6-12-2017

Howdy do to you, family! It's great to know that y'alls be stillz alive out deer in good o Virginee! The pictures of the sheep are so awesome, Peter's got swag with the hat and his wonderful date ;) It's really neat to hear about what you've been trying to do Mommy about listening to church music and stuff at the start of your runs, and the strength that you have been receiving because of it!! It's interesting that you mentioned goals- because I was studying it the other day and I realized the reason why there ARE goals!

We set goals above our current capabilities to help them increase, and once our capabilities reach our goals- those goals increase! I felt that was something that can be applied in becoming perfect, we focus on those goals which increase our current capabilities :D

MOMMMMEEEEEEEE HAPPY BIRTHDAY :D :D :D You're an old lady now!

Haha, hope your birthday goes great- and don't worry if sometimes you feel like a bad mom, maybe just forgetful sometimes ;) But you're the greatest Mom ever, so don't get down on yourself hehe! 

Anyways, I guess I'd better let you know about how my week has been! In simple words- AWESOME!!!

So the first experience and probably the one most fun to share is that we had a  baptism this week for E! It was on Saturday in the afternoon (right before a mutual activity so all the youth attended as well) and it was so cool! E was so ready for baptism! We had also invited our investigators to come, C and S both came and said it was a really neat experience!

Hopefully you guys like the pictures, E is a really goofy person (and really short haha)! To get an idea, her testimony was really awesome after the baptism and then at one point she said "I'm grateful to God that he listened to my prayer and let the Cavaliers win the Finals" (Because I guess earlier that day or something, the Cavaliers beat Golden State in the NBA) It was just really funny! We are now going to be focusing on her mom and helping her to also progress :)

We have upcoming interviews this weekend for C and J- which is super exciting as well! They have been progressing really well and are ready to be baptized!!!

     We had a funny experience as well this week, so in case you don't know... our investigator B had a troubled past and a lot of regrets, but has been finding peace in this message. Well anyways, he had a long greasy ponytail when we met him and wore clothes that were kind of grungy.... yeah he's clean shaven now and has a neat haircut and new clothes! It was a pretty funny experience because we went to his house and I legit almost didn't recognize him because of his new appearance!!

I think that what's been helping us a ton in the work right now is the fact that Elder G is very enthusiastic and it has been rubbing off on me :D Haha, the work is good- although it's hot and humid now #rainy season

With Lots of Love, (HEY, don't count down the days until I get home--- (Btw, I saw my release date... it's Nov 8th... so like 149days.)) Haha, just kidding- I feel lukewarm about going home one day, as much as I miss you guys--being a missionary is so awesome!

Elder Morris Blue is an awesome color hahahaha

PS- OH, I totes forgot, I finally got a picture with a jeepney this week- we were sitting after the baptism and I realized that I never had a picture with one, so we took some! And then on the way back from a special broadcast in Aguilar the jeepney was full so Elder E and I got to ride on the back-- it was pretty fun! (Don't worry, we weren't in a ton of danger--the vehicles here do NOT move very fast, especially the jeepneys)

6-4-2017

Haha, I was pretty shocked... that's the most we've had since I got here! It's kind of hard because it means that there is so much for us to do and seemingly not enough time to be able to do it! It's so funny to hear about shearing Phil- I actually miss the experience of wrestling down sheep xD It's awesome to hear as well that the missionaries there are cool- it's always pretty lame if the missionaries are boring!!! But anyways, I'm afraid now of going home and to church in Winchester just because I KNOW I"M GOING TO FREEZE.

I think it's funny Mommy, how I used to make fun of you for always being cold and I'm going to be stuck in that same boat when I come back from this hot hot country xD

Anyways, it has been another great week! I don't know if it's because of our work, or if it's just because Elder G is an awesome missionary, but we've been seeing a lot of fun times and good, spiritual moments here in Bugallon! We were also blessed to see an increase in Zone effort! Something that we gave as a challenge to the missionaries here is 10 lessons a day, and though not all of us reached it every day... it really made a difference in how hard we're working!

Anyways though, our biggest news is that E is getting ready for baptism this coming Saturday! We weren't worried at all about her interview because she really knows it all! :D We're so excited for that this coming Saturday, I can't wait to let you guys know how it goes!

