So all the world was a pie this week. Like some of you may know it snowed a lot a little while back. Well for NY it was pretty powdery snow! We got a little bit more this week and then it rained really cold rain! So wherever there was snow there was a glossy-stiff-half-an-inch-thick layer of Ice. Well, it made everything look like someone made white cake batter and poured it everywhere! The way it was shaped was all rounded because it was warm enough just before the rain to start to melt the snow and then cold enough that the rain froze on the snow. It oozed everywhere and looked so interesting and amazing to me! Ha-ha. Well, That's way I say the world was a pie, cause the snow looked so much like Meringue (without the browning) except where the snow was dirty or on the side of the roads, in those cases however it was not browned it was.... dingied (dingy + past tense).
I keep forgetting if I had forgotten this or not... but here it is, I wanted to say thank you to Mike and Risa because they sent me an awesome package! I loved it! It had no return address so I couldn't send a letter back to them. So thanks you two! It was really great! My favorite part is what you did for Elder Jeong. That was the best thing you could have said and it got to him just in time, right before he left back to Korea! How did you know how to say that in Korean? How did you type it up like that? So cool. You two rock! So thoughtful and nice! :) thanks!
We have been working hard, looking up lots of people! So far we are still kinda... well, we are doing what needs to be done. We've really helped organize the area better I believe and we are learning a lot about the members here. Eventually some good things should happen! :)
Tito still has his baptismal date, but he didn't make it to Church yesterday, I'm not sure why. As far as I know he is still drinking about 6 cups of coffee a day. We don't really know how to help him cause he lives in a place with a bunch of other people so we can’t really have him throw it out. Plus he has a Dunkn Doughnuts really close to his house. He understands the word of wisdom and knows he'll be blessed for it, and has experience blessings when he has tried it... but I think he just doesn't see any immediate consequences so it doesn't seem like an urgent thing. Anyway, he is great!
We confronted Khan. We went to his work. He was surprised. You should have seen his face. But it changed to a smile cause I smiled at him and nodded my head. I shouldn't have done it, it was my instinct though... anyway, he has 20 min left of his shift but he tried to escape and wouldn't answer our questions directly, he offered a drink but we declined. We set up a way for him to say sorry and all he could say was about 5 different lies that all clearly conflicted one another.
Well he went into the back and on his way he said to give him a call (after he told us he lost his phone). Well we gave him a call later and he refused to talk to Elder Mitchell and insisted that he talk to his "buddy" elder Morris. If you know me, you know that really frustrated me.
1. because he was being rude to my companion (which always feels worse to me than when I am getting the blows)
2. because I’s not cause he likes me more it’s because he knows he can smooth talk me easier than he can Elder Mitchell >:( and
3. because the word buddy has just always seemed so derogatory to me. Any way,
Khan called later (to our surprise) and so Mitchell had me answer it. Khan said he was sick. I asked if he was ever even really interested and he didn't know what that meant, he told me to stop talking in code to him. He sounded drunk or high so I asked if he was feeling all right and he told me he had the flu.... well eventually he tied to get us to meet him at another restaurant... I told him we already tired that one with him. I said if we could pick the place and it was in the city of our choosing or at a member’s house or at the church, we would meet with him. He said no. If it had to be only in certain cities "then forget about it!"... well we weren't about to break any rules for this guy or fall for the same crap again so we said all right then forget about it. He ended the conversation with a "I'm gonna reimburse you. I don't know how and I don't know when, but I'll reimburse you." He called again while we were at Church but didn't know cause our phone was on silent. We are so confused about him. We don't get why he would call. There is so much we don't understand about him. I don't understand why I feel so bad for him. Well if he decides he wants to meet us again under the proper circumstances we will. But we will not go the 90% for him. He has to do that now. Anyway, weird... but I pray he gets things figured out. Elder Mitchell thinks he might be scared of us.
The best part of the week was a fabulous mission conference on Saturday! It was great. One of those meetings that inspire you and make you feel like you need to repent without making you feel like a bad person. It was a Seventy named Elder Pearson. It was really uplifting and many of my questions were answered about life and missions and missionary work. The rest of my questions are important. I know the answers to some of the questions I had won’t change anything because it doesn't affect me... wow that was ambiguous! lol. Anyway, I guess I just realized what’s really important and that there is no use worrying about things you have no control over or that are in the past. It’s funny how sometime you learn a lesson that has always been a part of how you have done things. For example one of the points he taught was that we choose our attitudes and emotions and our reactions to other people’s actions and to our circumstances. I used to go around telling everyone to stop stressing out and to choose to be happy! What happened? I ask myself! Ha-ha. I guess New York rubbed off on me for bit there. But now I'm telling myself to smile and be happy and know that I can't worry about stuff. Worrying never helped anyone. Also I learned that Identity essentially controls our reality. Also I learned that Obedience blesses us with faith which causes us to repent and make covenants which gives us spiritual power. What good is any amount of authority if it’s not backed up with some real power! Anyway, it’s one of those things that you really just had to be there. The impressions I had could not be written down because I had no real way to articulate them.
