I said hi to my friends. Then during Khang’s leadership meeting I had to do service. So we picked up all the trash around the church. It was gross. You could have been there all day and the next and there would still have been trash. Well, I picked up some trash and there I saw it, Hair, yup I was done, there was no way I was going to pick up the rest of the trash around that area just to uncover a head; especially with how bad it smelled. BTW Elder Lim got sent to Bushwick to die where I was born! Crazy huh! Ha-ha. Well we went home and when we got there we decided to eat and take our pad time. I opened up the packages I got from Mom and Hilly! I was super excited! When we pulled out the bubble wands we thought they were sex toys (because you warned me mom that you didn't want Khang to think we were bad, so I was expecting something ridiculous and then we saw them! LOL)! Anyway we played with them for a bit and took pictures. Then I decided to eat the Warm Delights Hill sent me. Well I saw her handwritten Instructions and miss read them. She had written Step 3. Microwave for 30 seconds. I read It. microwave 3 min and 30 seconds. Well Elder Khang and I were talking when all of a sudden Plums of toxic smoke filled the room, we couldn't breathe! I opened the microwave and pulled out the lump of carbon that was remaining while Khang opened all the doors and windows. The smoke was so bad we could not breathe in the house. We had to stay out side for almost an hour before it was even bearable to go inside. I felt really stupid and to top it off we both had massive headaches. So... I almost killed us. We bought an air purifier and have been running it ever since, but the microwave still smells bad when we used it... I don't use it though cause I am afraid of it... plus I'm afraid it will put toxins into our food. We have been given advice on what to do about cleaning it, so hopefully it works. Well that was just Tuesday.
So much happened I don't think I can share all of it. But here is good news: We got another media, it seems really promising. We are going to visit it today. Our old media I told you about hasn't been able to make it to church but they love us and what we do and they really want to come to church. Gina even wanted to come to the woman's conference but she got sick. :(
We did service for the same family we did last week on Saturday. It was a great opportunity to show the family that Mormons aren't wackos and that they are helpful and friendly. I loved it! We helped out a lot. I wish we had more service opportunities. Well, what we did was shovel a ton of dirt. Unfortunately the shovels were those midget garden shovels, so I was bent over the whole time. My back hurts now. Its way better today then it was yesterday.
We also did service for Sister JoJo Barone and her sister earlier in the day on Thursday! So we have been moving a lot of boxes and shoveling a lot of dirt.
I've been really tired and we have had a lot of trials this week, especially since none of our investigators made it to church. But I know that it gets harder before the miracle happens. So I know a lot of good is coming our way. I just hope Khang can put up with me until then, ha-ha.
Thank you mom and Hehe and dad and Davy for the awesome packages. I loved the card you sent me Hill its up on my wall! I love it! It’s funny! I gave Khang Half of all the stuff you guys sent me. All of the Warm Delights are still left though! LOL. We are scared of them.
Oh yeah, we have three new missionaries in our district. The zone leader Elder Childs went out and was replaced with Gaspar. Also two new missionaries came to open an area. Doxy and Evens. So district meetings are like real district meetings now. Ha-ha.
I love you all, thank you for your letters, prayer, love, support (spiritually and financially). I really, really appreciate it! :)
Love Elder Morris. The living dead. Ha-ha. Don’t worry Mel I wont die.
Tuesday: Well this was transfer day. So since elder Khan is a district leader we had to attend the transfer meeting. We didn't want to run into traffic so we decided we would leave for Rego Park by 8:00 am. Well, we headed to the car at 8 and as Khang sat down he looked at me and said "I need to change" I thought he had crapped his pants or something. He said "look" and showed me his suit pants had ripped right in half beyond repair! So he changed. Ok, well we should still miss traffic I guess... "BING" the tire pressure gauge went on. So we headed to the gas station to fill it up... by now we were leaving late, so we hit traffic. We were still basically the first companionship there though. So I just figure God saved us from some accident we would have been in if we would have left when we had planned. Transfer meeting was crazy as usual. I said hi to my friends. Then during Khang’s leadership meeting I had to do service. So we picked up all the trash around the church. It was gross. You could have been there all day and the next and there would still have been trash. Well, I picked up some trash and there I saw it, Hair, yup I was done, there was no way I was going to pick up the rest of the trash around that area just to uncover a head; especially with how bad it smelled. BTW Elder Lim got sent to Bushwick to die where I was born! Crazy huh! Ha-ha. Well we went home and when we got there we decided to eat and take our pad time. I opened up the packages I got from Mom and Hilly! I was super excited! When we pulled out the bubble wands we thought they were sex toys (because you warned me mom that you didn't want Khang to think we were bad, so I was expecting something ridiculous and then we saw them! LOL)! Anyway we played with them for a bit and took pictures. Then I decided to eat the Warm Delights Hill sent me. Well I saw her handwritten Instructions and miss read them. She had written Step 3. Microwave for 30 seconds. I read It. microwave 3 min and 30 seconds. Well Elder Khang and I were talking when all of a sudden Plums of toxic smoke filled the room, we couldn't breathe! I opened the microwave and pulled out the lump of carbon that was remaining while Khang opened all the doors and windows. The smoke was so bad we could not breathe in the house. We had to stay out side for almost an hour before it was even bearable to go inside. I felt really stupid and to top it off we both had massive headaches. So... I almost killed us. We bought an air purifier and have been running it ever since, but the microwave still smells bad when we used it... I don't use it though cause I am afraid of it... plus I'm afraid it will put toxins into our food. We have been given advice on what to do about cleaning it, so hopefully it works. Well that was just Tuesday.
