2-5-2017

Don't cry Mommy--but he's not a super huge LOTR freak like our family! But he's super cool :D

Thank you SO much for all your letters, and I'll try to respond shortly to each of y'alls letters :)

Hannah! IT SO WEIRD THAT YOU'RE DONE WITH HIGH SCHOOL... you have fought the good fight, you have kept the faith xD Keep being awesome, you're helping people a whole lot with what you're doing! Love yah! :D

"The Guy without a Picture"! Mr. Beansprout, it sounds like you're having a great time with life... sadly our caretaker killed our spider one day... but he didn't know it was ours xD Tell Madame that French class was super fun for me (Although I've forget every bit of french that I ever knew...)!! You could even mention to her that I've eaten dog if you want ;) Anyway yah terror of the road... be safe! Stay swaggin man, love yah!

Dexter! It's so good to hear from you even though it's been a while! I hope that you resolve to stay on the right path always, I remember all the good times that we've had and can't wait to see you too! Love you man, take care out there! (Also do you remember us laughing a TON at saying "true... true".... well one of the other Elders says that a bunch and I always remember the time that we said that a bunch)

Peter! Keep writing your stories and developing that talent... it's really an awesome one! You're the "bunso" (which in Tagalog means "youngest sibling") so keep being a goof :) Youk're getting all old now too!

Adam! It's so awesome how much you care about the sheep- that's something that I really look up to in you- so keep that up :) I'll see you in November, which is only some 9 1/2 months away xD You're such a cool kid- keeep on coolin' Love yah man!

Dad! I really appreciate how much you do for our family- I want to also let you know that I use your conversion story at least once a week to help people better feel the spirit :) I hope that work and things work out.... so just keep being a great father! Love you!

And Mommy! I wish I could thank you enough for raising me right. You're reward in heaven truly will be great for all the hearts you touch :) Don't get tired of what you're doing!!! And can you name one of the sheep "Philip" for me!?? Thanks

Love,

Elder Morris

This week has been pretty awesome, and we've been working pretty tough! Elder A is a really cool companion (like I said he's 6 foot 5... so when him and I are walking we ALWAYS here people make comments on our height...which actually gives us a pretty sneaky spot to start talking to them >:))

There was something pretty funny this week (THOUGH DON"T JUDGE US) Elder A said that his feet were getting kind of gross so we went and got pedicures at the market for like 50 Pesos (which is about 1$)... we didn't get them painted, but I have to be honest, we got some pretty swaggin feet now xD There was one Elder in my apartment who kind of laughed at us because we went ahead and got our feet cleaned... but I don't think he has any room to laugh at us because our feet look way better than his!! Anyways though... I think I would only do that when I have like super dirty feet or something.

Something else that happened this week which was really fun is that the Dagupan 6 Elders had a "baptism" (One of their recent converts baptized his son) and we were invited to attend since we were working nearby...so we went, and it turned out that there was no water in their font so we walked nearby to a small river! It was a really cool experience... I don't think I'll ever experience doing that because most buildings here have fonts, but they got to do it in this river!

What else happened this week? We've just been working our butts off teaching lessons and stuff, but it's been really fun :) We have a baptism coming up on February 18, so it's going to be pretty fun! Her name is A... and she's totally golden!

There is also an investigator we met who is SO golden named M and he literally just showed up to church randomly and said he wanted to be baptized so we've been teaching him a bunch!

     So really what I've been seeing are blessings because of our obedience and hard work-and we'll keep trying our best to fulfill this calling!

Anyways, that's all---love you guys! Thanks for the support that you guys give me :D

--

Elder Morris

2-12-2017

Also, could you guys follow up with the bank on my debit card so I can know if it's on it's way or something? xD

Also, HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!!!!!!!! ❤

Love you guys!

This is kind of short- Sorry! I don't have much time ^ y'all didn't get one to me---but that's okay :) We had an awesome week this week!!

My week has been pretty fun! It was just a really fun week and I know that we worked really hard! One of the most awesome things that happened is with one of our investigators, brother M who we've been trying to teach a bunch (but he studies so we usually teach him two or so times a week)-- but I've really been teaching him because it just feels like he's been being prepared for the gospel!! He felt so bad that he missed church this last week because he slept in--- but we taught him all about the word of wisdom and stuff and he immediately followed everything we taught! :) I think the only thing that might be a challenge is the fact that his parents are active Iglesia ni Cristo and are pretty against the church. So if y'all could pray that his parents would be softened and let him be baptized, that would be awesome :) Something else is that this Saturday A will be interviewed for baptism, which I don't have any worries about! (We only moved it because we have to finish all the lessons before baptism--)

Anyways though, we went to the Stake Center this last Wednesday for a tri-zone conference, and I learned a bunch and had a fun time seeing some old friends from my last two areas :)

Other than that, we're still working hard and trying to do awesome in the area! Love you guys so much,

~Elder Morris

HEY. We decided to get our feet cleaned because .....welll...... why not?? But anyways, it sounds like this week has really been awesome for you guys! I am honestly so happy to see those Alpacas one day (especially if they have babies when I get home!!!)... so is it hard to catch alpacas or what? I kind of imagine it would be like catching a sheep with a long neck!

It's so great to hear that Dexter is starting to do community college and attending those church activities! It sounds like things are really looking up :)

Congrats Hannah for your napkin diploma! That's still just super exciting :D

Also, wish Shelbi congrats as well for me! That's pretty cool that she got engaged and the guy seems pretty cool!

NO. the alpaca is Philip Morris.

Anyways, I guess I'd better tell you guys about how my week was! It was really fun!!! So on Tuesday, we went to work in the AP's area (APs are the assistants to the president) and I learned SO MUCH just by paying attention to the things that these others do and how investigators react. So something that we've been doing is really striving to focus on those things like evaluation and short transitions in the lessons--- so far it's doing pretty awesome!

We're still teaching A and she's getting ready for her baptismal interview this coming Saturday! Elder A and I aren't afraid at all for her interview... I guess that she has a really strong support in the Young Womens and is currently reading "For the Strength of Youth" which is super awesome!

An update, we're working on teaching the father of one of our recent converts and I think that we've just about gotten him to give up alcohol- so what I think we realized finally is that he needs to stop being with his 'bad influence' friends. And something that I had pondered on is how hard it may have been from Alma the Younger because he was a wicked man who changed completely in like 3 days... I bet he had a bunch of "friends" who suddenly didn't like him but rather started to persecute HIM because of the things he is choosing.

     What it did for me is help to widen my understanding of the scriptures because I looked beyond the pages for a moment and imagined what Alma must have gone through after being converted. Just another testament to me that the Book is true :)

What else? OH we went to Tukok to teach less active families and had a super awesome time! The sunset was super beautiful so we took some pictures--(It was also getting to high tide so we had to find a different path to get back to the boats... but it was so fun!) 

On Friday, we went to Urdaneta to MLC (Mission Leadership council) and I totally saw some of the Elders and Sisters from my batch back when I came to the mission field!

On Saturday, we went with some Elders and Sisters to a kind of struggling area so that we could help them find new people to teach- That was really fun, though we didn't find to many because some how I ran into EVERY ACTIVE MEMBER in the area and got fed so much xD

But overall, that's been my week! It was super fun... I think that this is the best experience of my life, the things that I've been learning and seeing and experiencing are just changing my outlook on life :)

So I'm looking forward to this-I'll let y'all know how my week was :) Y'all take care out there and have fun with everything- with all those upcoming events and stuff!

With Love,

Elder Morris

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