Going Bananas and Teaching like Crazy!

Hola mi familia y amigos!

Wow, this week has been so great!! Life is tough, but this experience is worth every doubt, struggle, and challenge I have had. I know I have said this before, but every single week just reinforces it. Monterrey Mexico is where I am supposed to be. And I can´t adequately express my thanks and my love for our Heavenly Father for giving me this chance. 

The Spanish is still super tough! I feel so disconnected. I want nothing more than to talk to the people and actually understand them! It is hard to do that when I have to have most of the words translated. But I have definitely seen improvement!!! I am just having a hard time being patient. I have always been good at connecting with people because I can get them to laugh. Either by jokes or me making a fool of myself. Well, ALL of the laughing is because of the latter reason. But at least they are laughing, right? For the most part I am just loving people laughing at me. Like when we contacted two ladies in the park. I started by asking if my hair was really as blonde as my companion said it was. That got them laughing and set a really good foundation to talk about the gospel. But when I went to shake one of the daughter’s hands, her being shy, didn´t want to shake my hand. I joked that that always happens back home. They just looked at me with a blank stare..... Yeah, that was awkward. I love making people happy and not being able to say something or saying something and it not making sense is tough. One of the things I find myself doing is thinking that it would be so easy to be on an English speaking mission. Every time I catch myself saying this I give myself a scolding because if God has enough faith in me to connect with the people of Mexico then why can´t I have that faith? 

Well, all of my and Elder Hernandez´s hard work has paid off!! 10 new investigators, 8 of which have baptismal dates! Going from just talking to people to actually teaching lessons has been an awesome change! Especially when you are giving a lesson and you know that the Holy Ghost is teaching them what you can´t and speaking directly to their hearts! And then after, realizing that their lives are going to be changed for eternity, gives you a fantastic feeling! I think that I am starting to experience just a little of the kind of love that God has for his children. Walking down the street after a successful lesson, I felt like I was on Cloud 9! My comp. probably was wondering what was in the water the investigators gave me, but it is the best feeling to feel the love of God for others through you! 

In our companionship study, we went over Ch. 9 in PMG. It made me think of Elder Ballard´s talk in General Conference. Everyone can be a missionary. You don´t have to have Christ´s name written over your heart to have Christ´s name written ON your heart. Think about all of the goodness and joy that has come into your life because of this gospel. Why wouldn´t you want to share that with others? So, I would encourage all of you to re-read Elder Ballard’s talk and sincerely think about and pray for opportunities to share this gospel. Love you all so much! Thank you for all the prayers and love being sent my way!!! I definitely need them! Hasta próxima semana!

-Elder Morris

I like my eyes just where they are thank you.....

October 14, 2013

Wow, almost 2 months in. That is insane!! This has gone by so stinking fast!!

On Saturday we had a family get baptized!! That was a way cool experience! I didn´t teach the family but my companion did so I got to know them really well. They are  really an amazing family!

Church on Sunday was great! I didn´t understand very much but it was the primary program and little kids mumbling scriptures and singing are pretty universal!  As I was looking around, I saw a mom with her baby. Then five minutes later it was on the other side of the chapel! As I followed the events that followed, I developed a unique and scientific name for what was happening, Pass the Baby. All the women wanted to hold the baby and all of them were willing to give it up to the next woman. Eventually the baby was returned to the mother, but I just thought it was funny how this baby was just passed up and down the pews.

I have come to understand that you don´t know how unique you are until you are the only one like you. It is like the Circus is in town everywhere I walk!!! All the little kids stare in wonder at me as I walk by. All the people we pass give me the weirdest looks, and I am pretty sure the only reason a quarter of the people we stop just stop to sit and get a better look at me. Hopefully they listen to our message. White skin, light hair, and blue eyes are a serious rarity in Mexico! My companion says that all the girls just gawk at how gorgeous a white, blue-eyed person is. I mean, I know I am pretty attractive already but down here in Mexico they treat me like I am not of this world!!  A little girl in the ward even asked if she could take my eyes out with a fork so she could keep them!!! If your into that kind of thing, good for you but my eyes are my eyes, I kind of need them!!