Well I love you all! Remember that You are all children of God and each have an individual divine purpose. Let’s all try to define ourselves as disciples and rid ourselves of all the unwanted traits we have that are holding us back from our potential and our capacity!
Love,
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Monday, February 7, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Well…
Not much to say my good people. I really just don't know how much really matters to you all. Ha-ha.
Mostly the week was simultaneously long and short-- a paradox but it makes since when you break it down: the days are really long, the week was a day.
The usual no one home or just not answering the door happened a lot. We had a TON of snow (for New York) and so we spent 2 days shoveling. Since the plows are all out and there is lots of ice, there are many pot holes. One pot hole i didn't see was big enough to give us a flat just 10 min before Church started, we weren't late though. We are speedy good! We have 3 new investigators. 1 a part member family, 2 a former investigator with a bad marriage situation, and 3 the daughter of Jose Santos (our old investigator who we gave to the Spanish elders [who by the way is getting married. I feel good about that because i got the ball rolling by getting him to set a date]). So that is great! Tido our only progressing investigator has a new baptismal date and is trying to quit his 6 cups of coffee a day habits. He is learning a lot a church but its clear there are things he doesn't understand.
We learned Khans work schedule and are considering paying him a visit at his work. We will see how that goes. Don't worry we won’t say anything but "why?" then wait for the spirit to direct the rest. its not about revenge as much as we'd like it to be... it’s more a chance to give him a chance to say sorry and see if we can possibly get our money back... maybe his friend was the jerk and he feels to sad and embarrassed to talk to us- maybe he really was interested.... maybe not. If nothing it will be really great to see his face when we walk in! LOL. Ha-ha-ha-he-he. I've got to find some joy in the experience right?
Oh yeah, Transfers are on Tuesday but no one in Huntington is being moved. I'll be with Mitchell for another 6 weeks, maybe more. I think I'll be here for the next 12 weeks. That would give me 12 weeks in a new area before I die in July, weird right?.....
OK peace out girl scout.
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Mostly the week was simultaneously long and short-- a paradox but it makes since when you break it down: the days are really long, the week was a day.
The usual no one home or just not answering the door happened a lot. We had a TON of snow (for New York) and so we spent 2 days shoveling. Since the plows are all out and there is lots of ice, there are many pot holes. One pot hole i didn't see was big enough to give us a flat just 10 min before Church started, we weren't late though. We are speedy good! We have 3 new investigators. 1 a part member family, 2 a former investigator with a bad marriage situation, and 3 the daughter of Jose Santos (our old investigator who we gave to the Spanish elders [who by the way is getting married. I feel good about that because i got the ball rolling by getting him to set a date]). So that is great! Tido our only progressing investigator has a new baptismal date and is trying to quit his 6 cups of coffee a day habits. He is learning a lot a church but its clear there are things he doesn't understand.
We learned Khans work schedule and are considering paying him a visit at his work. We will see how that goes. Don't worry we won’t say anything but "why?" then wait for the spirit to direct the rest. its not about revenge as much as we'd like it to be... it’s more a chance to give him a chance to say sorry and see if we can possibly get our money back... maybe his friend was the jerk and he feels to sad and embarrassed to talk to us- maybe he really was interested.... maybe not. If nothing it will be really great to see his face when we walk in! LOL. Ha-ha-ha-he-he. I've got to find some joy in the experience right?
Oh yeah, Transfers are on Tuesday but no one in Huntington is being moved. I'll be with Mitchell for another 6 weeks, maybe more. I think I'll be here for the next 12 weeks. That would give me 12 weeks in a new area before I die in July, weird right?.....
OK peace out girl scout.
