Almost the last. The beginning of the end.

Wow. I can't put my feelings into words. There is just a storm of thoughts raging in my head. I am completely excited, anxious, and a little freaked out. But there is no room for doubt and faith in the same place. I am completely confident that this next step into the unknown will be an adventure! You know what they say, a "Leap of Faith".

This week was great. Our investigator, Andreé is doing really well. She won't be able to get baptized for another month because of her schooling on Sundays, but she is seeing a lot of blessings in her life. She asked for permission to miss a Sunday to come to church and her teacher gave her a ton of projects and a test on stuff that she hadn't even heard of. So she did all the projects. She did the best she could on researching and studying the test material and went to take the test. She got 100%. She is seeing a lot of blessings. She is reading and praying a lot. She actually does her homework!!! It is great!

This is probably the last update I will send home. I just want to express my thanks to all the people that have supported me. My family, ward and friends. There have been countless moments when an email, letter or prayer have made the difference to me. Thank you SO much! I don't really know what I can say that could sum up these last 2 years. I could go on and on about how spiritual it was, how difficult it was, or about how I have grown. But all that I can say or express is gratitude. I wouldn't trade the blood, sweat, and tears that have been shed on the mission for anything. I am eternally grateful for the person that the Lord has molded me into. I know that it was only possible to get to where I am by going through the fiery furnace of affliction and heartache. I have been greatly blessed, I have been protected and guided. The Lord let me be able to have great experiences and He let me learn. I feel like the "inutil" servant that Kind Benjamin spoke of. I can't do anything to pay him back, and luckily he doesn't ask for payback. He just asks for a dedicated life. That, I can give. And that, I will give.

As this is the last week of my mission, I just want to end it so that I can look back and say that the Lord can be proud of my service to him. I know that I have given it my all. I know that I have done all that I could to serve the people of Monterrey and I know that the Lord has been with me to help me and guide me. I want to end my mission looking back on it and being able to say that what the Lord tells Nephi in Helaman 10:4 "Blessed art thou, 'Elder Morris', for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwariness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments."

I will be forever grateful to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the opportunity that He has given me to serve him. He took a young man, with little experience, and He molded him into a servant "worthy of his hire". I know I have done nothing. "As to my strength, I know that I am nothing" But the Lord is strong. I have just been blessed to have been a witness of the power of the Lord. A tool in His hands. I am forever grateful.

I know that this church is true. I add my testimony and witness, that this gospel changes lives. And I add my testimony to the thousands of representative of Jesus Christ serving him, that He Lives. That he died for us and took up his life again. He lives, and because He lives, we can too. We have hope. I know He lives. Look for Him, and He is there. Knock and ye shall receive, ask and it shall be given unto you. I so testify in the name of our Lord and Savior, even Jesus the Christ, Amen.

-Elder Morris

102 Down and 2 to go!!!

7/13/15  Email

Hey, how is it going family!? I hope that all is going good and that you guys all are loving life!

So this week was pretty good. We were able to find some pretty sweet people to teach this week. We taught some pretty awesome  lessons. It was also a really full week. We had a zone conference that was great! It was great because I didn't have to prepare it!!! But I did have to give a talk. It was nice though.

Anyways, this week we found a family that is really sweet. We were in the square contacting and I saw this family. So we keep contacting others, but this family just stays in my mind and it felt like my attention was just getting called to them. It is a family of 5 with 3 kids, 2 girls and 1 boy (Sound familiar?). They are great. Gabriel and Lisseth are the parents. They are pretty cool and I think they will be able to progress.

In other news, we were eating lunch yesterday when this guy comes running into the open door-way and tells us that some guy was robbing one of the bikes. So we all run outside and see this guy trying to get away on the bike going up a hill. So we all start running out after him. But I didn't because I had to stay with my comp. But Elder Farmer and Elder Monroy go chasing after him. Then a taxi driver stops his car and gets out and is at the top of the hill waiting for this guy. Right as Elder Farmer is about to reach the guy on the bike, the taxi driver grabs the handle bars and shoves the guy of the bike. SO FUNNY! Then the guy gets up, throws his hands in the air, and just walks off. Ha-ha I was laughing so hard! We came to the conclusion that this guy had to have been drunk for 2 reasons. 1. The way that he was struggling to get up the hill, not even being able to pedal good, and 2. because he was trying to steal a bike UP-HILL! Who in their right mind tries to steal a bike and go up-hill!? Everyone knows going downhill is so much faster. We all got a good laugh out of it.