Our area was split when I got here and all of the progressing investigators are in the other area so me and my companion spend most of the day street contacting and walking around. It is SO tough!! The people that we do get addresses from never seem to answer their door. So every day seems like a really long day, and the Spanish is coming SO slow! It is hard to have patience and realize that I actually am progressing. But no one said this would be easy and I wasn´t expecting it to be so I am just pushing on!

We do a lot of work with the less-active in the area so right now we are working to reactivate a single mother. Her son is 9 and wants to get baptized so that is pretty exciting!! We only have 2 investigators so far. They are an older couple who seem really interested in religion so hopefully we can continue to meet with them. We have only had one lesson so hopefully they let us come back!!

We had one lesson with this guy who was so drunk he could barely stand. I mean this guy was WASTED! I don´t know which missionaries referred him to us but I wonder what they were thinking when they did! He had beer bottles EVERYWHERE! And not the U.S. size beer bottles either. Here in Mexico, they take their liquid very seriously. All of the soda and water are 3 liters. So, like soda, their beer bottles are at least 25-30% bigger. He opened 2 bottles in the time we were there!!! He was so drunk that he didn´t even realized that his first beer wasn´t even empty. That was pretty funny because my companion, a Mexican, could barely understand him and I was just sitting there trying not to laugh.

Another new experience is teaching my companion. He has only been a member for a year and a half so I do a lot of explaining the doctrine. Right now he is reading in 2 Nephi where Jacob is quoting Isaiah. I spent almost all of a companionship study just trying to explain a couple chapters. There are parts where I have no idea what is going on so I´m just like ´´Sorry, you´re asking the wrong Elder!´´

Every day is something new and something crazy! It is always hot and always exhausting but there are people out there who are prepared to receive this gospel, we just have to find them and talk to them on the streets!! 

 

 

Thanks for all of your support and prayers!! Hasta próxima semana!!! (Until next week)

-Elder Morris

 

 

This is our bedroom, small and comfy. We keep the air on all day so I sleep like a baby in my sleeping bag at night.

 

                                              This is my companion and his first companion/trainer.

 

And you thought Utah drivers were bad!!

Wow. Mexico, right!? Who would thought!? I am just going to start with this has been the most humbling experience! After seeing the humble circumstances of the people here, I am truly grateful for the lucky circumstances I was born into. Well I am in Pedregal, Apodaca, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. My day is waking up at 6:30, exercise, 7:00-8:00 eat and get ready, 8:00-12:00 personal, companion, and language study, 12:00-2:00 contact and teach, 2:00-3:00 eat with members, 3:00-9:00 contact and teach,9:00-9:30 plan, 9:30-10:30 prepare for bed, and then rinse and repeat! We have no hot water but, the water isn´t too bad, I just take super quick showers. We are emailing from an internet cafe owned by members. We are an hour bus ride from the mission home. The members are great and feed us every day! We walk everywhere, everyday, so it is pretty tiring. I honestly don´t even remember our address. Somewhere in Apodaca. They said just to send packages and letters to the mission home but it is a 50/50 chance it will get here.

Well, my first thoughts of Mexico: Holy Crap, do all of the people speak that fast!? Do they even have any traffic laws!? Am I really that white!? Well, the answer is yes. 

The people talk SOOOO fast! It is like their mouth is a dam and they just let the water build up and then just let it all out at once! The only problem is the refill speed of the dam is like .0001 sec. It is SOO tough. I thought I could at least recognize some of the words in a sentence, but with them all jumbled and coming out at the speed of sound, it is kind of tough. That has probably been the hardest part. The language barrier is tougher that I would have thought. WAY tougher.

