It’s over, there isn't any more.
This week was a great finish to a wonderful mission. I actually feel complete. Although I have been far from perfect, I feel at peace. I feel like the Lord has accepted my contribution and sacrifice. I feel like he is pleased with my growth. That being said, I have a long ways to go. I know that if I continue to put my trust in God and continue to make my spiritual needs a priority in my life I'll be just fine.
This week was great because elder Crabtree and I taught more lessons that any other week that we have been together and we had a baptism. Tessa Siniscalchi got baptized! Her dad did it and it went really well, very smooth. I'll show you the pictures when I get home.
Sunday was kind of stressful but very rewarding. I spoke in sacrament, taught the youth class with my companion, prepped for the baptism, and taught the message of the restoration with my comp while Tessa was drying off after her baptism. whoooff. I was antsy until all that was over with, but it felt really good. I was able to do a practice run of my homecoming talk and it felt really good. I think they might have gotten a better talk than all of you will end up with! Ha-ha. I'm sure you all want me to tell mission stories in my talk, but the thing that I told them was just doctrine and the spirit was there, and i felt the power. So if that's what ends up happening, I don't want to hear any complaining. Ha-ha.
well that's about it. I'll see many of you Wednesday, and the rest of you Sunday, and some of you in between. :)
THANK YOU! Thank you for your support! Thank you to all of you who helped fund my coming on a mission. Your funds were not wasted and you will be blessed for the lives you have changed. If nothing else, I am better, but I know that there have been others who the lord was able to help because I came out here to NY. It wasn't me, I'm just a tool ha-ha (both definitions of the word). But really i can't thank all of you enough for the sacred funds you donated to me for the Lord’s cause. Thank you, thank you. I just can't adequately word what I’m trying to say.
I love you! Peace out!
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Friday, September 2, 2011
Quick Week
This week was super quick but it feels like the last time I emailed was weeks ago! lol.
Well Newt was confirmed yesterday. She is continuing to progress. She is still crazy! But that makes it all interesting. Ha-ha. Elder Crabtree and I are super thankful we have been able to teach her, it’s really made our transfer. Stress and laughs. Ha-ha. Right now we are helping her to understand the book of Mormon and to develop the habit of reading and praying every day. She understands when she prays and chooses to focus.
Also this week was my birthday. We had service scheduled the morning of my birthday at 7 in the morning. So when I woke up the only thing I was concerned about was getting to the Mercado home to help them build their fence. Well, we helped them build their fence and then ate an awesome breakfast made by Mereena and all along I still had no thoughts of my birthday. Well It was time to go so that we could make it home on time to change so we could go to District meeting so I started to wash my dish. Mareena yelled at me and told me to stay out of her kitchen. So i went to get Crabtree to leave, and there he was holding duct tape. He said, "Louie (the 16 yr old) is going to teach me how to make a duct tape wallet." I was a little bugged and said, "we don't have time for that! We gotta go!" then Mareena said, "sit down and give the boy 5 min!" I just thought to myself, "whatever Its not my time he's wasting, he's the one teaching a workshop that he still hasn't prepared for... I’ve been to enough district meetings I’ll be ok." Ha-ha. So then while we are sitting there waiting for Louie to come out, in walks Bro Mercado and Mareena with an Ice Cream Cake with candles singing happy birthday! Ha-ha. I was confused at first and then I realized it was my birthday, so I was super surprised and super happy! Ha-ha. It was a great surprise. Then when we got home I opened up my package from Mom and Dad and on the card it said that they were going to send me an ice cream cake but were worried it would melt. Ha-ha. So I got one anyway! :) Lots of other great things happened too, but i just lost my train of thought because I got a call from elder Kiser. Ha--ha. He is back in Terryville btw.
Well we had drama with Jane. She told us to go away when we came over with a member the other day because she has given up on God. It made us all very sad. Especially because she said that she felt like we were her last hope, but she didn't even give it a fair try. We are going to contact her after we give her some time. :( Poor Jane, she is in a tough situation right now.
Today we woke up at 3am and drove all the way to the end of long island, Montauk! It was great fun, I took pictures, and I’ll show you one of us standing on a fence spelling out NYNYSM! After that we went to McDonalds and then got free Slurpee's at 711 cause its 7/11 and you get a free 7.11oz Slurpee for free today only! :) Now we are emailing. I'm not sure what the rest of the day has in store.
This week I go to the temple for my end of mission temple trip, i also get my departing interview the same day. I'll be packing and sending things home to make sure my bags don't weigh too much this week as well. :S crazy business!
Love you! Talk to you next week (for the last time as a missionary)
Love,
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Well Newt was confirmed yesterday. She is continuing to progress. She is still crazy! But that makes it all interesting. Ha-ha. Elder Crabtree and I are super thankful we have been able to teach her, it’s really made our transfer. Stress and laughs. Ha-ha. Right now we are helping her to understand the book of Mormon and to develop the habit of reading and praying every day. She understands when she prays and chooses to focus.
Also this week was my birthday. We had service scheduled the morning of my birthday at 7 in the morning. So when I woke up the only thing I was concerned about was getting to the Mercado home to help them build their fence. Well, we helped them build their fence and then ate an awesome breakfast made by Mereena and all along I still had no thoughts of my birthday. Well It was time to go so that we could make it home on time to change so we could go to District meeting so I started to wash my dish. Mareena yelled at me and told me to stay out of her kitchen. So i went to get Crabtree to leave, and there he was holding duct tape. He said, "Louie (the 16 yr old) is going to teach me how to make a duct tape wallet." I was a little bugged and said, "we don't have time for that! We gotta go!" then Mareena said, "sit down and give the boy 5 min!" I just thought to myself, "whatever Its not my time he's wasting, he's the one teaching a workshop that he still hasn't prepared for... I’ve been to enough district meetings I’ll be ok." Ha-ha. So then while we are sitting there waiting for Louie to come out, in walks Bro Mercado and Mareena with an Ice Cream Cake with candles singing happy birthday! Ha-ha. I was confused at first and then I realized it was my birthday, so I was super surprised and super happy! Ha-ha. It was a great surprise. Then when we got home I opened up my package from Mom and Dad and on the card it said that they were going to send me an ice cream cake but were worried it would melt. Ha-ha. So I got one anyway! :) Lots of other great things happened too, but i just lost my train of thought because I got a call from elder Kiser. Ha--ha. He is back in Terryville btw.
Well we had drama with Jane. She told us to go away when we came over with a member the other day because she has given up on God. It made us all very sad. Especially because she said that she felt like we were her last hope, but she didn't even give it a fair try. We are going to contact her after we give her some time. :( Poor Jane, she is in a tough situation right now.
Today we woke up at 3am and drove all the way to the end of long island, Montauk! It was great fun, I took pictures, and I’ll show you one of us standing on a fence spelling out NYNYSM! After that we went to McDonalds and then got free Slurpee's at 711 cause its 7/11 and you get a free 7.11oz Slurpee for free today only! :) Now we are emailing. I'm not sure what the rest of the day has in store.
This week I go to the temple for my end of mission temple trip, i also get my departing interview the same day. I'll be packing and sending things home to make sure my bags don't weigh too much this week as well. :S crazy business!
Love you! Talk to you next week (for the last time as a missionary)
Love,
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Independence Day
Newt was baptized yesterday. Fitting I believe. Some of her friends and acquaintances believe she has given in to bondage, but we know she has broken free of bondage. Independence comes when we have agency. Our agency is limited by habits and addictions and the ways of the world. Doing what’s cool isn't always what’s right, and doing what’s right is usually not what’s cool. Newt amazes me with her determination. Her determination and desire are allowing her to develop her faith. Her faith is helping her to repent and to make covenants with God. As she keeps those covenants she will be blessed with spiritual power. She has made some really good decisions and I know that as she keeps her commitments her life will be blessed; its only up from here. There will be hard times in her life, just like anyone, but the companionship of the Holy Ghost (which she will get on Sunday) and the confidence and hope that she is worthy and in good standing with her Heavenly Father will help her be strong enough to bear her burdens and be an example to those around her. "Putteth off the natural man and become a saint" (paraphrased).
Anyway, the baptism was very smooth. Newt was nervous, which made me even more nervous than normal, but it was one of the easiest dunks ever. Ha-ha. When she came out she looked at me and said "That’s it?" with one of those frown smiles that says "hey how about that!? Ha-ha". "Then I said yeah, easy right?".
Newt seemed lighter and cleaner and clearer and happier afterwards. She still has a lot to learn, but baptism of course it just a step onto the long pathway of conversion that leads back to our Heavenly Father.
Most of this last week was spent preparing Newt for her baptism. The other elders pulled a mean prank on me though (by newts request) that made me look like a fool! Ha-ha. They called up after her baptismal interview and said that newt wasn't ready and that she mentioned me a lot and that she was kind of obsessed with me. I just accepted it, and said something like, "well we knew that already right!?" and Newt was listening. :( I heard her say "Hey!" in the background and the elders laughing. They told me they were still at her house.
I had them put Newt on and I said, "Hey Newt?"
She responded, "Yeah?"
"You are kind of obsessed with me." and she said sheepishly,
"I know...." It was funny. I then said I was sorry and she expressed her sadness with our "lack of faith in her" and then we agreed we were on even grounds again. Ha-ha. We do have faith in her. She has come really far, and she has helped our testimonies grow too.
I am so thankful for this experience in my life and that I was able to teach Newt with Elder Crabtree in this my final transfer. We will continue to help her come closer to her savior and Father in Heaven by teaching her and helping her make and keep commitments.
Hopefully we will be able to help a 9 year old girl named Tessa get baptized before I come home. I'll let you know how things go.
I don't remember if I told you about Jane or not, but she came to church. She was a little uncomfortable, but liked it. I was really frustrated because we introduced her to tons of people before sacrament started and even let people know days before that she would be coming and asked them to fellowship her. When we saw that she was sitting by herself I asked a member to "help her feel at home" and that member sat on the opposite side of the room. :( I guess I should have been more specific, "will you sit with Jane and answer her questions and fellowship her?"... Lesson learned. We will meet with her again on Friday, this time we should be going with the members that we have picked for her fellowshippers. I hope she gives church another shot, and stays for Relief Society, It just what she needs.
Well, I love you! Thanks for all the support and prayers you send my way. I'll see many of you soon (in two weeks as of tomorrow).
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOAH (on the 7th) AND KYLE (on the 5th)!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, the baptism was very smooth. Newt was nervous, which made me even more nervous than normal, but it was one of the easiest dunks ever. Ha-ha. When she came out she looked at me and said "That’s it?" with one of those frown smiles that says "hey how about that!? Ha-ha". "Then I said yeah, easy right?".
Newt seemed lighter and cleaner and clearer and happier afterwards. She still has a lot to learn, but baptism of course it just a step onto the long pathway of conversion that leads back to our Heavenly Father.
Most of this last week was spent preparing Newt for her baptism. The other elders pulled a mean prank on me though (by newts request) that made me look like a fool! Ha-ha. They called up after her baptismal interview and said that newt wasn't ready and that she mentioned me a lot and that she was kind of obsessed with me. I just accepted it, and said something like, "well we knew that already right!?" and Newt was listening. :( I heard her say "Hey!" in the background and the elders laughing. They told me they were still at her house.
