6/26/17...Soooo! I'm in Pineville! ...and Chrystal, Deniel and Syrenity got baptized!

Sooooo! I'm in Pineville! So Tuesday was transfer day. Mikey took Elder Kimball and I out to breakfast before we had to head out. Then we left at 10:00 and left for the mission office in Charlotte. Got my new companion and we headed out for Pineville, which is just a suburb of Charlotte. And it is so nice. It is worlds nicer than Salisbury and Winston, economy wise. It's probably one of the nicest areas I've ever seen....like in my life. A ton of shopping centers and nice restaurants. Also a ton of apartment complexes so it's super nice for finding people to teach. You can knock way more doors in such a short time it's really nice. 

We did a lot of planning for out zone week that is coming up. I can't even remember what all happened Tuesday or Wednesday but Thursday and Friday were crazy. 

Thursday Elder Grieve and I got to drive back to Salisbury for the baptism of Chrystal and her 2 kids Deniel and Syrenity. It was so good I loved it. Got to see Bishop Daines again and the rest of the members it was so fun. Got to see Mikey and Patrick there too it was sweet. It was so good seeing Chrystal again. I guess she got me a present and is coming to give it to me when it come haha. Then after the baptism Patrick and Mikey took us out to dinner. It was so fun. They are so funny it was a blast, they're coming down to take us to Top Golf next week too haha. I'm excited it was a blast. 

Then Friday we went to district meeting with the Waxhaw district and it was super good, talked about some good tools we have to help us plan. Then we went on exchanged and I went to Waxhaw with Elder Lewis who is a new missionary in the mission. It was so fun! We biked and biked far haha. My legs were feeling it at the end of the day. We had a great day though, talked to a lot of great people and ended up finding a new investigator. Then we biked back... got back a bit after 9 and Elder Lewis realized we were LOCKED OUT! And the keys were inside! It was terrible haha! We sat outside while we were sweaty hot and biked all day for almost 2 hours until we got someone to come and Jimmy rig this door open. It was wild! And we got eaten alive by mosquitos and probably spiders, you never know in the south-- there are crawlers everywhere. It was a super fun exchange though, he had only been out 1 transfer so it was nice talking to him about how things are going. 

Sunday was great, I got to meet a lot of the members and the ward council, I never like to change and so I'm really just trying to get to know everyone and get to know the area as quick as I can. It's kind of hard because the area seems really confusing right now. But I'm working at it and I'm so excited to be companions with Elder Carroll.  He is one of the nicest people ever. We are super similar in our interests and stuff so I've loved it so far.  I'm so excited for the rest of the transfer. Our transfer vision is to make this the best 6 weeks because that's probably all we'll get together. I'm really just trying to learn the area and responsibilities so I can contribute as much as I need to and he's not doing most of it. 

Not a lot of time now but I love y'all! I will write a more detailed letter next week! 

My address is: 

9100 Fisherspond Dr, Apt. E1

Charlotte, NC 28277

Love y'all!

 

 

6/19/17... Transferssss... I'm going to Pineville Ward!

Cleanest apartment award! What? 

So funny last night we were at dinner with the Daines family, such an amazing family, and some of their kids and grandkids were there. Had a great dinner and she comes out and asks to call our parents. They are so nice, she has such a big heart. I knew y'all would be just getting out of church too. 

Obviously she told y'all already. But I got a call Saturday from President.  I'm getting transferred to Charlotte South to be in the Pineville ward. I have heard so many great things about it I'm so hyped to go there. My new companion is Elder Carrol. I have heard so many great things about him.  I'm so excited for this next transfer. We'll most likely be together only 1 transfer because he has already been there 6 months. I'm excited to go to work with him there. Elder Carroll trained Elder Kimball so he has told me all about him. Elder Kimball will be with Elder Leach, a pretty old missionary that I've never met. 

We had a great lesson with Tara this last Tuesday, the spirit was so strong. We decided to just answer all the questions she had written down from last time she met with missionaries. We finished by talking about the importance of a testimony of the Book of Mormon and how she can recognize the Spirit. She recognized the Spirit right then and we pointed out that she was feeling the Spirit. It was a sweet moment. Then she came to our church lesson on Wednesday night. We talked about the spirit world because that was another one of her questions. It was great. Still just looking to help her get a job so she can come to church with us! 

Bennet kids!! 