 Anyways, that is what happened this week. Love you all a ton!!! Stay safe!! Watch out for drunk bike thieves!!!

Have a Great Week

-Elder Morris

7/20/15 Email

What's up!? How is life? I hope everything is good! 

Life is good here. We had a baptism this week!!! It was pretty sweet!! I don't have any photos cause the computer did something to my memory card, we will see if we can't get it fixed when I get home. I hope it isn't dead. Anyway, this was a good week. Our baptism was great! There was such a difference in her face when she got baptized. The difference was super obvious. I had some pictures.... good thing my comp took some pics too! It was funny though because Nina, our convert, has a problem with her leg and we had to put a chair in the font. But the font wasn't filled up enough so we had to wait and fill it up with her and my companion in the water while everyone was singing a song. It was pretty funny. But it all turned out really well and she shared her testimony afterward and it was really powerful. I am so glad that I am on the mission. And I am going to be enjoying these last two weeks to the fullest. Love ya!

Have a Great Week!!!

-Elder Morris

Emails from Mitch from the last three weeks.

6/22/15

Happy Father's Day! You're the best dad! For all of you out there celebrating Father's Day, I am sorry that your dad isn't as funny, hardworking, dedicated, determined,   self-less, happy, wise, generous, giving, humble, witty, supportive, determined, a friend, good father, loving and faithful husband, fearless, brave, a true disciple of Jesus Christ. I mean, I am sure your dad is great and all, but he doesn't have anything on my dad. He is the BEST! Dad, I love you. 

Thanks for always making me do hard things and teaching me not to back away from a challenge. Thanks for always making me mow the lawn and set up the tent with you. Thank you for making me help with building the basement. Thank you for teaching me to work smarter, not harder. Thank you for teaching me that when I enjoy my work, it isn't work. Thank you for teaching me that nothing that is easy is worth very much. Thank you for teaching me that when you hesitate, you die.  Thank you for being the best example I could have ever asked for. Thank you for loving my mom. Thank you for loving me, Maddie, and Makenna. Thank you for always putting our needs above all else. Thank you for teaching by deed, not just word. Thank you for giving me the kind of role model that a young boy needed. Thank you for always being an example of a worthy and dedicated priesthood holder, who always offered self-less service, who always took the time to fulfill his responsibilities, who always lifted the hands that have hung down. 

I said it, but I am going to say it again. If your dad isn't Chris H Morris, sorry. There is no one like him. He is like the Dream Team packed into one. All the competition just doesn't matter, it is a joke. He is like the 1972 Dolphins, UNBEATABLE!

 I love you Dad.

 Have a great week!

Elder Morris

6/29/15

This week was a great week! We were able to work real hard and see the hand of the Lord working with us. There have been some faith building experiences. We have had some trials, but the good always overcomes the not-so good. Just like the darkness can do nothing but flee from the light. It has no choice. 