I had them put Newt on and I said, "Hey Newt?"
She responded, "Yeah?"
"You are kind of obsessed with me." and she said sheepishly,
"I know...." It was funny. I then said I was sorry and she expressed her sadness with our "lack of faith in her" and then we agreed we were on even grounds again. Ha-ha. We do have faith in her. She has come really far, and she has helped our testimonies grow too.
I am so thankful for this experience in my life and that I was able to teach Newt with Elder Crabtree in this my final transfer. We will continue to help her come closer to her savior and Father in Heaven by teaching her and helping her make and keep commitments.
Hopefully we will be able to help a 9 year old girl named Tessa get baptized before I come home. I'll let you know how things go.
I don't remember if I told you about Jane or not, but she came to church. She was a little uncomfortable, but liked it. I was really frustrated because we introduced her to tons of people before sacrament started and even let people know days before that she would be coming and asked them to fellowship her. When we saw that she was sitting by herself I asked a member to "help her feel at home" and that member sat on the opposite side of the room. :( I guess I should have been more specific, "will you sit with Jane and answer her questions and fellowship her?"... Lesson learned. We will meet with her again on Friday, this time we should be going with the members that we have picked for her fellowshippers. I hope she gives church another shot, and stays for Relief Society, It just what she needs.
Well, I love you! Thanks for all the support and prayers you send my way. I'll see many of you soon (in two weeks as of tomorrow).
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOAH (on the 7th) AND KYLE (on the 5th)!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mind Numbing Oscillation
Well, sometimes when a lot is on my mind and then things go weird and then people do annoying things it all rubs me the wrong way and I just can't think clearly. So sorry if this email is short and unorganized or uninformative, I've just had a fuzzy mind the last few days. Everybody has their own view on everything we do and they all make a point at letting us know just exactly what they feel about it. It all contradicts... but that is the nature of life. We are agents unto our selves, this is the one thing that is truly ours. If we were not enticed by every means in every which way and direction there would be no need for choice and this would take away our agency. So although it can be a taxing and mind numbing cycle for me (and i'm sure some of you out there) I should be thankful for the opportunity to study it out in my mind and then ask my Heavenly Father if my decision is right. This is a good opportunity cause then I get closer to my Father in Heaven and my Savior (because he knows how it feels). I can leave my worry wart self behind and continue forward with faith and hope in Christ, His Atonement and His promises to us.
Well, Newt is overwhelmed with all the information she has to take in but she is keeping her commitments the best she can. Progress is fast and difficult. My goal is to help her to relax and exercise her faith in Heavenly Father and the faith she is developing in Jesus Christ. I want her to trust and Love them and the Church and not the missionaries or Mareena. If she really is dead set on raising her family LDS and if she really does want this in her life then she should be a sponge and just try to soak in everything she can and not let her old ways get in her way. Easier said than done probably, but I think a large part of understanding is listening with the correct attitude. She gave us all her cigarettes yesterday........ Not. Ha-ha. She said she was, but all she gave us was empty cartons and an empty bag! LOL. She probably thinks we are stupid. I might be trusting and maybe a little gullible but I have experience with being duped and I don't want to take any of that any more. Next time we will ask her what her intention are with meeting us and let her know that if she truly wants our help that she has to let us and that she can't play games and try to pull things over our eyes. Newt is really cool, I am grateful that I and Elder Crabtree get to be the missionaries who teach her, I hope we all grow from it. I hope we can all understand just how serious this all is.
Other than Newt the only real big news is that I got to go on exchanges with my companion from the MTC, Elder Wright. That was super nice. It was good to be his companion again! He rocks.
OK G2G!
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Well, Newt is overwhelmed with all the information she has to take in but she is keeping her commitments the best she can. Progress is fast and difficult. My goal is to help her to relax and exercise her faith in Heavenly Father and the faith she is developing in Jesus Christ. I want her to trust and Love them and the Church and not the missionaries or Mareena. If she really is dead set on raising her family LDS and if she really does want this in her life then she should be a sponge and just try to soak in everything she can and not let her old ways get in her way. Easier said than done probably, but I think a large part of understanding is listening with the correct attitude. She gave us all her cigarettes yesterday........ Not. Ha-ha. She said she was, but all she gave us was empty cartons and an empty bag! LOL. She probably thinks we are stupid. I might be trusting and maybe a little gullible but I have experience with being duped and I don't want to take any of that any more. Next time we will ask her what her intention are with meeting us and let her know that if she truly wants our help that she has to let us and that she can't play games and try to pull things over our eyes. Newt is really cool, I am grateful that I and Elder Crabtree get to be the missionaries who teach her, I hope we all grow from it. I hope we can all understand just how serious this all is.
Other than Newt the only real big news is that I got to go on exchanges with my companion from the MTC, Elder Wright. That was super nice. It was good to be his companion again! He rocks.
OK G2G!
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Broadway
Well The Book of Mormon the Broadway musical is doing the church a lot of good. I'm not being sarcastic, there is a lot of people who are interested in the church now because they saw the show and because the church and the missionaries aren't defensive at all. The Church officially made a decision not to fight back because that would be completely silly. The musicals purpose is not to prove us wrong or to make fun of us. The message of the musical is simply conveyed through the story of two missionaries (however not entirely accurately... especially considering there is a lot of cussing and the f-bomb is all over it). So if any of you have been frustrated about the existence of the play, change your attitude because it is simply raising the worlds awareness of the existence of the church and our missionaries and the Book of Mormon! In fact the Church has decided to use all the hype to its advantage. We have started a large campaign in Manhattan—heavy advertising in the subways and on taxis; advertising on billboards and even on electronic signs and billboards. :) Cool right! We have all been way stoked. The New York city North missionaries have been handing out the Book of Mormon to people as they walk out of the show. I think it’s really cool.
Well, a lot of good has come from all this including in my own reality. Newt (her nickname) is our newest investigator. She saw the Broadway show and loved the idea of our church and the emphasis that we put on families. She contacted the only member she new (who does not consider himself a member and hasn't come in quite some time) and got our info from him. She told us that her parents raised her without any religion. In fact she would be punished if she brought up anything about religion or brought anything into the house that was religious. She had seen pictures of Christ and heard his name all her life but didn't know until a week or so ago that the pictures of the bearded guy were Jesus. The first picture she saw of him since seeing the musical she asked if he was Joseph Smith.
So as you can see she has basically no foundation or concept of Christianity. She is really awesome and is working though some hard times right now and is finding the transition from the ways of the world and the Satan to meeting with us and learning about Christ to be kind of overwhelming. We are working hard to try to help her take it a piece at a time. She has a date set for baptism that is some way off in the future. But we know if she keeps her commitments and exercises her faith the desire to be baptized will increase in her and she will feel the converting power of the spirit. It’s been really helpful that Mareena (a member from the ward. She is a 20 year old girl just like newt) has been coming to teach with us. She is great and been a good help. Newt’s questions are deeper than her current understanding. Her desire and her dedication will make up for her lack of knowledge. Although she feels she has little to no faith I believe she has a lot of faith, to meet with us and go to church and trust us and listen to the message with no knowledge of Christ and only few experiences where she feels like she is developing a relationship with God.
This week we taught more lessons than last week which was nice. Ironically, even with more success it was a harder week. We never got a chance to do our weekly planning so we are going into this next week blind... that's a scary thought. We are gonna have to come up with some sort of a plan soon.
Well, a lot of good has come from all this including in my own reality. Newt (her nickname) is our newest investigator. She saw the Broadway show and loved the idea of our church and the emphasis that we put on families. She contacted the only member she new (who does not consider himself a member and hasn't come in quite some time) and got our info from him. She told us that her parents raised her without any religion. In fact she would be punished if she brought up anything about religion or brought anything into the house that was religious. She had seen pictures of Christ and heard his name all her life but didn't know until a week or so ago that the pictures of the bearded guy were Jesus. The first picture she saw of him since seeing the musical she asked if he was Joseph Smith.
So as you can see she has basically no foundation or concept of Christianity. She is really awesome and is working though some hard times right now and is finding the transition from the ways of the world and the Satan to meeting with us and learning about Christ to be kind of overwhelming. We are working hard to try to help her take it a piece at a time. She has a date set for baptism that is some way off in the future. But we know if she keeps her commitments and exercises her faith the desire to be baptized will increase in her and she will feel the converting power of the spirit. It’s been really helpful that Mareena (a member from the ward. She is a 20 year old girl just like newt) has been coming to teach with us. She is great and been a good help. Newt’s questions are deeper than her current understanding. Her desire and her dedication will make up for her lack of knowledge. Although she feels she has little to no faith I believe she has a lot of faith, to meet with us and go to church and trust us and listen to the message with no knowledge of Christ and only few experiences where she feels like she is developing a relationship with God.
This week we taught more lessons than last week which was nice. Ironically, even with more success it was a harder week. We never got a chance to do our weekly planning so we are going into this next week blind... that's a scary thought. We are gonna have to come up with some sort of a plan soon.
Crab Tree
So I have begun my last transfer and done so fruitfully because I am now a pops. I wasn't sure it was actually going to happen, but I am training and it’s gonna keep me kicking until I fly away. His name is Elder Crabtree. He is from Las Vegas (my third Vegas companion) and he likes to skate.
We have had good experiences together so far. We have experienced a little bit of everything! Which is great because I’d like for him to have the best understanding possible to start off his mission. I want him to know everything I know now, to be able to function off of knowledge I wish I had at the beginning. Of course we know that some things we just don't learn until we have had an experience that teaches it to us, but I’d like him to understand principals that he can fall on when those experiences happen. He is really cool and I think he will be a great missionary.
We taught 9 lessons in 5 days and got 3 new investigators and some solid potentials and new less active members we can start to visit. We also had the opportunity to use our priesthood. We got jewked a few times and we fearlessed too. We started 2x2x5ing (knocking two doors to the left and right of a house and the five houses across the street around a house of a potential investigator, investigator, or member [its way more effective than tracting {picking a random street and knocking the whole thing}]) right away and so I think Crabtree has a good idea about how to do door approaches now. He won’t be scared! NYNYCS missionaries fear no man! :)
Thanks for all your love and support and help.
The Church is true! Hoorah for Israel! The work rolls forward as a stone cut without hands and it will fill the whole world! Prepare ye therefore everyman and fear not the future. Take comfort in the blessings and promises of our savior by exercising your faith and hope by doing what he has asked us to do. We will be blessed with spiritual power as we keep and make covenants with the lord. I love the doctrine of Christ. Let’s all have faith, repent, be baptized, and endure to the end! I love you! ttfn
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
We have had good experiences together so far. We have experienced a little bit of everything! Which is great because I’d like for him to have the best understanding possible to start off his mission. I want him to know everything I know now, to be able to function off of knowledge I wish I had at the beginning. Of course we know that some things we just don't learn until we have had an experience that teaches it to us, but I’d like him to understand principals that he can fall on when those experiences happen. He is really cool and I think he will be a great missionary.
We taught 9 lessons in 5 days and got 3 new investigators and some solid potentials and new less active members we can start to visit. We also had the opportunity to use our priesthood. We got jewked a few times and we fearlessed too. We started 2x2x5ing (knocking two doors to the left and right of a house and the five houses across the street around a house of a potential investigator, investigator, or member [its way more effective than tracting {picking a random street and knocking the whole thing}]) right away and so I think Crabtree has a good idea about how to do door approaches now. He won’t be scared! NYNYCS missionaries fear no man! :)
Thanks for all your love and support and help.
