1/30/17... Its been a big week--Laird is getting baptized, we had interviews with President, and missionaries all over the world have a new schedule...

This dogs name is Chloe and I think she is the exact breed Chloe was

This was a great week!  

Had interviews with President which is always awesome!

Not too much exciting stuff happened this weekend unfortunately, but it was good and we saw some miracles. 

Monday we went and played some basketball at the church, which was really fun. We also played Risk and just hung out which was fun. Monday night we hopped on the bus and went downtown to talk to people get the bus schedules so we could ride the bus around this week. Well we found out riding the bus takes lots of planning and time haha but we did see some miracle on the buses. One day we rode to get to the area we wanted to be in and on our way back we saw a lady that we had talked to the week before. She approached us and asked us if we were from Utah because she was going to the Family History Center in Salt Lake. We were super excited to talk to her about it. She had been antied a bit in the past so it took a bit for her to warm up, but she was super excited when we told her we have a Family History Center in our church building. She said she just got her DNA results back for her history. It was awesome, she also knows a couple ladies in the ward so that's exciting. 

Tuesday we had interviews with President! I love interviews, President is the most amazing person, you can't help but feel the spirit and be happy when you're around him! He asked everyone 3 questions: 

     --How are you're personal prayers? 

     --How is you're scripture study? 

     --How do you take the Sacrament? 

He said these are 3 questions you can always ask yourself to always be feeding your testimony. He also said some really nice things about me and said he expects a lot from me. I told him I'm up for the challenge. He always asks if we have questions, I asked him about schooling.  He was a businessman, and I'd considered going into business so I'd thought I'd ask him about it. He had some awesome insight that will help me decide what I want to study. 

We had a lesson with Laird later and had some members with us.  He was awesome and is progressing so well, he knows it's all true and wants to be baptized. He is moving back home Feb 14th if he can't find a job. We are going to ask him tomorrow if he wants to be baptized before he leaves or wait until he gets to Texas. But he's an awesome man. 

Wednesday was pretty crazy for missionaries around the world. We had district meeting like usual then had some pizza before we watched the Worldwide Missionary Broadcast. They announced that they are changing our schedule as missionaries. Our morning schedule is not structured and we decide when we want to study and plan, planning is now in the morning instead of at night which  is nice. Then p day also changed a bit, you study and plan for an hour and then p-day starts at 8 so we have 2 extra hours to do stuff.  It's nice so far haha! 

The rest of the week not a ton happened just regular norm stuff. Tried to stay busy, we did more finding this week in that time and unfortunately weren't able to find anyone, but it just means we gotta try harder and the Lord will bless us. 

Sunday was great though!  It's always so great to take the Sacrament and just feel refreshed and feel the spirit. Laird came to church, and so did our friend, not investigators unfortunately,  Bill Oliver. Bill is a Catholic and loves Mormons, knows it's true but believes so firmly in the Catholic Church which is fine.  He has strong faith, which is great. Also Huan Huan got the priesthood! He is so amazing and loves the gospel it's so amazing to witness it! 

P day should be really fun, I'm trying to hit all the cool things in Winston in case I'm leaving next week. 

Elder Bishop and I 

Do the other areas have 4 guys to an apartment as well?  or are there some with just 2 of you?  

Nope there's only 2 in the mission and I got lucky enough to be in one for 6 months!

When do you talk to your mission president?

Last Tuesday 

Have you had much interaction with him?

Sort of not a ton but we email him every week. 

I talked to Sam Szendre today at church.  He leaves for his mission to Mexico in 3 weeks... do you have any advice for him?  

Just be ready to work hard. No of course study the scriptures and preach my gospel. Thats really all you need to do to prepare.

Is there anything you wish you brought or wish you didn't bring?

Not that I can think of! 

I'll take pics today and send some! 

Love you so much! 

Elder Morgan 

1/23/17... A lot of miracles are happing in our area we are so excited! We found 5 new investigators this week!

Sweet pond that had ducks landing in it. 

YOOOOOOOOO 

This week was great! A lot of miracles are happing in our area we are so excited! We found 5 new investigators this week! We were really excited. And put another person on date. I'll explain more, but first I wanted to answer one of my madres questions: What was the most spiritual thing that happened this week? 