For starters, WE FOUND AN INVESTIGATOR OF GOLD!!!! And when I say gold, I mean like the 24K gold. So 2 weeks ago, she came to church with a friend. So her friend introduces us to her. Her name is Andree (it is pronounced like fault in California, San Andres, just take of the s). So we talk to her and she seems pretty nice. So we take her address and we pass by the next week. She lives in a florist place.... una Florería. But there is no man that lives there so we can't teach her there. So we just talk and get to know her, win her confidence and stuff. So this last Tuesday we had a lesson with her in the church. IT WAS SO AWESOME. I am not going to lie, we talked for like an hour and a half. A lesson should be at the most 45 minutes and usually like to keep them to 30. But it was just so cool! She told us pretty much her whole life story. How a year ago she hit rock bottom. She was overweight, doing things that a girl of 17 should not do, just a mess. Then her mom got cancer. She realized that she was just completely lost. Some Christians gave her a pep-talk and she decided that she needed to change her life. (Good thing she didn't go with them, right?) Wrong, she did go with them! And then the JWs, and the Catholics and the whole list of religions, but she felt as if she was just going to a play. That they were all just fake. And then she came to our church and BOOM!!! OH THE DIFFERENCE!!! Thank you Holy Ghost!!! WHOO HOO!!! Okay, anyways, she is awesome. She wants to get baptized, but she has to go to school on Sundays. She is trying to change it, but she says the chances are slim. Wait just one second there missy, I just ate a slim Jim this morning (thanks mom) and I don't believe that! So I whipped out 3 Nephi 13:32-33. BOOM! So she is doing all she can to change it and she came to church yesterday too!!! And then after, she came to us and was like, "Hey, you told me you were going to give me something to read in the BOM. What was my homework going to be?" "Uh... Alma 32.. Uh, yeah, that is a good one." It totally caught me off guard! She is just awesome!! Please pray for her so that she can change her schedule and assist church!!!

Also Ninfa came to church again. She is looking really good for baptism as well! Just a ton of blessings this week! We had 4 investigators in church!! And 2 we have just met and invited. Life is great! The Lord works miracles. If we just let Him work in our lives, He will give us the blessings that we may stand in need of. And He WILL work miracles. 

Have a Great Week!!!

-Elder Morris

Also, Cause it's 'Merica!

7/6/15

HAPPY 4th OF JULY!!! Oh America, how I miss thee. But I always have you in my heart!!!  But we won't be apart much longer...

Anyways, how was this week? I hope it went really well for all of you guys! I hope all your wildest dreams are coming through cause of your firm faith in The Lord!

This week was good. We worked hard, but stuff didn't turn out as well as we would have liked. But that is alright, just keep chugging along!

Our Investigator of Gold, Andree, (See last week) has to go to school on Sundays so she has to wait 8 weeks before getting baptized....... But everything happens for a reason. So, oh well.  

We also went and contacted a family who not too kindly told us to leave. Then the Bishop calls us into his office and explains that this family was baptized a couple years ago but the thing is that the dad was a cop. Normally that isn't a problem for church members, unless that is that you decide to start working for the drug cartels.... So yeah, we aren't going to visit that family anytime soon!!

Hmm what else? We went to the center of Monterrey today and I bought some pretty sweet stuff to take home. My mom is going to love it.

Anyways, I was studying the other day (I know, a missionary studying, oh weird), and I was Reading about the 2,000 Stripling Warriors. A scripture stuck out to me and I would like to share my thoughts about it with you all.

So the scripture that stuck out to me was Alma 57:21. It says this: "Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them." Okay, let's take a look at it, shall we? We find in the chapters before that they were saved by the miraculous power of God. The simple answer to the reason that they were saved is because of their faith. But this scriptures gives a Little bit more insight in the reason. It says that they "DID OBEY AND OBSERVE TO PERFORM EVERY WORD OF COMMAND WITH EXACTNESS." They were obedient. They had all the faith in the entire world, but if they would not have acted, well we all know that "Faith without Works is dead." And in this case it would have been literal. They acted upon the faith that their parents had taught them. It talks about Words of command. What are the words of command that we receive today? Scriptures, prophets, parents, etc. These are the Word of command that we must live by to be able to be saved spiritually. And how did they obey them? WITH EXACTNESS. We cannot say that we will only be obedient as long as it suits us. It doesn't work that way. It is like Pres. Bird always says, if we are almost exactly obedient, the Lord is almost blessing us. If we want to live through the ugly war waging around us, we have to be EXACTLY obedient. We cannot afford to leave anything on the table. Only then will we see the blessings in our lives. Only then will we be saved by our faith. Only then will we reach the Celestial Kingdom as eternal families. Of this I testify to you and of this I testify to all the people of Monterrey that are in my reach. There is no other thing I would rather do at this point in my life. I love this work and I love the Lord. That is why I try to be obedient. Just try it, the Lord will help you out. I know he will. 