So much happened I don't think I can share all of it. But here is good news: We got another media, it seems really promising. We are going to visit it today. Our old media I told you about hasn't been able to make it to church but they love us and what we do and they really want to come to church. Gina even wanted to come to the woman's conference but she got sick. :(
We did service for the same family we did last week on Saturday. It was a great opportunity to show the family that Mormons aren't wackos and that they are helpful and friendly. I loved it! We helped out a lot. I wish we had more service opportunities. Well, what we did was shovel a ton of dirt. Unfortunately the shovels were those midget garden shovels, so I was bent over the whole time. My back hurts now. Its way better today then it was yesterday.
We also did service for Sister JoJo Barone and her sister earlier in the day on Thursday! So we have been moving a lot of boxes and shoveling a lot of dirt.
I've been really tired and we have had a lot of trials this week, especially since none of our investigators made it to church. But I know that it gets harder before the miracle happens. So I know a lot of good is coming our way. I just hope Khang can put up with me until then, ha-ha.
Thank you mom and Hehe and dad and Davy for the awesome packages. I loved the card you sent me Hill its up on my wall! I love it! It’s funny! I gave Khang Half of all the stuff you guys sent me. All of the Warm Delights are still left though! LOL. We are scared of them.
Oh yeah, we have three new missionaries in our district. The zone leader Elder Childs went out and was replaced with Gaspar. Also two new missionaries came to open an area. Doxy and Evens. So district meetings are like real district meetings now. Ha-ha.
I love you all, thank you for your letters, prayer, love, support (spiritually and financially). I really, really appreciate it! :)
Love Elder Morris. The living dead. Ha-ha. Don’t worry Mel I wont die.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Wake Up with the King
Today I had BK for breakfast. Hence the subject.
Ok, well, this week was pretty good for us! We had 20 lessons, which is a lot easier in the city than it is in Plainview, especially because there are mostly Jews here. This week we had some really awesome things happen.
1. We were able to find the investigator home that we found tracting, Nelta. We taught her the plan of salvation. She wasn't getting it, so it kinda took a while. She said she might come to church, but she didn't. Which was sad, but at least we have a return appointment with her.
2. We got a media referral! Ha-ha! Woot! And guess what?! It’s a family! Ha-ha. The parents aren't married of course but I think what’s keeping them from marriage is the financial issue. So when we offer a free church and a free minister!... I'm sure they will jump on that. :) They really have trusted us with their emotions and beliefs. They tell us that they can tell things are happening in their lives that are changing them; they feel like God is pulling them out of a pit. We have been able to keep daily contact with them and our lessons are short with them, so fortunately they are used to us stopping by frequently for short periods of time! YES PMG Style Yo! That’s the way I like it! I have great hope they will get baptized and enjoy the gifts of the gospel. :D
3. Transfer calls came, Elder Khang and I are together for at least 6 more weeks. He will most likely die in Plainview ‘cause getting transferred to a new area for your last transfer is not very common. However it does happen. Actually Elder Lim, my last comp is now on his last transfer and he is getting transferred to where I was born, Bushwick! Funny, huh. So, it’s very possible that I could be in Plainview for another 12 weeks. ‘Cause they wouldn't blind us out, since I am killing Elder Khang. Anything is possible though. :) Those are just predictions. BTW, Killing=being a missionaries last companion. :D don't go calling the cops! Ha-ha. Blinded out=both missionaries leaving an area at the same time.
4. It was windy and rainy a couple of times but mostly it is definitely spring. Spring has sprung. It’s warm. We don't wear our jackets anymore until October. (For me that is good and bad. cause I like the whole suit.) I actually was sweating when we went tracting the other day.
I don't know what else to say. I got a letter from Kyle and from Erik's family and from Kenzi, and from Noah so that was way cool. :)
Well, I am doing well... I'm trying hard to do what the Lord wants me to. Thanks for your prayers and love and support.