Tuesday I think it was, Elder Montandon and I were doing some finding in the evening and we had scheduled to see this lady named Debra, she is 7th Day Adventist but loves talking about Christ like most people here, and just the nicest lady, and had asked us to give here all the pamphlets last time we saw her. We knock on her door she and her husband are sitting there and they let us in. We start talking about their religious background and they turned there lives around and wanted to follow Christ. We eventually get into the Book of Mormon, and we started talking and Elder Montandon was explaining what it was. I was sitting there just thinking to myself wow what an amazing experience and opportunity I have to be here. Here we are, two, 18 and 19 yr old boys testifying of the Book of Mormon to two, 7th Day Adventists that love Christ. I was just reflecting on that and how great it is. They were very interested and said they would read it for there morning studies, it was amazing! 

It might of been later that night we went to a former investigators house and we knock on the door and this guy comes running out, his first question was if we believed in Jesus Christ and we said yes of course, thinking we were just going to get some stupid argument about something. Well the guy was pretty intoxicated so we didnt teach anything just listened to his life story and he was so interested in us coming back he gave us his number and email it was pretty funny. 

We went back to follow up with the guy that was on drugs, and talk to his mom and the guy seemed sober at first but we realized his brain must just be fried from drugs because he kept talking in 3rd person and stuff it was hilarious. 

Update on Huan Huan, he went to china for a month and came back. He found the church there and said its really small but that he loved it because they actually spoke chinese haha. But guess what? He is already sharing the gospel! He has a friend that he wants us to start teaching this week! We are so excited for how well he is doing and his excitement about the gospel. 

We got fed a lot this week it was nice haha i have started to do a workout app in the morning because i have been eating so much and we barely get to workout. But i named it EJ burnouts of course to represent the bandit boys in NC. 

We were able to teach more lessons this week which was really nice. I went on exchange with Elder Barton on Friday to Bethania. Elder Barton is super quiet and Mom, you know that I'm not one to chat anyone's ear off... haha. But we talked quite a bit and it was pretty fun. We rode the bus which was smart, then we went and bought bus passes so we could use them in our area. 

I just finished the Book of Mormon again and then wrote my testimony and how its grown since the last time I read it. It was really nice reflect on it and see how much its grown. I love the Doctrine of Christ, its simple and so amazing. I read and marked a pass along book of Mormon so i think ill send it home to y'all. 

Qs

Are you ready for another Amazon Pantry? 

 ummm I would probably hold off.  Transfers are Feb 7th and there's a good chance I'll be transferred. It's pretty uncommon to stay 7.5 months in your first area.

What were your favorites? 

 Oreos, chips con salsa. 

What do you still have that you don't need more of?

spaghetti os  I have grown out of those things, not too big of a fan anymore haha

Did you send a letter to Gpa Floyd and Gma Phyllis?

I'm pretty sure I did, let me check if the email's correct

Gma Nancy's email is nancyvanslooten@yahoo.com if you could drop her a quick email too.  

yeah i sent one too her, I'll send another though

When are transfers?

Feb 7th

Tell us about a time you felt the Spirit this week.

See above 

Quote or Scripture of the Week. 

Fav scripture and quote of Mormon to his son Moroni that  I read today is Moroni 8:16
"Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear." 

Just such a powerful quote that im going to try and apply this week. 

What was the funniest thing that happened this week?

hmmm probably when we were talking to the drunk guy.  He called me Jason Beaver and we were dying... he was hilarious.

Love you mom! 

Elder Morgan

Hey Dad,

I still think it's crazy Trump is in office. We were eating at a restaurant and we saw some riots in DC on the news, they were throwing gas and flash bangs it seemed pretty wild.   

This week was really good! We just saw so many miracles, 5 new investigators, 2 at church. We are just praying that Laird can get a job so he can stay in the area for his baptism! Sad thing is I'll be leaving most likely on Feb 3rd. I'm kind of scared to go to a new area though I'm not sure what it will be like. 