Sis still doing as awesome as ever and came to church last Sunday! We were talking to her on Tuesday and she told us that she feels like she should be baptized :D That was a really awesome experience!
There was something pretty funny though that happened! So perhaps you remember C and B? So C had been having a whole lot of questions and doubts while B is the opposite, just accepting everything... so last Saturday we introduced them to each other---to make a long story short: we're moving C's baptism date to be with Bs! That's because they became really good friends really quick and he's helped a lot with her concerns in just one day! :) It honestly surprises me to think that one of our investigators is becoming a big fellowshipper for a different investigator!!

        It's just so much fun to be here in Bugallon- it's weird to think that I'm coming up on 19 months in the mission. But don't worry, I'm trying to make the best use of the time that I've been given!

This is a short email, hope you don't mind :D I know this computer has viruses and so I won't send pictures this week- just imaging a piece of fried chciken in the middle of a field and that's me!!! We're also going to make the baptismal program for E today- so I gotta have time for that :)P

Love you guys,

Elder Morris

Philippines Urdaneta Mission

November2015-November2017

5-28-2017

Well howdy do! It makes me laugh that the first things I hear is that there is still a escape artist sheep---and good things it's gone! You guys need to save some of that Alpaca meat for when I get home, I totally want to try some :D :D

I realized in that picture with the catfish that I have gotten a *little* darker, and I really only mean a little---I miss those catfish! Adam and Peter have grown up a ton!!

It's funny that Jacob and Sammy are counting down the days (just for their news, as of today I have 5 months and 10 days, but who's counting ;)) Don't worry, I'm not homesick... we're too busy here for me to have time to be homesick! I'm really happy to hear about how Dexter is doing, I really can't wait to see him again--he'll probably laugh when he sees that I'm the color of fried chicken now xD

It's weird to think about all the things that have changed since I left (and how many things haven't.... #Jacoblovingbacon #AdamandPeteraregoofs #chickenbutt #farmwork #puwitngmanok #hashtags)

Anyways, All I can really say is WOW, it was a busy week, and I can safely call this week "Miracle Week" as I sit here and go over the last week with my new companion, Elder G! Something that we've been doing is striving to have power to achieve the goals that we set. And this week we were blessed with 13 investigators coming to church, many of which were "first time" visitors. I think that what my companion has been doing is what helped them to be comfortable. INVITE INVITE INVITE. Every lesson with anyone, we would tell them how happy we would be to see them on Sunday, and for investigators we encourage them to just try and see what it's like there- and then promise that they will enjoy it!

     And boy, we were surprised to see those precious souls come to church!!

  We visited some of those who went to church yesterday and they said that they really enjoyed it- and made a lot of new friends!

There is one investigator that I would love to tell you about, someone we actually met this last Tuesday who came to church yesterday, her name is S... one of our new investigators. In this week, I was taught me a lot about being sensitive to the spirit and about the calling as missionaries, with an increased testimony that people ARE being prepared for this gospel! So we just finished teaching one of our investigators and were walking down the street to get to the highway when a silly group of kids ran up to us and told us to go and visit this one home (one of the kids was this sisters son)... and so Elder G and I decided "Why not??" and called at the home, no sooner than 10 seconds pass when a kind sister of 31 years old comes out--without us even having time to introduce ourselves or to even say hi, she tells us to come in. It kind of took me back for a second because we literally just called "tao po" and she was letting us in. In the beginning of us getting to know her, we find out that she has never ever met the missionaries or "Mormons"- which really surprised me because she let us in with NO hesitation. A very spiritual first lesson passed and she gave the closing prayer, expressing afterwards that that was the first time that she had ever prayed from her heart- and was very happy about it!

Our second visit just amazed me, because she was so ready to receive the message of the restoration: after the closing prayer of that lesson (she once again prayed, and nearly cried)- she expressed what she was feeling and we helped her to identify that as the Spirit.

After a few seemingly breathless moments, she smiles with tears in her eyes, looks to the sky and quietly says

           "Amazing."

It truly was amazing, she then committed to come to church the next Sunday, and yesterday she came! She even brought her two kids and expressed that she really enjoyed it!

    -For Elder G and I, it was a miracle-

Our other investigators who came to church have similar stories: B, who was born into a rich family but after losing his parents.... lost everything through "riotous living" and now is searching for truth. We were sharing the other day with him and he expressed absolute desire to be baptized and have a "home base" in life! It's really awesome, he's the one who does home remedy and stuff--the other day we ran into him at a members home and decided to have our blood pressure checked, mine was 130 over 90 (which I guess is a little higher than it should be.. maybe it was just from a busy day of work!)