The Bennett are getting baptized this Thursday! Satan has been trying so hard to make this not work for them. They were in the hospital all yesterday morning during church because her sister fed the baby table food. Then they have been in and out of court because of the 8yr old step son...who's mom won't let him get baptized. But she is so strong she has such a strong testimony of the gospel and just soaks in everything it's amazing. That family is so fun! I'm going to miss them so much! President came down to interview them this last Sunday, and told me that I should go on exchanges with Elder Grieve so we can come back down to see them get baptized....Elder Grieve is the new assistant!  We have 3 assistants right now and one of them is a traveling assistant, he will just go on a lot of exchanges!  Pretty sweet but really I don't think I'd like to do that, you wouldn't get to teach people consistently. I wish I could send some videos I have of the Bennet kids. They are seriously the cutest little kids. I have some pictures I'll send. 

Last Monday was so fun! We went up to High Point with the zone leaders and the welcome sisters, it was supposed to be a district activity but on of the companionships always bail...lame. But it was so fun we went to Get Air and it was awesome.  You feel like such a little kid bouncing around for an hour like that. Elder Kimball biffed it so hard. There is a ninja course with monkey bars and he jumped swung on the monkey bars and his feet swung out from under him and he landed straight on his back on the platform. It made the loudest thud the whole place looked right at him. He ended up just getting shaken up and it was honestly kind of hard not to laugh at a fall like that haha. 

Last night when we were teaching Chrystal and the family her mom was there and she asked us about church and stuff and we talked to her about the book of Mormon and she we so interested, it was awesome! She is coming to the baptism so hopefully she'll continue to investigate! 

Did you get the package from Jill and E?  She said she got a response that you weren't home and that you would have to pick it up>>> She felt so bad to have to make you do that.  See if you can track it down before you move.  

Yes I got it! It was the new Southridge hat! I loved it! So nice of them to send that. They're the best. 

Who is your new companion?

Elder Carroll from American Fork, Utah 

Is Elder Kimball staying there?  Who is he going to be with?

Yes, with an Elder Leach 

Have you talked with your Mission President much?  

Ya talked to him the other day and he approved Elder Grieve and I to come back for the baptism. 

How is Tara doing?

So good! She is still super interested.

Do you need anything?  

Maybe an Amazon pantry box when I get to the new apartment. 

Shout out to dad. Happy father day I love you and am so grateful for all you do for me and the support you give me. 

Shout out to mom. Happy birthday! I love you and I don't know what I'd do without you! 

Love y'all! 

Elder Morgan 

Happy birthday mom! I love you so much you are seriously the best! I can't even begin to explain how much of an amazing person and mom you are! I love you so much! It was really nice hearing your voices yesterday. I am actually sending off a package today lol! Love you mom! I'll write the big email now w some details maybe 1 or 2 details we'll see. 

Love you

 

6/12/17..I don't know what I did to deserve to be in a such a great place and to witness so many miracles.

Such a golden week! I'm so glad I'm serving a mission and am here in Salisbury I don't know what I did to deserve to be in a such a great place and to witness so many miracles.

This Tuesday we went to teach the Bennets the Law of Chastity and Word of Wisdom. We went over and they had some company there with them.  They were couple of 20 yr old college students and Chrystal insisted that they sit in. We start teaching and it was all good for a bit then they just started to take the lesson south of course you can guess what the 2 college students were like. It was an interesting lesson haha. But we just went over them both the next time we saw them so they understood. The whole family besides Aaron  came to the Wednesday night class at the church and the kids were even answering questions about temples. Then they came to church on Sunday! It was perfect, we had a linger longer that same day. The family seemed to love it. They even brought 2 friends to church with them! Chrystal asked if she could even come teaching with us! We are so stoked for them! They're still set for the 22nd. 2 days after transfers so we'll see if I'll get to stay! 

The other miracle! We went over to teach Tanner's sister, Tara!  She was looking out the window to see when we would get there. She seemed so excited! She even came to the lesson at the church that same night and was participating and seemed to be super intrigued by temples. She volunteered to say the closing prayer and it was so good.  She just expressed how happy and intrigued she was. We teach her again tomorrow so we're stoked to get to be a part of it! 

Last Monday was so fun! We went to a park and just cooked out. Played spikeball, kickball, and had a watermelon eating contest....I totally won the watermelon eating contest and got gypped. We had to eat all the way till it's all white and I got down there first and starting gagging because the white tastes terrible so I couldn't go on, but I totally won. It was so fun, I had watermelon coming out of my nose after. 