Thats so sweet Tyler and Sarah sound like they got some nice dates. What if they're both married by the time i am home haha that would be crazy! 

I just finished the Book of Mormon and it was awesome.  I just took some time to think about everything and my testimony.  I really just had a spiritual time this morning during my studies, I wrote about the doctrine of Christ and how I need to live it and that you were such a great example of that. I would watch you read your scriptures everyday. And about our family. I think I'll send the book and you can read it. 

Love you, thanks for being such an amazing example to me

Elder Morgan 

 

1/16/17... Miracles, a Crazy Guy, and Mutual Friends!

Hey this week was so fun! And it flew by!  

Last Monday we just had a chill p day and played Risk... I learned that I suck at Risk! Haha 

Tuesday we walked a lot and it was super snowy still, but it was good we taught a couple lessons so it was worth it. Then we walked through dinner at the Day's house.......so we they asked us what our plans were after the mission and Elder Montandon brings up construction, well brother Day goes--I know a guy that you can contact when you get back to southern California for construction........he said his name is John Schwab (don't know how to spell it) and I go oh i know a John Schwab. Thinking it was a different person of course..... he pulls up his Facebook, it was the Schwabs!!!!! He was in their ward in the Spokane area. He said they would know who he is, his name is Steven Day. Crazy, small world! Then Sunday came and Brother Cunningham gave the lesson... He said lived in Kennewick 8 years ago and was in the Zintel Canyon Ward. He is related to the McClellons somehow. 

Wednesday we also get a referral from the bishop.  He sends us the man's info and we call him. We set up a time to go over that night. His name is Laird and one of them first things he says is, I think I want to get baptized! Heyyyy we can help with that haha. The only set back is that he is moving back to Texas if he can't get a job by February. So if you y'all wanted to pray for someone it'd be him.  

Thursday was super fun! We usually go do service Tuesday at Habitat for a couple hours. Well this week they had us drive down in their vans to King, NC. They were getting his new building and we had to get it ready for them.  Well we got to DESTROY STUFF!  It was so fun, we just wrecked a bunch of furniture and desks.  We also got to take out a wall. I don't know why it's so fun to just thrash stuff sometimes, but we had a blast.  We also got to destroy a couple old TV'S and we took golf clubs to them.  It was awesome. 

That night we go to head out on our bikes and we see Colby, the guy we met late last Sunday night walking into Wendy's by our house. He waves us over and tells me to teach him in Wendy's. Well we had a great lesson, it was a little loud in Wendy's which was kinda hard to have the spirit there but he was very interested said he knew it was true. He also set a baptismal date as well! We are really

hopeful for him and he has such a great desire to change! 

Crazy guy story now... I think it might have been Friday night, we are walking to the area we want to be in and we see this guy across the street. He crosses the street and starts walking to us and he was either interested in talking with us or he was asking for money. Well turned out the man was on some crazy drugs and he was tripping so hard. He kept asking us who we were and how he could get home. We decided we would help him get home before he ends up getting hit by a car or something. He was talking to himself and thinking out loud. It was so weird. He tried to read our minds.  But this ended up being a miracle--we ask him if there's someone we can call. He calls his mom, and guess what the number shows up on our phone! It was a guy I taught with Elder Leavitt a couple months ago that we dropped.  Well his mom picks up and I know exactly where they lived so I took the guy home.  We get there and his mom said that she had been asking God to send messengers!  I guess this guy was supposed to lead us to his mom.  Heavenly Father guides us in strange ways sometimes! 

This week we get the car and we are always hyped about that haha. 

Some great things in our area are happening--we were also able to find 3 new investigators the last 2 weeks!  Heavenly Father blesses us as we work hard and have faith! 

Love you all!

Love you mom! 

Elder Morgan

1/9/17... Snowwww!!!

This week was so great! We are seeing a lot of miracles everyday! Part of those is that we didn't die on the ice the last couple days! 

So we got the car this week which we always love!

So Monday just flew by as does every p-day, but we played some ball, had to go to the mall for Elder Murray's suit. Then we went to dinner at Sister Pruit's with 2 other sisters.  It was great and then we went straight over and visited a less active sister with her son who hasn't been baptized.  We talked about forever families it was so great and she definitely felt the spirit that night. It was such a great start to the week. 