The Church is true! Hoorah for Israel! The work rolls forward as a stone cut without hands and it will fill the whole world! Prepare ye therefore everyman and fear not the future. Take comfort in the blessings and promises of our savior by exercising your faith and hope by doing what he has asked us to do. We will be blessed with spiritual power as we keep and make covenants with the lord. I love the doctrine of Christ. Let’s all have faith, repent, be baptized, and endure to the end! I love you! ttfn
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Monday, June 6, 2011
Sam's Homecoming
Sam will be returning from his mission July 20th. His homecoming talk will be Sunday July 24th at the Village Way Chapel in Alpine. 100 S (Village Way)1000 E at 9:00 am. We have a very active early-bird ward, so I suggest you arrive a little early if you want to sit in the benches. We will have a little something at our house after the meeting.
Week 6 of transfer 16
Good news everyone! We had two investigators at church this week! The first one was Jean, who I believe I have told you about. If not, she is the girl friend of one of our members and she is really a wonderful girl. She is honest and has a real good understanding of how to be a genuinely good person. I really respect her for a lot of the decisions she has made in her life that she has told us about. Anyway we had a lesson with her and the Koszyk family on Sunday about the plan of salvation. It was pretty good. Jean was excited about all the literature she has received from the church. She could pretty much start a Mormon library. lol. She likes coming to church and she likes all the church movies and she loves her boy friend and so I feel pretty confident that it’s all just a matter of time. Unfortunately we can't meet with her as often as I would like, and I think she feels a little cornered in our lessons, but hopefully all will go well anyway. We will do our best to help her feel comfortable next time, so the spirit can be more easily felt.
our other investigator was a blessing sent in the form of a book of Mormon media referral. His name is Corey and he is 19 and LOVES music. In fact at church i was very impressed because he sight read all three hymns and did them perfectly (even with accidentals!) it was like he had been singing all the songs his whole life. He was interested in getting a copy of the B.O.M. because he is going to be studying to become a minister. He is Lutheran and discovered that there is a university that does a music major for people who want to focus on music as a ministerial device. I thought that was pretty cool. He seemed to feel very strongly about pursuing this course and feels It’s what God wants him to do. I think that's awesome! He wants to study all religions and their books (he has already read most major religions books and knows the bible really well already) and so now he said its time to read the B.O.M. We told him that we pray to meet people like him. I’s true, we do. Well he enjoyed church, it was definitely different for him but he was exited for us to come back and see him on Wednesday and told a member he would probably be coming back next week. :) We might send him to the YSA branch so he can get better fellowship, we are still discussing that. He is great! He also had his friend there named Erik who is a music major and is currently interning as a psychiatrist! Ha-ha. He was really cool and open minded as well! Both have legitimate Jobs at young ages and are well educated and clean cut! It is refreshing! Erik didn't come to Church, but he plans on being at the lesson Wednesday.
Well, here is more news, I'm training. Tuesday I get my newborn. I'm really glad we have some new investigators to work with since I'm training. It also helps that we are currently covering two areas! You would think we would have more work to do. Elder Gibbs and I are sad to part but excited for the new challenges. Elder Gibbs and I made a list of all the people we should be visiting and it was actually a lot bigger than I was expecting. I think the reason why we have such low numbers is because so many people jewk lessons and cancel and because we are so spread out that we forget about people. Now that is sunny and summer, I'm sure we will talk to more people and find more people home. I'm excited. It should be a good last 6 weeks training in Bayshore. We'll see how that goes. Ha-ha.
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
our other investigator was a blessing sent in the form of a book of Mormon media referral. His name is Corey and he is 19 and LOVES music. In fact at church i was very impressed because he sight read all three hymns and did them perfectly (even with accidentals!) it was like he had been singing all the songs his whole life. He was interested in getting a copy of the B.O.M. because he is going to be studying to become a minister. He is Lutheran and discovered that there is a university that does a music major for people who want to focus on music as a ministerial device. I thought that was pretty cool. He seemed to feel very strongly about pursuing this course and feels It’s what God wants him to do. I think that's awesome! He wants to study all religions and their books (he has already read most major religions books and knows the bible really well already) and so now he said its time to read the B.O.M. We told him that we pray to meet people like him. I’s true, we do. Well he enjoyed church, it was definitely different for him but he was exited for us to come back and see him on Wednesday and told a member he would probably be coming back next week. :) We might send him to the YSA branch so he can get better fellowship, we are still discussing that. He is great! He also had his friend there named Erik who is a music major and is currently interning as a psychiatrist! Ha-ha. He was really cool and open minded as well! Both have legitimate Jobs at young ages and are well educated and clean cut! It is refreshing! Erik didn't come to Church, but he plans on being at the lesson Wednesday.
Well, here is more news, I'm training. Tuesday I get my newborn. I'm really glad we have some new investigators to work with since I'm training. It also helps that we are currently covering two areas! You would think we would have more work to do. Elder Gibbs and I are sad to part but excited for the new challenges. Elder Gibbs and I made a list of all the people we should be visiting and it was actually a lot bigger than I was expecting. I think the reason why we have such low numbers is because so many people jewk lessons and cancel and because we are so spread out that we forget about people. Now that is sunny and summer, I'm sure we will talk to more people and find more people home. I'm excited. It should be a good last 6 weeks training in Bayshore. We'll see how that goes. Ha-ha.
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Irony
Well, one of you must have prayed that I would be humbled. If you did, it worked, are you happy? Last week I used many strong phrases. Like one of my companions once told me, "you are all bark and no bite". We had basically all 0's this week. On top of that I’ve had some experiences that reminded me just where i really am on the path to perfection.
It’s kinda weird how the more you know the more you realize you don't know anything. To me that applies in a major way to Christ and his atonement. I try to learn it and use it, it works sometimes and that grows my testimony, but then I get to a point where i realize i don't really know or understand it at all. Christ is unsearchable. I can't pretend to know anything. Really on my own I’m pretty worthless (this isn't a self beat down, don't worry) because God grants unto each of us all that we posses. He gives us our very breath. So when you are doing something against God’s will, you are doing it with the power he granted you. When you do something in line with his will you are doing it by the abilities and power He gave you. Glory to God. Do everything you do for the Glory of God to the best of your ability and even then as the Book of Mormon says we would still be unprofitable servants. However the Grace available to us because of the atonement will help us to learn and grow and fulfill the requirements for heaven. I'm so imperfect. I'm a sinner too. I know though that when I trust in the lord and accept his Grace I will be able to accomplish his will. That will make me happier than accomplishing any other thing. Gods plan for us provides an endless happiness and joy here on earth. Satan likes to please us temporarily to get us hooked and to get us to think that his way will bring us happiness, but it won’t. like alma 30 says he does not protect his children but doth speedily drag them down to Hell.
Thank you for all of your support and trust and love. Have a great week!
I hope Dad and Risa had happy birthdays!
Love,
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
It’s kinda weird how the more you know the more you realize you don't know anything. To me that applies in a major way to Christ and his atonement. I try to learn it and use it, it works sometimes and that grows my testimony, but then I get to a point where i realize i don't really know or understand it at all. Christ is unsearchable. I can't pretend to know anything. Really on my own I’m pretty worthless (this isn't a self beat down, don't worry) because God grants unto each of us all that we posses. He gives us our very breath. So when you are doing something against God’s will, you are doing it with the power he granted you. When you do something in line with his will you are doing it by the abilities and power He gave you. Glory to God. Do everything you do for the Glory of God to the best of your ability and even then as the Book of Mormon says we would still be unprofitable servants. However the Grace available to us because of the atonement will help us to learn and grow and fulfill the requirements for heaven. I'm so imperfect. I'm a sinner too. I know though that when I trust in the lord and accept his Grace I will be able to accomplish his will. That will make me happier than accomplishing any other thing. Gods plan for us provides an endless happiness and joy here on earth. Satan likes to please us temporarily to get us hooked and to get us to think that his way will bring us happiness, but it won’t. like alma 30 says he does not protect his children but doth speedily drag them down to Hell.
Thank you for all of your support and trust and love. Have a great week!
I hope Dad and Risa had happy birthdays!
Love,
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Paint New York
Unfortunately complacency becoming a remedy for failure is like today's medical world overriding natural selection. We'd be better off with a little pain to prevent generations of problems. However, if asthma killed my forefathers then I never would have experienced what it is like to not be able breath when all the flowers decided to procreate. I'm not sure what eternal lesson I've learned from all my problems but I'm sure I'll understand when the veil is removed. Here in Bayshore English we have had a very consistent low. I feel like I've just rewound my life to the beginning of Huntington. I guess president thinks I can turn Bayshore around like Elder Mitchell and I turned around Huntington. The problem is I have 6 weeks less here than I did there. :S ruts are hard to recover. I've got to do it though or I'll feel average and unsuccessful.
We had another week of around 6 lessons. When I started the mission in Bushwick with a dying pops and a dry teaching pool we taught around 20 lessons a week! Here we actually have a pool. We have tons of names to look up, yet consistent low numbers. "But elder Morris" I hear you say, "Don't you know that numbers aren't what measure success?. I say to thee, "Quiet You! Know you not that these things are of great importance? Why else would we have them? The numbers reflect people and are Key indicators. The Key indicators are a way for us to meter where we fall concerning our purpose.
My purpose is to invite people to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost! If I'm not teaching lessons or talking to people I'm doing that only by my example (I am effecting people by simply being in the area dressed the way I am). That's not good enough for me, because that's the job of our members. I'll get the chance to be a good example the rest of my life as a regular member.
Right now however I've got about 50 something days (my comp told me) until I go home. I am not going to go home diminishing and saying to myself "oh, well, it was a hard area". This is not my purpose and the lord did not train me in that way. So Take that! Amen and Amen! Halle-fricken-lujah!
ahhhh 40 seconds left!!!! email more later!~!!!!! ahalhl;kashd;flhasdl;
I got the last two min of my companions email time so i get to sign of now.
This week we painted a Spanish members house, hence my subject. It took a long time, but we were able to talk to her son who isn't a member and also her friend. So that was great.
We also met with Jorge (George) and had an awesome discussion. It was way too long, it burned us all out. But we needed to be there for him, cause he has no one else he can discuss this stuff with. He knows we care.
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
We had another week of around 6 lessons. When I started the mission in Bushwick with a dying pops and a dry teaching pool we taught around 20 lessons a week! Here we actually have a pool. We have tons of names to look up, yet consistent low numbers. "But elder Morris" I hear you say, "Don't you know that numbers aren't what measure success?. I say to thee, "Quiet You! Know you not that these things are of great importance? Why else would we have them? The numbers reflect people and are Key indicators. The Key indicators are a way for us to meter where we fall concerning our purpose.
My purpose is to invite people to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost! If I'm not teaching lessons or talking to people I'm doing that only by my example (I am effecting people by simply being in the area dressed the way I am). That's not good enough for me, because that's the job of our members. I'll get the chance to be a good example the rest of my life as a regular member.
