1-23-2017

       

 

So first things first--I didn't get an email from you last week (if you sent one) so right now I got the news that D is out and about now! So that makes me really happy. Anyways though, it still sounds like it was a pretty cool week for you guys... and in answer to your question she was NOT a pet... she was our next door neighbor who we gave small lizards to! (PS- OUR CARETAKER ACTUALLY KILLED HER THIS WEEK) So that was super depressing.... but it was fun while it lasted!

It's so true Mommy, from all the things that I've been seeing and stuff... I don't think I would ever be able to look back on this time with the least amount of regret! I wish that I could really describe how much I've changed and grown since I've come here and gone through all that I have! Being here in Dagupan is SO FUN :D

My companion, Elder C is DEAD... and by dead I mean he totally just finished his mission and went home to Manila :) I think he's doing well out there... I'm not too sure! But my new companion is pretty awesome. His name is Elder A from Hamilton, New Zealand and he's 6 foot 5 inches. It's SO FUNNY because everywhere we walk and EVERYONE we talk to mentions how tall the both of us are... which actually makes it really easy to talk to new people because they almost always say something to us as we walk by!

What else can I say? We had a pretty sweet experience going to the beach and finding this kind of strange destroyed chapel... which we totally climbed over and stuff to enjoy!

And we found the absolute KINDEST baby goat... we could literally walk up to him and pick up this baby and he would try to lick our faces! And then Elder A totally took out this mento and gave it to the goat... he tried to eat it for a solid minute before spitting it out! I totally have a video but you'll have to see it after my mission xD

Anyways though, this is gonna be kind of short... but I have some pretty fun pictures so you guys can get an idea of how we're doing out here! :)

Love you guys so much!

Elder Morris

We got some SWEET pictures on the beach and with the friendly goat!

1-16-2017

My week is very simple! We had a really fun time in all the things that happened... so one of the awesomestest things is the fact that we went bowling this last Monday here at the mall... it was really fun. It was the last P-day of my companion, Elder C! He actually went home just earlier... so here is also one of the last pictures that I have with him... it was actually really sad to see him go. I think that he was one of my favorite companions so far in my mission :D

I hope that you guys remember Canon, the spider that we had caught over a month ago when Elder C's camera totally fell into the fish pond.... so she's been growing and just this week we fed her a small lizard and she literally sucked it dry! That's the reason why I have such an awesome picture! :D

I have a pretty interesting story about why I have a picture with all those kids in the middle of our place called Tukok... so I was actually there and saw my first cockfight. It was just these two old men who had decided to fight their two roosters (don't worry it wasn't how other people do it... there two didn't fight super rough because I guess sometimes when they do that... they literally like tie blades to the roosters feet so it fights better) and so as I'm starting to take a video of this... this huge group of kids just comes out of nowhere and jumps into the vido --- I'll try to send it this coming week--- so I decided to get a picture of that :) I feel like it kind of gets an idea of how it is to be out here among such people... there are some people who have really nice homes and some who live in a little more than concrete walls and a tin roof.

Sorry this email is kind of short- but I'm so happy to be able to share all of my stories and fun things that have been happening :) Though I wish I could cover even 1% of all the things that happen!

Love you guys so much,

Elder Morris

Ps.

I used the staples to fix a tear in my shoes and then flattened them some so it doesn't do anything to my shoes... I'm gonna use these shoes out before I get new ones :) Which aren't super expensive! However, if it's okay with you guys--- when my debit card comes I'm going to withdraw some money to get a suit made here (because Dagupan is the only place here that has people who do that)--- it'll probably cost between 4,000 and 5,000 Pesos... which isn't even 100$ for a handmade tailored suit in the Philippines :)

 

 

1-15-2017

I wish I had a ton of time to reply to everything... but I don't. So I just want to say how happy I am to have heard about everything that has happened this last week! It sounds like there are tough things that have happened... and I'll be sure to remember everyone in my prayers. :) It makes me so happy to hear about life changing experiences. Don't worry Dad about the firewood--just endure this one winter you guys :D I'm honestly looking foreward to being able to cut wood again (not sure though if it's because I love the outdoors or if I just really want to get rid of this rice gut)!! And take care, Things will all work out for the best :)

Adam, good job for taking care of the animals! Even if it means getting a bump of your head from the horse xD

Peter, looking like a swagger in those glasses!

Hannah lookin' like a nerrrrd ;) But an awesome nerd!

And goooood job Mommy for running 8 miles a day... that sounds really hard! :O

I dunno what happened to Jacob- but wherever you are... keep being weird :D

If you don't understand some of the pictures I took... feel free to ask questions ;) yes, we totally went fishing and that is what is called a bangus. (NOT pronounced bang-is)

And there is another picture of Balut... one of my favorite foods out here! ;)

We also ate at this little kids style restaurant that served really good food... so there we are sitting at this tiny table xD

So overall, my week has been just insanly crazy and SO MUCH FUN. I don't think that I have ever had so much fun in my life :) Every day I'm learning more and getting to meet new people and everything! Sure it's hard... nobody ever told me this would be easy, but it's still just so wonderful! :D

Love you guys so much, take care y'all crazies!!!!