We are so excited for this month, because there are upcoming baptisms this June, which we are really excited about!!! The way Elder G and I have it planned, we expect and hope to have weekly baptisms starting June 10th! The work here is REALLY picking up, I think it was a revelation to have Elder G here in Bugallon! The  closest one we have is E, she's been progressing consistantly and awesomely since we met her!

So long story short: This week was Amazing :) Elder Gand I have become really close friends pretty quick: and I decided to just tell everyone that I'm from Manila (b/c I'm just so tan, hahaha) and the scary part is that a LOT of people actually believe it xD

But that's really all that I can say about this week, and this coming week is going to be incredibly busy--Elder G and I have a lot of work to do!!! :)

I hope that things keep doing well back home, don't stress over the little things! That's one of the biggest things that I've learned while being here, is that there isn't a reason to stress over things that don't matter: but to enjoy every minute of it :D

Nagmamahal,

Elder Morris

Ps- Interesting food for the week: Hard-boiled quail eggs! They were way good, just imagine a hard boiled egg, but reeeeeallly small!!

      Oh, and we totally found this HUGE grasshopper outside our apartment, it was way cool xD

5-22-2017

5-22-2017

Howdy do! It's so great to hear from you guys again- it sounds like it's been a really good week out there with a bunch of adventures. I was confused by the picture with all the pitchers and stuff until I learned that it was 7-11 and you just got a whole ton of slurpees. That's so funny :D

The Alpacas look pretty gross without all the wool or whatever it's called, but they must be so cute in real life..!!

I'm just happy to hear that things are going good at home :)

Anyways, this week was AWESOME! We have some really great people to teach--but before that, the biggest news is that Elder L has been transferred back to Bayambang zone to a different area. It's weird because he wasn't even 3 months here before he transferred, but we're trusting President D's revelation!

My new companion is Elder G and he's from a part of the Philippines called Cagayen De Oro, which is in Mindanao- he's pretty new in the mission (Like 7 months) and is really awesome. He's 26 years old almost 27--so he's super old! It was a weird few days because I had to get used to speaking Tagalog all the time again, as Elder L and I just spoke English together, haha!

It's been real fun though, he's a great teacher and I can tell that we're going to have an awesome time these next few weeks!

    The work here is still just as progressing as ever! C cried and was all sad that Elder L was gone, but we clarified that the missionaries may change but the calling and the message is the same- and she came to church last Sunday as well! For the 7th time in a row :D This week we're really going to push baptism and get her committed to it!

     E and J also came to church again, and are still reading and praying, we're excited for their upcoming baptisms in June :D

     We also had 3 newer investigators come to church, one of which is named B! He lives with a less active family and does "Oriental Medicine" as a job (Like acupuncture and stuff)- By listening to his life story and everything, we learned that he is REALLY interested in finding a "home base" in life that can give him peace of mind! We promised actually that he'll find that here, especially through the Book of Mormon! He came to church last Sunday and made a lot of friends because everyone here is for some reason interested in "home remedies" and so he also found a lot of potential 'clients' hehehe :)

    Actually, we've really been finding success here and are having a great time! This week is going to be awesome, although it may take a little more adjustment for me to get used to Elder G- but it'll be awesome :) Ummmm... funny stories for this week? Well, before Elder L transferred, we decided to take a "First Presidency of Aguilar Zone" picture and it looks so legit xD Or that Nobody here believed that Elder L transferred, everyone thought that Elder L would be back tomorrow--that is until Elder G bore testimony on Sunday and told everyone that Elder L is really gone!!! That was pretty funny! 

It's just been a great week, we're so excited to be missionaries and serving here in Urdaneta Mission :D

Take care all y'all crazies, love yah! Keep taking care and being awesome!!

Elder Morris

Ps- I got to look into some colleges and I realized that I don't have to worry too much considering that I can just apply for Spring/Summer semesters when I go home :)P


 5-8-2017

Howdy do to all of you! It's really awesome to once again hear from you guys :D It's so scary how fast time has been flying- like it feels like just yesterday I was here emailing you about the crazy guy sneaking into our bathroom. But it's been a week. And another "Crazy Guy FREE" week--we've been doing safe :D

I'm really happy to hear that you got to see Dexter, next time you go and see him- let him know that "Elder Sir Isaac the Awesome" says hey wazzup man :) And of course that I love him, hehe!