Right now however I've got about 50 something days (my comp told me) until I go home. I am not going to go home diminishing and saying to myself "oh, well, it was a hard area". This is not my purpose and the lord did not train me in that way. So Take that! Amen and Amen! Halle-fricken-lujah!
ahhhh 40 seconds left!!!! email more later!~!!!!! ahalhl;kashd;flhasdl;
I got the last two min of my companions email time so i get to sign of now.
This week we painted a Spanish members house, hence my subject. It took a long time, but we were able to talk to her son who isn't a member and also her friend. So that was great.
We also met with Jorge (George) and had an awesome discussion. It was way too long, it burned us all out. But we needed to be there for him, cause he has no one else he can discuss this stuff with. He knows we care.
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
End Soon
Well.... I'm not really sure what’s wrong with me, but it turns out I'm an uncontrollable speaker. Last week I was assigned to speak in church. So yesterday morning Elder Gibbs says to me, "Hey, aren't you supposed to give a talk in church today?" And then I say "Oh no! OH NO! I forgot!" So we go to church and it turns out that it is High Council Sunday and I am the only other speaker. So I ask the high councilor what his talk is on and he tells me hope and says if my talk isn't good that he will have nothing to build off of and will be forced to tell everyone that there is no hope (it was a joke, but he was serious about building off of me. He knew I hadn't prepared so he suggested charity). Well I talked about charity. For 25 min, Ii talked about charity... I don't know how I did it. I made a list of scriptures and quotes I wanted to use and that was what my brief outline consisted of and somehow that kept me talking for 25 min! Well... I saw some people starting to not pay attention anymore and that's when to my left on the pulpit is slipped to me a note. Simply and hastily written, "End Soon" . I laughed out loud. Everyone knew what happened. I then finished the quote from PMG that I was reading and then bore my testimony and sat down.
I felt sad cause the High Councilor is one of my favorite speakers and probably my favorite member. (I gave him another reason to not like me, but I still look up to him just the same) he is from Brooklyn and is a very entertaining speaker. He is very relatable and down to earth and I love his point of view. I saw his notes. He had a page or two of notes. I had a list of 8 scriptures and quotes with no notes. He talked 10 min and connected with everyone really well. I spoke 25 min and they had to get me off stage with a Sheppard’s hook. LOL. I don't understand why I did it. Truth be told, I wanted to hear Bro Mansuetto and really only expected myself to talk for 10 min max. But this time and the last time and the last work shop I have given have all been extraordinarily long! I can't be stopped, I'm a monster!
People told me they liked my talk and a few people said that they really appreciated it, but when I brought up the length and how i didn't mean to go so long they had nothing to say to that to make me feel better... ha-ha. It was then confirmed to me that it was too much for them. Ha-ha. Well... I'm not sure what is worse, to be know for talking too long or to short. Anyway; let’s move on.
As far as progress with investigators, right now we have no progress. We do however have many referrals, so we have a lot of work to do with that.
The young men here got in a bunch of fights last Tuesday and that has caused some drama. The weather has been overcast and misty but warm. We have had some rain storms.
We helped a lady move who used to live here but has been in Toole for the last year or so (she didn't like it there and moved back. lol). Well we moved about half her stuff into the house and then she discovered that the bed didn't fit up the stairs. She had us put all the stuff back into the truck and then the next day move all her stuff into another truck for her to take it to a temporary apartment until she finds an apartment here in the Bayshore ward later. So we will probably end up moving her again. lol. Her son though is really cool and at a cross road right now in his life and wants to come back to church possibly. So we will be working with him. I'm excited for that. He likes missionaries a lot and is our age.
I'm trying desperately to get a flame under this area. It’s been consistently underachieving for like 2 years. It’s been very difficult cause I am very tired. We have a lot of potential however, and I'd like to go out with a bang. I'd like to do what it takes to at least get the numbers up here. I want to get the ward acting like a ward, even if it means they don't like me because of it.
We had a great zone conference this week. It was my last zone conference.... so that was weird. But I really enjoyed it and got a lot out of it. It’s cool to have my MTC companion in my zone finally. We went our whole missions apart and now we are ending our missions in the same Zone. There was a really awesome video we watched of President Holland in the MTC. He gave an amazing talk that apparently left all the missionaries in awe and they didn't leave the assembly hall until they were asked to. It was all about being a disciple and how once you are a missionary you are for life; that when Christ calls you, it is forever. He talked about Peter and the apostles and how they went fishing after Christ ascended and he came to them and told them that he meant it when he told them to drop their nets. Anyway, it was really powerful.
Elder Mitchell and elder Smith were telling me that there is a lot of great stuff happening in Huntington. They have some people progressing to baptism and the Hollisters are being fellowshipped. The new investigator we got the week before I left apparently keeps asking about me and telling them that we had a really good link and an understanding. I agree, he is a really cool guy. Andras, I hope he progresses and is baptized. He is so cool.
We had a great meeting with Jack (one of my favorite members here in the ward) and he inspired me and got me thinking. He also helped me to justify a career in music because that would be a residual income if I signed my contracts right. He also got the inventor inside me awake again. It’s a little frustrating to me how all my interests don't seem to work together. They are on separate sides of the working field. Anyway, I don't need to worry about that right now because I've got plenty of time for that when I get home.
I just want to have tons of success but it seems like there is so much opposition. All I know is God is in control and I need to rely on him. I am week but he is able.
Have a great week everyone.
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
I felt sad cause the High Councilor is one of my favorite speakers and probably my favorite member. (I gave him another reason to not like me, but I still look up to him just the same) he is from Brooklyn and is a very entertaining speaker. He is very relatable and down to earth and I love his point of view. I saw his notes. He had a page or two of notes. I had a list of 8 scriptures and quotes with no notes. He talked 10 min and connected with everyone really well. I spoke 25 min and they had to get me off stage with a Sheppard’s hook. LOL. I don't understand why I did it. Truth be told, I wanted to hear Bro Mansuetto and really only expected myself to talk for 10 min max. But this time and the last time and the last work shop I have given have all been extraordinarily long! I can't be stopped, I'm a monster!
People told me they liked my talk and a few people said that they really appreciated it, but when I brought up the length and how i didn't mean to go so long they had nothing to say to that to make me feel better... ha-ha. It was then confirmed to me that it was too much for them. Ha-ha. Well... I'm not sure what is worse, to be know for talking too long or to short. Anyway; let’s move on.
As far as progress with investigators, right now we have no progress. We do however have many referrals, so we have a lot of work to do with that.
The young men here got in a bunch of fights last Tuesday and that has caused some drama. The weather has been overcast and misty but warm. We have had some rain storms.
We helped a lady move who used to live here but has been in Toole for the last year or so (she didn't like it there and moved back. lol). Well we moved about half her stuff into the house and then she discovered that the bed didn't fit up the stairs. She had us put all the stuff back into the truck and then the next day move all her stuff into another truck for her to take it to a temporary apartment until she finds an apartment here in the Bayshore ward later. So we will probably end up moving her again. lol. Her son though is really cool and at a cross road right now in his life and wants to come back to church possibly. So we will be working with him. I'm excited for that. He likes missionaries a lot and is our age.
I'm trying desperately to get a flame under this area. It’s been consistently underachieving for like 2 years. It’s been very difficult cause I am very tired. We have a lot of potential however, and I'd like to go out with a bang. I'd like to do what it takes to at least get the numbers up here. I want to get the ward acting like a ward, even if it means they don't like me because of it.
We had a great zone conference this week. It was my last zone conference.... so that was weird. But I really enjoyed it and got a lot out of it. It’s cool to have my MTC companion in my zone finally. We went our whole missions apart and now we are ending our missions in the same Zone. There was a really awesome video we watched of President Holland in the MTC. He gave an amazing talk that apparently left all the missionaries in awe and they didn't leave the assembly hall until they were asked to. It was all about being a disciple and how once you are a missionary you are for life; that when Christ calls you, it is forever. He talked about Peter and the apostles and how they went fishing after Christ ascended and he came to them and told them that he meant it when he told them to drop their nets. Anyway, it was really powerful.
Elder Mitchell and elder Smith were telling me that there is a lot of great stuff happening in Huntington. They have some people progressing to baptism and the Hollisters are being fellowshipped. The new investigator we got the week before I left apparently keeps asking about me and telling them that we had a really good link and an understanding. I agree, he is a really cool guy. Andras, I hope he progresses and is baptized. He is so cool.
We had a great meeting with Jack (one of my favorite members here in the ward) and he inspired me and got me thinking. He also helped me to justify a career in music because that would be a residual income if I signed my contracts right. He also got the inventor inside me awake again. It’s a little frustrating to me how all my interests don't seem to work together. They are on separate sides of the working field. Anyway, I don't need to worry about that right now because I've got plenty of time for that when I get home.
I just want to have tons of success but it seems like there is so much opposition. All I know is God is in control and I need to rely on him. I am week but he is able.
Have a great week everyone.
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Week 2 of Transfer 16
Well, we had a better week numbers wise than last week; even though Tuesday night I got really bad allergies that turned into a cold that kept me in on Wednesday. The weather is starting to get pretty nice, which is good.
On Thursday we planned and met with Darcy (our young man friend who has been investigating for about 2 years but never baptized) and had a good lesson with him he said something funny, he referred to the second ordinance of the gospel as "receiving the Holy Gift from the Ghost". so we have been saying it like that ever since and it cracks us up. :) Ha-ha. That day we also met with Raymond who is a super nice wealthy older gentleman who loves the missionaries and was baptized 30 yrs ago but only because he knew the method of baptism was correct. He attends a Presbyterian congregation but will be leaving soon because of drama concerning the church (the church is having lawsuits about changing the church constitution to allow homosexual marriages to occur). We told him if he had a testimony of the Book of Mormon than his decision to come to church and officially be a member would be natural. Great guy, I hope he converts for real this time. :)
On Friday we had CDM and I gave a workshop on inviting people to be baptized and following up. It went pretty well and the missionaries seemed to enjoy it, when people laugh and also get personal insights I know I did well. Also on Friday we met with a great member bro Daley who is a part member family. We had a good talk with him and he gave me great advice about going home and staying active and avoiding temptation and what to do when I get married. Ha-ha. He’s a great Jamaican guy. We also helped a part member family clean out their attic. That was great cause I felt like the "pigmy-plumber/electrician" again. Mom and dad will know what I mean. Also they seemed to be friendlier afterward, so here is proof again that service is a great way to prove you mean well and just want to help.
Well it was great calling home. But for some reason this time it just wasn't the same as it usually is. Partly I think it was cause Mom Dad and I were all low on energy due to colds. Ha-ha. The other part is cause there wasn't as much to talk about as usual. But I’m just glad i got to hear your voices. I love you!
That’s all I got.