~Elder Morris

I wish that i had a whole lot of time to email and tell you guys all about my week--- we are going bowling today with Elder C to celebrate his LAST P-day here in Dagupan and on his mission! It totally means that we are going to enjoy it with him!

Something we did earlier as a zone was what is called a "Boodle Fight" I'm not entirely sure what it means... but basically we made a big table and put rice and other food on banana leaves and then ate with our hands. It was actually SUPER fun, I think that something that I'll have to do when I get home is teach y'all how to really eat rice and things with your hands :D

 

Also, we had apartment checks this week- so we took pictures with all the Elder and Sisters so that you can see them :) The apartments I am glad to say are pretty clean!

Love you guys so much!

Elder Morris

 

 

12-26-2016

MALIGAYONG PASKO AT MALIGONG BAGONG TAON!! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!     I think I won't email a whole ton, since I totally skyped already ;) But here are pictures for the week! There was a 64 year old man who cuts wood for a living and he had a chainsaw that was almost as long as I am TALL!!! It was awesome, he also had a super chunky pig!! xD

The one with the sitting kid was really humbling because like you heard... we were on ABS-CBN tv giving gift packages to poor families. So while they were all waiting I saw this one kid... and he was super cute, but you can really tell by the picture that life isn't easy. I was also really humbled that day when a sister came up and asked me to take her child.

 

 

 I've really been changed by everything in my mission, and I'm so grateful for it :)

We had a great christmas dinner at a buffett place with our ward mission leader, Brother B! He's SUPER cool and way nice :)

Love you guys so much!!! Ingat po kayo palagi,

~Elder Isaac Morris


12-19-2016

Other pics.

WOODSTOCK FO LIFE!!!!! (im not too sure about the nazi sign or the cross though....) And we had delicious pizza with the Sisters at a pizza place called Shakeys!

Whew, I'm super happy by the email! And am super happy for the new news.... I know that I should be sad , but in my own thoughts and feelings... I feel like it's a miracle.  If there is anything that made me really happy, it was hearing about the alpacas and getting them captured! That sounds like it was a blast, though I am curious if they spit at you ever or not ;)

Anyways, it sounds like there is a lot of good that is going on! :) And Hannah, don't worry about the guy... it's his fault if he doesn't notice you! Haha, and congrats Jacob on being ordained a priest... which means you get to bless the sacrament (and you're basically my height now... so that's way fun!) 

Mommy, I vote in favor of Adam and Peter getting the Christmas week off... I mean after all it IS Christmas ;) Or at the least you could make them half days!

My biggest news is that Tatay T and S got baptized this Saturday :D :D :D (Sorry, the only picture I have is blurry... but I'll hopefully send a new one when my ward mission leader emails us the pictures) But it was such a fun experience! It was kind of rough though at first considering the fact that there was NO WATER in the chapel for like 2 hours, and when it did get water finally it was kind of a gross brown. Eventually though it was all sorted out and we started the program at almost 6pm when it should have started at 4 :)P However, it was a really great experience and Tatay T was just SO HAPPY, I mean he was just beaming! (It's pretty fun to be around when an old man is just super happy). I could really feel that he was ready for his baptism!! S was really happy too, but she's always kind of shy around people... but I could tell that is was a good experience for her too!

     I think that seeing someone enter into the waters of baptism is one of the great miracles of missionary work, and I feel honored to see people have their lives change through their acceptance of the gospel of Jesus Christ!

   Other than that though, this week was just INSANE!

Monday- PDAY

Tuesday- Christmas Conference- It was SUPER fun because we gathered as 4 or 5 zones to celebrate Christmas and really felt the spirit! Elder C and I got to give a workshop to all of the missionaries about looking for the hightlight moments in the mission field and were really uplifted my missionaries sharing their favorite moments! We also watched some movie called RISEN about a roman soldier who was given the comission by Pilate to search out the claims of a risen Christ. It was okay, but kind of weird in all honesty... I don't think that the apostles were very well portrayed, but it was still a pretty neat movie :)

Wednesday- 4 Baptismal interviews for another set of Elders here in Dagupan and a Family Home Evening.

Thursday-Planning meeting and sorting out what to do for a gift giving at a nearby hospital.

Friday- Gift giving at Region 1 Hospital here in Dagupan!!! It was SUPER fun, we sung fun songs and played some games with the children who are at the hospital and gave away a bunch of gifts. It was a good experience to cheer up children who are in the hospital over the Christmas season #LightTheWorld # I rode on the back of a jeep going to the hospital #white guy wearing santa hat on jeep in the philippines

Saturday- 3 more Baptismal interviews for another set of Elders and then the baptism itself

Sunday- Church and teaching our great investigator named N :) Oh, and we now have a set of Sisters here in the ward, I think they will only be there for a month, but it's pretty cool. Hopefully they can help us with the work here!

So basically this week we have had NO TIME to actually work, but it was a great week! I'm super excited to be able to Skype home this coming Saturday morning! (So Friday evening for you guys) I can't wait to see you guys and share some of the crazy things that have happened since I came here :D

Love you guys so much, and MERRY early CHRISTMAS :D :D

~Elder Morris

PS- you may wonder about all the chairs, we had an activity during District Meeting where we made a giant maze and then led a blindfolded missionary through it while others were giving him false directions... it was a crazy fun activity!!