Then that night, 3 other Elders had to come to our apartment to carpool to a meeting with the zone leaders. We had 7 Elders at our apartment Monday night. It was really fun.  I love the other missionaries in our zone.

We had a great day Tuesday as well.  We taught almost 10 lessons which never happens-- it was so awesome!  We also found a new investigator that day.  Also Tuesday we went to a referral from the Spanish sisters--well the guy wasn't there...It turns out they taught him while he was drunk! No wonder he wasn't at the address they gave us haha.

Wednesday was district meeting and it was a pretty slow day.  We were able to have a lesson with some new investigators from a couple weeks ago and it was really good--we taught how the book of Mormon and bible go hand and hand. It really showed me how powerful scriptures are. Alma 31:5  They're more powerful than ANYTHING ELSE!

Friday we went and did service at Habitat which is always great.  It keeps us busy and it really has an impact on people that see us serving there I think. But Friday ended up being really slow, we taught a lesson with the other Elders with a less active lady, and then we had to go get our tire fixed that popped on Monday night. Ya we hit a pot hole and then Elder Montandon and I fixed it pretty quick actually. Well Friday night we ended up finding 2 new investigators--1 seems super solid....she's read the whole book of Mormon! And her son was a new investigator from a couple weeks ago...so it was a miracle that we found her! 

So Friday it snowed and we were hyped!  It only snowed about an inch then stopped. Then we woke up Saturday and there was 8 inches!  Elder Bishop, Elder Watson (they were on exchange) and us went and knocked a neighborhood in the morning in the snow... It was so fun!  People freak out when it snows here too--they buy out all the bread and milk.  No one actually knows why, I think people think the roads will be so bad or something.  But in the afternoon they were fine and we drove. 

Then on Sunday church was cancelled because of the ice.  It dropped 6 degrees that night so it iced pretty bad that night.  We had a little testimony meeting in the morning and then went and we drove and the roads were fine. 

Another miracle--we had dinner with a family Saturday and one of the boy's girlfriends was there and I just felt that I needed to ask her if she wanted to meet with us and learn more, well I did and she was really excited to meet with us this next week. Sunday we had dinner at the Money's and ended up being able to teach 3 lessons Sunday night as well which was nice. 

Oh and we also got the cops called on us--this lady that we knocked into thought we were suspicious. She told the police, 2 white males tried to come witness Christianity to me.  It was really funny. 

I have learned a lot just about missionary work and training has helped me learn quicker.  It's mainly been able to strengthen my testimony of the gospel, of the Book of Mormon, of Joseph Smith, and our Savior.   I don't want to go a day in my life without testifying of the Savior. It's strengthened my testimony a lot by sharing it. 

Are you able to work in this weather?  

Yes! I loved it, we just bundled up 

Is it your bike week?

Nope! 

Do you have boots?  Do you want more toe warmers?  What do you need?  

No I really don't need boots my shoes are fine and they'd just take up space. I'm set on toe and hand warmers for life I think!

Do any other Elder's need anything?

The amazon pantry things are really nice for groceries. Send detergent pods without the febreez stuff 

What was the funniest thing that happened this week?  

Hmm the cop story  

What is the most inspiring thing that happened this week?

I read a parable Christ gave, in Mark 12, the wicked husbandman.  Jesus literally reached half the restoration lesson in one parable. I had to disect it pretty good to really understand it. 

Oh my gosh  this is the question I keep forgetting to ask!!!  
How do we open the gun safe??  You are the only one who knows how...  Do you remember???

Yes I told dad and tyler,  

Oh and what is the combination to the padlock you put on the chandelier?  haha  it is still there!!!

No idea what you're talking about in this question haha sorry 

Love you all so much!

Love yeah mom!! 

Elder Morgan 

 Hahahaha some cheesy winter pics......I hate taking pictures!!.....pictures and shopping 2 of my least favorites 

1/2/17... Wow crazy its already 2017! It was transfers, and I will be with Elder Montandon another 6 weeks.