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Week 5
Well week 5 is over now. Elder Mitchell and I have been really working hard. Mostly we just get the, "this is a bad time guys" or "could you come over next week? Sorry" or "You guys are getting to preachy with my family, I would appreciate it if you didn't come back." or "You really need to call me before you come" (even when we had an appointment), or other similar things. Fortunately our progressing investigator and really only investigator, Tido is doing just fine and he came to church this week. We had a lesson on the law of Chastity in Gospel Principals class and there was another investigator there (Jose Santos, the guy we gave to the Spanish elders) and he had some objections. Any way it was cool because every so often Tido would chime in and explain correctly what the law of chastity really is! :) so that was great. Tido is telling everyone that he isn't ready to be baptized because he needs to learn more and because he feels like he will mess up after he gets baptized. I told him that I know he will mess up after he is baptized, because everyone does. Its not good to mess up, but God knew that we would and that is why he supplied us the Savior. Because of Christ we can repent (change) because of Christ it’s possible for us to make mistakes and not be damned. Its like school, we will make mistakes on tests and on assignments but we can still end up with a good enough GPA to graduate.
Anyway, we continue to try to get things going here. Mitchell and I have been teaching more lessons somehow, so things are going up even though it’s hard.
Nothing really amazing or spectacular happened this wee--good or bad--beyond what I have told you... so there is really not much else to say. We did get snow however, and our driveway is really icy. The snow was really powdery so it wasn't as hard to shovel as the last two storms have been. Most people’s steps here have a bunch of ice cause they don't know about those de-ice-er heated cord things to put on their eves. Don’t worry we haven't slipped. But we have thrown Icicles at each other like spears!
OK, have a nice day!
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Anyway, we continue to try to get things going here. Mitchell and I have been teaching more lessons somehow, so things are going up even though it’s hard.
Nothing really amazing or spectacular happened this wee--good or bad--beyond what I have told you... so there is really not much else to say. We did get snow however, and our driveway is really icy. The snow was really powdery so it wasn't as hard to shovel as the last two storms have been. Most people’s steps here have a bunch of ice cause they don't know about those de-ice-er heated cord things to put on their eves. Don’t worry we haven't slipped. But we have thrown Icicles at each other like spears!
OK, have a nice day!
--
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Duped
Well Elder Mitchell and I must be pretty strong cause we have experienced a lot of opposition this week. I say that because the scriptures tell us that we do not receive a trial that is harder than we can bear.
Among the missionary trials that exist there are many that are usual and common. We have had a week of those with little of the converse. However we have had added to that both the small and tall of, "wow, we just got the short stick..." From pube in the sandwich to the "give me a [effing] break!... get off my porch." The one that takes the cake however is as follows:
Two weeks ago Jeong and I found a guy at Dunkin’ Doughnuts who seemed to be a great potential and a little odd but very nice and cool. His name is Khan and he is Afghan. Well after a week of not being able to get a hold of him and not hearing anything from him we get a call. He was very buddy-buddy with us out of nowhere and he invited us to dinner. Well to make a very long story short (especially cause I'm running low on time right now) we met him at the Kabob King. He brought his friend. His friend told us he was Persian and that his name was Mike but we cannot be certain anything he said to us was truth. Basically after being a jerk to the waitresses and bus boys and telling us he worked on Wall Street and gets fat checks in the mail (so he would pay for dinner) he went out for a smoke break. Well, I thought it was odd that he didn't do that before he came, but we were trusting. He came back with Khan and they didn't smell like smoke... Khan was different after that and wouldn't look at us in the eyes. He even said a few things to Mike in their own language (also weird since mike said he was Persian) and Mike acted like Khan wanted to ask us something that seemed disrespectful. However we feel Khan was actually putting up a protest to what was about to happen. Well, just before the check came they went out for another smoke break (because we all know smokers like to smoke before and after a meal) but they never came back and Khan wouldn't answer his phone. Let’s just say I'm glad I had extra money this month and I'm glad the cashier took mercy on us and allowed us to have one item free and not pay tip. Mitchell gave me some money to back me up but the bill was a little over $75.
It just seems silly for a guy to go through all that trouble acting interested so that he could save $40. So we believe the friend just came up with that idea when he saw how trusting we were (mostly me, Mitchell didn't think Mike was sincere) when they went out for the first smoke break; basically that really discouraged us. The biggest issue however was not the money. But that is a much longer story that you would have to ask me about when I get home.
Elder Mitchell and I talked in church. They told Mitchell it only needed to be a testimony and they told me a 7 min talk well. I ended up having to give a 20 min talk because the first speaker forgot they had a talk. Mitchell gave an impromptu talk that helped me out. Unfortunately I didn't realize there was a speaker after me (no programs in our branch) so I thought I had to take up the rest of sacrament. I'm glad I left 10 min cause then the second councilor got up and talked for 25 min. Ha, wow, anyway.
I love you all. I know that if we will hearken unto the Lord’s council we will be blessed. I know trials are for our benefit and learning, and to help us rely on the lord. If we will focus on the basics and keep things simple we will be able to avoid confusion and know we are doing what the Lord wants us to do. OK, I got to go.