Attached is snort-porth
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
On Thursday we planned and met with Darcy (our young man friend who has been investigating for about 2 years but never baptized) and had a good lesson with him he said something funny, he referred to the second ordinance of the gospel as "receiving the Holy Gift from the Ghost". so we have been saying it like that ever since and it cracks us up. :) Ha-ha. That day we also met with Raymond who is a super nice wealthy older gentleman who loves the missionaries and was baptized 30 yrs ago but only because he knew the method of baptism was correct. He attends a Presbyterian congregation but will be leaving soon because of drama concerning the church (the church is having lawsuits about changing the church constitution to allow homosexual marriages to occur). We told him if he had a testimony of the Book of Mormon than his decision to come to church and officially be a member would be natural. Great guy, I hope he converts for real this time. :)
On Friday we had CDM and I gave a workshop on inviting people to be baptized and following up. It went pretty well and the missionaries seemed to enjoy it, when people laugh and also get personal insights I know I did well. Also on Friday we met with a great member bro Daley who is a part member family. We had a good talk with him and he gave me great advice about going home and staying active and avoiding temptation and what to do when I get married. Ha-ha. He’s a great Jamaican guy. We also helped a part member family clean out their attic. That was great cause I felt like the "pigmy-plumber/electrician" again. Mom and dad will know what I mean. Also they seemed to be friendlier afterward, so here is proof again that service is a great way to prove you mean well and just want to help.
Well it was great calling home. But for some reason this time it just wasn't the same as it usually is. Partly I think it was cause Mom Dad and I were all low on energy due to colds. Ha-ha. The other part is cause there wasn't as much to talk about as usual. But I’m just glad i got to hear your voices. I love you!
That’s all I got.
Attached is snort-porth
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Babylon
Well my new assignment is to be with elder Gibbs from alpine Utah. I am his step pops and we are serving in Bayshore (which is on the south shore of Long Island right under my last area [Huntington]). A sisters’ pool recently closed down so we are working both the sisters area and the elders area. Anyway, Babylon is a city here in our ward boundaries; so that's pretty cool that I get to work in Babylon for my last area before coming back to Zion. Ha-ha.
Anyway, yes it’s a ward but it’s actually smaller than Huntington. There is a lot less unity and a lot more frustration within the ward. I found out real quick that each member of the ward council feels like they are spinning their wheels and hitting their heads against the wall while they are at it. Fortunately the young men a growing and doing quite well!
I don't have a lot of time this week, cause we get less time at the library here in Bayshore. Only 15 min left.
Anyway we have amazing recent convert young men; I’ll tell you more about them later. Also a ton of less actives a high amount being "do not contact" it’s really sad. It’s maybe worse than Huntington. :S
We have a lot of potential. Also it helps we have two areas to work. The son of a member family we spent a lot of time with this week actually brought 2 of his friends to church yesterday (who told him that they like us, so that was cool) and one has a lot of questions. Also 2 youth permigators came; so that will be awesome if we can get things going with them.
I've been trying really hard to apply all the lessons I've learned and ideas that have worked in the past to this my final area. Some of them kinda back fired in some ways but also have helped a lot. This week was one of the saddest numbers weeks I've had, but Gibbs and i have had good unity from the start, so that helps a lot. We wish to have our optimism and excitement and unity to rub off on the ward. Mostly I believe a lot of what will help them is a perspective change. So we are working on a plan to change the paradigm of a whole ward body. Ha-ha. Wish us luck!
Things are good don't worry about me. But I would appreciate prayers to help me stay focused and work hard until the end. It’s kinda hard not to think about how close the end is, sometimes that motivates me, other times it doesn't. I'll be honest. Ha-ha.
I love you! Thanks for your love and support, I'm sure it’s helped in ways i won't understand until the next life!
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Anyway, yes it’s a ward but it’s actually smaller than Huntington. There is a lot less unity and a lot more frustration within the ward. I found out real quick that each member of the ward council feels like they are spinning their wheels and hitting their heads against the wall while they are at it. Fortunately the young men a growing and doing quite well!
I don't have a lot of time this week, cause we get less time at the library here in Bayshore. Only 15 min left.
Anyway we have amazing recent convert young men; I’ll tell you more about them later. Also a ton of less actives a high amount being "do not contact" it’s really sad. It’s maybe worse than Huntington. :S
We have a lot of potential. Also it helps we have two areas to work. The son of a member family we spent a lot of time with this week actually brought 2 of his friends to church yesterday (who told him that they like us, so that was cool) and one has a lot of questions. Also 2 youth permigators came; so that will be awesome if we can get things going with them.
I've been trying really hard to apply all the lessons I've learned and ideas that have worked in the past to this my final area. Some of them kinda back fired in some ways but also have helped a lot. This week was one of the saddest numbers weeks I've had, but Gibbs and i have had good unity from the start, so that helps a lot. We wish to have our optimism and excitement and unity to rub off on the ward. Mostly I believe a lot of what will help them is a perspective change. So we are working on a plan to change the paradigm of a whole ward body. Ha-ha. Wish us luck!
Things are good don't worry about me. But I would appreciate prayers to help me stay focused and work hard until the end. It’s kinda hard not to think about how close the end is, sometimes that motivates me, other times it doesn't. I'll be honest. Ha-ha.
I love you! Thanks for your love and support, I'm sure it’s helped in ways i won't understand until the next life!
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Blossoms and Buzz Cuts
The weather this week was Bi-polar. We experienced all sorts of weather: Rain, Cold, Hot, Humid, Breezy, Fog, Mist, Sun Shine, Dark Clouds. Yesterday we had all those things. It was cool when we woke up Easter Sunday to see dense fog that slowly turned into a clear sky with sun within an hour or two. It was hot and humid enough after church that we had to take off our jackets. Later it was a down-pour; I had the wipers wiping at top speed and still had minimal visibility.
Anyway, I’m sure none of you care much about the weather. Let’s get to the weightier matters.
I'm getting transferred. This means I’ll have one more area before I return to the land of my inheritance in a big metal bird named Delta. I have 12 weeks left and was not interviewed for leadership or training so that means I’ll be learning a new area as a regular missionary out on the Island not in the City. It is still likely that I will end with my last 6 weeks training. We will see how it all unfolds. My guesses are that I am not going far, chances are I’ll be with an Alpiner. We shall see.
Jenny and Sister Catron didn't make it to church. Sis Catron is sick :( and jenny was with the rest of the family at her grandmas for Easter.
I needed a haircut. I described my haircut frustrations to Axel (a 19 year old in the branch who is pretty cool, very nice, and stylish) he told me that he understood and knew what haircut i was seeking and that he could to it for me. Well to make a long story short I climbed through some windows and got clippers and went to Axel and the clippers were broken and Axel was nervous and lost his confidence and well... what I ended up with wasn't missionary appropriate... so... we took it all off. Axel used a 1. My hair is really short now. LOL. Axel felt super bad. I told him to forget about it cause it was just gonna grow back. lol. I look really different. LOL. its really short. It’s really nice though in terms of not needing any styling and it dries really fast and its supper fuzzy like a teddy bear! Ha-ha. Woot! :) I’m just trying to walk confidently and not let the "hair wear me" even though there’s not much hair up there to be... well, you understand! I'll send a picture maybe. Ha-ha. It gave me the idea to go 0 when I get home instead of the original plan to grow out my hair. Ha-ha. I’m sure that’s a relief for some of you and devastation for others. I do what I want! LOL.
Tito is the bomb! He is getting a calling soon and he is now wearing a white shirt and tie to church! He looks really good in it. He is progressing and learning well. He knows the doctrines so well and he is so honest and tries so hard and asks the most sincere questions! his prayers sound like any LDS youth's might too. :) I love him. He was the only one who showed he sincerely would miss me. I told him that we would see each other again and if not we would meet in the millennium. He smiled pretty big and said he was excited for that day. I told him that I’d see him there. Also, we had a great hug; I felt real love in it.
The branch is both improving greatly and digressing simultaneously. The good news is our coordinator bro Mills is doing a great job and getting the branch council pumped up. There are plans to involve the Hollister family the branch and fellowship them. I'm excited; they will be a great asset to our branch.
Anyway I’ll tell you next week who my new companion is and where my new area is. :)
until then, farewell.
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Anyway, I’m sure none of you care much about the weather. Let’s get to the weightier matters.
I'm getting transferred. This means I’ll have one more area before I return to the land of my inheritance in a big metal bird named Delta. I have 12 weeks left and was not interviewed for leadership or training so that means I’ll be learning a new area as a regular missionary out on the Island not in the City. It is still likely that I will end with my last 6 weeks training. We will see how it all unfolds. My guesses are that I am not going far, chances are I’ll be with an Alpiner. We shall see.
Jenny and Sister Catron didn't make it to church. Sis Catron is sick :( and jenny was with the rest of the family at her grandmas for Easter.
I needed a haircut. I described my haircut frustrations to Axel (a 19 year old in the branch who is pretty cool, very nice, and stylish) he told me that he understood and knew what haircut i was seeking and that he could to it for me. Well to make a long story short I climbed through some windows and got clippers and went to Axel and the clippers were broken and Axel was nervous and lost his confidence and well... what I ended up with wasn't missionary appropriate... so... we took it all off. Axel used a 1. My hair is really short now. LOL. Axel felt super bad. I told him to forget about it cause it was just gonna grow back. lol. I look really different. LOL. its really short. It’s really nice though in terms of not needing any styling and it dries really fast and its supper fuzzy like a teddy bear! Ha-ha. Woot! :) I’m just trying to walk confidently and not let the "hair wear me" even though there’s not much hair up there to be... well, you understand! I'll send a picture maybe. Ha-ha. It gave me the idea to go 0 when I get home instead of the original plan to grow out my hair. Ha-ha. I’m sure that’s a relief for some of you and devastation for others. I do what I want! LOL.
Tito is the bomb! He is getting a calling soon and he is now wearing a white shirt and tie to church! He looks really good in it. He is progressing and learning well. He knows the doctrines so well and he is so honest and tries so hard and asks the most sincere questions! his prayers sound like any LDS youth's might too. :) I love him. He was the only one who showed he sincerely would miss me. I told him that we would see each other again and if not we would meet in the millennium. He smiled pretty big and said he was excited for that day. I told him that I’d see him there. Also, we had a great hug; I felt real love in it.
The branch is both improving greatly and digressing simultaneously. The good news is our coordinator bro Mills is doing a great job and getting the branch council pumped up. There are plans to involve the Hollister family the branch and fellowship them. I'm excited; they will be a great asset to our branch.
Anyway I’ll tell you next week who my new companion is and where my new area is. :)
until then, farewell.
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Monday, April 25, 2011
Still Workin
Ok well some great things happened this week.
1. We invited Jenny Catron (the daughter of a less active sister in our branch) to be baptized and she said yes. Sister Catron came to church. It’s been a long time, It was awesome to see her. [i was mad though cause the branch really didn't fellowship her very well and she left before relief society started which was what she probably needed most] I machine-gunned everyone in the foyer when i saw her walk out. I didn't want to be the church police so i let her go. Me saying, "Where are you going? You should go to relief society" is not nearly as effective as a beautiful sister taking her in an arm and saying, " Sister Catron, will you sit next to me in relief society?"
2. The branch council is getting stoked and everyone is excited to work with and focus on the Hollister family. Soon we will get our Elders quorum president over there as well as our young men’s president. We are really gonna try to take advantage of this opportunity and excitement and we pray that the Hollisters are receptive to it. They will make a great addition to our branch, they are wonderful people and we need their strength. I hope that the spirit of Elijah that has been with Bro Hollister opens him up to feeling the spirit that is with our members causing him to accept lessons with his family and come back to church. When he reactivates he could then baptize his wife and two kids. It would be so wonderful and beautiful
3. It’s been really rainy and stormy, so I’ve been sleeping a lot better than I was (with the exception of the one night i didn't sleep at all....) But finally we have had some sun yesterday and today. Spring has silly weather.