They do have traffic laws, but no one follows them! They have speed bumps everywhere to get people to slow down. People don´t follow any kind of common road laws! It is just shoot this gap, pull out in front of this person, ALL the time! It is pretty crazy! The first day I was here  we hailed a taxi, he literally stopped in the middle of the road, threw it into reverse, and backed up 20 yards to pick us up! 

And yeah, I know it is hard to believe, but I really am that white! Although I have gained a wicked tan in the last week, I still stick out like a white kid in Mexico!!! I have got some pretty weird looks passing people on the street. Way funny though! I have people all the time saying ´´how are you´´ from the window of a car as I am walking down the road. C´mon, really? I know I stick out a ton but at least give me the courtesy of talking to me in a language that I don´t know!!! Sheesh!

The people are so awesome!! I don´t know what they are saying a lot of the time but they are all so kind! And they feed you like there is no tomorrow! My first day here they fed us rice and a cut of meat. Then finished it off by giving us each a sandwich the size of a hoagie, just 3 times wider!! The people really know what it means to love your brother.

A family that has been receiving lessons from the previous missionaries are getting baptized on Saturday. They really are a choice family and have been thoroughly prepared by the Lord. When I first met the Dad, he told me in broken English, ´´Your name is Morris?´´ ´´Yes´´ I said. ´´I have had the name Morris on my mind for the past 4 days!´´ He said. I have no idea what that means but I am glad that he likes my name! Unfortunately, we don´t get to teach them after their baptism, the zone leaders will teach them. 

Well, I love it here! It is easily the hardest thing I have ever done, but I know that this is where I am supposed to be. I didn´t get much out of listening to the first session of conference in Spanish, but when I thought of how easy it would be to be an English missionary, I had a profound feeling that all will be alright and that there are people here who need me. Not just any missionary, but the shy kid from Centerville, Utah. I don´t know where they are or what they look like, but I know I am here to find and serve them.

Keep the faith, press on; President Monson gave the perfect talk about not being discouraged. I really needed that. I am glad that is one of the talks I got to listen to in English. Love you all and thanks a lot for the prayers and thoughts!!!!

-Elder Morris

The WHOLE MTC?

September 28, 2013

We received a surprise email from Elder Morris. He was able to email us one more time from the MTC as he was given an extra P-day this week to prepare to leave for Mexico. We were able to chat while he was doing his laundry.

He told us that he has been asked to say the opening prayer in the Devotional for the WHOLE MTC on Sunday (today). He is a little more than nervous. Better than being asked to talk, always a bright side!

He asked me to share these photos and this quote-

A quote I really liked when I was watching a Life of Jesus Christ Bible Video today.

"The Spirit of the Lord is with me because he has anointed me to teach the gospel to the poor, he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, to set at liberty them that are bruised."

This really struck me because that is me. The Lord has called me to go and lighten others burden, to bring light to those in darkness, and lift those that are downtrodden. I have realized that I am on the same mission that Christ was. For the people I am going out to teach, I represent our Savior. That is a huge responsibility but I know that I am not going at it alone. I will have the Lord going on before me on my right hand and on my left, ”And whoso received you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left hand, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you to bear you up.” D&C 84:88

I already have a deep love for this work and I am super excited to get to Mexico and start spreading this glad message.

Elder Morris leaves bright and early, 3:00am on Monday morning for Monterrey. I can't wait to hear his voice! I should be getting  a letter on Tuesday that he forgot to mail…

                           This is from his Missionary page, it shows that his MTC training is complete

                                                     These are the Elders in his Zone

                 This is a picture his companion, Elder Farnsworth took of him as he was studying

Last week at the MTC

9/18/13

Mi Familia,

This week has probably been the best week yet!  Definitely the week where I have felt the spirit most!  But I’m not going to tell you yet. J  (It’s later in the letter). So I have realized that I haven’t really given much detail, so her it comes.

Elder Farnsworth (he is from Sandy) and I exercise out by the fence especially when BYU plays. We will definitely be there this Saturday. When we have personal exercise time we do “horizontal running” for 10-20 min. and just talk. It is a really good stress relief. Then for the next 30-40 min. we go hard.  On Monday I was walking like an old man. I don’t remember being this sore in my life!