Love,
Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Among the missionary trials that exist there are many that are usual and common. We have had a week of those with little of the converse. However we have had added to that both the small and tall of, "wow, we just got the short stick..." From pube in the sandwich to the "give me a [effing] break!... get off my porch." The one that takes the cake however is as follows:
Two weeks ago Jeong and I found a guy at Dunkin’ Doughnuts who seemed to be a great potential and a little odd but very nice and cool. His name is Khan and he is Afghan. Well after a week of not being able to get a hold of him and not hearing anything from him we get a call. He was very buddy-buddy with us out of nowhere and he invited us to dinner. Well to make a very long story short (especially cause I'm running low on time right now) we met him at the Kabob King. He brought his friend. His friend told us he was Persian and that his name was Mike but we cannot be certain anything he said to us was truth. Basically after being a jerk to the waitresses and bus boys and telling us he worked on Wall Street and gets fat checks in the mail (so he would pay for dinner) he went out for a smoke break. Well, I thought it was odd that he didn't do that before he came, but we were trusting. He came back with Khan and they didn't smell like smoke... Khan was different after that and wouldn't look at us in the eyes. He even said a few things to Mike in their own language (also weird since mike said he was Persian) and Mike acted like Khan wanted to ask us something that seemed disrespectful. However we feel Khan was actually putting up a protest to what was about to happen. Well, just before the check came they went out for another smoke break (because we all know smokers like to smoke before and after a meal) but they never came back and Khan wouldn't answer his phone. Let’s just say I'm glad I had extra money this month and I'm glad the cashier took mercy on us and allowed us to have one item free and not pay tip. Mitchell gave me some money to back me up but the bill was a little over $75.
It just seems silly for a guy to go through all that trouble acting interested so that he could save $40. So we believe the friend just came up with that idea when he saw how trusting we were (mostly me, Mitchell didn't think Mike was sincere) when they went out for the first smoke break; basically that really discouraged us. The biggest issue however was not the money. But that is a much longer story that you would have to ask me about when I get home.
Elder Mitchell and I talked in church. They told Mitchell it only needed to be a testimony and they told me a 7 min talk well. I ended up having to give a 20 min talk because the first speaker forgot they had a talk. Mitchell gave an impromptu talk that helped me out. Unfortunately I didn't realize there was a speaker after me (no programs in our branch) so I thought I had to take up the rest of sacrament. I'm glad I left 10 min cause then the second councilor got up and talked for 25 min. Ha, wow, anyway.
I love you all. I know that if we will hearken unto the Lord’s council we will be blessed. I know trials are for our benefit and learning, and to help us rely on the lord. If we will focus on the basics and keep things simple we will be able to avoid confusion and know we are doing what the Lord wants us to do. OK, I got to go.
Love,
Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Dang Yo
Hey family and friends! Unfortunately all the Libraries are closed today due to Martin Luther King Jr day. so i will have to email you all tomorrow. I am writing this email to you from best buy, so ... yup. I love you all. You will hear more about my CRAZY WEEK tomorrow hopefully. But just so you know my new companion is Elder Mitchell from Idaho. WE have no problem getting along and are having lots of fun even though we are having a hard time getting the work going here. We have lots of ideas to help Huntington get moving however, so hopefully they work. :)
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Thursday, January 13, 2011
An Manorism: H
This week Elder Clement and I created "An Manorism: H" a whiteboard such entitled that we updated daily as a pad. It is helping our pad have more unity. I am thankful for this.
Elder Jeong has also been leading us every night before bed in stretching. Elder Woodland joined us last night... so now this too is helping our unity.
Unfortunately the cross-over of Spanish pool and English pool is still not entirely solved even though we gave one of our only progressing investigators over to them whom Jeong and I recently helped set a marriage goal. I'm most scared for next week however because the Elder who found Jose (the investigator we just gave to the Spanish Elders) will be my new companion starting Wednesday. Also Jose and his fiancé Marta expressed to us when we told them only the other elders would be teaching them now that they wanted us to continue to come over and that they like both companionships coming. I don't know what the best situation is. I felt sad but comforted when I handed them over, but have recently been regretting it. Anyway, my prayer is that my new companion and Elder Woodland get along, because they are quite opposite... there's nothing worse than tension in your pad... it effects the amount of the spirit you can have. Plus what home is a battle ground. I am confident I will get along with my new companion however. I have a feeling we are going to have a ton of fun and work hard too. so hopefully that will just over ride everything else.