4. If you don't know, I planted a grapefruit. I have a 3 inch plant now... it looks like grass... I really hope it’s a tree instead though. Ha-ha. If it is my Joy will be overflowing! Ha-ha. Also, I made a sock monkey this week with my time before bed and before study time. His name is Snort-porth. He looks grumpy but he has an eye single to the glory of God, so I feel that he is qualified for the work. :)
This upcoming week is the last week of the transfer; weird. So potentially I could be leaving. We will see. I'll be sad to leave Huntington because I’ve put so much into it. I've really tried to help the teaching pool grow and get the members excited and leave the area better than it was. I think I’ve succeeded (with the help of Elder Mitchell of course) but I’d really like to see the out comes to the efforts we've made. I hope if I do get transferred that the next elder is qualified to magnify what we have done; someone who will see the Hollisters and Jenny to baptism and keep up the trend of missionary work in the branch.
Whatever happens is in God’s hands. Despite the outcomes I am a better person and the work will not stop. The work of the lord is a stone cut forth without hands rolling to fill the whole earth.
I love you.
PS Ben is doing well. We love him. We just got to get him to read the Book of Mormon. When he has a testimony of that then he will understand why we do what we do and what our calling is.
We have some new investigators this week, I’ll tell you if anything happens with them; also we are teaching this wonderful Pakistani family! I haven't met anyone from Pakistan I didn't like so far. They are so wonderful. Ha-ha. Nahid and Syed. Their son is Jimmy and their daughter is Lilly. Nahid is super generous and really loves us coming over. She is going to cook for us this Saturday. I'm supper excited! I really hope they will progress because they would be a great family in our branch as well. :)
OK g2g.
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
1. We invited Jenny Catron (the daughter of a less active sister in our branch) to be baptized and she said yes. Sister Catron came to church. It’s been a long time, It was awesome to see her. [i was mad though cause the branch really didn't fellowship her very well and she left before relief society started which was what she probably needed most] I machine-gunned everyone in the foyer when i saw her walk out. I didn't want to be the church police so i let her go. Me saying, "Where are you going? You should go to relief society" is not nearly as effective as a beautiful sister taking her in an arm and saying, " Sister Catron, will you sit next to me in relief society?"
2. The branch council is getting stoked and everyone is excited to work with and focus on the Hollister family. Soon we will get our Elders quorum president over there as well as our young men’s president. We are really gonna try to take advantage of this opportunity and excitement and we pray that the Hollisters are receptive to it. They will make a great addition to our branch, they are wonderful people and we need their strength. I hope that the spirit of Elijah that has been with Bro Hollister opens him up to feeling the spirit that is with our members causing him to accept lessons with his family and come back to church. When he reactivates he could then baptize his wife and two kids. It would be so wonderful and beautiful
3. It’s been really rainy and stormy, so I’ve been sleeping a lot better than I was (with the exception of the one night i didn't sleep at all....) But finally we have had some sun yesterday and today. Spring has silly weather.
4. If you don't know, I planted a grapefruit. I have a 3 inch plant now... it looks like grass... I really hope it’s a tree instead though. Ha-ha. If it is my Joy will be overflowing! Ha-ha. Also, I made a sock monkey this week with my time before bed and before study time. His name is Snort-porth. He looks grumpy but he has an eye single to the glory of God, so I feel that he is qualified for the work. :)
This upcoming week is the last week of the transfer; weird. So potentially I could be leaving. We will see. I'll be sad to leave Huntington because I’ve put so much into it. I've really tried to help the teaching pool grow and get the members excited and leave the area better than it was. I think I’ve succeeded (with the help of Elder Mitchell of course) but I’d really like to see the out comes to the efforts we've made. I hope if I do get transferred that the next elder is qualified to magnify what we have done; someone who will see the Hollisters and Jenny to baptism and keep up the trend of missionary work in the branch.
Whatever happens is in God’s hands. Despite the outcomes I am a better person and the work will not stop. The work of the lord is a stone cut forth without hands rolling to fill the whole earth.
I love you.
PS Ben is doing well. We love him. We just got to get him to read the Book of Mormon. When he has a testimony of that then he will understand why we do what we do and what our calling is.
We have some new investigators this week, I’ll tell you if anything happens with them; also we are teaching this wonderful Pakistani family! I haven't met anyone from Pakistan I didn't like so far. They are so wonderful. Ha-ha. Nahid and Syed. Their son is Jimmy and their daughter is Lilly. Nahid is super generous and really loves us coming over. She is going to cook for us this Saturday. I'm supper excited! I really hope they will progress because they would be a great family in our branch as well. :)
OK g2g.
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Monday, April 11, 2011
And the Skies are Grey
It’s been pretty overcast the last few days and I’m sick of it! At least it’s not cold any more. :)
Well, this week went fast! It feels like not too long ago I was in the house of a Catholic family who dominated me. lol
Let me explain. Last Monday we went and saw Ben Scott and had a great lesson with him (we're taking a different approach) more of a bible study, he doesn't seem to respond well to anything else. He doesn't have the attention span if it’s not right out of the New Testament.
After the lesson we looked up potentials (Mitchell and I call 'em pots) and the first one we went to let us in. It turns out that it was not the potential we were looking for, she moved, but we were all excited cause a family let us in with no hesitation. Things started well and we began from the top of the plan of salvation so that we could explain to them the way that our families can be together forever. It ended pretty fast cause this man and his wife practice teaching when their kids go to bed (I am joking but, it wouldn't surprise me if it were true). There really wasn't a way to defend ourselves without bashing and so the spirit constrained me from speaking. The only things I could get out were questions and occasionally a brief explanation of our doctrine concerning whatever subject they brought up and questioned us on.
Fortunately my companion was able to testify a few times, but he realized that they were very, very set in their ways. That there wasn't much we could say to get them to just listen to our message without an interruption in the form of a rebuttal. I think if I were to have tried to defend the doctrines I would have done so emotionally and not by the spirit and would have dug us a pit. So our whole purpose was to just try to leave with a neutral, "Hey, this is what you believe and makes since to you, this is what we believe and makes since to us. All we are here to do is invite you to read the book of Mormon. Have a nice day. Yes we will accept one of your books or pamphlets, thank you. Thank you for your time. Here is our number. Thank you for your number. Give us a call if you need help with spring cleaning."
Wooooohhhh..... I'll tell you I felt like a man with the palsy in a cage fight. We were beat down by a tag teaming WWF defending champions’ duo. I'll give them credit. 90% of the people we talk to have no Idea what the doctrines of their religion are, let alone how to defend it. Of course they said some contradicting statements and some silly things, but they knew just how to change the subject or flip it onto us when we called them out on it. Needless to say, the rest of my week was spent studying the apostasy. I thought it was interesting that they defended their church using almost word for word things I've said to people in the past. I am more motivated to follow the council of our prophet from General Conference now; that is to learn the doctrine and the doctrines of the priesthood. Hard times are coming, we will be tried and persecuted and we have to know how to be like Abinidi. I want to be able to stand firm and confound the wise all the way to my burial if needs be. I can't afford to simply take the beatings with as skinny as I am, I've got to learn to deflect them or redirect them. Dragon Ball Z style YO! Ha-ha. I encourage all of you to do the same.
Well, I have recovered mostly and am continuing to recover thanks to the amazing contrast to those feelings that i have felt in lessons and church and studies since then.
Let me tell you, Tito Rocks! the way he understands and uses the spirit is refreshing. When we have a lesson with him the spirit is there and like D&C 50 we are all edified together.
Good things are happening. We met with our branch President and our coordinator and the elder’s quorum president and are developing a plan to help two part member families progress and become complete. The Hollister family is one, and they rock, I know good things will happen, I pray they are receptive. The other is the Catrons.
In attempts to make an appointment with the Catorns yesterday however we discovered that she is in the hospital!!!! :( So we went right over and gave her a blessing, we told her home teacher who is going over today and we told the branch president who told the Relief Society to take advantage of the opportunity to start supplying some relief, to do what they do best. :) I'll keep you posted on the outcome. Pray for these two families.
That’s all I have for you but to end I'll tell you a funny thing that happened last week that I forgot to tell you about.
We went to the church and the guy downstairs in the library told us that they were having pluming problems... well he asked us if we were having problems, so I responded, "I don't know, we will go check!" he didn't stop us. It seemed totally normal to me. We flushed every toilet... we flooded the library with poopie-pee-pee-water. :S The guy was totally flabbergasted at our stupidity and the extra work we caused him. I felt stupid so I got to work mopping up the nasty water in my suit. The guy tried to stop me but I insisted. That put us back to neutral ground. Hopefully he will see us as stupid but harmful and respectful until the next missionaries can come along and show him that most of us aren't stupid. lol. That’s all.
Love,
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Well, this week went fast! It feels like not too long ago I was in the house of a Catholic family who dominated me. lol
Let me explain. Last Monday we went and saw Ben Scott and had a great lesson with him (we're taking a different approach) more of a bible study, he doesn't seem to respond well to anything else. He doesn't have the attention span if it’s not right out of the New Testament.
After the lesson we looked up potentials (Mitchell and I call 'em pots) and the first one we went to let us in. It turns out that it was not the potential we were looking for, she moved, but we were all excited cause a family let us in with no hesitation. Things started well and we began from the top of the plan of salvation so that we could explain to them the way that our families can be together forever. It ended pretty fast cause this man and his wife practice teaching when their kids go to bed (I am joking but, it wouldn't surprise me if it were true). There really wasn't a way to defend ourselves without bashing and so the spirit constrained me from speaking. The only things I could get out were questions and occasionally a brief explanation of our doctrine concerning whatever subject they brought up and questioned us on.
Fortunately my companion was able to testify a few times, but he realized that they were very, very set in their ways. That there wasn't much we could say to get them to just listen to our message without an interruption in the form of a rebuttal. I think if I were to have tried to defend the doctrines I would have done so emotionally and not by the spirit and would have dug us a pit. So our whole purpose was to just try to leave with a neutral, "Hey, this is what you believe and makes since to you, this is what we believe and makes since to us. All we are here to do is invite you to read the book of Mormon. Have a nice day. Yes we will accept one of your books or pamphlets, thank you. Thank you for your time. Here is our number. Thank you for your number. Give us a call if you need help with spring cleaning."
Wooooohhhh..... I'll tell you I felt like a man with the palsy in a cage fight. We were beat down by a tag teaming WWF defending champions’ duo. I'll give them credit. 90% of the people we talk to have no Idea what the doctrines of their religion are, let alone how to defend it. Of course they said some contradicting statements and some silly things, but they knew just how to change the subject or flip it onto us when we called them out on it. Needless to say, the rest of my week was spent studying the apostasy. I thought it was interesting that they defended their church using almost word for word things I've said to people in the past. I am more motivated to follow the council of our prophet from General Conference now; that is to learn the doctrine and the doctrines of the priesthood. Hard times are coming, we will be tried and persecuted and we have to know how to be like Abinidi. I want to be able to stand firm and confound the wise all the way to my burial if needs be. I can't afford to simply take the beatings with as skinny as I am, I've got to learn to deflect them or redirect them. Dragon Ball Z style YO! Ha-ha. I encourage all of you to do the same.
Well, I have recovered mostly and am continuing to recover thanks to the amazing contrast to those feelings that i have felt in lessons and church and studies since then.