So, spiritual experience, nah, maybe a little later, just keep reading. J  Also, I keep getting letters for a Mitch. I think that sounds familiar, but my first name is Elder. At least that is what everyone keeps calling me. Whoever it is, he really has some awesome people writing. He also sounds devilishly handsome. Lucky guy! Ha.

Well in the devotional last night we heard a talk about becoming a missionary. My favorite quote was “authority is conferred, but the power is earned.”  That has so much meaning for everyone in the church.  When we are set apart for a calling, we don’t automatically receive the power; we have to earn it by doing our best to fulfill the calling. “When service ceases to be a burden, it is in that moment we are endowed with power.”  If we replace the word “service” with our calling it can help with anything we are called to do.  I came across this scripture a while back and thought you (Mom) would find some comfort in it. Mosiah 28:7. Look it up! What, did you think I was going to make it easy?  I have people look up scriptures for a living! J 

Ok, now for the moment you’ve been waiting for. What I had for lunch, ha ha just kidding. J   Okay, so as you know we teach our teachers who act like investigators. So Elisa has problems with religion because she wants to find out everything for herself.  Problem is she doesn’t see the need for prayer in her life.  She likes to think someone is there, but she doesn’t know.  We had taught Elisa 3 times before this lesson and she is always distant and not very cooperative. So me and my companion had the goal in mind to commit her to pray. Like in Moroni 10:3-5.  The lesson was going the same as always, her not wanting to take it serious.  I’m not sure where the lesson was even going. My companion was getting frustrated. So, in my broken Spanish, I testified and promised her in the name of Jesus Christ, if she prayed like Moroni directs, she would receive an answer from God.  It was one of the most spiritual experiences I have had. It felt like I was completely engulfed by the Spirit. I could feel Heavenly fathers love for her and for a split second, I saw her as God does and I loved her. That experience hit me with so much power that I never will be able to forget that. Because of that, I know that by the power of the spirit, anything is possible.  Even a new missionary testifying with the spirit in terrible Spanish. 

9/19/13

Right now I’m sitting in the Mexican Consulate. I don’t know how long it will take. Hopefully not long at all. Today started really early, 3:45 am. We left the MTC at 4:30 am and went to the frontrunner station in Provo, then caught the Trax line from North Temple station to the airport. We ate some breakfast and waited for 2 ½ hours for our flight. Our flight was a Delta Connection so I was hoping to sit next to someone so I could strike up a conversation, but no such luck.

When we landed a nice old couple picked us up. They took us to the Boise State football field. It was as blue and ugly as ever. But it was cool if you’re into that color of blue. Then we went to a little nature park and looked at some animals. We then went to Chick-fil-a for lunch. It was way good. J  Then we went to some park and just relaxed.  It was way nice to relax and unwind. There were a ton of squirrels. Boise is a nice place. I guess Idaho isn’t that bad.

Oh man, I fell asleep at the Consulate. Crazy stuff! After the Consulate, we went to the mission home and registered them or something. Then we went and talked to the Boise Mission President. It was pretty cool. Isaac Ford had been reassigned to Boise until he got his Visa. I asked about him and found out he had left the day before. I was bummed that I missed him by such a narrow margin. We then went over to the Boise Temple. The woodwork was gorgeous they pulled out all the stops on this one. I sat next to a gentleman on the way home and waited for the moment to start up a conversation then pounced. We talked about where I was going and he asked me why I thought the church was doing so well in South America. I talked about the Book of Mormon and its origins in South America. We parted ways and he wished me luck in all my endeavors.  Good stuff!

Love you guys so much!!! Muchisimo amor!

Elder Morris

Elder Morris leaves for the Monterrey Mexico East Mission on Monday, Sept 30^th. This Mom cannot wait to talk with him. He is ready to start this part of his adventure as a Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Time Warp......