Anyways, it's so awesome to hear how things are going along back home, I see how some things might be stressful- but I really feel like you guys can handle it very well! It's super exciting that there are 16 new lambs this year :D That's a TON!!!

Well, this week has been REALLY awesome! We have once again worked hard in the work where- And had a really neat experience this previous Sunday when we had 3 investigators come to church- all of which are very progressing :D One of our investigators who came to church (Though not here---she went to visit Cavite because she had to fix some things back home--and so she went to church in Cavite instead) actually texted us on Sunday, and it was really awesome!

So the backround of this is that she told us that she would be in Cavite for a few days and wouldn't have much to do, so we invited her to take the Book of Mormon and read/ponder/pray and so she did. Which was really cool- so she texted us on Sunday and this is what she said

(Of Course, this is translated into English just so y'all know what it said)

 Hi Elder, I just got home from church- You actually texed me but I didn't see or read it until now. I'm happy that even though I'm here I was still able to communicate with you. I did what the Study that you shared. Bit by but Elder I'm understanding it... and I was able to feel peace, and my feeling was light. I think that was it.

So... the translation isn't perfect, but you guys get it hopefully. She's really been searching this and we have every reason to feel and see that she knows this is true now! It was a really neat experience and we're so excited to go back and teach her this week :D :D

Today, we're actually in Dagupan because we're going to get our suits today so expect some great pictures :D It's really funny because tomorrow morning we actually have a meeting in Urdaneta, so we're staying here until 6 and then are going to go and sleep in Urdaneta--it'll be way fun :D

Oh, and for the pictures::: We totally made and cooked some homemade Softshelled tacos last Monday- they were DELICIOUS :D

                                     For the National Day of Service, we went to this one Less Active members home and cleared a whole bunch of weeds, good things the weeds were all vines, so with some elbow grease we could just roll them and get rid of them!

 

But that was about it for the week: I'm really looking forward to Mothers Day this week :) Love you guys so much!!! Seeya in 6 Months!

~Elder Morris

May 1 2017

Whew! Sorry if this is a long email- hopefully y'all don't mind too much! I'm really happy to hear from you guys this week- it sounds like things are going along really well back home :) I had to laugh just a little about hearing about the missionaries back home in Woodstock- because I totally know missionaries out here that are just like that!!! It's pretty weird to be on the other side of the picture.

Anyways, It's totally awesome as well to hear about the Woodstock Youth and YSA all growing up and doing pretty fun things- it sounds like life aint slowin down for noone!

Have fun and good luck in training for your marathon coming up- I bet that'll go really well :D

-----I don't wanna hear about the temp. back home..... it never drops below 80 here xD  Just kidding- I was talking with Elder L and we decided that we are just doing to die when we go home!!!

We'll be going to Dagupan next Monday to pick up the suits... so I'll be sure to send pictures when we get them!

Anyways, this has been an awesome week! So first thing- in regards to my "lost and found" scriptures that were returned to me this week! I had the opportunity to talk with the Elder who got them back and here is the more full story:

So I guess that they were walking down the street and then from a house this man called them over. So what happened was that this man is the driver who had my scriptures (knew it was the missionaries because I had an extra nametag on the cover)--- Elder N then said that they immediately taught this guy (twice now) and he accepted a baptismal invitation! It was just really REALLY funny how they found the scriptures just because of a really nice tricycle driver!!

But HOLY COW we have a story for you guys!!! This was last Monday when we were coming back from Lingayen on Pday- So Elder Lomax and I are coming back to the apartment--as we walk into the gate, the two of us are just talking and laughing about stuff when we notice something a little off with the apartment.

(The apartment has a covered porch in front)

The first picture I sent with this is what we found- but there was a MAN.

So there was this totally crazy, homeless guy just chillin' in front of our apartment. (I mean legit crazy... there are a few that just walk around the town here). It was the weirdest thing- he was just laying there, grinning at us! Obviously we didn't do anything to him because he didn't know what he is doing. But upon close inspection- we discovered he stole food from our fridge AND OUR PILLOWS-- Yeah, he totally broke into our house!