Anyway I have to go but here is an update on my companion. He is having his departing interview today with president and Wednesday he leaves to Tokyo and from there after layover he goes to South Korea followed by an hour drive to his mom’s house in North East Seoul. That will be Friday in Korea cause they are a day ahead of us! Ha-ha.
I'll miss Elder Jeong a lot, but I know this is his time now. I am glad I was able to spend the time with him that I did. I learned a lot in just 3 weeks. :)
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Elder Jeong has also been leading us every night before bed in stretching. Elder Woodland joined us last night... so now this too is helping our unity.
Unfortunately the cross-over of Spanish pool and English pool is still not entirely solved even though we gave one of our only progressing investigators over to them whom Jeong and I recently helped set a marriage goal. I'm most scared for next week however because the Elder who found Jose (the investigator we just gave to the Spanish Elders) will be my new companion starting Wednesday. Also Jose and his fiancé Marta expressed to us when we told them only the other elders would be teaching them now that they wanted us to continue to come over and that they like both companionships coming. I don't know what the best situation is. I felt sad but comforted when I handed them over, but have recently been regretting it. Anyway, my prayer is that my new companion and Elder Woodland get along, because they are quite opposite... there's nothing worse than tension in your pad... it effects the amount of the spirit you can have. Plus what home is a battle ground. I am confident I will get along with my new companion however. I have a feeling we are going to have a ton of fun and work hard too. so hopefully that will just over ride everything else.
Anyway I have to go but here is an update on my companion. He is having his departing interview today with president and Wednesday he leaves to Tokyo and from there after layover he goes to South Korea followed by an hour drive to his mom’s house in North East Seoul. That will be Friday in Korea cause they are a day ahead of us! Ha-ha.
I'll miss Elder Jeong a lot, but I know this is his time now. I am glad I was able to spend the time with him that I did. I learned a lot in just 3 weeks. :)
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Monday, January 3, 2011
Oops!
Sorry I spent all my time emailing individuals instead of my mass email! Ha-ha, oops.
Well, here is the update. My companion goes back to South Korea on the 18th (enduring a 14hr flight) and then he will spend his time with his mother until she passes. When she passes he will organize the funeral and then sell what things they cannot manage from Utah. His visa will expire 10 days after he leaves the USA. He will not be able to receive another visa for missionary purposes, which means he will not be returning to NYNYCS mission. He will become a regular member. Since he plans to live in Utah though (since that is where his only sister is) he needs a way to get a visa, so he is applying for school so that when its time to come back to the states he can tell his console that he is coming for school. He plans on going to SLCC until he can get a scholarship to either LDS Business College or U of U. Depending on if his sister will support him in his desires to be a doctor, if not he will be an accountant.
Our struggles with the Spanish missionaries are indirect and subtle but still present. I plan on doing things their way (which actually make more since anyway) to stop the drama and become united. This means we will have fewer investigators and be teaching fewer lessons until we find new people. We have been blessed with two new referrals.
I don't know what else to say ‘cause I don't have much time. But know that I am well and healthy and that I am pressing forward with faith knowing that I am lucky to be here at this time on the lords errand!
The church is true, If you have doubts then pray and ask God specific questions to resolve your concerns as you study the scriptures and go to church. The big 3 baby is the way!
Love,
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
Well, here is the update. My companion goes back to South Korea on the 18th (enduring a 14hr flight) and then he will spend his time with his mother until she passes. When she passes he will organize the funeral and then sell what things they cannot manage from Utah. His visa will expire 10 days after he leaves the USA. He will not be able to receive another visa for missionary purposes, which means he will not be returning to NYNYCS mission. He will become a regular member. Since he plans to live in Utah though (since that is where his only sister is) he needs a way to get a visa, so he is applying for school so that when its time to come back to the states he can tell his console that he is coming for school. He plans on going to SLCC until he can get a scholarship to either LDS Business College or U of U. Depending on if his sister will support him in his desires to be a doctor, if not he will be an accountant.
Our struggles with the Spanish missionaries are indirect and subtle but still present. I plan on doing things their way (which actually make more since anyway) to stop the drama and become united. This means we will have fewer investigators and be teaching fewer lessons until we find new people. We have been blessed with two new referrals.
I don't know what else to say ‘cause I don't have much time. But know that I am well and healthy and that I am pressing forward with faith knowing that I am lucky to be here at this time on the lords errand!
The church is true, If you have doubts then pray and ask God specific questions to resolve your concerns as you study the scriptures and go to church. The big 3 baby is the way!
Love,
-Elder Samuel Austin Morris
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