Sept 11, 2013

Wow, 3 weeks? What the crap? I swear I just got here the other day but some days it feels like an eternity! Time is crazy here. I don't feel like I am already half way done with the MTC. There is SO much I still need to learn! I do not know if most of you know that in the MTC there is a TIME WARP! Days are like weeks and weeks are like days....

 

Spanish is still coming slowly, but that is to be expected. It is just super tough to be patient!! I wish there was a way I could just plug my brain into some computer and download all of the information and be fluent!! 

 

Every day we teach a mock investigator(our teacher) in full Spanish. On Monday we were teaching our investigator about the Plan of Salvation. I was explaining how God had sent his Son down to Earth to atone for our sins. The Spanish word for the verb "to send" is enviar. Well I said "Dios envita su Hijo, Jesucristo, expiar para nuestro pecados." I used envitar instead of enviar. The verb envitar means to avoid. So I told the investigator that God avoids his Son, Jesus Christ, to atone for our sins. Afterword our teacher came in laughing and told us what I said. I laughed pretty hard! He said that he almost broke character because it was so funny. Good stuff!

 

One of the miracles of the CCM (MTC in Spanish) is that there are never any coincidences. I have learned that everything happens for a reason. God has planned everything down to the most minuet  detail. What is great about being a missionary  is that your life is dedicated to finding, using and experiencing those details big or small. A letter from home can change me whole day!

Know that I am doing great! It is hard but I am living on faith. In one of my few lessons that we have in English, one of my teachers asked us to think about an experience when you knew the Book of Mormon was true. I tried but could not think of a time when I didn't know that the Book of Mormon was true. I did not have some huge spiritual experience. What I did find was a section in the D&C where Oliver Cowdery was asking God if the Book of Mormon was true, he asked for a big spiritual confirmation. The answer from God was that He had spoke peace unto his heart and what more could Oliver want. I felt that was my answers also, not that I asked for a huge spiritual confirmation. I have always known, since I was a child, when God spoke peace unto my heart and I continue to have that peace.

 

Thanks for all the letters and prayers being sent my way! I love hearing from everyone, it makes my day when I get a letter. I consider it a huge blessing. Keep them coming.....

 

Muchisimo Amor, Love you all!

 

Elder Morris

 

Brock Jones and me         

 My Stripling Warriors, Mommas Boys Shirt
             This one is for you Mom!!

Gift of Tongues or tongue tied.....NOT!

Sept 5, 2013

This week was so great! It was super tough to go back to work on Tuesday though. It was like a Monday x 3! But it was okay, because coming back to this work is a lot better than going back to school!

I have begun to love this work. It is hard, harder than I thought, but it is worth it. I know that when I put my faith in Christ, anything is possible. Even learning Spanish. I have definitely seen the Gift of Tongues at work in my life.

 

We were teaching one of our instructors who was playing an investigator he had met on his mission. We had planned on giving him a brief lesson on the restoration. When we were teaching, he started asking questions about the god head, something we weren't ready for. I didn't have any Spanish responses written down and it wasn't a subject that I had studied in Spanish. All of the sudden words that were relevant to the subject came into my mind. The problem I have with Spanish is that  I know the words that I want to use I just can't put the words together to make a coherent sentence, but when those words can into my mind I just started talking. It was great! I talked about how God and the Son have physical bodies and that the Spirit doesn't and that allows him to enter into our souls. It was crazy awesome!

 

The MTC is so great, everyone here has the same purpose and we all want to grow closer to our Heavenly Father. It is way tough but if I have faith, I know He will help me. I think that is the biggest thing I have learned here. If we turn over everything to the Lord, our problems, our worries, our mistakes and short comings, he will use us in ways we didn't think possible. We can become great tools if we let ourselves be crafted into what he wants. When you align your will with God's, nothing can stop you.

Love you all and thanks for the support and prayers. I have truly felt loved and blessed this week.
      

                                                            Mucho amor,

                                                                          Elder Morris