Let me tell you, Tito Rocks! the way he understands and uses the spirit is refreshing. When we have a lesson with him the spirit is there and like D&C 50 we are all edified together.
Good things are happening. We met with our branch President and our coordinator and the elder’s quorum president and are developing a plan to help two part member families progress and become complete. The Hollister family is one, and they rock, I know good things will happen, I pray they are receptive. The other is the Catrons.
In attempts to make an appointment with the Catorns yesterday however we discovered that she is in the hospital!!!! :( So we went right over and gave her a blessing, we told her home teacher who is going over today and we told the branch president who told the Relief Society to take advantage of the opportunity to start supplying some relief, to do what they do best. :) I'll keep you posted on the outcome. Pray for these two families.
That’s all I have for you but to end I'll tell you a funny thing that happened last week that I forgot to tell you about.
We went to the church and the guy downstairs in the library told us that they were having pluming problems... well he asked us if we were having problems, so I responded, "I don't know, we will go check!" he didn't stop us. It seemed totally normal to me. We flushed every toilet... we flooded the library with poopie-pee-pee-water. :S The guy was totally flabbergasted at our stupidity and the extra work we caused him. I felt stupid so I got to work mopping up the nasty water in my suit. The guy tried to stop me but I insisted. That put us back to neutral ground. Hopefully he will see us as stupid but harmful and respectful until the next missionaries can come along and show him that most of us aren't stupid. lol. That’s all.
Love,
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Monday, April 4, 2011
Huntington
Conference Rocked as usual. That was the most exciting thing that happened. We invited so many people, but no one came. Big surprise. lol. At least Tito made it Sunday morning! Cool. :) The blessing for me though (of no investigators being there) is that I got to focus on what the speakers were saying and just soak it up without having to worry about explaining things or making sure they are understanding and not falling asleep. The sad part though is that we promised people their questions would be answered and guess what? I heard so many answers that applied to the people we teach and those who don't make it out much. It would have been great for them. Hopefully they will still get the message from the Internet or when it all gets typed up.
Sorry there really isn't much to say this time. We had a good week though, not really number wise, but otherwise.
Everything is fine--Nothing is broken, :)
I love you all! :) You all are influences on me that have made me who I am.
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Sorry there really isn't much to say this time. We had a good week though, not really number wise, but otherwise.
Everything is fine--Nothing is broken, :)
I love you all! :) You all are influences on me that have made me who I am.
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Success
Being busy is not an indicator of success; remember that.
Cool thing #1: Tito is continuing to progress. He told us when we visited him that he was reading from doctrine and covenants and he explained to us what he learned from the section he had read and it was clear it made sense to him! He said that he feels the spirit and that his days are going better. He was interviewed for the priesthood and really enjoyed his interview with the Branch President. Tito said he is a really nice guy and helpful and he likes him a lot! That was a good thing to hear cause it means he has started off on the right foot with president and will go to him when he needs to in the future without hesitation. Tito has a great understanding of the need for repentance and that it’s something we all need to do all the time, and that's why we have church and the gospel. After his interview he told us how he was going to have responsibilities to pass the sacrament and how he needed to look nice for it (so president is gonna buy him a nice shirt) he then told us "that means that I've really got to be here every Sunday then!" and we said, "yeah!"
Cool thing #2: Ben almost accepted a baptismal invitation. He is kind of committed to finding out if what we are teaching him is true. (Which really is a big step up) the spirit is in the lessons a lot more than before and he understands a lot better. It’s nice to have Ira there to help teach. Ben has come to church twice. He was supposed to come yesterday but Ira said he wouldn't come cause he was sleeping. Lame.
Cool thing #3: I kinda got to be an office elder again on Friday. The Lees and the Scotts are going home (senior missionary couples) so we packed up all there furniture and put it in a truck and went to Ridgewood in Brooklyn and put it in a church basement. It took all morning (I thought it was going to take a lot longer) but we were finished by 12! we got back to our area by 1 and were done eating a huge buffet, courtesy of Elder Scott and Elder Lee, and got home by 3. It was a nice switch up from what we have been doing. I'll miss both senior couples. :( they were really great. I didn't say goodbye to the Scotts cause I’m just not down with goodbyes any more. I'm more of a "quit acting like this is the last time we'll see each other" kind of guy. If I don't see them in this life (which for some reason just doesn't sound like the case) I’ll see them in the next one. No need to get all sappy and then shake hands (cause we're missionaries) instead of hugging... or what-naught.
Cool thing #4: Jose and Marta Santos and the newest members of the branch. Their home has a different feeling in it now (i went on a mini exchange to go teach them with Elder Sanford last night cause of complications). Jose is a different guy and much more humble and accepting and willing to learn. He told us after he was baptized he felt like a blind man who could now see more because he wasn't looking with his eyes but listening and feeling with his heart. Cool! Ha-ha. Then last night he told me that after he received the gift of the Holy Ghost he has been full of the spirit (as he should be). He said everything is lighter and he feels like a child, "protected". So we discussed how he keeps that feeling is by taking the sacrament every week and making sure that he keeps true to the covenants described in the sacrament prayers. I showed him where they were in the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. Anyway, much more than I can explain, it was all the spirit. Basically we were both edified. :)
Brother Mills our Coordinator is finally back from vacation.
We have been working a lot on getting the wards and branches involved in our work and also us as missionaries working around our members (working smart). So that’s been cool, but there is a lot more to do before it really becomes our culture. Mostly I think some of us older missionaries just have to die for it to take hold completely. The work really is a big rough stone rolling and growing. It’s pretty cool. It gets better and better and more and more efficient.
Anyways, please pray that I will have the desire to work out in the morning, cause I hate it...
There was more I wanted to say but it left me. Sorry.
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Cool thing #1: Tito is continuing to progress. He told us when we visited him that he was reading from doctrine and covenants and he explained to us what he learned from the section he had read and it was clear it made sense to him! He said that he feels the spirit and that his days are going better. He was interviewed for the priesthood and really enjoyed his interview with the Branch President. Tito said he is a really nice guy and helpful and he likes him a lot! That was a good thing to hear cause it means he has started off on the right foot with president and will go to him when he needs to in the future without hesitation. Tito has a great understanding of the need for repentance and that it’s something we all need to do all the time, and that's why we have church and the gospel. After his interview he told us how he was going to have responsibilities to pass the sacrament and how he needed to look nice for it (so president is gonna buy him a nice shirt) he then told us "that means that I've really got to be here every Sunday then!" and we said, "yeah!"
Cool thing #2: Ben almost accepted a baptismal invitation. He is kind of committed to finding out if what we are teaching him is true. (Which really is a big step up) the spirit is in the lessons a lot more than before and he understands a lot better. It’s nice to have Ira there to help teach. Ben has come to church twice. He was supposed to come yesterday but Ira said he wouldn't come cause he was sleeping. Lame.
Cool thing #3: I kinda got to be an office elder again on Friday. The Lees and the Scotts are going home (senior missionary couples) so we packed up all there furniture and put it in a truck and went to Ridgewood in Brooklyn and put it in a church basement. It took all morning (I thought it was going to take a lot longer) but we were finished by 12! we got back to our area by 1 and were done eating a huge buffet, courtesy of Elder Scott and Elder Lee, and got home by 3. It was a nice switch up from what we have been doing. I'll miss both senior couples. :( they were really great. I didn't say goodbye to the Scotts cause I’m just not down with goodbyes any more. I'm more of a "quit acting like this is the last time we'll see each other" kind of guy. If I don't see them in this life (which for some reason just doesn't sound like the case) I’ll see them in the next one. No need to get all sappy and then shake hands (cause we're missionaries) instead of hugging... or what-naught.
Cool thing #4: Jose and Marta Santos and the newest members of the branch. Their home has a different feeling in it now (i went on a mini exchange to go teach them with Elder Sanford last night cause of complications). Jose is a different guy and much more humble and accepting and willing to learn. He told us after he was baptized he felt like a blind man who could now see more because he wasn't looking with his eyes but listening and feeling with his heart. Cool! Ha-ha. Then last night he told me that after he received the gift of the Holy Ghost he has been full of the spirit (as he should be). He said everything is lighter and he feels like a child, "protected". So we discussed how he keeps that feeling is by taking the sacrament every week and making sure that he keeps true to the covenants described in the sacrament prayers. I showed him where they were in the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. Anyway, much more than I can explain, it was all the spirit. Basically we were both edified. :)
Brother Mills our Coordinator is finally back from vacation.
We have been working a lot on getting the wards and branches involved in our work and also us as missionaries working around our members (working smart). So that’s been cool, but there is a lot more to do before it really becomes our culture. Mostly I think some of us older missionaries just have to die for it to take hold completely. The work really is a big rough stone rolling and growing. It’s pretty cool. It gets better and better and more and more efficient.
Anyways, please pray that I will have the desire to work out in the morning, cause I hate it...
There was more I wanted to say but it left me. Sorry.
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Monday, March 28, 2011
Happy Paint Satrick’s Day
Well... This week was one of those weeks that has seven days.
We spent almost all week preparing for and inviting people to our branch activity: Movie Night!!! We were feeling really good about it! We ran into snag after snag that resisted the whole thing. We were able to invite tons of people in person with flyer's/invitations, and we got at least 20 commits and everyone seemed really excited about it all. Well the day of, Friday, we pretty much spent from after District Meeting until 7 preparing. We had problem after problem in setting up. Broken projectors and dvd players and no sound coming forth etc... Well we finally got it all strait. It looked great! The whole place was all set up nicely and The Testaments title screen was being projected largely on the wall of the Assembly room. Well... Not counting the missionaries 7 people showed up. :(
Don't you hate that.....
Well, It wasn't a total waste because the senior couple Elder and Sister Lee had never seen it, and it gave Bro Hatch something to do and allowed us to get to know him better (plus he sympathized with us and now seems to be a supporter in our work) and Sister Catron and her Daughter came. Sister Catron hasn't been to church in a long time because of work scheduling issues and from our knowledge her daughter is unbaptized. Well, we were able to get an appointment with her for tomorrow and the Mansuettos (my favorite members) were able to fellowship her because they are old friends. Elder woodland knows her from an exchange and was able to say, "Hey!!! Sister Catron! How are you?!?" that seemed to be nice for her because I think she feels like no one knows who she is any more. Besides that Axel and Jeff came (19 and 23 year olds in the branch that currently don't have a lot to do). So that was great cause you know what they say, "an idle mind is the devils work shop".
We felt bad though because we worked so hard and the Lees got us refreshments for it and a projector and dinner (cause we missed dinner cause we were busy trying to get everything working) and the Mansuettos brought a bunch of Soda. We popped a bunch of pop-corn... but at least all that got eaten.