Love you guys a lot!!!!! Have a Great Week!!!

-Elder Morris

Here she is, my trusty steed, Pink Power! That's right I'm riding in style.

Well, this week was pretty normal. We walked, contacted and taught. Hmm, not much more happened this week. It is pretty slow going to find those interested in listening to our message. But, little by little we found people. This week we found a husband and wife that are really great. We passed by and we talked with them for a little and got to know them. They feel the need for something more in their lives. It is something cool to see the people recognize that this really is a fulfilling thing for their lives. I don't know if that made sense. The gospel completes our lives. It helps us grow and through following the precepts of our Savior, our lives are literally completed, or fulfilled. I don't even know which sounds right in English anymore. But through living like our Savior, all our faults, shortcomings, and difficulties are changed for the better. We find out more of who we are and we understand who our Father wants us to become.

Well folks that is all I have! Have a great week!

Elder Morris

This was a good week! We worked hard and we had an investigator to come to church!! And she liked it! So that was cool. We had some pretty sweet lessons this week also. 

Let's see what happened this week? Well, on Saturday my companion got hazed by Mother Nature. We were sitting in a park waiting for a member who was going to accompany us to a lesson when all of the sudden it got really windy. My companion was like “that is weird". I didn't think it was weird. I just started running for the nearest tree. Then it got dark and he realized what was going to happen. He got so nervous when we saw the wall of rain coming. It literally was just a wall. One second we were dry and the other we were super wet. It was nuts. We were just getting drenched and drenched. It was probably one of the hardest rain storms I have ever seen. Luckily the member got there WITH A CAR!!! I was so happy. We went to the lesson and had just a super spiritual lesson about the restoration of the gospel. We talked about the Apostasy, Joseph Smith, and the first vision, and the Book of Mormon. SO COOL! The spirit was so strong. It was great experience for my companion. He said that it was the strongest spiritual lesson that he has had in the mission field. It was great! Then the sister came to church!!!! We were happy! All in all, things were great. Time flies. I can't even remember most of the week. Time can't go by this quick, but that is what happens I guess. 

Anyways, have a great week!!

Elder Morris

My awesome Comp Elder Fernandez

Toe meets chard of glass.

Chard of glass that was under the sink, WHAT!

Wow, what a week. Well, I am back in Cadereyta. haha I went from Cadereyta 2 transfers ago and now I am back! But in a different area. Now I will be working closer to the center, with less hills. I am also training!!! WHOO HOO! So I will be here till the end of my mission. Wash clothes by hand!!! Ha-ha it isn't actually too bad. Also, we don't have hot water. BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER!! Because it is going to get super hot soon!! Until then we are using an electric water heater contraption. So we have a bucket of hot water to use. But, like the last time I opened an area training, they left us with nothing. Not even progressing investigator forms. It looks as if they didn't even make them. Also, we just barely got a map so this last week we were just walking around knocking on doors and contacting. But it was so cool to see the Lord working with us. 

First, we found a really cool family! The mom appears to have been baptized as a little girl but went inactive early and doesn't remember anything. They are awesome. A family of 5 who all have potential. 

Second, we found a father and son (and maybe wife). They have a tienda and they gave us soda and chips after our lesson. The dad is super interested and is reading the lesson one pamphlet.

Third, we were walking to an appointment when a little girl comes running up behind us and says that some people want to talk to us. Usually the only people that want to talk to us are drunk guys! So I was a little suspicious as we follow this girl to a couple of ladies sitting on their porch. Soon we found out that 2 of them are members less active and the third is a friend. All three have kids of the age of baptism that haven't been baptized and they want us to come by every week and teach them. Ha-ha All righty then, you tell me when and where and we will be there!!! We are seeing some really great stuff happening here.