Love Elder Morris
Ok, well, this week was pretty good for us! We had 20 lessons, which is a lot easier in the city than it is in Plainview, especially because there are mostly Jews here. This week we had some really awesome things happen.
1. We were able to find the investigator home that we found tracting, Nelta. We taught her the plan of salvation. She wasn't getting it, so it kinda took a while. She said she might come to church, but she didn't. Which was sad, but at least we have a return appointment with her.
2. We got a media referral! Ha-ha! Woot! And guess what?! It’s a family! Ha-ha. The parents aren't married of course but I think what’s keeping them from marriage is the financial issue. So when we offer a free church and a free minister!... I'm sure they will jump on that. :) They really have trusted us with their emotions and beliefs. They tell us that they can tell things are happening in their lives that are changing them; they feel like God is pulling them out of a pit. We have been able to keep daily contact with them and our lessons are short with them, so fortunately they are used to us stopping by frequently for short periods of time! YES PMG Style Yo! That’s the way I like it! I have great hope they will get baptized and enjoy the gifts of the gospel. :D
3. Transfer calls came, Elder Khang and I are together for at least 6 more weeks. He will most likely die in Plainview ‘cause getting transferred to a new area for your last transfer is not very common. However it does happen. Actually Elder Lim, my last comp is now on his last transfer and he is getting transferred to where I was born, Bushwick! Funny, huh. So, it’s very possible that I could be in Plainview for another 12 weeks. ‘Cause they wouldn't blind us out, since I am killing Elder Khang. Anything is possible though. :) Those are just predictions. BTW, Killing=being a missionaries last companion. :D don't go calling the cops! Ha-ha. Blinded out=both missionaries leaving an area at the same time.
4. It was windy and rainy a couple of times but mostly it is definitely spring. Spring has sprung. It’s warm. We don't wear our jackets anymore until October. (For me that is good and bad. cause I like the whole suit.) I actually was sweating when we went tracting the other day.
I don't know what else to say. I got a letter from Kyle and from Erik's family and from Kenzi, and from Noah so that was way cool. :)
Well, I am doing well... I'm trying hard to do what the Lord wants me to. Thanks for your prayers and love and support.
Love Elder Morris
Monday, April 5, 2010
Week 5, Still Alive.
Sam email 4-5-10
Well. Larry heard the President in stake conference that we have a goal of 800 baptisms.... he wasn't offended but it seemed like he felt caught by us. As if all we care about is numbers. I am pretty sure he watched conference; he seemed pretty excited about watching. He also discussed with us that he could never have the eternal family we "advertise" because his wife is catholic... Both he and his wife talked as if it was absolute, and that she would never change. The question I have however is if you believe something is true that your church does not preach and another church does preach it, and they happen to be the only church who teaches it the way they do... then... what holds you back from adjusting? Statistically 50% of Americans will switch their affiliation. Is it simply tradition? I suppose so. So what will over come that? A spiritual witness will. So our goal is for them to both receive this witness.
Esaias' Dad avoided talking to us again and would not agree to come to conference and the mom told us she had to work; so convenient. Anthony, and Sophia could not come either. (shake head in sadness) I told Bro. Torrez (Esaias' dad) that this was the perfect opportunity for him to see just what exactly his son was looking into. It kinda surprised him but he avoided responding. He didn't end up coming. AND CONFERENCE WOULD HAVE BEEN PERFECT FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY TOO! Almost every speaker talked about family and parenting! Wow. Well, its not too late, that’s what we have lds.org for! ;) Maybe we can get the dad to sit through a talk, and it will soften his heart. Again, these parents need a spiritual witness. It’s easier for them not to in their minds.
The Smiths, Nikita and Darnell, have had something come up for the last 3 appointments so we have not been able to meet with them; but the situation is basically the same with them as all our investigators, Nikita needs to pray sincerely to receive a spiritual witness of what we are teaching, because the logic she was taught growing up disagrees with what we teach sometimes.
There are no coincidences. Elder Khan and I both had to go to the bathroom really bad! So we stopped at a Dunk'n doughnuts and as we were heading out of the place after going potty (ha-ha), we were stopped by a man. He said he had been around to all the surrounding chapels and no minister was available to talk to him. Boy did he need to talk to someone. He told us he has often considered suicide and is often paranoid because of his homosexual tendencies. We could tell he was sincere and truly wanted help to change. So we taught him the first lesson and told him that by finding out if the book of Mormon is true his life could turn around. There was no way for him to get to conference so he watched it at the library. We will meet with him later sometime in the Dunk'n doughnuts, but we told him that it would probably be more helpful for him to talk with our Bishop or Mission President. So we shall see what comes of this. :)
Dave and Caitlin are still basically in the same situation. Dave is looking for work. Caitlin comes to church though. He is afraid for Caitlin to be baptized because he doesn't want his family to disown him, basically; because his family is already offended he married a Christian and the mothers side of the family (the mother is in the spirit world) would be offended because they are devout in the denomination they are apart of.