So then we walk around back to see how he got in, and the back door is open... then as we are walking through the house to see what else he did. THE CRAZY GUY WALKS RIGHT IN OUR FRONT DOOR. And so we do what anyone does, and shoos him out xD And we notice around that time that money we left on the table to pay for electricity was gone.... turns out he stole the money and bought a TON of coffee! (If you look in the picture, you'll see a LOT of coffee packets that are all open)

We then walked over to the police station to get some assistance (because the guy wouldn't leave our property). And they come over and check his little back for any money he might not have spent- all our money there was gone, so we were down. And then the police said they can't do anything about it because the guy is crazy :P

It's all good though, we got a crazy laugh out of it!! And then next day our Mission supply manager came over and replaced the locks on our doors so the guy couldn't get in again.

The weird part is we were talking to some kids and they said he was going to our home almost every day and going inside.... which explains why our bathroom was getting some unholy smell in it xD After that experience we walked into the bathroom, and it reeked of cigarettes- so we figure that the guy smoked in our bathroom....

------Since that day, he hasn't come back... so it's all good-----

Anyways, we also found a pretty cool river in a far part of our area this week- so we did what anyone would do... and took a 5 minute break to take pictures xD

Finally, an update on our work here- we had some investigators come to church this week. Which is SO awesome! So two of them are investigators we only started teaching this last week= E and J... they both are young woman aged, and we met them because they are related to some of the members here. It was a miracle because they both are incredibly receptive and really are just absorbing our message! That has to be the highlight of our week- we really just saw the light coming into their lives. So Elder L and I are really expecting them to progress this week :D

It was actually funny, because we went back to Erika and asked if she read the pamphlet we left and she read the WHOLE thing and understanded pretty much all of it! (In case you wonder, that doesn't happen too often here) But it really was just a ton of fun :D

We actually had an awesome week this week!!! Love you guys so much, seeya in 6 months haha!

~Elder Morris


And, we finished President D 1 Month Book of Mormon speed read challenge (Which meant we had to read 18 pages a day) and it was really awesome! We marked everything to do with Jesus Christ and then things to do with "the Missionary Purpose" and my small Book of Mormon became a coloring book! It was really cool too, because I got kind of an overview view of the Book of Mormon and really got to understand it more as a whole :)

So if you guys ever want to have a crazy challenge-- try to read the Book of Mormon in a month, it's awesome ^-^

Love again, 

~Elder Morris

4-24-2017

Funny moment in regards to the temperature- we went to a restaurant earlier and sat in front of an air conditioner that was at 70F and I felt like I was going to freeze my face off! It was super duper cold- and then we made the connection that it's going to be colder than that when I go home xD I think that y'all are gonna need to bring a blanket to the airport!!!!
Haha, just kidding- It's SO EXCITING to hear that the chapel is going to get an expansion! Hopefully what that means is that I'll get home to give my homecoming in a bigger building xD From what I hear, the ward back home is really doing good!
I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to do or even can do to start thinking about colleges, to be honest I don't even like thinking about the prospect of me going home one day- as much as I miss you guys, I'm afraid of having to step back into the "real world" hehehe... maybe I'll give that some thought during this week :)
Anyways, in regards to my week, we've had a really fun time! Though it really was a lot of work in all that we do :D Elder L and I have been having quite a blast in teaching and serving- especially with our progressing investigators, the Arenas family! They are really awesome and have been asking some really good and surprisingly deep questions-thank goodness they are ones that can be answered!! It's really interesting, because we've been teaching people recently who are really striving to focus on the message and trying to understand it! (Because often times we teach people who literally just listen because they are being nice).

Anyways, there was a REALLY crazy experience this last week... so I got a call from the mission office and got some funny news!

    There is an Elder in Urdaneta city who was chased down by a tricycle driver- because this driver had something he needed to return to the missionaries, a set of scriptures... not just any set of scriptures... but my SCRIPTURES. So basically just earlier today, I got to pick them up from some missionaries! It made me laugh pretty hard, and it's really great that I got those back! So the ones that I already bought- they may just get packed away so I can use them after my mission :)P I'm gonna talk to that Elder this week in hopes that they talked to the driver and have been able to go and teach him, that would be SO AWESOME :D

    Anyways, that's about all the big stuff that has been going on this week- I wish that I had taken more pictures, but I really haven't had that much time. But I'll be sure to take some this week so you guys can get a fun idea of how it is to be serving out here :D

     Something fun, Elder L threw up this week- which sucks. but he's better now!