Every day that I wake up I am inspired by my companion. Every day I thank my Father in Heaven for him and for his dedication, for his love, and for his desire. You see, my companion isn't like all the rest that I have had. My companion has a muscle disease that keeps him from correctly controlling his muscles. The doctors were negligent when he was born and he wasn't given the care he needed. Because of that, neurons in his brain died that control his muscles subconsciously. So basically, every movement of his arms or legs is a concentrated effort.  Of all the missionaries that I have known, not one is even close to the great example that he is. He is one of the most humble and most dedicated missionaries I have known. He is just awesome. He doesn't care about setbacks or limitations, he just wants to serve the Lord. I am so glad that he is my companion. I really feel it a huge honor to be his companion. Every second that I have with him gives me motivation to give it my all. I don't know what else to say about him, other than this kid is the motivation that I need to finish running 110%. Missionaries always talk about "Dyeing" their last couple transfers. This kid deserves everything that I have got because he is sacrificing so much. I know that the Lord put him with me to impact my life. He already has in just 1 week. 

Remember, the Lord knows what happens, He knows what we can do. We are the ones who limit ourselves. Folks, give it your all, not just because that is what others expect, but because you want to dedicate yourself to the Lord.

Have a great week!

Elder Morris

Mitch's letter home 5/11/15

Well, not much to update. I am getting transferred. That is something new. The mother's day call was great. I love making my mom laugh, I hate when she makes me cry. (Because of the spirit folks). We will see how this week goes, where in Monterrey will Elder Morris go? Who knows, but everything has its purpose. Wherever I end up and with whomever it is, it will be because the Lord wants me to be there. Last week I shared my testimony of the Book of Mormon with a sister from my home ward. I enjoyed sharing my testimony with someone besides an investigator and so I want to share it with you guys too.

You can't testify enough. They say that the convert that really matters is the missionary. I truly believe that. Our mission president challenged us to read and study the Book of Mormon, marking every reference of Christ, His words (said by Him or His prophets), His attributes, and His doctrine. As a missionary you hear all the time "The Mormon Bible". While doing this challenge, I was able to gain a personal and first-hand testimony from the Holy Ghost testifying to me of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. The BOM is exactly what it says, "Another Testament of Jesus Christ". Folks, Read this book!!! Love this book!! People that have a serious interest in finding out if the BOM is the word of the Lord don't have to wait until they get to Moroni 10:3-5. They don't have to read of the Savior's personal ministry here in the Americas. They don't have to search and look for truth and wait more time to be prepared. If they read it with "Real intent, a sincere heart, and in faith in Jesus Christ", the Holy Ghost will tell them. The Book of Mormon is the Keystone of our religion. If we make it the Keystone in our lives, only then will the FULLNESS of the Restored Gospel make a profound and lasting change upon our hearts, changing the very nature of the carnal man into a dedicated and converted disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. I love this book. I can't even begin to describe it. This book has to be true. There is no other option, there is no other way. I know it because I live it. And if others want to know it, they have to do the same.

Love ya!

Elder Morris

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!!

May 4, 2015

First,  Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!!!!! WHOO HOOO!! Wow, you guys are old! 25 years? That is pretty neat. I want to be like you when I grow up!!! YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!

This week we had some cool stuff happen. Okay, who am I kidding. This week was pretty normal. We just had leadership counsel and a zone conference and exchanges with the assistants. Nothing too crazy. It was really funny. President Bird was talking about how they were waiting to hear from their daughter because she was super pregnant. Then he started telling the graphic story about how their second daughter was born, making all the sisters go woozy, it was so funny! Then a little while later he went on a rant for like 25 minutes about how men can't multitask and women can. With many stories from his personal life. I was just dying from laughing so much!! Good stuff!

Well, I don't have any more time. Life is good. Missionary life keeps moving, even when you don't want it to. For example, the mission secretary just called me asking me what my home airport was. I told them Hawaii so Mom and Dad, you have to pick me up in Hawaii. (hehe) No, just kidding. Well I got to go!!! LOVE YOU!!!!

                                                                           Love the Temple- My Zone