Wow crazy its already 2017!  This year flew by.  It seems like yesterday we were out on the boat shreddin the Columbia River and walking down the Toyota Center graduating, and tossin some baseballs. 

This week was a little crazy.  It was transfers, and I will be with Elder Montandon another 6 weeks. Which I pretty much knew i would be staying here.  I don't really want to change areas.  Just thinking about moving to a new area makes be scared.  It was so weird just having to meet everybody for the first time in Winston. 

We did a LOT of finding this week!  Yeah super exciting right?  We biked a ton of miles this week.  But to start the week,  transfers were on a weird day and Elder Craig went home so Elder Murray went with us for Tuesday and Wednesday.  It was really fun, we got to drive for those days, which we LOVED haha. We didn't find anyone those days which was a bummer, but we did service at habitat both days for a couple hours. 

Elder Murray drivin us around

Like I said, Elder Montandon and I racked up the miles on the bikes.  We were just trying to be in new areas that we haven't tracted much to find new people. And nothing. All week no one, we were talking to people and just didn't find anyone interested except one potential on Friday night.  Our last door we knocked on an old lady wanted to learn more.  It brightened our day to finish with that.  Saturday same thing, biked, knocked, nothing.  So elder Montandon and I were a little discouraged at this point, we were wet from biking in the rain and cold and didn't have any number to go with it.  Sunday was Fast Sunday and we knew that we needed to fast for new investigators because that's where we were struggling at the time. We bike all day Sunday and again nothing.  It was raining so we were pretty wet again.  We came back, broke our fast, and dug into some lasagna a member brought over.  So we were energized again!  We went out walking to our area because we couldn't even look at out bikes. haha.  We started walking.  It was dark and rainy at this time and we cross this street and Elder Montandon sees this guy down the other road a bit and says we should go talk to him. It was dark and rainy and I wasn't sure this guy would take our money or not haha. But we fear no man, so we went over to him and he had just left his house walking and thinking about life. He was 22 and wondering why the world was changing and why people his age are making bad choices that he didn't like making.  We talked to him about the plan of salvation and he was excited to learn more! We were able to set up a time to meet him at Dunkin Donuts this week haha Dunkin Donuts is a lot bigger in the South, I think.  But we were so happy to finally find someone and this man was prepared by the Lord to hear our message.   It strengthened my testimony a lot to have that experience with fasting and prayer. 

A scripture that really was in my mind a lot this week was Alma 26:27.  Ammon was being rejected by the Lamanites and was getting depressed because of it.  The Lord comforted him and said go back and have patience and I will give you success.  This week I needed to learn patience.  I was wondering why we couldn't find people, but it was because I needed to learn something.  I needed to be patient all the way up until 8:30 on Sunday until the Lord prompted us to speak to the man we didn't even know we were looking for.  I am so gratefull for the Atonement and the love and comfort that it brings to my life for all of my shortcomings. 

I am so glad that Heavenly Father knows my struggles and weaknesses and sometimes tests them to help me learn.  Something I also studied this week was in Helaman 12--why the Lord chastens us.  He chastens us because he loves us.  Our trials are because He loves us. Whenever we are going through a hard time we need to learn something--every time he chastens us, He wants us to learn a specific thing.  I invite you all to remember that, that when life is hard, focus on what we need to learn because that is what the Lord is chastening us for. 

I am glad the fam had a blast in Hawaii, i love y'all and hope you caught some nice waves for me... and maybe got a nice belly rash.

Love you all so much

love you mom!

Elder Morgan

What did you do for New Years?  

nothing special just finding

Do you ever take pictures with your camera?

no i havent taken any, i save all my pictures with my tablet onto google though.

How are your shoes holding up?

they're solid... I've acquired another sweet pair from Elder Craig

Did you like the Thread Wallet?  Is the color okay?  I thought it was cool.  

Ya i love it, its perfect 

What would you say is the gospel principle you've learned the most from in 2016?

oh gosh thats tough, I've learned a lot about patience and the Lord's timing for things. 

Do you need anything???

nope im good right now, i forgot to tell you those tide pods you sent gave my a rash on my stomach somehow. I had to go buy other detergent. 

Make Winston Great Again