CONFERENCE WAS THE BEES KNEES! Wow. I loved it! Saturday session was my favorite; although I liked them all. I didn't get as much out of Sunday afternoon, but I did feel the spirit which was nice. If any of you missed any of the sessions I would really recommend watching them online, because it’s different watching than reading. Wow, Holland is on fire! Ha-ha! It was funny and powerful! If he keeps this up the church will have to make an anthology of his talks! Ha-ha. I love the Prophet, I know he is the true and living prophet. His councilors and the apostles are truly seers and revelators. Eyring and Uchtdorf are the Men! Our Prophet is proof God has a sense of humor and that you can enjoy the journey in the midst of tribulation.
Well, suit season is over. So at this moment I’m not wearing my suit jacket. Ha-ha.
I love you guys. I hope you Love each other. God loves ALL of you! Even when you make mistakes.
Ok. Peace out.
Elder Morris
Well. Larry heard the President in stake conference that we have a goal of 800 baptisms.... he wasn't offended but it seemed like he felt caught by us. As if all we care about is numbers. I am pretty sure he watched conference; he seemed pretty excited about watching. He also discussed with us that he could never have the eternal family we "advertise" because his wife is catholic... Both he and his wife talked as if it was absolute, and that she would never change. The question I have however is if you believe something is true that your church does not preach and another church does preach it, and they happen to be the only church who teaches it the way they do... then... what holds you back from adjusting? Statistically 50% of Americans will switch their affiliation. Is it simply tradition? I suppose so. So what will over come that? A spiritual witness will. So our goal is for them to both receive this witness.
Esaias' Dad avoided talking to us again and would not agree to come to conference and the mom told us she had to work; so convenient. Anthony, and Sophia could not come either. (shake head in sadness) I told Bro. Torrez (Esaias' dad) that this was the perfect opportunity for him to see just what exactly his son was looking into. It kinda surprised him but he avoided responding. He didn't end up coming. AND CONFERENCE WOULD HAVE BEEN PERFECT FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY TOO! Almost every speaker talked about family and parenting! Wow. Well, its not too late, that’s what we have lds.org for! ;) Maybe we can get the dad to sit through a talk, and it will soften his heart. Again, these parents need a spiritual witness. It’s easier for them not to in their minds.
The Smiths, Nikita and Darnell, have had something come up for the last 3 appointments so we have not been able to meet with them; but the situation is basically the same with them as all our investigators, Nikita needs to pray sincerely to receive a spiritual witness of what we are teaching, because the logic she was taught growing up disagrees with what we teach sometimes.
There are no coincidences. Elder Khan and I both had to go to the bathroom really bad! So we stopped at a Dunk'n doughnuts and as we were heading out of the place after going potty (ha-ha), we were stopped by a man. He said he had been around to all the surrounding chapels and no minister was available to talk to him. Boy did he need to talk to someone. He told us he has often considered suicide and is often paranoid because of his homosexual tendencies. We could tell he was sincere and truly wanted help to change. So we taught him the first lesson and told him that by finding out if the book of Mormon is true his life could turn around. There was no way for him to get to conference so he watched it at the library. We will meet with him later sometime in the Dunk'n doughnuts, but we told him that it would probably be more helpful for him to talk with our Bishop or Mission President. So we shall see what comes of this. :)
Dave and Caitlin are still basically in the same situation. Dave is looking for work. Caitlin comes to church though. He is afraid for Caitlin to be baptized because he doesn't want his family to disown him, basically; because his family is already offended he married a Christian and the mothers side of the family (the mother is in the spirit world) would be offended because they are devout in the denomination they are apart of.
CONFERENCE WAS THE BEES KNEES! Wow. I loved it! Saturday session was my favorite; although I liked them all. I didn't get as much out of Sunday afternoon, but I did feel the spirit which was nice. If any of you missed any of the sessions I would really recommend watching them online, because it’s different watching than reading. Wow, Holland is on fire! Ha-ha! It was funny and powerful! If he keeps this up the church will have to make an anthology of his talks! Ha-ha. I love the Prophet, I know he is the true and living prophet. His councilors and the apostles are truly seers and revelators. Eyring and Uchtdorf are the Men! Our Prophet is proof God has a sense of humor and that you can enjoy the journey in the midst of tribulation.
Well, suit season is over. So at this moment I’m not wearing my suit jacket. Ha-ha.
I love you guys. I hope you Love each other. God loves ALL of you! Even when you make mistakes.
Ok. Peace out.
Elder Morris
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