No one came to church really not even Tito, we aren't sure why. We feel bad cause we taught him about baptisms for the dead and he got confused and worried, so we wanted him to come so we could talk more about that at church. Well, we did have investigators go to the YSA branch however. Ben went and brought his friend Matt. We will be seeing them tonight. Ben still likes to preach to us, but is starting to understand what we are all about and what we really have. He is going to church and reading the things we tell him to, so he is progressing. :)
So we have had a new elder in the pad this week. His name is Elder Sanford. You can tell he's right out of the MTC. Ha-ha. That's not bad, it’s just funny how everyone comes into the mission field the same way; the same attitude and expectations. It really is a boot camp. Anyway, Elder Sanford is from Las Vegas and had a semester at BYU before he came out on his mission (living the Mormon dream). He is a nice guy, and I can tell he is starting to get used to being here now. He has a girl friend back at home and when he found out that I used to he asked how long into the mission I was when it ended. When I told him he said, "Oh, ok, so I've still got some time." Ha-ha. It was pretty funny. He has pretty good timing. He doesn't really say things that are supper witty, just simple, but he says them at the right time. He's a nice guy. Anyway, I'm sure he'll be a great missionary. Hopefully elder woodland can help him with his Spanish though. Ha-ha. Jk, his is better than mine (at least vocab). :)
I hope I didn't scare him to much with my craziness I hope it just helps him feel like he can have fun and work hard. Ha-ha. He didn't laugh at anything I did or said for like the first 4 or 5 days! Ha-ha.
OK I must now depart from this writing for I lack any more to say. Yet, I will not leave you without my own testimony of the truth. The lord has his holy an eternal purpose and we are the whole point of that purpose. He work and his glory is to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life. His joy is our progression and our success. He weeps when we weep. His heart drops when we fail. He is our loving Father. Understanding our relationship to him will deepen our relationship with him. We will become more sincere prayers and we will understand his will. We will no longer question him when bad things happen to us or the ones we love, we will not blame him for our sorrow but praise him for all that is good in our lives. We will praise him and love him even more for his perfect parenting skills. He loves me and you more than anything we could fathom. I can't say that I know really anything perfectly because I am human and I am week and I don't understand all things, but I can testify to you that he does not abandon you and that he does not cause anything negative in your life. God is perfect and therefore he does not do anything that would cause him to be a liar. What is good comes from the father; if God lead us into temptation he would cease to be God. He Promises that as we discover and apply his will that we will not have room enough to receive his blessings. Our trials are a part of mortality and come from either natural events that come from the physical body or world around us or from the decisions of others or from Satan and his followers. We can be thankful for the hard things because without resistance we would lose our strength.
That’s about it. Love,
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
We spent almost all week preparing for and inviting people to our branch activity: Movie Night!!! We were feeling really good about it! We ran into snag after snag that resisted the whole thing. We were able to invite tons of people in person with flyer's/invitations, and we got at least 20 commits and everyone seemed really excited about it all. Well the day of, Friday, we pretty much spent from after District Meeting until 7 preparing. We had problem after problem in setting up. Broken projectors and dvd players and no sound coming forth etc... Well we finally got it all strait. It looked great! The whole place was all set up nicely and The Testaments title screen was being projected largely on the wall of the Assembly room. Well... Not counting the missionaries 7 people showed up. :(
Don't you hate that.....
Well, It wasn't a total waste because the senior couple Elder and Sister Lee had never seen it, and it gave Bro Hatch something to do and allowed us to get to know him better (plus he sympathized with us and now seems to be a supporter in our work) and Sister Catron and her Daughter came. Sister Catron hasn't been to church in a long time because of work scheduling issues and from our knowledge her daughter is unbaptized. Well, we were able to get an appointment with her for tomorrow and the Mansuettos (my favorite members) were able to fellowship her because they are old friends. Elder woodland knows her from an exchange and was able to say, "Hey!!! Sister Catron! How are you?!?" that seemed to be nice for her because I think she feels like no one knows who she is any more. Besides that Axel and Jeff came (19 and 23 year olds in the branch that currently don't have a lot to do). So that was great cause you know what they say, "an idle mind is the devils work shop".
We felt bad though because we worked so hard and the Lees got us refreshments for it and a projector and dinner (cause we missed dinner cause we were busy trying to get everything working) and the Mansuettos brought a bunch of Soda. We popped a bunch of pop-corn... but at least all that got eaten.
No one came to church really not even Tito, we aren't sure why. We feel bad cause we taught him about baptisms for the dead and he got confused and worried, so we wanted him to come so we could talk more about that at church. Well, we did have investigators go to the YSA branch however. Ben went and brought his friend Matt. We will be seeing them tonight. Ben still likes to preach to us, but is starting to understand what we are all about and what we really have. He is going to church and reading the things we tell him to, so he is progressing. :)
So we have had a new elder in the pad this week. His name is Elder Sanford. You can tell he's right out of the MTC. Ha-ha. That's not bad, it’s just funny how everyone comes into the mission field the same way; the same attitude and expectations. It really is a boot camp. Anyway, Elder Sanford is from Las Vegas and had a semester at BYU before he came out on his mission (living the Mormon dream). He is a nice guy, and I can tell he is starting to get used to being here now. He has a girl friend back at home and when he found out that I used to he asked how long into the mission I was when it ended. When I told him he said, "Oh, ok, so I've still got some time." Ha-ha. It was pretty funny. He has pretty good timing. He doesn't really say things that are supper witty, just simple, but he says them at the right time. He's a nice guy. Anyway, I'm sure he'll be a great missionary. Hopefully elder woodland can help him with his Spanish though. Ha-ha. Jk, his is better than mine (at least vocab). :)
I hope I didn't scare him to much with my craziness I hope it just helps him feel like he can have fun and work hard. Ha-ha. He didn't laugh at anything I did or said for like the first 4 or 5 days! Ha-ha.
OK I must now depart from this writing for I lack any more to say. Yet, I will not leave you without my own testimony of the truth. The lord has his holy an eternal purpose and we are the whole point of that purpose. He work and his glory is to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life. His joy is our progression and our success. He weeps when we weep. His heart drops when we fail. He is our loving Father. Understanding our relationship to him will deepen our relationship with him. We will become more sincere prayers and we will understand his will. We will no longer question him when bad things happen to us or the ones we love, we will not blame him for our sorrow but praise him for all that is good in our lives. We will praise him and love him even more for his perfect parenting skills. He loves me and you more than anything we could fathom. I can't say that I know really anything perfectly because I am human and I am week and I don't understand all things, but I can testify to you that he does not abandon you and that he does not cause anything negative in your life. God is perfect and therefore he does not do anything that would cause him to be a liar. What is good comes from the father; if God lead us into temptation he would cease to be God. He Promises that as we discover and apply his will that we will not have room enough to receive his blessings. Our trials are a part of mortality and come from either natural events that come from the physical body or world around us or from the decisions of others or from Satan and his followers. We can be thankful for the hard things because without resistance we would lose our strength.
That’s about it. Love,
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Monday, March 14, 2011
6 of 2
Well my second transfer in Huntington has now come to an end. It looks like I’ll be here for another 6 weeks. That leaves me with 12 weeks after that until the end.... :S
My prediction is that I leave Huntington after this next 6 weeks and then end my mission somewhere else (hopefully the city) for my last 12 weeks. Elder woodland thinks I’ll just finish here though and probably end by training.
Btw, elder Clement is leaving us... :( we are all very sad. President told us though that he wont be going to far away, so maybe he'll still be in the zone. Elder Clement is getting replaced by a Greenie. So Woodland will be training. That means we will have a new missionary in the pad. I want him to remember me for the rest of his life... ha-ha... so I’m going to do crazy things to him.... nothing bad, don't worry about that. :) Ha-ha. I'll let you know how it goes.
Tito is still strong! He is doing really well and still coming to church on his own. He remembers all the doctrines we teach him and is starting to ask some pretty deep questions all on his own. Its really cool cause he says his mind is more clear than it has been in a really long time. Also, he is defending his beliefs where ever he goes he seems to tell us every time we see him about how he was challenged by someone or asked a moral or religious question. The best part is that when we ask him what he told them, he always gives the right answer! Ha-ha. then I ask, "have you been studying" or "when did you learn that" and he either responds, "I learned it from you guys" or "I learned it at church" or "I read it in a book somewhere" Ha-ha
We had 4 investigators at Church! Woot! A former named Kai brought her sister to Church and said they would come back next week too! I explained how the meetings go before church started cause they were the first ones there. Most people showed up last minute, probably because of Day light savings time. Then I explained what the sacrament was in response they said to themselves but loud enough that I heard, "oh Ii'm not baptized" and a little later I asked where they normally go to church and they told me they weren't raised any particular way and that they haven't been to a church in a really long time. Kai wanted to stay for class but her sister Lakeema didn't. But like I said, they'll be back next week. I think that they will come to church every week if we just remind them on Saturday.
The other two at church attended the YSA branch in Plainview, but because they are our investigators they count on our numbers. Ben Scott attended the whole of all 3 meetings and stayed for munch and mingle. He wants us to come over 2 to 3 times a week to teach him all we know. We made it clear to him this is not bible study. The other who came was a guy named Scott who lives in our area and is a friend of Ira Greenbay (just like Ben)... so Ira is not only a drumming machine but a great member missionary! Woot, way to go Ira. Well I’ll let you know how their progress is later! :)
Other than that I can't really remember what happened this week; just a lot of looking people up and trying to conserve our miles... ha-ha. Well, that’s all.
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
My prediction is that I leave Huntington after this next 6 weeks and then end my mission somewhere else (hopefully the city) for my last 12 weeks. Elder woodland thinks I’ll just finish here though and probably end by training.
Btw, elder Clement is leaving us... :( we are all very sad. President told us though that he wont be going to far away, so maybe he'll still be in the zone. Elder Clement is getting replaced by a Greenie. So Woodland will be training. That means we will have a new missionary in the pad. I want him to remember me for the rest of his life... ha-ha... so I’m going to do crazy things to him.... nothing bad, don't worry about that. :) Ha-ha. I'll let you know how it goes.
Tito is still strong! He is doing really well and still coming to church on his own. He remembers all the doctrines we teach him and is starting to ask some pretty deep questions all on his own. Its really cool cause he says his mind is more clear than it has been in a really long time. Also, he is defending his beliefs where ever he goes he seems to tell us every time we see him about how he was challenged by someone or asked a moral or religious question. The best part is that when we ask him what he told them, he always gives the right answer! Ha-ha. then I ask, "have you been studying" or "when did you learn that" and he either responds, "I learned it from you guys" or "I learned it at church" or "I read it in a book somewhere" Ha-ha
We had 4 investigators at Church! Woot! A former named Kai brought her sister to Church and said they would come back next week too! I explained how the meetings go before church started cause they were the first ones there. Most people showed up last minute, probably because of Day light savings time. Then I explained what the sacrament was in response they said to themselves but loud enough that I heard, "oh Ii'm not baptized" and a little later I asked where they normally go to church and they told me they weren't raised any particular way and that they haven't been to a church in a really long time. Kai wanted to stay for class but her sister Lakeema didn't. But like I said, they'll be back next week. I think that they will come to church every week if we just remind them on Saturday.
The other two at church attended the YSA branch in Plainview, but because they are our investigators they count on our numbers. Ben Scott attended the whole of all 3 meetings and stayed for munch and mingle. He wants us to come over 2 to 3 times a week to teach him all we know. We made it clear to him this is not bible study. The other who came was a guy named Scott who lives in our area and is a friend of Ira Greenbay (just like Ben)... so Ira is not only a drumming machine but a great member missionary! Woot, way to go Ira. Well I’ll let you know how their progress is later! :)
Other than that I can't really remember what happened this week; just a lot of looking people up and trying to conserve our miles... ha-ha. Well, that’s all.
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
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