      We also did service this week where we cleared this one guys yard of weeds- it wasn't too hard because the weeds were like vines so we could pretty much pull them up without too much trouble. But it's not done yet, the member has a HUGE yard xD

And that's about all for now folks, I'm still alive and as happy as ever :) Sorry this is kinda short, because we don't have a whole ton of time- I hope that y'all have an awesome week! Love you guys,

~Elder Morris

4-17-2017

PETER HAPPY BIRTHDAY- you getting oooooooold hehehe ;) Anyways, it's so good to hear from you guys- this update is really great! I'm happy to hear that D has been found, as well as that Grandpa is enjoying the remaining time that he has :) It made me smile so much thinking about him, even though I haven't really haven't had the opportunity to meet him- it made me kind of sad though, because I feel like I totally have more I could share about being on a mission :)P The only problem is I don't have the time to share everything that happens or everything that I feel- just that Elder L and I have agreed that it is the best opportunity and time in our whole lives!!!

I can't believe how quickly time is passing- Before any of us know it, I'll be an old man xD

Anyways, this week, Elder L and I have just been making strides in the work here in Bugallon- it has really been a great week :D

We had 5 of our investigators come to work this last week, and it was really awesome! I just want to focus on the A family- a part member family that we have been teaching for some time now. They are super cool! I think that I sent something bout them a while ago, but so you know- the mother is a recent convert and had given up smoking (so all her kids are grateful for that because they don't like smoking) but anyways, they've come to church two weeks in a row now.

   It's been really fun to teach them and some of the questions that they ask are just really awesome.

But anyways, this one sister-- Sister A- has been progressing really well, she's the one I told you about who was "special case" until her live-in partner left her some two weeks ago. Which is really tough, but as far as we can tell she's been taking that really well- I don't really know what else to say about that, hahaha.

Anyways, we've been working with an AWESOME member who took us everywhere to people who were taught previously by missionaries and nearly everyone we contacted was willing to listen to the message again :D

I also had a really funny moment in meeting a less active family- So our fellowshipper who had been working with us, told us of a less active family who lived along the highway a little ways down- and so later that night as we were walking along that road (to a different appointment), Elder L stops and says "I think this is where Brother B was talking about, it's right across from the Umanday crossing"- When we approach this house, I'm hit with a big old surprise---- We run into the M family--- Who I totally met in Dagupan because they live in my last ward!! Turns out that Sister Ms parents live here in Bugallon and they come here every weekend! (Her parents are the less actives). It was SUCH a funny and random experience, and then later while we were talking-- They mentioned an Elder who baptized them back in like 1990--and Elder L almost falls out of his seat because that Elder was TOTALLY one of his cousins who served here in the Philippines!! :O

The world got a WHOLE lot smaller xD

Anyways, that's gotta be the biggest bit of this week- we're still having fun- and still roasting-- we woke up one morning and felt like it was kind of cold--turns out when we checked the thermometer, it was 84F at 6 in the morning. AND. IT. FELT. COLD.

Just another week in Paradise, loving it :D Love you guys,

~Elder Morris

Ps- I'll also try to send a video of us learning how to use a Bawut, which is just a top- it's really cool :D

4-10-2017

Well howdy! It sounds like it's been a really crazy week- I hope that D is safe now- that was kind of a scare! But I'm happy as well that Anyways, mommy was able to head out to Utah to see Grandpa again :)

This week we worked really hard to keep finding people and get them to come to General Conference! We were actually super bummed because nobody we were teaching came to the Conference on Sunday morning- but then halfway through on the families we are teaching texted us and asked when the next session was. So long story short, they CAME to church!

One of them, Sister S is really cool and has told us that she wants to become "mormon"... so we're trying to help her out with that by focusing on "Pray to know".

Our Tatay we've been teaching, B, wasn't able to come to General Conference because he went to the marriage of his Neice- but I totally want to share a story about when we went back to visit him this week!---So he didn't come last week because he really hurt his knee- but we were walking by his house this week when we hear him call our names really loud (I mean he was SCREAMING to get our attention) and when we go over there, he happily told us that the day after we taught him...that he was trying to do some work when suddenly he heard popping in his knee and suddenly he could walk again! He told us that he believes it's because he met us and because our message is true- he was SO HAPPY to see us. I mean I wish we could even describe in words just how much energy he had and how excited he was to be taught again! He even told us how we wants to stop drinking and smoking-so next time we go over there we will be teaching the Word of Wisdom.