This ward here is so much fun! Dinners with the families here are the best. Saturday we ate at the Arntsens and then Sunday the Thomas' like every Sunday and it is always so fun there. The ward feeds us like crazy too, our whole month is filled right now. This Wednesday we have a zone conference in Greensboro that should be super good.  I'm excited for it. Next Saturday we get transfer news to see who stays or goes... then transfers are the 20th. 

This week we also had something called Zone week. The whole zone would get on group chat in the morning and someone would send in a video or council topic and we would discuss it or share the best practices. It ended up being pretty good it was funny they would do a limited time hashtag for the new investigators you could use when you send them in and it sounds lame but these are the things that are exciting as a missionary lol. I've realized that a lot of things in life can seem lame or unexciting but everything is what you make it.  If you think something or some event is going to be lame...it'll be lame. But if you have a different attitude and think, we can make this fun, then it'll be fun. 

Today we are going to a trampoline park and then bowling probably! 

Love y'all! 

Elder Morgan 

6/5/2017.. It seems like yesterday that I got to Salisbury. I love it here

 

Sushi thanks to Uncle Dave!

Man the weeks just keep flying by I don't get it haha! 

It seems like yesterday that I got to Salisbury. I love it here. I don't want to leave whenever that is. We have 2 weeks left in the transfer and I have no idea what's happening, I could stay or I could go idk yet. But what I really can't believe is that next transfer I hit my year mark. I feel like it's been a couple months since I came out. 

It has been raining a ton lately, last week it rained almost all week and then last night it started pouring as we were knocking some doors right before our dinner so we showed up soaked! 

We are super excited about the Bennet family still!  Chrystal and her husband Aaron came to church!  She didn't bring the kids because they were with their grandma which was a bummer but we were pretty stoked to have her there with Aaron. I guess Aaron loved it and he wants to video chat us when he isn't working so we can continue to teach him!  It would be a miracle if he was able to get baptized the 22nd with the rest of the family!  But we're stoked for them.  Chrystal is a solid right now, we made a schedule for her with all of the church events and she is getting really involved with relief society so she's getting fellowshipped really well right now. She keeps telling us these stories of her past that were just her being prepared to hear the gospel at this exact moment.  She says as she reads the Book of Mormon that her conscience will bring things to her remembrance and she realized it was the Spirit! 

Bill also came to church again! I think he is starting a like it!  He leaves before Sacrament is over every week because of his health conditions but it's pretty amazing that he keeps coming back to stay for a short time!  We also had a lady named Sharon come to church!  She was a miracle!  We were looking for a less active family and we knocked on the door and she told us to come in, we asked if she was the lady we were looking for and she said no.  We were confused of why she let us right in then. She told us she met with missionaries quite a while ago in another city.  She realized we were sent from God to meet her there. She loved church! 

The other day we were in a neighborhood looking for some people and we knocked on a door that looked like a family. We talk to a teenager and he tells us we can come back. He told us he has a family of 11!  We were so siked to go teach them...they missed their return appointment but we are still hoping to teach them all soon.  That would be so fun! 

Friday we had to drive over to Asheboro so I could interview some people for baptism.  It was such a great experience for me! The mom of this family was so excited to be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost!  It made me a happy to see her so excited about it and for her 2 boys and well!  It was an amazing experience! 

Lately I've been thinking quite a bit about faith. So many times the Savior says thy faith hath made thee whole or thy faith hath saved thee. Miracles are wrought about by our faith and as we exercise our faith.  And what it means to exercise faith is to put your faith in action and trust that the Lord will provide miracles as you do the things He has asked of us. There is power in faith and in the priesthood and I'm so grateful for the knowledge and power the priesthood brings into our lives and for the Fullness of the Gospel here on the earth today. 

We also went and saw Tanner's sister!  We went and talked with her the other day and she was so nice!  I told her I was sent by Tanner and she realized that was the package.  We set a return appointment so we're excited, we're going to teach this Wednesday!  I have a good feeling about it. 

Nothing super new this week though!  We've got a zone activity today up in Jamestown, NC so hopefully it's not too cold or rainy, we got Spikeball from the Thomas'  to bring up there.  It'll be fun!  We're also trying to do an Olympics (we're coming up with a ton of events to compete in haha) with the Thomas' and Smyres before transfers so that should be super fun! 

Love you all so much! 

Hope y'all have a wonderful week!