Anyways, something that really struck me this weekend in General Conference was when I was listening to D. Todd Christofferson and he talked about the "watchmen"- he mentioned that if a watchman doesn't do their responsibility that the blood of the people are on their hands.

I realized 1-the calling to Apostle or Prophet must be way heavy because they are responsible for nearly 16 million people and are to warn us properly.

 and 2- If I, as a missionary don't do my responsibility--then I'll be held responsible for the things I don't/do do.! It was just really a call for me to keep trying harder every day! :)

Something else that I really want to share is that Elder Joauqin E. Costa is when he said when you receive these things—the Book of Mormon—and you are exhorted to read and ask God if they are true, please just do it!

Because that literally sums up our biggest frustrations as missionaries is when people don't read and ask God and then complain that they haven't come to know if the Book is true or not xD

But anyways, it was a good week- I'm excited to see what's in store for this week :)

Love, Elder Morris

Oh, by the way- I totally got to withdraw the money in my account and we went to Dagupan and got suits made!!! By made, I mean MADE- we went and bought the material we need to have one made and then gave it to a "missionary famous" tailor in Dagupan who has made suits for missonaries for as long as any of us can remember xD We'll go and pick them in in May!

It was awesome :) THANK YOU!

Love much,

Elder Morris

My favorite scripture: Alma 24:27 just because of the phrase  "...thus we see that the Lord worketh in many ways for the salvation of his people."

3-27-2017

Good Day y'all! Even though it's actually night time where you guys are :)P I already asked Elder L if I can move there and he encouraged it hahaha!! I can't believe how soon General Conference is, it's just coming us in like 2 weeks... which is going to be so much fun and very very spiritual! We'll see about how awesome the talks are going to be :D

I can't believe though that it's already about April--which means that Easter is soon as we celebrate the birth, death, and ultimate resurrection of Jesus Christ :D

It's so fun to see all those pictures of the goats and the baby animals that are being born at home- they seem so CUTE- I'm super duper excited to see them ::D It always just super fun how they look like little smiling animals! I'm honestly blown away though at the fact that there is a whole generation of sheep that I haven't even met yet!!!

Anyways though, it makes me so happy to hear about the updates from back home and to hear about how life is going right now for you guys :D Hopefullly this week is going to really be a blast for y'all!

Anyways, This week was really good, though in all honesty it was kind of difficult- it was only hard because that's how we worked-hard! The problem that we had been facing is that the last Elders who were here didn't really find a whole lot of investigators who we can teach regularly so what Elder L and I are trying to do is to build up the "teaching pool" of people who we can visit!

In fact, we met someone this week who we feel has a whole lot of potential, they are the Catinguil family and are really kind. We actually found them because one of the members here told us that this family was taught by the missionaries before but they stopped being visited because the sister has work on Sundays and hasn't come to church yet- but from what we know they really wanted to be taught, and then we visited them and we really feel like they were/are ready to receive us! :)

The others who we visited from previous missionaries are really cool and seemed pretty open to once again meet with and listen to the missionaries! 

The other news is that this week we had a missionary conference with President D, which was really cool- he talked a lot about Lehi's dream and also about how there were 4 types of people that we meet in the scriptures

1-I will try 2-Maybe 3-No 4-I WILL.     That's something he actually suggested that we can teach to people and then ask them about who they think they are! What's kind of hard is that a lot of people here seem to have the attitude of either "Maybe" or "I will [but then dont]", so it's something that could be really helpful in our teaching of people here in the area!

And finally- an update on our companionship- Elder L and I are having a pretty fun time together, although the "hey Jo"s that we get bombarded with are still raging xD But we're enjoying it- in fact it makes it really easy to talk to people because they usually try to talk to us first!!!  And then we just have a really fun time joking around and working in the sun and heat :)P

Other than that, we should have a pretty fun week- so we'll see what's up :D

Anyways, love you guys so much- I hope that y'all have a great week :)

With Love,

Elder Morris

PS-Saw a super creepy Buddha that looks like he is just screaming and scary- it's pretty great :)P